LIFE IS A BEACH

This is a beautiful seal of friendship I received from Annie. I'd like to share it with all of my fellow blogging friends :) Thank you so much Annie for thinking of me. Yesterday, the weather was perfect. 75 F with a high of 80F and no humidity, but strong winds. The sky was so bright and blue. Just a perfect day to stay outdoors, especially at the beach, catching fish, the sun's rays or just a breeze. Someone had a birthday and what an idyllic way to spend it. The water was very, very cool. Still I took a dip. Here's a nice part where you can spend time in the shade. The rest of the week will also be very comfortable with low humidity. Great week to you all, Brad

TRIBUTE TO BERTHA

Bertha was a very colorful character. She loved gardening,cooking, dolls and hats. She loved life and squeezed every drop out of it.She made friends easily and she always spoke her mind and wore a smile. She had a passion and zest for living. When she could no longer drive in her 80s, she walked. Even at such an old age, distance never bothered her, she'd walk anywhere she wanted to go. She couldn't just watch tv, she'd use that time to also read papers or peel vegetables. She seemed to have as much energy as most 20 year olds. She lived to be 94 years old. And God knows, Bertha needed a rest.

NEW STUFF

I Found all these pictures and information on the BBC news website recently. You can search their website for more info. Above is titled "UK unveils Taranis unmanned combat jet prototype". The plane will test the possibility of developing a stealth jet fighter with no pilots. I like how it looks like a UFO and I wonder who helped them design it. Next is "New Airships to protect British Troops". A brand new, 21st century-style airship could soon be patrolling the skies above Afghanistan, helping protect British and other Nato troops serving there. For surveillance.

Airship facts

• Able to stay in the air for three weeks
• Capable of withstanding small arms fire
• No crew
• Operates at 20,000 feet
• Flies at speeds of up to 80 knots (around 90mph)

Next is "US Army heat-ray gun in Afghanistan".

A newly-developed heat-ray gun that burns the skin but doesn't cause permanent injury is now with US troops in Afghanistan.

The Active Denial System (ADS) is a non-lethal weapon designed to disperse violent crowds and repel enemies.

I wonder if they can turn it up a notch? And I wonder if this started with Tesla's work?

Finally we have "Anti-aircraft laser unveiled at Farnborough Airshow".

US firm Raytheon has unveiled its anti-aircraft laser at the Farnborough Airshow in Hampshire.

The Laser Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) can either be used on its own or alongside a gunnery system.

In May, the laser was used to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a series of tests.

This system is already installed in many ships, both in the US and other Nato nations, such as the Royal Navy. The firm is also working on a sister land based system that can be used to target mortar and rocket rounds. Airbases in Afghanistan, the Green Zone in Baghdad or the border with Gaza and Israel could all potentially use something like this. "We're still some way off being able to take out an [Intercontinental Ballistic Missile] missile with laser technology, but we're on the path to that," he added.

GREAT LAKES THREATENED

Below is a chart showing some of the fish which populate the Great Lakes. Originally, The Asian Carp were imported by catfish farmers in the 70s to clean up algae in ponds. In the 90s, flooding caused The Asian Carps release into The Mississippi River. The Asian Carp has steadily moved northward, out populating the other species. The illustration below shows how the Asian carp are trying to get into The Great Lakes. Asian carp have been found in the Illinois River, which connects the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan. Their large size (up to 100 lbs & 4 feet length), fast reproduction & voracious appetite could pose a risk to the Great Lakes Ecosystem. Prevention of The Asian Carp entering The Great Lakes by means of installing an electronic barrier has already proven insufficient. The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, where the barrier is being constructed, connects the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes via the Illinois River. Researchers expect that Asian carp would disrupt the food chain that supports the native fish of the Great Lakes. The electronic barrier has already shown failure. The only solution is building a dam and closing the canal off from the Great Lakes. President Obama wants the canal to remain open for local businesses. Several Great Lakes states are taking legal (court) action in hopes of permanently blocking the path to the Great Lakes. http://www.stopasiancarp.com/

Did You Know? Bighead carp grow to 100 pounds, have no stomach and eat up to 40% of their bodyweight every day, eliminating food supplies for native fish and causing their populations to crash. The Great Lakes generate billions in economic activity that mean thousands of jobs for Michigan residents. Stopping Asian carp is an economic necessity for Michigan. We will not have a second chance once they enter the Great Lakes.