Tuesday, August 28, 2012

What I've been up to lately

So. Everything is great here. I have my apartment fully furnished. I have my bed, a dresser, a kitchen table with four chairs and a coffee table that has four small padded stools that fit right underneath, perfect for playing board games or cards. Ironically, there are no open parking spaces here at my apartment complex. All the parking spaces have been assigned. There's no parking on the street nearby either. If anyone wanted to come visit, I would have to drive to pick them up and drop them off. This arrangement is perfect for anyone seeking a high security environment. All the front doors of all the units face out into a central courtyard.

About a week and a half ago I woke up totally pain-free for the first time in years. I think I'm finally recovering from the years of misery in Illinois. The summer here has been a complete pleasure and I can't wait to see what the winters are like around Puget Sound. I have a couple of meetings with local groups coming up and I can't wait to start meeting people with similar interests.

I still while away my free time with Photoshop or on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, Yelp and a few other sites. I don't watch television anymore but I do listen to local radio stations. Many of my blogs at www.spfld.net have been neglected for a while, but now I have the time to dust them off, at least for now.


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Severe Weather Conditions from The Weather Channel

Local Severe Weather Alert for Seattle, WA (98155)

Seattle/bremerton Area
Special Weather Statement in effect



A SPELL OF HOT WEATHER IS EXPECTED OVER WESTERN WASHINGTON LATER WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

OFFSHORE FLOW WILL GIVE HOT WEATHER TO MUCH OF WESTERN WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY. THIS HOT SPELL IS EXPECTED TO BE SIMILAR IN MAGNITUDE TO WHAT OCCURRED EARLIER THIS MONTH

BUT IS EXPECTED TO LAST A DAY OR SO LONGER. THE HOT WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FIRST ALONG THE COAST AND OVER THE SOUTH INTERIOR OF WESTERN WASHINGTON ON WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES SOUTH AND WEST OF THE OLYMPICS AND IN THE SOUTH INTERIOR WILL LIKELY REACH 90 DEGREES LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. CONTINUED OFFSHORE FLOW ON THURSDAY WILL CAUSE THE HEAT TO SPREAD TO THE REST OF WESTERN WASHINGTON. THE ONLY PLACES TO ESCAPE TEMPERATURES WELL INTO THE 80S OR 90S WILL BE NEAR THE WATER IN THE NORTH INTERIOR AND ON THE IMMEDIATE PACIFIC BEACHES. MANY LOCATIONS FROM SEATTLE SOUTHWARD IN THE INTERIOR WILL SEE TEMPERATURES RISE WELL INTO THE 90S ON THURSDAY. MINIMUM TEMPERATURES THURSDAY AND FRIDAY IN THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND OF THE SEATTLE METRO AREA WILL REMAIN WARM

IN THE MID 60S. WHILE THE COAST WILL SEE TEMPERATURES COOL DOWN INTO THE LOWER 70S ON FRIDAY

THE INTERIOR WILL REMAIN HOT. AN INLAND PUSH OF MARINE AIR WILL LIKELY PROVIDE RELIEF TO THE INTERIOR ON SATURDAY. OPEN WATER CAN BE VERY INVITING DURING HOT SPELLS. IF YOU PLAN TO BE IN OR NEAR AREA LAKES AND RIVERS THIS WEEKEND

BE WATER SAFE AND WEAR A LIFE JACKET. ALSO

LIMIT TIME SPENT IN THE SUN AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ENGAGE IN ANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.



Sent from my iPad

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Democrats and Republicans find common ground

Congress has forgotten about the debacle of FEMA during Hurricane Katrina. There's not much worse than having unqualified people in charge of government agencies during times of disaster.

The memory of cronyism was insidiously overshadowed by the persistent blockage of President Obama's political appointments by Republicans. Now most Democrats and Republicans have finally come together in solidarity and voted on "A bill to reduce the number of executive positions subject to Senate confirmation" (S679).

They definitely have something in common. They all want bargaining chips for their political campaign contributors and they don't want their precious golden-egg laying geese to suffer through hearings and committees.

If you are planning on running for office, you need all the money you can get and now you can promise a political appointment to someone without meddlesome congressmen dredging up their dirty history. You may soon be able to promise your friends anonymity as they take over FEMA, Homeland Security, or other positions you may want to fill in order to build the nest for your and your future generations.

I first heard about this in an email from a Democrat affiliated organization that wanted me to call up and thank my congressmen for voting in favor of S679.