Monthly Archives: August 2006

And the rains came

Posted on August 29, 2006 | Comments Off on And the rains came

Sounds silly, maybe, to make much out of the quarter to a half inch of rain that fell in torrents this morning as Mom left to take Mr. Boy to school, but it’s like that in Texas. Especially in a drought.  Enlivens the spirit. Afterall, it hadn’t rained like that for two months. You can almost hear the grass growing in gratitude. Wet ground also will keep the temps down below the 100s for a few days. It’s only in the 80s at the moment. Coolest day since June. Mercy.

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Posted in Weather/Climate

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Hez takes on the Aussie Navy

Posted on August 28, 2006 | Comments Off on Hez takes on the Aussie Navy

hezbollah-sunk-ship.jpg

What’s wrong with this picture? No, it’s not more fauxtography, not exactly. But it’s not what it purports to be, on an Iranian-run Hez web site, i.e. Hez’s destruction of an Israeli warship. Bagel Blogger found a story in the Australian Herald Sun newspaper showing that it is, rather, a photo of the controlled destruction of a decommisioned Australian destroyer– the HMAS Torrens, off the western coast of Australia in 1998.

Via SnoopyTheGoon at SimplyJews 

But why not? Hez took on the U.S. Treasury years ago.

"This scene and dozens more like it flashed around the planet. Only one thing was missing—the thin wire security strip that runs from top to bottom of a genuine US$100 bill. The money Hezbollah was passing was counterfeit, as should have been evident to anybody who studied the photographs with due care."

Via LGF 

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Posted in The War

Triple-digit days

Posted on August 28, 2006 | Comments Off on Triple-digit days

Bob Rose, meteorologist for the Lower Colorado River Authority in Austin, tells me my recent tally of the official 100-degree days so far in this heat heavy summer was a little low.

The official National Weather Service sites, at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and the Texas National Guard’s headquarters at Camp Mabry in West Austin, are the ones federal meteorologists count.

"Using data through Sunday, 8/27," Bob writes, "Mabry has recorded 32 100-degree days and Bergstrom has recorded 27 so far this summer."

He said that puts the summer of 2006 in the top 10 years with 100-degree days. Camp Mabry’s 32 is a tie for 7th place with 1980.  Bergstrom’s 27 is in 9th place behind 30 days in 1985. Of course these rankings will improve as summer has a few weeks to run yet.

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Posted in Weather/Climate

The drouth

Posted on August 27, 2006 | Comments Off on The drouth

drmon.JPG

Drouth is the old-timey Texas spelling [straight out of the King James Bible] of drought, an on-again, off-again condition around here. Some old weathermen say that drought is the normal state of affairs in Texas. When you have a really good, long one, the ground gets so dry that the air just gets hotter and hotter, and here we are, coming up on thirty days of triple-digits. So it’s no surprise that Texas agriculture is starting to look like the drier parts of Rancho Roly Poly.

"Estimated drought losses for Texas have reached $4.1 billion, eclipsing the $2.1 billion mark set in 1998, Texas Cooperative Extension economists reported Friday…said Dr. Travis Miller, Extension agronomist. "Much of the corn and soybean crop has been harvested for silage or hay; pastures are bare and hay barns are empty. Much of the hay being fed is from out-of-state or along the upper coast, which has received favorable rains. Livestock water supplies are disappearing and ranchers are unable to sustain herds with purchased hay and dry tanks."

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R.I.P. PFC William E. Thorne, 4th ID

Posted on August 27, 2006 | Comments Off on R.I.P. PFC William E. Thorne, 4th ID

"The family [of Hospers, Iowa] issued a written statement that described Thorne as ‘very kind, quiet, and unassuming.’

"’He had an affectionate sense of humor, and a most infectious smile. He was an example of both humility and endurance through challenging times,’ the statement read. ‘His gracious presence will continue to be an inspiration. His family is very proud of his dedication and sacrifice, and is committed to honoring him through their lives.’"

UPDATE His wife, Corey, who was also serving in Iraq, illustrates Belmont Club’s belief that religious faith will be needed to beat the jihadis. "We are two very strong people," Corey Thorne said when asked how they coped with the separation and the danger of combat deployment. "We leaned on each other very much. We just trusted in the Lord, that God would take care of each other. Being a solder, I was trained to prepare myself for this."

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Posted in Troops

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An Israeli wedding

Posted on August 26, 2006 | Comments Off on An Israeli wedding

"What all of these young men shared in common was the inevitable M-16 casually slung over a well-muscled shoulder, and an impossible level of enthusiasm and energy… broad toothy smiles and friendly shouts that gave hint to the simple, unimaginable pleasure they were experiencing at being safe and alive."

A good story here, of a soldier’s wedding in Israel, two days after the ceasefire. 

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Posted in Israel

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Who won, again?

Posted on August 25, 2006 | Comments Off on Who won, again?

If Hez really won the recent dustup with the IDF, why is the Lebanese PM talking about peace treaties with Israel? Heresy! And why is Amir Taheri saying in the Wall Street Journal that Iran’s "supreme guide" Ali Khamenei is going to be sorry that he gets his news from CNN? (As if anyone wouldn’t be).

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Posted in Israel

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