The Problem is Obvious

 Read the article at this link, and the title of this post becomes clear. Equal Opportunity means ignorance, and incompetence become more important than knowledge, and skill.

Sinus Confounder

 This link shows what gives me some problems during the year. The Saharan dust comes and goes, but when it's here, my sinuses react. Sometimes it's minor, but other times leads to some antihistamines, and annoying sinus problems. During the times with lots of pollens, it only makes things worse. 

The bright side of having the dust is it can weaken, or prevent the formation of a hurricane. From my perspective, it's a good trade.

They're Back

 I was down at the in-laws, and was a little surprised at the number of hummingbirds already here. At least thirty were hovering, or in the landing pattern around their feeders, and being the usual turds they can be. All think it's theirs alone, chase off the others for a short time, and then are overwhelmed by the numbers. 

Fall is approaching, which can be a slow process in my neck of the woods. Temps are still in the mid nineties, and the humidity will drown a house fly. Still, it won't be long until we get a front, and the relief of cooler weather will arrive.

Scuttlebutt?

I was listening to a conversation, and the conversation was about the Three Gorges Dam in China. One individual said it had collapsed, which I think would become a huge news item. 

I went to Google Earth, typed in the search requirements, and was rewarded with a satellite photo of the dam taken in March this year. As I zoomed in, something odd about the dam caught my attention. I looked at the surrounding area, which showed the usual, although fuzzy images of objects, such as trees, or small buildings. The damn looks like a 3D cad drawing. 

Go look for yourself. I find it interesting, and wonder why the photo has a computer generated dam. Security? Or is it really gone?

Hurricane Ignorance

Hurricane Ida, like all hurricanes of that magnitude, caused substantial damage, and the ignorance abounds after the event. Comments on news reports are full of the usual anger about government rebuilding with public money, and the damning of the individuals that live in in hurricane prone areas. 

Government assistance ends after one claim. Help from FEMA, which doesn't allow enough money to rebuild, requires those that were helped to acquire insurance, or take the chance they won't have damage in the future. Otherwise, since there have been enough major hurricanes along the Gulf Coast over the last twenty years, the rebuilding costs are mostly covered by insurance. The same goes for flood prone areas. The result of this is either relocation by individuals, or the demand new buildings follow strict building codes, and hefty insurance costs. 

In the end, damage from hurricanes leads to higher real estate values. If there is a known economic advantage to rebuilding, it will happen. Property that is no longer viable for development is abandoned. This can lead to pricey vacation property, and the cottage industries that supply those with enough money to invest in the real estate. Businesses in these areas already know the stakes, and stay because the demand for their services outweighs the risks. The costs to stay are included in the prices. 

Another thing: People stay where they know the area, or cherish their hometown. Generations of families may continue their heritage, or keep a family business thriving for those that either enjoy a hurricane prone area, or have work that demands the proximity to the coast. Usually, these types of people are more self-sufficient, have strong family roots, and really don't care what anyone else thinks. They don't ask for any special favors, and can take care of their own. Belittling them shows ignorance, and a lack of character.