The wild outdoors

I'm going to bring up to date a few things I've mentioned in the recent past. The first is Mt. St. Helens. It first erupted on October 11 and is now considered in a constant eruptive state. The lava dome is growing and occasional steam and ash are released. A major explosion is not expected because the magma seems to be of the low gas variety. However, because it is erupting, the mountain remains closed to visitors. Steam and rock releases may happen anywhere around the mountain at anytime over the next several months.

The plague of locusts has arrived in Israel in the city of Eilat and is eating everything in sight. It did little damage in Egypt but seemst to be feasting on the tomatoes, watermelons, potatoes and onios. The Israeli Agriculture Ministry has set up a war room to do battle with the worst swarm in 50 years. The report says that they would like to take care of the locusts before they head north where most agricultural work is done in greenhouses. It seems to me that if the plants are in greenhouses, they wouldn't be in as much danger as they are in the south. It isn't bad news for everyone though, some see it as an opportunity to feast on deep-fried locusts. Australia is also suffering from an enormous hoard and two government workers have decided to take revenge on them by putting out a cookbook with 20 locust recipes which they called "Cooking with Sky Prawns". According to co-author Edward Joshua, the "home delivery bush food" is superior to beef.

The deer hunting season in Wisconsin turned deadly this weekend when a stranger was found in a hunter' s tree stand on private property. Asked to leave, Chai Vang, a 36 year old of Hmong descent from St. Paul, opened fire, killing 5 and wounding 3. He was arrested when he walked out of the woulds at approximately 5:30 PM. He was out of bullets.

Six people were killed in Iraq today to bring the total to 106 for the month and 1227 for the war. Tonight I will document the 43 Americans who lost their lives in October 2003. Which brought the total for the war to 360. These men and women are:

October 1: PFCAnalaura Esparza Gutierrez, Spc. Simeon Hunte, Command Sgt. James D. Blankenbecler, Spc. Tamarra J. Ramos

October 3: Spc. James H. Pirtle, PFC Charles M. Sims

October 6: PFC Kerry D. Scott, 2nd Lt. Richard Torres, Spc. Spencer Timothy Karol

October 9: Spc. Joseph C. Norquist, Ssgt. Christopher W. Swisher, Pvt. Sean A, Silva

October 12: Spc. James E. Powell

October 13: Spc. Douglas J. Weismantle, PFC Jose Casanova, Spc. Donald L. Wheeler, Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman, PFC Stephen E. Wyatt

October 16: Lt. Col. Kim S. Orlando, Ssgt. Joseph P. Bellavia, Cpl. Sean R. Grilley

October 17: Spc. Michael L. Williams

October 18: 1st Lt. David R. Bernstein, PFC John D. Hart

October 20: Ssgt. Paul J. Johnson

October 21: PFC Paul J. Beuche

October 22: Spc. John P. Johnson, Pvt. Jason M. Ward

October 23: Capt. John R. Teal

October 24: Spc. Jose L. Mora, Sgt. Michael S. Hancock, Spc. Artimus D Brassfield

October 26: PFC Rachel K. Bossveld, Pvt. Joseph R. Guerrera, PFC Steven Acosta, Lt. Col. Charles H. Buehring, Ssgt. Jamie L. Huggins

October 27: Pvt. Jonathan I. Falaniko, Sgt. Aubrey D. Bell

October 28: Spc. Isaac Campoy, Sgt. Michael Paul Barrera, Pvt. Algernon Adams

October 31: 2nd Lt. Todd J. Bryant

Details on these soldiers can be found at Iraq Coalition Casualties.