Red Tape and Homeowners helped Wildfires

From wildfires to hurricanes, we need changes in government and private rules and codes to protect our property in future natural disasters.

The California fires could have been stopped had it not been for government mismanagement and lack of common sense by homeowners. Texas faces the same issues that need correction.

In the early stages, before the wildfires and winds had become dangerous, critical time was lost because of silly rules that kept aircraft grounded until a California "fire spotter" could be on board.

By the time they got there, the aircraft were grounded due to high winds and the fires grew out of control. So much for "being prepared" for a homeland security issue that is an annual event. Next year there will be more drought, dry grass and strong Santa Ana winds blowing across California.

Another writer points out that our policies on wildfires, and lack of common sense preparedness by homeowners who let dry brush grow right up next to their multi-million dollar homes.

Moral? Both government and individuals need to make some changes to avoid future damages. Get rid of the fire spotter rule and get homeowners to clear brush from around their homes.

Not to leave our own area out of this homeland security critique: The U.S. coastal zones, including Texas, need to establish "Miami Dade" building code standards. Builders can put up million dollar condos on Clear Lake (Houston--spitting distance from the Gulf of Mexico) whose windows will blow out once hit by debris or winds in excess of 75 mph!

China Enters the Next Moon Race

Photo: China lunar orbiter blasts off

When I first went to China on pollution technology negotiations in 1982, they had no money and everyone rode bicycles. Now, China has launched a craft to orbit the moon, in preparation of putting Chinese astronauts on the moon in coming years.

China recently become only the third country to put astronauts in space and return them safely to earth. China is now a rich country, filled with automobiles and construction cranes, as its factories supply the U.S. with everything you can buy at Wal Mart ("Wally World"). They might beat NASA's return to the moon if we don't pay attention.

On the earthly, home front, the shoe was on the other foot. Yesterday a painter came by the condo to paint the front door. A black cat followed him inside, apparently because it likes to follow him around to check out everyone's place. Well, "Piper" the Cockatiel didn't like the presence of a cat one bit. She started fluttering her wings and making a racket.

The cat was last scene scurrying out of the place --running hellbent for leather. Personally, I like cats but this one had met its match with Piper. Apparently, I have a bird that intimates cats.

I am thinking of sending Piper to Washington -- to deal with DC Fat Cats!

Hell Fires Pass Katrina Evacuation Record

California's "Hell Fires" (for lack of a better name) have made history.

Yesterday they were in second place to New Orleans, but now over half million people have been evacuated, far more than the number fleeing Katrina's drowning pools.

The Super dome has been replaced with Qualcomm Stadium --and people fleeing a surreal fire and brimstone scene. One house burns while the one next to it is spared. One man returned to find his garage burned but the house next to it was still standing. Lucky man.

In 2005 I was driving water and supplies to Louisiana when FEMA was no where to be seen. In 2007, California doesn't need me; it needs firefighter crews from around the country -- and more aircraft that can dump water and retardant on the wildfires.

One scene that stuck out was the TV shot of a guy manning an ordinary water hose. He and others had banded together and saved at least one house in their neighborhood. That's the American spirit and unsung (ordinary) American heroes at work even when it doesn't get much TV coverage.

I think the silver lining is that a lot of the people now out of their homes in California will have a better idea what the folks in New Orleans went through two years ago. Losing it all in seconds. Your whole life changed forever by an act of nature outside anyone's control. Relying on the kindness of strangers. Starting over and rebuilding. Realizing that life is more important than the stuff in your house. But it still hurts, losing everything you had.

It could be worse. Add car bombs and snipers and these same people would have a clue what civilians in Iraq are going through every day.

Let's do what it takes to help our neighbors in California, and not forget our neighbors in New Orleans who are still struggling. It's the American thing to do.

California Fires: Biggest Evacuation since Rita/Katrina

The fires in California have forced over 250,000 people out of their homes, the largest evacuation in U.S. history since Hurricane Rita/Katrina. The dry Santa Ana winds continue to spread the blazes which have destroyed nearly 1,000 homes so far.

Where is FEMA?

This disaster should have a massive federal response, just like a flood or a hurricane. The small towns are running out of money to fight the fires and don't have the equipment needed. Our hearts go out to all the people in southern California who are going through this disturbance in their lives.

If car bombs were going off, they would personally feel something like the pain that millions of Iraqis are living today.

The good news is that Osama bin laden showed up on tape, complaining about his jihadists failing to unite (darn those tribal fanatics!)

The bad news: Turkey is sending troops towards the Kurdish part of Iraq after Kurd rebels went into Turkey and killed several Turkish troops. Seventy (70%) of our equipment goes into Iraq via Turkey. Check out this link to a great article on this tricky situation and its impact on us.

Meanwhile, we got our first cold front on the Texas coast yesterday, blowing in rain and a 30 degree drop in the low temp. The cold makes hanging out on the balcony for a drink at night a windy, cold (and short) experience!

Cavemen Threw Beach Parties?

Photo: Modern caveman (and friends) on the hunt for seafood....

Scientists have found evidence that cavemen 164,000 years ago were having seafood parties on the beach.

It's proof that we haven't changed much in 164,000 years (except in technology)!

Robot Gun Goes Mad - Kills Nine. Future clone wars?

Photo: Ms. Bhutto narrowly escapes Al Qaida assassination attempt - Possible solution may be in South Africa

In South Africa a robot gun went out of control for unknown reasons and killed nine people. What made it so deadly is that it can even reload itself and keep firing. Nine South African soldiers were killed before it finally ran out of bullets.

Remember the Terminator movies with Arnold? It appears that the 21st Century may be when humans and robots clash in combat. We have robot Predator drones that fly around looking for Al Qaida, firing Hellfire missiles on suspects, etc.

Several Predators used on border patrol with Mexico have disconnected from their human operators due to computer malfunctions -- and crashed near people's houses, right here in the U.S.A. So your chances of getting killed by a robot in the future are improving, especially if you are a terrorist. But now even innocents may be in the cross-hairs of an automatic killing machine. Perhaps the Star Wars "clonewars" is not so far off after all.

Speaking of "robot killers," it appears the usual suspects, Al Qaida, were behind the attempted assassination yesterday of Ms. Bhutto that killed over 100 people. Once again, extremists can't stand leadership with moderate or secular views. Al Qaida knows that unlike Musharraf, Bhutto would let the U.S. chase Al Qaida out of its hide-outs in NW Pakistan.

Maybe we can persuade the South Africans to take their wayward robot gun to work in Osama bin laden territory...

Which countries google "Sex" the Most? Or "car bomb"?

Photo: Pakistan (car?) bomb that nearly killed Ms. Bhutto today --the blast even broke her car windows

Neither sex or car bombs compare to the impact on our future from the disaster unfolding in the arctic.

Check out this intriguing article on which words are "googled" (searched) the most in various countries. It is both funny and, in one case, scary.

The word "sex" was searched the most in Egypt, India and Turkey. Ummmm. (Why is it the most conservative places score high on this one?)

The word "Jihad" was searched the most in Morocco, Indonesia, and Pakistan. (That should make everyone sleep great tonight, knowing Pakistan has nukes and Benazir Bhutto is back to fight for democracy and save the day).

The scary one?

The words "car bomb" is searched the most in - Australia, Canada and the United States.

Since India is the second most populous country in the world, jihad is happening in Pakistan, then what does this search trend indicate for the United States?

The other "wake up call" news is that we lost 25% of the arctic ice in just two years since 2005. The planet's arctic air conditioning system is being lost at a catastrophic rate. If the President is worried that doing something about global warming will "hurt" business, ignoring it will be even worse. Imagine how bad it will be for business to have a drought-covered, UV hot planet with dwindling fresh water caused by overheating after the arctic ice cap is gone a few years from now.

What's clear from these new facts is that we have no more time to waste. There needs to be a new global treaty, a "cap and trade" system, something! Fiddling while Rome burns is not a good idea. We need action now --and a pledge from all candidates from both parties -- to protect ourselves and future generations, from both car bombs and the even worse results from global warming.

Only in America: Cousins Cheney and Obama

Photo: Seabrook Citgo and World's Smallest Commercial building

It turns out the Vice President Cheney and Mr. Obama are distant cousins. Amazing.

Only in America can something like this happen. Can you imagine Barack Obama saying to Dick Cheney: "Hey Cousin, what's up?" Or more likely: "Dick, can we dialogue?"

Actually, such diverse connections are a symbol of the future of this country. In a few years 25% of our residents will speak Spanish, not to mention all the other cultures and languages and family trees represented here. If we go back to Abraham, we are all cousins.

Meanwhile, the rest of us mere mortals are feeling like yo-yos, watching gas prices jump and fall as much as a dime in a day. Each day brings a big change one way or the other. Now they predict $100/barrel oil.

To keep from mortgaging the house to fill up the van, I discovered that cash gets 10 cents off at a Citgo station a couple blocks away (photo above--next to what I call the world's smallest, and oddest triangle shaped, commercial building).

That means I get to choose between my gas tank dollars funding Mr. Chavez in Venezuela (part owner of Citgo) versus filling up with gas at another place, part of which may be funneled back to Osama bin laden.

Ummmm. Have things changed much since the days when Oscar Wyatt's Coastal stations had Saddam's oil for sale? Too bad we can't buy more oil from Mexico, which would create more jobs there and not fuel "jihad."

The situation is about as odd as the pink building above.

Vicente Fox Comes to Houston - Says "U.S. is too Isolated"

The former President of Mexico visited Houston yesterday to talk about U.S./Mexico relations, etc.

His message? "Americans are too isolated from the rest of the world." And he doesn't like the wall.

He's right actually. We are too isolated from the world. That has led to a lot of cultural blunders by our leadership that undermine even the best of intentions. For example, if you are asking a Saudi for a favor while sitting cross-legged with the sole of your shoe facing him, you are insulting him -- no matter how much you might be trying to be nice and polite. The fact that you are clueless that you are insulting your host makes it even worse in their eyes.

Chewing tobacco in front of someone in Afghanistan is the same thing. Ignorance of customs is damaging our international relationships. And it is dumb when it sabotages our own interests. The only way to avoid it is to learn about people.

The good news is that more young Americans are studying abroad, traveling, etc. The bad news is that we have countless candidates running for high office such as Congress who have zero international experience or knowledge.

Never again should we elect someone to be President who does not have global experience and cannot communicate with diverse peoples --it is too dangerous to have on-the-job training and basic cultural miscues in the White House.

It is too dangerous for Americans to elect to Congress reps who may be excellent skin doctors but don't know Burma from Burma Shave, have never been to the Middle East, or anywhere else except as a tourist?

I've been out there. Every country is different. Every culture is different. The unwritten rules will get you. It's not something you can get from a book or 'on-the-job'. Congress choices on Iraq led to a war and a lot of false assumptions proved wrong. People with global experience have a definite edge in knowing what they are talking about and protecting the public.

A Wall? I still remember the Berlin Wall - how Americans hated it because of what it symbolized. Now we are doing what the Soviet Union did.

I agree with Mr. Fox that we don't need a wall with Mexico - electronic monitoring of movement across the border makes much more sense. Monitoring is much less expensive and lets you send people where they need to go instead of investing billions constructing something so easy to climb as a wall through thousands of miles of desert.

One recommendation: President Fox should take his mission, modeled on former U.S. Presidents, and establish a foundation that builds on improving U.S./Mexico relations. After all, Mexico is not the Middle East. Due to geography, we will be next door neighbors for centuries to come.

We might as well figure out solutions to work together.

The longer version of this is at my Global American series site.

Era of SuperJumbo begins

Photo: The retired Concorde - Still the World's Fastest--and smallest-- passenger jet

Airbus just delivered the world's first Superjumbo jet - the Airbus 380 which will hold 555 to 800 passengers! It dwarfs the huge Boeing 747. It will need bigger terminals to handle it. Some airlines will offer in-flight showers with their versions of it.

Meanwhile, American Boeing's new Dreamliner carries 330 and has been a big hit because it reaches Mach .85 (650 miles per hour vs. 500 for most jets today) and is fuel efficient.

The Europeans went for bigger and the Americans went for faster. The Europeans are claiming the Airbus is more fuel efficient per passenger than a car. But I think having a shot at a shower after flying 20 hours to Australia might impress people more.

What I miss, and what we need, is a fuel efficient version of the CONCORDE, which flew at Mach 2 and took me from New York to London in a little over 3 hours on a trip many years ago. We cruised at 60,000 feet, high enough to see the curvature of the earth.

But I'd want one the size of a 747. The Concorde was so small it was like sitting inside of a pencil. When I was younger (and skinnier at dripping wet 155 lbs.) it was a tight fit.

If I were President, I'd order up a supersonic jet (Mach 2 would be perfect) to be Air Force One-- instead of lumbering around in a 747 for hours on end. In this century, international travel by our leadership is vital. Cutting global travel time to Europe from 8 hours to 3 (and the Middle East from 16 hours to 6) makes sense.

America must continue to lead in global technology to remain relevant in this global 21st century.

Putin Rolls Condi/Gates - Death of democracy in Russia

Photo: Putin challenges Bush to bare-chested photo shoot (perhaps?)

Russia's democracy is being strangled to death by Mr. Putin, who rolled Condi and Mr. Gates during their last meeting before the TV cameras. They looked visibly shocked when Putin opened up on them in the middle of a "photo op" where they expected the usual diplomatic small talk --not a lecture on global TV from the former KGB agent.

Condi and Gates smiled nervously and said nothing. Suddenly the U.S. call for democracy in places like Iraq and Burma has fallen silent and mute in the face of Russia's determined leader.

The loss of democracy in Russia is far more dangerous to future U.S. interests than the lack of it in Burma (Myanmar). Unlike Burma, Russia has tens of thousands of nuclear weapons and new oil wealth to fuel its expansion. Putin recently re-started Russia bomber flights that had stopped years ago. He threatened to back out of arms control treaties.

The Bush administration insistence on cramming a missile defense system in East Europe has been a strategic miscalculation. Like the previous NATO expansion under the Clinton administration, it has made Russia feel threatened. No matter that these are defensive missiles in nature and intended to intercept missiles heading towards Europe from Iran.

The administration's plan to put new missiles in Europe has given Putin an opportunity to smash his opposition.

We could be entering a new "cold war" in our relations with Russia, which has close ties to Iran. We need Russian cooperation to deal with Iran and other strategic issues. But that also gives Putin the chance to turn back the clock and return Russia to the "rule of men" instead of the "rule of law."

Once again I think our leadership has underestimated the opposition, got caught off-guard and was rolled by a very smart, determined globally-sophisticated opponent.

Making a Bad Situation Worse - Congress vote on Armenia

Photo: Seabrook (TX) Sunrise - today (Congrats Al Gore on the Peace Prize. Due to global warming, the Clear Lake scene in this photo will be three feet higher--in water level--sometime this century, when today's kids are my age).

Congress is about to do the same thing the administration has done since the beginning of the Iraq war -- shoot itself in the foot by a policy blunder that makes a bad situation worse.

The same Democrat leadership who want the U.S. to get out of Iraq immediately just stirred up bigger trouble for it --by insisting on bringing up a century-old issue that threatens to break the only quiet spot in Iraq --the Kurdish north which borders Turkey.

Why did Ms. Pelosi insist that we have to recognize a century-old genocide issue NOW when all it will do today is produce greater tension with an ally we need next to Iraq (Turkey)? Yes, it was genocide but why it is so important to rush it to a vote now?

This action by Congress will decrease cooperation from a country with a key border on Iraq's north --and could start another front in Iraq if the old conflict between Turkey, Armenians and the Kurds comes out of this.

Turkey has even recalled its Washington Ambassador because of this train wreck of a vote.

What is Nancy Pelosi thinking? Why inject an issue from a century ago into the most volatile, destabilized country in the world right now--Iraq? So we can create a Turkish-Armenian-Kurd war to add to the Shiite, Sunni and Al Qaida battle?

Congress should reconsider its Armenian resolution. So far it has been the only brake on those wishing to widen the war to include Iran. Now Congress itself is generating conflict with Turkey that will further destabilize Iraq and the region as a whole.

Preparing Kids for Today's America

Kids are America's tomorrow. Yet are we really preparing our kids for it?

I recently met a young couple from Dallas while working on a business deal who are doing something cool that is preparing their kids for the America of today and tomorrow. It is a blended family: her daughter and son are 10 and 11. Together they have a 3-month old. Each Tuesday night is "theme" night. One week it is Greek/Roman food - and they all dress up in togas or whatever. Another week is is a different food and part of the world. The kids even have to do research on the country/region. They tell me everyone loves it and they have great family time together doing it.

When these kids are adults, they will have a better understanding of the global community America will be part of at that time.

Brian and Michelle are examples of what parents all over America should be doing with their kids.

"Stop or We'll Drop Our Gay Bomb on You"

Photo: Dr. Stranglove (Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb)

Tell me this isn't really true - that some genius(or group thereof) in the Pentagon came up with a proposal to develop a "gay bomb." Yep. The idea behind it, apparently is that the enemy soldiers would then want to make love with each other instead of fighting.

This is the same military that had the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and throws gays out of the service even if they are one of the few who know how to read/speak Arabic to see what Al Qaida is up to?

I can see it now.

Headline: "Bush orders Military to drop "Gay Bomb" on Iran!

Next line: "Ahmadinejad declared: 'It didn't work. In Iran, we aren't gay; we just don't ask and don't tell." He then said that "he had decided to invite 'Georgie W' over to watch old Rock Hudson movies anytime he happened to by flying by Iran."

OK. At least some logical behavior was observed in Korea this week - an historic agreement between North and South to "make peace" and cut down the barriers and the nuke bomb plants after a half century of DMZ's and barbed wire separating the two.

Amazing how diplomacy and talking to people actually works (without necessity of a war)! At least we didn't have to threaten to drop a gay bomb on North Korea!

Meanwhile the headline from Pakistan (should be): "Musharraf Wins Presidential Election"
He says: "I'd love elections where there are no opponents!"

Ban Blood Rubies from Burma (aka Myanmar)

If Americans want to send a message to the junta smashing democracy in Burma (since the Generals renamed it "Myanmar" I refused to use that name), then here is something you can do.

Ask Congress to ban "blood rubies" from Burma - source of over 89% of the world's rubies, which are more expensive than diamonds on a per carat basis. Current law allows U.S. buyers to buy these gems which give the Generals over half billion dollars a year since they are cut outside of Burma. If we banned them regardless of where they are cut (since none are cut in Burma) it would hit the Generals in the pocketbook -- and could help the cause for freeing the people and monks from tyranny.

If we can support not buying "Blood Diamonds" from Africa (which are used to fuel civil wars) then why not ban "Blood Rubies" from Burma? Why not ask the Europeans to join us?

A President Confronts the Creeps at Darfur

This is what I call Presidential leadership - former President Carter shouting down Sudanese officials who wanted to keep him from meeting people to scared to attend because of the threat of being killed. Talk about having guts!

That's a President with some real vision and leadership - putting himself in harm's way to protect the little guys who are being murdered daily by thugs as the U.S. and UN basically watch from the sidelines.

If there is a place where a Platoon of U.S. soldiers could take out a brigade of bad guys, this is it.

Bravo for Prez Jimmy trying to help these people on the bottom of the food chain. Carter's actions can only increase the U.S. image in the eyes of those desperate people.

Burma (Myanmar) should be next. How to fix this? Give China a deal - you drop support for the military junta, and you (China) get to keep your contracts for Burmese natural resources for "X" years. It's the only way to get rid of that bunch in Burma which has 400,000 troops in uniform.

Attempted Bombing of U.S. Embassy - Vienna - Trouble ahead

The attempted Bombing of U.S. Embassy in Vienna is a sign of trouble ahead. Something is up.

A guy with a backpack full of explosives (and nails) tried to enter the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, but set off the metal detector. He left the bag when he ran off.

I've been to Vienna, which now has a security issue. (I was there years ago when I was with the Fortune 500 checking out a potential counter-trade deal--people who were bartering for goods when Russia didn't have cash like they do now). The young man and potential suicide bomber turns out to be a Bosnian - but he did have a Muslim prayer manual.

It's another sign of radicalization of young men living in Europe who are in their 20's and have roots in the Mideast. Apparently, the bombing was to force Germany and Austria out of Afghanistan (not Iraq).

What's weird is that during the Clinton administration we helped Bosnian Muslims, who were being killed by Serbs. So much for gratitude.

Or perhaps its just because they had just been born when the U.S. was helping Muslims from being killed in Bosnia, and they have no memory of it. All they see is Osama bin laden claiming this is a war against Muslims, instead of a war against terrorism.

Regardless, this attempted bombing is another warning that security issues must remain at the top of the agenda. If that bag bomb had gone off in the street, nails would have ripped through windows around the blast zone. Europe and the U.S. are top targets, just ask New York, London, Washington, Madrid, etc.

XO Armor on the windows would protect a lot of people from flying shrapnel/glass--much better than having nothing. It would even stop a burglar. In layers it can stop a bullet. Get prepared.

(One customer who put it on their house reports they are saving over $150 month on their electric bill)!

Hummingbirds and Baghdad

Photo: Clear Lake (Texas) Hummingbird checking out lunch

I put up a hummingbird feeder on the balcony today, never having seen any such birds in the area before. Within an hour a hummingbird was hovering next to it, filling his tank. Then another. Amazing little creatures.

On the other side of the planet, I've been following the blog of an Iraqi girl for some years now whose code name is "Riverbend." She wouldn't know me from Adam, but she has written insightfully on life in Baghdad before and since the war. Recently I checked the blog and noticed that several months had gone by with no entries at all.

I was worried that she and her family had been killed in a car bomb or by one of the Sunni or Shiite death squads in Baghdad. But finally a new entry says that Riverbend and her family have found refuge in Syria. She says that Jordan wouldn't take them --they already have tons of Iraqi refugees.

I've been to Damascus (on a child kidnapping case involving Lebanon and a Lubbock girl). I've seen some ancient Christian churches in the hills outside of Damascus.

Syria is a contrast. It has been reported that the Israeli's made an airstrike on a nuclear facility in Syria recently - and not even Syria has whined about it publicly. That indicates to me that they had something to hide or they would have screamed about it loudly.

But there is a good side as well. The Syrians have tolerated having Christians in their country (unlike Saudi Arabia) and are taking in huge number of desperate Iraqis like "Riverbends" family -- vastly more than we have. We have not even taken 1,000 out of 2 million refugees caused by the war. To label them as potential terrorists is a real insult and slap in the face of people like Riverbend who are innocents who lives have been turned upside down by our country's actions. We should be responsible for those like Riverbend who should be allowed into the U.S. They are clearly NOT terrorists. They are just their Muslim victims.

Like Hummingbirds, they are trying to find a safe place to sleep and eat. We can do a better helping them and the folks in places like Burma, Darfur, Pakistan, etc.

Our President says we are fighting for freedom and democracy in Iraq. At the same time we ignore the lack of freedom and democracy in Pakistan, where a military dictator is beating up lawyers and throwing out his political opponents who are not extremists. This double standard is not missed by the rest of the world.

It is a policy whose failure will have nuclear consequences and will create a more extreme Pakistan instead of a more moderate one. In that event, the U.S. becomes less secure, for people and hummingbirds alike.

Flying South for the Winter

Yesterday morning, as I was sitting on the balcony looking at the calm water, sipping coffee before getting ready for work, I saw a distinctive V- shape flock of birds flying over the lake heading to the South.

A real sign of fall. This morning I felt a fresh northern breeze.

Burma's (Myanmar) leaders are also feeling a fresh breeze, the winds of democracy have come to their door as well. But they are backed by China, which wants its water and natural resources for its growing economy. Now the Monks have been locked up as prisoners in their monasteries and the troops are shooting civilians.

It's too bad all we do is impose sanctions in these brutal cases. The same for Darfur, where the terrorists are now roughing up the AID workers and stealing their equipment as they murder civilians. We should have a large UN presence in each place, with the U.S. in a supporting role.

Being too timid in our global leadership is as bad as being too aggressive. I'd like to see the military leaders of Burma flying "south" --not for the winter but on a one-way trip to exile. I'd like to see a lot of other dictators joining them...such as the one we seem to have in Pakistan who is now attacking lawyers on the Supreme Court grounds.

Missing Bin Laden (again)

Reports are that we missed another opportunity to get Osama bin Laden in Tora Bora.

One analyst said that "we are too slow and cautious" when it comes to mountingthese missions. By the time we mount up a big posse the bad guy has slipped away in a pass.

I agree. We are too slow and cumbersome to fight maverick mountain terrorists. We are in Afghanistan/Pakistan's "Hatfield and McCoy" territory over there--not big fighting areas like Iraq.

Duh! If we had an aerial Predator (unmanned aircraft) sending back views of a gathering of Al Qaida in Tora Bora -- and instead of using the missiles now attached to the newer Predators to hit that group of murderers -- they spent hours launching helicopters and troops from hundreds of miles away, then someone is dumber than dirt when it comes to getting the job done. By the time they got there, the bad guys had fled. We don't need a military version of Brownie after Katrina making these calls.

I hope the next time they get a view on a group of Al Qaida in the mountains they will act more like a bounty hunter instead of a slow military machine. Fire the Predator missiles THEN send in a helo to see what's left.

Unfortunately we have not had the strategic and creative thinking needed to deal with these complex issues in remote regions of the world, both politically and militarily. Bin Laden escaped Tora Bora the first time in 2001 when we were under Rumsfeld's crazy vision of using a platoon (or 10 boy scouts) to do what a division should. That helped bin laden escape Tora Bora in 2001 and to insurgents getting ammo from thousands of unguarded ammo dumps in Iraq after the invasion.

Now they are trying to use too many troops to nail bin laden on missions where the terrain and quickness is more important than numbers of troops flying in from remote bases.

Use the Predator next time guys, before we have a another attack on the U.S. and Europe. That's why we still need to be prepared.

Burma Shave - Or a Close Shave for the Monks of Myanmar

No wonder they have trouble in Burma - they changed the name to "Myanmar," which means nothing to most of us who remember the "Burma Road" not to mention "Burma Shave."

Now the Monks of Myanmar are in a lather, walking the streets, and praying for freedom from being shot by the military dictatorship that no one seemed to care about until a week ago.

Personally, I hope it results in the military being sent back to the barracks and the name being changed to something I can pronounce and spell (I'm still mad at Bombay, India for becoming "Mumbai" which sounds like someone mumbling "bye"). Apparently the President feels the same way.

Speaking of "bye" did you see that even if we starting working on global warming TODAY, the seas will still rise at least three (3) feet in the coming decades from the increased ice melting already happening! Bye bye icebergs and Greenland.

It probably all started when countries started changing their names. The Vikings gave us "Greenland" which is mostly white from ice and snow, and "Iceland" which is mostly green! Those slick seafarers had to be the first traveling salesmen -- offering real estate deals in "green" land!

No wonder why the monks in Burma are protesting. I'd join them if I could find a ticket agent who knew what a "Myanmar" was. zone agent said he didn't care how my aunt was; --where did I want to go?

Ummm, maybe I'll just book something to Vegas or London instead! Good luck to the monks!

A Land With No School Books

Last night I attended a unique event - "WEPA - Women Empowering Africa" -- a Houston fundraiser to build a library for a school (Ngege) in Kenya. The guest of honor was Mrs. Odinga, an articulate lady who heads the Kenya League of Women Voters and may be the next Kenya first lady after elections are held next year. WEPA is the Swahili word for "excellence."

The video of the Ngege school shows a couple very bare buildings next to a rough narrow road isolated in the middle of hills 3 miles from Lake Victoria, housing kids in faded blue and white uniforms sitting with little more than an old blackboard and a few sheets of paper.

They had no books. Yet they have a tremendous desire to learn. This is something Americans of all kinds should support. This is a worldwide problem from Africa to Pakistan.

One statement from a speaker in the 5 hour dinner (the agenda ended at 12:30 a.m.) that stuck me the most: "The one policy that had the most positive impact in improving conditions and cutting crime, etc. was the education of girls."

Girls as young as 12 are still being put into forced marriages, face painful and damaging "female circumcision" and have even been subject to sex as virgins by men who thought having sex with a virgin would cure their AIDS. Most girls drop out of school under these conditions.

The WEPA women are working to stop this. They need your support. Their website is www.wema-us.org

Louisiana, TD10 - 11 etc. -- and Blackwater backlash possible

Just back from Dallas - in time to get near the coast again and see TD10 forming on the edge of the Gulf, then fading out as No. 11 may be forming in the southern Gulf.

So far we have dodged the bullet, but it is still a numbers game with increasing long odds. We really aren't prepared if another major storm hits. Mayor White of Houston was right to suggest at a recent League of Women Voters lunch that we need to beef up our building codes. We should be trying to match Miami-Dade. If a Katrina hits us, we'll have a lot of avoidable damage.

The Blackwater incident in Iraq could also pose a risk of a terrorist backlash here - why?

How would Americans feel if a private group from another country was riding our streets and shooting at cars they thought were getting too close, but were immune from prosecution even if some of them got out of hand and shot innocent civilians. Even our soldiers are subject to the legal system, as we have seen when incidents occur. So why should a private group have privileges that our troops don't? To have any group that is untouchable only increases the anger at the U.S. It could lead to future attacks here.

Since I have no control over what is happening in the Middle East, and its potential backlash here, there is one thing I can do -- help people protect themselves.

The best security defense for people is "Sheltering in place." That means protecting people at work or at home, from terror generated by nature or man.

Next time: The recent air raid on a Mideast nuke plant no one is talking about...Why?

Typhoon Hits China - Asia's Hurricanes Getting Stronger Too

This is a photo of Typhoon "Wipha" which is hitting China as this is written. Our hurricanes are "Typhoons" in Asia. They do the same thing.

Typhoons regularly hit China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea towards the end of August and in September. Earlier this month Typhoon Fitow hit Japan, killing seven people, while on Sunday Typhoon Nari killed at least nine in South Korea.

This one is expected to be one of the worst in over a decade -- another indication that the storms are getting STRONGER worldwide. The Chinese are blaming "global warming" for it.

"Due to global warming, the number of strong typhoons is increasing and more areas are vulnerable to the attack by typhoons," Xinhua quoted Zheng as saying at a conference in Beijing.

Wow. At least they aren't sticking their heads in the sand. Last night I saw a program on the increased ice melt in Greenland, which is going critical and could raise ocean waters by over 20 feet --drowning our coasts.

We need some leadership in DC on this issue pronto, not starting in 2009. We are way beyond theory here folks. Common sense is in short supply and it is our future, and our children's future, that is at stake - from America to China. It's a global threat.

Fall Day in Clear Lake - Feet Up

Fall has fallen on us. There is nothing finer than having the doors open, feeling the fresh cool air, with the feet up, watching the sparkling waters of the lake that is always a different hue day to day and even hour by hour.

But don't let the pretty water fool you.

It's no time to totally forget that recent polls show that Osama bin Laden is more popular in Pakistan (which has nuclear missiles) than the present leader Musharraf --the guy our government has bet all of its eggs. He's the same guy who just booted out a potential Presidential challenger last week. Polls show that dictators help generate support for radicals like bin Laden in places like Pakistan. Pakistan needs a real democracy or it could fall, along with control of its missiles, to the radicals.

And hurricane season isn't over yet - and it will be back next year. The Gulf Coast still doesn't have a regional protection plan in place to "Shelter in Place" --or deal with another bin Laden inspired attack.

After a wild week it's a little break time to relax today -- but tomorrow its back to work. Much remains to be done to prepare people for what lies ahead...expect the unexpected. Houston's old motto still rings true.

New Plan After Humberto: "Shelter in Place"

The startling lesson from Humberto is that we may not be able to evacuate people with a 3 day warning as the current plan calls for. That plan went out the window with Humberto. It went from depression to Cat 1 hurricane in 14 hours!

So the "next big one" could be a Category 1 - 5 hurricane that balloons up from the Gulf of Mexico near shore, eliminating the possibility of escape. A friend of mine in Port Arthur went to sleep assured by the weather man that a mere tropical storm was going to blow through. He and his family woke to a roar of a Cat 1 hurricane at 2 a.m. that snapped trees in their backyard - over 80 mph! So how does one evacuate in that situation?

So, "Shelter in Place" is the new and improved hurricane strategy being promoted by people such as former Kemah Mayor King. He is right.

But "shelter in place" should not be limited to making schools into shelters as suggested by one legislator, although that is a good thing.

Every home should also be a potential "shelter in place." But they will need some structural changes to qualify. The only way to do that is by protecting the weakest link of every house (and office) -- its windows.

And the only way of doing that on a certified retrofit basis is XO Armor. I saw nothing at the glass convention in Atlanta that was like it -- and that you could actually see through!

The lesson from Humberto is that we can't always leave, so we must upgrade our building codes and our homes -- by using the best technology available -- to protect our property and families from storm debris breaching our windows. Plus it will also make windows the equivalent of double paned, cut UV, keep out burglars, save energy, and (unlike shutters which it replaces) allow you with a clear view of what is going on outside with 24/7 protection.

Out of Nowhere - Humberto

It's kind of strange to be in Atlanta and see a Tropical Storm - whoops --Hurricane Humberto - blow up out of nowhere. I have to fly back tomorrow so it will be interesting if the flight makes it in (or WHEN). It went from a depression to a hurricane in 14 hours according to the Weather channel.

I got two reports - from Clear Lake it is raining sideways and blowing. On the Ft Bend side, nothing is happening. Most of it seems to be moving over Galveston Bay and east.

And there is TD No. 8 out in the Atlantic starting to come our direction as well. It's still too early to tell WHERE it is going to hit. It could be a hurricane soon enough.

It's a different world here in Atlanta, Georgia. It is all hills and there isn't a straight road to be found. Lots of two lane roads curving left, right, up, down. If you get distracted for a second you are in the ditch.

Hopefully tomorrow I will not end up sitting in some airport lounge for hours as Humberto dumps its load. It should be interesting...

View from Atlanta

I'm in Atlanta checking out a glass convention while Osama bin laden hits the video airwaves again. I was wondering when he would rear his ugly head again - too bad we forgot about him the last six years. Like the Terminator, "He's baaaack!"

At the show I saw a couple companies with what they call "bullet resistant" or "hurricane" glass. It was THICK and EXPENSIVE -- nothing like XO Armor. Apparently a lot of people are looking for a solution, but I didn't see any product at the show that really fit the bill. Like I said, most of it was for new construction, very thick and would drain your wallet faster than a teenager.

None of it was for existing glass structures that need hurricane or bomb blast protection. XO Armor is the only thing I saw that can actually be used on existing buildings (as well as new).

From the sound of bin laden, we will be needing more bomb protection for some time.

Mayor White's advice on Hurricanes etc

I had the unique opportunity to hear Mayor White speak yesterday to the League of Women Voters lunch on issues from air quality to hurricanes.

It was hurricane preparedness that seemed to be foremost on his mind. He recommended people get window protection before the next storm, because there will be one. He said that we really needed to upgrade our building codes throughout the region. (And 2 years after Katrina, FEMA had not reimbursed the city one dime of the $60 million it spent on the evacuees--HeckofaJob FEMA!)

He should know: it was Mayor White and Harris County Eckels who "weathered" Rita and Katrina -- the largest forced migration of people due to a natural disaster in our nation's history.

He's right. I visited one new 30 story condo on Clear Lake which is outside of Houston's jurisdiction. It's windows were rated for 75 mph wind - that was within code!

Two lawyers in a room could generate 75 mph winds, so those windows offer minimum protection from flying debris from a Category 1 -- for the buyer of a $600,000 to $2 million condo filled with furniture you won't find at Sears.

Until those codes are improved, the only thing buyers can do to protect their families and belongings from a hurricane or a bomb blast is to install XO Armor on their windows.

I don't think the Mayor knows about it yet because it is so new, and just passed the Miami Dade test --the toughest standard in the U.S. I hope that he'll look into it.

Fossett is Missing but Bin Laden Apparently Not

Aviation pioneer Steve Fossett is now missing nearly four (4) days after taking off for a "3 hour tour." I saw TV footage from a Civil Air Patrol flight looking for him. As a former CAP pilot I can attest how small a downed aircraft can look - not much bigger than a refrigerator when viewed from even minimum flight distance of 1,000 feet over the terrain.

Apparently Mr. Bin Laden is not missing - word is out today that he will release a new VIDEO before the next 9-11 anniversary. If so, and if he really has put on weight and is no longer "Mr. Graybeard" then it would confirm that the worm is still alive, and dangerous.

This comes right after the arrests in Denmark in Germany of European nationals who went radical with their conversion and wanted to become suicide bombers.

It would be good if we found both Steve Fossett and Osama - one to save and one to put on trial for mass murder.

One Sunni leader in Iraq said that he turned against AL Qaida when he saw one of them behead an 8-year old girl. How can they kill innocent (Muslim) girls? It has turned Iraqis against them. But as long as bin laden remains in his Pakistan mountain sanctuary, who knows what atrocity he will dream up next.

Osama would definitely applaud Southwest Airlines for kicking off a passenger for being "indecently attired" or whatever they said. Bin laden was appalled when a sister in law of his turned up onetime not wearing a head covering. He wouldn't even speak to her he was so "shocked, shocked" at the sight of a woman not entirely covered up. His cohorts would behead an 8 year old for such a thing.

This whole Al Qaida thing got started when an Egyptian Sunni named Qutb visited the U.S. and was "shocked, shocked" at American behavior. He thought we thought only about money and had no morals. So definitely Southwest's step to force more female modesty from the Hooters girls riding their planes would be pleasing to the likes of Osama bin laden.

Think about it guys.

Better blast protect those windows folks. Check out this new security website:

http://www.ArmorGlassIntl.com

Europe Terror Plots - Coming here?

Cell Phones record images of London subway bombing 7-7-07

Officials in Denmark claim to have broken up a terrorist plot - but the news from Germany is that a group there had acquired 1,500 pounds of peroxide based liquid explosives, which is enough for several car bombs or a very large truck bomb.

Each group had links back to Afghanistan and Pakistan (no ties to Iraq apparently) Osama bin laden's mountain sanctuary.

Some of the group were local "converts" to radical Islam. That means future threats could be radicalized locals who convert with the idea of becoming "jihadi's" - which makes prevention even harder than merely screening out "bad" people through the visa process.

This attack on U.S. targets in Europe could have been planned for the 9 11 anniversary date, which is coming up next week. If bin laden has a 9 11 anniversary surprise planned, even the U.S. could be hit again.

The fact that these groups keep rising up shows that the failure to get bin laden in Tora Bora in 2001 and the lack of focus on Afghanistan has still left us vulnerable to further 9 11 attacks six years later in 2007.

In light of these attempted terrorist attacks in Germany and Denmark, I would recommend caution in the U.S. on the anniversary of 9 11. Expect the unexpected.

Missing the Cat 5 - but Getting Zapped from PACIFIC storm

Photo: Felix hitting Central America

Felix has become a 160 mph Cat 5 swirling hell (especially if you are in its path) - and the Mosquito coast is taking the hit instead of us. This time.

But oddly, we are getting weather from a hurricane - a PACIFIC Ocean tropical storm. Tropical Storm Henriette, now near Baja California, is throwing moisture all the way to Texas and will give us more weather than Felix as it tracks to the north and east.

We have now had more Cat 5 storms come ashore in one season than anytime in recorded history. We also seem to be getting more of the bigger Cat 4 and 5 storms. Felix went from nothing to a Cat 5 in a couple days -- that is like taking off in a plane and reaching Mach 2 at Concorde speed.

That spells trouble for anyone within 100 miles of a coastline in the U.S. We are looking at a big hit when it comes.

Another Day Another Hurricane

From nothing on Friday, a tropical wave appeared and morphed into a Cat 1 on Saturday and a Category 2 Felix by Sunday. This baby is growing fast. Whoever it hits is going to feel it.

It looks like it will stay south of us -- but keep in mind that the peak of hurricane season is the entire month of September. We aren't out of the woods yet.

And as I've said before and will say again, even if we squeak by this year, there is always next year.

We can't repeal the laws of nature or geography: Hurricanes are annual events and we still live on the coast or within 100 miles of it. Sooner or later the odds will catch up with us. We've had Rita, Katrina, Allison, Alicia, Carla, yada yada -- back to the 1900 storm that got Galveston.

Then I read in the Houston Chronicle that so many Houstonians have a second house as a weekend retreat on Galveston or the coast. So I encourage everyone to keep preparing --with installing XO Armor on the windows being job 1.

And don't forget the people that do get hit by Felix even if we get fortunate and miss it.

Late Note: Eight years later...and suddenly the predictions are that Felix will turn north and get into the Gulf of Mexico by next Friday. Now WE are a potential target. Felix is predicted to be close to a Cat 5 when it hits the Yucatan -- so it is BIG. This could be the second hit for the Cancun area as well...

Flashes of Light

Woke to flashes of light this morning. No, not gun fire. The dark lake was being up lit like a light show. Some of the lightning was in a section of some very strange looking clouds hanging low over the lake. Yet there was no thunder.

It counts as a dramatic end to August, the month of the Dean scare.

The good news is that the feudal-thinking Taliban have released the last of the South Korean missionary hostage, after killing two of them. No doubt the Korean government paid $$$ to get them out.

What puzzles me is why they were over there riding around in a bus in a war zone like they were going on an outing in London or something. What mission were they on in a dangerous place like Afghanistan? Why didn't they have security?

If they were over there trying to convert people than they need a reality check.

And if the South Koreans really were there to do volunteer work than where were the S. Korean troops and security they should have had protecting them? The Taliban are everywhere once you are outside of the capital Kabul.

The problem isn't the ordinary Muslims living in Afghanistan - it is the extremist Taliban who impose their narrow view on the others. They don't want Muslim girls going to school (and are willing to shoot a few schoolgirls to prove it) or a secular society. It's a power struggle between moderates and extremists.

So who else is running around Afghanistan that might be kidnapped next? This is the country where the real planner of 9 11 has his base, with Taliban support -- Osama bin laden. Do you think he cares about foreign missionaries trying to convert Muslims in a Muslim country?

More Threats from Nature than Man

A recent report says this: "

Seven (7) times more people’s livelihoods are devastated by natural disasters than by war worldwide, at the moment.

So, despite the Iraq war, Darfur, etc. -- natural disasters (like Katrina, Tsunami's, earthquakes, etc.) are causing seven times more grief to ordinary people worldwide than war.

So the threat from a hurricanes, floods, etc has caused more damage to people's lives than 9 11. Think about it.

So while terrorism is a problem we need to focus on natural disaster preparation (and relief) even more.

Turning Wine Into Water

Photo: Greece fires threaten site of original Olympics

You recall the bible story about the first miracle, when Jesus turned water into wine.

How about turning wine into water? A man in Greece who ran out of water to fight a fire threatening his house had to resort to using his wine to keep the flames from destroying his house. "Honey, can you pass me more of the Blanc de Gris? Do we have any red left?"

We should immediately provide an airlift of Pinot Grigio to help out - especially since the fires have threatened the ruins of original venue of the Olympics (a time when athletes didn't juice up on steroids to break records or kill dogs for fun).

Boo on the Atlanta Falcons owner for even considering rehiring Mr. Vick or any player who thinks killing dogs for sport is cool. Paying anyone $100 million who thinks "fighting animals to the death" is ok is sick and sets a bad example for the next generation of young Americans.

Why are we paying millions of dollars to the people like Paris Hilton and Michael Vick who set lousy role models for kids who look up to them?

I think I'll take a bottle of wine and head for Greece to fight some fires instead...

A rare solution

I've been hearing some interesting things when I talk to people about window security. On Thursday a business owner who happens to be a Mayor of a large city advised me that his people had looked for a solution for two years - but none of the options looked easy or inexpensive until they heard about XO Armor.

In this case an engineering company had spent months looking at the building and were recommended drilling a bunch of holes, etc. Even though the glass doors would have been unprotected.

With XO, the doors are covered with everything else. You can still enjoy the glass view, yet know that its working 24/7 to keep out burglars, UV, heat and 150 mph debris. They pose no threat to your security with XO Armor on the windows, unlike just plain glass.

From news reports, if we leave Iraq with Maliki still in power, Iran wins. This will pose a threat to our own security, as much as mother nature's storms do. Stay tuned.

The Perfect Storm - Extremists of all stripes

If you didn't catch the "God's Warriors" series by Christine Amanpour (on CNN) about the extremists of the world's three major religions, I suggest you check it out -- even if it is a 6-hour program.

Something I discovered from the program: Extremists from all three religions --Muslim, Jewish, Christian--had one thing in common: The idea of mankind taking an active role in bringing about Armageddon.

Never mind that such things ought to be avoided by people -- and left to God's. Nope. These folks want to speed up the clock. In their minds, killing for God is ok and speeding up "the end" is also OK (personally, I think God would object to people using his name to kill other people).

Which brings me to the point:

With folks wanting to encourage destabilization of the a world stuffed with weapons, conventional and nuclear, then future security efforts are a must.

That means personal security as well as things governments do (and can't do).

And personal security means XO Armor.

Fortunately, the hurricane grade film when applied with the special DOW caulking includes blast protection -- from things like car bombs. I went to a building yesterday where they had searched for a solution to protect their windows for two years. They were facing an expensive operation by a contractor who wanted to drill a bunch of holes in their building, to support heavy shutters that don't cover glass doors and don't work if not closed. They thought XO Armor was a perfect solution --a film on the inside of all the glass. Easy to install and 24/7 protection, plus cutting out UV and heat loss and potential burglaries... I've got it on my windows.

With people actively trying to bring about the end of the planet we should expect more bombings and other stupid acts. In Iraq, Muslims are now killing other Muslims. Everyone has become a target. New York, Washington, London, Paris, Madrid, Bali - are just the beginning until people like Osama bin laden (and Time McVeigh) are out of action and fashion.

While we strive to minimize stupid thinking and the poor excuses being used to kill each other (including the inexcusable, sick, barbaric act of fighting dogs to the death), it is also wise to protect yourself.

Erin's Rampage - And Putting It in Global Perspective

Photo: Collapsed bridge in China

It's odd but tropical storm Erin is killing more people than Category 5 Dean has - and it continues today in Iowa and Minnesota. Erin has caused floods that has drowned over two dozen people.

We should count ourselves lucky. Our recent mine disaster killed six (plus 3 rescuers) -- China's killed over 175 men when a mine flooded.

And the Minnesota bridge collapse that killed a dozen people should be considered against the bridge collapse in China -- in which over 47 people fell to their deaths.


In both cases there is a similarity; gross negligence. And poor leadership.

In Minnesota officials ignored deficiency reports for 17 years. In China the bridge was built without supporting rods so it would look "authentic" as an old stone bridge. Gross stupidity by those in charge is what we have in common.

Check out the new "Sky" feature of Google Earth. I hear it lets you take a tour of the universe.

Speaking of which, I have to fly. It is becoming a whirlwind...

The Hurricane That Killed in the Midwest

No, not Dean. Erin --which was more of a tropical storm than hurricane when it hit Corpus Christi last week -- has killed 25 people over 1,000 miles away. It dumped over a foot of rain that drowned people and caused property damage as far north as Minnesota!

So, hurricanes are not just a coastal problem. They affect people across the country. Imagine if Erin had been a Category 5 like Dean when it came ashore in South Texas.

Just before Dean hit, I was getting frantic calls from people "wanting XO Armor now." That frantic feeling seemed to stop when Dean drifted south. People need to realize that another one of these brewing up is just a matter of time. Preparation takes time and we need to be acting as if another one could show up next week - because it could.

Luckily Dean is heading for a sparsely populated area of Mexico after just missing Cancun. Don't expect luck to strike twice in the same place.

Did you see the report on the CIA mess up before 9 11? Truth is, even with people paying attention it could happen again. The Internet is alive with people trying to recruit future terrorists (not just from the Middle East).

I have had glass office towers asking for XO Armor to give them car bomb protection. Hospitals need it to continue operating 24/7 even in an emergency without blowing in water and glass debris from breached windows. Schools and homes need it to keep glass out of the kids feet when tree limbs or baseball's come flying...

In the good side: Brad Pitt showcased a replacement house in New Orleans -- in the Lower 9th Ward flooded by Katrina -- that uses solar panels to cut electricity use by 75%. If every house built used this technology energy consumption would plummet and people would save huge amounts of money they now pay for power. I wouldn't mind paying 75% less than the $250 I spent on lighting an apartment last month.

We don't reach the height of hurricane season until late September. Anything is still possible.

Category 5 Hits Mexico - Will Next One be as Big?

It's confirmed that Dean hit Mexico as a Category 5 - the biggest hurricane since Andrew hit Florida in the early 90's. Whole buildings can get shredded at 160 mph.

The question is, with the ice sheets shrinking and global warming no longer a moronic debate, how many more big storms will we get from here on out? In other words, with the planet hotter and having to throw off more heat via hurricanes, will the next ones tend to be larger Category 4 and 5's? Very possible.

I have to run out for meetings all day, but I sense people are thinking "it's over" I can relax now.

Big mistake. The peak of the season isn't until mid-September, and anyone within 100 miles of a coast is vulnerable.

I got XO Armor put on my house yesterday. A benefit I didn't realize was the sound dampening - it's a lot quieter inside than it was before. And the installer found one sliding glass door that seemed newer and was a lot weaker than the others. Now it can keep out rocks, flying street signs, dead tree branches at 150-plus mph, etc.!

Out of the Woods? Not further south

Photo: Cancun, Mexico - Over 20,000 US tourists are trying to get out of Dean's way. Another 60,000 were supposed to be there over the weekend

After the last entry I found out that my friends were able to get the last plane out of Jamaica with their 5-week old baby, just before Dean rolled in with 145 mph winds. They said some interesting things about local hurricane preparation efforts.

Jamaicans do things differently. My friends room had a balcony OVER the water. In a hurricane the hotel procedure is to take off the balcony, move the furniture upstairs, then OPEN the main doors -- to let the storm winds blow THROUGH the hotel! They were glad not to be there to witness that. Imagine the debris and water blowing through the building at 140-plus mph! They wouldn't need to do that with XO Armor.

Now it appears Dean is going to hit south of Cancun - so we may be out of the woods on this monster. But not so for the folks in its path further south. And don't forget, the remnants of "Erin" is killing people and flooding from Oklahoma to the Midwest - a long ways from the coast.

Last night I was "flying" over Jamaica and Cancun tracking the storm. Although I'm a pilot really I wasn't flying in a plane but I saw Havana and Kingston as if I was in a small plane . You can do the same. Download the (free) Google Earth program. Then type in the name of the place you want to see - and fly over, zoom down to even see cars, etc. At the top you can even "slant" the angle to go from satellite view to airplane view.

On Google Earth I even "flew" down the infamous Baghdad Airport road. Check it out to see what the folks from Belize to Tampico that are facing a potential 145 mph winds.

And while we may be out of the woods on this storm, others will come. You can't repeal the laws of nature or geography. Hurricanes are earth's way of spinning off excess heat build up, and we remain on the coast.

Living with plywood is not being prepared in the 21st Century.

Friends in Jamaica - 5-week old baby and Hurricane Dean

Photo: Category 4 Dean on the doorstop of Jamaica - coming our way

A Houston couple I know went with their kids and a 5- week old baby to vacation in Jamaica last week. They are now stuck there as Hurricane Dean is expected to hit with 145 mph winds (Category 4.)

Since yesterday dialing their hotel phone number generates a "You have reached a non-working number..." The phones didn't work yesterday and aren't working today.

The last word from someone who was able to get through before being cut off in mid-conversation was that the hotel was moving them to a "castle" located somewhere inland.

Riding out a storm with a 5-week old wasn't on the agenda. Last week there was not Erin or Dean when they left. When the storm blew up, they weren't able to fly out and the airport is now closed. Not having phone or Internet word from them is driving the family nuts. It could be days before we know what's happening to them. There are many other tourists in the same boat.

After Jamaica, Dean will continue coming our way. Stand by for updates..

Dean Is Rolling Down "the Slot"

Photo: Saturday at 3 pm - Not a single pool lizard in sight. This shot is as odd as an alien sighting.

Dean seems to be rolling right down the "slot" that puts it in the Gulf of Mexico next week. The only issue is where the steering currents will push it - from northern Mexico/South Texas to Louisiana.

We aren't the only ones with a disaster in the making. Poor Peru. After suffering an 8.0 earthquake, the U.S. is sending a few military doctors and $100,000! Not even a measly $1 million to help. Not even a statement of concern by the President. Morale: If you have a major disaster, don't expect us to do much, especially if we are on vacation! Our leadership could at least try pretending to be concerned about other folks' disasters. No wonder why America is not liked very much worldwide.

Speaking of which, Texas Governor Perry wanted a "Hurricane Czar" to dictate decisions when a storm like Hurricane Dean/Katrina rolled in. Thankfully, the regional leadership is not in favor of leaving it in the hands of one person. They are taking a communal approach.

I don't want a political appointee calling all the shots in a disaster. We don't need a "HeckofAjob Brownie" being our "Hurricane Czar." The local county judges and Mayors need to have input and were elected to look after their community. Good call on their part.

I'm getting XO Armor installed on my windows Monday afternoon - just in time for Dean's arrival in the Gulf. Then, if it swings our way, I can watch 2x4's, street signs and tree limbs bouncing off the windows instead of having sheets of rain and shards of glass destroying everything inside the house. A 2x4 --or street sign--will go right through that plywood people have been using!

With XO Armor installed, my windows can take a hit at 150 mph with a 2x4 and I'll still be dry instead of picking glass shards from my feet and wood chips from my teeth - because XO will stop storm debris from breaching the glass. Predictions are that Dean will be at least a Category 3, maybe 4 --Katrina was a high 3.

If it hits we'll need more than time to "duck and cover."

Report from Clear lake After Erin

Photo: On the morning "Erin" hit, this was the sky to the east in Clear Lake.

I spent the day yesterday in Clear lake when Erin moved ashore down by Corpus. I figured being 200 miles away meant that we'd get some rain and that's about it.

WRONG. Two people died at a Randall's in Clear Lake city that I usually stopped in when going to work. At the time I was in a yacht club during a lunch event, watching the sky turn black and rain poured so hard that the boats were invisible outside the windows.

And that was a glancing blow - Erin was a weak storm and far away, yet the impact across Houston stopped traffic dead. Cars were underwater at 288 and 610. When is the city going to put flood markers on these low areas so drivers can see what they are getting into? Let's not wait until more people drown to do it.

And now Hurricane Dean is coming next week and we are in the cone of possible hits. We only have a few days to prepare. If Dean gets anywhere nearly as close as Erin we (and not just the coastal areas) are in big trouble.

Get prepared.

Forget Erin; It's Hurricane Dean to Worry About

Erin is rolling over Corpus Christi today - no big deal. The potential killer storm is Dean - which is ALREADY a hurricane way out in the Atlantic.

And its tracking down the "slot" which leads to the Gulf of Mexico. Here is the latest weather.com projected path of Dean.

So by Monday we could be looking down the barrel of a Category 4 storm with most of Texas as a potential target. OR it could end up back in New Orleans. Who knows. Keep your eye on this bad boy.

Any day we'll be releasing a major announcement on XO Armor. Two weeks ago people were still thinking they had all the time in the world to get it. Now we have maybe a week before a major storm hits somewhere in our area. And every year will be like this.

People are vulnerable until they have XO Armor protection. There really isn't anything else like it - about the only other thing is heavy shutters which still don't keep the glass from breaking and keep you from seeing what is happening outside. XO Armor can take a 200 mph hit with a 2x4 in a storm and still not penetrate your window...

Here Comes Hurricane Trouble Houston

We are looking at the possibility of a Hurricane 5 getting into the Gulf of Mexico if Tropical Storm Dean continues on its present course. Next week could see it on our doorstep. Those folks who put off looking into XO Armor to protect your windows from hurricane debris are running out of luck fast.

And this. On Monday some nut drove by the KPFT radio station and fired several bullets into the building - nearly hitting a DJ in the head. When installed in layers, XO Armor stops bullets. See for yourself at this link.

I don't have time to call people on this; if you want XO Armor protection you are going to have to contact me. The bottleneck is installation, so don't expect to jump to the front of the line if you wait too long. Houses, hospitals, offices -- ALL are vulnerable. Once debris breaks a window the winds can take off the roof, not to mention the glass and water all over your pets, kids, computers, etc.

The day I have warned about is coming.

Texas Toast

After two months of solid rain in June and July, August has been a hot blast. Thank god for the nice break from a summer that is usually ALL heat. it was almost 100 today on the lake.

Mr. & Mrs. Duck have disappeared with the rain. I suspect they are in Maine or vacationing in the south of France.

I found a video of a speech I made 20 years ago, to a college group, on the need to be internationally aware as a population if we are to compete with countries whose citizens travel and have a global experience base (like Europe). The link is to the last couple minutes.

Twenty years later, the message remains the same. The U.S. has yet to achieve the level of global thinking required for us to maintain our leadership in this much more competitive century. It will require a smart, Global strategy.

A global, forward thinking President, for example, might propose to have Algeria's budding solar energy grow enough renewable energy to take Europe off Russia's oil, for their security. Russia has been known to cut supply to make a political point.

Only a more worldly education by the public will lead to voters picking competent leaders who know the world - to us to survive in this global century of opportunity -- and potential terrorism -- both on a scale never before seen by humanity.

A Kidnapping in Texas

A woman was driving on a public highway in East Texas with her 18-year old cousin. A man she never met pulled up and fired a shotgun, hitting her cousin in the head, killing her and blowing off the driver's arm. Then the man kidnapped her and beat her.

Now she has no health insurance and is struggling under our health care system (Texas public health car is ranked 49th out of 50 states, nothing to brag about).

This story struck me because if XO Armor had been installed on those car windows, the shotgun pellets could have embedded in the glass instead of killing her cousin. It could have avoided this tragedy. People need more protection from creeps like this (and I'm not even talking about our struggling health care system--yet).

It's all about security. We are still setting up dealers to handle these markets. Let me know if you have an interest.

A 22 year dream - Teacher in Space

Sometimes a dream takes decades to come true.

It's a dream delayed by over 20 years for Barbara Morgan, set to join the Endeavor crew in space today as the first "teacher in space." It's a program that stalled in 1986 when Challenger blew up with Christa McAauliffe, the first designated teacher in space.

Funny how life works sometimes: the backup becomes the first. But it was the first who opened the door to the backup teacher next in line.

We wish Barbara and crew the best of luck. Our children need to get focused on space, math and higher sights than watching Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan's antics. It will take a new generation of scientists and teachers to keep America in the lead globally.

One of the other crewmembers on today's flight, Tracy Caldwell, says it was Christa's role that inspired her to see NASA as more than just test pilots - she become a chemist and is now an astronaut.

Ms. Morgan's trip into a new frontier will inspire a new generation like Ms. Caldwell.

Godspeed Endeavour...

Rule of Law - in jeopardy here and abroad

The notion of the rule of law and fairness is in jeopardy, not only overseas but here in the U.S. as well.

Recently I've had people call me after getting notices of "default judgments" which were either faked or obtained via fraud. The faked one involves a case I had in which a guy who sold a house refused to move out after being paid. Then he sued the buyer! After the case was dismissed, the buyer then gets a mailed notice from a lawyer telling him he's in default! When I checked the court records (which were NOT available online so it required a time-consuming trek to Houston's civil courthouse), there was NO default - just an unsigned default the Plaintiff had filed. This is fraud. It happened recently on a case in Dallas - the lawyer took a default without notice despite knowing the defendant had an attorney.

When I call the lawyers to ask WHY they are trying to scare people into thinking there is a default judgment against them when there isn't, they don't return my calls. The public needs to be aware of this. And its not just lawyers - we have other odd things happening in the courts with judges, etc. It is happening right here in America.

On the foreign front, Afghanistan's Karzai was at Camp David over the weekend - saying how much WORSE it was. And yet there sits bin laden across the border in Pakistan's mountains, where they can feed more Taliban thugs to burn schools and cut girls off from education, and worse. Pakistan is still the key, and a major threat if its nukes fall into an extremist government. I saw this happen before - when I was a young attorney who was supposed to go to Iran to work on a naval base being built - since before Ayatollah Khomeini toppled the Shah..

And Khomeini's rule of law was Sharia (religious) law...with the Taliban being the most extreme, like Osama bin laden. Combine that with the Internet and their video editing machine and nukes and the mix is dangerous, and apparently getting worse according to Karzai.

Therefore I recommend that we send one of these "flying cars" to Osama bin laden for aerial testing (such as, will it dodge a missile? Does it have a parachute if flown upside down?).

Sometime isn't working over there either...changes are needed in our system and theirs.

American Obsession - US

The bridge collapse over the Mississippi River in Minnesota was tragic indeed. I drove on that bridge last fall, when I flew through Minneapolis to attend my stepfather's funeral in Iowa.

But after seeing TV news treat it as 100% of the world's newsworthy events of the past couple days I have to say "enough is enough." If we were half as interested in the rest of the world as we are in ourselves, Americans would be amazed how much more the world would like us.

We didn't obsess over the bridges blown up day after day in Iraq. Not even the bombings in London merited 100% of the news when they happened (hey, Paris Hilton was getting out of jail, now that's "important"!). Did nothing else happen in the world the last couple days that was worth talking about? Didn't the Sunnis just walk out of Parliament in Iraq, leaving it dangling on the edge of more chaos?

Maybe people just wanted to focus on some news other than Iraq and the fights in Washington. I can't blame them for wanting an escape but its time to get some perspective folks - perhaps 30 people died in one tragedy in Minnesota.

That many people are killed EVERY DAY by bombers in Iraq. More than that were killed when the Brazilian airliner ran off the runway on landing.

We need some balance here folks. Our obsession with our own tragedies that preempt news from the rest of the world is not healthy. I'm sorry about the loss to the families, not just in Minnesota but Iraq and elsewhere.

Oh yes, we are now obsessing on bridge safety - the heavily traveled I-10 bridge over the Trinity River rates about 50%! I'm not going to obsess on that --I just won't that way in the future without wearing my swim trunks and some 'floaties'!

Good News in Iraq and Darfur

According to Michael O'Hanlon, a person whose opinion I respect since he is certainly not part of the policymakers in Washington says that, surprisingly, things are improving in Iraq. The new strategy is working. The only issue is will it have a chance before the troops come home.

The other good news is that FINALLY a UN force will be going to the Sudan to stop the killing in Darfur. Boy, that took long enough, but finally there is positive movement and action by our leadership that needed to be taken.

We need to also expand the UN force in Afghanistan, as the Taliban continue their killing of innocent South Korean and other foreign hostages. Under their rule women were beaten and even TV was banned - now TV shows are an Afghan favorite. Maybe its the place for the next "survivor" series...

Final note. Just before recessing for the month of August the US Congress criticized the Iraqi legislature for recessing for the month of August. And we learn that in the middle of this, the White House has banned flip flops and Tony Snow can no longer take a cup of coffee to the press briefings.

Ummmm, is it still full moon?