Saturday, March 25, 2006

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Residents Assess Tornado Damage

As I walked through the Village of Jerome on the morning of March 13th, 2006 I found many small groups of residents gathering at various locations to survey tornado damage to their neighborhoods. The little group featured in the photograph above is standing at the corner of Corbin, and Vernon. One holds a camera, while the others look upon the destruction. Note the downed trees in the background. The pine tree to the right was sheared off as if cut by a giant pair of scissors.

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - @ Corbin & Vernon - Evergreen

I saw many beautiful evergreen trees damaged, and destroyed by the tornado. Many looked like the perfect Christmas tree. I couldn't help but think that this evergreen would have cost hundreds of dollars if it had been purchased from a Christmas tree lot only three months earlier. What a waste of a beautiful evergreen tree.

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Broken Power Pole Cross Beam

I thought of the photo above when I read in the State Journal Register that City Water Light, and Power had to purchase one thousand power pole cross beams to replace those broken by the tornado which stuck Jerome, and Springfield, Illinois. Many power lines were barely hanging from power poles, and many lay about the ground.

While I knew that the power lines were not electrified, I always feared that somehow I'd be the victim of a freak accident in which I managed to find the one downed power line which still had electricity running through it. Because of this lingering fear, I always avoided direct contact with these lines.

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Broken Fence - Tornado Oddity

The owner of the property where I took this photo (corner of Corbin, and Jerome Ave) said he was lucky not to have had much damage - except to his fence which was partially destroyed. He showed me an oddity created by the high wind velocity of the tornado. A part of his fence became wedged between two fence slats. It was blown there at high velocity - a nail appears to have stopped it from travelling completely though.

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Spring Trees Filled With Buds, And Insulation

Along Jerome Avenue I noticed that many trees were streaked with insulation from businesses on Wabash Avenue. Notice the horizontal streaks of insulation. The insulation isn't just hanging from the branches like it was thrown there, instead it is streaked in the branches as if it were blown there with great horizontal force. Streaks of insulation appeared in trees several blocks away, and appears to have been carried along with the tornado as it moved to the north east.

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Grass, Shingles, Insulation & Safety Glass

Walking around Jerome, Illinois the morning after the March 12th, 2006 tornado demanded caution. A big concern which I had was stepping on a shingle with a roofing nail. There were roofing shingles everywhere, and many had nails sticking straight up. A misstep would have meant taking a trip to the hospital for a tetanus shot. The photograph above was taken of the ground on Jerome Avenue just behind the now closed Putt Putt miniture golf course.

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash Avenue I
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash & Chatham
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - W. Jerome Ave
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue
Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant

Friday, March 24, 2006

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Corbin Street Resident Surveys Tornado Damaged Trees.

At the corner of Corbin and Reed a homeower had already employed a landscaper to cut through a fallen tree which was blocking access to her garage, and truck This was at eight in the morning, and it was an impressive sight. Several other individuals were assisting in hauling away branches.

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - A Workman Chain-Saws A Path Through Branches To Garage.

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Residents Haul Branches From Tornado Debris On Corbin.

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - SBC Crew On Corbin Street Repair Tornado Damaged Lines.

Only a few yards south on Corbin several SBC trucks were on site cutting away downed trees, and repairing damaged telephone lines.

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - SBC Worker Rides Within A "Cherry Picker" To Trim Branches.

While power lines were down, and these workers were not in danger of electrocution I still found their efforts impressive, and heroic. To find at such an early hour so many people working to restore power, and telephone service was a welcome sight.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue

Photo: Reed Avenue In Jerome, Illinois Blocked With Trees Felled From Tornado

Walking west down Reed Avenue in Jerome, Illinois early on the morning of March 13th, 2006 I found that the street was blocked by several trees. The photograph above shows several trees felled by the tornado of the night before. A large pine tree is broken from its stump, and thrown across Reed Avenue. This was just down the road from the Jerome Civic Center, Jerome's Police Department Building. Something about the way the large pine appeared captured my interest. I noticed a similar end met a large pine on Glenn Avenue. Both pines had broken off from their stumps, while non-evergreen trees were tossed over from their roots.

Photo: Reed Avenue In Jerome, Illinois Blocked With Trees Felled From Tornado

I find the photograph (above) of the pine tree's jagged stump filled with beauty. It wasn't a clean break. A definate struggle ocurred, until suddenly the tree was ripped from its base quite violently. That struggle may have only taken a second thus ending the life of a tree which had lasted decades. I suspect that pine trees, having a greater mass than other trees this time of year due to their pine needles, created this ripping effect. The tornado winds were in excess of 120 mile per hour.

Photo: Reed Avenue In Jerome, Illinois Blocked With Trees Felled From Tornado

Once past the pine tree, looking west down Reed Avenue, I used my camera's zoom lens to bring the shot above a bit closer. There were more felled trees to investigate, and so onward I walked. In the background, beyond the trees is the Montvale Plaza commercial center.

Photo: Reed Avenue In Jerome, Illinois Blocked With Trees Felled From Tornado

At the base of a hill I noticed something odd. The driver of an automobile had come up to the yellow "Do Not Cross" tape, and began honking his horn as if someone would simply move the trees to let him drive further into the Village of Jerome. What must he have been thinking?

Photo: Reed Avenue In Jerome, Illinois Blocked With Trees Felled From Tornado

The photo above doesn't actually do this site justice. The root structure was nearly orange, and contrasted with the black Illinois dirt. Once again, I found beauty in the death of these trees. I wasn't looking for it, but there it was anyway. This was a large old tree I used to pass nightly on my evening walks through Jerome. The tree had a slightly spooky look while living, and the roots look spooky in this photograph.

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash Avenue I
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash & Chatham
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - W. Jerome Ave
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue
Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building

Photo: Tornado Tilted Flag Flying Over Jerome's Municipal Building 8:00 A.M. 03.13.06

Jerome Illinois' Municipal building was a hub of activity on the morning of March 13th, 2006. The Village of Jerome was struck by an F2 Tornado, and significant damage was done to many residences, and businesses throughout Jerome, Illinois.

Photo: Jerome, Illinois' Municipal Building Was Powerless But Undamaged By Tornado

Photographs included in this post were taken at aproximately 8:00 A.M. on the morning of March 13th, 2006. The entire Village of Jerome, much of Springfield, Illinois, and Leland Grove were without power at the time this photo was taken.

Photo: Not Bushes, But Fallen Trees Behind Jerome, Illinois' Police Headquarters

The third photo in this post shows a pickup truck with road construction barricades, and warning signs in its bed. The truck is parked in front of the Jerome Police Department's office building. Notice that what looks like shrubbery at the rear of either side of the building are in fact a very large pine trees felled by the tornado which struck the Village the night before.

Note the warning siren in the top photo? I credit this siren with helping to warn my family of the serious nature of the storm. The sound of warning sirens, the atypical "rolling thunder", and Gus Gordon's (WICS) tone of voice made it clear that the oncoming storm was no ordinary thunderstorm! No, this storm was an oncoming MesoCyclone spawning several tornados, and it wasn't breaking up, or running away just because Springfield, Illinois is in a valley.

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash Avenue I
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash & Chatham
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - W. Jerome Ave
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue
Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue

Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Vernon & Filmore - Jerome, Illinois - March 13 2006 - 7:30 AM.

Despite the early hour I was amazed at the sites, and sounds of residents, and utility workers working hard to restore Jerome to its pre-tornado state. I don't believe anyone actually knew the full extent of the damage, nor just how long it would (and will) take to repair all the damage.

Still as we can see in the photo above someone had already placed a plastic tarp over this home's damaged roof, and this was very early in the morning. The sound of chain saws was non-stop, and coming from all directions - and would be an ever present reminder during the coming week of what had befallen the Village of Jerome, and Springfield, Illinois.

Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Vernon & Filmore - Jerome, Illinois - March 13 2006 - 7:30 AM.

Some homes were shut off from the rest of the world. However, the small house behind the pile of fallen trees could just as easily have been destroyed by the trees which fell across its driveway.

Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Vernon - Jerome, Illinois - March 13 2006 - 7:30 AM.

As I walked down Vernon I noticed that parts of business signs, and structures from Wabash were littered about. Vernon is two blocks north of Wabash. The sign pictured above may not be impressive, but I believe that the door pictured below had been carried over from Wabash. Notice how the door looks as if it had been warped? It looks like it was sucked right out of it's frame.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street

Photo: Tornado Aftermath: South View Of Fillmore @ Glenn

Photo: Barbara Court & Fillmore - Jerome, Illinois Tornado - March 13, 2006 - 7:20 A.M.

Photo: Reed & Fillmore - Jerome, Illinois Tornado - March 13, 2006 7:25 A.M.

Photo: Reed & Fillmore - Jerome, Illinois Tornado - March 13, 2006 7:25 A.M.

The red minivan in the two photographs above, which also appeared in the Illinois Times, is owned by a friend. I was not just saddened by the sight of the damage to the minivan, but even more so by the damage to several trees. The home was spared, so it could have been worse.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue

Photo: Tornado Aftermath - Jerome, Illinois 03.13.06 7:00 A.M. Glenn Ave.

Tornado related images included in this post were captured at aproximately 7:00 A.M. in Jerome, Illinois on the morning of March 13th, 2006. Two large trees blocked the Glenn street, and one tree fell into a residence. All downed trees pictured were located upon a hilltop falling halfway betwen Park Street, and Fillmore.

Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Glenn Avenue - Jerome, Illinois - March 13th 2006

The tree which crashed onto the house in the photograph above appears not only to have fallen upon the roof, but it also appears to have been lifted, and shoved down upon the roof. I was left with the impression many times on the morning of March 12th, 2006 that the twister which had visited Jerome, Illinois had not only bulldozed whatever it encountered, but actually vacuumed up whatever crossed its path.

Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Glenn Avenue - Jerome, Illinois - March 13th 2006

This small group of residence congregate over a tree which had fallen across Glenn Avenue. One neighbor said jokingly to another, "You stay on your side of the tree, and we'll stay on our side", roughly parodying "Good fences make good neighbors".

Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Glenn Avenue - Jerome, Illinois - March 13th 2006

The clean smell of fresh cut evergreen filled the air. I felt conflicted, because I love that smell, and it reminds me of Christmas, yet I knew that in the present situation it was a result of a tornado. The photo above shows the power of the tornado which snapped this tree like a twig.

Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Glenn Avenue - Jerome, Illinois - March 13th, 2006

This particular section of Glenn is atop a knoll. The trees atop the knoll were especially hard hit. Nearby Owens Lane, running within an east-west depression, faired much better. Looking at Owens Lane, and then looking back at Glenn Avenue gave me an appreciation of what being just ten to fifteen lower in elevation meant. Lower meant safer. Unfortuately, the trees along Glenn Avenue had no choice but to stand tall, and take it like a tree.

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash Avenue I
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash & Chatham
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - W. Jerome Ave
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue
Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant

Photo: A Jerome, Illinois Icon Loses Head*

Our neighborhood was in the path of the first of two tornados which hit the local Springfield, Illinois area on March 12th, 2006. I have been unable to blog for the last week. Power, and Internet connectivity have been restored! I will now begin posting to this blog on a regular basis again.

Folks, tt's great to be alive, and blogging again!

As darkness gave way to light on the morning of March 13th, 2006, my family did not know what to expect. Just how extensive would the damage be to the Village of Jerome, Illinois? Wabash Avenue was in the path of the first of two tornados to descend upon the south side of Springfield the night before. Many businesses along Wabash were damaged. This post features the iconic Lauterbach Tire and Auto Giant. If there was humor to be found in any portion of the events of that night, I would have to say this would be it.

Photo: The Lauterbach Tire & Auto Giant. (Now headless due to tornado). Lauterbach Tire and Auto. 1569 Wabash Ave, Jerome, Illinois. March 13th, 2006. Apx. 7:30 A.M.

Beata Virgo Maria

Image: Theotokos with Christ*

Hail Mary,
Full of grace.
The lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God.
Pray for us sinners.
Now, and at the hour of our death.

Amen +

*Image Source: Image Found Here. Eastern Orthodox Religious Icon.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Dopamine 6:23 A.M.

Photo: Snow Upon Fence - Jerome, Illinois - 02.11.06

Dopamine 6:23 A.M.
by JeromeProphet

She is worn.
Her breath is shallow.
A life is torn.
As she walks the path.

She makes no sound.
And leaves no trail.
A life is bound.
As she feels the wrath.

She shares her visions.
To those who seek her.
A life's derision.
As she steps in strife.

She slashes arms.
For they made her.
A life is harmed.
As she sticks the knife.

Photo: A negative view, with hue alteration. Photograph was taken on the morning of February 11th, 2006 in Jerome, Illinois. It was snowing as I captured the image of a fence covered with snow. The dark translucent shadow in the upper left of the photo is a snowflake in descent.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Abe's Way Is The One Way

Photo: ALPLM Stickers On One Way Sign - Sixth & Madison - Springfield, IL

Not a whole lot to say here. Just a neat photo of a One Way sign located at the corner of Sixth, and Madison - just across the street from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Seems the children, and teenagers have found a use for their ALPLM stickers.

Photo: ALPLM Stickers adorn this One Way Sign In Downtown Springfield, Illinois.

Just one more photograph of this interesting phenomena. Kind of neat, but I'm sure that as an adult I should frown upon such activity. The stickers are used as day passes to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. I guess children don't keep scapbooks anymore, and so they post them to the traffic signs near the Museum. I've seen several like the sign featured in this post, but this sign is fartherest along in its transformation into a type of street art.

Photograph was taken first week of March, 2006 in downtown Springfield, Illinois.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Dana & Chris Reeve Together Again

Last August (2005) I submitted a post to this blog on Dana Reeve's fight with cancer. Dana Reeve, widow of Superman actor Christopher Reeve, lost her battle with lung cancer last night (March 06th, 2006). Dana, born in 1961, was a non-smoker. She leaves behind her thirteen year old son, Will Reeve, and two stepchildren.

I find it difficult to accept that Dana has departed us so soon - she was a shining beacon. She was a woman I deeply admired.

So often we see marriages fail for one reason or another. The unbreakable bonds of matrimony fall by the wayside more often than not in our modern society.

Couples who start out with the best of intentions within just a few short years come to find that living with one another is an unbearble burden. In the past, when divorce was considered scandalous, couples were forced to tough it out. Many times that meant that one spouse simply had no choice, and tolerated an abusive spouse no matter what the personal cost. But in some of those cases staying together meant that both of those involved continued working on their marriage, and made it work - or at least waited it out.

Today marriage, and divorce are synonymous, and commitment has become simply an ideal.

Certainly the horse riding accident which left Christopher Reeve a quadraplegic was a pivotal event in the marriage of Dana and Chris. There must have been many nights filled with tears, and fears - of wondering "Why me?", and of mourning over what might have been.

Yet it was during this period of the Reeve's marriage that their wedding vows spoke most loudly in the heart, mind, and soul of this beautiful, and loving couple.

Dana did not abandon her fallen Superman for being a mere mortal. Instead of opting out of their marriage she made a baby with Chris. Their relationship only deepend as these two wonderful people chose to use their time to help others similarly challenged.

We see in their life together the fate of two souls who found each other, loved each other, created life from their own, and then departed together from this plane of existence.

We must not mourn for them, but instead for our loss at their departure.

The Greeks dealt with such stories in their Tragedies. In this modern day Homeric tragedy the story is now complete - for the fallen hero, and his brave, and loyal wife have now ascended into the realm of the gods, and have become the stuff of legends.

It is we who survive who must now come to face that which they have already passed. Let us hope that each of us in the end may look back upon our days, and see those days filled with as much dignity, grace, and goodness.

Dana, and Chris you will not be forgotten.

Monday, March 06, 2006

Triggered Thunder Imaging System

Triggered Thunder Imaging System is article #11 in the WeatherProphet Weather Modification Series.

Weather Modification Technology Platform

In previous post in this series we've looked at the covert use of SuperStrobes in illuminating large land areas during covert aerial photographic surveys. I have claimed that stealth aircraft equiped with SuperStrobes have been used within thunderstorms to great military, and intelligence advantage. Flashes of super bright SuperStrobes within thunderstorms have come to be interpreted as intercloud lightning by the general public. Such incredibly brilliant flashes turn night into day for one second at a time, and allow for full spectrum light enhanced digital photo surveillance in periods of heavy cloud cover.

The public's misinterpretation of this covert technological phenomena as a random natural event has enabled the exploitation of thunderstorms by those with the means, and motive for doing so. Thunderstorms have become a real world covert laboratory, and workshop for the military, and intelligence community.

In Triggered Thunder Imaging Systems we will now shift our attention to several sound related technologies which could be covertly developed, and employed only within the cover of thunderstorms.

Stealthy Designs Reduce Sound Signatures - But Not Enough

If a military aircraft were deployed on a clear sky day over a typical metropolitan area that aircraft would most likely be seen by someone on the ground within seconds.

Under the cover of night that same aircraft might manage to deploy over a metropolitan area for several minutes before the constant drone of its high performance jet engines raised suspicions.

First, and foremost, evading radar detection would be critical to maintaining the covert nature of any secret aerial surveillance mission. Therefore a stealth aircraft would be the aircraft of choice.

Yet, while in flight, even stealth aircraft engines produce a great deal of sound which can easily be detected on the ground.

Soundly Baffled

Despite its ability to absorb, and reflect radar waves at odd angles the stealth aircraft's design also incorporates design features which reduce its profile in other ways.

One such aspect of this design consideration involves the use of exhaust baffling.

Hot exhaust from jet engines is easily detected by infrared sensors, and can be used to accurately pinpoint the location of aircraft by ground observation, and heat seeking missiles.

To impart greater stealthiness to the stealth aircraft hot exhaust from its jet engine is mixed with cooler air before it is vented. Baffling is used to direct the exhaust at angles less likely to be detected by infrared sensors.

The cooling, and baffling of exhaust leaving the aircraft also reduces the amplitude of sound waves which ripple down the "sound cone" trailing behind the aircraft.

Still, despite these design implimentations, the sound of a stealth aircraft's engines can easily be detected while the aircraft is in flight.

In my previous WeatherProphet post titled, Thunder or Jet Engines?, I argue that thunder, and jet engine sounds are so similar as to be difficult to destinguish. I argue that unless observers were specifically listening for jet engine sounds within a thunderstorm, they might not even be aware of their existence.

An entire generation may have great difficulty telling the difference between the rumble of thunder, and the rumble of jet aircraft engines if they grew up in a time in which thousands of covert aerial missions were deployed over their heads during periods of inclement weather.

The failure of the public to accurately identify the source of lights, and sounds within a thunderstorm opens the door to the covert use of thunderstorms by both the military, and intelligence community.

Atmospheric Sonar

Outside of thunderstorms there are few settings in which to covertly develop, in a real world setting, a wide range of high energy weapons. Several of these weapons while considered exotic, or futuristic by the general public, are most likely significantly advanced beyond their design phase.

I argue that thunderstorms provide the perfect cover for the development of sound weapons, and sound based imaging systems (atmospheric sonar).

In the age of radar, laser, and infrared imaging systems could the development of an echo location system (sonar), akin to the type which bats employ, ever be considered a worthwhile expenditure of research, and development funds?

In this age of stealth aircraft, stealth UPVs, stealth RPVs, and stealth misiles the idea of adding a dependable sonar based detection system, capable of echo locating such stealth aircraft, would seem appealing.

Sound waves from triggered thunder could be employed in the task of imaging ground targets. Employing "triggered thunder" in a sonar system would allow imaging without the need for radar, or laser. Radar, and Laser based imaging systems can be detected by military surveillance systems, and make the source of such emmisions vulnerable to shoot downs.

A triggered thunder based sonar system, if used within the cover of thunderstorms, would allow the collection of high resolution sonargrams without setting off alarms as to the presence of low flying spycraft flying within forbidden airspace.

From a research standpoint information gained from such a program would provide immediate military, and intelligence advantages, and represent an intregal step in the development of the next generation of weapons.

Sound Weapons

Sound weapons are no longer the stuff of science fiction. Not only have sound weapons been developed, but they have been used - albeit, on a small scale.

Yet, imagine the lure of developing a very high volume sound delivery system capable of inducing nausea, and distress upon hundreds, and even thousands of ground troops within a matter of seconds.

While aerial based sound weapons may not yet be fully developed, the development of such a weapon would seem very enticing.

Thunder is potent enough in volume, and duration, to shake woodframe homes, and perhaps entire neighborhoods, into harmonic vibrations of great intensity. Could a simple shift of wave amplitude, or sound frequency be all that is needed to turn "thunder" into a weapon capable of shaking a building off of its foundation, or sickening all those within earshot?

A Synergistic Justification

In earlier post I asked if thunder can make it rain? This question remains important, for if sound generating technology is already being covertly employed as an important tool in a covert weather modification program it would be all the more likely that this same technology would be adapted into both sound based imaging systems, and into sound weapons.

In the next post in the WeatherProphet Weather Modification Series we will exam the subject of triggered thunder based technology, and its possible uses in greater detail.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

The Stars Are Out Tonight - Oscars 2006

Jon Stewart Host of 78th Oscar Awards (2006)

Crash? BrokeBack Mountain? I'm just so nervous about this that I can hardly relax. Well, O.K., the truth is I really don't care, but I have been watching the runway show. I just like looking at the cute actresses in their revealing dresses. They've been starving themselves for months to slip into the most bone binding outfits designed.

I watched a short report on I believe it was CNN, or was it NBC, about how each star walks away with fifty thousand dollars in gifts given to them by various companies which hope that a star will slip on one of their watches, necklaces, etc. Man it must be nice.

I had an opportunity to rent Crash last night, and I missed it in the theater, but I ended up renting Dark Water instead. While the openning credits of Dark Water was playing I noticed the film was a touchstone picture. A sense of dread immediately came over me. Why did I waste my money on such a film I began to wonder. As I began to watch it I noticed it did not fit the average Disney production standards of blandness so I didn't immediately turn it off.

The show was well crafted, but predictible. Despite its cookie cutter like feel I still found it disturbing enough not to hand it over to my child to watch. It would be a show to watch during the day. It's not that scary, but it is disturbingly depressing. Not a show to end a day on.

Photo: Fashion Designer Isaac Mizrahi Works The Red Carpet for E

Oh yes, I was disappointed by E's redcarpet pre-oscar show. Apparently the interviewer, Isaac Mizrahi, was running his hands all over the actresses bossoms (for wardrobe adjustments only) during the Runway show for the Golden Globe Awards - but darn it if he was very constrained tonight!

The show has begun, and I'm watching Jon Stewart. It was funny watching the intro too. Many gay jokes already. Now Jon is doing some political jokes. More gay jokes.

Capote.

Racism, Corruption, Censorship it's why we go to the movies. Good line.

Another gay joke.

Nicole Kidman comes out to present an Oscar! Wow! She's so white - like a wedding cake. I can't really concentrate on what she's saying but wow! Very pretty!

You know when they play clips the scenes all look so good. George Clooney just won an award for supporting actor. He's up for several Oscars tonight. We'll have to wait and see how many he is awarded.

Clooney just said that he was proud to be out of touch (liberal). Good for him!

Commercial Time.

I have to admit that I did not plan to do a play by play of the Oscar Awards tonight. In fact I can't recall when I have ever watched the entire broadcast from start to finish, and tonight will not be an exception.

I just find it too boring, but I usually make it back in time for the big awards at the end.

Jon Stewart is back!

Funny skit with Tom Hanks getting shot with a knock out dart from a clarinet - an illustration of how the band is used to keep the Oscar winners from making their acceptance speeches too long.

Ben Stiller looking very weird in a green suit (Unitard?) announcing the Visual Effects Oscar winner. He is incredibly talented. Although I hated Zoolander!

King Kong wins it! King Kong was a good remake. My daugher cried at the end. I guess I had forgotten to warn her that the big guy gets it in the end.

Reese Witherspoon coming out on stage now. Love Her ever since she was in Man in the Moon! She's been so careful with her career, and she's so talented. She's introducing Best Animated Feature.

See! I knew it, I have to go, and take my daughter to her friend's house! Completely unplanned - but I knew something would come up!

The Curse of the Were Rabit Wins! People at work were talking about that.

Oh well this little experiment must end. My daughter must see some newborn kittens at her friends house.

Wow! Noami Watts! She's incredible. Yes, I know I must go!

I Have Returned. More Oscar Awards!

Best song? Not exactly sure what category, but the whole posse seems happy to be up on stage. Jon Stewart ask, "Why doesn't everyone seem as happy?", or something similar.

Djay f/ Shug - It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp Lyrics

Chorus
You know it's hard out here for a pimp - you ain't knowin
When he tryin to get this money for the rent -you ain't knowin
For the Cadillacs and gas money spent - you ain't knowin
Because a whole lot of bitches talkin shit - you ain't knowin
Will have a whole lot of bitches talkin shit - you ain't knowin

Lyrics
In my eyes I done seen some crazy thangs in the streets
Gotta couple hoes workin on the changes for me
But I gotta keep my game tight like Kobe on game night
Like takin from a ho don't know no better, I know that ain't right
Done seen people killed, done seen people deal
Done seen people live in poverty with no meals
It's fucked up where I live, but that's just how it is
It might be new to you, but it's been like this for years
It's blood sweat and tears when it come down to this shit
I'm tryin to get rich 'fore I leave up out this bitch
I'm tryin to have thangs but it's hard fo' a pimp
But I'm prayin and I'm hopin to God I don't slip, yeah

Man it seems like I'm duckin dodgin bullets everyday
Niggaz hatin on me cause I got, hoes on the tray
But I gotta stay paid, gotta stay above water
Couldn't keep up with my hoes, that's when shit got harder
North Memphis where I'm from, I'm 7th Street bound
Where niggaz all the time end up lost and never found
Man these girls think we prove thangs, leave a big head
They come hopin every night, they don't end up bein dead
Wait I got a snow bunny, and a black girl too
You pay the right price and they'll both do you
That's the way the game goes, gotta keep it strictly pimpin
Gotta have my hustle tight, makin change off these women, yeah

Actually, the dance routine, which accompanied this song, and the female singer did quite well. NPR movie critic said that the entire movie depended upon this song being played throughout the song - the song acting as another character in the movie. Perhaps that's why it won?

Before I came back from dropping my daughter off at her friend's house I zipped by the video store, and returned Dark Waters, and tried to get a copy of Crash. There weren't any copies available. I didn't know at the time it was going to win Best Picture, but I had heard on CNN earlier today that it "had been picking up momentum", whatever?

Crash won best picture, but Broke Back Mountain took away several Oscar awards.

Reese Witherspoon took best actress, and gave a fine acceptance speech. Even had me clinching back those tears.

Jack Nicholson was quite the dude walking on stage to present Best Picture. If I could come back in the next life as anyone I guess I'd be O.K. with being Jack.

And Jon Stewart didn't blow it. CNN was running an online vote in recent days on whether people thought if Jon Stewart would screw the Oscar Awards Show up, which I thought was dumb. Jon's a very talented, and funny guy. He, and his spouse just had a baby last week, so I'm sure all he wants to do is give the awards, and get home to his wife, and baby - not create some controversy for making a political speech.

Oh yes, my daughter's friend's cat had six kittens.

PhotoSource & Lyrics:

None of the photographs, or Lyrics in this post were created by me. I'm sure they are all under copyright by their owners. They are not covered under my Non-Commercial Attribution Copyright. The use of such images is allowable under "FreeUse" copyright rules for educational, literary, and scientific purposes. Seek the owner's permission if you intend to use them outside of freeusage provisions - and certainly if you ever intend to make money from their usage.

Source Links:

Jon Stewart Photosource: www.msnbc.msn.com
Isaac Mizrahi PhotoSource: www.broadwayworld.com
It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp Lyrics Source: www.SmartLyrics.com:

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

A Gothic Child Arises From Her Cold Dark Grave

Photo: January Snows Bring February Flowers

A groundskeeper told me that as long as it doesn't snow that this flower (pictured above) should do alright. This flower has taken advantage of the mild 2005-2006 Central Illinois Winter to get Spring started in this last week of February.

I failed to ask the groundskeeper which variety of flower this is, but I like that dark purple color! It looks like a goth flower, if a flower could be gothic!

Photograph taken February 28th, 2006 in downtown Springfield, Illinois.

Parasailing South of Wabash & Macarthur

Photo: Parasailing - A Photo I Wish I Took - Darn The Traffic!

Driving home during rush hour tonight I had the pleasure of watching two parasailors slowly loop their way round, and round high up over Springfield, Illinois. I was driving south on Macarthur Blvd. with other traffic fast, and furious I didn't dare attempt any photographs.

The parasails were at several thousand feet when I first spotted them, and could be seen all the way from Outerpark, and Macarthur. They looked like little purple birds at that point.

By the time I reached the Intersection of Wabash, and Macarthur just one of the two parasailors was still airborn, the other having landed in a field.

It was a rare sight, for Springfield, Illinois. To watch these two airborn acrobats doing their sky loops was not only dangerous for them, but somewhat dangerous for all the rush hour drivers. I could tell that other drivers were also taken with the novelty.

The parasailors were using a very large tract of farmland on the south side of town. I guess that would be a relatively safe place to practice this sport. In coming years, as Macarthur is pushed farther south the entire area south of town will be prime for residential, and commericial development.

Every morning as I drive down Wabash headed toward the Stanton overpass I can't help but think how that rich black soil, literally some of the best agricultural land on the face of the earth, will one day host residential, and commerical development.

It could successfully be argued that using that land for those purposes is an incredible waste of resources, however it makes more sense to develop that land, which is closer to Springfield than it is to push even farther away from Springfield's center.

But for now it's just a wide open space - a safe area for parasailing.

PhotoSource: www.pbase.com

Monday, February 27, 2006

Can You Hear Me?

Can you hear me?
I'm speaking to you.
My lips don't move.
But I'm speaking.

I really can hear.
I really can.
You're coming in loud, and clear.
I'm catching every word.

I understand.
Thanks for sharing.
I didn't know that.
Well I guess I did.
In the way that we all know those kinds of things.
Whether we believe it or not.

That's very exciting.
Oh, is that so?
You're sure?
Wow!

Is it time to go?
Maybe sometime soon?
I'm kind of stuck here.
As you can tell, I can't really leave.
I'm sort of stuck right here.

Come back real soon.
Cause it's boring here.
Without you.

My soul won't leave this place.

Saturday, February 25, 2006

The Incredible Mr. Limpet

Photo: Comedic Genius Don Knotts As Barney Fife

As a child I was always amazed that someone that looked as odd as Don Knotts was considered so darned funny. I remember many an evening in which my "Uncle Ed" would come over, and he and my dad would watch The Andy Griffith Show. They'd laugh, and laugh at Don Knotts.

As a child I didn't get all the fumbling, and bumbling, the nervous rattle made me a bit jittery. As an adult I realized that Don was doing an excellent job immersing himself in character, and had won several emmys in the process of making himself look like a bumbling fool - in the noble quest of making money, and even nobler quest of making people laugh.

Several years ago there was a Mayberry Reunion Special, and I recall watching a documentary on Don Knotts. Year after year he'd walk on stage in his tuxedo in front of standing ovations to fetch his emmy award for best comedic actor. I realized then that he must has been a genious.

The one show I'll remember him best for won't be any episode of the Andy Griffith show, but was the 1964 motion picture, The Incredible Mr. Limpet. I'll always remember watching that childrens movie every year. Mixing animation with video was rare then.

The local television stations seemed to have it in rotation (or perhaps it was sold to them as a summer kid's movie), and it would play during the summer year after year. The children of our family would excitedly watch the transformation of the bumbling, but nice Mr. Limpet into a fish! A patriotic fish at that!

Only in a child's mind, and in a children's movie, are such things possible.

One of Don's last movie performances was in Pleasantville. Pleasantville is one of my favorite movies. It doesn't ask much from an audience, and it is entertaining, and thoughtful. Sort of a pleasant movie. Don's character seemed positively nasty when things didn't turn out the way he planned - good job Don! It was good to see him in a classic show like Pleasantville.

Photo: Don Knotts As Don Knotts (From His Own Website)

Part of his Biography aquired from CNN.Com appears below:

Knotts began his show biz career even before he graduated from high school, performing as a ventriloquist at local clubs and churches. He majored in speech at West Virginia University, then took off for the big city.
"I went to New York cold. On a $100 bill. Bummed a ride," he recalled in a visit to his hometown of Morgantown, where city officials renamed a street for him in 1998.

Within six months, Knotts had taken a job on a radio Western called "Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders," playing a wisecracking, know-it-all handyman. He stayed with it for five years, then came his series TV debut on "The Steve Allen Show."

He married Kay Metz in 1948, the year he graduated from college. The couple had two children before divorcing in 1969. Knotts later married, then divorced Lara Lee Szuchna.

In recent years, he said he had no plans to retire, traveling with theater productions and appearing in print and TV ads for Kodiak pressure treated wood.

The world laughed at Knotts, but it also laughed with him.

He treasured his comedic roles and could point to only one role that wasn't funny, a brief stint on the daytime drama "Search for Tomorrow."

"That's the only serious thing I've done. I don't miss that," Knotts said.

Don Knotts was yet another representative of a kinder, and gentler time in U.S. comedy. He was a Greatest Generation World War II Vet, and a comedian who could get people to laugh without offending anyone, or without putting anyone down. Don Knotts dead at eighty one. You'll be missed, and remembered.

Here's are some Don Knotts links:

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0461455/

http://www.morgantown.com/donknotts.htm

The Invisible Caucasians Of North America - 7300 B.C.

Image: Edited Photo of Kennewick Man Sculpture*

Image: Spirit Cave Mummy/Nevada - Another Ancient North American Caucasoid**

I read an interesting CNN.Com article today focusing on Kennewick Man. The Kennewick Man is actually a ninety percent complete pile of bones currently under study by anthropologist, archaeologist, and forensic pathologist. The Kennewick pile of bones is in fact one of the most complete sets of skeletal remains of an ancient human living in North America from that date.

As I read the CNN.Com article I kept waiting for a mention that Kennewick man couldn't jump (apparently not fast enough, as he still had a clovis point lodged within his hip). Kennewick man was a Caucasian living in North America during a time from which only Caucasian remains have been found. Yet the article in no way ever touches upon this non-politically correct revision of our understanding of human migration to North America.

CNN(AP):

A team of 20 forensic scientists has been studying the skeleton, he said, and have concluded that the skull doesn't match those of Indian tribes living in the area.

"We know very little about this time period. Who the people were that were the earliest people that came to America," Owsley said. "We are finding out they were coming thousands of years earlier than we had thought," arriving not just over the Bering Strait but by boats and other means.

"This is a very rare discovery. You could count on your fingers the number of relatively complete skeletons from this time period," Owsley said.

Following discovery of the bones in 1996, the Umatilla, Yakama, Nez Perce and Colville tribes urged that the skeleton be reburied without scientific study. They argued that the bones were covered under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Scientists sued for a chance to study the remains and a federal court ruled there was no link between the skeleton and the tribes.

Reality Check:

Let's look at the first sentence of the article quoted above:

A team of 20 forensic scientists has been studying the skeleton, he said, and have concluded that the skull doesn't match those of Indian tribes living in the area.

Not only is there no mention that Kennewick Man was Caucasian, the sentence above fails to mention that no skulls matching those of Indian tribes have been found dating back to this early date. That's sort of a non-politically-correct little nugget that modern Indian tribes wanted to cover up so badly that two tribes fought legally to prevent Kennewick Man's bones from ever being scientifically studied. Instead the tribes demanded that this Caucasian man's bones be buried as soon as possible! They lost out in their attempt after a federal court judged that the modern tribes were not related to Kennewick Man.

The Next Line in the Article:

"We know very little about this time period. Who the people were that were the earliest people that came to America," Owsley said. "We are finding out they were coming thousands of years earlier than we had thought," arriving not just over the Bering Strait but by boats and other means.

Quoted above is Douglas Owsley, an anthropologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. This is about as close as the article comes to revealing that something is not quite right about the way which we've previously viewed human migration to North America.

Once again no reference to Caucasians are made, instead the ambiguous word "they" is used. Also, the time frame is vague enough to lump together the relatively recent migration of "Indians" to North America with the much earlier migration of Caucasians to North America.

"They" came to North America thousands of years earlier than we had thought. But the sentence could factually read that Caucasians migrated to North America thousands of years earlier than any other group! There simply is no way for this anthropologist to state this in a politically correct way - and therefore he uses academic double speak.

At issue here isn't political correctness which is a form of thought, and speech control used by both liberals, and conservatives, it's the racist way in which this subject has been handled.

From the Indian Tribes which desparately tried to suppress the study, to the politically correct anthropologist (not wanting to offend the tribes), to the journalist handcrafting their articles (so as not to offend anyone) we see one concerted effort - to suppress the truth that Caucasians lived in North America thousands of years earlier than any other group discovered so far!

At this point there are approximately ten instances of ancient Caucasian remains discovered in North America - one dating to 11,000 years ago. Indian tribes rapidly descend upon these finds insisting that the remains be reburied without scientific study! All throughout the Clinton Administration several government agencies helped Indian tribes cover up the growing evidence that their ancestors were not the original human inhabitants of North America.

While I understand the fear which Indian tribes may have at the loss of status which this revision in history must usher in, it is important that we do what is honest, and scientifically validated. Truth must not be held captive by one ethnic minority in the name of religion. Study of these important remains, as they become available must be allowed to proceed, and the U.S. government must stop assisting those Indian tribes in their efforts to stop this important science, and historical discovery.

*Image Source for Kennewick Man

elementy.ru/news/164584:

I edited the photograph of Kennewick Man Sculpture.

**Image Source for Spirit Cave Mummy

http://www.fundamentosdeprehistoria.homestead.com/files/Ken_MAN.jpg

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Civil Unrest In Babylonia Today

Civilization isn't your ordinary computer game. It is not a game based upon gore, or sex, but it does involve destruction, and creation - on a global scale. It's design has lessons to teach. I'll share some of those lessons, despite their non-politically correct nature, as they sadly seem to reflect the world in which we live. Although hopefully not the world we must settle for.

Civilization?

In Civilization human players are presented with the opportunity to build their own civilizations from scratch. Players can spend enormous amounts of time, and intellectual energy making a never ending number of decisions. Decisions as basic as installing a sewage system in a city, or starting a secret program to develop the Atomic Bomb.

AI

AI stands for Artificial Intelligence, and at the heart of Civilization is it's AI. AI is the program component within Civilization which assumes the role of all other Civilizations which the human decides to play against. Civilization can be played via the Internet against other human players as well.

AI, despite it controversial nature (some insist that it cheats), does a remarkable job.

War! What Is It Good For?

The AI also consistently pressures you to become an interventionist. No matter how much you'd rather be a peace loving hippy, start a peace, and love commune you'll find yourself embroiled in the darker side of human nature.

Pacifist will lose immediately. Even those players fortunate enough to develop their civilization on an island continent, far from other civilizations, will eventually through the passing of time, and the advancement of technology, end up confronting other civilizations - not all of them willing, or able to make compromises.

In the end war is the means of grabbing up the space, and natural resources any civilization needs to grow powerful. Eventually, as trade develops resources can be obtained in this manner, but trade doesn't seem to solve all problems in a world filled with civilizations hell bent on territorial acquistion.

Those Unprepared Get Wiped Out

No matter how much one may want to develop economically, scientifically, and socially unless one has a kick ass military of a large enough size your civilization is doomed.

Compromising Ethics Advantageous

My first reaction to another civilization's attempt to blackmail me into paying homage was an ideologically based refusal, but as I became a better player I recognized that paying tribute to other civilizations is a nifty way to avoid conflict, and to buy "friends" who otherwise would attack my civilization.

There were always aggressor civilizations hell bent on world domination, and eventually no amount of tribute would work, and so an attack was inevitable.

However, waiting for such an attack was rarely fun, or in one's own civilization's best interest. In fact by quietly waiting your turn you just allow your opponent to become stronger.

Bad Alliances & Unprovoked Wars Vital

Alliances always lead to war there really is no other way of looking at it, but without them your civilization may never survive for long.

Starting wars was always a messy thing, but inevitable even against other civilizations that have caused you no harm. In some cases you simply can't risk allowing another civilization's territory, and resources to fall into the hands of another aggressor civilization. In the end stabbing your best friend in the back becomes inevitable.

Good Guy Wears Black Hat

Total war is messy. Vast cities which took hundreds, even thousands of years get razed in wars. Economic development is wiped out, and take decades to rebuild.

Genocide A Temptation

Once your weapons are sufficiently advanced using airpower, or nuclear weapons to destroy whole cities becomes tempting, but it has drawbacks. Drawbacks which only democratic civilizations, and those that care about the environment consider. Dictatorships possessing such weapons of mass destruction use them without much consideration.

Differences Lead To Conflict & Nothing More

Religion, Racism, Nationalism, Heredity, Imperialism, Idealism, Paranoia, and Greed were motivating factors within the AI justifying war, and conflict. War was never ending no matter at what level of technological development even when prosperity was achieved for all civilizations. With weapons of greater killing capacity in a world of competing Civilizations only greater levels of misery, and bloodshed resulted.

There Can Be Only One (New World Order)

In the end it is possible to take over the planet through military means, and create one world order in which peace, and prosperity are finally achieved.

Game Evolution

The game's evolution continues. FireAxis is currently selling Civilization 4, and with each version it becomes more realistic, more complex, and more troubling.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Under the Influenza of a Bad Star!

I'm about to advocate necklaces of garlic be passed out to everyone in the city of Springfield, the Village of Jerome, Leland Grove, Southernview, Grandview, Pleasant Plains, Chatham - heck why not all of Central Illinois!

Not everyone, but around one in three people, at work are currently struck with the dreaded influenza!

CDC Link

I ran out, and did the correct thing last Fall by getting vacinated, and it probably did two things:

A. Delayed onset.

B. Reduced Severity.

C. Did I say just two things, well here's a third, lessened duration.

In fact if I hadn't insisted on running a fan during the winter I probably would not have become dehydrated (overnight on the night it was so darned cold, and the air so darned dry) to the point where my immune system became overcome - leaving me prey to the dreaded influenza.

This flu was misery! Chills, aches, weakness, sore throat, lung congestion.

But I suspect that I didn't have it as bad as other's I've heard from, and about. Many of those folk were hit with higher temps, while I barely broke a sweat. I was out for three days, essentially ruining my three day (paid holiday) weekend, while many of those folk who skipped out on the shot are still struggling after nearly ten days!

That doesn't mean I should have gone to work today, but I did take a sick day on Tuesday, and actually wanted to get back into the world of the living today - odd of me?

In the meantime I guess I'm immune now, but while on the phone today I talked with folk from around the nation (USA), and I can say this virus is everywhere!

It's not going away, and more than likely it will have its way with you - if you get just a bit overtired, dehydrated, or stressed out. I'm assuming all of us have had, or will have contact with the virus itself, so it's just a matter of giving it a chance to overwhelm.

Image: Ahhh Cream of Wheat

So stock up on all the medicines, and comfort foods, and if you come under the influenza of a bad star don't panic it will most likely pass in a week - leaving you a wisp of what you were, but someone definately more convinced of the frail nature of your own life - a lesson we all can use from time to time.

Image: Ahhh Chicken Noodle Soup

It might also scare the crap out of you to think what would have happened to you if you kept getting worse over the course of just a day or two.

That thought crossed my mind. What if this was bird flu? When you're weak, and in pain, and only want to sleep, its very easy to imagine how easy it would be to slip out of life's embrace without much of a fight.

If it had been a mutation of the bird flu my chances would have been fifty-fifty that I'd be alive today to write this. I sure hope the government that gave up the underwhelming response to Katrina, and who still have not secured our ports, or borders years after 9/11 are trustworthy enough to follow through on the bird flu issue! Because otherwise there's going to be a very big drop in the cost of real estate - globally!

Oh yes, this whole influenza experience explains why I haven't posted in awhile.

But I'm back my loyal readers, I'm back!

Here's an interesting Influeza related link:

FluWatch.Com

Image Source Info:

Used under "freeuse" for scientific, and literary purposes only, and without express permission of originating source. Copyright restrictions may apply. Use of these images on this blog does not imply that they are in any way included in the copyright that covers other materials within this post, or on this blog. For additional information I've included the following links.

Cream of Wheat: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA01/White/kitchen/Crwheat.jpg

Chicken Soup: http://www.fineartsite.com/images_mysql/66.jpg

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Why Is Central Illinois So Flat?

Image: Global Warming Art - Illinois State House

Few people seem to understand that global warming will actually lead to an abreviation of the current interglacial period. It's never been a matter of debate whether or not the current interglacial period would end, for that is as sure a bet as the coming of the next ice age.

The vast majority of Earth's recent past (in geological terms) has been a period of very long ice ages, puntuated by very brief warm periods.

We are currently living within one of those brief warm spells. Statistically speaking we should be at the end of an average interglacial period - aproximately ten thousand years, and will soon be heading into another ice age lasting approximately one hundred thousand years. There are mini-ice ages, but let's not get complicated here, as I'm just speaking in general terms.

By releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at the levels which we have over the last one hundred years, the immediate effect is an increase in global temperatures. As we have witnessed in just our lifetimes glaciers which are thousands of years old are melting at an incredible rate.

One might conclude that this global warming should result in a warmer future, but by melting glaciers we will change the ratio of salt water to freshwater layers within the North Atlantic. This change is cyclical in nature - we are only accelerating it.

As this change occurs warmer waters carried by the gulf stream will no longer travel as far north as we currently see, nor will colder waters be carried back south along the gulf stream.

The result will be a rapid plunge in ocean temperatures in the polar regions - a change which has always in the past ushered in yet another glacial age.

There really isn't anything humans can do on the scale we are talking about to prevent this massive climate shift into the next glacial period. However, it is noteworthy that the rise of human civilization, and all of recorded history has occurred in the brief interglacial period in which we now live.

North America, and Europe will once again become covered in ice hundreds of meters thick, and life will be forced to retreat into the southern hemisphere.

One would think that with our current understanding of the consequences of our actions that we would do something to curb the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Nations around the world have heeded their scientist warnings, but in the United States the government is corrupted by energy industry lobbyist, and corrupt politicians have chosen to lie to the public by denying global warming even exist.

If future generations could speak in this time, I'm sure they would decry the greed, corruption, and irresponsible behavior on the part of our political leadership in this important matter.

Hopefully, as the American people become educated to the truth of climate change they'll begin to recognize their responsibility to the future, and pressure politicians to shift this nation's economy away from its addiction to fossil fuels.

Photo: I've included a fantasy image of my own creation showing the Illinois State Capitol Building in Springfield, Illinois surrounded by a barren ice landscape. I doubt any of our historic buildings would still be around by then, unless someone in the future decided to move them farther south, but I thought this was a nice image.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Friday, March 24, 2006

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Monday, March 20, 2006

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Monday, March 06, 2006

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Djay f/ Shug - It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp Lyrics

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Monday, February 27, 2006

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Sunday, February 19, 2006

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