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Summertime and the weather’s weather

Summer starts Friday and it seems like the typical summer weather is shaping up here in the subtropical climes of the Gulf Coast United States.

Here in Cajun Texas folks can feel themselves drained by the hot weather while getting cooled off — and repeat — from a thunderstorm popped up by that “warm, moist air” of the Gulf of Mexco. As I write, a cluster of T-storms, one portion having caused a severe thunderstorm warning at one time, seems as if it is entering western Jefferson County. Jefferson County is where I call home as of now. In fact, I can hear rumbling thunder as I write. Perhaps if I was to look west I would see lightning, but I am to lazy to go outside right now.

During this time of year one may also see what is known as “heat lightning.” I used to watch heat lightning on warm summer nights when I was a kid. My Mom and Dad would talk about heat lightning as if it was some mysterious weather phenomenon. Perhaps it was back in the day. Most people are getting perhaps a bit more sophisticated about weather these days what with The Weather Channel, and Doppler radar and the Internet.

Here is a pretty good explanation for “heat lightning” from the Wikipedia:

 “Heat lightning is the name used for the faint flashes of lightning on the horizon or other clouds from distant thunderstorms that do not have accompanying sounds of thunder. This happens because the lightning occurs very far away and the sound dissipates before it reaches the observer. Heat lightning was named because it often occurs on hot summer nights and to distinguish it from lightning accompanied by audible thunder and cooling rainfall at the point of observation.”

Of course, growing up during the Vietnam war, I also would often hear the distant sound of what one might think was thunder but had no accompanying light show. This was what might have been from artillery fired at Fort Polk, which was across the Sabine River and into Louisiana some 35 miles away. Hearing something from such a distance might seem far-fetched these days, especially for the urban dweller. But where I grew up was mighty, mighty quiet and remains so for the most part.

Along with the scattered thunderstorm, there just might be the summer drought. Just as possible there might be the tropical storm or disturbance from the Gulf which could turn into a hurricane. A tropical storm is rustling around right now about 55 miles off the coast from Veracruz, Mexico. Probably someone down in that vicinity needs the rain.

What, if anything, will happen in the way of tropical activity for us? It’s just wait and see. Buy you some supplies: Food, plywood, batteries, whatever you need for such an event which hopefully won’t come.

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Remembering those ancient days of the $10-fillup or less

Last week I was thinking on something or the other when I wondered about gas prices. I wasn’t wondering why gas was so high or will we ever gas priced return to $1-something a gallon? No, I was just trying to remember when gasoline was “cheap” during my lifetime.

I was specifically trying to remember what it cost me to drive back to far East Texas from San Diego when I was in the process of leaving the Navy. This was in 1978 and I had done a favor for a shipmate who in trying to repay me asked what it was going to cost for me to drive home from the ship. I think I told him “about $40.”  Looking back and doing some calculating, I might just have hit the nail right on its head.

Going by the theory that sooner or later you will eventually locate whatever you search for on the Internet, sure enough I found an historic listing of gas prices from 1929-2011. The table, published by the federal government’s Department of Energy was quite helpful in providing average gas prices. And an average was probably just what I needed since I was driving into different geographical areas, which as is the case today, have a wide range of gas prices.

Of course, I had to estimate the gas mileage my 1975 Toyota Corolla got and do some figuring on the actual miles from San Diego to Home.

It is an interesting little table though. It kind of provides some insight into history, such as when gas prices really took a turn toward the upswing. For instance in 1975. This was the year I bought my first new car and the gas went “way up.” I remember that pissed me off pretty good. In that case, the average price of a gallon rose from 39 cents to 53 cents. But in today’s dollars it represents about an increase of 50 cents. And that was a pretty good little chunk of change to take out of your budget back then.

Consider too that the average gas prices had remained in the 30-cent range for about 17 years — from 1957 until 1974-75 — when the price made a 14-cent leap. The prices just kept on going up and up. The last year we saw an average price less than a dollar was 1989. Although the average prices had never been that low again we have seen days when the prices would stay in the high-90-cent range, this being in the early “oughts.”

Call me wistful. Or call me a gas truck. It is interesting to know what gasoline prices looked like in bygone eras. It is also a handy reference to figure out the price of other items and the cost of living in general since petro generally sets prices of many assorted household goods. Read it and smile, not weep.

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To you fathers and fathers before

Three hours.

Three freaking hours I have sat here. I have tried to write something, even something short that’s right for going off into this weekend.

It’s not that I’ve had writer’s block. If that is indeed such a thing. Used to, I could write something for deadline made from essentially nothing and it would be a great, well, good story. When I say from nothing, that isn’t to say I made it up. It is just that I kicked my ass in gear and got to it. I have a hard time doing that sometimes today.

So, I shall just say, be careful, all you fathers out there on the highways or wherever. Be careful grilling. Whatever you are doing. Don’t make any headline news for the wrong reasons this Father’s Day!

Oddly enough, my Dad died 29 years ago tomorrow. He would have been 98 on his birthday next week. I still miss him. He didn’t make any headline news, but his picture was in the local paper one time.

All of you fathers out there, have a happy weekend. That is whether or not you get to see your kids. If your father isn’t around whether for awhile or permanently or your kids, you can still celebrate. I’m all for celebrating.

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

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Republicans feast upon Democrats through investigations

A note from ze editor blog meister: Some of you readers who have been with me for a long time know I sometime edit online. Today, I published this way before it was ready but I was too lazy to delete it from the dashboard, go back and edit, then re-release and so forth. Sorry, I suppose I’m just a lazy f**k.

The do-nothing, congressional Republicans are once again feasting upon any goody that is served up to them that can damage the Democratic brand or that of possible 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

If ever there was a case of double-talk, even triple-talk, the GOP congressional members have got it going on.

Today though, it wasn’t only the Republicans but members of a Democratic-led Senate Appropriations Committee had the NSA director on the hotseat over the now exposed surveillance program in which the spy agency used millions of phone records to tap so-called “meta-data.”

Army Gen. Keith Alexander, NSA head, told senators that the surveillance program — approved by the secret FISA court without any proof at least uncovered instances of probable cause — played an important role in stopping “dozens” of foreign and domestic terror plots. Similar spy programs had begun under George Dubya Bush after 9/11. And many Republicans felt that was swell. But these days, the Republicans want to get at the Democrats in any manner possible. So instead of being vocal against or even supportive of the spy programs themselves the GOP lawmakers play attack dog against the messenger.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who is probably the most slobbering attack dog for the GOP said today that those who reported on the leaks that exposed the spy program should be prosecuted and punished in addition to confessed leaker Edward Snowden.

Taking no prisoners on the remarks King made last night on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” Forbes.com‘s self-described “token lefty” contributor Rick Ungar writes today that:

“Apparently, Rep. King’s judgment has grown so twisted by his overriding interest in protecting America from “the terrorists” that the insanity of his remarks has either not occurred to him or, alternatively, King has decided that the iconic words of Patrick Henry no longer have relevancy in the post 9-11 era in our history.”

Ungar was referring to, of course, the iconic phrase: “Give me liberty of give me death” that Henry made in 1775 addressing the Second Virginia Convention — one of five gatherings that ultimately ratified the U.S. Constitution.

This morning King was interviewed, if you can call it that, by CNN morning anchor Carol Costello. I could only think of five or so critical points I would have asked King while the flaky host let King go on and on first being asked about a new plot to “get Hillary.”

That latest brewing storm charges that a number of state department personnel including security members purchased sex from hookers. Similar charges were made against U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman except he allegedly engaged in such conduct with minors. The allegations also point to State Department Undersecretary Patrick Kennedy as trying to quash such suspicions. Hey, the Republicans can get a two-fer here with Clinton and a Kennedy.

King told Costello this morning in a half-ass interview in which she squawks some ineffectual question or comments that he was only wanting to see that inspector general be confirmed for the State Department. The agency responsible for investigating the State Department and, oddly enough, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, has been out with an official No. 1 guy since 2008. Deputy Inspector General Howard Geisel has been in charge of the agency since 2008.

As to why State has been without an inspector general for so long I couldn’t tell you. However, if you look at why so many top offices have not been confirmed you will likely find as a major reason that the obstinate  Republicans of the House and Senate have made sure the confirmation process be to their liking. Funny how that works. Its kind of like a Catch-22, which many people know what the phrase means, but are not familiar with its origins.

So in closing here is where “Catch-22” comes from. It emanates from a classic novel by Joseph Heller that was published in 1961. The satirical story is set in 1943 during World War II. Here is a pretty good synopsis. Even better, go read the book. A film was likewise released in 1970 based on the book. I can’t remember seeing it although I know I have. But if you can read at all, the novel should stick with you. Especially in these days of political Catch-22.

 

 

 

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Maybe our priorities need straightening

Well, I suppose I just could not get around, once again, all that is the screaming headlines of late about our nation “spying” on us, its citizens. Yes, I could have maybe written on my very hellish time spent dealing with a very vicious computer virus. As it is I get to do a two-fer.

First, on my computer virus, I swear this virus has left me paranoid. I dare not speak the name of this virus for fear it might be watching me or my computer. My fears have nothing to do with the U.S. spy agencies. But yet these viruses to seem to have every move figured out. Sometimes I wonder if some of these companies or individuals engaged in computer security are not behind these totally unnerving assaults against a computer that did no harm. I say again, my computer, my laptop hasn’t killed anyone unless it was while I was sleeping.

Computers don’t kill people — provided a box containing a computer and accessories does not fall on your head — people kill people. And no, I am not bringing that worn out phrase to carp about guns and whether they need controlling. Although, I will say at some point you will see some kind of controls, NRA or not. Sooner or later someone will outspend or out-maneuver these who would like the ability to buy any kind of gun that they can afford. The carnage daily, 5-6 people killed at a pop time. Eventually it will result in some control that will make those being proposed by Obama tame, which they are.

Back to leakage. My mind has edged over into two lines of thought about the leaks which some hacker who never graduated high school nor his GED pulled off and computer security issues which hacked me off following a virus.

Blockbuster classified information has now come from two low-level individuals on the U.S. security apparatus food chain. First, Army Pvt. Bradley Manning, and now a guy who left the Army after an accident and was an analyst with the CIA as well as a government contractor. What the hell? Why is access to such information made available to these guys in the first place?

Edward Snowden, the latest one to leak a ton of classified information might end up chasing the “babes” with Vladimir Putin, now that he divorced his wife,Lyudmila. I suggest the FBI find one Edward Snowden pretty damn fast. Give him a day in court. We can only deal with one skirt-chasing Russian at a time.

Whether either guy, Manning or Snowedn ever serves prison time is just something which will take its course.

Some want the death penalty for treason for people who do such as this. I am not so sure that is the best course though. No, I think the ones who really deserve hard time or get the needle are the bastards like the one who destroy people’s computers with viruses or whatever, of the type I battled all weekend. Give ’em no mercy! The pigs!

I suppose you might have figure out that I am a bit pissed about this whole virus thing.