For meteor showers the statement "before dawn" is correct for virtually everyone, anywhere. The reason is simple: the Earth is rotating towards the forward motion of our orbital path and we tend to run into the most particles (meteors) at that time. Bugs on a windshield. You are right in bitching that in this case, the Perseid meteor shower is more visible for Norther Hemisphere observers. Not likely you'll see many down in Argentina.

I should note the best display of meteors is only going to happen when you are out at a dark rural location with an unobstructed horizon. Rarely do they tell you the forecast rates are for an ideal situation that few could possibly achieve. You will see less than 100 per hour but one meteor per minute is likely at peak and its pretty impressive to watch.

As to what part of the world will see it best does depend on your longitude, so it is related to your timezone. Good observation. The point of maximum meteor stream density, the peak of the meteor shower, can be narrow or wide. The Perseids are an old meteor shower seen for thousands of years and its peak is fairly broad, many hours. Therefor there is some latitude in your position.

The best source of information about meteor showers, including their predicted peak time, is going to be found on the International Meteor Organization (IMO) website. They have a "live" update running for major showers like the Perseids. Consult their yearly calendar for predicted 'peak' dates. Many yearly astronomical handbooks provide meteor shower information as well. [shameless plug] I wrote an iPhone app (Meteor Shower Guide) using IMO and American Meteor Society (AMS) data that calculates your peak time based on your phones timezone setting, and its in local time! No need to wait for someone to tell you about a meteor shower, it will add it to your iPhone's calendar if you like.

The question that always drives me crazy is when people ask "where do I look?". Just look up! If you go out to a dark site with a clear horizon you will see plenty of meteors during the Persied shower. You'd have to be asleep or looking at the ground to miss them. If its clear at your location Saturday night to Sunday morning get out and watch.

Ok, I stand corrected. Regarding nothing getting done: true to some degree but do you think anything the president wants to do is going to make it through the House right now? Don't think so.

You don't see the disconnect with your own thoughts there? I will agree he needs to cut out the 'get along' bs and ram things through congress.

dude, you need to cut back on the Faux news.

Sorry that feeling is already lost. As I've actually traveled around the Flint Hills (further north than this proposed wind farm) you'll find the previous centuries oil rush junk abandoned everywhere. That and the power lines crisscrossing the landscape further spoils the view.

I've found the view of vast grasslands dotted with giant windmills rather attractive. Here is a picture I took from the Beaumont wind farm:

http://www.howardedin.com/test/20081108_MG_1149.jpg

Thats about 150 miles north of the Osage area.

We've got more deer than we know what to do with here in the midwest (KS/NE/MO/IA). Sending the teaming hordes.

True.

However I've seen outlets burn up even when properly sized wires and breakers were used. In one case the outlet was very old and brittle, the other cases have been cheap sockets. In all cases it appears that a poor (sloppy/loose) connection between the plug's blade and the socket led to arcing.

That's why you should spend more than $0.49 for an outlet. That $3 commercial grade outlet really is worth it.

Not sure we've ever gotten actual news from the media outlets. By 'actual news' I am referring to the unbiased and accurate reporting of an event. There is and always will be a spin on the news. That can simply be not reporting all the details of an event, which leads to a reader's bias. It's interesting to read newspapers from decades, or even a century ago.