The latest report indicates that Rita (once a tropical storm) is now upgraded to a major category 3 hurricane. It?s headed toward the Gulf region just like Katrina did. They say it may it Texas, but Louisiana or even northern Mexico may also get hit.

I wonder whether global warming has something to do with the increased frequency and intensity of recent storms.

A hurricane feeds on water temperature. As the Gulf of Mexico has surface temps around 90 F right now, one expects Rita to hit Category 5 if it is slow-moving. One also expects - despite Official truth - its path to veer north and east of projections, not toward central Texas but right for New Orleans.

One cannot imagine what all the fuss is about. Discharge of farming nitrate and phosphate down the Mississippi creats a large anoxic death zone in the Gulf each summer and fall. Turbulent mixing dissipates it. Save the environment; pray for hurricanes.

Edisonian asked:
"I wonder whether global warming has something to do with the increased frequency and intensity of recent storms."

Absolutely. We can argue about what percentage of the contribution to that warming is created by humans versus other natural cycles. But the underlying physics of hurricanes is not rocket science. Or more accurately it IS rocket science and we understand the physics with great clarity.

I expect that God is targeting this hurricane, just like all of the other ones, at the red states to punish the fundamentalist Christians for criticizing lesbians in Hollywood. If all of their prayer can't make it go away ... then obviously the proof of my suposition will exist for all to see.

Go for it Southern Baptists. Lets see if your prayers to your God go unanswered. Lets see if God loves you for hating lesbians and liberals. Lets see you put your faith up to a real test. Lets see if Pat Robertson recants.

DA Morgan, I just wanted to let you know that you've been experiencing an extended acute onset of obsessive religion freakout.

21 Sept - Rita is now Category 5 with 150 mph sustained winds. Will God smear putrid NASA in Houston or be content to finish the janitorial job in New Orleans?

I'm betting on a Galveston landfall, myself. Been there, seen the seawall. It's going to get flooded but drains quickly. Might even miss the storm surge height if all goes well.

And now, at 8:40pm PDT Rita is a Cat 5 with winds of 170mph.

Sent to slay the red state hate-mongers on behalf of liberals, lesbians, gays, ecologists, do-gooders, and all manner of blue state creatures.

If you don't believe God uses hurricanes to punish people read this:
http://datelinehollywood.com/archives/20...-to-host-emmys/

This must be proof as obviously a man of god would never tell a lie. Either that or God has really really bad aim.

Rita oh Rita what are you trying to do? Cat 4 or 5 at landfall, where is your God now...?

DA, fascinating article.

Rita is a boy.

And it looks like the Florida keys got screwed.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/211604.shtml?swath?large