It's hard to believe that 12 months ago Raleigh was in the middle of the worst drought in its history. (check me on that one, but I'm pretty sure I recall that correctly.) Lake levels plummeted to a point where a 90-day supply of drinking water was all we could maintain. And even that took conservation measures the like of which I can't remember in my lifetime. This year, we're tilting toward the other end of the spectrum as rainfall for the last 30 days has been roughly double the 100-year average. Still, we've been below average for the last 18 months -- and quite a bit below average for most of 2007, so it's taken this sodden July to bring us back to equilibrium.
This same thing happened in 2002 and 2003, though not to the extreme of the current pattern. The summer and fall of 2002 was -- at that time -- the worst drought of the last 100 years and was followed in 2003 with one of the wettest summers on record that did not involve a tropical weather event (hurricane or tropical storm).
So with all of the moisture, what can we count on? Fungi, that's what. All shapes, sizes, and colors of fungoid creations. Some of which make very interesting photographs -- especially viewed up close.
"On The Ledge"
Raleigh, NC - July 2008This is growing on the stump of what used to be a gi-normous oak tree in my back yard. It wasn't there a couple of weeks ago, but it's taken over the area now.
"I Don't Know Why"
Raleigh, NC - July 2008This colorful specimen is one of those things I just found interesting and I'm not sure why.
"Talking Heads"
Raleigh, NC - July 2008If you want to make something of this one, I suppose that's up to you. But it reminded me of the sleeve for the Talking Heads' single "Psycho Killer" c. 1980. And that's all I'm sayin'.
"The Twins"
Raleigh, NC - July 2008Now
this one ... well, when I happened upon them my first words were "Why, hello Mary Kate! Hello Ashley!" (After all, a guy can have only so much restraint ya know.)
Next time, I'll try "Latex and Lace" or "Latex: The New Leather"After almost 18 hours, Google has only sent me one visitor who's both hungry and horny. My spaghettio's and phone sex post got one hit that brought somebody here. Interesting how it happened though. Tampa FL found me using a search on "healthy spaghetti o's". Two things disturb me about this. First is the whole concept of "
healthy spaghettio's". And second, how bad is your ADHD if you went looking for "healthy spaghettio's" and were diverted by a discussion of spaghettio's and phone sex?
The Age of Rock & RollI know that I am growing older and will one day be old. I grudingly accept that the songs that were popular when I was in high school are not being played on "oldies" stations and in elevators across the globe.
But the latest Foreigner tour being sponsored by
AARP??. I did
not see that one coming.
Some of you will think I'm kidding, so check it out for yourself. This came in the periodic newsletter I get from House of Blues.
Thu, Jul 31 AARP Presents: Foreigner HOB Myrtle Beach 7:00pm
I'm telling you I couldn't make up anything this good.
Criminal StupidityThe latest lottery/inheritance scam to hit the shelves in stores is kind of amusing. Apparently people weren't quite stupid enough to believe that a bank in Nigeria was holding millions of dollars in their names, so the newest crew to try this angle decided to dumb it down a bit. Their schtick is to pose as the FBI (Honolulu Field Office no less!). I'd guess this choice of disguises is designed to give some credence to their stern (but vague) warnings about dealing directly with people claiming to be agents of the paying bank. Or something. The threat... er...warning might have more impact if you could actually
understand what they're saying.
The email came with the subject line:
Federal Bureau of Investigation and a return email address of officemailbox23@gala.net. What's so hilarious about this is that if you actually go to gala.net the site is in
Russian (or some language that uses Cyrillic characters anyway). I guess the Red Scare really
is finally over. I'm also pretty sure the FBI has proofreaders for official correspondence. Which I'm sure they'd use if they actually sent out official correspondence about me winning a lottery that I never bought a ticket for. In a way I kinda feel sorry for the people who try to make a living this way. Something tells me they won't do well in prison.
The letter goes like this:
We the Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI Honolulu) United States Of America have discovered through our intelligent monitoring network that you have a transaction going on as either inheritance payment,Lottery or contract payment of $1.5 Millions of United States Dollars which have been approved but have not been settled.
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract / inheritance file ater close monitoring and found out why you have not received your payment,both on your part and on the part of your debtors.
Secondly we have been informed that you are still dealing with the non officials in the bank who are attempting to secure the release of your fund to you. We wish to advise you that this is illegal and you should stop further communication with them forthwith because such an illegal act like this can lead to cancellation of your fund.
We have been having so many complains from people who have been scammed arround the world hence,after concluding in a meeting with members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), we came to a conclusion that every payment will be made through the Oceanic Bank in the Republic Of Benin . We also concluded on the use of ELECTRONIC ATM PAYMENT SYSTEM as the only direct means to pay all beneficiaries.
By this method,your funds will be loaded in two batches into an ATM card, and sent to you, from this card you can withdraw a maximum of us$15,000 per day from any ATM machine worldwide,BUT from the financial houses there is no limit.
So if you would like to receive your funds in this way please send your following information to the paying bank.
1. Full name...........................
2. Full address.............................
3.Your balance payment............................
4. Your age, sex and current occupation- ..............
5. Your Country..............................................
6.Your Phone Number....................................
Below are the contact details of the PAYING BANK(Oceanic Bank) in the Republic Of Benin to whom you will send your information for the processing of the ATM card as soon as possible:
CONTACT PERSON REV DR MATHEW OBI
HEAD OF OPERATIONS,ATM CARD PAYMENT SYSTEM
DEBT SETTLEMENT COMMISSION,WEST AFRICAN OCEANIC BANK
370 CHURCH STREET,PRETORIA,
E144QJ REPUBLIC OF BENIN
EMAIL: oeanic_benin@live.fr
DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER: +22993865077 .
The DEBT SETTLEMENT COMMISSION has been mandated to issue out your payments for this fiscal year 2008. Also for your information, you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) who claim that to be established agents using it to defraud innocent people worldwide. This is to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment.
THANKS FOR LISTENING TO OUR ADVISE
Faithfully Yours,
MR .ROBERT S. MUELLER, III
FOR COROPORATE AFFAIRS
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI Honolulu))
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PT Barnum was right.
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