Charlie Weis billboards

Charlie Weis billboards

Charlie Weis billboards are nothing new at Notre Dame, but a new Charlie Weis billboard is a none-too-subtle reminder of what he's in for this year. A new Charlie Weis billboard wishes Weis well - or so it would seem. The message on the billboard wishes Charlie Weis best wishes in hisCharlie Weis Billboard Criticism Laughed Off by Weis fifth year of college coaching - although it describes his job as an "internship." And if Charlie Weis doesn't do something big this year for the Notre Dame faithful, that internship will be up.

Knowing this all too well, Charlie Weis could only laugh off the billboard, which directly faces the Notre Dame campus and is half a mile from his office. Weis joked "Welcome to my world" and it is a world that is on fragile ground this season. The Charlie Weis billboard was yet another reminder of how fans are not too happy with his job performance thus far. Weis was supposed to bring the Irish back to power, like he helped the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls as a coordinator. But poor BCS bowl performances turned into downright mediocrity and worse, and many Notre Dame fans don't like that Weis is back for a fifth season.

As such, the Charlie Weis billboard is only par for the course, since it merely says "Best wishes to Charlie Weis in the fifth year of his college coaching internship." Fans have said worse about Weis after such events as Notre Dame actually losing to Navy, the BCS bowl losses, and the blowout losses to USC. This season, the Irish are at the bottom of the preseason top 25, with a very easy schedule ahead. Even if they don't deserve to be in a BCS game, just winning nine or 10 games with that easy schedule will probably put them there. Anything less would probably cost Weis his job, despite how difficult it would be to buy him out.

Tropical Storm Erika

Tropical Storm Erika

Tropical Storm Erika has forced at least one cruise ship sailing in the Eastern Caribbean to change course as it barrels westward toward St. Maarten and other popular ports. Carnival says the Carnival Glory will remain at sea today instead of visiting St. Maarten as originally scheduled. The 2,974-passenger vessel, which departed Port Canaveral, Fla., on Saturday, instead will visit the island of Grand Turk on Thursday before returning to Florida.

More itinerary changes could come over the next few days as the storm moves westward. The National Hurricane Center says some computer models show Erika approaching hurricane strength, although its own forecast call for the "poorly organized" storm to remain relatively weak. As of 11:00 AM AST, Erika was 100 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands and moving westward at about 10 miles per hour. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the islands of Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius. Cruise Loggers, are you sailing in the Eastern Caribbean this week? We'd like to hear from you.

Hurricane Erika

Hurricane Erika

Tropical Storm Erika has formed quietly, since Tropical Storm Erika is on the heels of Hurricane Jimena. But Tropical Storm Erika is the Atlantic's newest storm, even though the possible Hurricane Erika may not cause that much damage. Nevertheless, while attention focuses on the PacificTropical Storm Erika Struggles to Become Hurricane Erika and Hurricane Jimena, Erika will take up the attention of the Atlantic. But it is the Leeward Islands that are most concerned with Erika at the moment.

Tropical Storm Erika officially formed last night in the Atlantic, and is now moving forward. As of 8 a.m. EST, Tropical Storm Erika was 160 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands, with maximum winds at a mere 45 mph. Despite being relatively small and uncertain to become Hurricane Erika, it is nevertheless the fifth storm system of the Atlantic hurricane season. Thus far, Tropical Storm Erika is resembling Danny, which was only a minor hurricane that went down to tropical depression status by the time it reached land. The projected path of Tropical Storm Erika is uncertain thus far, as is whether the system could become a hurricane later in the week.

The Tropical Storm Erika projected path possibilities have it going either towards the Southeast and Florida - which has been relatively spared from hurricanes thus far this season - or headed for the West and areas like Puerto Rica and Cuba. For now, the system is heading for the Leeward Islands to deliver a few inches of rain. Afterwards, a possible Hurricane Erika could head for the north, but it appears too disorganized for forecasters to be sure at the moment. If this is all that the system is going to do, then it would be another Atlantic storm front that ultimately provides little damage. The real action remains in the Pacific, as Hurricane Jimena storms its way through Mexico and Baja California. But the much hyped Hurricane Jimena is starting to weaken itself, to the relief of thousands in the affected areas - though the damage may still be substantial.