The Navy along with the Coast Guard finished their surveillance test of the Florida Straits using a blimp. You might be wondering "what good is a slow moving blimp." Well, this was not just any blimp advertising your favorite energy drink. This was a custom fitted "Skyship 600," equipped with a special infrared camera, a powerful radar, two Porsche engines and a large gondola with enough room to fit special equipment.

The main advantage of the blimp is that it can remain airborne for extended periods of time which helps to save on fuel dollars. During its 6-week test the blimp produce great results and actually helped officials spot migrants on two different occasions.

The blimp could possibly be used to patrol the Straits and help protect the U.S. borders in the future.

You can read an in-depth graphic about the "Skyship 600" in this Sunday's
News Illustrated!

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Who says you can't have fun with politics?

If you recall, last week I posted a graphic word cloud (or is that graphic cloud??) of sorts summarizing the Democratic National Convention. This week, I have a word cloud summarizing both conventions (sorry, there wasn't one specifically for the Republican convention — I checked).

Based on the number of times certain words were said in the presidential and vice-presidential candidate speeches, one set focused more on issues than the other.

Still can't get enough? Check out these word clouds generated by 10000words.net for the GOP and DNC conventions. Or, as I said last week, try making your own!

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Meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center study a wide array of data and use experience and intuition to predict a hurricane’s future path. Computer-generated weather models and measurements gathered by Hurricane Hunter aircraft play a major role. Here’s how some of the models work:

CLIPER CLImatology and PERsistence; National Hurricane Center
Type: Statistical model
How it works: Compares a storm to historically similar storms.

NHC981998 National Hurricane Center model, National Hurricane Center
Type: Combined model
How it works: Combines the CLIPER and GFS models. 

GFS Global Forecast System, National Centers for Environmental Prediction
Type: Dynamic model
How it works: Creates worldwide forecasts by plotting the storm on a large grid that covers the globe. Readings from the grid points nearest the storm are combined with known values consistent with hurricanes, such as convection.

BAM Beta and Advection Model, National Hurricane Center
Type: Dynamic model
How it works: Follows a vortex placed in the storm’s current position and corrects errors caused by the earth’s spin not accounted for in the GFS trajectory. Three types of BAM models:
BAMS (Shallow): For winds 5,000 to 10,000 feet
BAMM (Medium): For winds 10,000 to 24,500 feet
BAMD (Deep): For winds 24,500 to 47,000 feet

GFDL Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
Type: Dynamic baroclinic model
How it works: This model, developed specifically for hurricane prediction, uses a grid similar to GFS. It adds smaller grids over the storm to compute additional data. Meteorologists give this model significant weight.

NOGAPS Naval Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System, Naval Research Laboratory
Type: Dynamic global model
How it works: This model uses parameters of physical processes and a bogussing, or faking, scheme for a tropical cyclone.

UKMET United Kingdom Meteorological Office
Type: Dynamic Global model
How it works: Like the NOGAPS and GFS models, the UKMET includes extensive readings and a bogussing system.

GUNS Ensemble Naval Research Laboratory
Type: Combined model
How it works: This model averages the GFDL, UKMET and NOGAPS tracks. It is more accurate at 24, 48 and 72 hours than the best of individual models.

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Technology is constantly changing and the trend seems to be having one device that can do everything. I think that sounds great and if I wanted to shell out the money, I'd probably have something like an iPhone too. I mean let's face it, I'm so ahead of the times that in high school, I had games like Tetris on my graphing calculator that I'd play during math class - I'm all for combining.

Given that cell phones are starting to be used more for their built in technologies than for actually making phone calls (check out the chart below), I think it's a great idea to do what this article is talking about. If I could wave my cell phone like a magic wand to purchase something, I'd shop even more than I already do. I never have cash as it is and that pesky plastic needs to go.

The only question that leaves me with is: What if I loose my cell phone? I already feel lost without it, and I really only use it for making phone calls...

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Looks like there are hurricanes lined up for South Florida as we head towards the season's peak. But it's nowhere as bad as the continuous hits we endured in 2005. Below is a chronological chart of all the storms that year.

Download the 2005 'cane News Illustrated and compare 2005's hectic hurricane season to 2008's so far.

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Here in Florida we take rip currents seriously.
Every year people die, from the young to the old, from Floridians to weekend visitors.

Before you hit our beaches please take a minute to learn about rip currents and tell your family. Then have a great time.

See an interactive on rip currents by the Sun Sentinel.
Read more information from NOAA.

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I love word clouds. You know what I'm talking about: the little graphic made up of different sized words, based on the number of times they're spoken in a speech.

Well, already we're seeing word clouds circulating on the Democratic National Convention. In fact, here's an analysis I found on 10000words.net.

But I found this today as I was poking around in the Associated Press' graphics wire, and I love, love, love their take. Check it out, and if you have time ... make your own!

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In May, the Jupiter Lighthouse in Palm Beach County was given the federal Outstanding Natural Area designation. This means the historic lighthouse and its surrounding park has the same protection as a federal monument.

And what's so great about that?

For starters, it's only the second lighthouse in the country to have this designation — Yaquina Head lighthouse in Newport, Ore., is the first. And, not to mention, it's really, really hard to get this federal stamp of approval.

So check out the Sunday News Illustrated page highlighting the Jupiter Lighthouse's features and history.

And coming soon, an updated multimedia gallery showcasing seven of the state's lighthouses, including Jupiter's.

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So you want a pet snake, huh? Well, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission expects you to know what you're getting yourself into. Below is the first page of the official questionnaire that you'll have to fill out to get a permit to own a python. Do you know the answers?

Find out why they are a problem in South Florida in our Snakes Gone Wild News Illustrated.

Download PDF here.

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Surfers are known to ride the waves from stormy weather but it can be fatal. Take the man who was injured during Tropical Storm Faye and is now in critical condition.
To prevent from being blown around, read up on our News Illustrated about the basics of kite boarding here.

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