One thing that Hurricane Kristina has done is severly impact the oil recovery and refining facilities in the Gulf of Mexico. One report on MSNBC was predicting an 8% loss of refining capacity for as much as two weeks. That's not even taking into account the loss of production from the wells and rigs that had to be evacuated as a result of the storm. Nor does it take into account the oil platform that decided it would rather rest against the bridge in Mobile harbor than out in the Gulf wher...
I know that we're only at the 48 hour mark on this tragedy that used to be a fine, historical city on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. I know that the US is the biggest responder in international tragedies (like the SE Asian tsunami). After this time (and a Google search) there are no signs that Europe is doing any more than parroting the news articles that the AP, UPI and NEWS.COM.COM puts out. Where is the hew and cry from Europe seeking aid for the poor folks that are flooded out ...
California recently passed a law stating that it would be illegal to sell or rent Mature rated video games to minors (aka any person of 17 years of age or younger). However, several groups (Including the Washington lobbying group Entertainment Software Association (ESA)), state that it's unconstitutional as a violation of Free Speech. Evidently a Federal judge agrees, because the implementation of the law (due on Jan 1, 06) was blocked. More in the linked article. What strikes me as trul...
In the past couple of years, one of the local Wiccan priestesses has gotten her panties twisted in a knot because the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors (County south of Richmond, VA) wouldn't let her open their sessions in prayer. Instead, they returned to some of the local ministers to fulfill that duty. So, she did what any redblooded American would do. She sued them. The Federal judge in Richmond sided with her. However, our buddies on the 4th Circuit (Gee, i...
Watching the NBC Nightly news this evening, it seems that Texas has got their act together. For those people that are living under rocks (or are from New England), there's another storm tearing across the Gulf of Mexico as I speak^H^H^H^H^Htype. Name of Rita. Currently, Rita is a Category 5 hurricane and is bearing down on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Expected landfall is right across Galvaston. They're expecting it to still be a Category 4 when it makes landfall. Big, tough, and nasty. ...
I know that it's not something that we, here in the US, like to think about. There are times that a strict application of military force is the only way to curb lawlessness. It seems that that someone has finally realized that. Links to articles (with minimal details at this point) are: Link Link Link More later, including thoughts on what Martial Law means for NO.
My wife, in remembrance of the anniversary of the attacks on New York, DC, and the crash in the fields of Pennsylvania, wrote this and emailed it out: -------------------------------------------- I shared this on an e-mail list this morning and I thought that each of you might appreciate reading it as well: My phone rang that morning shortly after I dropped my son off at school. "Turn on the TV," my father's voice sounded so urgent and I immediately grabbed the remote. The smoke...
Our local nutcase is at it again. Rambling away about how it's all Bush's fault that the Gulf Coast region so devestated by Hurricane Katrina, almost exactly a year ago, still hasn't been 100% rebuilt. Sad, but true. What he fails to realize ... well, let's just say that Stardock doesn't have enough room in the database server that houses JU for what the poor man doesn't realize and address what's going on, instead. In New Orleans, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineeers, that organization ...
... No, but gas prices are. At least, in the places that aren't - a) tourist traps or where I don't visit ... Seriously, in the last two weeks, I've noticed a trend in gas prices. They're actually falling. Now, they aren't back down to where they were a year ago, but they're getting closer. In Williamsburg, near my house, the gas stations have been averaging around the $2.95/gal for regular unleaded. When I left to come house/cat sit for my parents - they were already dropping...
In the linked article below, it seems that one of the Marines that Congresscritter Murtha bad mouthed when the Haditha events first came to light, took it personally. So personally, that he suing Congressman Murtha for libel and invasion of privacy. Even though the Marines haven't been charged yet ... scratch that. ESPECIALLY because the Marine's haven't been charged yet, Murtha's comments were defamatory and cruel. This Marine is doing something about it. Check out the story for mor...
If those aren't slightly misleading titles ... I'm not sure I know what is. According to the linked MSNBC article, Ken Lay of Enron infamy, died today at the age of 64. Lay, due to be sentenced at the end of October was the first of many corporate fat cats to get caught cheating the system. And dagnabbit - he did it again.
Am I the only one that finds it humorously ironic that Hamas is proclaiming the latest suicide bombing (by a member of Islamic Jihad) as "self-defense"? How can blowing yourself up be a form of selfdefense? Last time I checked - self-defense was defending yourself form harm ... Anyways - While it wasn't Hamas that performed the action, by declaring it an act of self-defense (instead of condemning the action), the Palestinian leadership shows support for the continued murder of innocent ...
You ever have that feeling, particularly when you're rushed, that you've forgotten something? Well, it seems that the father in the story below had that feeling yesterday. Seems the dad in question was in a bit of a rush and got on the DC Metro, and was well into the city, before he remembered something that he'd left in the car - his 7 1/2 month old daughter! Talk about a bad day. Once he remembered he quickly turned around to go get her. Meanwhile, fellow commuters noticed...
It seems that I've got some very talented folks living here in this house with me. My wife and our boys were entered into the State Fair this year, in several categories. Seems that they did VERY well this year. Chris - my youngest son (5 years old) - placed 3rd in the Honey Sweetened bread category. He was competing against his oldest brother (see JT below), so we got 2 of the 3 top awards in that category. His cookies, didn't place, though. Micah - o...
For those of you who have been around JU awhile, there are few things that will cause the folks here to unite. Dislike of the Westburo Baptist Church, members of it's congregation and it's pastor, Fred Phelps, is one. The congregations picketing of funerals of gays and soldiers who died in Iraq has caused all kinds of outpourings of disgust and dismay from folks who think they're evil incarnate to those who just think that it gives Christians a bad name. Every now and again, the folks th...