The Big Storm: Galveston 1900

Ike entering the Gulf

Imagine if you will living in the Gulf Coast area of the United States in 1900. Hurricanes were prevalent as they are today. There was one major difference though. Today a hurricane’s movements are tracked by satellite and advanced meteorological techniques and equipment. There is usually advance warning. Still nothing can be done to change their course or dissipate them.

September 8, 1900 was a normal weekend for Galveston, Texas’s 38,000 residents. Everyone went about their normal business while families played in the surf. Those in the area were unaware of the threat of a hurricane. Doppler radar and satellites didn’t exist yet.

Within a few hours winds rose to 120 miles an hour. Later in the day a 15-foot storm surge was battering Galveston. No one had evacuated, there was no where to run.

This storm still stands today as the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. The death toll was 6,000-12,000 persons. The exact number can never be known because many were swept out to sea never to be seen again.

Unfortunately Galveston was recently hit hard by Hurricane Ike, but at least this time people had a chance to evacuate. The city was heavily damaged, but loss of life was low at around 34 persons.

Nature’s fury can’t be conquered, but with advance warning we can run and hide.

The Ridiculous and Just Plain Silly

A couple of news items meeting the criteria of this post’s title.

First a man in West Virginia was charged with “ass”ault, er I mean assault for farting at a police officer, and right inside the station no less. The offender allegedly pointed his weapon at the officer and let’er rip, then fanned the lethal gas at his target. Perhaps he should have actually been charged with attempted murder. Apparently “the gas was very odorous and created contact of an insulting or provoking nature”.

The man claimed “he couldn’t hold it no more”. Charges were later dropped. Apparently the evidence dissipated.

Next in Japan, that country’s diaper producers in an attempt to corner a growing market put on an adult diaper fashion show. They had models on the runway complete with bouncy music. The crowd included diaper manufacturers, nursing home workers and doctors. What about those who have to wear them? They weren’t represented. Guess by the time you need these you don’t care or know anymore. Life is described sometimes as from crib to grave. I think it’s more appropriate to say from diaper to diaper, only the size changes.

Credit: CNN Online <www.cnn.com>

Sarah Palin: “I can see Russia from my backyard.”

This woman is such a blockhead. She knows nothing at all about war or foreign affairs. She flippantly talks about war with Russia with no idea of the result.

This summer I drove through the Minuteman missile fields of Montana around Great Falls. It’s a sobering experience. They look innocent enough, but if you really think about what’s in them, it is chilling. Each of these silos contain a long-range ICBM tipped with a nuclear warhead capable of annihilating a city. Sarah you need to drive through these missile fields and get a peek inside one of them. Someone needs to show you film of nuclear tests.

To those who say nuclear war isn’t much of a danger anymore, I say wake-up. Russia just announced today they are embarking on a program to upgrade their entire nuclear deterrent force including more missiles, space defence systems, and missile submarines. The recent Georgian invasion and crisis brought on by Russia proves the point they don’t really care much for international law.

If the United States ever goes to war with Russia, the missiles will rain down in all our backyards. Grab a brain Mrs. Palin.

What’s truly scary is that this is a person who could become Commander-in-Chief.

Life is a Cartoon Sometimes

Now for something completely different. Apparently a woman from Pennsylvania was petting her neighbor’s cat, or at least that’s what she thought. This is a story right out of a Warner Bros. cartoon. Reminds me of Pepe Le Pew the little skunk who always mistakes cats for female skunks.

Turns out the “cat” was actually a skunk! Needless to say she got a good dose of a not so nice cologne. Not only that but the skunk ran into her house and wouldn’t leave.

Animal control eventually removed the animal. Moral of the story – be familiar with North American wildlife.