Abnormal Weather

87 degrees yesterday.

In Missouri.

Northwest Missouri.

Mid-March.

Summertime temperatures.

Air conditioning. Again, in March.

Broke the day's record high.

And the last official day of Winter, to boot.

Additionally, Peru just got 10 times more rain than normal, creating horrific floods and flooding.

Abnormal El Nino in Peru unleashes 

deadly downpours;

Apocalyptic scenes as scores die 

in Peru floods

Apocalyptic scenes Peru flooding

There's also this.

February 2017: Earth's 2nd Warmest 

February and 4th Warmest Month

But always remember, kids...

Think you're having a bad day?

If, sometime within the next 2 to 4 months, you ever think you're having a bad day, stop yourself. Stop yourself and think of the 33 poor--literally poor--Chilean coal miners trapped underground right now--this their 26th day in the dark, away from their family and friends. Away, actually, from everything we know and take for granted. Tear your shirt? Have a flat tire? Heck, even get fired? Deal with it. "The miners call it Hell. The only thing missing is the fire and brimstone. Half-a-mile underground in northern Chile, 33 men are trapped in a cramped shelter where the temperature is a constant 85 degrees." They're down there now and they will be for weeks. In the dark. Without food. Without water. Without beds or showers or a change of clothing. Or sunlight. Or family. Or friends. Somehow it makes things seem much more possible, doesn't it? Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-sherwood/the-great-wait-survival-s_b_699195.html

Missouri's connection to "The 9 Most Polluted Places in the World"

There is a slideshow out right now on The Huffington Post, showing, as said above, "The 9 Most Polluted Places in the World". Fortunately, none of them are in the 4-state region (though two--Phoenix, AZ and Los Angeles, are here in the US). There is, however, in fact and unfortunately, a Missouri link. It seems "Missouri metal mining and smelting company, Doe Run Peru has contaminated La Oroya, Peru. Over 35,000 of La Oroya residents have been affected by lead, zinc, copper and sulfur dioxide pollution from the company's metal mining and processing. According to Time, 99 percent of the mining town's children have blood levels that surpass suitable limits of exposure. Since 1922, the town in Peru's Andes Mountains has been polluted by mining missions." Ah, yes, Doe Run Company out of good old St. Louis. While they say on their website that "We are committed to environmental leadership and safety and are proud of the acknowledgements we have received for our efforts...", they are known for pollution in plenty of places. From Wikipedia just now: "Doe Run has been cited regularly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for infringing emission limits, contaminating roads and generally polluting the immediate vicinity of the smelter. Exceeding of emission limits has resulted in the reduction of the permitted capacity of the Herculaneum smelter. Road contamination has resulted in orders to clean up certain roads and to wash down vehicles before they go onto public roads. The company has also been ordered by the EPA to address issues relating to elevated lead blood levels in the community and lead in community soils adjacent to the smelter. It has also spent US$10.4 million on buying up to 160 residential properties close to the smelter that are contaminated and is to clean up contaminated soils. The company has paid for research developing a chemical replacement of primary smelting, Flubor But what the heck, right? It's only Peru. And it's only poor people. Links: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/31/photos-most-polluted-plac_n_693008.html#s130953; http://www.doerun.com/ABOUTUS/COMPANYINFORMATION/tabid/60/language/en-US/Default.aspx