Monthly Archives: July 2008

The folly with Dolly

Posted on July 21, 2008 | Comments Off on The folly with Dolly

The New Braunfels office of the weather service is forecasting potentially heavy rains south of the rancho from Dolly’s inland track, starting Wednesday night into Thursday, although no one is sure what the track will be, specifically how far north of the mouth of the Rio Grande. All depends on the track and how big the storm is, certainly probably a hurricane when it goes ashore, but how fast will it fall apart after that? Accuweather’s Joe Bastardi (subsrcibers only) is ranting (as usual) at the hurricane center for allegedly missing Dolly’s actual location this morning, which could bring it ashore well north of Laguna Madre, in which case we could likely get a lot more rain.

UPDATE:  The Seablogger, presumably still enjoying his northeastern cruise, nevertheless has taken time out to predict a possibly severe Dolly striking as far north as Galveston! Pajamas has a nice roundup of views.

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Posted in Weather/Climate

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Fort Worth light bulb’s (alleged) hundredth year

Posted on July 21, 2008 | Comments Off on Fort Worth light bulb’s (alleged) hundredth year

I won’t go into any of the crass names that Fort Worth has been called, even by Texans (maybe, especially by Texans). But I truly doubt the Stock Yard Museum’s claim to an antique light bulb that’s been burning since September, 1908. What, no power outages in a hundred years? Bosh. When it comes to municipal brag, I prefer such as lowly Hutto’s claim that it is the Hippo Capital of Texas with, almost certainly, the largest concrete hippo in the world today–Henrietta, by name, weighing in at 14,000 pounds–not to mention diverse others.

Via Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub.

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Posted in Texana

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Three versions? Do I hear four?

Posted on July 21, 2008 | Comments Off on Three versions? Do I hear four?

The MSM, falling all over itself, as usual, to play pattycake with Baby Barry, is quoting one version of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s alleged translation of his alleged praise for BB’s withdraw-from-Iraq-in-sixteen-months pitch.

But, wouldn’t you know it, there are at least two other alleged translated versions, each with a different emphasis and different caveats. The original one has no caveats. I thought the CIA was the gang that couldn’t shoot straight? I know it’s heresy to say so (possibly even, gasp, racist) but I still don’t believe BB is going to win the presidency. So save your breath Maliki, assuming you, uh, actually said anything at all.

But I got to admit I like it that the Europeans and other foreigners are falling all over themselves to swoon at BB’s feet–and I’ll bet that, secretly, Mac does, too. Because if there’s one thing that will absolutely undercut an American politician who wants to be president, man, that is it.

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Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops

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Good golly, Miss Dolly

Posted on July 20, 2008 | Comments Off on Good golly, Miss Dolly

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So where’s the first tropical storm in the Gulf this season likely to wind up? So far Jeff Masters’ prediction above calls for a landfall as a minimal hurricane somewhere along the Texas-Mexico border, i.e. around Brownsville or Matamoros. For once, reduced as we often are to wishing for a hurricane to bring us some summer rain, we’ve got one that could do the job for us with a minimum of pain to others. But Accuweather’s Joe Bastardi thinks Dolly could be at least a Cat 2 by the time she reaches the border. More rain for us in Central Texas, maybe, but possibly also more pain for others along the Rio Grande.

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Posted in Weather/Climate

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Wrap rage solution?

Posted on July 20, 2008 | Comments Off on Wrap rage solution?

I’m not sure this tool is much better than using a box cutter (which is cheaper) or even a pair of stout scissors. But it’s an option. I have noticed that the clam shell wrapping has become somewhat easier to open, on some packages at least, by getting your thumbnail between the seams and prying it apart. Presumably it’s the manufacturers who are making it easier to do that.

Via Instapundit.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Scribbles

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He’s only half-black, but he’s three-quarters gay

Posted on July 20, 2008 | Comments Off on He’s only half-black, but he’s three-quarters gay

So shouldn’t we be talking about America’s first gay president? You know who I mean. Funny stuff here, especially in the comments.

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Posted in Scribbles

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My electric lawnmower

Posted on July 20, 2008 | Comments Off on My electric lawnmower

It annoys me, sometimes, dragging the extension cord around behind the mower, and trying not to trip or run over it. It does look mighty Green, and should easily qualify for the EPA’s proposed new Global Warming rules on every emission.

As long as the lawnmower inspector doesn’t complain that the source of the electricity is the city’s power plants which are run mainly by fossil fuels. In their case, a lot of natural gas, supplemented by a little nuclear and a little wind. I suppose I should worry what will happen to the landscaping guys I pay to do the front yard. They use plain old gas mowers trailing black smoke exhaust. The restrictions could make them significantly raise their charges, ultimately putting me out dragging the extension cord of the electric mower in the front yard as well.

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Posted in Rancho Roly Poly, Science/Engineering, Scribbles

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