One week later....

Good afternoon to all,
hope your week went well,
and you're getting ready for a good weekend.

So, here it is one week after Hurricane Rita gave my area a near miss, things are pretty much back to normal. Last week, around this time, this part of the Texas Coast was collectively holding it's breath, unsure of what to expect, or waiting things out in a gasoline line or highway somewhere. Long lines waited for people who tried to use gas stations or visit grocery stores, people were driving hurriedly, even on the wrong side of the road, until the strange quiet came when most had left, things were kinda crazy. Now, people are back, the long lines are gone, and almost all of the clean-up is completed in my area, just a few fallen trees, broken branches, a few roof shingles went flying, and a ton of leaves and smaller stuff piled up along fence lines, curbs, and doorways.

During the storm, I couldn't help but feel as if I almost had a sort of "ark" goin' on over here, as I had the 4 kittens a stray cat left me with, and even a dog who knocked on my door, sharing my home with me during the storm. *LOL* It's a funny story about the dog, as it takes place during a time when the winds were just starting to gust. I could hear the house creaking a bit, the wind making a slight "woooo" sound, branches scraping along the outside walls, and occassionally a scratching sound at my door. "Must be somethin' just whooshin' on by", I said to myself, ignoring it, until there it was again, a scratching or scraping noise right on my door. I looked out the front window, it was raining very hard, so I couldn't see anything. Opening the door, suddenly, there it was... "the scratcher!", who turned out to be a dog, looking very scared. I closed the door to the room where the cats were sleeping, and let him in. The dog appeared to be a brown and white cocker spaniel or must have had some cocker spaniel in him as there is no mistaking those ears, he looked very happy to be out of the rain and wind, jumping around, standing up on his hind legs, and licking me. I cleaned him up in the bath tub, dried him off, and gave him a place to weather the storm in my garage, with an inflateable mattress, a blanket, food (we sat around in there for a while, watching the small television on my work bench, eating ravioli), a big shop fan, and water. He was a nice dog who slept through most of the storm, I guess he had been through alot, and finally felt safe. He was sure happy when he (turns out his name was Rocky) was finally reunited with his family, some neighbors a few doors down. They had evacuated and couldn't take pets, just in case they had to use a public shelter, he had gotten out of a pet door they forgot to lock, the wind had blown open a gate to their backyard. It was nice to be able to help that smart ol' dog, and to see the smiles of the family when they picked him up and carried him home. I feel he also helped me out a little, as his being here during the storm gave me something else to think about besides the creaks and groans this old house. By the way he ran over here the other day, when he saw me washing my car, I think he appreciated it too. (Either that or he just wanted more ravioli) *LOL*

Anyhow, that's my story, and it's sure good to be back!
To the people along the Texas - Louisiana border area who took a direct hit from the storm, my prayers go out for all of you, my hope is that you all are doing well out there. On my first day out driving, a few days after the storm, I made sure to contribute to a Hurricane Rita Relief Fund that some were collecting for in my city, if I could do more to help, I surely would.

Here it comes...

Good morning to all,

Well, here it is, Friday morning, coming after what seemed to be a long week of preparations for the oncoming storm Hurricane Rita. After all these days since Katrina, writing about the various things that happened in that area as a result, I sure didn't think I'd find myself in the path of one of these things. Guess that's how things go though, so I'm not complaining. The week might be best described almost like a scene from an old movie called The Blob, that mass of goo slowly makes it's way ever closer, scaring the heck out of local townfolk, that's pretty much how it's been watching the television weather, with the infrared radar picture of the storm working it's way towards the coast. You know it's coming, they give you a day and time when it's expected to arrive, and you wait, the mental aspect of the storm has been the hardest part so far. I think I know how the people in Louisiana must have felt in the days leading up to the storm, while they were waiting, watching weather reports that can be downright confusing as they give conflicting forecasts depending on which channel is viewed. With all of the technology of the day, I still don't know where the storm is going to hit, on this side of Galveston Bay or on the other side? It makes a difference in wind direction, strength, intensity, and duration, even at this time I don't know, and that's been the hardest part for me of to deal with, but the unknown just is what it is, no sense in making it worse by overthinking things, I'm just glad I prepared early, and have enough provisions to last one week or maybe two, with enough to share with neighbors if necessary. In the days following the storm, I'll be trying to come back as soon as possible, as electricity might allow. For those of you who wouldn't mind, please say a few prayers for the people down here on the Texas Coast, I believe it helps, and it will be good to know some are thinking about us, and wishing us well.

Have a good day out there friends,
stay safe, and take good care.

Marie Antoinette 2005

Good afternoon to all,
hope your weekend is going well.

"Let them eat cake", was said to be Marie Antoinette's reply upon hearing word of peasants not even having bread to eat. Though there is controversy about those words being spoken or not, ol' Marie will be forever associated with her detachment from the people. Whether her detachment was simply due to her having lived a charmed life, living in the opaque glass bubble that was royalty, assuming that everyone had food or at least cake to eat should their bread run out, or if she was genuinely uncaring, we'll never know. Still, the public will forever remember her as such.

Now, back to present times, the aftermath of one of our nation's largest natural and man-made disasters, (I say man-made in reference to the situation being made worse by help coming far too slowly) here's one thing we can be certain was said:

"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality."

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this -- this is working very well for them,"

Once again, all these years later, we'll never know whether her detachment was simply due to her having lived a charmed life, living in the opaque glass bubble that is privilege (as we have no royals), or if she was genuinely uncaring. Unfortunately, the person who said them is no longer talking, our Marie Antoinette 2005.

Who was the person who said these things?
The person was none other than Former First Lady Barbara Bush, the mother of our current president, spoken while she walked the Astrodome complex amidst the rows of cots, with crowded conditions, little privacy, and people grieving over their losses, still worried about their future.

Could someone be so detached from the common folk, that they would actually believe a cot on the floor of a sports stadium is "working very well for them", compared to their homes, no matter how modest or small those homes might have been, simply because they are used to being poor? Or to say it's "scary" that they would want to stay in a state where they actually believed they were safe for a while. Or to even think that saying either of those things could even be perceived as acceptable?

As I sit here shouting to the wind, I guess it might be better if I just shut up and ate my cake, as I don't hear much being said about this story on the news. In time, when the details of this storm have become just a memory to most of us, I doubt much will have changed.

Here's a link to a good editorial that responds to the comments so much better than I ever could.

Aaron Neville

Good evening to all,
hope your weekend is going well.

One thing I've wanted to comment on, but kept getting sidetracked by some of the stories coming out of the hurricane zone, is Aaron Neville, who I now believe is the true voice of New Orleans. I must admit that through the years, with the exception of the song called "Tell it like it is", I never understood the appeal of Aaron Neville or the Neville Brothers, not that they were bad or anything like that, just that their sound didn't match up with my musical tastes at the time. After seeing Aaron Neville perform during one hurricane relief benefit, it suddenly all became clear, his is the voice of New Orleans. Hearing that New Orleans jazz sound during some of the other performances, the horns, the piano, even the drums, I understood that New Orleans has a sound unique to itself, for someone to appreciate it, someone must be able to visualize the city. At the time when Aaron Neville performed "Louisiana 1927", and "Amazing Grace", I couldn't visualize the city in it's heyday, bustling with tourists, I could only visualize the aftermath of the storm and flood, and the pictures of people in need of help. His performance gave the terrible sights a soundtrack, reminding me of the heart of people, their hopes and dreams though dashed, or washed away, still shown on their faces, their need very evident.

I'll never be able to say I don't understand the appeal of Aaron Neville or the Neville Brothers anymore, as I found it that night, those were perfect choices of songs to sing, they sure made it all clear to me.

The Speech

Good evening to all,

Tonight I heard the president's speech, it was a hopeful speech, and a promising speech, but it was a bit of a late speech, a knee-jerk reaction speech, a C.Y.A. kinda speech. He did shoulder the responsibility for the shortcomings on the part of the federal response, but is that actually newsworthy? Since the days of Truman, the presidency has been held to the standard of "the buck stops here", so of course he bears the brunt of responsibility. Times can't always be good, but if things had gone exceptionally well in the aftermath, the administration would have basked in the glow of a job well done, since things didn't go well at all, the responsibilty goes up there as well, it's a two way street. I don't blame them for all, as that would be unrealistic, but I do consider them responsible for the slow process of getting federal aid into the area, the bureaucratic snafu (that is still taking place to this day), and what occurred as a result. One more thing I was wondering, where does the accent go? I hear the voice twangin' during visits to the South, or states where a drawl or country-type accent is found, during the times when the podium jokes are flyin', or during the times when he wants to sound like "just one of the guys", but at certain times it disappears, where does it go? I've never heard a more part-time accent, except for that of Madonna when she wants to sound British. *LOL

Charles Evans

Good evening to all,

When the survivor crisis was at it's worst, I saw a news clip of a young man 9 years old, who seemed intelligent beyond his years, he spoke of the crisis, what the people needed, and his hopes of making it through the ordeal. Tonight, I saw a follow-up story on how the young man was doing, he did indeed make it through the ordeal, though his beloved aunt didn't survive all she had been through, I was happy to see he is doing well at a shelter with his family. I tell ya, that is one sharp kid, and a good family. I hope that through the years someone sees to it that his intellect and ability to speak is nurtured, it would be great for him to grow up to be the Mayor of the City of New Orleans one day. Heck, if I were a New Orleanian I'd vote for him today.

Best wishes to the young man and his family, may they always have a wonderful life.

Hmmm.... I wonder?

Good evening to all,

Well, The Rolling Stones are back with a new record release, this one titled "A Bigger Bang"! I tell ya, the band just keeps goin' and goin', it's amazing! Chances are they are older than your parents, but they sure still know how to rock & roll, putting many a new band to shame. One song in particular had me saying, "Hmmm, I wonder who they might be talking about?" *LOL

Here's the Lyrics:
------Begin Quoted Material------

Sweet Neo Con
(Jagger / Richards)
2005

You call yourself a Christian
I think that you're a hypocrite
You say you are a patriot
I think that you're a crock of sh*t

And listen, I love gasoline
I drink it every day
But it's getting very pricey
And who is going to pay

How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con.... Yeah

It's liberty for all
'Cause democracy's our style
Unless you are against us
Then it's prison without trial

But one thing that is certain
Life is good at Haliburton
If you're really so astute
You should invest at Brown & Root.... Yeah

How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con
If you turn out right
I'll eat my hat tonight

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah....

It's getting very scary
Yes, I'm frightened out of my wits
There's bombers in my bedroom
Yeah and it's giving me the sh*ts

We must have loads more bases
To protect us from our foes
Who needs these foolish friendships
We're going it alone

How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con
Where's the money gone
In the Pentagon

Yeah ha ha ha
Yeah, well, well

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
Neo con

------End Quoted Material------

Gotta love those Stones, they sure aren't holdin' anything back these days. Whether you love 'em or hate 'em either for their sound or politics, there's no denying they are one of the greatest bands making new music today.

Something you have to read!

Good evening to all,

I found a couple of items you just have to read:

Hurricane Pam Study

Scenerio 10 Natural Disaster Report: Major Hurricane

The ignored or budget cut effected preparedness plans.

Get a mop?

Good afternoon to all,

I just saw a story about a doctor and his staff from a New Orleans area hospital, who kept things going there for their patients, and for those who simply waded in and requested help. The medical team worked around the clock to deal with the problems thrown at them, and were finally evacuated 3 days later. They found themselves in the New Orleans airport, surrounded by a makeshift triage area, sick and dying people all around them, the attending staff appearing overwhelmed by the number of people so clearly in distress. Knowing they couldn't just sit around while people were suffering, the team decided to get back to the work of treating people. The doctor walked up to a FEMA official, identified himself as a doctor, mentioning that he also had a full nursing staff there with him, and asked how he could help......

here's the part that is simply maddening.....

He was told by the FEMA official that his help wasn't needed, but if he really wanted to do something, he could get a mop and mop the floor! Though first shocked by what they were told, the doctor and his staff did indeed mop the floor, knowing that the unsanitary conditions made it especially dangerous for those who were ill. He described seeing people die while he mopped that floor, saying he broke down in tears of frustration knowing he might have been able to help save a life, or at least provide a little comfort to those who were in their last moments.

There's too many stories such as this, it's an outrage!

Out of touch?

Good evening to all,

"Don't buy gas if you don't need it", were the words of advice President Bush gave in response to a question about gasoline prices that have gone through the roof. Hmmm...... nice conservation plan ya got there? I can't help but say with a questioning tone, and a puzzled look on my face. "Don't buy gas if you don't need it", I guess that would be compared to buying gasoline just for the entertainment value? With my 40 gallon tank, and a V8 engine that is recommended to run on higher octane fuel, it's not exactly entertaining to pay $120+ dollars to fill up my tank with prices slightly over $3.00 per gallon in my area. Isn't everyone buying gasoline just out of necessity, wasn't it that way even before the price increase? I don't jump in the car just to go for a drive anymore, and my travel is solely based upon the need to go somewhere, my once beloved vehicle has become increasingly utilitarian, and that's no fun. I wonder why there wasn't a public outcry about that statement? I assume it was because the attention of the American public was on the aftermath of the storm, but it was said in a way that seemed so out of touch, all I could do was stare blankly at the screen as I heard it, actually I'm still staring blankly at the screen while thinking about it now.

Here's an excerpt from an article I read, it also brings the question "out of touch?"

--------Begin Quoted Material (all rights reserved for the source: Newsweek)--------

Sept. 19, 2005 issue - It's a standing joke among the president's top aides: who gets to deliver the bad news? Warm and hearty in public, Bush can be cold and snappish in private, and aides sometimes cringe before the displeasure of the president of the United States, or, as he is known in West Wing jargon, POTUS. The bad news on this early morning, Tuesday, Aug. 30, some 24 hours after Hurricane Katrina had ripped through New Orleans, was that the president would have to cut short his five-week vacation by a couple of days and return to Washington. The president's chief of staff, Andrew Card; his deputy chief of staff, Joe Hagin; his counselor, Dan Bartlett, and his spokesman, Scott McClellan, held a conference call to discuss the question of the president's early return and the delicate task of telling him. Hagin, it was decided, as senior aide on the ground, would do the deed. The president did not growl this time. He had already decided to return to Washington and hold a meeting of his top advisers on the following day, Wednesday. This would give them a day to get back from their vacations and their staffs to work up some ideas about what to do in the aftermath of the storm. President Bush knew the storm and its consequences had been bad; but he didn't quite realize how bad.

The reality, say several aides who did not wish to be quoted because it might displease the president, did not really sink in until Thursday night. Some White House staffers were watching the evening news and thought the president needed to see the horrific reports coming out of New Orleans. Counselor Bartlett made up a DVD of the newscasts so Bush could see them in their entirety as he flew down to the Gulf Coast the next morning on Air Force One.

How this could be—how the president of the United States could have even less "situational awareness," as they say in the military, than the average American about the worst natural disaster in a century—is one of the more perplexing and troubling chapters in a story that, despite moments of heroism and acts of great generosity, ranks as a national disgrace.

--------End Quoted Material (all rights reserved for the source: Newsweek)--------

To read the rest of the article, here's the link.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hmmm, people worried about disturbing the elected leader of our country, with news of a catastrophy, and the ensuing calamity brought about by unpreparedness? I consider this as such, surely in the various jobs we've all had in our days, we've all come across the new manager, one who hasn't yet learned the proper method to get the most work done, and keep the work environment running smoothly. Fairness and accessibility with open lines of communication at all times, coupled with working (just as hard, sometimes having to work harder) side by side with the rest of the workers, is an example of a method that works, but the bad manager simply sits in the office while his employees do all the work, until one dreads having to knock on the door to ask a question. Should something go wrong, the manager denies responsibility, and blames the worker. I've had my share of bad managers, this isn't just a made up description to prove a point, it's an actual description of a manager I once worked for. The comparison to what was described in the quoted material above is a bit troubling..

**Just a note: The example was from years ago, one of my first jobs, and no, I wasn't the employee blamed when things went wrong, the manager blamed a new guy he had hired**

"Cringing before the displeasure of the president"? Look above, find that quote, and consider this: Aren't the difficult times part of the job? Times surely can't always be good, but to cringe at the thought of mentioning a bad situation, reeks of bad management. Some examples maybe in context, I'm sure people in the courts of kings were worried about displeasing their ruler, people in dictatorships are surely worried about displeasing their ruler, but to worry about displeasing an elected official doesn't make sense to me, didn't "the elected" try really hard to get their job? Why would they be upset (oops..... displeased)? Also, what's up with a "five-week" vacation during a war on two fronts, crazy gas prices, and a hurricane bearing down on a city shaped like a bowl?

Truly Frightening Indeed!

Good afternoon to all,
hope your day is going well.

I just finished reading a story that I can only describe as truly frightening. I won't say much about it in this blog entry, as I sure can't write as well as they did, but I ask that you please give it a look, and read it in it's entirety. The information the story contains had my head spinning, as it was simply inconceivable, and unforgiveable, yet disturbingly believeable.

Let us know what you think about what you read, I sure don't want to feel alone in my reaction, but I can take it if you disagree with my wordy description, so no worries.

Help refused

Good evening to all,

Well, it seems in the latest of Hurricane Katrina horror stories, help from California firefighters, and search and rescue workers was refused in the moments immediately following the storm. Word has it that immediately after the storm passed, and things were beginning to look like they would be bad, the California effort was put into place, inflateable boats, communications equipment, and other items that sure would have been useful were prepared to be taken into the effected area, their offer quickly forwarded to FEMA. What was FEMA's response? They said they weren't needed, they wouldn't approve airfare to bring the Californians into the area, and suggested taking the bus if they still wanted to come, the bus trip took two days! We all remember the pictures and video from those first two days, imagine if local authorities had access to good communications equipment, had many inflateable boats to use, and had the useful manpower of people specifically trained for search and rescue operations, the picture might have been a bit different from what we saw. Personally, I'm outraged! I'm outraged about this latest revelation, as well as the slow approval of international help, as well as the reports of entire shipments of food, water, and fuel that was either turned away or restricted from use. It's on a level that would be simply unbelievable, if we didn't know it to be true. I've said it so many times these past few days, but the people deserved so much better than the treatment they have received even to this day.

Six year old takes charge!

Good evening to all,
the weekend is finally here,
hope your Friday was a good one.

Here's a story that amazed me today.
Imagine you're a rescue worker, driving down a flooded street, when you turn a corner and are confronted by a very strange sight, six kids of decreasing size and age, walking in a line, holding hands, with a six year old as their leader! Incredible!! It's a true story, and it happened on the streets of New Orleans, the six year old managed to keep his baby brother, his younger cousin, and three other kids from his apartment building safe against all odds in the chaos that was the city.

When the city is rebuilt, (and if the good people I've met from New Orleans are any indicator, it will be, and better than ever) I believe it could be a nice idea for a statue of the six children to be placed in a very prominent place. I can't think of any other scene I've heard of (yet), that fully captures the resilience, and the hopeful resolve of the New Orleans spirit. There will one day come a time when people will want a place to reflect upon these days that have passed, though as terrible as they seem right now, they'll need a monument that reminds them of the hope they carried inside during the dark times, willing themselves to carry on, to make it through to the next day, to endure and survive. Could this be the image that best represents the shared ordeal of the people? I think so, as it would both allow for reflection upon the past, and would show a good example of enduring hope for the future, found in the proud people (of all ages), and the city where they live. Of course, the decision should inevitably come from the people of New Orleans themselves, when the time comes, I'm certain they'll know what's right for them.

Here's a link to the story so you can read it yourself and draw your own conclusion. Let us know what you think of the idea.

**Please Note**
I'm not trying to say it's time to start building monuments just yet, there's still so much to do before that, and I fear that the true extent of the aftermath still has yet to be revealed, it was just an idea that came to me as I read the story, it touched my heart, and I found to be truly amazing. I would still like to know who the initial rescuers were in that helicopter who dropped off the children, and who they were dropped off with, who allowed them to go unattended, they need to be dealt with. I'm glad the story turned out well, with the children enroute to being reunited with their parents.

Oversight

Good afternoon to all,

I've been hearing alot of word about the possible appointment of a big name to coordinate the relief efforts currently taking place, Rudy Giuliani, and Colin Powell are two names that keep coming up. Now, I must admit that I previously compared Mayor Nagin's actions at this time in his city's history to those of then New York Mayor Giuliani at that time in his city's history (9/11), but I don't know what Mr. Giuliani could actually do to help with the situation, nor do I know what Colin Powell could do. I believe that Mr. Giuliani was effective during the tragic scene in New York, primarily because he was a lifelong resident of New York, knew the lay of the land, knew how things worked down there, knew where to go to get the things he needed, etc... To believe that he would have the same sort of effectiveness outside of his city, is a bit like grasping at straws during a desperate moment. I don't question Mr. Giuliani's administrative or managerial skills, just that his familiarity with his city surely helped him during a time when chaos could have taken hold. My main question regarding Mayor Nagin was about why he couldn't do the same in the city he calls home, and knows well? I see the pictures of all those school buses submerged in the bus barn, and I think of all those poor people who had no way to make it out of the city, the waste of lives in not using those buses to help the people is not easily forgiven. As for Colin Powell, I don't know what he could do to help the situation, I once believed him to be a gem amongst what might be considered the rocks within the administration, but questioned that view when I saw him dancing a silly dance, singing a silly song, while wearing a hardhat, for some group of political or industrial bigwigs. How in the heck did they talk him into doing something like that? I sure dunno, but I don't know how he could help, unless he still has the hardhat and wants to wear it again.

No confidence in Brown

Good afternoon to all,

Well, it seems that "Brownie" wasn't doing a heck of a job afterall, to paraphrase the words uttered by our president when he first set foot upon the devastated scene of Katrina's aftermath, FEMA chief Mike Brown has been removed from the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, sidelined from what has been FEMA's biggest challenge to date. Controvery has surrounded the political appointee in a way that seems to "have legs". What that means is that he is not only battling questions regarding the slow FEMA response immediately after the storm, but is also caught up in questions about what might be incorrect information found on his actual resume of qualifications for his job, and his official bio found on the FEMA website. Relief and recovery efforts will now be in the hands of Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen. My hope is that the change will finally allow help to get to those in need, afterall it is day 11 since the terrible event occurred.

Was Snowball Found?

Good afternoon to all,

I just read a news story that said Snowball (the dog taken by police from a crying little boy who was being evacuated from the Superdome) might have been found, and should be reunited with him. That is good news, of which I'm sure we'll all soon see the reunion scene played out on our televisions. A good amount of effort has been taken by big-hearted citizens who saw the story and felt they had to do something, including a reward offered to the person who finds the dog. Get that kid's dog back, the sooner the better!

Forced Evacuation

Good morning to all,
hope your day is going well.

The Governor of Louisiana and the Mayor of New Orleans have okay'ed the start of forced evacuation from the devastated city of New Orleans and surrounding parishes. Yet, there are some who are refusing to leave, so it could take some effort in convincing them to uproot their lives from the city they call home. But, how much force will be used? I believe it would be adding insult to injury to see pictures of police beating survivors who fight back in their attempt to stay. My hope is that the police and military consider the actions of the Israeli forces while trying to extract Israeli settlers from Gaza, they took well into account that the people they were encountering were their own countrymen, and met them with a balance of responsibility of mission and understanding. Will reporters be allowed into the area at the times when the extractions will be taking place? Though I hope I'm wrong, I would bet they won't be allowed for some reason or another. I don't want to see people being dragged from their homes or businesses, but I think the presence of cameras in the area could prevent the situation from getting too heavy-handed, as none would want to be the one shown on the evening news.

One other thing that troubles me are the pets left behind in the city, what is to become of them? Surely people can understand that a pet becomes like a member of the family, and it would be unfair to simply abandon them to a city that is being cleared out of people. I heard a news story of a little boy being evacuated from the city, but was refused to be allowed to take his dog with him, cameras caught the scene of a policeman taking the dog from the boy's hands while forcing the boy onto a waiting bus, with the boy's sobbing cries of "Snowball! Snowball! Please don't take him away!" being clearly heard. It's heartbreaking to think of even now. While I understand the concern for the evacuation of people, space in the evacuation centers, health concerns, and such, I couldn't help but think, "hasn't that boy been through enough? why don't they see that they are taking away the friend he had during the times when he was scared, who stayed with him through it all, and who might be the only thing in that boy's life he might have to remember when his life wasn't turned upside down?" But apparently rules are rules, and they're sticking to them, with little exception being made. That is what lead me to wonder about the amount of force authorities will take with those who remain, if someone could take a dog from the hands of a crying boy, then it's safe to believe they could do anything. I don't mean to sound as if I'm saying the authorities are bad guys, they're doing wonderful things in saving lives, but the effects of frustration, lack of sleep, the squalor of surroundings, and their concern for their own families, can take a heavy toll on even the most professional of people, sometimes leading to unwanted results. They should treat the people they encounter as they would treat their own mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, or daughters, who are simply scared to leave the familiarity of a place they love, for the uncertainty of a place and life unknown. Understanding is the word I would stress to those who have the assignment of clearing the streets.

Nero fiddling?

Good evening to all,

I came across a picture a little while ago, and thought it worthy of mention, please note the date and time (from AP) in the upper right hand corner of the linked page..

In all fairness, I looked up the news for that day to see if the general perceptions of that particular day (that now seems so long ago), might have lead to someone not being overly concerned about the storm's aftermath, but the news did reveal the beginnings of all we came to see this past week. I'm trying to believe that he made the appearance because he had made a promise to be there, though I still can't help but feel that being sworn in is also a sort of promise to be there when the people most need him. I'm torn between my attempt to accept the mechanics of appearances and how they factor into politics, and the pain I feel in my heart now that I know what was taking place in New Orleans and the surrounding area at the time.

By what agenda?

Good evening to all,

I recently heard of a blog by an individual named Randall Robinson from the Huffington Post, Mr. Robinson commented that black survivors had resulted to cannibalism to stay alive. Frankly, I don't believe it for a minute, and it turns out my doubts were justified as Mr. Robinson retracted his statements as unsubstantiated. I'm not African-American, but even I was offended by Mr. Robinson's claims, thus lowering the status of the brave but suffering survivors to nothing less than savages. His words do nothing to help anyone. What took me by surprise was that Mr. Robinson claims in his bio to be African-American, but how can he not know that his endorsement of unsubstantiated claims is hurtful, offensive, and quite frankly serving to those who might appreciate public opinion to believe such nonsense? I don't have an answer to any of those questions, nor do I have an answer as to how he could describe the situation as "thousands of blacks dying like dogs." No Mr. Robinson, they are not dying like "dogs", these are people who have survived a horrible ordeal through great individual resolve and will to live, they are dying because help came too late or too slowly. I respect each and every one of them for hanging on as long as they have, and for the vast majority doing all they can to still show the dignity that they all possess. The people deserve so much better than what Mr. Robinson said about them, and deserve so much more than what was done for them when they needed their government to act quickly on their behalf. They were let down at a terrible cost, but never lost their humanity for a moment.

Unemployment Assistance

Good evening to all,

I just saw an interview with the Secretary of Labor regarding those who are out of work, and will be in need of money to purchase necessities. Here is the phone number and website address they mentioned, please pass this along to someone who might need it, the phone number was said to be 24 hour with live assistance.

1- 866 - 4USADOL

www.dol.gov

Hope this helps to get a little money to the survivors.

An Interview from Sept. 2002

Good evening to all,

Here's a link to a published PBS / Public Radio interview transcript, I heard about this while watching television about a Governmental study on the effects of a hurricane hitting the metropolitan New Orleans area. It's saddening, and almost eerie to read just how right they were, though I pray that they weren't right about the cost of life. The transcript is difficult to read, but it does illustrate how government didn't take expert advice seriously. For those of you with Real Player, the interview is also available in audio form.

Interview September 2002

It's all such a terrible shame.

Meet the Press

Good afternoon to all,
hope your day is going well.

Today on Meet the Press I saw an interview between Tim Russert and Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, I have to admit that it had me choked up, as President Broussard described a terrible experience he had witnessed first hand, breaking down into tears as he told of what he had seen. Below is a transcription of the interview, Meet the Press will be shown again this evening at: 7pm Pacific, 9pm Central, 10pm Eastern, but please check your local listings to be certain, as some local areas could have other shows that they air before.

----------------Begin Quoted Material----------------

MR. RUSSERT: And we are back.

Jefferson Parish President Broussard, let me start with you. You just heard the Director of Homeland Security's explanation of what has happened this last week. What is your reaction?

MR. AARON BROUSSARD: We have been abandoned by our own country. Hurricane Katrina will go down in history as one of the worst storms ever to hit an American coast, but the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will go down as one of the worst abandonments of Americans on American soil ever in U.S. history. I am personally asking our bipartisan congressional delegation here in Louisiana to immediately begin congressional hearings to find out just what happened here. Why did it happen? Who needs to be fired? And believe me, they need to be fired right away, because we still have weeks to go in this tragedy. We have months to go. We have years to go. And whoever is at the top of this totem pole, that totem pole needs to be chainsawed off and we've got to start with some new leadership.

It's not just Katrina that caused all these deaths in New Orleans here, bureaucracy has committed murder here in the greater New Orleans area, and bureaucracy has to stand trial before congress now. It's so obvious FEMA needs more congressional funding, it needs more presidential support, it needs to be a cabinet-level director, it needs to be a, independant ageny that will be able to fulfill it's mission to work in partnership with state and local governments around America. FEMA needs to be empowered to do the things it was created to do. It needs to come somewhere, like New Orleans, with all of it's force immediately, without red tape, without bureaucracy, act immediately with common sense and leadership, and save lives. Forget about the property, we can rebuild the property, it's got to be able to come in and save lives.

We need strong leadership at the top of America right now in order to accomplish this and to-- reconstructing FEMA.

MR.RUSSERT: Mr. Broussard, let me ask--I want to ask--should...

MR. BROUSSARD: You know, just some quick examples...

MR. RUSSERT: Hold on. Hold on, sir. Shouldn't the Mayor of New Orleans, and the Governor of New Orleans bear some responsibility? Couldn't they have been more forceful, much more effective and much more organized in evacutating the area?

MR. BROUSSARD: Sir, they were told like me, every single day, "the calvary's coming" on a federal level, "the calvary's coming, the calvary's coming, the calvary's coming." I have just begun to hear the hoofs of the calvary. The calvary's still not here yet, but I've begun to hear the hoofs and we're almost a week out.

Let me give you just three quick examples. We had Walmart deliver three trucks of water, trailer trucks of water. FEMA turned them back, they said we didn't need them, this was a week ago. FEMA--we had 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel on a Coast Guard vessel docked in my parish, the Coast Guard said, "come get this fuel right away", when we got there with our trucks, they got a word, "FEMA says don't give you the fuel." Yesterday--yesterday--FEMA comes in and cuts all of our emergency communication lines. They cut them without notice. Our Sheriff, Harry Lee, goes back in, he reconnects the line. He posts armed guards on our line and says, "no one is getting near these lines." Shefiff Harry Lee said that if America-- American government would have responded like Walmart has responded, we wouldn't be in this crisis.

But I want to thank Governor Blanco for all she's done and her leadership. She sent in the National Guard. I just repaired a breach on my side of the 17th Street canal that the secretary didn't foresee, a 300-foot breach. I just completed it yesterday with convoys of National Guard and local parish workers and the levee board people. It took us two and a half days working 24/7. I just closed it.

MR. RUSSERT: All right.

MR. BROUSSARD: I'm telling you most importantly, I want to thank my public employees...

MR. RUSSERT: All right.

MR. BROUSSARD: ...that have worked 24/7. They're burned out, the doctors, the nurses. _And I want to give you one last story and I'll shut up and you can tell me whatever you want to tell me. The guy who runs this building I'm in, Emergency Management, he's responsible for everything. His mother was trapped in St. Bernard nursing home and every day she called him and said, "Are you coming, son? Is somebody coming?" And he said, "Yeah Mama, somebody's coming to get you. Somebody's coming to get you on Tuesday. Somebody's coming to get you on Wednesday. Somebody's coming to get you on Thursday. Somebody's coming to get you on Friday. And she drowned Friday night.... she drowned Friday night.

***(Mr. Broussard breaks down into tears)***

MR. RUSSERT: Mr. President...

MR. BROUSSARD: Nobody's coming to get us. Nobody's coming to get us... the secretary has promised, everybody's promised. They've had press conferences. I'm sick of press conferences. For God's sake, shut up and send us somebody!

MR. RUSSERT: Just take a pause Mr. President. While you gather yourself in very emotional times, I understand, let me go to Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi.

***(No further mention is made of Mr.Broussard)***

Show proceeds, then ends.

----------------End Quoted Material----------------

Approximately 31 elderly Americans died in that nursing home, either as a direct result of the flooding or succumbed to the elements while they waited for help. President Broussard witnessed he horrors of the past few days first hand, but his words reflect the frustration of us all. I respect President Broussard for speaking from his heart, and letting America and the world know exactly how things have been. It truly is terrible and crushing to consider the level of anguish that the survivors must be feeling. My prayers go out for Aaron Broussard, the good people of St. Bernard and Jefferson Parishes, all the survivors, and all the loved ones lost, for him and so many others to still be seeking help one week later is truly an injustice inflicted upon the American people. I don't know how to say it any more diplomatically than that, as words, feelings, and emotions about what I've been seeing on the news come to mind, but none fit to use. All I can do is shake my head "no", while I type this.

Rehnquist

Good evening to all,

Chief Justice Rehnquist has passed away, age 80.

The World Wants to Help

Good evening to all,

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the world wants to help, I say "please let them!" Just as the Federal effort moved all too slowly into action immediately following the storm, the replies to potentially helpful foreign governments have also been slow. I assume it might have something to do with the logistical problems that could arise in coordinating teams from places all over the world, and the mere fact that it has never been done on American soil, though I would hope it has nothing at all to do with someone's idea of national pride. We as Americans are indeed proud, and rightfully so, but it never hurts to accept offered help from our friends during our time of need, I thank them with all my heart for offering. If officials are concerned with the question of where to put foreign aid teams to help, why not ask them to come help in the smaller surrounding communities? Their help would be greatly appreciated by the people in those smaller towns and rural areas, and would also serve to provide a level of relief to our assistance agencies who are overwhelmed in dealing with effected metropolitan areas and suburbs. The offer to help is there, now somebody just needs to accept it, and soon.

Walmart in Bond, Mississippi

Good evening to all,
hope your weekend is going well.

Bond, Mississippi, chances are most of us have never heard of this small dot of a town along a Mississippi highway, unfortunately it seems that relief efforts haven't heard of this town either. The small town of Bond is one of many small towns and parishes who have not gained the same amount of attention as the larger urban areas of devastation, but that doesn't make their grief any less real. People in Bond are going hungry, and are in need of help.

I read a news story on the forgotten survivors of Bond, Mississippi, their biggest and only still functioning business in the area is a Walmart 6 miles from their community, where many make the long walk in hopes of finding it open or making it into the store at all. While most of us might think that having a Walmart in your area still doing business in our areas would be a good thing, the Walmart near Bond, Mississippi is only allowing a maximum of 2 customers into the store at any given time, and have only opened a few times. The reason being given for the 2 customers at a time rule, is that they don't have enough people to run the store, but I assume it is really about the possibilty of theft or the location being overrun by survivors. Still, that is simply not good enough for America's biggest retail chain, they can do better. I believe that now is the time for Walmart to show that they truly do love the communities where they do business, afterall, their commercials tell us they do. As a retailer with locations across the United States and the world, it could be possible for them to step up their efforts to get locations without signficant damage running to full or at least an increased capacity in the effected areas, and if they really want to do some good, get that price slashing dot to work and cut those prices so that the purchase of basic needs doesn't take all of the survivors limited cash resources. They could ask employees from other areas if they would like to work at the stores for a time, and prove that they are indeed the store who cares. To play the 2 at a time game with customers who are truly in dire need at this time just isn't right, and it helps nobody. I do have to say that Walmart has done wonderful things in giving millions of dollars to the relief effort, but what lives in the minds of consumers is how they were treated by a store in their community when they really needed them. If Walmart doesn't do anything to help the people near the storm ravaged area where they do business, people will remember and take their business elsewhere when they aren't the only store open, people like me will likely to do the same just out of principle.

The World is Watching

Good afternoon to all,
hope your weekend is going well.

The world is watching us at this time in our history, but what is it that they will see? Will they see the domestic policies of America mirror those that we promote abroad? What I mean is will they see how we take care of our people, or will they catch a glimpse of the divide residing just underneath the public facade of these United States. Will they see the delivery of hope and relief to those in need, or the continuation of despair, with relief efforts snagged in the tangles of bureaucracy? I have yet to hear anyone in local, state or federal government say that hope is on it's way to the people, even many of us outside of the storm ravaged area have a hard time maintaining hope. So many are trying to do our part to help in some small way, volunteering for various relief services, donating what we can, and struggling to understand the scope of this tragedy as it unfolds before us, but what the people need to know and hear is that someone is in charge of the situation, that help is coming fast, that hope is on it's way, and that this nation's heartbreak will heal in time. It is disheartening to see and hear our elected leaders pass the buck in accepting some level of responsibility for giving good solid answers, and clear plans of resolve, this is no time for political styled doublespeak replies, or evasive answers that don't answer a presented question at all, the people need answers and solutions, and hope will come once they are able to find them.

In saw in some video footage not long ago, of a boat passing along a little girl standing on some debris in the water, as the boat passes the little girl asks "are you going to help us?"
Just thinking of that tugs at my heart. I tell ya, in my America, that little girl shouldn't have had to ask, help would have been there. They, you, me, and everyone deserves so much better than what we are witnessing.

Here are a few links to various news agency stories from England, Australia, and Canada:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4210674.stm

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/09/02/Canadians_in_US20050902.html

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/09/02/Katrina_in_brief20050902.html

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16475280%5E2703,00.html

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16475019%5E2703,00.html

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16475033%255E2703,00.html

Have a good day, and thanks for visiting.

Whatta clown...

Good evening to all,
hope you're doing well out there.

As if things weren't already bad enough for the good people of New Orleans, Geraldo Rivera has blown into town with his abrasive and "in-your-face" style of speaking to people. The man has no tact at all, and his manner of speaking is sensationalist or incendiary at best. I was watching a news segment on the O'Reilly show, and here's a Geraldo quote: "after dark something is going to happen here, this place is going to blow", this was said in front of an assembled crowd that was standing peacefully, watching Geraldo exploit their pain and anguish. In my opinion the only thing that "blows" is Geraldo himself, I can't for the life of me (and this is just my opinion) imagine how anyone could consider the man to be a serious journalist or reporter? He was kicked out of Iraq for having a big mouth and revealing information he shoudn't have said on television, he should be kicked out of New Orleans for attempting to fan the flames of a situation that is teetering on the brink. Geraldo's comments didn't serve the common good, didn't improve the situation, and didn't even correctly describe the situation as it was taking place in front of him. As Geraldo said those words, people around him shook their heads in disagreement, or stood by quietly, the coward even had a large contingent of policemen "to watch his back", as he so said, while also saying "but they're not mad at me, they're mad at the government, forget the governor and the mayor, there's dead babies in there.". Real classy Geraldo, of course people are frustrated with their local, state, and federal government administrations who have let them down, but to rub that in their faces, along with the dead babies comment is nothing more than attempting to spark a public display of that frustration simply to get it on video. I can almost hear it now, if Geraldo manages to get his wish, "I'm Geraldo Rivera, reporting from a riot that has broken out at the convention center!", I'm certain he'd say it with glee in his voice, and a twinkle in his beady eyes. Please, somebody banish this man from television forever. I must say that while the information Geraldo mentioned was true about the living conditions, the deaths inside, and the powder keg situation taking place, his method did so very little to help, did very little to address the needs of the people going through this hell, and did very little to use the true power of television as a medium. A true reporter would have made a very public appeal to local, state, federal, and military officials to send somebody immediately, applying pressure through public opinion by the size of the viewing audience. However, I don't believe Geraldo has that option, as I quickly changed the channel shortly after I saw what I described, and I'd bet many others did as well. A true reporter would have words of encouragement in saying to the people that they would follow up on the situation until something was done, and they would have followed up on it by whatever means necessary to keep their word, a true reporter would have also allowed the people in the situation to speak for themselves about their needs, rather than some sort of hack attempt by the guy with the microphone and unusually large moustache trying to be bigger than the story and the center of attention. The best thing for people in the city of New Orleans to do if they see Geraldo coming, simply walk the other way, because whatever he tries to do isn't gonna be good.

"Safe" and "Looking For" Lists

Good afternoon to all,

Well, the weekend is almost upon us, but that doesn't bring relief for many of the residents of New Orleans, people there still have no clear idea as to what is going to become of their lives, many don't know how their loved ones are doing, and many of their families are still looking for the missing and displaced.

I noticed that a couple of news agencies, and the nola.com site have established "Safe" and "Looking for" lists on their websites, which could serve to ease the minds of loved ones out there by establishing even the most minimal of essential information.

Here are the links for quick reference:

MSNBC "Looking for" List

MSNBC "Tell them you're safe" List

CNN "Get Help" List

CNN "Locate the missing" List

CNN "Find local information" List

NOLA "Missing Persons" List

NOLA "Tell them you're ok" List

NOLA "Homes Available" List for displaced people

I added a few other links that I hoped might be useful.
To all out there in the area, or who might have family members out there, stay strong, be safe, and please know that there are many out here who care about how you and your loved ones are doing.

Take good care.

It's about time !

Good afternoon to all,

It's about time that things finally look like something is being done. I saw New Orleans news coverage of food convoys, National Guard troops arriving, and people being evacuated by helicopter and bus. Now, we'll have a chance to see if the level of assistance improves or slows in the days following the president's visit into the area, my hope is that it proceeds in an orderly manner, quickly and completely, not forgetting anyone or any area regardless of the economic standing of the residents. Word from one really good blog called Katrina's Wrath, who are doing so much for the people of their city by getting first hand accounts of what is going on out there and forwarding the information to city and state authorities, says that some of the outlying parishes such as St. Bernard, have been all but forgotten these 5 days later. This type of thing surely can't stand in this day and age. This great country, which I've loved all my life is not the place divided along so many lines as it seems today, I still believe it is a country with a big heart that shows itself in the biggest way at those times when we need to come together in a common goal. My only hope is for the survivors to be able to think of their country in the way I just mentioned, though after all they've been I can only imagine they must be wondering who cares for them. Today was a good first step, but now it's time to do the whole dance and fix this fiasco.

On a happy note...

Good evening to all,

On a happy note, something I just saw.... children smiling as they played in the Houston Astrodome! WOW, it sure was nice to see something nice come out of this, finally. Now, it would sure be nice to see many, many more find their way out of the New Orleans area and on their way to Texas and other neighboring states for clean and safe lodging with bed, bath, and food.

Spam Comments

Good evening to all,
hope your night is going well.

Here's a way to rid your blog of the dreaded spam comments that have been appearing all over the place lately:
(a word to the spammer... I hope you get a taste of the frustration you've caused so many, it'll happen.)

I'm certain there are many of you out there who have been having trouble with spam comments appearing on your blogs, several of the blogs I visit have had spam comments, and they struck at this blog too. I've been trying to keep watch over my blog entries here to get rid of the spam stuff shortly after it appears. What a pain in the neck.

Check out this link, and follow the directions:
http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=1203

It describes choosing "yes" for the setting of "Word Verification". If you choose "yes", people posting a comment on your blog will have to type a random word to send the comment, this will make it difficult for automated spam bots to send a comment to your blog posts. At best it should cut down the amount of spam we're dealing with.

Want to see what it looks like? Click like you're going to send a comment and you'll see the random word appear at the bottom.

Hope this helps,
I'm sure looking forward to finally being rid of all that spam around here.

They Need Help Now !

Good afternoon to all,
as I watch the news and hear the stories as told by those who survived the storm, only to find themselves nearly abandoned in their search for help, it sure makes me wonder WHY? Why, in this nation where we take pride in showing food drops from U.S. planes into starving cities around the world, do we have starving and dehydrated men, women, and most heartbreakingly.... children, the sick and elderly, and pregnant women? I hear alot of word coming from Washington that help is on it's way, but will it arrive in time to save the lives of the most frail of the survivors? I sure dunno the answer, but I do know that something needs to be done.... and NOW!

Where is the mayor? I haven't seen a single word broadcast from him in the past couple of days, is he even in New Orleans City? No tape footage of him at the Superdome or Convention Center, nothing, at least during and after the September 11th tragedy, the Mayor of New York City was on the scene and talking to the people (I'm no Giuliani fan, but that was great). All I can say is that if I were the mayor of a city, I wouldn't leave until the last person had a meal, got medical attention, and got on the bus to their evacuation place. I know it's easy for someone removed from a situation to say such things, but I truly mean it with all my heart. Amongst the hardships survivors are facing is a blatant lack of communication, nobody knows what the plan is, when the assistance is coming, or what they're going to do. Even I am frustrated with the crawling pace of things, and I'm hundreds of miles away. I hate to say it, but what was said to be a well prepared evacuation plan prior to the storm, was not well prepared at all, by all appearances the only thing well prepared was that speech the mayor gave. I also hate to say that the evacuation and shelter plan seems to have been split along economic lines, as little was done for those who had neither a way to get to the shelters nor a way to evacuate. The storm didn't sneak up on the area, and the possibility of a levee breaking isn't a new idea, so where is the evidence of organization and preparedness? Even the ideas of designated shelters not being stocked with food and water before the storm seems to border on the insane. I have to say it again, where is the mayor? Wherever he is, I'll bet he has food and water.

In my previous blog posts, I mentioned an elderly man searching for water, and nobody helping, I also mentioned looters and shootings, while I do agree that order needs to be maintained, the relief efforts cannot come to a standstill, troops to regain order should be sent, but food drops are needed post haste. I've seen the president on television quite often, but where is the federal help? Shoudn't there have been a plan in place before the storm? I just assumed there was one in place, and things would go so much smoother than this.

Today, I donated a little more to the relief fund, but wish I had more to give. I also wish I was certain that help would arrive in time, the pictures of children weak from hunger and thirst tore at my heart.

Shootings? how, why?

Good morning to all,
hope you're doing well out there.

I couldn't believe what I woke up to hear on the news today, it now seems that someone or some groups of people are shooting at rescue helicopters as they fly over in their attempts to help stranded people. Huh? What the heck would be the rationale for that? Probably someone just being really stupid, but it sure makes me think that the regular Army or Marines should be called in to regain control of the city and set the rescue effort back on track. It's clear that local authorities are stretched beyond their abilities to contain the situation, and the Louisiana National Guard forces are stretched thin as well, as many of their people are in Iraq. It's been said that the Navy is on their way to the scene with hospital ships and supplies, but it will most likely be difficult for them to do their jobs in a situation that is seeming to quickly spiral into chaos and lawlessness. In these days when our troops are being sent to fight in an urban environment, to patrol a city far away, why not send them to secure the scene here, rather than sending them thousands of miles away to help someone else who clearly doesn't want them there? The military spends millions of dollars to train our troops in methods of how to secure an urban environment, well it seems we have an urban environment in the U.S that is in need of securing, so why not on the job training? A military presence would act to deter minor players who are destabilizing the situation, it would slow the amount of looting throughout the city, and they would have communications and equipment capable of assisting people stranded in the most difficult to reach places, it would be a win-win situation. I believe all that waits is a phone call from the governor.

What do you think? Would sending the military into the city be a good idea? Let us know.