Sadness and Joy in the News

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:54 pm

The earthquake a tragedy that only continues to get worse.

Now, Hurricane Wilma ~ overnight ~ increased in strength from 'just' barely a Category 1 to a, this morning, a Category 5 ~ and the strongest on record. The Florida Keys are being ordered to evacuate. I pray it doesn't change course and find its way back to the New Orleans, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas area. They have had enough.

tom.d.stiller · Post by **tom.d.stiller** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:07 pm

lizzytysh wrote:The Florida Keys are being ordered to evacuate. I pray it doesn't change course and find its way back to the New Orleans, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas area. They have had enough.

We all hope that, and we all hope it doesn't continue its course towards the region you're living in, as well.

tom

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:21 pm

Thanks, Tom. One of the reasons I do enjoy living here [few as they may be

] is my relative safety from those storms. Not that they can't impact, nor that they haven't ~ but compared to the low-lying, coastal areas, no comparison.

The other day [yesterday or day before], I was listening to a discussion on the high-tech, hurricane-broadcasting equipment. I've forgotten which it is now [as it hardly matters], but they're either only 60% accurate or are 60% inaccurate much of the time. No wonder they have us watching and listening to the news wondering what in the heck to do ~ leave, stay, leave, stay, leave, stay!?! Then, there's always the wild card ~ the Gulf of Mexico ~ which could tear a 100% accurate prediction right back down to 60%, anyway.

What's so unbelievable about this storm is the incredible speed of its strengthening. Already 11 people dead, and 30,000 evacuating a small country in its path. Then, the Keys. Then ~ who knows? It sounds like we'll know by this weekend when it's supposed to hit somewhere. I'm feeling pretty safe, though.

Palestine just had a 5.4 or 5.6 aftershock, with it shaking some buildings, but no additional deaths

. Even so, some people have walked for a day or more for help, and still received none. 40,000 people dead ~ and winter coming on. The count will increase

. It's all so unthinkable. Impossible to take in on any level that even resembles reality. Tremendous turmoil inside the earth and upon it. A friend of mine and I were talking about how the tremendous, negative energy that seems to have been unloosed in the world could be ~ easily ~ affecting our own states of mind and being.

Thanks, again, for your expression of concern. I appreciate it.

~ Lizzy

Gypsy_Wife · Post by **Gypsy_Wife** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:26 pm

Lizzy,

I hope the storms by pass you, knowing you live near the path it is always a concern. Take care.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:42 pm

Thanks, Gypsey

~ If it changes course [you really never know ~ and now I know why

!], I'll let you know. I know but one thing ~ if they say evacuate, I'm gone. Of that you can be sure.

This one ties the record for named storms. If there are any more this season, the next one will be named "Alpha," then "Beta," and so on. You probably already know that, though.

Thanks.

~ Lizzy

Byron · Post by **Byron** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:57 pm

It seems that the Gulf water has a temperature which has risen by only one degree, but that is enough to trigger the increased number of hurricanes as the storms suck up the water temperature on their journeys. Thus creating hurricanes now, rather than storms of previous years. We only have to remember the jump in temperature after 9/11, when all aircraft were grounded for 3 days over the USA.. The vapour trails were not there to filter the sun's rays and this allowed ground and air temperature to increase dramatically.

What man does to the air and water is being reflected (pun intended) back at him.

I think global warming is making itself known for real.

Take care lizzie. Make sure you've got a full tank of gas, and enough water and food for a few days. Both in the car, and in the house.

We've had 2 tornadoes in Birmingham this month and that is very unusual. Both within a couple of miles of the same streets, but a week apart.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:11 pm

Thanks, Byron. Good idea on both. My tank is on empty, even as we speak. Not such a good plan

. Food, well, hey ~ yes, I have some, and will get more. Fortunately, I'm familiar with and have done fasting. It always feels different. though, when it's forced rather than choice.

I don't remember that about September 11 ~ with regard to the skies. Very interesting. As if enough wasn't already happening.

Yes ~ true. Very true. Regarding the Gulf, and how little it takes to make a humongous difference. Hurricanes instead of storms. Right.

I remember the tornadoes. Very bizarre. If not "global warming" with all this, then what? "Global warming" or "End Times" ~ I guess it depends on your perspective, but how can anyone discount "global warming"? It's a fact.

~ Lizzy

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:41 pm

I just watched/listened to a report on CNN ~ the currently small eye is a good sign for chances of it weakening. Here's hoping because they're saying loss of life from it could be akin to Katrina, and the storm surge levels "storm surge could be 15 to 20 feet, "even 25 feet up into the bays and the rivers," ~ no low-lying area needs that.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:23 pm

So much for taking a break. My comment was that the earthquake tragedy just keeps getting worse. They're now saying there were two more after-shocks in the 5s today, but still that no one was killed, though buildings are being further weakened. But the death count now is estimated at 79,000! Definitely more as the weather turns wretched, and the help doesn't arrive [no fault of their own, with the terrain and conditions they're dealing with].

Wilma has broken one record after another ~ went from a tropical storm to a Category 5 within 12 hours; strongest hurricane on record; lowest barometric pressure on record; highest gusts for one on record. Now, it's wobbling some, and the computer models are beginning to vacillate and differ from one another. So ~ it could come up and hit Florida. It's definitely going to hit the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, with Cozumel, etc. They're trying to get people out now. Tough job, given that it's a peninsula, and they could be evacuating into its path, and easily get stuck on the road. Once there, the models show that it could get kicked back out eastward to under Cuba, and hitting the Cayman Islands, etc. All of it unknown at this point.

Boss · Post by **Boss** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:57 pm

Dangerous bird flus, an horrific tsunami, earthquakes, insidious terror all about, oil price madness, sick accumulations of wealth, an environment that is ill - where are we going? It all sounds like some biblical 'end of world' scenario. Indeed if you visit a few websites going round it's exactly what they're calling it.

However, if you take Leonard Cohen's album The future literally (and many intellectuals and critics don't), the answer may simply be found there. "I've seen the future brother it is murder" - who am I to disagree?

No doubt, we're coming into troubling, bloody awful times.

Boss

lightning · Post by **lightning** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:15 pm

Have a nice day.

Boss · Post by **Boss** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:30 pm

I'm going to sleep in 10 minutes

layla tov

Tchocolatl · Post by **Tchocolatl** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 3:45 am

Nowadays, who is afraid of the gargoyles and hell? No one fears be it G-d or Devil anymore. Only the fear of death remains.

Even if only two things are certain in our life, we will pay income taxes and we will

Fear is a powerful tool for taming controlling whatever the masses. So be afraid by what you see and hear on the news, there are real dangers out there, and take care. But don't die of fear of the death. Please. Well. Do what you want. It is a free world.

Snow was using the image of the sinking Titanic in regard of the avian flu pandemic. For me I "only" see this image in regard of the destruction of the ecosystem which includes the habit of not living in harmony with Nature, the way we are by-passing laws of nature with the consequences, even the one we know by now. People continue to dance on the boat that is sinking. This is poignant, pathetic, and in some way poetic. But. Deadly. As a culture will we collapse under ourselves or will we make it? Life, and to stay alive, and to continue the species after us : what an adventure it is, people.

Boss · Post by **Boss** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:20 am

Tchoc,

...the destruction of the ecosystem which includes the habit of not living in harmony with Nature...

is primarily because of human avarice. The ecosystem is buckling under the pressure. I agree with you. Will we make it? It remains to be seen. But if we could tackle this greed, get at the spirit level of Humanity so we have an appreciation of Nature - of the interconnectedness of all things - anything is possible.

In fact I believe the problem in the entire world is of a spiritual kind. We aren't connected. Each praying to His/Her own god, not noticing the similarities - our sun and moon, a cloud. We are one species, one human race with a multitude of stories, a rich history. We can march together as One, we can nurture our planet back to her former vitality. But not without common ritual, a common song. The need for a common belief system between the people on Earth is paramount. It must be clothed with familiarity and it must be filled to the brim with mystery!

But I personally feel that to get there, we're gonna have to go through some difficulty. It ain't easy taking from a rich man!!

Regards Boss

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:22 am

Hi Tchoc ~

I agree that we shouldn't live in fear. I do feel, however, that we were given or evolved into ~ depending on your view ~ having brains capable of critical thinking and choice-making. Hence, we have choices that we can make. Leveraging our odds isn't such a bad plan; and to minimize risks in reasonable ways where we determine for ourselves that they exist, and are able to do something. I agree with you on the environment and eco-systems. We blatantly blunder right on through pristine areas with our environment. The South American, Amazon Rainforest is being decimated by hundreds [who knows, maybe thousands] of acres a day. All of our personal fears vary. Some are deathly afraid of spiders. I'm not. I was tense getting on the plane to fly to England and then Greece. But I did it. The longer you go without returning to an activity after something catastrophic has happened, the more deeply imbedded your fear becomes. We each and all have our own fears, though, and to each his own perceived and acted-upon solutions. Depending on the worldwide status of the avian flu by August, 2006, might I be tempted to board the plane wearing a gas mask

? Maybe

. Everyone has the right to be cautious on their own and loved ones' behalf. No matter how ridiculous it may seem to others. They may freak at something totally absurd to someone else.

~ Lizzy