News and Comments

Some news commentary...

--Perhaps my comments yesterday about Hurricane Irene being "forgettable" are a little premature: maybe for the state of Florida it will be, but those northeastern states that will undergo flooding, wind damage, and widespread and possibly lengthy power outages will probably remember it. Then again, people these days don't seem to put much stock in holding on to memories. Still, the storm will be more severe because of a cold front stalling out over the northeast, drawing Irene toward it in a merger of two completely nasty weather systems reminiscent of Agnes in 1972. So the forecast track of Irene, which had been gradually moving eastward, is now moving westward, projecting its center to pass over the most densely populated part of the northeast, including New York City...

--Five months and reportedly more than 700 NATO bombing sorties over Libya later, It looks as if the rebels are finally going to wrest control of the northern African giant oil-producer from terrorist-sponsoring dictator Gadhafi (or is it Kaddafy, or Qaddafi, every news network seems to have a different spelling). Two reactions from me: (1) I agree with John McCain's assessment: it's good that the jerk is finally being deposed, but it could have been done back in March with prompt action on the part of Obama instead of him dawdling around for weeks while the rebels were put so far on the defensive that they were in danger of being completely overrun. And (2): Notice that Syria, not known for its oil exports, has a despot who is cruelly massacring his own rebelling population wholesale, and no one is lifting a hand to stop him. Except to impose that meaningless face-saving ploy of "sanctions"...

--The Gainesville City Commission backed down from their plan to eliminate free parking downtown after widespread criticism over the proposal. It still doesn't change anything for me since I have little reason to go there anyway (no attractive businesses). Except, that is, for the possibility of jury duty, in which case my parking is paid for anyway...

--Cofounder and CEO of Apple, Inc Steve Jobs is resigning his post at the top of the trailblazing computer company due to health concerns. He is staying on in a less taxing position in more of an advisory role. I don't see this affecting Apple's products, at least for the near future...

--Open since 1976, the Gainesville Albertsons grocery store on NW 13th Street is closing after 35 years of business. Earlier a popular 24-hour place for college students to go shopping late at night, "Skaggs" (as it was called way back when the name used to be Skaggs-Albertsons) had been situated in the middle of a popular all-night zone that had in the past included another grocer, two all-night restaurants, a doughnut shop, and a 24-hour pharmacy. All of these businesses are gone now, and the general area will be further depleted of stores when the adjacent Wal-Mart closes soon. Sad, maybe they should pay customers to park there in that entrepreneurial black hole; I rarely go there for anything anymore...

--After the final scrimmage before the season begins September 3, University of Florida football coach Will Muschamp expressed great disappointment at his team's performance and stated that no starting job is secured by any player. Of course, the first two "real" games are the real scrimmages as UF traditionally faces pushover smaller schools in its first couple of games before the season "really" begins against Tennessee in mid-September...