One drink too many and a joke gone too far.
A personal blog by writer and artist Jason Hodges.

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    Tuesday, September 28, 2004
     
    Slashdot | First JPEG Virus Posted To Usenet
    http://it.slashdot.org


    From Slashdot.org:
    Posted by timothy on Monday September 27, @10:12PM
    from the one-neck-to-wring dept.
    Shawn writes "This could possibly be the worst viruses yet! Earlier this month Microsoft announced a problem in their GDI driver that processes the way JPEG images are displayed. Someone has finally posted an exploit to Usenet. Easynews, a premium Usenet provider, found the virus Sunday afternoon. Up-to-date information about how we found it and what it does is located at www.easynews.com/virus.txt. When this picture is viewed it installs remote management software (winvnc and radmin) and will connect to irc."

    Don't look. Don't touch. And I can not wait for don't taste. Thank you Microsoft for helping spread more viri than hookers in Vegas.

     

    Monday, September 27, 2004
     
    FreeSBIE - Free System Burned In Economy
    http://www.freesbie.org


    This looks interesting. It is FreeBSD on a bootable CD. This means you download it and burn it to a CD. You can then boot from it and experience FreeBSD without ever installing stuff. I've tried and enjoyed many Linux distros this way. Now I'm going to try FreeBSD.

    What on earth is FreeBSD? FreeBSD is a "UNIX like operating system" (www.freebsd.org). Linux is a UNIX like operating system, but Linux has moved, I think, quite a bit from UNIX. FreeBSD is not to be mistaken for either Linux or UNIX. Think of it as a happy family with lots of brothers and sisters. FreeBSD, unlike UNIX, uses many of the same apps that Linux does. Many people who first see FreeBSD think they're looking at Linux.

    Now you have a chance to experience FreeBSD, something I believe will become more popular in the future. Why? You noticed the word "free" keeps popping up? That's why it'll become more popular. There's just something about being free, stable, and secure that causes businesses and home users to migrate.

     

    Friday, September 24, 2004
     
    "If you do something right, then nobody knows you did anything at all," - God. (according to Futurama)

     

    Wednesday, September 22, 2004
     
    The other day Donald Rumsfeld was on C-Span ranting about Saddam and Osam Bin Ladden. The problem was that he was getting the two confused. When I saw this, I immediately "Ah ha! This is explains why we went to war. Everybody in the Bush administration is confused!" But it couldn't be that simple could it? Could Bush be as confused as Rumsfeld?

    "The message is that there are known knows -- there are things that we know we know. There are known unknowns -- that is to say, there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- things we do not know we don't know. And each year we discover a few more of those unkown unknowns." - Donald Rumsfeld.

    Maybe it's not confusion. Maybe it's just incompetence.

    Scared yet? I am.

    "You fucking son of a bitch. I saw what you wrote. We're not going to forget this." - George W. Bush.

    "If you don't stand for anything, you don't stand for anything!" - George W. Bush.

    "Let me put it to you bluntly. In a changing world, we want more people to have control over your own life." — George W. Bush.

    "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." — George W. Bush.

    "Tribal sovereignty means that; it's sovereign. I mean, you're a — you've been given sovereignty, and you're viewed as a sovereign entity. And therefore the relationship between the federal government and tribes is one between sovereign entities." — George W. Bush.

    "And I am an optimistic person. I guess if you want to try to find something to be pessimistic about, you can find it, no matter how hard you look, you know?" — George W. Bush.

    "We stand for things." — George W. Bush.

    "I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein." — George W. Bush.

    Please vote.

     

    Sunday, September 19, 2004
     
    Moby & Public Enemy's "Make Love Fuck War" video
    http://www.nme.com


    Go watch this. Look for the dog with his leg blown off.

    BUSH = WAR

    "I will not send American Boys 9 or 10 Thousand Miles to do a Job, that the Asian Boys otta be doin for themselves." - Lyndon B. Johnson

    What's the difference between the Vietnamese ("the Asian Boys") and the Iraqis?

     

    Friday, September 17, 2004
     
    Yesterday was a pretty bad day for a lot of people in Alabama. We here in Dora were lucky. All we got was rain and wind. I had concerns about the power going out because it was going out everywhere else. And I also feared that the winds might pick up and be like those on TV. But Ivan didn't bother us too much. In fact, Ivan did what I thought he would. He weakened before coming ashore and took an Northeasterly path across Alabama.

    Still, people down in South Alabama were hit hard. There are places that are just gone. It will take years to rebuild simple, little towns. And it may be weeks before power is fully restored down there.

    Elsewhere in the news, Rick James' autopys showed that he had at lease nine drugs in his body. And Johnny Ramone died of cancer. There is only one original Ramone left.

     

    Thursday, September 16, 2004
     
    RAMONES.COM - Johnny Ramone 1948 - 2004

    From Ramones.com:

    Los Angeles, CA (September 15, 2004) -- Johnny Ramone, co-founder and lead guitarist of seminal 70’s punk rock band The Ramones, died in his sleep this afternoon at 3:03 pm in his home in Los Angeles. Ramone had been fighting an ongoing five year battle with prostate cancer. At the time of his death, Ramone was surrounded by friends and family that included his wife Linda Cummings, Eddie and Jill McCormack, Rob and Sherrie Zombie, John Frusciante and Robert Carmine. Additional friends who gathered at the home included Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Lockwood, Pete Yorn, Vincent Gallo, Steve Jones, Talia Shire, Gia Coppola and Jackie Getty. Johnny Ramone, whose real name was Johnny Cummings, co-founded The Ramones in 1974 along with fellow bandmates Joey Ramone, DeeDee Ramone and Tommy Ramone, the only surviving member of the original band. The band, which gained critical acclaim and a huge following in New York’s underground music scene at the time performing at clubs such as CBGB’s, is widely credited for bringing the “punk rock” genre to the forefront. The Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Johnny Ramone is survived by his wife Linda Cummings and his mother Estelle Cummings. His body will be cremated during a private ceremony.

     

     
    We're coming up on seven o'clock, and things seem to be calming down. The rain comes and goes along with the wind. I've watched a lot of water rescues on TV. I'm not familiar enough with areas around Birmingham to name those with flooding problems. It seems to be all of them. Now, they're talking about evacuating people out of areas that could flood between now and tomorrow morning when the creeks will crest. While Dora seems to have little to no damage, I just got word they're about to cut the water pumps off for four to five hours. That may be because of flooding at the station.

     

     
    The rain and wind continue to taper off. The wind occasionally gusts but not much. Rain is still falling but like a shower. I am surprised to have power because of the wind that came through. Not that they were terrible like the winds down south, but because we have a history of loosing power here. I still kind of feeling that we are going to loose power. As before, I'll post later if I can.

     

     
    The wind and rain have eased up a bit since my last post. Looking out the window, I can watch trees bend back and forth and grass move in waves. A tree limb or two have fallen. In Birmingham, they are hearing thunder. Thunder is rare in Tropical Storms, which is now what Ivan is. Power is still going out as Ivan makes its way through. Later if I can.

     

     
    Ivan is no longer a hurricane. It is a tropical storm. The wind and rain have picked up. The power is flickering. We probably won't have power much longer. Dora's firetrucks and medical vehical are going up and down the road. I'm not sure why. I'll post later if I can.

     

     
    Well, I'm still here. We still have power. The rain has built to a solid downpour. There is slight flooding, but nothing to affect driving yet, which people continue to do. The wind had just died down. For the last few hours, it's been more than a breeze with gusts every few seconds. Now it's calm. I guess we're out of a rain band for a bit. I'll post more later if I can.

     

      ABC 33/40 E-WARN: FFABHM
    From ABC 33/40 E-Warn:
    WGUS64 KBMX 160840
    FFABHM
    ALZ011>015-017>050-162055-

    BULLETIN...IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    FLOOD WATCH
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
    338 AM CDT THU SEP 16 2004

    ...FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY AND
    TONIGHT...

    THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A FLOOD
    WATCH...FOR FLASH FLOODING...FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
    TODAY AND TONIGHT.

    HURRICANE IVAN LOCATED NEAR GULF SHORES THIS MORNING WILL MOVE
    NORTHEASTWARD TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS A LARGE PORTION OF ALABAMA.
    PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN WILL ACCOMPANY IVAN ACROSS THE AREA...RESULTING
    IN TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES WITH SOME LOCALLY
    HEAVIER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BECOME
    NECESSARY.

    A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR RAPIDLY
    RISING WATERS AND FLOODING...IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE
    IN THE WATCH AREA...CHECK PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS...KEEP INFORMED
    ...AND BE READY FOR QUICK ACTION IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED...OR
    IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

    MANY FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES...AT NIGHT...AS DRIVERS
    UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCE AND POWER OF WATER. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO
    ...TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN...WHEN ENCOUNTERING ROAD BARRIERS WARNING
    YOU OF FLOODED ROADS...OR WHEN ENCOUNTERING WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH.

    STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
    DETAILS OR UPDATES.
    WWWW

    E-Warn is a free public service from the ABC 33/40 Weather Center
    and Alagasco...For Reliability, Comfort, and Convenience Natural Gas has
    the Home Advantage.

    To sign up for other ABC 33/40 E-Warn products, or to unsubscribe, go here:
    http://www.jamesspann.com/ewarnmain.html




     

      ABC 33/40 E-WARN: FFABHM
    From ABC 33/40 E-Warn:
    WGUS64 KBMX 160839
    FFABHM
    ALZ011>015-017>050-162055-

    BULLETIN...IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    FLOOD WATCH
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
    338 AM CDT THU SEP 16 2004

    ...FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY AND
    TONIGHT...

    THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A FLOOD
    WATCH...FOR FLASH FLOODING...FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
    TODAY AND TONIGHT.

    HURRICANE IVAN LOCATED NEAR GULF SHORES THIS MORNING WILL MOVE
    NORTHEASTWARD TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS A LARGE PORTION OF ALABAMA.
    PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN WILL ACCOMPANY IVAN ACROSS THE AREA...RESULTING
    IN TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES WITH SOME LOCALLY
    HEAVIER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BECOME
    NECESSARY.

    A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR RAPIDLY
    RISING WATERS AND FLOODING...IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE
    IN THE WATCH AREA...CHECK PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS...KEEP INFORMED
    ...AND BE READY FOR QUICK ACTION IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED...OR
    IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

    MANY FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES...AT NIGHT...AS DRIVERS
    UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCE AND POWER OF WATER. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO
    ...TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN...WHEN ENCOUNTERING ROAD BARRIERS WARNING
    YOU OF FLOODED ROADS...OR WHEN ENCOUNTERING WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH.

    STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
    DETAILS OR UPDATES.
    WWWW

    E-Warn is a free public service from the ABC 33/40 Weather Center
    and Alagasco...For Reliability, Comfort, and Convenience Natural Gas has
    the Home Advantage.

    To sign up for other ABC 33/40 E-Warn products, or to unsubscribe, go here:
    http://www.jamesspann.com/ewarnmain.html




     

     
    Well, it's raining. It has been slowly coming down since after midnight. Not much else has happen. Though, I am sure this is just the beginning. I will try to post as much as I can while I can.

     

    Wednesday, September 15, 2004
     
    Crazy Ivan.

    In case you didn't know, Ivan is 'Bama bound. So those odd blog posts that are blow this one -- and there's going to be more above -- are just weather updates from my local ABC station. I have a weather blog setup to post all the weather updates and statements for the state, and I have my own personal blog setup to post those who affect Walker County, the county in which I live.

    We may loose power here. That seems to be a likelihood along with lots of wind and rain. It may be days or even weeks before I can post again. That is not a fun thing to consider. I do not want to panic or claim doom and gloom are a comin', but Ivan is a very wicked storm coming this way.

    I am hoping that Alabama terrain quickly robs Ivan of its strength. I am hoping it weakens before landfall. There are still a few things that could be surprises. We just need one or two to make a world of difference.

     

      ABC 33/40 E-WARN: FFABHM
    From ABC 33/40 E-Warn:
    WGUS64 KBMX 152100
    FFABHM
    ALZ011>015-017>050-160900-

    BULLETIN...IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    FLOOD WATCH
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
    359 PM CDT WED SEP 15 2004

    ...FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA STARTING
    TONIGHT AND CONTINUING INTO THURSDAY NIGHT...

    THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A FLOOD
    WATCH...FOR FLASH FLOODING...FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
    STARTING TONIGHT.

    HURRICANE IVAN IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL AROUND MOBILE THURSDAY
    MORNING. AS IVAN MOVES ACROSS THE AREA...PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN WILL
    MOVE NORTHWARD TONIGHT...RESULTING IN TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 6 TO
    12 INCHES OR MORE FROM TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS IS A VERY
    DANGEROUS SITUATION. FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BECOME
    NECESSARY.

    A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR RAPIDLY
    RISING WATERS AND FLOODING...IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE
    IN THE WATCH AREA...CHECK PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS...KEEP INFORMED
    ...AND BE READY FOR QUICK ACTION IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED...OR
    IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

    MANY FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES...AT NIGHT...AS DRIVERS
    UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCE AND POWER OF WATER. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO
    ...TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN...WHEN ENCOUNTERING ROAD BARRIERS WARNING
    YOU OF FLOODED ROADS...OR WHEN ENCOUNTERING WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH.

    STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
    DETAILS OR UPDATES.

    WWWW

    E-Warn is a free public service from the ABC 33/40 Weather Center
    and Alagasco...For Reliability, Comfort, and Convenience Natural Gas has
    the Home Advantage.

    To sign up for other ABC 33/40 E-Warn products, or to unsubscribe, go here:
    http://www.jamesspann.com/ewarnmain.html




     

    Tuesday, September 14, 2004
      ABC 33/40 E-WARN: SPSBHM
    From ABC 33/40 E-Warn:
    WWUS84 KBMX 150339
    SPSBHM

    SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
    1038 PM CDT TUE SEP 14 2004

    ALZ011>015-017>050-151100-
    AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
    CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
    JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
    PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
    TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
    1038 PM CDT TUE SEP 14 2004


    ...SPECIAL HURRICANE IVAN STATEMENT FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA...


    ...AREAS AFFECTED...

    THIS STATEMENT IS FOR ALL COUNTIES IN CENTRAL ALABAMA SERVED BY THE
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.


    ...WATCHES/WARNINGS...

    A HIGH WIND WATCH...AND A FLOOD WATCH...HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF
    CENTRAL ALABAMA. THESE WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT
    THROUGH FRIDAY FOR THE COUNTIES OF SUMTER...GREENE...HALE...
    MARENGO...PERRY...DALLAS...AUTAUGA...LOWNDES...MONTGOMERY...AND
    PIKE. THE WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT FOR THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR
    THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.


    ...STORM INFORMATION...

    TUESDAY EVENING...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IVAN WAS LOCATED IN THE
    CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO...ABOUT 500 MILES SOUTH OF MONTGOMERY...AND
    600 MILES SOUTH OF BIRMINGHAM. IVAN IS MOVING GENERALLY NORTH
    NORTHWEST...AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO
    THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY. IVAN REMAINS A DANGEROUS HURRICANE...AND THE
    EYE OF HURRICANE IVAN IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE EASTERN
    MISSISSIPPI AND WESTERN ALABAMA GULF COAST EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.


    ...WIND IMPACTS...

    BASED ON THE LATEST FORECAST FROM THE TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER...
    WINDS 40 MPH OR MORE COULD START TO AFFECT AREAS AROUND DEMOPOLIS...
    SELMA...MONTGOMERY...AND TROY AS EARLY AS WEDNESDAY EVENING. THESE
    WINDS WILL INCREASE AND SPREAD NORTHWESTWARD WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
    THROUGH THE DAY THURSDAY...AND INTO FRIDAY.

    ALTHOUGH THE PEAK WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH IVAN WILL START TO DIMINISH
    AFTER THE STORM MAKES LANDFALL...BASED ON THE CURRENT FORECAST...IT
    IS POSSIBLE THAT HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS...AT LEAST 74 MPH...COULD
    BE FELT AS FAR NORTH BIRMINGHAM ON THURSDAY. AND TROPICAL STORM
    FORCE WINDS...BETWEEN 39 AND 73 MPH...COULD BE FELT ACROSS THE
    REMAINDER OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.

    THE FOLLOWING TABLES DETAIL THE POTENTIAL DURATION TIMES OF HURRICANE
    AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS...BASED ON THE LATEST TROPICAL
    PREDICTION CENTER FORECAST. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE TIMES AND
    WIND SPEEDS ARE HIGHLY DEPENDANT ON THE EXACT TRACK OF HURRICANE
    IVAN...AND WILL NEED TO BE ADJUSTED AS THE TRACK IS FURTHER PINNED
    DOWN. ALSO REMEMBER THAT OTHER FACTORS...SUCH AS TERRAIN...PLAY A
    BIG PART IN DETERMINING WHAT WIND SPEEDS SPECIFIC AREAS WILL
    EXPERIENCE.


    POTENTIAL DURATION OF HURRICANE FORCE WINDS (75 MPH +)

    COUNTY FROM UNTIL PEAK WIND
    ======== ============== ============== =========
    BIBB LATE THUR PM EARLY FRI AM 75-80 MPH
    CHILTON LATE THUR PM EARLY FRI AM 70-75 MPH
    DALLAS EARLY THUR PM THURS EVE 85 MPH
    GREENE THURSDAY PM LATE THUR EVE 80-85 MPH
    HALE THURSDAY PM LATE THUR EVE 85 MPH
    MARENGO LATE THUR AM LATE THUR EVE 85-95 MPH
    PERRY EARLY THUR PM LATE THUR EVE 80-90 MPH
    SUMTER EARLY THUR PM LATE THUR EVE 80-85 MPH
    TUSCALOOSA THURSDAY EVE LATE THUR NIGHT 70-75 MPH


    POTENTIAL DURATION OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS (39-73 MPH):

    COUNTY FROM UNTIL PEAK WIND
    ======== ============== ============== =========
    AUTAUGA LATE WED NIGHT FRIDAY AM 65-70 MPH
    BARBOUR LATE WED EVE LATE THUR NIGHT 55-60 MPH
    BIBB EARLY WED NIGHT FRIDAY AM 75-80 MPH
    BLOUNT THURSDAY AM FRIDAY PM 55-60 MPH
    BULLOCK LATE WED NIGHT EARLY FRI AM 55-60 MPH
    CALHOUN THURSDAY PM FRIDAY PM 55-60 MPH
    CHAMBERS EARLY THUR AM FRIDAY AM 45-50 MPH
    CHEROKEE THURSDAY EVE FRIDAY PM 50-55 MPH
    CHILTON LATE WED NIGHT FRIDAY AM 70-75 MPH
    CLAY THURSDAY AM EARLY FRI PM 55-60 MPH
    CLEBURNE THURSDAY PM FRIDAY PM 55-60 MPH
    COOSA EARLY THUR AM FRIDAY AM 65-70 MPH
    DALLAS WEDNESDAY EVE FRIDAY AM 85 MPH
    ELMORE LATE WED NIGHT FRIDAY AM 60-65 MPH
    ETOWAH THURSDAY PM FRIDAY PM 55-60 MPH
    FAYETTE THURSDAY AM FRIDAY AM 60-65 MPH
    GREENE LATE WED NIGHT FRIDAY AM 80-85 MPH
    HALE LATE WED NIGHT FRIDAY AM 85 MPH
    JEFFERSON EARLY THUR AM FRIDAY PM 70-75 MPH
    LAMAR THURSDAY AM LATE THUR NIGHT 55-60 MPH
    LEE THURSDAY AM LATE THUR NIGHT 45-50 MPH
    LOWNDES WEDNESDAY EVE EARLY FRI AM 70-75 MPH
    MACON LATE WED NIGHT FRIDAY AM 50-55 MPH
    MARENGO EARLY WED EVE FRIDAY AM 85-95 MPH
    MARION THURSDAY AM FRIDAY AM 50-55 MPH
    MONTGOMERY LATE WED EVE FRIDAY AM 60-65 MPH
    PERRY WEDNESDAY EVE FRIDAY AM 80-90 MPH
    PICKENS LATE WED NIGHT LATE FRI NIGHT 65-70 MPH
    PIKE WEDNESDAY EVE EARLY FRI AM 55-60 MPH
    RANDOLPH THURSDAY AM FRIDAY AM 45-50 MPH
    RUSSELL EARLY THUR AM LATE THUR NIGHT 45-50 MPH
    SHELBY EARLY THUR AM EARLY FRIDAY PM 70-75 MPH
    ST CLAIR THURSDAY AM FRIDAY PM 60-65 MPH
    SUMTER WEDNESDAY EVE EARLY FRI AM 80-85 MPH
    TALLADEGA EARLY THUR AM FRIDAY PM 65-70 MPH
    TALLAPOOSA EARLY THUR AM FRIDAY PM 55-60 MPH
    TUSCALOOSA LATE WED NIGHT FRIDAY AM 70-75 MPH
    WALKER THURSDAY AM FRIDAY AM 65-70 MPH
    WINSTON THURSDAY AM FRIDAY AM 55-60 MPH


    ...RAINFALL IMPACTS...

    AT THIS TIME...IVAN HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE 6 TO 12 INCHES OF
    RAIN ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE AREA OF HEAVIEST RAINFALL
    ASSOCIATED WITH LANDFALLING GULF COAST HURRICANES IS TYPICALLY ALONG
    AND TO THE EAST OF THE PATH.


    ...ADDITIONAL PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION...

    THE RED CROSS HAS OPENED NUMEROUS SHELTERS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA.
    PLEASE CHECK WITH LOCAL EMA OR RED CROSS OFFICIALS FOR SPECIFIC
    LOCATIONS OF THESE SHELTERS.

    STATE OFFICIALS HAVE ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE SOUTHBOUND LANES OF
    INTERSTATE 65...BETWEEN MOBILE AND MONTGOMERY...WILL BE REVERSED
    BEGINNING 7 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING. AT THAT TIME...ALL LANES BETWEEN
    THOSE CITIES WILL BE NORTHBOUND ONLY. THE ALTERNATE ROUTE FOR
    SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC WILL BE U.S. HIGHWAY 31.


    ...CALLS TO ACTION...

    ALTHOUGH THERE REMAINS SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH THE EXACT PATH...
    INTENSITY...AND TIMING OF HURRICANE IVAN...THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT
    THE STORM SHOULD BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. EVERYONE IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
    SHOULD CONTINUE MONITORING THE PROGRESS OF HURRICANE IVAN AND ITS
    POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON CENTRAL ALABAMA.

    HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION...AND MAKE PREPARATIONS NOW...SO THAT YOU CAN
    ACT ACCORDINGLY WHEN THE NEED ARISES. WITH THE COMBINED THREAT OF
    HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN... THERE IS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF
    WIDESPREAD...AND PERHAPS LONG TERM POWER OUTAGES. THESE OUTAGES
    COULD AFFECT THE AVAILABILITY OF FOOD...FUEL...AND ALL THE ESSENTIALS
    OF DAY TO DAY LIFE.

    PREPARATIONS SHOULD INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED THE FOLLOWING. KEEP
    GAS TANKS FULL...AND VEHICLES IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION. ENSURE YOU
    HAVE ENOUGH WATER...AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS FOR SEVERAL DAYS...
    AS WELL AS A MECHANICAL CAN OPENER. CHECK MEDICATION AND MEDICAL
    SUPPLIES. CHECK ON AND ASSIST THE ELDERLY AND THE MEDICALLY OR
    PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED IN COMPLETING THEIR PREPARATIONS. FINALLY...
    TAKE STEPS TO CARE FOR PETS AND LIVESTOCK.

    STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS FOR
    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND UPDATES CONCERNING DANGEROUS HURRICANE
    IVAN.

    ...NEXT UPDATE...

    THE NEXT STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY 6 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING.

    $$


    E-Warn is a free public service from the ABC 33/40 Weather Center
    and Alagasco...For Reliability, Comfort, and Convenience Natural Gas has
    the Home Advantage.

    To sign up for other ABC 33/40 E-Warn products, or to unsubscribe, go here:
    http://www.jamesspann.com/ewarnmain.html




     

      ABC 33/40 E-WARN: FFABHM
    From ABC 33/40 E-Warn:
    WGUS64 KBMX 142133
    FFABHM
    ALZ011>015-017>050-151000-

    BULLETIN...IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    FLOOD WATCH
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
    432 PM CDT TUE SEP 14 2004


    ...FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA STARTING WEDNESDAY
    NIGHT...

    THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A FLOOD
    WATCH...FOR FLASH FLOODING...FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
    STARTING WEDNESDAY NIGHT. HURRICANE IVAN IS EXPECTED TO MAKE
    LANDFALL AROUND MOBILE THURSDAY MORNING AND TRACK ACROSS
    WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND PASS BETWEEN TUSCALOOSA AND
    BIRMINGHAM BY FRIDAY MORNING...THEN CONTINUING NORTHEASTWARD
    AND WEAKENING TO TROPICAL DEPRESSION STATUS BY FRIDAY
    EVENING.

    A FLOOD WATCH FOR FLASH FLOODING IS IN EFFECT FOR LOCATIONS ALONG
    AND SOUTH OF A LINE FR0M LIVINGSTON...TO GREENSBORO...PRATTVILLE
    AND TROY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. AS IVAN MOVES ACROSS THE AREA...PERIODS OF
    HEAVY RAIN WILL RESULT IN TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES
    OR MORE FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT UNTIL FRIDAY MORNING.

    A FLOOD WATCH FOR FLASH FLOODING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE REST OF
    CENTRAL ALABAMA STARTING THURSDAY MORNING. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF
    6 TO 12 INCHES WITH LOCALLY GREATER AMOUNTS CAN BE EXPECTED FROM
    THURSDAY MORNING UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT.

    A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR RAPIDLY
    RISING WATERS AND FLOODING...IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE
    IN THE WATCH AREA...CHECK PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS...KEEP INFORMED
    ...AND BE READY FOR QUICK ACTION IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED...OR
    IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

    MANY FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES...AT NIGHT...AS DRIVERS
    UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCE AND POWER OF WATER. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO
    ...TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN...WHEN ENCOUNTERING ROAD BARRIERS WARNING
    YOU OF FLOODED ROADS...OR WHEN ENCOUNTERING WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH.

    STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
    DETAILS OR UPDATES.

    WWWW

    E-Warn is a free public service from the ABC 33/40 Weather Center
    and Alagasco...For Reliability, Comfort, and Convenience Natural Gas has
    the Home Advantage.

    To sign up for other ABC 33/40 E-Warn products, or to unsubscribe, go here:
    http://www.jamesspann.com/ewarnmain.html




     

      ABC 33/40 E-WARN: SPSBHM
    From ABC 33/40 E-Warn:
    WWUS84 KBMX 141202
    SPSBHM

    SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
    657 AM CDT TUE SEP 14 2004

    ALZ011>015-017>050-142100-
    AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
    CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
    JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
    PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
    TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
    657 AM CDT TUE SEP 14 2004

    ...SPECIAL HURRICANE IVAN STATEMENT FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA...

    ...AREAS AFFECTED...
    THIS STATEMENT PERTAINS TO THE AREA IN CENTRAL ALABAMA SERVED BY THE
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. THIS INCLUDES THE
    COUNTIES OF SUMTER...MARENGO...DALLAS...LOWNDES...MONTGOMERY...
    PIKE...AND BARBOUR...NORTHWARD TO THE COUNTIES OF MARION...WINSTON...
    BLOUNT...ETOWAH...AND CHEROKEE.

    ...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
    NO WATCHES OR WARNINGS ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA.

    ...STORM INFORMATION...
    EARLY TUESDAY MORNING...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IVAN WAS LOCATED IN
    THE FAR SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO...ABOUT 639 MILES SOUTH OF
    MONTGOMERY...AND 728 MILES SOUTH OF BIRMINGHAM. IVAN IS MOVING
    GENERALLY NORTH NORTHWEST...AND WILL MOVE ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO
    THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY. IVAN REMAINS A DANGEROUS HURRICANE AND WILL
    APPROACH THE ALABAMA GULF COAST EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

    ...WIND AND RAINFALL IMPACTS...
    IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO PREDICT THE EXACT TRACK...STRENGTH...AND
    TIMING OF HURRICANE IVAN OVER THE NEXT 2 TO 4 DAYS. HOWEVER...BASED
    ON THE LATEST FORECAST FROM THE TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER...RAIN
    BANDS AND GUSTY WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH IVAN COULD START TO AFFECT
    CENTRAL ALABAMA AS EARLY AS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. AT THIS TIME...
    IVAN HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE 4 TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN GENERALLY
    ALONG AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE PATH. ADDITIONALLY...IVAN WILL HAVE THE
    POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. THESE
    THREATS AND THE ASSOCIATED INTENSITIES ARE HIGHLY DEPENDANT ON THE
    PATH OF IVAN.

    ...CALLS TO ACTION...
    SINCE THE STORM IS STILL TWO TO FOUR DAYS AWAY...THERE REMAINS MUCH
    UNCERTAINTY WITH ITS EXACT PATH...INTENSITY...AND TIMING. HOWEVER...
    THIS UNCERTAINTY DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE STORM SHOULD BE TAKEN
    LIGHTLY. ALL RESIDENTS...TRAVELERS...AND OTHER LOCAL INTERESTS
    SHOULD CONTINUE MONITORING THE PROGRESS OF HURRICANE IVAN AND ITS
    POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON CENTRAL ALABAMA. HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION...AND
    MAKE PREPARATIONS NOW...SO THAT YOU CAN ACT ACCORDINGLY SHOULD THE
    NEED ARISE.

    STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS FOR
    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND UPDATES CONCERNING DANGEROUS HURRICANE
    IVAN.

    ...NEXT UPDATE...
    THE NEXT STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 4 PM CDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

    $$


    E-Warn is a free public service from the ABC 33/40 Weather Center
    and Alagasco...For Reliability, Comfort, and Convenience Natural Gas has
    the Home Advantage.

    To sign up for other ABC 33/40 E-Warn products, or to unsubscribe, go here:
    http://www.jamesspann.com/ewarnmain.html




     

    Monday, September 13, 2004
     
    Today is the 13th. But it's not a Friday. I wonder if the 13 knows that. Does a Friday know which date it is?

     

    Sunday, September 12, 2004
     
    I just spent a good bit of time looking for screenshots of the up and coming Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, a game that I am really looking forward to. While I did not find any screenshots, I did find this:




     

     
    I know I don't say this enough, but I really love my guitars and amp. Together, they have pulled things from my fingers that are almost scary. And there isn't anything wrong with lots and lots of reverb either.

    I will try to get some photos of my fat strat and its new strap, a custom Bettie Page/Devil Girl Leather Strap real soon. That way I can share just a little bit more of myself, which I so rarely do.

    One more thing, Roll Tide Roll. When in position to score again in the last few minutes of their game, Alabama took a knee in efforts to end the game as is. There's nothing wrong with that either.

     

    Saturday, September 11, 2004
     
    Can you sell a used right-handed guitar as an unused left-handed guitar?

     

    Wednesday, September 08, 2004
     
    For the past few days, I've had problems blogging. No biggie. Everything seems fine now.

    I started a new short story, "Angel Bound." That's the working title, but it seems to be just fine. This one isn't going to be as subjective as the last one, "Dead to Us."

    Over the weekend I watched The Exorcist. I love that movie. I really do believe it is on par with the likes of The Godfather. I also watched Serpico I believe Labor Day. Pacino is great. And last night, I watched parts of Dark City. I plan to finish it tonight. That is a great movie as well even though it is not as well liked as it should be. I love Noir stuff. I love that music. I love those cars. I love those clothes. I'm going to have a nice suit one day with a nice hat.

    I predicted that we wouldn't get a drop of rain from Frances. Frances was first predicted to go East of us, then West, then straight up the middle and ontop of us. I was wrong with my prediction. We did get a few drops of rain, a light to moderate sprinkle for a couple of hours. By the afternoon, the puddles were gone.

    Ivan on the other hand is kind of scary. Third time's the charm.

    I received my custom guitar strap in the mail yesterday. I love it. It's leather of course coated with flames with a devil girl on the backend and Bettie Page on the front. I can't wait to get some strap locks for it. I'll have to do some tinkering to my guitar to put them on, toothpicks and wood glue. According to what I've read, you have to do the tinkering. That's okay though. I love to tinker.

     

    Monday, September 06, 2004
     
    It's the little things in life that make life complicated or at least more complicated than it should be. Take ice cream scoopers for example. Everybody needs to buy about five of them. Every time I need one for ice cream or shoe polish, the ice cream scooper is in the dishwasher. This is why I'm going to buy four more. The more I ice cream scoopers I have, the simplier I believe my life will be.

     

    Friday, September 03, 2004
     
    The Elder Scrolls
    http://www.elderscrolls.com


    Those who know me know that I am a huge Morrowind fan or should know by now. Morrowind is an open-ended role playing game for the PC and XBox. I play the PC version. While it is a RPG, it is not a Dungeons & Dragons type of game.

    Morrowind is part the Edler Scrolls series. It's part III. The Edler Scrolls I and II are older RPGs but still cool. Confused? It gets better, at least for me it does. The folks over at the Edler Scrolls website are counting down something. Yesterday, they were at eight. Today, they are at seven.

     

    Thursday, September 02, 2004
     
    So Zell Miller is insane. I did not know that.

     

    Wednesday, September 01, 2004
     
    Dick Chaney.

     



    Buy my book.
    From a Hole in the Sky

    13 Stories of Horror, Madness, and Religion make up this dark-kudzu collection. A city run by angels with demanding burial rites. A white van jostling with clowns and warnings about sleep. A weeping pastor with a dead man in a boat. Homicide, Suicide, Jesus, and The Devil. To join a family, you're going to need some stitches. Kids today on their way to cut grass and play cowboys and injuns'. A hole in the ground where poor John Henry met a foul ending. And unholy birthing machines with a chosen one. All this and more. Where do bad things come from? They come FROM A HOLE IN THE SKY.

    The Alabama Weather Blog
    A blog of the current forecasts, watches, and warnings for the state of Alabama. The posts are automatically generated from E-forecast and E-warn e-mails from my local ABC Network Affiliate, ABC 33/40. The images are from the National Weather Service. The site will refresh itself every ten minutes.

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