"Godless"

Stumbling through the book department of the large retail store, I came upon Ann Coulter's new book "Godless - The Church of Liberalism."

What should one do when coming upon a book written by a thoroughly-objectionable person? In a civilized society, there should be a tolerance of ideas, but some ideas are quite evil, and indeed, if applied faithfully, would see oneself eradicated (e.g., a recent, widely-advertised conservative T-Shirt slogan "Imagine - No Liberals", or Rush Limbaugh pining for the exile of all liberals). What should one do, for example, upon finding a best-selling version of "Mein Kampf?" These days, Ann Coulter is busy trying to restore the reputation of the late, not-so-great junior Senator from Wisconsin, Joe McCarthy, the alcoholic red-baiter who needlessly destroyed the reputations of many innocent people. I'm certain Coulter has no respect for people like me, and as a self-respecting liberal, I shouldn't have any for her either, and indeed, for anyone who sells her book.

So, I toyed with the idea of defacing several of her books, but upon noticing a nearby garbage can, I instead discarded two tomes as surreptitiously as I could on a busy shopping day. Send a message! Fight back against the conservatives' dream of a 'final solution'!

Tropical Depression Number One, aka Alberto

Dwight and Linda write:

Hi Marc. Heard the weather in Sacramento was perfect. Until early this evening, it's been just fabulous here. Even the humidity is staying lower that normal. But now it is cloudy and looking like rain. The local weather prophets are saying that this "Tropical Depression One" is supposed to have some impact on Tampa's weather.

Got any thoughts on it?

Holy freakin' mackerel, where did that come from? Yeah, it looks like Tampa and area will get A LOT of rain Sunday night and Monday morning from this system (4 inches plus)! It's poorly-organized, with the center of circulation well to the west of the rain, meaning it's not entirely tropical in nature, but rather some kind of mid-latitude/tropical hybrid. So, maybe not that much wind, but rain, rain, rain! Keep your eyes peeled!

Central Florida Hurricane Blog says:

Tropical Depression One has formed. Advisories have been issued.

This system is still not poised to strengthen too much quickly, at least now. Most of the convection is on the eastern side of the storm, which means Florida will likely see more rain from it. Models are still not all that reliable as to future location, but Cuba and the Southeaster Gulf will want to watch it.

The current official forecast takes the system near Cedar Key (north of Tampa and south of the big bend). However, the hurricane center states that the track is highly uncertain, and after crossing Florida it would likely transform into an extratropical system and head northeast near the US coastline. It is projected to remain a Tropical Storm at this time, roughly 60 mph winds as it nears the coast. This and the track could change so keep an eye out on it.

Tropical Storm warnings are recommended, but not yet issued by the Cuban government for Pinar Del Rio and the Isle of Youth.

It's fairly likely to become Alberto sometime today as well.

More to come later.

National Hurricane Center says:

000
WTNT31 KNHC 102047
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE ADVISORY NUMBER 3
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL012006
400 PM CDT SAT JUN 10 2006

...POORLY-ORGANIZED DEPRESSION PRODUCING HEAVY RAINS IN WESTERN CUBA...
...AIR FORCE PLANE STILL INVESTIGATING THE SYSTEM...

INTERESTS IN THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 400 PM CDT...2100Z...THE ELONGATED CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE WAS ESTIMATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 85.7 WEST OR ABOUT 50 MILES...85 KM...WEST OF CABO SAN ANTONIO ON THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA.

THE DEPRESSION HAS SLOWED DOWN THIS AFTERNOON AND IS ESTIMATED TO BE MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 6 MPH. A SLIGHTLY FASTER MOTION TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO RESUME DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. THIS MOTION SHOULD BRING THE CENTER OF THE DEPRESSION INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO LATER TONIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH...55 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND THE DEPRESSION COULD BECOME A TROPICAL STORM TONIGHT OR TOMORROW.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1004 MB...29.65 INCHES.

AT THIS TIME...THE MAIN HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEPRESSION IS HEAVY RAINFALL. THE DEPRESSION IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 20 INCHES OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF CUBA...WITH ISOLATED TOTALS OF 30 INCHES OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN. THIS COULD CAUSE DEVASTATING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF 5 TO 10 INCHES IS POSSIBLE OVER THE CAYMAN ISLANDS. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA. THERE IS ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL OF 4 TO 8 INCHES POSSIBLE OVER THE FLORIDA KEYS AND WESTERN FLORIDA THROUGH MONDAY.

REPEATING THE 400 PM CDT POSITION...21.8 N...85.7 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 6 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1004 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 1000 PM CDT.

FORECASTER KNABB

Doppelganger

The fellow in the car next to mine at the traffic light on Bradshaw said it all: nice car! He was driving a burnt orange 2002 Saturn SC2 Sports Coupe with automatic transmission. I was driving the exact same model, of course.

Pennsylvania Variegated Bluestone

If you go out to the rockyard off Excelsior Avenue, south of Mather Airport, the rockyard shared by Roundtree Company, and hop up and down on the pretty boulders, you can just peek over the berm across the road and see the stock car and funny car races out there!

"Godspell" - Garbeau's Dinner Theater

(Left) "Alas For You" - Jesus (Kevin Caravalho)


Fine show, with a strong ensemble, featuring many acquaintances and friends. The small space, and the informal set, lent an air of intimacy often missing in bigger spaces.

I remember obsessively seeing the movie "Godspell" in high school - Anderson, Baltz and myself must have seen it fifteen or twenty times in two years. The tempo of the movie music is emblazoned on my brain, and so Roger Clark's slower pace seemed to throw me a little bit. Nevertheless, fine music (Mark Ferreira, Greg Mullen, Bruce Weisz, and Roger Clark).

I hadn't seen Wendy Modlin before - I liked her energetic rendition of 'O Bless The Lord, My Soul.'

Was that Lee Hudson who went through the hoop? If so, he's got more talents than I had thought.

I had never seen, or even known the existence of, 'Tower of Babble,' which leads off the show. Nice to see it performed!

Amber Jean Moore does a fine Valley Girl imitation at one point (nothing better than the California accent, suitably exaggerated!) It is good to see her onstage again (has it really been since RSP's 'A Chorus Line'?)

Both Troy Thomas (John the Baptist) and Kevin Caravalho (Jesus) have wonderful voices. Patricia Glass was fine in 'By My Side.'



'Turn Back, O Man' - Deborah Douglas

"Godspell" Set

Zarqawi Dead

It will be interesting to see what happens to Al Qaeda in Iraq now that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is gone. Presumably they'll pick a new leader and continue. The effect on the insurgency may not be great, however, since Iraqi Sunnis already were embarrassed by Jordanian-born Zarqawi's bloody tactics and civil-war impulses, and wished him gone. As civil war ramped up over the last six months, American casualties declined. With Zarqawi gone, the focus may be on killing Americans, now more than ever.

Ava Ireland Crates

Photographer Persia Nelson-Crates announces the birth of her daughter, Ava Ireland Crates (May 24th, 9 lbs. 8 ozs.), suitably enough, with a nice photo mailer showing her and Dustin holding baby Ava!

John Hancock's Moving Over to Kaiser On Morse Avenue

Message from Juan Ramos regarding John's imminent move:

John has completed his surgeries/trauma treatment at the UCD Trauma Center. The Doctors, nurses and staff have been nothing but exemplary. He will be transferred to the Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center (Morse Facility) at 2025 Morse Avenue. If you are on Arden coming from the Arden Shopping Mall past "Howe about Arden," take a left at Morse and the facility will be to your left. Transfer will take place after 5:00 p.m. today. Please bear in mind that John is now very aware of the acute pain he will have to endure for quite awhile and will need to get as much rest as his pain medication will allow. This is a very difficult stage of his recovery so if you do decide to visit, keep the visits to a minimum. He is really hurting and it is not the easiest thing to witness. He will be in ICU in Room# 3512. Visiting hours are for the most part 24 hour. Enter the hospital through the main entrance and take the HOSPITAL ELEVATORS not the clinic elevators to the third floor. As you exit the elevators you will see a brick wall to your right so you go left where there will be an intercom to announce your visit. If you have any questions you may call 973-7146 beforehand.

Message from Julie Kaplan (via MikeMac):

John is being transferred to Kaiser Permanente - Sacramento Medical Center today. The address is:

Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center
2025 Morse Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95825

(916) 973-5000
Map to the place

He will be admitted to the ICU unit and his room number will be #3512. Since he will still be in the ICU, he cannot receive flowers at this time. I will let you know when he can receive them. John is experiencing an extreme amount of pain at this time and it is very difficult to see him hurting. His family has asked to give him a little bit of time to adjust to his new surroundings. When you do go and see him, again the family has asked to please keep your visits short. John is tiring easily right now. He will need all of you very much during his long recuperation.

Batman

I want one of these so bad it hurts....:

Elite special forces troops being dropped behind enemy lines on covert missions are to ditch their traditional parachutes in favour of strap-on stealth wings.

The lightweight carbon fibre mono-wings will allow them to jump from high altitudes and then glide 120 miles or more before landing - making them almost impossible to spot, as their aircraft can avoid flying anywhere near the target.

The technology was demonstrated in spectacular fashion three years ago when Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner - a pioneer of freefall gliding - famously 'flew' across the English Channel, leaping out of an aircraft 30,000ft above Dover and landing safely near Calais 12 minutes later.

Wearing an aerodynamic suit, and with a 6ft wide wing strapped to his back, he soared across the sea at 220mph, moving six feet forward through the air for every one foot he fell vertically - and opened his parachute 1,000ft above the ground before landing safely.

...Resembling a 6ft-wide pair of aircraft wings, the devices should allow a parachutist to glide up to 120miles, carrying 200lb of equipment, the manufacturers claim.

Fitted with oxygen supply, stabilisation and navigation aides, troops wearing the wings will jump from a high-altitude transport aircraft which can stay far away from enemy territory - or on secret peacetime missions could avoid detection or suspicion by staying close to commercial airliner flight paths.

The manufacturers claim the ESG wing is '100 per cent silent' and 'extremely difficult' to track using radar.

Once close to their target landing zone, the troops pull their parachute rip cord to open their canopy and then land normally.

Weapons, ammunition, food and water can all be stowed inside the wing, although concealing the 6ft wings after landing could prove harder than burying a traditional parachute.

ESG claims the next stage of development will be fitting 'small turbo-jet drives' to the wings to extend range even further.

Wet Day In Phoenix

Who'dathunk? After yesterday's false and windy and dusty start (habooby, as we meteorologists say), proto-monsoon kicks into gear with a vengeance in the Valley of the Sun.

Bird Flu Hits Florida Trailer Park

Oh, the humanity!

(via E-Mail chain from my sister)

Red Rain

Sigh.... "The Day After Tomorrow" for the panspermia set.....

Red rain, and aliens:

In April, Louis, a solid-state physicist at Mahatma Gandhi University, published a paper in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Astrophysics and Space Science in which he hypothesizes that the samples -- water taken from the mysterious blood-colored showers that fell sporadically across Louis's home state of Kerala in the summer of 2001 -- contain microbes from outer space.

Specifically, Louis has isolated strange, thick-walled, red-tinted cell-like structures about 10 microns in size. Stranger still, dozens of his experiments suggest that the particles may lack DNA yet still reproduce plentifully, even in water superheated to nearly 600 degrees Fahrenheit . (The known upper limit for life in water is about 250 degrees Fahrenheit .)

So how to explain them? Louis speculates that the particles could be extraterrestrial bacteria adapted to the harsh conditions of space and that the microbes hitched a ride on a comet or meteorite that later broke apart in the upper atmosphere and mixed with rain clouds above India.

...Meanwhile, more down-to-earth theories abound. One Indian government investigation conducted in 2001 lays blame for what some have called the "blood rains" on algae.

Other theories have implicated fungal spores, red dust swept up from the Arabian peninsula, even a fine mist of blood cells produced by a meteor striking a high-flying flock of bats.

Entrepreneurial Rocketfest

Despite the boosterish rhetoric, the presence of all these large amateur rockets all in one place makes me feel uncomfortable:

2006 X PRIZE CUP Scheduled for October 19-22nd in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Santa Monica, CA - February 21, 2006 A combination of high powered, high adrenaline rocket racing, hands-on exploration, entertainment and education. Experience the new generation of private spaceships, fly the simulators, meet the pilots and astronauts, speak to the designers and sit in the cockpits. Win a flight on Zero G!

Witness the debut of the world’s first X-Racer - Grand Prix Racing in the sky - and the awe inspiring sport of vertical drag racing. Watch X PRIZE teams compete for $2.5 Million in cash prizes and cast your vote for the best rockets in the $50,000 Amateur X PRIZE competition - where hundreds of teams comprising fathers and sons, mothers and daughters from all over the world compete with their home-built rockets.

Between Rocket ignitions, interactive gaming and visually arresting New Mexico landscapes, listen to your favorite rock bands and view award winning space movies in the giant outdoor theater. Join in ‘star parties’ and fireside chats with astronomers and celebrated astronauts as part of the RocketTown experience.

From families to executives, rocket builders to rocket dreamers. From girl scouts to Shuttle astronauts, home-built model rockets to heart stopping rocket planes. Join this loyal community of space enthusiasts, watching the future unfold before their eyes.

John Hancock In Surgery Today

Message this morning from Juan Ramos:

The surgery scheduled originally scheduled for Thursday has been moved up to today for John. Your thoughts and prayers on this operation to his right hip and pelvis as it is a very important surgery for John and in my mind his most serious fracture. I also would not encourage any visitors today because of the length of the surgery itself and the much needed recovery period. It has been a good week for John primarily because of the removal of his respiratory tube. He has had many visitors and has greeted them all by name. It has been good for everyone who has visited him to see and hear him talk, smile and laugh even has he has faded in and out because of his pain medication. This may be the last surgery he will have at UCD and there is a possibility he may be transferred to a Kaiser facility within the next week or two. Which facility that will be, I do not know at this point.

"Hairspray" Closing In Vegas

Figuring out Vegas is really hard for Broadway musicals!

Favelas

Pepper Von is back from Brazil, with gripping stories about working with homeless kids in Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte. Makes all our problems shrink into insignificance....

Jesuits Grapple With The Beast

More fun:

666 - Biblical Number of the Beast
660 - Approximate Number of the Beast
DCLXVI - Roman Numeral of the Beast
665 - Number of the Beast's Older Brother
667 - Number of the Beast's Younger Sister
668 - Number of the Beast's Neighbor
999 - Number of the Australian Beast
333 - Number of the Semi-Beast
66 - Number of the Downsized Beast
6, uh..., I forget - Number of the Blond Beast
666.0000 - Number of the High Precision Beast
665.9997856 - Number of the Beast on a Pentium
.....

And many more!

More on John Hancock

Message today from MikeMac:

John's doing well. He was joking around a lot yesterday, and we were glad he had his sense of humor. His face is very expressive, but sometimes he drifts off to sleep in the middle of a sentence. He was able to move his toes a bit, and his left arm is very mobile. He tried to scratch his face a lot (he hasn't shaved in quite some time), but couldn't quite make it. He was very thirsty, and tried to get more ice chips out of us, but he just wanted to chew them, instead of letting them melt like he's supposed to. We chided him for it, saying he should do as mother (and the nurse) say. He rolled his eyes and kept telling Juan, "I've got it down now, let's try again," and opened his mouth for more ice.

The nurse said his red blood cell count was pretty low, and when the viscosity of the blood drops, your body responds by making you thirsty. His eyes don't seem to close all the way, but they have some goop they put on his eyes to keep them from drying out. He can see well enough to recognize people if he's focused, but his hearing is top notch. The feeding tube will be coming out today, and John will receive his first meal in two-and-a-half weeks: Chicken broth and Jell-O. John says, with a huge grin, "It's gonna be delicious". He's making truly awesome progress.

Just Make Fun Of Them

Digby has written how George W. Bush will frequently bully his critics by singling out one hapless person and making fun of some personal characteristic. It's supposed to be "funny," and if you complain, you get accused of not having a sense of humor. Not long ago, Bush mocked an elderly man for being in a wheelchair:

There's an interesting simple psychology involved in such things. If someone can coerce those in a group to help him attack a single member they become his accomplices. For instance, getting everybody in the press corps to laugh at a reporter's baldness makes those reporters part of the president's gang. And, of course, it intimidates them. If they stray, they too will be subject to that kind of public humiliation. It's the evil fratboy theory of social relations, very primitive stuff.

Today, Bush turned and mocked fellow Republican, Congressman Steve Pearce of New Mexico, a conservative whose positions are nevertheless at odds with Bush:

Mr. Bush tried to strike a friendly, bipartisan tone. He warmly recognized Gov. Bill Richardson, Senator Jeff Bingaman and Representative Tom Udall, all Democrats, as well as Senator Pete Domenici and Representative Steven Pearce, both Republicans.

Mr. Pearce, whose district includes Artesia, differs sharply with Mr. Bush on immigration policy, but the president greeted him like a friend and ally, kidding him for seeking shelter from the heat. "Pearce has got that umbrella up because he's bald-headed," Mr. Bush said as the crowd erupted in laughter. "He's also a fine Congressman."

Ann Coulter, Monster

Ann "Abaddon" Coulter on the 9/11 widows:

These broads are millionaires, lionized on TV and in articles about them, reveling in their status as celebrities and stalked by griefparrazies. I have never seen people enjoying their husband’s death so much.

And all because the 9/11 widows have the gall to want their questions regarding 9/11 answered by the Bush Administration! Before long, Coulter will be accusing the ambitious widows of having organized 9/11 themselves, to better serve their pimp, Osama bin Laden.