Just got back from dropping youngest son off at school. Band trip to Central City.

Had to face the new lights when I got home. Not happy about them at all.

A few weeks back, we came home one evening to discover some new pollution in our neighborhood. They added three to four ultra-bright security lights to the refinery's perimeter. A block away.

Part of the national security campaign, I'm sure. Like this place would be a target.

After the September attacks, most of the refinery guys were bemoaning the fact that they were a high priority target. They just didn't get it. They were still living in the days of Pearl Harbor, when industrial might was the target of attacks.

Not in this battle.

Here, the enemy wanted casualties. Civilian casualties. A war of wills, not resources. Blowing up this facility and all the few hundred citizens around it would not be worth the effort.

Yet, here we are. More nighttime visual pollution. These new lights cast deeply defined shadows, placing our front yard in perpetual twilight. And I suspect my tax dollars helped pay for them.

I miss the night. And the stars.

While doing some scatological research, including learning the current distribution of the red wolf, I happened on a new live webcam. In North Carolina.

I see they have rain this morning. Don't know what building that is, but if you're walking by, wave.