The Raindance
While reading Reason at lunch, I found the following official proclamation by Alabama Governor Bob Riley (R).
“I, Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby encourage citizens of Alabama to pray daily for rain and proclaim June 30 - July 7, 2007 as Days of Prayer for Rain. During this time, I encourage all Alabamians to pray individually and within their houses of worship for sufficient rain.”
Was this really necessary? I wonder how much tax dollars went into preparing this statement and conducting a press release.
Looking at National Weather Service climate data, it appears that the prayers were not answered in Birmingham in July as rainfall was 1.66 inches lower than normal. However, in August rainfall was 1.4 inches higher than normal.
By the delayed response, I guess the prayers were sent via the US Postal Service.