Saturday, October 29, 2005
They still look like zombies
It was such a wonderful day I decided I didn't want to be indoors so I took a cue from someone who has been putting a lot of miles on her Kiwi and went walking and driving around the this place I call home and taking snaps of whatever took my fancy. I started with the mural painted on the side of the old Lake Theatre. The three men next to Elvis with his pink Cadillac still look like zombies to me. I still can't figure out who they're supposed to be.
Starting at the very far left - an old juke box, the Blues Brothers, Marilyn Monroe, Hank Williams (Senior), Patsy Cline (I think), Minnie Pearl, the zombies, Elvis Presley.
Starting at the very far left - an old juke box, the Blues Brothers, Marilyn Monroe, Hank Williams (Senior), Patsy Cline (I think), Minnie Pearl, the zombies, Elvis Presley.
Did I mention . . .
Fall is starting to come to town. Last weekend two cold fronts came through and dropped the nighttime temperatures into the 30s and the daytime ones into the 70s. The overnight temperatures have gone up into the 50s, but the days are still in the 70s. It has been glorious.
The trees are starting to turn that burnt gold green they do when autumn first begins. There's just the hint of that color, but autumn is definitely starting.
The trees are starting to turn that burnt gold green they do when autumn first begins. There's just the hint of that color, but autumn is definitely starting.
A 'me' day
The Prodigal Son is off to his first day of fiber optic class and he'll be gone until this evening so that leaves me here at home all by my lonesome. Yay! I'm planning on having a wonderful day of peace and quiet which will involve going out to brunch and stitching and maybe a movie.
And speaking of brunch, I'm off to IHOP to consume . . . well, I'm not sure what I'm in the mood for yet. But I am in the mood to consume. The tummy keeps poking at me trying to get my attention. Bossy tummy.
Later, 'gators!
And speaking of brunch, I'm off to IHOP to consume . . . well, I'm not sure what I'm in the mood for yet. But I am in the mood to consume. The tummy keeps poking at me trying to get my attention. Bossy tummy.
Later, 'gators!
the blue blog archives: halloween things
And if you should just happen to need short, blue hair for some reason, this should do the trick - if you can knit.
;D
;D
Vast Amount of Spare Time: Mmmm....phalanges....
If you'd like to do something 'different' for Hallowe'en but you're at a loss what to do, here's a suggestion.
Enjoy! . . . or not.
;D
Enjoy! . . . or not.
;D
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
iWon News | Civil Rights Pioneer Rosa Parks Dies at 92
It is strange to contemplate the death of history, but so much of that has been happening lately.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Which Fantasy/SciFi Character Am I?
Jean-Luc Picard
An accomplished diplomat who can virtually do no wrong, you sometimes know it is best to rely on the council of others while holding the reins.
There are some words which I have known since I was a schoolboy. "With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably." These words were uttered by Judge Aaron Satie -- as a wisdom, and warning. The first time any man's freedom is trodden on, we're all damaged.
An accomplished diplomat who can virtually do no wrong, you sometimes know it is best to rely on the council of others while holding the reins.
There are some words which I have known since I was a schoolboy. "With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably." These words were uttered by Judge Aaron Satie -- as a wisdom, and warning. The first time any man's freedom is trodden on, we're all damaged.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
BBC NEWS | Americas | Warrant for DeLay arrest issued
"A Texas court has issued a warrant for the arrest of leading US Republican politician Tom DeLay on money laundering and conspiracy charges."
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | 'Zombie worms' found off Sweden
"They look like flowers poking out of the whale bone. The analogy goes a bit further because they have a root system that goes into the bone," Dr Glover, a researcher at London's Natural History Museum, told the BBC News website.
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Venus mission ready for blast off
Venus Express? Makes it sound like a shuttle flight from a major airport to a little local one and not like a space exploration mission.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
I give up
It's been weeks and the Little Shit is still here. She showed up a couple of weeks before the Hurricane Rita evacuation and she's still here. She was only supposed to be here for a week while the air conditioning unit of the person she belongs to was on the fritz and awaiting repair. Somehow, during all these weeks, the Prodigal Son has decided he can't bear to give her back because she wouldn't be loved and cared for where she belongs as good as she has it here. So the Prodigal has talked me into letting her stay here permanently temporarily.
The brainless bimbo who actually owns the cat called her Precious and taught her to be antisocial. She growls at all the other cats and most people. She's also given to attacking anything and anyone who displeases her. The only cat she seems to be truly on friendly terms with is Heru, and he's never met a warm body he didn't like. All the world is his best friend.
She hasn't bonded with me - although she adores the Prodigal - and I haven't bonded with her - although I don't adore the Prodigal as much as she does ~ evil grin ~. I've never gone this long without an animal telling me its name, but I haven't a clue what hers is. Aside from Little Shit, which I've called her since day one, the closest I've come is Izzy, but that still isn't quite right. I'm wondering if maybe she is supposed to be Isis to Heru's Horus. (I'm the only one who calls him Heru. The Prodigal and all his friends call him Horus.)
Anyway, for your viewing pleasure, I present Little Shit . . . um, Izzy.
As you can see from the photos, the really nifty thing about taking snaps of Izzy is that parts of her show up really well all of the time and parts of her show up not at all. In the last two snaps, you can't really tell where her black ear begins and ends in that black spot it is part of.
And just because I can, the rest of the Ferocious Feline Federation.
The Prodigal Son set his phone to meow so Heru is trying to find that annoying noisy cat. Those are Rainbow's glow in the dark eyes in the background.
The brainless bimbo who actually owns the cat called her Precious and taught her to be antisocial. She growls at all the other cats and most people. She's also given to attacking anything and anyone who displeases her. The only cat she seems to be truly on friendly terms with is Heru, and he's never met a warm body he didn't like. All the world is his best friend.
She hasn't bonded with me - although she adores the Prodigal - and I haven't bonded with her - although I don't adore the Prodigal as much as she does ~ evil grin ~. I've never gone this long without an animal telling me its name, but I haven't a clue what hers is. Aside from Little Shit, which I've called her since day one, the closest I've come is Izzy, but that still isn't quite right. I'm wondering if maybe she is supposed to be Isis to Heru's Horus. (I'm the only one who calls him Heru. The Prodigal and all his friends call him Horus.)
Anyway, for your viewing pleasure, I present Little Shit . . . um, Izzy.
As you can see from the photos, the really nifty thing about taking snaps of Izzy is that parts of her show up really well all of the time and parts of her show up not at all. In the last two snaps, you can't really tell where her black ear begins and ends in that black spot it is part of.
And just because I can, the rest of the Ferocious Feline Federation.
The Prodigal Son set his phone to meow so Heru is trying to find that annoying noisy cat. Those are Rainbow's glow in the dark eyes in the background.
Couple Finishes 4,900-Mile Walk Across US - Yahoo! News
"The transcontinental trail starts in Delaware, meandering through Washington, D.C., Cincinnati, St. Louis and other cities, 14 national parks and 16 national forests before hitting the Pacific at Point Reyes.
The trail officially opened in 2000, 11 years after it was proposed by hiking enthusiasts as the first coast-to-coast footpath."
That's one heckuva hike.
The trail officially opened in 2000, 11 years after it was proposed by hiking enthusiasts as the first coast-to-coast footpath."
That's one heckuva hike.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
The view from the house
Oh, before I forget . . . I finally took a couple of pictures of the view from the house I stayed at during my hurricane evacuation and where the Best Friend and I met up while I was on a business trip for work. I was obviously more asleep than awake when I took the snaps since you can't really tell how pretty the view is.
And, yes, if you look really, really, really hard at the first photo, you can see the Best Friend relaxing.
And, yes, if you look really, really, really hard at the first photo, you can see the Best Friend relaxing.
Questions, questions, and more questions
Roseunicorn said, "Yipee!! = so how are you going to celebrate?"
This was prompted by me saying I'd just had my first month's anniversary at the new job in my previous blog entry. The answer is, "I downloaded the first three episodes of Lost from iTunes and watched the first two." Aren't I just the wild party animal?
Roseunicorn asked, "Have you figured out who to take to the Game?"
This one was prompted by the fact her brother gave me tickets to the Houston Texans' home game on October 30th as a birthday gift. The answer is, "I haven't got a clue. I may give them to the Prodigal Son and let him take three friends with him. I just don't know."
"And what are you doing for your Birthday?" pondered the Roseunicorn.
"Sleep," answered I.
And last, but not least, Karen posed this query regarding the new job, "Has it turned out to be as you imagined? Do you like it there?"
"Well . . ." said I. I like the job. The people are all really nice and the ladies I work with do a lunch date every other Thursday. I went to my first one this week and we went to a Lebanese restaurant called Wael's Mediterranean Cuisine off Bay Area Boulevard. I had their number 18 lunch special which had the word 'Shawarma' in the name. It was basically a platter with white rice, wonderfully seasoned grilled beef, grilled chicken with the same sort of seasoning, and a dip which looked like sour cream but very clearly wasn't. I didn't care for the rich - not much of a rice eater - but the beef and chicken were absolutely delicious.
Isn't it amazing how a question about liking my job turned into a dissertation on food? Anyway, back to the job. I think it will be a really good place to work when everything is set and ready to go. Right now, everything is still in start up mode so things are kind of strange. There really aren't any routines and people are still trying to figure things out. But they really are a very capable bunch of people.
And the company seems to be very people and community oriented. There is always some sort of bulletin about some function or event the company encourages participation in.
Yep, I think this is a good place. I didn't know what to expect because it is a change of industry for me - from construction to manufacturing - and because the company isn't American owned. But there really isn't all the much difference.
Oh, and the best part, I get to wear a lab coat when I have to go to the building next door. How kewl is that?
This was prompted by me saying I'd just had my first month's anniversary at the new job in my previous blog entry. The answer is, "I downloaded the first three episodes of Lost from iTunes and watched the first two." Aren't I just the wild party animal?
Roseunicorn asked, "Have you figured out who to take to the Game?"
This one was prompted by the fact her brother gave me tickets to the Houston Texans' home game on October 30th as a birthday gift. The answer is, "I haven't got a clue. I may give them to the Prodigal Son and let him take three friends with him. I just don't know."
"And what are you doing for your Birthday?" pondered the Roseunicorn.
"Sleep," answered I.
And last, but not least, Karen posed this query regarding the new job, "Has it turned out to be as you imagined? Do you like it there?"
"Well . . ." said I. I like the job. The people are all really nice and the ladies I work with do a lunch date every other Thursday. I went to my first one this week and we went to a Lebanese restaurant called Wael's Mediterranean Cuisine off Bay Area Boulevard. I had their number 18 lunch special which had the word 'Shawarma' in the name. It was basically a platter with white rice, wonderfully seasoned grilled beef, grilled chicken with the same sort of seasoning, and a dip which looked like sour cream but very clearly wasn't. I didn't care for the rich - not much of a rice eater - but the beef and chicken were absolutely delicious.
Isn't it amazing how a question about liking my job turned into a dissertation on food? Anyway, back to the job. I think it will be a really good place to work when everything is set and ready to go. Right now, everything is still in start up mode so things are kind of strange. There really aren't any routines and people are still trying to figure things out. But they really are a very capable bunch of people.
And the company seems to be very people and community oriented. There is always some sort of bulletin about some function or event the company encourages participation in.
Yep, I think this is a good place. I didn't know what to expect because it is a change of industry for me - from construction to manufacturing - and because the company isn't American owned. But there really isn't all the much difference.
Oh, and the best part, I get to wear a lab coat when I have to go to the building next door. How kewl is that?
Friday, October 14, 2005
Interesting bumper sticker
"Last time we mixed politics with religion
People got burned at the stake"
Saw it on my way home from work today.
And speaking of work, I celebrated my one month anniversary on Wednesday.
People got burned at the stake"
Saw it on my way home from work today.
And speaking of work, I celebrated my one month anniversary on Wednesday.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
FoxTrot
An interesting approach to math and football.
Hey, Best Friend! Have the hubby check this one out, too.
Hey, Best Friend! Have the hubby check this one out, too.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
NEUTICLES.com
This qualifies as one of those "Now I've seen everything" kind of things.
Neuticles are artificial testicles, in three varieties and appropriate sizes, for dogs, cats, horses, and bulls that have been neutered and whose self esteem has been destroyed because of it. Not only can these globs of plastic restore you're pet's self-image, but you can also wear them in a show of support. Keychains and necklaces are available.
I thank the Maker Heru doesn't know about these things. I'm sure if he knew he would demand a set and then he'd be completely intolerable instead of just mostly.
;D
Neuticles are artificial testicles, in three varieties and appropriate sizes, for dogs, cats, horses, and bulls that have been neutered and whose self esteem has been destroyed because of it. Not only can these globs of plastic restore you're pet's self-image, but you can also wear them in a show of support. Keychains and necklaces are available.
I thank the Maker Heru doesn't know about these things. I'm sure if he knew he would demand a set and then he'd be completely intolerable instead of just mostly.
;D
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Vividas Streaming Page - Serenity
The link takes you to the vividas.com site where it will automatically prompt you to accept a certificate to install a player to view the actual first nine or so minutes of the movie Serenity. I took the option to accept the certificate for this instance and watched the video on high resolution (since I have a broadband connection) to no apparent ill effects.
If you're curious about the movie, this is a treat although I'm not sure I would have selected the very beginning as the teaser to get people to go see the film.
Anyway, enjoy.
If you're curious about the movie, this is a treat although I'm not sure I would have selected the very beginning as the teaser to get people to go see the film.
Anyway, enjoy.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
It seems I'm almost all things to all people
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You scored as Inara Serra. The Courtesan. You have a job that brings comfort to people and eases their burdens. It took years of training and dedication to perfect. So why do people keep calling you a whore? You tried to get away from those people, but something keeps bringing you back.
Which Serenity character are you? created with QuizFarm.com |
Monday, October 03, 2005
National Geographic Magazine - WildCam AFRICA
To view the web cam, you need the RealPlayer plugin. I despise RealPlayer, but I downloaded it just so I could see the watering hole. As I write this, it is 1:26 am where the web cam is and the only thing I've seen so far are bugs happily flittering about. The cam moves and seems to focus on things so sometimes what you get is an awful lot of blur. But still, it's a view of Africa - Pete's Pond in Botswana. At least, I assume Pete's Pond is in Botswana since the site references Botswana time.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Serenity
The movie, that is, not the state of mind. The Best Friend and I went to see it yesterday at the Starplex 12 in San Marcos.
There were a couple of things about the movie that I didn't particularly like although I can understand the 'why' of them, but it was really a wonderful little movie. If you've seen the Firefly TV series or own the Firefly - The Complete Series
DVDs, the movie is a must see and a must own.
There's action. There's adventure. There are characters who aren't run of the mill. And most of all, there's actually a story being told.
There were a couple of things about the movie that I didn't particularly like although I can understand the 'why' of them, but it was really a wonderful little movie. If you've seen the Firefly TV series or own the Firefly - The Complete Series
DVDs, the movie is a must see and a must own.There's action. There's adventure. There are characters who aren't run of the mill. And most of all, there's actually a story being told.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Made a piggy of myself
I just got back from dinner at the Outback Steakhouse. I had their new Cairns Citrus Chicken with a small dinner salad and a piece of cheesecake for dessert. I'm about to pop at the seams. Everything was too yummy for words.
The Best Friend called right before I left to say she was approaching San Marcos. After a lot of backing and forthing, I decided to spend the night here at the hotel and then drive down to meet her tomorrow morning. I don't like driving at night in general and I really didn't want to brave trying to find the friends' house I stayed at last weekend in the dark. The roads leading to their house are very twisty and windy.
I'm going to plop my stuffed little self on the sofa and watch a bit of TV before I go to bed.
The Best Friend called right before I left to say she was approaching San Marcos. After a lot of backing and forthing, I decided to spend the night here at the hotel and then drive down to meet her tomorrow morning. I don't like driving at night in general and I really didn't want to brave trying to find the friends' house I stayed at last weekend in the dark. The roads leading to their house are very twisty and windy.
I'm going to plop my stuffed little self on the sofa and watch a bit of TV before I go to bed.
In Austin
Yesterday was my first day in Austin. The class is interesting. The food was good. The hotel is wired for 'net access. The Alias season premier was good. And now I've got to get ready for day two of class.
BBC NEWS | Health | Liars' brains 'are not the same'
I just had a vision of witnesses in court being required to submit to brain scans to determine the ratio of grey matter to white matter to see if they are prone to lying.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Business trip
I'm headed out to Austin in the morning for a business trip. The last I heard a week ago, I am scheduled to be there through the 7th. I'm taking my laptop but I don't know if / when / where I'll be able to get online while I'm gone so don't panic if you don't hear from me for a while. I have reason to think the motel I'm staying at has WiFi, but I don't know for sure since I don't yet know what inn I'll be staying at. I won't know anything until I show up tomorrow.
The Prodigal Son is staying home this time for which I'm sure the cats are eternally grateful.
Well, I'm off. I have laundry to do and packing to get done and Veronica Mars to watch.
Later, 'gators!
The Prodigal Son is staying home this time for which I'm sure the cats are eternally grateful.
Well, I'm off. I have laundry to do and packing to get done and Veronica Mars to watch.
Later, 'gators!
Monday, September 26, 2005
Well . . .
I know. I know. Such a deep thought for such a shallow mind.
I was going to write about my trip to Austin last night, but the digital cable service went out right in the middle of typing up that post so here I am writing it now instead.
As I mentioned in another post, I was going to Austin to stay with friends because I thought I had to be in Austin on Monday for some training. I found out later that I wasn’t needed in Austin until Thursday, but it was too late to change plans by then. Anyway, the Prodigal Son was going to his sister’s in Fort Worth along with five cats, his girlfriend, and his best friend.
The trip to Austin from my house should take about four (4) hours. The trip to Fort Worth should take about six (6). There are a couple of routes you can take to get to either city, but they generally don’t add more than an extra hour or so to the trip.
I had to go to work on Wednesday, so by the time I got home and got everything packed and made sure the Prodigal Son had himself and the cats all squared away, it was a little after 4 pm when I got on the road. The Prodigal Son started his trip about half an hour after I left because it took just a bit longer to get things fitted in his car.
Sometime between seven (7) and nine (9) hours into the trip, I pulled off the Sam Houston Tollway to take a personal hygiene break and top off my gas tank. I honestly don’t remember exactly when I pulled off or where, but the line for the bathroom – don’t get me started on the condition it was in – was longer than the line for gasoline.
At about 13 ½ hours into the trip, I pulled off Highway 290 – I think it might have been at Barker-Cypress – for another hygiene break. I stopped at a Randall’s supermarket and wound up napping in their parking lot for about an hour while I waited for the store to open. I don’t know what woke me, but I felt slightly better having napped a bit.
About 20 hours into the trip, in some little town whose name I don’t know and whose name I can’t even look up because I honestly have no idea where I was, I stopped to get something to eat and deal with the hygiene thing again. The restaurant billed itself as a steakhouse, but I think it might have been exaggerating just a bit. I ordered what the menu called a half pound ground sirloin steak with brown gravy that wound up being a processed hamburger patty – like the kind you get at fast food burger places – and some kind of liquid that was almost but not quite brown but did taste like gravy. I ordered string beans and carrots as my vegetables of choice and they were actually pretty good.
Just a little bit up the street from the restaurant, I stopped at a gas station to top off my tank again. I tried calling the Prodigal Son while I pumped gas, but I must have been in a cell phone dead zone because it kept telling me the call couldn’t be completed. The last time I’d talked to him, which was several hours earlier, he was just about to arrive in Waco and he was thinking about pulling off the road there to get a couple hours of sleep.
At 23 hours into the trip, I finally reached the Prodigal on the phone and he’d made it to his sister’s house. He couldn’t remember exactly when he’d gotten there, but he thought it had taken him about 17 or 18 hours.
At 26 ½ hours, I finally reached the front door of my friends’ house. They led me in. They fed me. They unpacked my car. They showed me where to shower. They showed me where to sleep.
And I had a wonderful time while I was there. I read some. I worked on the butterfly fairy and the scarf. I watched the news about the hurricane. On Saturday, the Missus Friend and I went to a small craft shop and dug around cross stitch patterns and yarns and doodads. It turned out to be a really relaxing little vacation.
Late Saturday afternoon the Prodigal called to say they’d already started the trek home but that they’d just gotten done rafting down the Guadalupe River and were stopped in New Braunfels. I found out after I got home that another friend of his had evacuated to New Braunfels to be with family and they stopped by to visit her. They left the cats at her house while they played on the river which was shallow enough in parts that people’s bottoms scraped on rocks.
I started my trek home about 11 am on Sunday. Other a few pockets where everyone felt the need to drive 20 miles below the speed limit for no reason I could discern, the drive back was a breeze. I arrived at my front door at just a few minutes after 3 pm.
I was going to write about my trip to Austin last night, but the digital cable service went out right in the middle of typing up that post so here I am writing it now instead.
As I mentioned in another post, I was going to Austin to stay with friends because I thought I had to be in Austin on Monday for some training. I found out later that I wasn’t needed in Austin until Thursday, but it was too late to change plans by then. Anyway, the Prodigal Son was going to his sister’s in Fort Worth along with five cats, his girlfriend, and his best friend.
The trip to Austin from my house should take about four (4) hours. The trip to Fort Worth should take about six (6). There are a couple of routes you can take to get to either city, but they generally don’t add more than an extra hour or so to the trip.
I had to go to work on Wednesday, so by the time I got home and got everything packed and made sure the Prodigal Son had himself and the cats all squared away, it was a little after 4 pm when I got on the road. The Prodigal Son started his trip about half an hour after I left because it took just a bit longer to get things fitted in his car.
Sometime between seven (7) and nine (9) hours into the trip, I pulled off the Sam Houston Tollway to take a personal hygiene break and top off my gas tank. I honestly don’t remember exactly when I pulled off or where, but the line for the bathroom – don’t get me started on the condition it was in – was longer than the line for gasoline.
At about 13 ½ hours into the trip, I pulled off Highway 290 – I think it might have been at Barker-Cypress – for another hygiene break. I stopped at a Randall’s supermarket and wound up napping in their parking lot for about an hour while I waited for the store to open. I don’t know what woke me, but I felt slightly better having napped a bit.
About 20 hours into the trip, in some little town whose name I don’t know and whose name I can’t even look up because I honestly have no idea where I was, I stopped to get something to eat and deal with the hygiene thing again. The restaurant billed itself as a steakhouse, but I think it might have been exaggerating just a bit. I ordered what the menu called a half pound ground sirloin steak with brown gravy that wound up being a processed hamburger patty – like the kind you get at fast food burger places – and some kind of liquid that was almost but not quite brown but did taste like gravy. I ordered string beans and carrots as my vegetables of choice and they were actually pretty good.
Just a little bit up the street from the restaurant, I stopped at a gas station to top off my tank again. I tried calling the Prodigal Son while I pumped gas, but I must have been in a cell phone dead zone because it kept telling me the call couldn’t be completed. The last time I’d talked to him, which was several hours earlier, he was just about to arrive in Waco and he was thinking about pulling off the road there to get a couple hours of sleep.
At 23 hours into the trip, I finally reached the Prodigal on the phone and he’d made it to his sister’s house. He couldn’t remember exactly when he’d gotten there, but he thought it had taken him about 17 or 18 hours.
At 26 ½ hours, I finally reached the front door of my friends’ house. They led me in. They fed me. They unpacked my car. They showed me where to shower. They showed me where to sleep.
And I had a wonderful time while I was there. I read some. I worked on the butterfly fairy and the scarf. I watched the news about the hurricane. On Saturday, the Missus Friend and I went to a small craft shop and dug around cross stitch patterns and yarns and doodads. It turned out to be a really relaxing little vacation.
Late Saturday afternoon the Prodigal called to say they’d already started the trek home but that they’d just gotten done rafting down the Guadalupe River and were stopped in New Braunfels. I found out after I got home that another friend of his had evacuated to New Braunfels to be with family and they stopped by to visit her. They left the cats at her house while they played on the river which was shallow enough in parts that people’s bottoms scraped on rocks.
I started my trek home about 11 am on Sunday. Other a few pockets where everyone felt the need to drive 20 miles below the speed limit for no reason I could discern, the drive back was a breeze. I arrived at my front door at just a few minutes after 3 pm.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Just call me Gentle Ben
You Are A: Bear Cub!
Bears are strong and independent creatures who roam in the forest in search of food. Bears are usually gentle, but anger one and be prepared for their full fury! You're tough, you won't back down from a fight -- classic attributes of a bear. Intelligent and resourceful, though lazy at times, you are a fascinating creature of the wild.You were almost a: Turtle or a Frog
You are least like a: Squirrel or a ChipmunkWhat Cute Animal Are You?
Click2Houston.com - News - Perry: Nearly 3 Million Texans Moved Inland Within 48 Hours
I think a much more accurate statement would be that 2.7 million people tried to move inland.
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | 23.4m watch second series of Lost
But I wasn't one of them because I was stuck in gridlock trying to get to Austin.
:(
:(
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Bugging out
Unless something really extraordinary happens, it looks like Hurricane Rita will either hit directly on top of us or just a bit to the south, putting us on her dirty side. The Prodigal is going to board / tape up the house tomorrow and pack up the cats and head out to the Daughter Who Isn't Mine. I'll be here until practically the last minute and then I head west because I have to be in a training class out that way on Monday.
I don't know when I'll be able to post again. That just depends on where I wind up and whether they have WIFI or an analog phone I can tap into.
Think good thoughts for Texas. We're gonna need 'em.
I don't know when I'll be able to post again. That just depends on where I wind up and whether they have WIFI or an analog phone I can tap into.
Think good thoughts for Texas. We're gonna need 'em.
Monday, September 19, 2005
My boss is back
But the poor guy is so jetlagged I don't think he knows which way is up. We went out to lunch together and talked a bit about stuff. I spent the day talking to him and reading manuals.
I love my car!
I finally got to drive my car to work today. It was ever so loverly. No more sitting at funny angles and having things bump when you move or not being able to reach the top of the steering wheel. I was a happy camper! ;D
And I even enjoyed the drive home this afternoon even though I'm tired.
And I even enjoyed the drive home this afternoon even though I'm tired.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | James Bond writer 'reinvents' spy
" 'We're trying to reinvent Bond. He's 28 - no Q, no gadgets.' "
But isn't that - Q and gadgets - what makes Bond Bond for several generations of viewers?
But isn't that - Q and gadgets - what makes Bond Bond for several generations of viewers?
Grandmother held on looting charge freed - Hurricane Katrina - MSNBC.com
"Police arrested Maten the day after the hurricane on charges she took $63.50 in goods from a looted deli. Though never before in trouble with the law, her bail was set at a stiff $50,000.
Family and eyewitnesses insist she only had gone to her car to get some sausage to eat when officers cuffed her in frustration, unable to catch younger looters at a nearby store.
Despite intervention from the nation's largest senior lobby, volunteer lawyers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and even a private attorney, the family fought a futile battle for 16 days to get her freed.
Then, hours after her plight was featured in an Associated Press story, a local judge on Thursday ordered Maten freed on her own recognizance, setting up a sweet reunion with her family."
Family and eyewitnesses insist she only had gone to her car to get some sausage to eat when officers cuffed her in frustration, unable to catch younger looters at a nearby store.
Despite intervention from the nation's largest senior lobby, volunteer lawyers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and even a private attorney, the family fought a futile battle for 16 days to get her freed.
Then, hours after her plight was featured in an Associated Press story, a local judge on Thursday ordered Maten freed on her own recognizance, setting up a sweet reunion with her family."
Saturday, September 17, 2005
The weekend, at last!
In the last week I've learned that driving an hour and a half to work, even with rush hour gridlock about half way there, is not really bothersome. However, driving that same route home in the late afternoon, even without the gridlock, is exhausting.
I've done nothing all week long once I got home except watch a couple hours of TV, eat something, and go to bed an hour earlier than I used to. I've not read or worked on my craft projects or had a thought that wasn't primal - hungry = eat, tired = bed. I will admit to having slept long and well, which is something that had begun to elude me.
I strongly suspect that my postings will become less frequent, probably happen more on the weekends, because of work tiredness and the start of the new television season here. I know my calendar for the next two weeks is filled up with the season premiers of several shows I enjoyed watching last year.
Well, I'm off to consume a banana and some lemon yogurt for breakfast. No, I didn't just wake up. I've been up for a several hours, but I just haven't gotten around to wanting something to eat until now. My tummy is finally feeling rumbly.
I've done nothing all week long once I got home except watch a couple hours of TV, eat something, and go to bed an hour earlier than I used to. I've not read or worked on my craft projects or had a thought that wasn't primal - hungry = eat, tired = bed. I will admit to having slept long and well, which is something that had begun to elude me.
I strongly suspect that my postings will become less frequent, probably happen more on the weekends, because of work tiredness and the start of the new television season here. I know my calendar for the next two weeks is filled up with the season premiers of several shows I enjoyed watching last year.
Well, I'm off to consume a banana and some lemon yogurt for breakfast. No, I didn't just wake up. I've been up for a several hours, but I just haven't gotten around to wanting something to eat until now. My tummy is finally feeling rumbly.
Malcolm Brown Gallery - Epilogue.net - Fantasy Art Galleries
I love the style of his artwork. Epilogue has just a few of his pieces, but he does have his own web site that has more of his work.
I think my favorite is Snail Walker.
I think my favorite is Snail Walker.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Third day
Good day. Attended a luncheon class where I was fed - always a good thing - and I got to chat with a computer geek about computer geeky things. I also stopped at Starbuck's on the way home for a mocha latte and a half hour of reading before I tackled the homeward bound rush hour trek.
iWon News - Judge: School Pledge Is Unconstitutional
"SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal judge declared the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools unconstitutional Wednesday, a decision that could put the divisive issue on track for another round of Supreme Court arguments.
The case was brought by the same atheist whose previous battle against the words 'under God' was rejected last year by the Supreme Court on procedural grounds.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation 'under God' violates school children's right to be 'free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."
The case was brought by the same atheist whose previous battle against the words 'under God' was rejected last year by the Supreme Court on procedural grounds.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation 'under God' violates school children's right to be 'free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
The second day
I just got home a little over half an hour ago from my second day at work. I'm very pooped. The drive up in the morning is lovely and refreshing, but the drive home in the afternoon is exhausting.
So far the job is good although I am being inundated with information that really doesn't mean much to me . . . yet.
Oh, well. I'm off to scrounge up something to eat and plug myself into the TV so I can watch the season premier of Gilmore Girls.
Later!
So far the job is good although I am being inundated with information that really doesn't mean much to me . . . yet.
Oh, well. I'm off to scrounge up something to eat and plug myself into the TV so I can watch the season premier of Gilmore Girls.
Later!
Monday, September 12, 2005
BBC NEWS | Americas | US emergencies chief steps down
"The top US emergencies official has resigned following criticism over the response to Hurricane Katrina.
Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), had already been dumped as head of the rescue effort by President George Bush.
News of his resignation came after the president visited central New Orleans for the first time since the disaster."
Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), had already been dumped as head of the rescue effort by President George Bush.
News of his resignation came after the president visited central New Orleans for the first time since the disaster."
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Joel Johnson
"Volunteers: Red Cross Took Our Medical Supplies
I'm standing in a morning meeting with a group of volunteers who are working to set up the medical clinic. The big topic of the morning is the story of an LPN named Bobby (who isn't here) who was apprehended by the Red Cross while providing medical relief. The Red Cross (working with armed troops from FEMA [we think]), seized Bobby's medical supplies from his truck because someone from the Red Cross decided that he was stealing the necessities-specifically, the pharmaceuticals.
Problem is, Bobby's supplies weren't from the Red Cross, but instead from private donations. Many of the pharmaceuticals were for residents in New Orleans who have a prescription, and one of the other medical volunteers is licensed to dispense prescription medicines.
Not only did the Red Cross seize the pharmaceuticals at gunpoint (while detaining Bobby somewhere until after the curfew), but they also took the remainder of Bobby's supplies, including bandages and the like.
That is the story as told by four of the local non-Red Cross medical volunteers."
I'm standing in a morning meeting with a group of volunteers who are working to set up the medical clinic. The big topic of the morning is the story of an LPN named Bobby (who isn't here) who was apprehended by the Red Cross while providing medical relief. The Red Cross (working with armed troops from FEMA [we think]), seized Bobby's medical supplies from his truck because someone from the Red Cross decided that he was stealing the necessities-specifically, the pharmaceuticals.
Problem is, Bobby's supplies weren't from the Red Cross, but instead from private donations. Many of the pharmaceuticals were for residents in New Orleans who have a prescription, and one of the other medical volunteers is licensed to dispense prescription medicines.
Not only did the Red Cross seize the pharmaceuticals at gunpoint (while detaining Bobby somewhere until after the curfew), but they also took the remainder of Bobby's supplies, including bandages and the like.
That is the story as told by four of the local non-Red Cross medical volunteers."
Saturday, September 10, 2005
I stand corrected
The shop I bought the clothes in is called Avenue. Having just clicked on some of their links, I've discovered that the lilac blouse is really lavender and the peach blouse is really dried apricot.
The Prodigal's car
Since it was raining and my wiper blade is missing, I took the Prodigal's Ford Taurus shopping. I can say unequivocally that I will never, ever purchase a Taurus for myself. If by remote chance I should ever be gifted with one or win one in a contest, I would sell it sight unseen and definitely undriven.
The seat in its most upright position leans back at an uncomfortable angle. In order to compensate for the angle, I would have either had to lower the steering wheel - which would have caused it to rub on the top of my legs - or moved the seat further up - which would have caused my knees to bump the dash whenever I had to switch between the gas and the brake pedals. As it was, making turns was rather an interesting proposition since my arms weren't quite long enough to grasp the top of the steering wheel.
Ick!
The seat in its most upright position leans back at an uncomfortable angle. In order to compensate for the angle, I would have either had to lower the steering wheel - which would have caused it to rub on the top of my legs - or moved the seat further up - which would have caused my knees to bump the dash whenever I had to switch between the gas and the brake pedals. As it was, making turns was rather an interesting proposition since my arms weren't quite long enough to grasp the top of the steering wheel.
Ick!
Fickle woman that I am . . .
I changed my mind about going shopping in the rain. I picked up a pair of brown shoes and a pair of black shoes. I bought a pair of very dark grey slacks with a lilac blouse and a pink sweater, and I picked up a pair of tweedy brown slacks with a peach blouse and a creamy tan sweater. All the blouses and sweaters will go with the black slacks I already have, and I think most of them will go with the grey slacks as well. With these nine coordinates, I should be set for a while.
Unless it stops raining . . .
I probably won't go shopping today. We're having another summer squall and it's been at it since early morning. Sometimes just rain. Sometimes thunder and rain. Sometimes neither, but not for very long.
Rain means not being able to go to Houston if I can't find any clothes in town since I don't have a windshield wiper on the driver's side of my car. Did I mention taking the car in for an oil change and the people breaking the wiper arm off just above where it is mounted on the car? No? Well, I did. They will replace it but the dealer didn't have any parts in stock so a wiper arm had to be ordered and won't be here till Monday.
And if the part isn't in and fixed on Monday, I will be driving the Prodigal's car to work until mine is fixed since rain is predicted for next week starting on Tuesday. Thank goodness the grandparents chipped in for his car.
Rain means not being able to go to Houston if I can't find any clothes in town since I don't have a windshield wiper on the driver's side of my car. Did I mention taking the car in for an oil change and the people breaking the wiper arm off just above where it is mounted on the car? No? Well, I did. They will replace it but the dealer didn't have any parts in stock so a wiper arm had to be ordered and won't be here till Monday.
And if the part isn't in and fixed on Monday, I will be driving the Prodigal's car to work until mine is fixed since rain is predicted for next week starting on Tuesday. Thank goodness the grandparents chipped in for his car.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Battlestar Galactica
Wow, Xena as a blonde.
(I know Lucy Lawless is a blonde and had to dye her hair to play Xena, but seeing her as a blonde . . . I can honestly say she makes a prettier brunette.)
(I know Lucy Lawless is a blonde and had to dye her hair to play Xena, but seeing her as a blonde . . . I can honestly say she makes a prettier brunette.)
Truly, finally, for real
I start work at 8 a.m. on Monday morning. Yipee! Woohoo! Yeehaw!
Unfortunately, tomorrow I have to go shopping for clothes. I hate shopping for clothes.
;D
Unfortunately, tomorrow I have to go shopping for clothes. I hate shopping for clothes.
;D
TIME.com: How Reliable Is Brown's Resume? -- Page 1
"Before joining FEMA, his only previous stint in emergency management, according to his bio posted on FEMA's website, was 'serving as an assistant city manager with emergency services oversight.' The White House press release from 2001 stated that Brown worked for the city of Edmond, Okla., from 1975 to 1978 'overseeing the emergency services division.' In fact, according to Claudia Deakins, head of public relations for the city of Edmond, Brown was an 'assistant to the city manager' from 1977 to 1980, not a manager himself, and had no authority over other employees. 'The assistant is more like an intern,' she told TIME. 'Department heads did not report to him.' Brown did do a good job at his humble position, however, according to his boss. 'Yes. Mike Brown worked for me. He was my administrative assistant. He was a student at Central State University,' recalls former city manager Bill Dashner. 'Mike used to handle a lot of details. Every now and again I'd ask him to write me a speech. He was very loyal. He was always on time. He always had on a suit and a starched white shirt.' "
Texas Library Association - Disaster Relief
If you've got books you normally give away or donate to local libraries or other institutions, please consider either sending them to the TLA or finding out if a similar donation process is available where you are.
PinkDome - September 09, 2005 - Caption This Picture
You can read my caption under the name Seitherin. It was the second one.
Finally . . . but
I just got back from the doctor's office - and running errands - and my blood pressure is finally in the normal range. But, I've got to wonder about the nurse who has been taking my pressure since last week.
She took the pressure in my left arm this morning and the reading came back 138/92 which is still outside the normal range but would have been a significant improvement over Tuesday's reading. She decided to take the pressure in my right arm as well, but she decided to use a larger blood pressure cuff than she'd used on my left arm. She explained that the smaller cuff was for slight people and the larger cuff was for more substantial people like me.
Anyway, the reading using the large cuff on my right arm came back 110/84. This, of course, caused her some pause. She decided to take a reading on my left with the large cuff just to verify. That one came back 118/86.
There's a big difference between 138/92 and 118/86.
She's been using the small cuff all along. If we use the same sort of ratio between today's readings and apply them to Tuesday's readings, the 158/98 could very well have been as low as 138/92.
Any which way, I had her fax the information to the clinic as they had requested and I will call them around 1:30 or so to make sure they've gotten the release and that they will clear me to work. And then I will call the lovely HR lady at my new job and let her know what's going on. I may actually be able to go to work on Monday. Wouldn't that be great!?
She took the pressure in my left arm this morning and the reading came back 138/92 which is still outside the normal range but would have been a significant improvement over Tuesday's reading. She decided to take the pressure in my right arm as well, but she decided to use a larger blood pressure cuff than she'd used on my left arm. She explained that the smaller cuff was for slight people and the larger cuff was for more substantial people like me.
Anyway, the reading using the large cuff on my right arm came back 110/84. This, of course, caused her some pause. She decided to take a reading on my left with the large cuff just to verify. That one came back 118/86.
There's a big difference between 138/92 and 118/86.
She's been using the small cuff all along. If we use the same sort of ratio between today's readings and apply them to Tuesday's readings, the 158/98 could very well have been as low as 138/92.
Any which way, I had her fax the information to the clinic as they had requested and I will call them around 1:30 or so to make sure they've gotten the release and that they will clear me to work. And then I will call the lovely HR lady at my new job and let her know what's going on. I may actually be able to go to work on Monday. Wouldn't that be great!?
BBC NEWS | Americas | Powell criticises storm response
"There were 'a lot of failures at a lot of levels - local, state and federal', Mr Powell told ABC.
'There was more than enough warning over time about the dangers to New Orleans - not enough was done,' he said.
Mr Powell's views will be heard with particular interest as he is a highly respected figure and a prominent black American, the BBC's Justin Webb reports from Washington.
The Pew Research Center, which ran the new opinion poll, also indicated that two-thirds of the African-Americans questioned believed the government reaction would have been faster if most of those affected had been white.
But Mr Powell said so many African-Americans were left unprotected be cause they were poor, rather than because they were black."
'There was more than enough warning over time about the dangers to New Orleans - not enough was done,' he said.
Mr Powell's views will be heard with particular interest as he is a highly respected figure and a prominent black American, the BBC's Justin Webb reports from Washington.
The Pew Research Center, which ran the new opinion poll, also indicated that two-thirds of the African-Americans questioned believed the government reaction would have been faster if most of those affected had been white.
But Mr Powell said so many African-Americans were left unprotected be cause they were poor, rather than because they were black."
Hey, Best Friend
I did a Yahoo! People Search and found two Rodney Ramseys in Louisiana. I found six Robert Ramseys.
Also, have you thought to post a "looking for" entry at nola.com?
Also, have you thought to post a "looking for" entry at nola.com?
Patiently waiting
I've been up for a while patiently waiting for 9 o'clock to roll around so I can go to the doctor's office to get my blood pressure checked . . . again. I don't think the meds he has me on are working. I feel more blood pressure-y now than I did before I started taking them.
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Photo Gallery (Worst Disaster)
"Claim: Television news screen shot captures President Bush with an inadvertently humorous caption.
Status: Undetermined."
Status: Undetermined."
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Michael Moore's Blog: The Office Has Moved
"Today's news that 'debit cards worth 2,000 dollars' were being handed to each homeless hurricane evacuee. A friend of mine, who's in-laws live in Jefferson Parish, told me that they went to the FEMA center today to get their debit cards and they said that not only weren't there any debit cards, the FEMA people there didn't know anything about it."
demagogue
from Dictionary.com/Word of the Day:
demagogue \DEM-uh-gog\, noun:
1. A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
2. A leader of the common people in ancient times.
A consummate demagogue, McCarthy played upon cold war emotions and made charges so fantastic that frightened people believed the worst.
--Arthur Herman, Joseph McCarthy
Even when he showed his true colors as a demagogue and trickster, Stalin did so in such a crisp and weighty, confidence-inspiring manner that he bewitched not only his conversational partner but himself as well.
--Milovan Djilas, Fall of the New Class
Demagogue derives from Greek demagogos, 'a leader of the people,' from demos, 'the people' + agogos, 'leading, one who leads,' from agein, 'to lead.'
demagogue \DEM-uh-gog\, noun:
1. A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
2. A leader of the common people in ancient times.
A consummate demagogue, McCarthy played upon cold war emotions and made charges so fantastic that frightened people believed the worst.
--Arthur Herman, Joseph McCarthy
Even when he showed his true colors as a demagogue and trickster, Stalin did so in such a crisp and weighty, confidence-inspiring manner that he bewitched not only his conversational partner but himself as well.
--Milovan Djilas, Fall of the New Class
Demagogue derives from Greek demagogos, 'a leader of the people,' from demos, 'the people' + agogos, 'leading, one who leads,' from agein, 'to lead.'
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
iWon News - So, don't accept chocolates from a Nazi..
"A secret file from the archives of Britain's spy services released this week shows ingenious methods, conjured up by Germans during World War Two, for disguising bombs."
Chlorthalidone
That's the name of the second med I've been prescribed. It is a diuretic which means I'm going to spend the next 30 days - that's how many pills I have - peeing all day long. With any luck, the extra dosage of the Lisinopril and the addition of the chlorthalidone will bring the pressure down.
I'll know Friday.
I am so ready to start work.
I'll know Friday.
I am so ready to start work.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
BBC NEWS | Americas | Bush to lead inquiry into Katrina
US President George W Bush says he will lead an investigation into how the Hurricane Katrina disaster was handled.
"I'm going to find out over time what went right and what went wrong," he said in reply to criticism that the authorities were too slow to respond.
Oh, please. Like this man will accept responsibility for putting his cronies into positions of governmental power for which they are immensely unsuited.
When he does that, I'm sure pigs will be flying the friendly skies.
DHS | Department of Homeland Security | National Response Plan
The full National Response Plan is a 4.24Mb pdf file which I downloaded today. It will be interesting to see if the plan changes - without a corresponding change in publication date - after this mess has the appropriate spin put on it by the politicos who failed miserably.
CBSNews.com / CBS News Video
On the left side, search for the video entitled "Local Leader Blasts Response".
A tiny spot of blue sky
The Prodigal Son has a two day gig helping a friend at a construction site. If he lasts, he should get about $60 which will be enough to pay for an oil change on his car.
No improvement to speak of
I just got back from having my blood pressure checked. There is no significant improvement although it is down a bit. My meds have been adjusted. I now have to take two of the Lisinopril twice a day and a second med has been added to my regime. I don't know what the second one is yet because I haven't been to the pharmacy to pick it up. The doctor's office is supposed to call it in as well as make a change to my Lisinopril prescription to the next higher dosage. I'm supposed to go back on Friday to have my blood pressure checked again.
If there still isn't any significant improvement, I'm not sure what that's going to mean for the job.
If there still isn't any significant improvement, I'm not sure what that's going to mean for the job.
Homeland Security won't let Red Cross deliver food
" 'The Homeland Security Department has requested and continues to request that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans,' said Renita Hosler, spokeswoman for the Red Cross.
'Right now access is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities. We have been at the table every single day [asking for access]. We cannot get into New Orleans against their orders.' "
'Right now access is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities. We have been at the table every single day [asking for access]. We cannot get into New Orleans against their orders.' "
After Failures, Government Officials Play Blame Game - New York Times
" 'We wanted soldiers, helicopters, food and water,' said Denise Bottcher, press secretary for Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana. 'They wanted to negotiate an organizational chart.' "
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Saturn ring particles 'fluffy'
" 'It would be wonderful to take a butterfly net and scoop up the ring particles, bring them back and look at them. But we have to indirectly infer what a ring particle might look like, and they're probably more like a fluffy snowball.' "
Like mother, like son
Barbara Bush, talking about the Katrina refugees:
"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this -- this is working very well for them."
"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this -- this is working very well for them."
The 'city' of Louisiana - Bloggermann - MSNBC.com
The 'city' of Louisiana - Bloggermann - MSNBC.com:
"September 5, 2005 | 8:58 p.m. ET
The 'city' of Louisiana (Keith Olbermann)
SECAUCUS - Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said it all, starting his news briefing Saturday afternoon: 'Louisiana is a city that is largely underwater...'
Well there's your problem right there.
If ever a slip-of-the-tongue defined a government's response to a crisis, this was it.
The seeming definition of our time and our leaders had been their insistence on slashing federal budgets for projects that might've saved New Orleans. The seeming characterization of our government that it was on vacation when the city was lost, and could barely tear itself away from commemorating V.J. Day and watching Monty Python's Flying Circus, to at least pretend to get back to work. The seeming identification of these hapless bureaucrats: their pathetic use of the future tense in terms of relief they could've brought last Monday and Tuesday - like the President, whose statements have looked like they're being transmitted to us by some kind of four-day tape-delay.
But no. The incompetence and the ludicrous prioritization will forever be symbolized by one gaffe by of the head of what is ironically called "The Department of Homeland Security": "Louisiana is a city..."
Politician after politician - Republican and Democrat alike - has paraded before us, unwilling or unable to shut off the 'I-Me' switch in their heads, condescendingly telling us about how moved they were or how devastated they were - congenitally incapable of telling the difference between the destruction of a city and the opening of a supermarket.
And as that sorry recital of self-absorption dragged on, I have resisted editorial comment. The focus needed to be on the efforts to save the stranded — even the internet's meager powers were correctly devoted to telling the stories of the twin disasters, natural... and government-made.
But now, at least, it is has stopped getting exponentially worse in Mississippi and Alabama and New Orleans and Louisiana (the state, not the city). And, having given our leaders what we know now is the week or so they need to get their act together, that period of editorial silence I mentioned, should come to an end.
No one is suggesting that mayors or governors in the afflicted areas, nor the federal government, should be able to stop hurricanes. Lord knows, no one is suggesting that we should ever prioritize levee improvement for a below-sea-level city, ahead of $454 million worth of trophy bridges for the politicians of Alaska.
But, nationally, these are leaders who won re-election last year largely by portraying their opponents as incapable of keeping the country safe. These are leaders who regularly pressure the news media in this country to report the reopening of a school or a power station in Iraq, and defies its citizens not to stand up and cheer. Yet they couldn't even keep one school or power station from being devastated by infrastructure collapse in New Orleans — even though the government had heard all the "chatter" from the scientists and city planners and hurricane centers and some group whose purposes the government couldn't quite discern... a group called The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
And most chillingly of all, this is the Law and Order and Terror government. It promised protection — or at least amelioration — against all threats: conventional, radiological, or biological.
It has just proved that it cannot save its citizens from a biological weapon called standing water.
Mr. Bush has now twice insisted that, "we are not satisfied," with the response to the manifold tragedies along the Gulf Coast. I wonder which "we" he thinks he's speaking for on this point. Perhaps it's the administration, although we still don't know where some of them are. Anybody seen the Vice President lately? The man whose message this time last year was, 'I'll Protect You, The Other Guy Will Let You Die'?
I don't know which 'we' Mr. Bush meant.
For many of this country's citizens, the mantra has been — as we were taught in Social Studies it should always be — whether or not I voted for this President — he is still my President. I suspect anybody who had to give him that benefit of the doubt stopped doing so last week. I suspect a lot of his supporters, looking ahead to '08, are wondering how they can distance themselves from the two words which will define his government — our government — "New Orleans."
For him, it is a shame — in all senses of the word. A few changes of pronouns in there, and he might not have looked so much like a 21st Century Marie Antoinette. All that was needed was just a quick "I'm not satisfied with my government's response." Instead of hiding behind phrases like "no one could have foreseen," had he only remembered Winston Churchill's quote from the 1930's. "The responsibility," of government, Churchill told the British Parliament "for the public safety is absolute and requires no mandate. It is in fact, the prime object for which governments come into existence."
In forgetting that, the current administration did not merely damage itself — it damaged our confidence in our ability to rely on whoever is in the White House.
As we emphasized to you here all last week, the realities of the region are such that New Orleans is going to be largely uninhabitable for a lot longer than anybody is yet willing to recognize. Lord knows when the last body will be found, or the last artifact of the levee break, dug up. Could be next March. Could be 2100. By then, in the muck and toxic mire of New Orleans, they may even find our government's credibility.
Somewhere, in the City of Louisiana.
E-mail: KOlbermann@msnbc.com"
"September 5, 2005 | 8:58 p.m. ET
The 'city' of Louisiana (Keith Olbermann)
SECAUCUS - Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said it all, starting his news briefing Saturday afternoon: 'Louisiana is a city that is largely underwater...'
Well there's your problem right there.
If ever a slip-of-the-tongue defined a government's response to a crisis, this was it.
The seeming definition of our time and our leaders had been their insistence on slashing federal budgets for projects that might've saved New Orleans. The seeming characterization of our government that it was on vacation when the city was lost, and could barely tear itself away from commemorating V.J. Day and watching Monty Python's Flying Circus, to at least pretend to get back to work. The seeming identification of these hapless bureaucrats: their pathetic use of the future tense in terms of relief they could've brought last Monday and Tuesday - like the President, whose statements have looked like they're being transmitted to us by some kind of four-day tape-delay.
But no. The incompetence and the ludicrous prioritization will forever be symbolized by one gaffe by of the head of what is ironically called "The Department of Homeland Security": "Louisiana is a city..."
Politician after politician - Republican and Democrat alike - has paraded before us, unwilling or unable to shut off the 'I-Me' switch in their heads, condescendingly telling us about how moved they were or how devastated they were - congenitally incapable of telling the difference between the destruction of a city and the opening of a supermarket.
And as that sorry recital of self-absorption dragged on, I have resisted editorial comment. The focus needed to be on the efforts to save the stranded — even the internet's meager powers were correctly devoted to telling the stories of the twin disasters, natural... and government-made.
But now, at least, it is has stopped getting exponentially worse in Mississippi and Alabama and New Orleans and Louisiana (the state, not the city). And, having given our leaders what we know now is the week or so they need to get their act together, that period of editorial silence I mentioned, should come to an end.
No one is suggesting that mayors or governors in the afflicted areas, nor the federal government, should be able to stop hurricanes. Lord knows, no one is suggesting that we should ever prioritize levee improvement for a below-sea-level city, ahead of $454 million worth of trophy bridges for the politicians of Alaska.
But, nationally, these are leaders who won re-election last year largely by portraying their opponents as incapable of keeping the country safe. These are leaders who regularly pressure the news media in this country to report the reopening of a school or a power station in Iraq, and defies its citizens not to stand up and cheer. Yet they couldn't even keep one school or power station from being devastated by infrastructure collapse in New Orleans — even though the government had heard all the "chatter" from the scientists and city planners and hurricane centers and some group whose purposes the government couldn't quite discern... a group called The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
And most chillingly of all, this is the Law and Order and Terror government. It promised protection — or at least amelioration — against all threats: conventional, radiological, or biological.
It has just proved that it cannot save its citizens from a biological weapon called standing water.
Mr. Bush has now twice insisted that, "we are not satisfied," with the response to the manifold tragedies along the Gulf Coast. I wonder which "we" he thinks he's speaking for on this point. Perhaps it's the administration, although we still don't know where some of them are. Anybody seen the Vice President lately? The man whose message this time last year was, 'I'll Protect You, The Other Guy Will Let You Die'?
I don't know which 'we' Mr. Bush meant.
For many of this country's citizens, the mantra has been — as we were taught in Social Studies it should always be — whether or not I voted for this President — he is still my President. I suspect anybody who had to give him that benefit of the doubt stopped doing so last week. I suspect a lot of his supporters, looking ahead to '08, are wondering how they can distance themselves from the two words which will define his government — our government — "New Orleans."
For him, it is a shame — in all senses of the word. A few changes of pronouns in there, and he might not have looked so much like a 21st Century Marie Antoinette. All that was needed was just a quick "I'm not satisfied with my government's response." Instead of hiding behind phrases like "no one could have foreseen," had he only remembered Winston Churchill's quote from the 1930's. "The responsibility," of government, Churchill told the British Parliament "for the public safety is absolute and requires no mandate. It is in fact, the prime object for which governments come into existence."
In forgetting that, the current administration did not merely damage itself — it damaged our confidence in our ability to rely on whoever is in the White House.
As we emphasized to you here all last week, the realities of the region are such that New Orleans is going to be largely uninhabitable for a lot longer than anybody is yet willing to recognize. Lord knows when the last body will be found, or the last artifact of the levee break, dug up. Could be next March. Could be 2100. By then, in the muck and toxic mire of New Orleans, they may even find our government's credibility.
Somewhere, in the City of Louisiana.
E-mail: KOlbermann@msnbc.com"
Monday, September 05, 2005
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