Sande-
It seems that Ophelia's path is still uncertain. She is being fickle, isn't she? There's some mention of her going out to sea-or coming back towards north Florida. What do you say to us both leaving for Canada? Better yet, we could visit each of these wonderful places for a month each! Hmmm-a 30 day TT would be nice, too.

I had not thought about this storm crossing where evacuees are. I suppose that could be almost anywhere at this point.

I was in your area two weeks ago- I lived in Orangeburg as a kid.

Tootsiebelle, that's a great idea to go to Canada....so cool and beautiful... I've never been to the Canadian Rockies but would like to... Nova Scotia is beautiful! A 30 day TT sounds fabulous too! All those beautiful places in Europe, Great Britain etc to visit! Oh the food too! Who would have thought you lived in SC at one time...especially down the road! We were practically neighbors...I was raised in the upstate (foothills)...been in Cola. for about 30 years. Sandra

I've been a neighbor to a lot of the BB folks. My dad was a meteorologist with the US government and we moved often due to his transfers. We wound up in Florida when he was assigned to -are you ready for this?- the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

I do love your state, I spent many hours up in the magnolia trees, catching lightning bugs.Maybe that explains a lot of things. Okay, I'm packed. Let's go!

Tootsiebelle, I'm ready when you are! You must have had an interesting life with your dad being a meteorologist! You must have learned a lot from him plus you had your own personal weather prognosticator! I know you are proud of the work he did...they are so valuable to all of us...The weather channel is one of my favorite channels because it is so interesting! I'm glad you have fond memories of S.C. Sandra

Chris Marriott- It is fortunate that Brown is no longer running the FEMA operation in New Orleans and for his degree of ineptitude in the entire Katrina situation. I do not think there is a community anywhere in the USA that would be pleased to know that he was handling their disaster in the future. He should be fired and then FEMA should be separated from Homeland Security immediately. To the degree President Bush is outraged and embarraseed does not even come close to what we Americans feel. Outrage for the unacceptable treatment and conditions the local citizens and Tourists from all over the world( as well as other states) were subjected to.

A clarifying question.
Those unmentionable bears, mentioned above, are they the same creatures as described in the FAQ for first time visitors to Australia? The one where that Swedish guy enquires about walking Perth to Sydney along the railway tracks?

Ausralena - could well be so. However our overseas contributors seem happy to avoid the topic, (ignorance is bliss), so perhaps we should drop the bear, sorry, I mean subject!


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Please do not keep mentioning drop bears! I am sure Spooky is very sorry that she ever bought the subject into the cold light of day. Our friends from over the pond do not need to know about this side of our beautiful country!

I hear they are only active at night and then only in forested areas.

True, but the drought is affecting their numbers, which is becoming of great concern. I did read that the CSIRO was looking into setting up a controlled breeding program.

They have to research the artificial insemination procedure first I heard.

Yes, that is it I just could not remember the reason. They are contacting the "panda experts" on how they overcame a similar problem.

It's not just the drought that is reducing their numbers. Some seem to have perfected the technique of opening cans left by unsuspecting campers. They seem to be particularly fond of rum and Coke. They tend to drop more frequently after a couple of these. They they are only good for so many falls, and this is probably the main reason that their numbers are dwindling.

Apparently a study is being commissioned, as to how they are able to tell the difference between rum and Coke, and other cans!

I have been reading reports about the drop bears and their prediliction for rum and coke. It isn't that they recognise the can, they are not literate....it is their sharply refined sense of smell that helps them locate the correct can.

Camping grounds are not pretty when the drop bears have had a night on the rum.

What's a drop bear? I'm new and naive.