Latest Radar Picture Of TS Humberto

Here is the 248nm range of Houston's NWS WSR-88D - clearly showing the location and rotation of rapidly-developed Tropical Storm Humberto south of Galveston.
(Click to enlarge)

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TROPICAL STORM HUMBERTO THREATENS TEXAS - LOUISIANA

A tropical depression has rapidly developed into Tropical Storm Humberto- off the upper Texas Gulf coast.
This storm is centered about 70 miles SSW of Galveston-TX and was moving North at 6 m.p.h..

Sustained winds are 45 m.p.h. with higher gusts- and "some strengthening is expected before landfall" near Galveston later tonight- says the National Hurricane Center.

Here are the latest NHC forecasts- and visible satellite pix of Humberto. Click on all images on this site to enlarge them.

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NOW PLAYING: "Poem For The People"

Sometimes- the ONLY refuge is The Music...


POEM FOR THE PEOPLE
(Robert Lamm)


If the people only knew
If they could visualize
Just open their eyes
Even stop to think about
If they could open their minds
They could get beyond
The world's a funny place you know
Most of what goes on
Is rarely funny
Rarely funny- at all

Could the people understand
They only whisper in screams
And colorless dreams
Could they finally comprehend
If they could suddenly see
And suddenly feel

The worlds a funny place you know
Most of what goes on
Is rarely funny
Rarely funny- at all.

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How People Like Senator "Kit" Bond Loses Me

I'm not a member of MoveOn.org- but I receive their mailings thanks to one of my nieces. I got this yesterday from MoveOn:

Dear MoveOn member,

Yesterday, General David Petraeus misled the country.

He used faulty statistics and cherry-picked intelligence to argue that American troops should stay in Iraq for the foreseeable future. The general said we're making major progress1—and we have to stay the course. Sadly, independent assessments show that things in Iraq have gone from bad to worse (see below for more on how Petraeus stretched the truth).

Some of you have emailed to say it reminds you of the day four and a half years ago when President Bush sent General Colin Powell to the U.N. to make a trumped-up case for war.

Powell's WMDs helped justify the invasion of Iraq, and Petraeus' version of "progress"—if it goes unchallenged—will justify keeping troops there for years. Can you take a few minutes to write a letter-to-the editor reminding folks that the "surge" didn't work—and that the responsible thing to do is bring our troops home?

http://pol.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=84&id=11221-6853641-VBYEDB&t=2

Petraeus based much of his assessment on the claim that violence in Iraq is dropping.2 That just isn't true:

Petraeus is using "funny math." According to the Washington Post, Petraeus and the Pentagon are using a bizarre formula for measuring violence in the country. For example, deaths by car bombs don't count.3 And assassinations count only if you're shot in the back of the head—not in the front.4

Iraqis believe the surge has failed. According to a massive new ABC/BBC poll, every single Iraqi polled in Baghdad, the primary target of the "surge," said it had made security worse. Iraqis themselves overwhelmingly think the situation in Iraq is deteriorating, in terms of security, political cooperation, the economy, and other measures. Overall, 70% think the escalation worsened rather than improved security conditions. 5
The independent GAO report found that violence is up. A comprehensive Government Accountability Office report ordered by Congress found that "average number of daily attacks against civilians have remained unchanged from February to July 2007."6 In August, things got worse, with civilian casualties rising according to the Associated Press7 and the Los Angeles Times.8
For our troops, it's the bloodiest summer yet. More U.S. troops died every month this year compared to the same month last year.9

Petraeus claimed that he compiled his report without conferring with the White House. But the Washington Post recently reported that Petraeus or his staff joined daily conference calls with the White House and former RNC chairman Ed Gillespie this summer to "map out ways of selling the surge." The Post reported that Gillespie's White House political unit was "hard-wired" to Petraeus' military unit.10

We would all like to see life improving in Iraq. But it's not—it's getting worse. And if US forces stay in Iraq both Americans and Iraqis will pay a terrible price.

Today is the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in American history. The wounds of 9/11 are still fresh for many of us. After 9/11, President Bush used fear, lies and trumped-up intelligence to stampede us into Iraq. Now, America is bogged down in an unwinnable civil war, and Al Qaeda has regained enough strength to once again menace the United States.11

It would be a tragic irony if, six years later, the administration used skewed intelligence to head off the growing momentum for an exit strategy from Iraq.

Please write a letter reminding America and Congress not to fall, ever again, for White House lies—we need a timeline to bring our troops home.

http://pol.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=84&id=11221-6853641-VBYEDB&t=3

Thanks for all that you do,

–Nita, Karin, Laura, Eli, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Tuesday, September 11th, 2007

P.S. Yesterday, MoveOn members sponsored an ad in the New York Times debunking Petraeus' claims. Click here to see the ad—and the evidence to back it up:
http://pol.moveon.org/petraeus.html?id=11221-6853641-VBYEDB&t=4

The ad stirred a controversy on Capitol Hill—it accuses Petraeus of "cooking the books." And it charges that Petraeus is betraying the American peoples' trust by spinning the facts to support the White House. Some Democrats were uncomfortable with such strong language, and Republicans attacked MoveOn.

We're sure if we'd run an ad debunking Colin Powell's testimony in 2003, they would have done the same thing—but sometimes it's important to set the facts straight.

SOURCES
1. Washington Post, "Petraeus Backs Initial Pullout," 9/11/07
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2958&id=11221-6853641-VBYEDB&t=5 2. Ibid.
3. New York Times, "Time to Take a Stand," 9/7/07
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2941&id=11221-6853641-VBYEDB&t=6
4. Washington Post, "Experts Doubt Drop in Violence in Iraq," 9/6/07
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2938&id=11221-6853641-VBYEDB&t=7
5. ABC News, "Iraqis' Own Surge Assessment," 9/10/07
http://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=3571504
6. Washington Post, "Experts Doubt Drop in Violence in Iraq," 9/6/07
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2938&id=11221-6853641-VBYEDB&t=8
7. Associated Press, "1,809 Iraqi civilians killed in August," 9/1/07
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20543737/
8. Los Angeles Times, "Iraqi civilian deaths climb again," 9/1/07
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2956&id=11221-6853641-VBYEDB&t=9
9. http://www.iCasualties.org
10. Washington Post, "Among Top Officials, 'Surge' Has Sparked Dissent, Infighting," 9/9/07
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2957&id=11221-6853641-VBYEDB&t=10
11. Washington Post, "Scarier than Bin Laden," 9/9/07
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2959&id=11221-6853641-VBYEDB&t=11


Notice- 11 attributing references backing up what the author wrote.

Now- without ANY attribution to FACTS- THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH reports Missouri U.S. Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond joined 30 other Senators- no doubt all Dubya butt-boys- denouncing the well-attributed piece by MoveOn.

I had to stifle insane laughter when I read what these obviously blind politicos wrote about this Fiasco in Iraq I call "Bush's Folly: "the future of America’s involvement there is of paramount importance to our country and, while we believe fervently in the right of free speech, we also believe that it is possible and proper to conduct this debate without besmirching our brave men and women in uniform."

Say WHAAAAAT????

Did these politicos even READ the MoveOn piece? Show ME where the writers "besmirch" ANY men and women in uniform. We're the ultimate supporters of Americans in uniform- WE DON'T WANT THEM HURT OR KILLED BY STUPID-ASSED POLITICIANS' IDIOTIC WHIMS!!!

It's all propaganda folks - PATRIOT Act III will no doubt do away with this messy thing called TRUTH and FREE SPEECH.

More frightening is that too many Americans- NEWS MEDIA INCLUDED- buy the company line without first checking the facts. They won't even care when that happens....

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Missouri Turns Student Loan Money Over To Corporate Construction Companies

On the surface- one has to ask WTF?

Why the State of Missouri- under Matt Blunt's eager approval- would take the cash OUT of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority- the agency that doles out student loans for higher education- and put that money into new construction at state universities?

Today- $230-million disappeared- with court approval mind you- from the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority to that construction fund- according to THE KANSAS CITY STAR.

Has ANYONE asked the simple question with today's soaring higher education tuitions: Without student loans readily available- who will be able to AFFORD to sit in those fancy new buildings?

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Another Insane Act By Mentally-Unstable Americans

So this is 2007?

Six West Virginia white folks held a young black woman against her will for 6 days- sexually- as well as in every way abusing her and repeatedly stabbing the woman.

Maybe West Virginia authorities will see fit to incarcerate those guilty in a condemned building about to be imploded...

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"Built Ford Shoddy" - Why Smart Americans Don't Buy American Vehicles

A 2003 Ford Windstar van with less than 45000 miles on it should NOT have 2 tie-rod ends- a wheel-bearing assembly and it's ABS system go bad.

Yet- that's what happened to my Dad's van- under "extended bumper to bumper warranty" and he STILL has to pay the dealership- Ray Smith Ford- to fix it.

Smith's had the van a total of 4 days in 2 visits- and they STILL can't get it right.

Small wonder Dad is looking at new vans now- none of which are American made.


CLARIFICATION: Dad had to pay the dealership for "a front-end alignment" after the shoddy parts were replaced. Seems to me Ford would have picked up that added cost that was incurred because of their defects- but American corporations don't get rich "doing the right thing."

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Case In Point Why Sports Fans Can Be Big Morons

A Texas Longhorns fan made the mistake of walking into a bar in Oklahoma City- Henry Hudson's Pub on June 17- wearing a Longhorns shirt.

The Longhorns fan- 32-year-old Brian Christopher Thomas- was soon set-upon by one of the bar's patrons and a Sooner fan- 53-year-old Allen Michael Beckett- who nearly castrated Thomas. Beckett is also reportedly a "church deacon."

Brother- methinks you have to have to have senses in the first place before you can take leave of them....

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Tuesday - September 11- 2007 - NEWS inDIGESTion

* NEW YORK-NY - Heads were bowed and prayers said for 2974 of the 2993 people that died 6 years ago today. Absolute Christians may have said a prayer as well for the other 19- the ones who carried off the hijacking of 4 passenger jets.
To me? The real on-going injustice is that every passenger on Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania didn't receive a posthumous Medal of Honor. They willingly gave their lives as TRUE patriots (not some freedom-pulling "Acts") and most likely saved the U.S. Capitol from destruction....

* WASHINGTON D.C. - As memorial services were held across the Potomac at the Pentagon- an American ambassador and 4-star general continued to tesity at congressional hearings on the Iraq War - a.k.a. 'Bush's Folly.' Even members of the GOP are "asking hard questions" but if you think we'll be sending any troops home soon I have some guaranteed dry land in Arizona to sell you.
These and other so-called 'experts' say the Iraq mistake "needs more time"- as well as the not-mentioned American taxpayer money and American bodies to do their bidding.

* WASHINGTON-D.C. - An organization comprised of real estate agents- The National Association of Realtors- says that home sales will decline this year. Fortunately- this group does not forecast weather as this is like saying there's a chance of rain during a monsoon.

* CHICAGO-IL - You know them- all the drug commercials that spend 30 seconds of every minute they spout telling us how beneficial their drugs are FOR you- telling you what their miracle (money) drugs might do TO you.
According to this AP article- the most-shaky Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that the "number of deaths and serious injuries from prescription and over-the-counter drugs climbed from 34,966 to 89,842" during the years 1998 to 2005.

* WASHINGTON D.C. - This is BREAKING NEWS- President Dubya has announced a "conditional" withdrawal of 30000 troops from Iraq by next summer. What he DIDN'T say is whether those troops would return intact or in body bags....

* KANSAS CITY-MO - The news gets REALLY depressing so I want to share a joke with you good people - - Britney Spears. There- that heartfelt guffaw sure felt good now- didn't it?
Hey- you there- Kanye West! What? Ms. "Bush Is The Greatest" Spears WASN'T funny? You present-day "entertainers" take yourself WAAYYYYYYYYY too seriously- never mind....

* SUGAR CREEK-MO - Police have confirmed earlier today that the remains they found in a wooded area of eastern Sugar Creek were indeed those of missing Lindsey and Sam Porter.

I have submitted their father and lone suspect Dan Porter's photo to the Webster dictionary people for posting next to the word "despicable." I'm positive too that there is a long list of more-naughty words Dan Porter's picture could be used to illustrate....

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Update On Dead/Wounded In Bush's Folly On The 6th Anniversary of 9-11-01

From the WAR DEAD IN IRAQ link on this site...


Monday: 13 GIs, 77 Iraqis Killed; 132 Iraqis Wounded
Updated at 12:20 a.m. EDT, Sept. 11, 2007

At least 77 Iraqis were killed and 132 Iraqis were wounded during the latest violence. Thirteen GIs were killed and at least 16 injured in separate incidents, including a pair of vehicular accidents. Also, the holy city of Karbala reopened to visitors three weeks after clashes spoiled a religious observance there.

Seven American soldiers were killed and 11 were wounded in a non-combat vehicular accident today; two detainees were also killed and a third was injured. East of Baghdad, another soldier was killed and two more were injured in a separate accident. Yesterday, a Task Force Lightning soldier was killed in a rocket attack in At Ta’mim province. Three U.S. soldiers were slightly injured during a clash in Balad. The DOD also announced the death of a GI in Balad during a small arms attack on Satuday. A Marine was killed in a non-hostile incident on Friday in Anbar. Also, a GI died in Seattle on Friday of wounds received in Baquba in May, and another soldier died in San Antonio of wounds received in July in Baghdad.

A suicide truck bomb killed at least 10 people and wounded 78 others near Mosul, in the village of Tal Marag. The figures would have been higher except some villagers had become suspicious of the truck and fled the area prior to the explosion.

A roadside bomb in Yusufiyah killed 2 and wounded 13 others.

In Baghdad, 10 dumped bodies were recovered. A car bomb near a hospital in al-Otaifiyah killed two people and wounded six others.

Al-Sadr officials reported that U.S. forces were conducting an air strike in Sadr City. The Mahdi Army was ordered not to retaliate but to avoid detention instead. Hospital officials reported one dead and five wounded in the al-Orfali district. Other sources place the dead at three.

Thirteen Iraqi soldiers were wounded when their Iskandariya checkpoint was shelled.

Three dumped bodies were discovered in Mahmudiya.

A suicide bomber attacked a Saqlawiyah police checkpoint, killing four and wounding two others, mostly policemen.

Two bodies were fished out of the Tigris River at Suwayra.

At a village on the outskirts of Baghdad, U.S. forces and residents fought against militants; six suspected al-Qaeda were killed and 30 more were detained.

In Mosul, gunmen destroyed a dome belonging to a Sunni mosque. Three policemen were killed during clashes in an eastern neighborhood. Shelling in al-Farouq wounded six civilians.

Gunmen in Basra killed a financial director and set fire to his corpse.

Combined Iraqi-U.S. forces killed twelve al-Qaeda suspects and detained three in Samarra, a hostage was also freed. U.S. forces attacked a home in the city, where they killed two women and injured four others, including a child.

In Uwainat, U.S. forces killed two bystanders during a gunfight and a mechanic in a separate incident. U.S. and Iraqi forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda and Islamic Army leader in Baghdad.

Twelve gunmen were killed and three detained in Balad. Three U.S. soldiers were slightly wounded.

One civilian was killed and four were wounded during a roadside bombing in Kirkuk.

Eight civilians were kidnapped from a fake checkpoint near Muqdadiyah.


Compiled by Margaret Griffis.

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Coolest MetroRegion Temperatures In 4 Months

At 4am- St. Joseph-MO reports 47-degrees and Lawrence-KS has 48-degrees with fog and 1/2-mile visibility. K.C.I. read 50-degrees with lower 50's southward.

These are the coolest temperatures in the Kansas City MetroRegion since early May's cold snap.

Not out of the norm at all- the autumnal equinox is September 23- a week from this Sunday....

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