Links

[Global warming is leading to extreme rainfall events being more frequent and more severe.]
https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Lanes-Rains-Topple-Records-Inundate-Parts-Big-Island?cm_ven=hp-slot-1
Aug. 25, 2018
Rainfall amounts were titanic, but damage appears to be limited, after Tropical Storm Lane pulled rainband after rainband across Hawaii from a perch well southwest of the islands. Peak rainfall totals on the eastern Big Island topped 40” at three stations, adding up to amounts that are among the highest ever observed in a tropical cyclone in the 50 U.S. states. Fortunately, wind shear disrupted Lane’s core circulation before the hurricane had a chance to plow directly into any of the islands, and Lane stalled out just far enough to the southwest to keep its central showers and thunderstorms (convection) mostly offshore.
The following rainfall totals were recorded by automated gauges from noon HST Wednesday, Aug. 22, through 4 AM HST Saturday, Aug. 25. All rainfall totals below for Lane are preliminary, pending final quality control.
Island of Hawaii
Waiakea Uka:  45.80”
Piihonua:  44.68”
…


[I see way too much simplistic, all-or-none thinking by people, including on all sides of the political spectrum.]
http://stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbling_and_mumbling/2018/08/socialism-in-one-country.html
Aug. 23, 2018
Edmund Burke, who wrote:
Circumstances (which with some gentlemen pass for nothing) give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing colour and discriminating effect. The circumstances are what render every civil and political scheme beneficial or noxious to mankind.
These considerations mean it is perfectly coherent to argue that the UK needs more socialism whilst Venezuela needs more capitalism.
Why, then, do so few do this? The answer might lie in a distinction made by Burke as described (pdf) by Jesse. He distinguished between “embodied” reason – which proceeds from concrete actually-existing conditions – and abstract reason which began from theory. Those who give blanket, worldwide support to either capitalism or socialism are perhaps too prone to abstract reason and too little to embodied reason.
In practice of course most countries are some mixtures of capitalism and socialism (and even feudalism). I’m thinking here of a spectrum between capitalism and socialism, not a sharp distinction.



https://www.businessinsider.com/things-normal-in-the-us-but-considered-weird-2018-8#expecting-free-refills-everywhere-we-get-a-drink-11
24 things that are considered 'normal' in the US but the rest of the world finds weird
Aug. 21, 2018
Using money that is all the same color.
Putting a lot of ice in our drinks.
Using "America" or "Americans" to describes ourselves, our customs, and our country.
Writing the date beginning with the month.
Advertising prescription drugs all over the place.
Hanging American flags everywhere.
The fact that our pharmacies sell so many things.
Eating bread that almost always tastes sweet.
Using the imperial system of measurement instead of the metric system.
The constant commercials on TV.
Expecting free refills everywhere we get a drink.
Using a lot of water in the toilet bowls.
Putting giant gaps in between bathroom stalls.

Some people from other countries can't believe how large the spaces are between bathroom stalls. It was brought up in many comments in the Reddit thread, with users saying they found the "massive" gaps to be an invasion of privacy and just plain strange.
[Seems to me like they are really talking about the large spaces below and above the stall doors.]

Drinking huge coffees while we walk around.
Taking leftover food home from a restaurant. [This is a good thing, reduces food waste.]
Eating giant portions.
Paying sales tax on pretty much everything we buy.
Tipping waiters and waitresses and other service professionals.
Chatting with strangers and making small talk.

One thing many Reddit users noted is that they found it strange that Americans chat with strangers so often. While some found it odd in a weird way, others found it nice.
Reddit user CompleteWoks said, "The hospitality, generosity and kindness to strangers, the friendliness and welcoming warmth is paralleled nowhere in the world."

Using red cups to drink alcohol out of.
Wearing swimsuits to the beach.
Going into debt in order to go to college. A lot of other countries offer free college educations, and they can't believe how much we spend on ours.
Throwing baby showers.
Working constantly with very little vacation time.


Aug. 26, 2018
Program on Bernie Madoff on a local public radio station, on Reveal. He is in prison for life. They ask if there are other Ponzi schemes going on, and note the roll back of regulations. I'm wondering, am I the only one who sees that our whole economic system is a Ponzi scheme, depending on an ever-increasing population. And our tax system, racking up debt to be paid by future generations. And our plunder of the earth's resources.
I also note that executives of firms who hide the fact that their products are killing people, are almost never held accountable.