Charlie Pierce had a look at what’s going on in New York City: Occupy Wall Street: More of a Movement Than the Tea Party

I’m not sure what the people now occupying Wall Street ultimately will accomplish, but I’m a little tired with the argument that, because we don’t know what they may or may not accomplish, the entire exercise is doomed and useless. There has to be something to be said for people who at least direct their anger at the people who deserve it. The president has not been interested in doing that, unless he’s been flogging Tim Geithner in the solarium without our being aware of it. The Democratic party doesn’t seem overly concerned any more. Among the Republican presidential candidates, the issue is largely invisible, except when one of the candidate stands up courageously and applies a soothing balm to millionaires whose fee-fees have been wounded because the president has taken to talking about them in less than complimentary ways.

Reading reports from people who are actually at the location and have talked to the people involved it becomes clear that the main immediate goal was create the infrastructure and procedures to sustain an extended effort. They aren’t using the old ‘tried and failed’ American model, they are using the model that worked in North Africa, and is being applied in Europe.

It is already showing results, as the Airline Pilots Association took their demonstration to Wall Street, and a number of local unions have announced plans to join in the process.

This was never designed to be a one-shot protest over a specific issue, it is a movement against what Wall Street has done to the US. There is no point in talking to the ‘servants’ in Washington – you need to confront the real power on Wall Street.

Executive Lunch

Again with the box …

[Editor: The Big Tipper is unconcerned as the alpha tom, Blaze, and the alpha female, Tonto [with her back to the camera] meet over lunch at my neighbors. As a result of the latest ‘election’ for his position, Blaze has acquired a scar over his left eye to match the one over his right.

Friday Ark

Position: 24.0N 46.4W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: Northwest [320°] near 9 mph [15 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 50 mph [ 85 kph].
Wind Gusts: 60 mph [ 95 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 85 Miles [140 km].
Minimum central pressure: 1004 mb.

Currently about 1255 miles [2020 km] East-Southeast of Bermuda.

Philippe is beginning to encounter the outflow from Ophelia, which is providing wind shear that will weaken it.

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: 26.2N 63.1W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: North [360°] near 17 mph [28 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 120 mph [195 kph].
Wind Gusts: 150 mph [240 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 205 miles [335 km].
Hurricane Wind Radius: 40 miles [ 65 km].
Minimum central pressure: 956 mb ↓.

Currently about 435 miles [ 700 km] South-Southeast of Bermuda.

This may be the peak for the storm. The good news is that it is turning and will be passing to the East of Bermuda, striking with its weak side.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Bermuda.

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.]

Friday Cat Blogging will be delayed until I can get a new USB cable for my camera. My trusty old cable disappeared from its hook this afternoon, and I don’t feel like moving a lot of furniture to attempt to find it.

I did that looking for the charger for my cell phone a couple of years ago, but still haven’t found it [and, yes, I looked under the refrigerator].