An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Archive for Weather
It Melted…It Froze…It Melted…It Froze…
Melting Swiss Glacier Yields Neolithic Trove
Some 5,000 years ago, a prehistoric person trod high up in what is now the Swiss Alps, wearing goat leather pants, leather shoes and armed with a bow and arrows.
The unremarkable journey through the Schnidejoch pass, a lofty trail 9,000 feet above sea level, has been a boon to scientists but it would never have emerged if climate change were not melting the nearby glacier.
So far, 300 objects dating as far back as the Neolithic or New Stone Age — about 4,000 B.C. in Europe — to the later Bronze and Iron Ages and the Medieval era have been found in the site’s former icefields.
“We know now that the discoveries on Schnidejoch are the oldest of this kind ever made in the Alps,” said Albert Hafner, an expert with the archaeology service in Bern canton.
They have allowed researchers not only to piece together snapshots of life way back when, but also to shed light on climate fluctuations in the past 6,500 years — and hopefully shed light on what is happening now.
“For us, the site itself is the most important find because we have this correlation between climate change and archaeological objects,” Hafner said.
“We know that people were only able to walk on this site when it was relatively warm,” said Martin Grosjean, executive director of a national network called Swiss Climate Research. “When it was too cold, the glacier advanced and it was not a passable route.”
Well now, isn’t that interesting. I wonder how many SUVs were tooling around when that Stone Age guy was wandering around. Were there traffic jams during the Bronze Age? Were the Medieval folks drilling for oil and building pollution spewing factories? Gosh! I wonder what caused those meltdowns if it weren’t evil man. Hmmm…. Perhaps….just perhaps, mind you…..it was NORMAL climate cycles?
Scientists have long known there were periods of warmer weather in the region but the artifacts allowed them to identify the exact years, when the site would have been passable on foot.
Scientists KNEW? YIKES! Did someone forget to tell the “Great and Wonderful” Boracle?
Yet even with this information, the hysteria is included. Well, what can you expect from anything associated with the NY Slimes.
A recent U.N. Environment Program report said by the end of the century, swathes of mountain ranges worldwide risk losing their glaciers if global warming continues at its projected rate.
“The ongoing trend of worldwide and rapid, if not accelerating, glacier shrinkage may lead to the deglaciation of large parts of many mountain ranges by the end of the 21st century,” the report warned.
Guess what! Obviously this isn’t the first time the glaciers have melted. No doubt, it won’t be the last. So, you losers up there at the UN? Snap out of your sleaziness. You are NOT getting my money, and you can’t have my guns!
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Hanna Hits Hampton
A very long time friend of mine, the RO woman, lives right down the street from the James River, which is off the Chesapeake Bay, which is….oh hell, just look on a map, ok?
She was out this afternoon between downpours, and took a few pictures I thought I’d share with y’all.
This one is my favorite!
I miss crabbing. sigh….
Now, I’m not trying to make light of this storm. I know many have died in the Caribbean, and my prayers are with all of them. However, listening to the news last night, you would have thought the east coast was going to be washed away.
Seriously, I hope everyone out there is ok, and they keep their power on.
If she sends anymore, I’ll be sure to post a few.
And here they are:
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Giving Site
Cindy McCain just mentioned a site with links for the individuals states affected by natural disasters along the Gulf Coast. If you want to help out individual states, this is the place to go:
Country First:
Serving a Cause Greater than Self
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Gustav Pictures
Here’s a link for some pictures of what’s going on with Gustav.
H/T: Miss Coma via Twitter
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Some Gustav News and Where To Donate
Guard spokesman: Mississippi ‘dodged a bullet’
Powell said there was flooding in Gulfport, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but he said authorities expected that the damage caused by Gustav would not approach Katrina levels.
“The biggest risk now is flooding and high wind,” said Powell , a retired lieutenant colonel. “With this coming in as a Category II, we’ll have primarily trees down and damage to mobile homes and trailers. “Without a doubt, I think we’ve dodged a bullet.”
Six inches of flooding reported in the Upper Ninth Ward
Army Corps of Engineers said that the walls are designed to handle the overtopping without incident. The floodwalls have been strengthened since Katrina and are equipped with cement “splash pads” to prevent scouring from water coming over the walls, officials said. On the scene, the spillage was landing on the cement pads, which reduces its impact at the base of the wall.
“We’re confident in the stability of that wall,” which was fortified after Hurricane Katrina, said Karen Durham-Aguilera, director of Task Force Hope for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Officials are out in force at the scene. The overflow areas appear to be greatest on the river side of Claiborne.
New Orleans officials optimistic levees will hold
A weakened Hurricane Gustav crashed today into the flood-prone but nearly deserted coast of Louisiana, making landfall west of New Orleans as a Category 2 storm. Water was splashing over some floodwalls, but city officials were optimistic the levees protecting the city would hold.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Gustav hit just before 10 a.m. Monday near the community of Cocodrie, the heart of the state’s fishing and oil industry. Forecasters once feared the storm would arrive as a devastating Category 4 with much more powerful winds.
Gustav lands west of New Orleans
Half a million people across Louisiana are without electricity, said Gov. Bobby Jindal, who cautioned citizens not to think they have seen all of Hurricane Gustav.
“People shouldn’t think because they are not seeing flooding now the worst is over,” he said at a news conference. “The worst flooding could potennially be on the back side of this storm.”
The center of Hurricane Gustav remains two-thirds off shore, said Jindal, who added that the storm was unleasing nine- to 12-foot tidal elevations.
“We’re seeing 110 mph winds sustained along our waterfront,” he said.
GOP convention turns to appeal for hurricane aid
Republicans hurried to turn the opening day of their national convention into a fundraising drive for hurricane victims, with presidential candidate John McCain’s wife and first lady Laura Bush appealing for Gulf Coast help. McCain visited a disaster relief center in Ohio.
Party officials in St. Paul kept a watchful eye on still-dangerous Hurricane Gustav Monday to decide next steps for their shortened convention. They said they still expected McCain to address the convention at Thursday night’s finale.
Donate:
Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund
The Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund has been set up by Governor Haley Barbour to serve as the state’s central clearinghouse for corporations, organizations, and individuals to donate much needed money, equipment, goods, services, volunteers, and time to the hundreds of thousands of Mississippians who are recovering and preparing to rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters such as Hurricane Gustav.
The Salvation Army encourages all residents of areas in Gustav’s path to prepare an Emergency supply kit, an evacuation plan and stay informed to all warnings and evacuation orders. Disaster response professionals recommend having a three to five day supply of food and water for each individual of your family as well as flashlights, medication, and battery powered radio.
You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Hurricanes of 2008, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. This Fund enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters.
In preparation for Hurricane Gustav, Operation Blessing’s disaster relief specialists are en route to staging areas in Mississippi and Baton Rouge.
Hurricane Gustav struck the Gulf Coast early today, leaving an estimated 2 million people temporarily homeless.
With children and families forced from their homes and seeking refuge in emergency shelters we need your help now to deliver relief supplies.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Ironic
Watching a rerun of Extreme Makeover in Louisiana, rebuilding a church and a home after the devastation of Katrina, while also watching the news about Gustav barreling down on that same area? Would that be ironic? Honestly, I can’t think of another word that fits. Don’t you think they could have picked a different one to run tonight? 
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Gustav Stuff
Let’s also remember, New Orleans is NOT the only city in the area. There are many cities, in other states, that may be even more affected. Sadly, it looks like the powers that be learned nothing from the flooding. It wasn’t Katrina that caused the devastation, it was feckless politicians! And no, I do NOT mean Bush!
Mississippi managed to rebuild fairly quickly, yet those in NOLA are still whining the gubmint isn’t doing enough. Hint: Git up off your hind end, make sure your local officials are doing their job, which they don’t seem to be, and start cleaning. I’m fairly sure there are organizations still providing brooms, mops, cleaning solutions, and even manpower to aid those who REALLY want it. Better yet, get the hell out of that sinking cesspool!
Whew. Ok, that rant is over….here’s one from those in the know:
New Orleans Repeating Deadly Levee Mistakes
Signs are emerging that history is repeating itself in the Big Easy, still healing from Katrina: People have forgotten a lesson from four decades ago and believe once again that the federal government is constructing a levee system they can prosper behind.
In a yearlong review of levee work here, The Associated Press has tracked a pattern of public misperception, political jockeying and legal fighting, along with economic and engineering miscalculations since Katrina, that threaten to make New Orleans the scene of another devastating flood.
Dozens of interviews with engineers, historians, policymakers and flood zone residents confirmed many have not learned from public policy mistakes made after Hurricane Betsy in 1965, which set the stage for Katrina; many mistakes are being repeated.
More.
Oh yeah, and let’s not forget the Michael Morons, or Fowler and Splat….er Spratt.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Important Info
Miss Coma Twittered a great site for those who are evacuating ahead of Gustav.
Hurricane Disaster Direct Relief!
The site was put together by some folks who had to deal with Katrina, so I’m fairly certain they do have a clue. It’s not 100% active, but I’m pretty sure if Gustav keeps heading in the direction predicted, they’ll have some vital info for those affected.
TOTALLY Off Topic: How neat! She named me as a blog to check out. I thank ya ma’am! Yep, we are definitely from different sides of the political spectrum, but I like her style. She’s spunky! 
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Gustav
Nagin Orders Mandatory Evacuation of New Orleans as Gustav Approaches
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered the mandatory evacuation of New Orleans, while Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal warned residents that the state “could see flooding worse than Hurricane Katrina,” as Gustav approached the Gulf Coast.
The announcement turned informal advice to flee from Gustav into an official order to get out.
Nagin said Saturday that the evacuation becomes mandatory at 8 a.m. Sunday on the city’s vulnerable west bank. It becomes mandatory on the east bank at noon.
“This is the real deal, not a test,” Nagin said as he issued the order, warning residents that staying would be “one of the biggest mistakes of your life.” He emphasized that the city will not offer emergency services to anyone who chooses to stay behind.
The announcement comes as officials continued to evacuate the elderly, disabled, poor and others without means ahead of Gustav’s march toward the Gulf Coast.
“[This is] as bad as it gets,” the Republican governor said, quoting the National Weather Service.
An estimated 1 million residents fled the Gulf Coast Saturday, ahead of any official evacuation order, according to the Associated Press, but after the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and part of Texas.
I do pray for the safety and well being of those in any of the affected areas. Perhaps it’ll disipate, or change direction?
My question for the “chocolate city mayor”, why the hell didn’t you do this when you had so much warning before Katrina hit?
Update: Just heard on the local news (Memphis) tomorrow I-55 and I-59 will be totally - all lanes -one way….north! They interviewed one gentleman, who just broke my heart. He just moved back into his home a couple of weeks ago, and now he may lose it again.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
A Useful Gift For Florida Ladies
If we send a few of these down there, will they send a bit of rain up here? Share, don’cha know.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
