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Thursday August 30, 2012

August 30, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Thursday August 30, 2012

GOP convention coverage

Howling wind, driving rain and potential damage in New Orleans from Hurricane Isaac hasn’t yet dampened U.S. Republican convention media coverage, but early TV ratings proved only so-so while many people instead “tuned in” to social networks.

Republican fears that Isaac’s battering of the US Gulf Coast would steal the spotlight eased on Wednesday, a day after a key speech by Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, stole the show from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

But the biggest problem for the Republicans was less the hurricane and more dwindling interest in convention-watching by the general public, experts said.

“Isaac is sucking out a lot of the oxygen but that’s because there wasn’t much oxygen in the first place,” said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, senior fellow at the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy. “Voters and certainly the media are aware these conventions have become hour-long infomercials. There is very little suspense.”

Ahead of Tuesday, news of Isaac’s path toward the US Gulf Coast revived memories of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction seven years ago and threw a spotlight on something the Republican Party would rather forget in its convention week — the botched relief efforts under George W. Bush, the last Republican president.

But even as some networks moved their anchors from the convention in Tampa to Isaac’s landfall in New Orleans to cover both events, those interested in politics tuned in to hear Ann Romney personalize her husband and Christie tackle the Obama White House — whether on TV or the Internet. (Source: Christian Science Monitor)

Thursday July 21, 2011

July 21, 2011 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday July 21, 2011

The hottest day ever?

With a Stage 3 heat alert, thousands across Hamilton — from city workers to youth soccer players to the elderly — are bracing themselves as temperatures are set to climb to 37 Celsius. But with the humidex, it will feel like 48.

That’s as hot as Austin, Texas, as Dubai or Jerusalem.

While temperatures are measured at the airport, they could be slightly higher in other parts of the city.

The semi-good news is that there is a good strong breeze at 21km/hr. However, Dave Phillips, senior climatologist at Environment Canada said that at temperatures 37 C and higher, “the wind really becomes a disadvantage,” as it just blows hot air instead of evaporating sweat to cool us off.

Hamilton could break a record for hottest day ever today as temperatures could go above the projected high. The honour currently goes to a July scorcher in 1911 when the thermometer topped 41 C, according to Environment Canada.

Michael Chater doesn’t usually mind the heat. He’s decided to throw in the cold towel and head to a motel.

“I don’t have any air (conditioning), I’ve been meaning to get it,” he said Wednesday. “I have fans, but it was 31 in there (the house) the last time I looked.”

Phillips said in past heat waves, it’s the temperatures still steaming at night that cause the most problems. With a high of 37 and a low of 25, Thursday’s average expected temperature is 31 C. Until now, Hamilton’s highest average (since 1959) was recorded on Aug. 1, 2006 when the mercury hit 29.6 C.(Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Wednesday January 5, 2005

January 5, 2005 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday January 5, 2005

Tourism and Tsunamis

More than 100 foreigners were killed in Sri Lanka in Sunday’s sea surges across the coastline, throwing the booming tourism industry into disarray.

But the government has voiced optimism that overseas travellers would be returning after a few months.

“We have been assured by almost all the big tourist operators globally that they would start bookings for Sri Lanka by the end of January again,” said Udaya Nanayakkara, chairman of Ceylon Tourism Board.

Tour operators such as Thomas Cook and Cox and Kings have assured the government the tourists would be back to the country’s palm-fringed beaches, he said.

“To begin with they may start by bringing half of what they usually do in an ideal situation,” Nanayakkara told AFP. “Once confidence builds up they would go back to their normal bookings.” (Source: ABC)

Tuesday September 28, 2004

September 28, 2004 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 28, 2004

The Year of Hurricanes

Jeanne likely will be remembered as Frances’ evil twin sister.

In an eerie tropical two-step, both hurricanes hit almost the exact same spot on the Treasure Coast, with their cores making landfall less than five miles apart – Frances hit Sewall’s Point while Jeanne hit the southern end of Hutchinson Island, just east of Stuart.

For two hurricanes to strike that close in a decade is remarkable, let alone in less than three weeks, hurricane experts say. Frances arrived on Sept. 5 and Jeanne 20 days later, on Saturday.

Such coincidences have happened before: In 1928, before hurricanes were given names, two systems struck near the Palm Beach-Martin County line 40 days apart, with the second of those being the infamous storm that killed about 2,500 people around Lake Okeechobee.

In all, Hurricanes Charley, Ivan, Jeanne and Frances teamed up to slam the Florida coast a record four times this year. And there are still more than two months left in the season. (Source: Sun Sentinel)