Will he ever shut up?!?!

Hey All...

I recently...through a series of events...found the Blog of Jody Ferlaak. (I put a link over there on the right hand side also). The Ferlaaks were a family in the small group we belong to at church. However, Chip (the dad) is a golf pro...and moved on to greener pastures at a prestigious golf club in Grand Haven Michigan.

At any rate...those of you who know the Ferlaak's need to check out Jody's Blog. Those who don't, need to check out Jody's blog. I will not attempt to relay any portion of their story...because I could never do it justice. Check it out...you will be saddened, inspired, humbled and blessed.

K~

OK...I see a new feature here at blogger that was NOT here 6 months ago. I wondering if I ever needed image hosting to begin with (I know this time last year, you did. Hmmmm...let's try this:

Here's Bethany thinking she's all that. Isn't funny how on any given day, a four year old could walk around the neighborhood in a Superhero costume and everyone would think it's cute...but if they're doing it when their 10, everyone would think they're weird?




Like this pic...she genuinely thinks she's got a cool look going here. LOL.

K~

Still playing with pictures...Here's the entire family!!!  Bethany looks so proud of her baby sister!

I finally checked into image hosting...this should keep me busy for a while.
(Already has...this is like my 5th time trying to post a picture to a size I like)

People often inquire about my job. Many think it's interesting...most throw out the usual jokes and insults, of which I've heard them all. I believe there are only two more ridiculed professions in our nation than mine...and that's Lawer and Politician.

I'm not complaining...or trying to sound like some kind of martyr...just stating fact. I mean come on...how many people have you ever heard DEFEND "The Weather Man"?

Well...people make fun of that which they don't understand. When I say I work for the National Weather Service...the most often asked question is, "What channel are you on?". I don't blame them...local media has made such a competition out of weather broadcasts, that most are probably unaware that their tax dollars pay for people like me to compile millions of pieces of meteorological data that make forecasting possible.

Now I have to be careful here...I have no problem with any of this. But there are times I wish people could differeniate between the TV weather folks (most of which in large tv markets are pretty good) and the true meteorologist.

The main job of TV weather personalities is to keep viewers on their channel. Ultimately it comes down to ratings...selling product by providing the largest audience for the commericals aired on their station. Now there's a lot of these types that would take exception with that. I understand. But that's what it comes down to. Just as our job (The NWS) comes down to 2 objectives: 1. Protect lives and property (through severe weather analysis and warnings) and 2. Collect climatological data to monitor the nations climate and to create weather prediction models. Everything else we do is fluff.

Now...the private sector (Joel Myers of Accuweather and others) don't want us to create forecasts...so as to not provide a free service, creating unfair competition for him because he's trying to make money off this stuff. He wants us to stick ONLY to the two things I stated above. The Capitalist/Libertarian in me says he has a point. However, the American Citizen in me says, "I already paid for this stuff via taxes...I want MY information, that I funded the government to collect/create".

This statement is undisputable: The Government is the only agency that has the resources to collect this data and create forecast models at a reasonable cost. I know what you're thinking..."The Government?!?! Reasonable cost???". Yes...we are one of (if not the only) federal agency that is proably well worth the money you're pouring into it.

It is estimated that the cost to each American, to operate the NWS is $3.50 per year (less than a happy meal).

That gets you all the computer models that all the private weather companies and TV weather folks use to forecast. That get's you all the data we collect to study the nations climate (we have nothing to do with the global warming debate...that's a whoooooooole other rant). That get's you all the Severe Weather analysis, advisories, watches and warnings that we provide to you, to help you protect your life and property. That includes the lions share of the expense to operate the Hurricane Forecast Center (I think DOD pays the Hurricane Aircraft) which saved how many lives over the past 2 years. (Regardless of what you think or heard about the NWS...the Hurricane center performed nearly flawlessly during Katrina and Rita). And that get's you all the cool radar data that you see everwhere (with the exception of just a few tv stations across the country that have their own private radar...but trust me...it's a joke) on the web, on TV, on your cell phone, etc. etc.

So we do all that. Is it going to far, to make several more clicks of a mouse and create our own forecast? Or in other words...would you not expect someone working at a chocolate factory to sample the product every now and then for quality? To make sure everything is working properly?

At any rate...I can not believe what this posting has turned into. I had fully intended to blog only the following:

Some people have asked what I do...Here's our website. And here's a product with my name on it so as to prove I was here.

Sorry about everything else. If you're still reading this, that is. There's not too many people that care about this stuff other than us weather geeks.

Later,
K~

P.S. That product link may automatically update when the next issuance occurrs...so it may not be valid depending on when you click.

[Republican Party Chairman, Ken] Mehlman couldn't have been more blunt: "One of the oldest lessons of history is that power corrupts," he said, telling RNC members that any Republicans guilty of illegal behavior should be punished. "The public trust is more important than any party." (Full Story Here)

This is one very distinct difference between the two parties in Washington.  You would NEVER EVER hear these words come from Howard Dean if he had 2 high level party members under indictment and the chief democratic strategist (i.e. the mirror to Rove) and a big donor both under investigation.

Oh...He'd say it now, with the shoe on the other foot...but if this was happening in Democrat ranks it would be all excuses and redirects.

The GHT published my letter, albeit heavily edited.  I've had several review it and didn't think it was too bad.  I guess I can be a little over sensitive since ones writing is kinda like his "baby"...but I still think their edits detract from the essence of many of my points.  What really hurts, is they removed the "French Spelling" burn (see original linked below).

I admit, I often make outrageous statements...but they are generally preceded or followed by a qualifying statement.  They removed a lot of these qualifiers...which make some of my outrageous points seem like ignorant/harsh statements.

Oh well...let the hate mail begin!

In the interest of full discloser:

Frank Michels Original Article

My Full Response

My Edited & Published Version

K~

Hi All!

I had a previous post that didn't make the cut. All computers should be shut off at midnight and not allowed to return to service until 7:00 am. I was downstate at my folks, unable to sleep so I figured I'd blog a little. Aware that I wasn't thinking quite straight and too lazy to spell check, I saved it as a draft and would review it later.

Well...I just read it. What a load of crap! DELETE...Gone!

Anyhow, the trip down to the parents wasn't too good. In addition to celebrating the Holidays with them, we were going for a 50th Wedding anniversary party that was being thrown for some friends. 30 minutes into the party (and quite excited to see people I hadn't seen in years) we get a call that Bethany had "a little accident". Long story short here..."Little Accident" is interpreted as a 1" by .25" gash over her eyebrow. 5 stitches and many frayed nerves later, we're home.

I mean...Bethany did awesome. Did not shed a single tear until the stitches began. Poor thing thought she was in trouble for getting so hurt. She told my sister and cousin that they couldn't see the gash (she was covering it with a pair of pants) because "It is bad, you can't handle it". Not bad for 4 years old.

Anyhow...I really don't want to talk about it. Every time I thing of her gashing her head open, being all alone thinking she was in trouble...makes me sick to my stomach (literally). I'm not mad about it (at all!) I understand that these things do and will happen. But it's your kid...you don't want them to hurt...EVER! Ug. Here goes my stomach again.

I'm feeling real...uninspired at the moment. Ever get in those moods where everything is just blah. Everything is just more stress. On Monday morning, Deb turned on Fox news for me (which typically runs in my house for about 4 hours a day). I had to tell her to turn it...to something, "Meaningless and superficially entertaining...something simple...stupid. I don't want politics...bad news...nothing.

Blah.

You ever watch "My Name is Earl"? Funny Stuff, that there show. Funniest new show on television. Whew...laughing just thinking about it.

That's better...shallow, simple. I want to be the "I don't give a bleep" guy. It's not in my DNA...but it doesn't change the want.

Later,
K~

...bloggin' like a fool, he is...after a bit of a hiatus. Maybe him and I can keep each other motivated.

Check out his shameless rants as well as what will be his worship/music/all things Christian blog.

Below is my response to his inaugural post on his worship music blog...read his post first.
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AMEN! I agree with you...and from the other side of the Isle! But the truest of all your points is the last sentence. The "Meeting of the Saints" should not be forsaken.

The mormon/episcopalian/whateveralien choir would put me to sleep. Now, crank Pillar's "You Can't Bring Me Down" to an ear bleeding level in my car driving down a rural road, and I am (literally) in tears, in awe and totally connected to my God.

Sounds like folly to some...but the Word says we must "worship in spirit and in truth". Truth to me, is not organ/piano/hymnal music. To (attempt to) worship by these means would be false (for me). However, as you said, I think the bigger crime/sin would be to forsake the meeting of the saints.

Therefore, you "suck it up" go to church and unite with your brothers and sisters. I agree...truer worship is done in private.

(Disclaimer- The "Worship in Truth..." point is not original [I'm not that smart] it's a jewel I got from my old minister/mentor from Jackson Christian Church, whom I'm going to pass this link to).

K~

This Article has the following excerpt:

U.S. officials more than doubled the size of the Iraqi army, which they initially planned to build to only 40,000 troops. An item-by-item inspection of reallocated funds reveals how priorities were shifted rapidly to fund initiatives addressing the needs of a new Iraq: a 300-man Iraqi hostage-rescue force that authorities say stages operations almost every night in Baghdad; more than 600 Iraqis trained to dispose of bombs and protect against suicide bombs; four battalions of Iraqi special forces to protect the oil and electric networks; safe houses and armored cars for judges; $7.8 million worth of bulletproof vests for firefighters; and a center in the city of Kirkuk for treating victims of torture.

At the same time, the hundreds of Americans and Iraqis who have devoted themselves to the reconstruction effort point to 3,600 projects that the United States has completed or intends to finish before the $18.4 billion runs out around the end of 2006. These include work on 900 schools, construction of hospitals and nearly 160 health care centers and clinics, and repairs on or construction of nearly 800 miles of highways, city streets and village roads.

WOW!
K~