Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

August 2006

Space Radiation Storm

During the years 1999 & 2000 the solar maximum occurred; the time of an 11-year cycle when the Sun exhibits greatest activity. This was the first chance for the Xray Camera on SOHO to observe solar activity at maximum. On July 14, 2000, the camera recorded one of the largest Xray flares to date. In review, this article from NASA recalls the ensuing storm and it’s effects on our planet.

Space Radiation Storm

July 14, 2000 — This morning NOAA satellites and the orbiting Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) recorded one of the most powerful solar flares of the current solar cycle. Space weather forecasters had been predicting for days that an intense flare might erupt from the large sunspot group 9077, and today one did.

“Energetic protons from the flare arrived at Earth about 15 minutes after the eruption,” says Gary Heckman, a space weather forecaster at the NOAA Space Environment Center. “This triggered a category S3 radiation storm.”

Right: This SOHO animation of an X-class solar flare was recorded by the spacecraft’s Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Telescope at 195 angstroms. This recording nicely shows a flare, followed by a torrent of energetic particles that arrived about 15 minutes later, creating snow on the images as the particles bombarded the camera’s electronic detectors. A second flare does not create as much noise. The duration of this sequence is almost a minute, so keep watching.

According to NOAA space weather prediction scales, an S3 storm can cause the following effects on satellites: single-event upsets, noise in imaging systems, permanent damage to exposed components/detectors, and decrease of solar panel currents. It can also expose air travelers at high latitudes to low levels of radiation, the equivalent of a brief chest x-ray.

[more]

Presently, the sun is between maxima. Although the sun is fairly quiet now, there can still be the occasional flare up.

14 Aug 2006 by Astronomy Environment Global Warming Rocket Science

Terror Insurance

Why does the UN, along with western politicians and questionable diplomacy continue to guarantee that terrorists will always prevail in the Middle East? Hezbollah did not wait for the UN resolutions to go into effect before declaring victory. This is just sad — letting history repeat itself in spite of knowing what actually must be done.

From Cox and Forkum:

Hezbollah did not wait for the official UN Security Council announcement on a ceasefire and launched its own media campaign declaring it had ‘won the war against Israel.’ In the latest video aired on Al-Manar TV the terror group says it ‘defeated the invincible army’ and ‘July-August 2006: Legend shattered.’ The new video clips show thousands of supporters waving Hezbollah and Lebanon flags.

12 Aug 2006 by Current Events Degenerates International Islamic Terrorism

A Pop Quiz

Mark Alexander has written a terrific article addressing the nature of the terrorists who want to destroy us. To present his analysis, he writes a series of multiple-choice questions. An enjoyable read for me and I hope for you too.

Image: The 19 Terrorists from 9/11 — click image for more from WorldNetDaily which carries an interesting frightening article about British Islamists

I selected only a sampling of Mark’s quiz — click on the title below to see the complete article:

Anyone for Terrorist Profiling?

To ensure we Americans never offend anyone — particularly fanatics intent on killing us — law enforcement and security screeners are not allowed to “profile” people in public places or security checkpoints. However, they will continue to perform random searches of 80-year-old women, little kids, airline pilots with proper identification, Secret Service agents who are members of the President’s security detail, 85-year-old congressmen with metal hips and even Medal of Honor recipients. But targeting Middle Eastern male Islamists between the ages 17 and 40 constitutes “ethnic profiling.”

Let’s pause a moment and review….

In 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by: (a) A salesman from Utah (b) An construction worker (c) A college student on Spring Break (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.

In 1972, 11 Israeli athletes were killed at the Munich Olympics by: (a) Your grandmother (b) A Midwest auto-parts dealer (c) A mom and her 6-year-old son visiting from Indiana (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.

In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by: (a) A pizza delivery boy (b) The UPS guy (c) Geraldo Rivera making up for a slow news day (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.

In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S. Navy diver was murdered by: (a) A Marine officer with two weeks leave (b) A plumber going to visit his mom (c) A Catholic nun (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.

In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by: (a) A college-bound freshman (b) A cardiac surgeon on his way to Houston (c) A waitress (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.

In 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed by: (a) A starving actress (b) A mom with a newborn (c) Twin six-year-old boys (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.

In 1995, a plot to blow up U.S.-bound international flights over the Pacific was attempted by (a) Hawaiian school kids (b) An decorated Vietnam Veteran (c) Twin sisters on their way to Paducah (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.

In 2000, 17 sailors died in an attack on the USS Cole (DDG 67) in Yemen by: (a) A child in a stroller (b) A high school class on their way to visit Washington, DC (c) Newlyweds on their way to Miami (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.

On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked — two flown into the World Trade Centers, one into the Pentagon and one into the ground in rural Pennsylvania. They were hijacked by: (a) A retired police officer on a mission trip to Haiti (b) A firefighter going to Maryland for training (c) An paramedic on his way to vacation in Hawaii (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.

I left out a bunch of Mark’s clever questions — it’s worth your time to read the rest.

11 Aug 2006 by Degenerates Islamic Terrorism

Enemies of the “Long War”

After the overnight disclosure of another major incident involving Islamic Terrorists, Peter Brookes, writing in The Corner on National Review Online shares some thoughts about our enemies in the Global War on Terror (emphasis added):

London Thoughts [Peter Brookes]

1. We have two enemies in the war on terror: al Qaeda and complacency. The “Long War” is clearly far from over.
2. The fact that the London group may have had “some” ties to al Qaeda proves that al Qaeda is as much—if not more—a virulent, vicious ideology as a terror group.
3. Good, actionable intelligence—both foreign, like tracking financial transactions, and domestic, like the terrorist surveillance program —is still our first line of defense.
4. Al Qaeda—and its acolytes—are continually evolving (e.g. the use of liquid explosives to bring down planes), meaning we have to be as imaginative and nimble in our defense as they are in their offense. Of course, taking the fight to the terrorists is our best defense.
5. International cooperation—as exemplified by US-UK cooperation this time—is a force multiplier in the war on terror.
6. This may not be the last of terror plots meant to occur on or near the fifth anniversary of 9/11…

Americans and Europeans alike, should wake up and realize that the seething hatred will not just go away if we ignore it or coddle it. We, collectively, just don’t get it; Islamic terrorists, like the title cyborg in “The Terminator,” will not go away until the throats of the last infidels have been cut. Infidels — that’s us! All of us – Moms, Dads, Kids, liberals, conservatives, and all you middle-of-the-road complacent folks.

As Brookes says, we must take the fight to the terrorists — preemption beats cleaning up after a lapse of vigilance. Start profiling now. Purge terrorist cells from America now. Just do it!

10 Aug 2006 by Current Events Degenerates Islamic Terrorism

Flowers of the Day

While cereus cactii varieties bear their flowers in the night, most varieties of barrel cactii produce flowers that open to the sun’s rays and close before sundown. They often open for several days in a row before withering.

The Devil’s Tongue Barrel or Crow’s Claw Cactus has pinkish purple or yellow flowers, 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter (2.5 to 3.5 cm). Ferocactus latispinus, as this variety is known, is fairly popular in cultivation because it blooms very early, many young plants will bloom when they reach 4 inches in diameter (10 cm). The cactus that produced this flower is about the size of a basketball, 10 inches in diameter (25 cm).

10 Aug 2006 by California Home & Garden Photography

Savor It While You Can

With the defeat of Cynthia McKinney in the runoff election last night, the electorate has rid Congress of the worst.representative.ever.

Unfortunately for America, I predict this insanely behaving b-word will again infect national politics one way or another, just like a persistent case of genital herpes.

So enjoy the moment and brace for the inevitable.

Cartoon credit: Cox & Forkum

09 Aug 2006 by Congress Degenerates Whacko Politics

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