Super Tuesday
Whether you are an Obama or Clinton fan (or even a McCain supporter), there should be at least one thing everybody can agree on today: weather-wise, it’s a super Tuesday. Today features sunny skies, seasonably warm temperatures, and a light wind. If there were to be a vote for the best weather condition, I would argue today’s weather (OK, maybe a wee-bit warmer) would appease the largest number of people on campus. Slightly hotter would likely make anyone participating in an outdoor activity too sweaty and uncomfortable. If slightly cooler, some pedestrians may find the air has some bite.
U.S. Airstrike Kills Militia Chief Linked to Al-Qaida
A U.S. missile strike in Somalia apparently killed one of al-Qaida’s top operatives in East Africa on Thursday, but while administration officials claimed success they also acknowledged facing an uphill battle to score lasting blows in their final months against the terrorist group around the world.
Double Bombings in Iraqi Town Kill At Least 35, Wound 62
Two thunderous blasts set off by suicide bombers ripped through a crowded shopping street in the town of Balad Ruz in Diyala province on Thursday, killing at least 35 people and wounding at least 62 others, many of them seriously.
Investors Disappointed by Exxon’s Near-Record Quarterly Profits
Exxon Mobil reported the second-best quarterly profit in its history on Thursday — and investors could barely hide their disappointment.
Bush Proposes U.S. Spend More On Food Aid Programs for Poor Nations
President Bush on Thursday proposed spending an additional $770 million in emergency food assistance for poor countries, responding to rising food prices that have resulted in social unrest in several nations.
Shorts (left)
President Bush’s $1 billion-a-year initiative to teach reading to low-income children has not improved their reading comprehension, according to a Department of Education report released on Thursday.
Shorts (right)
Beijing airport’s new Terminal 3 — twice the size of the Pentagon — is the largest building in the world.
Congress Clears Bill to Prevent Genetic Screenings by Insurers
A bill that would prohibit discrimination by health insurers and employers based on the information that people carry in their genes won final approval in Congress on Thursday by an overwhelming vote.
Temperature Extremes
We are still in that time of the year when the diurnal, or daily, temperature range can be rather large. Clear skies and light winds are ideal conditions to make this happen, with abundant sunlight to warm the surface during the day, and good radiational cooling at night lowering temperatures. For instance, Bedford (10 miles to the northwest of Boston) reported a temperature of 26 degrees yesterday morning, while Martha’s Vineyard was even colder — an amazing 22 degrees Fahrenheit! Meanwhile in Boston, the ocean’s influence kept temperatures near 40. Within two hours of sunrise, all three locations were nearly the same temperature — about 50°F. So within the next few weeks, if the sun is setting upon clear skies and light winds, there’s a good chance it’ll be cold before sunrise.
In 6-3 Vote, Supreme Court Upholds Indiana Voter ID Law
The Supreme Court upheld Indiana’s voter identification law on Monday, concluding in a splintered decision that the challengers failed to prove that the law’s photo ID requirement placed an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote.
Gaza Mother and Children Killed in Israeli Operation
A Palestinian mother and her four young children were killed in northern Gaza on Monday during an Israeli operation against militants there, and a dispute quickly arose over exactly how they had died.
Austrians Recoil at Case of Incest in Cellar Dungeon
With his Mercedes-Benz and the rings on his fingers, Josef Fritzl looked every inch a property owner, neighbors in this tidy Austrian town said Monday. Even when running errands, they said, he wore a natty jacket, crisp shirt and tie.
Ex-Prosecutor Tells of Political Urging by Pentagon on Detainees
The former chief prosecutor here took the witness stand on Monday on behalf of a detainee and testified that top Pentagon officials had pressured him in deciding which cases to prosecute and what evidence to use.
Rising Petroleum Prices Fail to Prompt Increase in Refinery Output
As oil prices soared to record levels in recent years, basic economics suggested that consumption would fall and supplies would rise as producers drilled for more oil.
Shorts (left)
Four U.S. soldiers were killed by rocket or mortar attacks in Baghdad on Monday, a day after a dust storm blanketed the city and provided cover for fierce shelling of the fortified Green Zone and assaults on American and Iraqi forces.
Shorts (right)
The Indian prime minister described the widespread practice of aborting female fetuses as a “national shame” Monday, and called for stricter enforcement of laws devised to prevent doctors from helping parents to avoid the birth of unwanted daughters.
Blip-in Rain
After 14 straight days of mostly sunny skies, dry conditions, and warm weather (remember that?), the streak came to an abrupt end yesterday. It was the longest such streak since mid-March 2006. While yesterday’s steady light rain was just a nuisance, today’s moderately heavy rain likely will dampen spirits (and the bottom of pants for that matter). The rain will last through the lunch hours, and by early evening, the last water droplets will likely come to an end.
Red Flagged and Chapped Lips
No, this is not about a dry-lipped freshman in danger of failing a class. Instead, it is in reference to yesterday’s dangerous fire weather conditions. Red flag warnings are issued by the National Weather Service (the so-called “real” meteorologists) when a majority of the following conditions occur: dry air, strong winds, and approximately 10 or more days without precipitation. We certainly had that yesterday. The first two can be attributed to yesterday’s strong vertical mixing. This “homogenizing” process “dragged” the air from 1 mile above towards the surface. Since the air above is almost always windier and drier, this caused the desert-like dryness (with relative humidity readings near 10 percent) and wind gusts of 35 mph.
For Airlines, Runways Growing Increasingly Dangerous
The recent groundings of thousands of flights have raised flags about skipped airplane inspections and botched repairs to wiring.
Pakistan Approaching Peace Deal With Militant Tribes
The Pakistani government is close to an agreement to end hostilities with the most militant tribes in its turbulent border area, whose main leader is accused of orchestrating most of the suicide bombings of recent months and the assassination of the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.