TMD's

In THIS desert, there are no tumbleweeds. Kind of disappointing. Guess that means there won't be Tumbleweeds of Mass Destruction, or TMDs. residents of the desert in CA, AZ, NM and TX understand what these are. They aren't so much heavy, but HUGE. Hit one in your car and you risk being crippled on the side of a desolate highway with a busted radiator, punctured tire or one totally messed up paint job. In the states, TMD's are more dangerous to the road warrior than coyotes. Not as bad as deer, but they're up there. They are pretty benign when it comes to structural damage, unless it hits your screen door, then you are in for it. But in the desert here, TMD's would, theoretically, pose a risk to structures more than vehicles. Our up-armored Humvee's and MRAPs have been expertly designed to mitigate the threat of even the largest tumbleweed! The tents however, remain vulnerable, like a newborn fawn in a meadow. These TMDs are equipped with razor sharp spines and shred most cloth materials. Kevlar tents are a no-go here. The risk doesn't justify the necessity.

Needless to say, we're thankful for no TMDs here in the Middle East, just remember to protect yourself on the highways of the Southwestern US.