On a couple of occasions on this blog, I've had some good-natured fun with Regis. I was not able to be home at 9am to watch his farewell show, so I taped it. It was a heartwarming, wonderful tribute to the man who has logged more hours on television than anyone else. If you taped it, be sure to watch the recording. You will not be disappointed. Regis continues his book tour. Sold 505 copies at a B&N in NYC Wednesday (I'm jealous!).  He is in Atlanta and Miami this weekend. Kelly takes over the show Monday and Kathleen and I wish her well. God bless you, Regis and enjoy your retirement! P.S. Early in the show, Ted Koppel does his imitation of Regis. He sounds more like Jackie Mason imitating Regis.  

Agree with every one of them . However, I would add #11:  Abolish the agency altogether and go back to the private sector people we had before September 11. This would preserve security, greatly decrease costs and stop much of the institutional arrogance. Many are starting to agree -- from Republicans in Congress to George McGovern . According to Rep. Paul Broun, Americans have paid $60,000,000,000 funding the TSA and they are no safer than before 9/11.  Rep. John Mica goes on to say, We are safer today, but not because of the TSA. It's because the American people will not allow an aircraft to be taken over... No one ever envisioned 4,000 administrative personnel in Washington, D.C.  For more, go here . I believe the future of the TSA should be an issue for the 2012 Presidential candidates.

From one of my favorite authors and former NASA engineer: What's painful is my conclusion that as a people, as a government, and as a country, we don't seem to care if we can put astronauts into space or not. How did we get to this sorry state? Where are those days when every American boy and girl dreamed of flying to the moon, Mars, the very stars; when an entire country was energized to set sail on a new ocean? President John F. Kennedy said it best in September 1962: "No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space. . . . We mean to be a part of it—we mean to lead it!" And we did. We put our sweat, intellect, money and the very souls of our astronauts into that marvelous enterprise—and succeeded. Who would have imagined that one July morning in 2011, when the Space Shuttle Atlantis touched down at the Kennedy Space Center, that America's manned space program would come to an end? To answer his ques...

I've talked about this on the blog before. I'm letting the National Weather Service explain it this time .

McPherson is the place to be this coming weekend! Mike will be appearing at a book signing at The Bookshelf 206 N. Main on Saturday, November 19, 2011 from 10-12 where he will be autographing his book WARNINGS: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather (Greenleaf 2010). Mcpherson is also getting ready for The Incomparable, The Extranordinary Marilyn Maye who will be performing at the McPherson Opera House on Friday, November 18th. 11/18- Marilyn Maye “the Greatest White Female Singer in the World” – Ella Fitzgerald ; 8 p.m., McPherson Opera House, 219 S. Main St. Ticket information at 620-241-1952 or www.mcphersonoperahouse.org . Johnny Carson called this Wichita native a "Supersinger" and Ella Fitzgerald called her "The Greatest White Female Singer in the World." I have it on high authority that the weather will be nice that day so come on out and see us at The Bookshelf!

The October, 2011, the  Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society published an article, “ Making the Climate a Part of the Human World,” by Simon Donner . Dr. Donner is a geographer at the University of British Columbia. The peer-reviewed article contends there is a conflict between religion and the science behind human-caused global warming. In the words of the author, “In these [religious] belief systems, humans may indirectly influence the climate through communication with the divine [i.e., prayer for rain], but they cannot directly influence the climate”[humans cannot intentionally or inadvertently modify the climate, i.e., cannot cause global warming]. [Note: Bracketed comments are mine.] I encountered that same sentiment as a guest on a radio program this past summer.  To both Dr. Donner and one of the hosts of the program, this supposed religious conflict accounts for unbelief in catastrophic global warming. I have a one-word reply: Nonsense. Ever wonder w...

At least 3 are dead in North Carolina and two killed in South Carolina by tornadoes. Red dots = reports of tornado touchdowns. National Weather Service map.  The weather pattern looks very active (for November) between now and the end of the Thanksgiving weekend. Please stay up on weather forecasts whether you are staying home or on the road.