The Pensacola News Journal reports that Christmas decorating off for ’09. The group in charge of the decorating, which is financed by business taxes, has canceled the decorations for this Christmas season for a totally secular reason – they are broke.

This happens when you cut taxes continuously and don’t establish “rainy day” funds for the bad times, activities financed by the activities run out of money and have to shut down.

A major problem with business development in the South is that the first thing that is offered is tax avoidance. This leads to a situation where there are only a few paying the taxes that are used to promote business. When growth falters or the small businesses paying the taxes fail, the house of cards collapses.

Susie Madrak noticed the same Washington Post piece that I was intending to write about earlier and covers it well.

The Post writer and the Democrats think the reason that the DCCC and DSCC [House and Senate campaign committees, for non-political junkies] can’t raise money is because the “big money” guys are upset over the “tough stance” the Dems are taking towards business.

First off, what in hell would lead anyone to believe that the Dems are taking a “tough stance” on anything? Has anything substantial been done to any of those people who are responsible for nearly pushing the global economy over the cliff? Has any real reform been enacted, or even being pushed? What planet are these people on?

Then the writer says that the “activists” are being complacent because the Dems control everything.

Hello, the “activists” are waiting for the majorities in the House and Senate, as well as taking the White House, to produce some results. So far, the Democrats have done nothing that advances the progressive agenda, so the “activists” are looking at individual candidates, rather than trusting the party with their money.

If the Democratic Party can’t make some real changes with the mandate they have been given, they will never be able to change anything, so there’s no reason to support them. The “activists” should save their money for a real progressive, liberal party.

Position: 18.0 N 34.8 W [10 AM CDT 1500 UTC].
Movement: Northwest [295°] near 14 mph [22 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph [55 kph].
Wind Gusts: 45 mph [70 kph].
Minimum central pressure: 1008 mb.

It is 725 miles [1170 km] West-Northwest of the Cape Verde Islands.

The Depression is encountering stronger wind shear, has a mass of dry air to the West, and is over cooler water. Its chances of development are marginal, and it poses no threat to any land. I’m going to stop updating on it unless it decides to do something interesting.

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 fire has burned 17,500 acres of mostly grassland and is 95% contained. The high temperatures and low humidity weather conditions continue, but the winds are dying down. One outbuilding has been destroyed.

In addition to farms and ranches, the fire threatened oil production fields, five 220-kilovolt power lines, and a 36-foot above-ground gas line. All evacuations have been canceled.

The fire started at approximately 10:33 AM PDT on 22 September south of Guiberson Road in Ventura County. Probable cause is suspected spontaneous combustion of mulch at a ranch.

There have been 9 reported injuries among firefighters.

Currently the resources are being reduced to 100 engines, 50 hand crews, 12 bulldozers, 23 water tenders, 2 helicopters, 2 air tankers, and 1,428 personnel assigned to the fire. To date cost $7.7 million. Full containment is anticipated on 9/27.

Links: Cal Fire Guiberson Fire page, the Enplan Wildfire Viewer, the LA Times Wildfires Page, and their Guiberson Fire Map.

[For more information go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Fires” for all of the posts related to wildfires on this site.]