Image above via The Patriot Post.
We have been pointing out the hoax aspect of climate change since 2006:
©2006 Cap’n Bob
Mars Rover Opportunity 10 Year Anniversary
Today marks the tenth anniversary of the deployment of the Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Spirit has not been heard from for several years, but Opportunity keeps on chugin’ along. This is quite an achievement for JPL, NASA and the subcontractors that put these remarkable spacecraft together. Several years ago, Damsel and I visited JPL and took the tour that included the ground facilities for the rover program. It was quite impressive.
Here is an excerpt from Dr. Tony Phillips’ article about Opportunity:
Opportunity’s Improbable Anniversary
July 1, 2013: When NASA’s Mars rover Opportunity blasted off from Cape Canaveral in 2003, many onlookers expected a relatively short mission. Landing on Mars is risky business. The Red Planet has a long history of destroying spacecraft that attempt to visit it. Even if Opportunity did land safely, it was only designed for a 3-month mission on the hostile Martian surface.
Few, if any, imagined that Opportunity would still be roving the red sands of Mars–and still making discoveries–ten years later.
On July 7, 2013, Opportunity celebrates the 10th anniversary of its launch and more than 9 years on Mars.
Sunflowers
We shopped a day earlier than usual today because of the holiday falling on our normal Thursday shopping day. I was looking for some red-white-blue floral displays and was a little disappointed that they had none. I settled for these nice sunflowers to serve as a colorful and festive centerpiece for our Fourth of July celebrations this long weekend. Click on the image to enlarge.
Helping the Yarnell Fire Victims
Damsel and I took some canned goods, some packaged food, a few blankets and bottled water to the Wickenburg Community Center today. The center is being used to stockpile and distribute food and supplies to the victims of the Yarnell fire disaster. We were glad that we had a stock of items on hand to be able to take them there today. Click on the image to enlarge.
Of course, there were plenty of other community members who brought a lot of items. Click here to see more.
Yarnell Hill Aftermath
By now, most of the nation has heard about the tragic events that took place yesterday in Yarnell, AZ, just 25 miles up SR 89 from our town. Going outside here in town, you smelled the smoke and ash was falling everywhere. Today, that has cleared up, but there is still some smoldering visible up on Yarnell Hill. Damsel took this image looking north from the high spot just a half mile from our house. Click on the image to enlarge.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the firefighters and the civilian victims of this terrible disaster.
Monsoon Season Returns
The last day of June brought us the first thunderstorms of the monsoon season. The forecast is for more chance of thunderstorms over the next couple of days, although the probabilities are down in the ten or twenty percent range. We had no precipitation here today, but the humidity popped up a bunch and we can hear thunder in the distance. We need the rain, so let it come.
Summer Sunset
We are indeed blessed that we can witness the majesty of our beautiful desert environment on a daily basis. This gorgeous sunset marked the end of yet another wonderful day of retirement in our dream home. Click on the image to enlarge.