Irene... concerns

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

_{(mods:  feel free to relocate this lament to a more appropriate thread, but I'm fundamentally a science geek so I naturally put it here)}

As Hurricane Irene slams into the East Coast of the US, I am moderately concerned with people either too poor or too stubborn to evacuate.

Alas.

We live in this most modern of ages, with satellite imagery that lets us give warning days in advance of these things-- plenty of time for even those with limited transportation issues.

Yet, time and time again, people are too stubborn to leave-- their reasons are legion and perfectly "reasonable" from their perspective.

I cringe when I read about deaths that have already happened and the deaths to come.  

It makes me kinda sad, as I am not one of those who believe there is something beyond this racetrack we call life-- so I lament each and every untimely end.   What might that life have wrought, if it had been permitted to continue?  

So I will light a stubborn candle against the winds of nature-- in a hurricane glass-- for these lost lives cut short.

[Swatopluk]

A certain guy named Ron Paul has used the opportunity to again state his opposition to the idea of FEMA (at least he is consistent and honest about it unlike some others). He topped it with a statement that the citizens would not need government help since there was that thing called the 2nd amendment.
Some GOPsters directly affected (e.g Eric Cantor*) want help from the federal government but also want to use the opportunity to demand 'offsets' in other places to pay for it. I guess it won't be closing loopholes for rich tax evaders or subsidies for the same.

*Seeing that guy (or worse hearing him speak) always wakes in me an urge to personally commit acts of bodily violence against him, preferably directed at the face. Not even Cheney/Bush had that effect on me (but some FOX personalities do).

[Opsa]

Luckily, most of us came through Irene all right.

The sad thing is that some people knew that the police would leave the coastal towns once winds reached 50 mph and they took that opportunity to loot!

Mostly though, people were very helpful to one another.

[anthrobabe]

Naturally, some did not leave and are hurting today. However glad the death toll is not higher and that my sibs in the path all seem to be ok (and surprise, surprise-- it seems that Captain Dave washed ashore with the storm).

There is a new one chugging up the pike---Katia-- and she did weaken a bit but according to the National Hurricane Center she will ramp back up and be an ugly lady.

So yes we know when they are on the way but the predictability of where they will land is still being perfected but to me what can be done already is simply wonderful.

Imagine just a few years ago there was literally nothing until the blasted thing arrived.

And then there is "tropical depression #13" in the Gulf of Mexico-- TX, LA, etc should get lots of rain-- I just hope that some falls in the areas of Texas that are just sooooo dry.


And then the nut jobs that blame weather on supernatural events.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

And then the nut jobs that blame weather on supernatural events.

Is it not simply amazing, though?  That these "supernatural-caused" events are indistinguishable from purely random ones?