Posts from — January 2014

How Cold Is It?

We can move to Billings?

[Editor: This morning it was warmer in Billings, Montana than in Cinco Bayou. Excise and Property are too cold to even squabble.]

Friday Ark

As was suggested a couple of days ago, the Chinese icebreaker, Snow Dragon, may be trapped in the ice.

The rescue of the passengers from the Russian research vessel, Akademik Shokalskiy, isn’t over yet. The Australian icebreaker, Aurora Australis, is standing by to render assistance to the Chinese vessel.

There is a higher than normal tide expected today, and that might break up the ice enough for the Snow Dragon to break free. If it remains stuck, it may have to await the arrival of the US Coast Guard’s heavy icebreaker, Polar Star.

Note that the eastern half of the US can understand about the conditions in the Antarctic this morning, as freezing temperatures are being experienced from the North Pole down to the Gulf of Mexico. Montana is warmer than the Florida Panhandle this morning.

The BBC reports that the Antarctic rescue of Akademik Shokalskiy ship was completed.

There was a break in the weather and the passengers were transferred by the helicopter of the Chinese Snow Dragon from an ice floe by the stranded ship to another ice floe where they boarded a boat that took them to the Aurora Australis.

The crew stayed on the Akademik Shokalskiy, awaiting a heavy icebreaker or weather change to free the ship.

С Новым годом
Prosit Neujahr
Feliz Año Nuevo
Bonne Année
Felice Anno Nuovo
Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
Gott Nytt År
Sehe Bokmanee Bateuseyo
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Onnellista Uutta Vuotta

May you be safe from the idiots who think gravity is just a theory and fire off guns, failing to understand that what goes up will come down.

Given the prevalence of accurate timekeeping devices, it is amazing that the explosions that are supposed to signal the new year extend for hours beginning five hours before and extending well after the actual event. Anyone who thinks alcohol and gunpowder is a recipe for a long life should be avoided by insurance agents.

The new year brings new opportunities, so here’s hoping that the good wins out and the world is made a little better. It hasn’t happened yet, but there’s always a chance.

Oh, and a happy 13^th blogiversary™ to Steve Bates at the Yellow Doggerel Something.