Hurricane Florence

This beast is Hurricane Florence. It is a well-heeled tropical cyclone and has high winds, dangerous storm surge and prodigious rain. 

It's bad for people in the Carolinas. However, you want to live by the water, certain risks are possible. 


This storm is due to sit over the area for a few days, dumping feet of rain on the area. It won't be like Harvey was here but in ways, it'll be worse. 

I hope the people got out. I question the intelligence of those who stayed. 

These storms are going to get worse as the seas heat up. They are liable to form quickly, gather strength, conditions favorable for it to move hundreds of miles before threatening any land. 

I am well inland myself. I know it is always a danger every year. 

I am sad for those who will be affected by this monster storm. 

Hurricane Harvey

I normally appreciate the symmetry of a tropical cyclone. Some pictures of them are beautiful. 

They are usually in far away, tropical areas. 


However, I have watched this storm since it passed over the Yucatan Peninsula. At one point, it looked disorganized and may have not been much than a few thunderstorms. 

But it entered the Gulf of Mexico, which is about as warm as the ocean gets. It intensified, though looked disorganized. 

Now, the past few days, it began to take on the familiar swirly shape of a tropical cyclone and is now striking my homeland. I live 600 or so miles from the coast but even here, we will get prodigious amounts of rain from this.

I cannot stress the amount of rain that will fall on Texas. Some places in the Valley and near Interstate 10 will receive over a year's worth of rain and more, much more. More rain that has fallen in one place than ever. A storm surge of nearly 12 feet keeps flood waters from draining back to the ocean. 

The National Weather Service has said that some places may not be inhabitable for months, if ever. 

The storm now is bearing down on Corpus Christi, a place I have been a few times. I hope nothing is irreparably damaged. 

People mostly obeyed the evacuation orders but some stayed and did so to their peril. 

What makes matters worse, apparently this storm will make it up to the San Antonio area and then after a few days, make its way back into the ocean to strike Eastern Texas and Louisiana.

It is an epic disaster. I cannot believe this is happening. And while our area will receive some rain, nothing like down south. I hope no one is hurt. 

No, I have said before, storms are no light matter. Not even ones hitting where I live. 

I don't know what else to say. Just a huge disaster. 

Ebola

I have been very upset. I reckon I might as well write about Ebola.

A long time ago, like when I was 18, I read 'The Hot Zone' by Preston. It tells the story of the 1976 Ebola epidemic in what had been Zaire in those days. My empathy, apparent even back then, stronger now, felt for those poor people who died in such a horrible way.

I know what Ebola can do. It is a hemorrhagic fever virus, causes fatal bleeding and organ failure. Prognosis is very grim.

It is a dangerous health threat, to be sure.

However, Ebola doesn't spread like the flu. A person with the symptoms is not in any shape to visit with people but that is no excuse to be lax in how you behave. Don't kiss, have sex, suck, whatever with the sick one. Don't handle what they use. Keep a distance even though you want to help.

It is unlikely to be a pandemic issue in the United States but both the CDC and the WHO say it can 'mutate', 'evolve' is how I see it, and one never can be too sure.

I won't worry about Ebola. My anxiety disorder is killing me. I need no outside help with that.

There is an Ebola outbreak on a smaller scale in the Congo right now. That is the strain that affected those people in the same region in 1976.

Sanitation isn't like it is here in parts of Africa. Customs are different as well. This is why it spreads there.

That very reason should allay fears of this virulent, extremely dangerous, viral disease affecting America.

Typhoon Haiyan in Google Earth

This is Typhoon Haiyan, an extremely powerful cyclonic storm about to make life difficult in the Philippines.

This beast is dangerous.


I hope people respect the storm and take cover.

Large Asteroid to Buzz Earth Tonight

Nat Geo wants us to watch this but really, the way life is now, don't ya wish it would hit the earth already? We need a huge event to change life, to have a common goal to work toward.

Also, less people means less pressure on the earth. Too bad it won't happen today.

You can see it here.