Y' Ikes!

Hanna made her way across the Carolinas, and now is dropping it's liquid wrath on the Northeastern US. Surprisingly, there has been a lot of flooding in the Virginia / Washington DC area, even though its landfall was much further south and much less dramatic from a damage standpoint. So Hanna is still a story, but she's not THE story.

That dishonor falls to Ike, the extremely-compact storm that keeps fluctuating between categories 2-3-and 4. Unfortunately it's picking up steam again now, and continues on a Westward path, while being gently nudged further and further south. Every nudge is better and better news for Floridians. Just 24 hours ago, Miami was in the crosshairs, and now it's looking more like Havana. Even though politically we're not friendly with Cuba, we're still humans and no one wishes a category 4 hurricane on anyone else, friend or foe. Does that mean the US is out of the woods? Not by a long shot. As easily as this storm steered South, it could change its mind and come right after South Florida again. If they should be fortunate enough to escape, the computer models still have bad news for some Americans. It's too soon to tell, but a half-dozen models show the storm hitting and crossing Cuba, then turning north on a path towards the recently-hit Gulf Coast. And in the cone of uncertainty, New Orleans. Here are the latest projections (scroll down the page to view, and you can also check other links):

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200809_model.html#a_topad

See what I mean? UGLY. Anything is possible with hurricanes, but we strongly advise anyone living along the Southeast Atlantic or Gulf Coast, or anyone with family in those locations, to stay in touch and stay ready. You DO NOT want to mess with this storm, period. People thinking they can ride out a 4 could re-create Katrina for themselves.

Congratulations to my alma mater, the Fighting Nothings of Ohio University. Actually, it's the Bobcats, but their football program has been moderate at best for a few years....basically since BC turned to AD. But they had the lead for a while today on in-state rival Ohio State, who normally uses Ohio U. as a cleat-sharpener. I said for a while! So we lost, big deal. We played like men. Or at least really big boys. Again, oh sacred alma mater, I honor the Bobkittens on this here blog 'o mine. If you're unfamiliar with the green-and-white (I know, REALLY tough-sounding colors), Ohio University's claim to fame for decades has been that it's one of the top beer-drinking schools per capita in the nation. Woo hoo! I say "Let's go out and win one for the Sipper." Even if you can't be proud of much, you pick your battles.....