Maybe it didn’t take much imagination to see where society and our country was heading … but it does give me the chills to listen to radio personality Paul Harvey’s broadcast from 1965 when Democrats embraced their big government solutions and promoted President Johnson’s Great Society program. (and the answer from today’s LiberalProgressives is that government is not big enough and that we need to tax, spend and control even more to solve the problem.)
Most people watching tropical weather are focused on the eye of the storm … for good reason, but as a sail enthusiast, I tend to refer to the Mariner 1-2-3 rule when watching storm. This Danger Rule or Area applies the 34-knots of wind criteria as a way to keep boaters out of the worst weather. According to NOAA, 34 knots of wind was chosen because when winds reach this strength the sea state will change putting a vessel in more danger – see nhc.noaa.gov PDF.
The current path and projections (as of Friday 8/28 afternoon) from most models have Erika centered on the west coast of Florida and are no long projected the strength to strengthen to hurricane intensity. From past rainfall levels though, the tropical storm will dump tons of rain over the entire southern part of the state, but hopefully will refrain from excessive wind and surge. This may not be comforting for those directly in the path, but with preparation it if far more survivable than a category level hurricane.
.SYNOPSIS…TROPICAL STORM ERIKA NEAR 17.7N 69.4W 1008 MB AT 11 AM MOVING W-NW OR 280 DEG AT 16 KT. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS 45 KT GUSTS 55 KT. ERIKA WILL CONTINUE W-NW AND ACROSS HISPANIOLA THIS AFTERNOON REACHING 19.3N 71.4W THIS EVENING…THEN WILL MOVE N OF HISPANIOLA TO 20.8N 74.5W SAT MORNING AND CONTINUE N OF CUBA TO 22.3N 77.3W SAT EVENING…23.5N 79.2W SUN MORNING…THEN OVER SOUTH FLORIDA NEAR 26.0N 81.5W BY MON MORNING. ONLY MODEST FLUCTUATIONS IN THE STRENGTH OF ERIKA ARE CURRENTLY EXPECTED THROUGH SUN.
Most technology followers know the theory behind copying the swipe code from traditional magnetic credit cards, but few people swiping their cards at the gas pump realize that the “skimming device” is installed by criminals is installed out of site “inside” the gas pump.
Q: If you can’t see it, how do you know your card is stolen?
A: You don’t until it is too late. It’s a growing problem.
The theft starts with a universal gasoline pump key that unlocks the majority of the nation’s dispensers. With a $111 credit card skimmer purchased on the Internet, a criminal can set up an enterprise to steal credit and debit card information from unsuspecting motorists fueling their cars.
First, the thief installs a skimming device as small as a matchbox inside the dispenser cabinet. The card data can be downloaded and sold on the Internet. Or, with a $359 card embosser and some blank magnetic cards, fraudulent cards can be made using the stolen numbers.
Either way, with their new “crowbars,” thieves are stealing millions of dollars. Some are using more expensive Bluetooth-equipped skimmers so they can do their dirty work without having to retrieve the skimmer.
The problem of criminals, many of them organized crime rings, placing skimming devices inside gas pumps has come to the forefront recently as Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspectors uncovered 107 illegally placed devices in a statewide sweep.
Looks probable. Should have removed the Bimini on Encore this summer … thankfully the sails are down and stowed safely away. Lines are doubled, but no longer as new and stretchy as they once were. Hm … as my buddy Mark would say, “that why we pay for insurance.”
In 2008 the TDIClub gifted me a VW travel thermos and I’ve used it everyday since then. I use it primarily an insulated water bottle, but it does did a great job with coffee too. It doesn’t sweat when things are cold and with just 2 ice cubes this little stainless steel Alfi Vacuum Bottle would keep water cold all day … and fits in a cupholder!
Unfortunately I dropped it a couple months ago and it must have lost whatever inert gas or vacuum because it is no longer doing its job. Now … what do I replace it with???
It is the time of year when the tropical weather in the Atlantic tracks across the Caribbean Sea and Leeward Islands. These tropical storms can grow into hurricanes and blast the US east coast or continue on into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The previous tropical storm turn hurricane for a very short while was Danny, but the new one called Erika east of the Leeward Islands may have a little more potential to grow. Time will tell what happens with this storm as currently Erika is confirmed to have only 40 mph winds and is moving west at 20 mph. Hurricane watchers have the current track and cone targeting the Bahama Islands and southeast coast of Florida and growing in intensity.
After getting a chance to play with a quad copter last week, I’ve been a little more intrigued with the advancements in “drones.” Who knows, this innovation may find its way into the first realistic personal transportation device someday?
Sony’sAerosense drone that takes off and lands vertically but during flight gets most of its lift from wings for more efficient and faster flight. I like the concept. Check it out.
It has been 25 days since surgery and about a month since my wife’s fall off a ladder. The rehabilitation is actually going well when observing the healing from the outside — the incision is relatively clean. Brenda isn’t ready for photos … so I’ll just include the last photo (right) of her are pre-injury from July 2015. The incision photos from yesterday look pretty good although there is a sign that some internal sutures are coming to the surface and causing a little seepage. We are watching for infection (see below).
Unfortunately the internal healing will be much slower as the pelvis fractures and new “bionic” part (composite part) in her arm will take longer to heal property before she can use or put any weight it. Still the “passive” motion of her arm by the physical therapist and “pivoting” on Brenda’s right foot until the pelvis heals (weight off left) at least has her able to inch around the house a little bit without being stuck in a recliner or wheelchair. We do take too many things for granted as I walk back and forth “speedily” taking care of things. It is all very frustrating to someone as active as her.
Thankfully the pain meds keep her comfortable for the most part and she can tolerate the working of her arm through a pretty impressive range of motion. The surgeon was skeptical after not being able to save her bone and replacing with a half shoulder. He commented that his goal is to save the shoulder when possible as it give the fullest range of motion after rehab. Second is the “hemi” since the scapulla is still the natural material and we re hopeful it will be in position to permit the new part a full range of motion — that is something not even possible with a full shoulder replacement. Brenda is working hard and intends to give the rehab 100% … so if it is possible to regain, she will do it.
The trading day is not over yet, but the moves on Wall Street and with individual stocks or indices have been unprecedented today. We are currently down 600 points on the Dow Jones Industrial average with an hour left in the day, but that almost seems mild compared to the onslaught of sell ordering in the early morning. At 9:30 when the opening bell rang, the DJIA plummeted 1089 points marking it all time largest move. It was a hair off the NYSE 7% halt trigger, but the impact to portfolios was huge. Those holding stocks of nearly any kind felt the pain.
Those of us brave enough to make a few trades were rewarded as markets rose off the floor and even went positive with a few stock before the selling in the afternoon resumed. Who knows what the end of the day or when the end of this sell off will end?
Those who remember October 1987 are seeing some similarities, but commonsense is all that is needed to realized that the stock market has risen but the economy is not equally as robust. The economy and financial health of banks, companies, housing and individuals is far better than before the 2008 recession, but no where near the pace to justify the market return since that time.
Maybe it didn’t take much imagination to see where society and our country was heading … but it does give me the chills to listen to radio personality Paul Harvey’s broadcast from 1965 when Democrats embraced their big government solutions and promoted President Johnson’s Great Society program. (and the answer from today’s Liberal Progressives is that government is not big enough and that we need to tax, spend and control even more to solve the problem.)
