Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[Dr. Strangelove]

Trump asked Sessions if the govt could drop the case against Sheriff Joe. When Sessions said that'd be inappropriate Trump decided on pardoning Joe if he was found guilty.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-asked-sessions-about-closing-case-against-arpaio-an-ally-since-birtherism/2017/08/26/15e5d7b2-8a7f-11e7-a94f-3139abce39f5_story.html?utm_term=.50690e2f0a49

Trump backed off the Arpaio case after being advised it would be inappropriate, but that he even tried is “beyond the pale,” said Chiraag Bains, a former senior counsel in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Bains said he believes Trump “has a sense that the chief executive controls everything in the executive branch, including the exercise of criminal power. And that is just not the way the system is set up.”

[Dr. Strangelove]

The flooding in Houston has turned into an absolute disaster overnight. Weather service sent out a warning in the middle of the night for 'catastrophic flash flooding'. Bayous and rivers all over the metro area are over their banks. Expected to be the worst flood in Houston history now. And another foot of rain will most likely be added to it over the next 24 hours.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Near the intersection of I-610 and I-10

[AlabamAlum]

It's a bad storm. The fact that it's trapped between two high pressure systems keeps it in place dumping the water on the area.

That said, it's a bit silly that we have to have all the reporters there in rain suits showing us what a fallen tree or damaged road sign (etc, etc) looks like.

[Dr. Strangelove]

It's a bad storm. The fact that it's trapped between two high pressure systems keeps it in place dumping the water on the area.

That said, it's a bit silly that we have to have all the reporters there in rain suits showing us what a fallen tree or damaged road sign (etc, etc) looks like.

Yeah, there's an element of 'disaster porn' to all that. But it really could end up being one of if not the worst flood event in American history.

[AlabamAlum]

You think it will end up worse than the Great Flood of '27?

[Dr. Strangelove]

You think it will end up worse than the Great Flood of '27?

Well I dunno...Southeast Texas has a lot more people than generally live (or lived back then) near the Mississippi. The loss of life I'm sure will be smaller but more people potentially affected.

Large areas in and around Houston got 2 feet of rain overnight and it's going to rain till wednesday in best case scenario. And the danger extends well outside of Houston almost to Austin, halfway north to Dallas, and to Lake Charles, LA

[AlabamAlum]

While 500 or so died, the flood of '27 left over 500,000 homeless. I was only a teenager then, but I remember it well.

[Jeff Buchanan]

........That said, it's a bit silly that we have to have all the reporters there in rain suits showing us what a fallen tree or damaged road sign (etc, etc) looks like.

Agree. Seems like thye'd have something better to do than keep repeating the same stories over and over. strange, good mem that "disater porn." Most fitting.

As to disasters, this one could be significant and we won't understand the full extent of it until maybe early next, next week after the rains stop and the flooding has a chance to abate.

Certainly infrastructure has to be a bit more hardened than it was in '27 but flooding can be a real PIA with respect to subtle damage, unseen until weeks, even months later and I would bet no one in Houston has flood insurance. So personal $ losses could be huge, the economic impact staggering locally.

[hack]

If you're watching TV news, you have only yourself to blame.

[Dr. Strangelove]

A view of downtown Houston from the Chase Bank building

[Dr. Strangelove]

[ame]https://twitter.com/TexasTribune/status/901861989470932992[/ame]

[Dr. Strangelove]

This is nuts

[ame]https://twitter.com/santifaz69/status/901865949011333123[/ame]

[froot loops]

While 500 or so died, the flood of '27 left over 500,000 homeless. I was only a teenager then, but I remember it well.

Tell us more

[AlabamAlum]

I'm glad you asked. My dad was in the Army Corps of Engineers and stationed in Vicksburg. He was away overseeing repairs to the Panama Canal when my housekeeper let me know that my faithful man-servant, Quebtil, had gone missing. As I made my way to the river I could tell that...