AWKWARD ZOMBIE

If Irma stays on its current projected course then it'll hit eastern Kentucky as a tropical storm or depression - and definitely be the strongest storm they have ever had to handle. The apartment complex I used to live in (and where my brother still lives) floods if it snows too much, so I can't wait for tropical weather to fuck shit up. also that part of the country is just in need of a shower, in general.

Current projections have Irma plowing along the Florida peninsula, which sounds bad but is probably the best course for everyone not in Florida because the storm will lose power quickly. South Florida and the Atlantic Coast are fucked because the NE arms of Irma are going to be constantly pushing storm surge up the coast while an ocean gets dumped on them from the clouds. Miami is going to be getting the Houston treatment this weekend. Hopefully my part of the world won't deal with anything worse than outskirts and remnants, but I know there's probably other Floridian forumites closer to the action.

Also doesn't help that all of Florida is like, 4 inches above sea level. :/

Here's hoping Jose pisses the hell off and steers clear. After this week there isn't going to be a single bit of Caribbean or north American coast line that can handle a hurricane. :/
Of course, it's already a category 4 and warnings are out for the islands Irma trashed.

re: 4 inches above sea level

Acting Director of the National Hurricane Center: "It's not clear that it's a survivable situation for anybody that is still there in the Keys."

Storm surge of 5-10 feet will be devastating in a region with a max elevation of 20 feet above sea level. Throw in winds in excess of 100 MPH and the Keys are in for a bad time.

Between 3 hurricanes, a magnitude 8 earthquake in Mexico, and a solar flare, I'm convinced somebody went into the Avatar State and is very very angry.

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose, Katia
Earthquakes
Solar flare
bodaciously half of the USA is on fire

Avatar Asshole is upon us

IT'S DOING

A BARREL ROLL

John McCain seems to be the face of the Republicans' recent failures to replace the ACA, going against his party and claiming that he cannot "in good conscience" support the repeal. I'd like to believe that this is a man with principles and a true wish for bipartisan compromise, but it's no secret how disgusted he is with Trump and his cult of personality. The fact is that I've heard McCain's story flipped around so many times, and always depending on which party's interests he acts toward in the moment, it's impossible for me to decipher the truth. That seems to be a growing problem these days.

I figure he's just at the point where he has nothing to lose, no re-election to have to worry about, with his failing health and all.

At least he's handling "I don't have to worry about re-election" better than Chris 'I shut down the public beaches so my family could privately use them' Christie.

The Hogwarts Express rescues stranded family

I think this is the closest we're ever going to get to actual magic.

Well-explained video about the EU's effort to halt rampant privacy abuse on the internet.

Neopets was run by scientologists, apparently?
The headline is wild as all hell and I have no idea what to think. my brain melted

But at least Adam and Donna were against it?
this is so weird
I don't know if I entirely believe it, but like
it was only on the business side of things, not the content side? and the creators of my web childhood are still cool, so that's good.
but that's so weeeiiiiird what the fuuuuuck