Space Weather Alert

Here's another thing to worry about: It looks like we're due for massive solar flares in 2013 and while that may not seem like much of a problem compared to this year's floods and tornadoes, the space weather folks at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say all kinds of systems and gadgets we take for granted, such as GPS, face potential disruption and outages.

The National Space Weather Program Council, a multi-agency group that includes NOAA, NASA, and even the Homeland Security Department (I guess they are in charge of the Homeland part of space, whatever that means) plan a day long space weather forum on June 21 at the National Press Club.

Thanks to the Marine Corps, I first learned about solar flares as a young radio operator in 1963, and as the tired phrase goes, there is nothing new under the sun.