Yes, another al Qaeda Number 2 has been eliminated. This one was called Abu Qaswarah and was a Moroccan Swede who trained in Afghanistan before setting up operations in Iraq. He is on everyone’s terrorist list which means he probably wasn’t required to take off his shoes or hand in his pudding when he traveled, as those indignities are reserved for law-abiding citizens.

Again we are told that this will be a real blow to al Qaeda, except it never is.

What you don’t want to see on a letter from your broker.

While not official until certified, here are the results of yesterday’s Canadian election:

Conservatives: 143 [+16]
Liberals: 76 [-19]
Bloc Québécois: 50 [+2]
NDP: 37 [+7]
Greens: 0 [-1]
Independents: 2 [-1]

Harper didn’t win the majority of 155, but he has a stronger hand.

It was, for Canada, a low turnout election, with only 59% participation. These results will almost guarantee a challenge to Mr. Dion for leadership of the Liberal Party in December. Given the current economic conditions, it is unlikely that this government will last beyond a year or two, barring a major turn around.

Position: 17.4 N 64.5 W [10 PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: Northeast [050°] near 20 mph.
Maximum sustained winds: 115 mph [185 kph].
Wind Gusts: 140 mph.
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 115 miles [185 km].
Hurricane Wind Radius: 35 miles [55 km].
Minimum central pressure: 967 mb ↓.

It is 30 miles [45 km] Southwest of St. Croix and 105 miles [165 km] West-Southwest of St. Martin/Maarten.

A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vieques, Culebra, St. Martin/Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barthelemy, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, St. Kitts, and Nevis by their respective governments.

The government of Antigua has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for Antigua, Barbuda, and Montserrat.

A Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning remain in effect for Puerto Rico.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Guadeloupe.

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: 15.3 N 85.9 W [10 PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West [260°] near 7 mph.
Maximum sustained winds: 30 mph [45 kph].
Wind Gusts: 40 mph.
Minimum central pressure: 1006 mb.

It is 40 miles [65 km] South-Southwest of Limon, Honduras. The center of the storm is inland and has lost its tropical characteristics in the mountains.

This is the final advisory.

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.]