On-line Opinion Magazine…OK, it's a blog

Apollo 11

Commander:

Neil A. Armstrong

Pilot: Columbia Command Module

Michael Collins, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF

Pilot: Eagle Lunar Module

Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., Colonel, USAF

Launched: 16 July 1969 UT 13:32:00 (08:32:00 CDT)

Landed on Moon: 20 July 1969 UT 20:17:40 (15:17:40 CDT)

Landing Site: Mare Tranquillitatis – Sea of Tranquility (0.67 N, 23.47 E)

Returned to Earth: 24 July 1969 UT 16:50:35 (11:50:35 CDT)

It has been fifty-five years since a human first set foot on another natural body in the solar system. We are finally making steps toward doing it again.

La Fête Nationale Française
Bastille Day

Thank you for the help with the Revolution.

Some background.

Position: 32.8N 94.3WW [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: North-Northeast [015°] near 17 mph [28 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph [ 55 kph].
Wind Gusts: 50 mph [ 80 kph].
Minimum central pressure: 999 mb ↑.

Currently about 70 miles [ 110 km] East-Northeast of Tyler, Texas.

All Tropical Storm and Storm Surge Warnings have been discontinued. This is the last public advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center on this system.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 27.6N 95.6W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: North-Northwest [345°] near 10 mph [17 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 70 mph [110 kph].
Wind Gusts: 80 mph [130 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 115 miles (185 km).
Minimum central pressure: 986 mb ↓.

Currently about 110 miles [ 180 km] East of Corpus Christi, Texas.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Texas coast from Mesquite Bay northward to Port Bolivar.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Texas coast south of Mesquite Bay to Port Mansfield; the Texas coast north of San Luis Pass to Sabine Pass.

A Storm Surge Warning has been issued from Mesquite Bay to Sabine Pass, including Matagorda Bay and Galveston Bay.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 24.7N 94.0W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: Northwest [310°] near 13 mph [20 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 60 mph [ 95 kph].
Wind Gusts: 70 mph [115 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 125 miles (205 km).
Minimum central pressure: 993 mb ↓.

Currently about 300 miles [ 485 km] Southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Texas coast from Baffin Bay northward to Sargent.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Texas coast south of Baffin Bay to the mouth of the Rio Grande River; the Texas coast north of Sargent to High Island; the northeastern coast of mainland Mexico from Barra el Mezquital to the mouth of the Rio Grande River.

A Storm Surge Warning has been issued from North Entrance of the Padre Island National Seashore northward to San Luis Pass, including Corpus Christi Bay and Matagorda Bay.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the the Texas coast south of Baffin Bay to the mouth of the Rio Grande River; the Texas coast north of Sargent to San Luis Pass.

A Storm Surge Watch has been issued for the Texas coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande River northward to North Entrance of the Padre Island National Seashore; San Luis Pass to Sabine Pass, including Galveston Bay.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 21.7N 90.2W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [295°] near 13 mph [20 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 60 mph [ 95 kph].
Wind Gusts: 70 mph [115 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 105 miles (165 km).
Minimum central pressure: 996 mb ↑.

Currently about 615 miles [ 995 km] Southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Texas coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande northward to San Luis Pass; the northeastern coast of mainland Mexico from Barra el Mezquital to the mouth of the Rio Grande.

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for the Texas coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande northward to High Island.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 19.6N 85.5W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West [275°] near 16 mph [26 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 115 mph [185 kph].
Wind Gusts: 125 mph [200 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 140 miles (220 km).
Hurricane Wind Radius: 30 miles [ 45 km].
Minimum central pressure: 964 mb ↓.

Currently about 135 miles [ 220 km] East-Southeast of Tulum, Mexico.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico south of Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal; the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico north of Cancun to Campeche.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico south of Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal; the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico north of Cancun to Cabo Catoche.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the coast of Belize from south of Chetumal to Belize City.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

The Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security…

[Read more →]

Position: 18.0N 79.2W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [290°] near 21 mph [33 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 130 mph [215 kph].
Wind Gusts: 145 mph [235 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 185 miles (295 km).
Hurricane Wind Radius: 45 miles [ 75 km].
Minimum central pressure: 961 mb ↑.

Currently about 160 miles [ 255 km] Southeast of Grand Cayman.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Jamaica; Grand Cayman; Little Cayman and Cayman Brac; the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico south of Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal; the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico north of Cancun to Campeche.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico south of Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal; the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico north of Cancun to Cabo Catoche.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the coast of Belize from south of Chetumal to Belize City.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 16.2N 72.7W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [290°] near 22 mph [35 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 150 mph [240 kph].
Wind Gusts: 170 mph [275 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 185 miles (295 km).
Hurricane Wind Radius: 40 miles [ 65 km].
Minimum central pressure: 947 mb ↑.

Currently about 300 miles [ 480 km] East-Southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.

Beryl appears to have peaked and is slowly losing strength.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Jamaica; Grand Cayman; Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for south coast of Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque westward to the border with Haiti; the south coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse d’Hainault.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the south coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse d’Hainault; east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to Cabo Catoche.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the coast of Belize from south of Chetumal to Belize City.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 13.8N 64.9W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [290°] near 22 mph [35 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 160 mph [260 kph].
Wind Gusts: 175 mph [280 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 125 miles (205 km).
Hurricane Wind Radius: 40 miles [ 65 km].
Minimum central pressure: 938 mb ↓.

Now a Category 5 Hurricane.

Currently about 510 miles [ 825 km] East-Southeast of Isla Beata, Dominican Republic

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Jamaica

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for south coast of Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque westward to the border with Haiti; the south coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse d’Hainault.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 20.2N 97.8W [10:00AM CDT 1500 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [290°] near 7 mph [11 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph [ 55 kph].
Wind Gusts: 45 mph [ 70 kph].
Minimum central pressure: 1007 mb ↑.

Currently about 60 miles [ 1oo km] South-Southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico.

All Watches and Warnings have been cancelled. The National Hurricane Center has issued its last public advisory on this system.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

La fête du
Canada
Day

Thank you for not yet building a fence along your southern or western border, and for brewing great beer.

This is the 157th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution Act of 1867.

Schedule of Ottawa events and some background.

Position: 20.0N 96.2W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West [280°] near 13 mph [20 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 40 mph [ 65 kph].
Wind Gusts: 50 mph [ 80 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 70 miles (110 km].
Minimum central pressure: 1005 mb ↓.

Currently about 105 miles [ 165 km] Southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Cabo Rojo south to Puerto Veracruz.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]