Brian Gongol
(2006.06.02)
"I would not want to own property on the Outer Banks this year"
Forecasting the hurricane threat for 2006: Trade winds are shaping up to push big storms right up the Eastern Seaboard
(2006.06.02)
Traffic accidents cause same damage as terrorism
Two nearly-simultaneous morning crashes in DC made traffic a mess and certainly kept thousands of people from getting to their destinations in time, resulting in considerable economic loss, even if no one counted it. It wouldn't take much for terrorists to achieve the same kind of damage, at very little cost. Another reminder that if we were really serious about protecting ourselves against terrorism, we'd spread out and get back to federalism instead of concentrating all our resources in DC and New York. All the domestic surveillance in the world won't do much good if the country is structurally vulnerable because our republic was led by people who couldn't think strategically.
(2006.06.02)
$800 million not quite enough to protect New Orleans in time for hurricane season
Related: A reminder that people, not equipment, often remain the limiting factors in disaster response
(2006.06.02)
Drugs alone can't save the world
Anti-HIV drugs can save lives in Africa and elsewhere, but the risk of permanent dependency (without changes in behavior) is ominous. It's a classic case of the Arrowsmith Paradox, the trade-off between short-term and long-term solutions, which often can be at odds: More drugs saving more AIDS patients now could simply mean that more people will become infected in the future.
(2006.06.02)
Online group wants a "unity government" in 2008
Says it'll vote on and campaign for a split ticket for President/VP in 2008, supposedly to "wake up" the major parties. But political power derives from having one's allies in charge of the parties down to the precinct level, and until disgruntled voters figure that out, the parties will remain less than keen on responding to their demands.
Also...
Water news: Nebraska getting less rain now than during Dust Bowl
Graphics: Impala