What does one do with a Christmas tree after Christmas? In most places they put it out at the curb to be picked up as trash for landfill. It's not a very efficient use of the tree, even though it is a renewable resource. But in New Orleans we recycle our Christmas trees. Every January on a specified date, the local government picks up the trees in special trucks and holds them for recycling.
Later volunteers meet and bundle the trees which are then taken to marshes, bayous, the wetlands and coastal regions to act as barriers to block erosion of the land there. So the trees stop our coastal land loss. It's a great way to dispose of old trees. In San Francisco there is now a new use for the Christmas tree that seeks to avoid the waste of the typical Christmas tree disposal, this time with live Christmas trees.
For $90 the city is renting 100 live, potted trees, from, Christmas pines, fruitless olive trees to Brisbane boxes to homes for the holidays. Yep, instead of them getting tossed to the curb when Christmas is over, the city of San Francisco will pick them up in January and plant them in a neighborhood in need of more trees. The city is trying it this year to see if can eliminate much of the waste from cutting live trees and the the environmentally unfriendly practice of making artificial trees with petroleum products.
So far parents who bought the trees say their kids love them while environmentalists say growing real trees to chop down for a few weeks of pleasure is a waste of valuable resources, and that discarding them often clogs landfills. Too, artificial trees may contain lead or other harmful chemicals that eventually end up in landfills. I have bought smaller live trees before and replanted them after the holidays, one at my former home is about 25 feet tall now. But it seems people here still prefer the ease of the disposable tree.
Well, Americans are often easily pushed to fads. We shall see if this becomes one next Christmas. How stupid does a driver have to be to illegally park in a handicapped zone? Well, maybe as dumb as William Shufro, 46, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. You see, not only did non handicapped William park his car in a handicapped person's spot, he faces a felony charge and possible 3 year prison term after trying to alter the ticket police gave him for parking there. Police allege that William tried to alter the ticket to give the appearance that it had been issued for parking in a no-parking zone, which carries just a $20 fine (the handicap parking violation is a $100 fine).
The altered ticket was sent to city hall by William with his $20 payment. But police had a copy and saw the alteration and have charged William with forgery. It looks like William will have a real handicap this time. He'll have a stint in prison and a prison record to overcome when he is release from jail.....but I doubt he will park in a handicap zone.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
New Year
I am thinking (a dangerous task for the likes of me!) about this New Year tradition we all seem to have. You know, where people celebrate the changing of the calendar, pretending that they are leaving an old era for a new. It is of course a silly connotation, for calendars and years are arbitrary concepts. Yet those people who wear funny hats, drink too much, shoot fireworks and the rest to celebrate the coming of "new year" do seem to believe something new and different begins on January 1st.
Apart from the old new year celebration, when the calendar did not begin with January 1st but rather was attuned to the spring crop season, the modern world has been celebrating January 1st as the beginning of the new year for hundreds of years. It's all so symbolic too. For example, the tradition of using a baby to signify the new year is tied to the old Greek way of parading a baby in basket as a symbol of rebirth.
And the idea of people celebrating together festively on New Year's Eve ws because it was thought that luck could be controlled by what one did on the first day of the year. Thus the party that goes on as the new year starts. And certain goods are symbolic too. The Dutch think that eating donuts on New Year's brings good luck.
My own parents used to cook a good luck meal of corn beef, cabbage and black eyed peas that they ate every New Year's Day. But the form of New Year's Eve celebrations now is different. It is more a party without symbol, that being forgotten in favor of an excuse to over eat and drink to much. I some cases it is a drunken orgy. But why do we follow those old superstitions and New Year's customs.
I think we celebrate the changing of the calendar because it is an opportunity to purge our memories of the bad things we suffer each year. There is little talk of the good events of a passing year. instead, most people pay tribute to the idea that by acknowledging the changing of the calendar they can actually make that event real.
Thus, these days New Year's isn't celebrated for symbolic reasons, but in the belief that there really is a difference between December 31st and January 1st. They make resolutions to the new year and offer toasts to the death of old because they really think it effects what will come. Of course, in reality it matters not whether one celebrates New Year's Day. But we might feel guilty all year if we don't.
So toast the New Year Every December 31st if you like. I am usually fast asleep while yo are doing it. And since we are in a new year now, it's time to look at some of the memorable 2005 Bush quotes. Paul Payack has announced this year's award winning Bush quote, an award for the most outrageous remark made by the inarticulate Bush. the winner this year is "Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job", the ill timed phrase from bush about the inept and disgraced former head of FEMA. Brown was the guy who mishandled the relief effort to millions following Hurricane Katrina. It seems only Bush believed Brown did a heckuva job".
See other Bush notables for 2005 were:
1) Proof that when one can't speak the language he can create substitute vocabulary for it- Bush created two new words "misunderestimate" (he meant "underestimate") and "embetter" (supposed to be about making someone emotionally better).
2) "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." (In explaining his communication strategy) 3) "I think I may need a bathroom break Is this possible?" (Bush asking Secretary of State Condleeza Rice for permission to poo during a U.N. Security Council meeting)
4) "The notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And having said that, all options are on the table." (A confusing Bush clarification)
5) "In terms of timetables, as quickly as possible, whatever that means." ( IN explaining the Bush timeline for reforming Social Security)
6) "Those who enter the country illegally violate the law?" (I didn't know that!).
My God! We have 3 more New Years of Bush............
Apart from the old new year celebration, when the calendar did not begin with January 1st but rather was attuned to the spring crop season, the modern world has been celebrating January 1st as the beginning of the new year for hundreds of years. It's all so symbolic too. For example, the tradition of using a baby to signify the new year is tied to the old Greek way of parading a baby in basket as a symbol of rebirth.
And the idea of people celebrating together festively on New Year's Eve ws because it was thought that luck could be controlled by what one did on the first day of the year. Thus the party that goes on as the new year starts. And certain goods are symbolic too. The Dutch think that eating donuts on New Year's brings good luck.
My own parents used to cook a good luck meal of corn beef, cabbage and black eyed peas that they ate every New Year's Day. But the form of New Year's Eve celebrations now is different. It is more a party without symbol, that being forgotten in favor of an excuse to over eat and drink to much. I some cases it is a drunken orgy. But why do we follow those old superstitions and New Year's customs.
I think we celebrate the changing of the calendar because it is an opportunity to purge our memories of the bad things we suffer each year. There is little talk of the good events of a passing year. instead, most people pay tribute to the idea that by acknowledging the changing of the calendar they can actually make that event real.
Thus, these days New Year's isn't celebrated for symbolic reasons, but in the belief that there really is a difference between December 31st and January 1st. They make resolutions to the new year and offer toasts to the death of old because they really think it effects what will come. Of course, in reality it matters not whether one celebrates New Year's Day. But we might feel guilty all year if we don't.
So toast the New Year Every December 31st if you like. I am usually fast asleep while yo are doing it. And since we are in a new year now, it's time to look at some of the memorable 2005 Bush quotes. Paul Payack has announced this year's award winning Bush quote, an award for the most outrageous remark made by the inarticulate Bush. the winner this year is "Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job", the ill timed phrase from bush about the inept and disgraced former head of FEMA. Brown was the guy who mishandled the relief effort to millions following Hurricane Katrina. It seems only Bush believed Brown did a heckuva job".
See other Bush notables for 2005 were:
1) Proof that when one can't speak the language he can create substitute vocabulary for it- Bush created two new words "misunderestimate" (he meant "underestimate") and "embetter" (supposed to be about making someone emotionally better).
2) "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." (In explaining his communication strategy) 3) "I think I may need a bathroom break Is this possible?" (Bush asking Secretary of State Condleeza Rice for permission to poo during a U.N. Security Council meeting)
4) "The notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And having said that, all options are on the table." (A confusing Bush clarification)
5) "In terms of timetables, as quickly as possible, whatever that means." ( IN explaining the Bush timeline for reforming Social Security)
6) "Those who enter the country illegally violate the law?" (I didn't know that!).
My God! We have 3 more New Years of Bush............
Old TV Commercials
My local newspaper had a big article today about a TV show that will be broadcast tonight showing the most unusual and memorable local TV commercials of the past 50 years. Wait! This isn't as dull as it may first sound.
I remember some of the oldie commercials and they were hilarious. We New Orleanians are known for our rather...uh....different view of the world, and that view is reflected in those old commercial spots. For example, I remember Al Scramuza, the "Crawfish guy":. Al used to sing as he loaded huge vats of crawfish during his commercials even though Al could hardy carry a tune. His commercial refrain ws sung 'Seafood City..Where the crawfish are pretty". Al sold a lot of seafood and became wealth for awhile until falling on hard times. He promptly gambled away his profits and at the end of his business life his store was robbed. Apparently, some crook who liked his commercials decided to blow a hole in the back of Al's store. He got away with more than crawfish and Al was uninsured.
Then there were the 'Frankie and Johnny' furniture commercials. F&J was a furniture store that sold because of funny commercials. When the customers eventually saw the furniture wasn't so good, and that they were paying high credit costs, Frankie and Johnnie's became an almost forgotten furniture venue. In those commercials one actor played a salesman who scooted across the floor in a Michael Jackson style moon walk to tell a prospective customer, "I say, I say I say. You have no money..Need credit...See the special man." The camera then showed a huge cigar smoking man, allegedly the guy who granted credit purchases at Frankie and Johnny's", who proceeded to mug into the camera "Needs the furniture! No Money! Let her have it!" As you might imagine, when the poor and less than reputable crowd saw that Frankie and Johnny was handing over furniture with no money charges and giving easy credit, they flooded that store and created a mountain of uncollectable debt for Frankie and Johnnie's.
But it was all amusing, as were many more classic New Orleans TV commercials. I could write about many more I remember, but I guess it makes little sense to you this way. You had to see those commercials to appreciate them. I'll never forget them and think they were the highlight of TV watching in New Orleans.
I remember some of the oldie commercials and they were hilarious. We New Orleanians are known for our rather...uh....different view of the world, and that view is reflected in those old commercial spots. For example, I remember Al Scramuza, the "Crawfish guy":. Al used to sing as he loaded huge vats of crawfish during his commercials even though Al could hardy carry a tune. His commercial refrain ws sung 'Seafood City..Where the crawfish are pretty". Al sold a lot of seafood and became wealth for awhile until falling on hard times. He promptly gambled away his profits and at the end of his business life his store was robbed. Apparently, some crook who liked his commercials decided to blow a hole in the back of Al's store. He got away with more than crawfish and Al was uninsured.
Then there were the 'Frankie and Johnny' furniture commercials. F&J was a furniture store that sold because of funny commercials. When the customers eventually saw the furniture wasn't so good, and that they were paying high credit costs, Frankie and Johnnie's became an almost forgotten furniture venue. In those commercials one actor played a salesman who scooted across the floor in a Michael Jackson style moon walk to tell a prospective customer, "I say, I say I say. You have no money..Need credit...See the special man." The camera then showed a huge cigar smoking man, allegedly the guy who granted credit purchases at Frankie and Johnny's", who proceeded to mug into the camera "Needs the furniture! No Money! Let her have it!" As you might imagine, when the poor and less than reputable crowd saw that Frankie and Johnny was handing over furniture with no money charges and giving easy credit, they flooded that store and created a mountain of uncollectable debt for Frankie and Johnnie's.
But it was all amusing, as were many more classic New Orleans TV commercials. I could write about many more I remember, but I guess it makes little sense to you this way. You had to see those commercials to appreciate them. I'll never forget them and think they were the highlight of TV watching in New Orleans.
Year 2005
It's time to review year 2005, maybe not the best or worst for most people, but for me and my fellow New Orleans it was a year of the infamous- the destruction of our city by a mega storm that exposed levee inadequacies that flooded us to..uh.. death.
That personal worst dealt with here is my list of best and worst for year 2005. First ten of the Best Moments
1) No terrorism in the U.,S. this year again, despite the shameful Bush administration threats ( promises) that there are terrorists demons looking over every shoulder of every American.
2) Syria pulled out of Lebanon, Israel ceded some of its territory to the Palestinians and you're still writing E mail to me ( I just threw that in to see if you're paying attention)
3) Michael Jackson was found "innocent" and is in seclusion, hopefully to never be heard from again (Well, you and I are not little boys, so under any circumstance he shouldn't bother us)
4) TV and Movies stayed the same (awful). Well, at least they didn't get any worse. But could they?
5) the Global Warming/Greenhouse emissions standards issue became even more muddy as some people actually started to objectively examine whether the effects of both are real or an exaggeration. And.... after years of criticizing the U.S. for refusing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. European Union leaders (those effete and sanctimonious ones) discovered that they to are way away from meeting their own standards of Kyoto.
6) Americans are apparently finally waking up and seeing Bush and his administration for what they are- lying, hypocritical, incompetent boobs! Gee, I loved writing that.
7) Saddam's trial began. Lets hope we aren't forced to see those pictures of Saddam in his underwear. I say if it is a choice between seeing that and freeing him- let him go
8) Cyclist Lance Armstrong won his record seventh consecutive Tour de France after overcoming near fatal cancer and persistent snipping by jealous competitors who say Lance "has got to be doing something illegal" to win.
9) Tom Cruise's hoping on the couch declaration of love for Kate Moss and intolerant views on religion may have finally annoyed us so much that Tom will just go away. 10) Bill Gates headed to Buckingham palace where he was actually knighted. This is good because now Gates won't think of himself as just plain God.
Now ten of the Worst Moments of 2005:
1) The U.S. still occupies Iraqi and Bush still pretends it's a good thing. Hmmmmm Why can't he just invade amore civil place. I suggest the The French Riviera. I may even volunteer to go as one of the occupiers.
2) Pope Paul died and his successor is a serious Catholic. That guy expects Catholics to quit pretending to be faithful and start acting like a...uh..a Catholic.
3) Reporters falsely claimed that American personnel at Gitmo prison in Iraq flushed a copy of the Koran down a toilet. Can a book that big really go down a toilet?
4) Terrorist bombs ignited in London as a protest against America's insistence on democratic elections in Iraq. Well, those Islamic terrorist may be geographic idiots, but they can set off bombs that kill innocent people anywhere they wish.
5) I'm still sending this kind of lame E mail...
6) Bush shamelessly manipulates the Terry Schiavo situation for political gain, and finds that not even his right wing supporters want him t interfere. As Bush realized his political butt mandated it, he withdrew in silence and the issue died faster than did Terry.
7) Brickhouse Mobile started selling new ring tones for their brain dead cell customers. The new rings feature adult movie stars making groaning and moaning noises (Oh, but I think I would rather hear that than listen to the incoherent, inconsequential chatter cell users inflict on me every day in public places), from the suggestive to the raunchy.
8.) Gas and oil prices soared upward, natural disasters devastated numerous areas, and not a soul knows what will happen next. Well I know....but I'm not telling.
9) Harry Potter and every other mindless fad movie that Hollywood dumped n increasingly shrinking IQ of the typical rabid movie goer. 10) My annual year end review. But look at it this way, you made it to the end without shooting me.
Happy 2006!
That personal worst dealt with here is my list of best and worst for year 2005. First ten of the Best Moments
1) No terrorism in the U.,S. this year again, despite the shameful Bush administration threats ( promises) that there are terrorists demons looking over every shoulder of every American.
2) Syria pulled out of Lebanon, Israel ceded some of its territory to the Palestinians and you're still writing E mail to me ( I just threw that in to see if you're paying attention)
3) Michael Jackson was found "innocent" and is in seclusion, hopefully to never be heard from again (Well, you and I are not little boys, so under any circumstance he shouldn't bother us)
4) TV and Movies stayed the same (awful). Well, at least they didn't get any worse. But could they?
5) the Global Warming/Greenhouse emissions standards issue became even more muddy as some people actually started to objectively examine whether the effects of both are real or an exaggeration. And.... after years of criticizing the U.S. for refusing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. European Union leaders (those effete and sanctimonious ones) discovered that they to are way away from meeting their own standards of Kyoto.
6) Americans are apparently finally waking up and seeing Bush and his administration for what they are- lying, hypocritical, incompetent boobs! Gee, I loved writing that.
7) Saddam's trial began. Lets hope we aren't forced to see those pictures of Saddam in his underwear. I say if it is a choice between seeing that and freeing him- let him go
8) Cyclist Lance Armstrong won his record seventh consecutive Tour de France after overcoming near fatal cancer and persistent snipping by jealous competitors who say Lance "has got to be doing something illegal" to win.
9) Tom Cruise's hoping on the couch declaration of love for Kate Moss and intolerant views on religion may have finally annoyed us so much that Tom will just go away. 10) Bill Gates headed to Buckingham palace where he was actually knighted. This is good because now Gates won't think of himself as just plain God.
Now ten of the Worst Moments of 2005:
1) The U.S. still occupies Iraqi and Bush still pretends it's a good thing. Hmmmmm Why can't he just invade amore civil place. I suggest the The French Riviera. I may even volunteer to go as one of the occupiers.
2) Pope Paul died and his successor is a serious Catholic. That guy expects Catholics to quit pretending to be faithful and start acting like a...uh..a Catholic.
3) Reporters falsely claimed that American personnel at Gitmo prison in Iraq flushed a copy of the Koran down a toilet. Can a book that big really go down a toilet?
4) Terrorist bombs ignited in London as a protest against America's insistence on democratic elections in Iraq. Well, those Islamic terrorist may be geographic idiots, but they can set off bombs that kill innocent people anywhere they wish.
5) I'm still sending this kind of lame E mail...
6) Bush shamelessly manipulates the Terry Schiavo situation for political gain, and finds that not even his right wing supporters want him t interfere. As Bush realized his political butt mandated it, he withdrew in silence and the issue died faster than did Terry.
7) Brickhouse Mobile started selling new ring tones for their brain dead cell customers. The new rings feature adult movie stars making groaning and moaning noises (Oh, but I think I would rather hear that than listen to the incoherent, inconsequential chatter cell users inflict on me every day in public places), from the suggestive to the raunchy.
8.) Gas and oil prices soared upward, natural disasters devastated numerous areas, and not a soul knows what will happen next. Well I know....but I'm not telling.
9) Harry Potter and every other mindless fad movie that Hollywood dumped n increasingly shrinking IQ of the typical rabid movie goer. 10) My annual year end review. But look at it this way, you made it to the end without shooting me.
Happy 2006!
Gift Giving
Everyone seems so greedy for presents at Christmas. So, given that Christmas has passed us by again I am going to mention some things about receiving gifts. It seems people today are gift crazy, not just receiving but in giving as well. I am guilty of giving Jane too many gifts and think it is probably not necessary to do it.
But, what about "bad gifts"? I think the bad Christmas gifts can be categorized fairly easily. Hehe Did you get any gifts in one of these categories below?
1) The Tardy Gift Giver- He or she gives you the gift after Christmas, maybe weeks after or buys you the Christmas gift you get on Christmas Day. That's why he or she gives you the orange juice squeezer that is shaped like Napoleon Bonaparte or the the jacket that is two sizes too small (It's the only size that was left)
2) The Regifters- That's the one who re-wraps gifts they already received , but think are awful, and passes it on to you. Those rock hard fruitcakes are probably regifted- from several years ago. The Regifter may have been using that fruitcake as a doorstop but no longer needs it since he finally fixed his door.
3) The Passive/Aggressive- They are the ones who give you the things they themselves need- diet pills, support bras, hair removal products- even though you don't need those gift. They do! 4) Show-off- This one has to give the best and most expensive gift, and if you tell them, "Don't get me anything this year", it only ensures an even more expensive gift from them. They truly believe it is better to give than receive, because by giving it stokes their own ego even more. They really couldn't care less about the gift receiver. They give the $500 watch even though they are aware you already own 5 other watches you adore.
5) Unsure Giver- They have no idea what to get you, because they don't know you well enough or have too little confidence in themselves to buy what's appropriate. Expect those prepackaged food baskets with sausage, crackers, cakes and jelly. The Unsure Giver is sure in only that it is "ok" for everyone.
Anyway most bad gifts are the ones bought at the last minute or on impulse. Having said that, I must also affirm that any gift given, even a"bad gift" I like to get. So send all those bad gifts to me. I will appreciate them and thank you all the same.
But wait! What was the worst bad gift idea of Christmas 2005? It has to be the Compton, California city gift swap! That's because nearly 50 gun-toting (mostly illegal firearms) residents of that city converged on a shopping mall on the day before Christmas and two previous Saturdays to get their "gifts" from the city. They...uh..had to swap a gun or other firearm to get gift certificates as part of an ill advised program that is aimed at reducing gun incidents in that violent city.
Every thug.....er....... I mean "resident" who brought in his shooting iron got a $100 gift certificate as a reward for possessing illegal firearms. The gift certificate was good for merchandise at Circuit City or a Ralph's Supermarket- places where the thugs could not obtain a new weapon with their gift card. A total of 260 firearms were traded, including 185 handguns, high powered rifles, shotguns and one Tec-9 semiautomatic machine gun pistol. All will undergo ballistic checks to see if any were used in crimes before being melted down for scrap metal. Officials say it will be an annual program. Great! now the Compton thugs and rearm with more guns in anticipation of being rewarded for turning them in...after they use them to rob, rape and pillage until next Christmas.
All day I had problems with high speed, I appreciate when it works well, but it gives me so many problems compared to regular internet , it stresses me (not as much as you stress me!!!!!)
But, what about "bad gifts"? I think the bad Christmas gifts can be categorized fairly easily. Hehe Did you get any gifts in one of these categories below?
1) The Tardy Gift Giver- He or she gives you the gift after Christmas, maybe weeks after or buys you the Christmas gift you get on Christmas Day. That's why he or she gives you the orange juice squeezer that is shaped like Napoleon Bonaparte or the the jacket that is two sizes too small (It's the only size that was left)
2) The Regifters- That's the one who re-wraps gifts they already received , but think are awful, and passes it on to you. Those rock hard fruitcakes are probably regifted- from several years ago. The Regifter may have been using that fruitcake as a doorstop but no longer needs it since he finally fixed his door.
3) The Passive/Aggressive- They are the ones who give you the things they themselves need- diet pills, support bras, hair removal products- even though you don't need those gift. They do! 4) Show-off- This one has to give the best and most expensive gift, and if you tell them, "Don't get me anything this year", it only ensures an even more expensive gift from them. They truly believe it is better to give than receive, because by giving it stokes their own ego even more. They really couldn't care less about the gift receiver. They give the $500 watch even though they are aware you already own 5 other watches you adore.
5) Unsure Giver- They have no idea what to get you, because they don't know you well enough or have too little confidence in themselves to buy what's appropriate. Expect those prepackaged food baskets with sausage, crackers, cakes and jelly. The Unsure Giver is sure in only that it is "ok" for everyone.
Anyway most bad gifts are the ones bought at the last minute or on impulse. Having said that, I must also affirm that any gift given, even a"bad gift" I like to get. So send all those bad gifts to me. I will appreciate them and thank you all the same.
But wait! What was the worst bad gift idea of Christmas 2005? It has to be the Compton, California city gift swap! That's because nearly 50 gun-toting (mostly illegal firearms) residents of that city converged on a shopping mall on the day before Christmas and two previous Saturdays to get their "gifts" from the city. They...uh..had to swap a gun or other firearm to get gift certificates as part of an ill advised program that is aimed at reducing gun incidents in that violent city.
Every thug.....er....... I mean "resident" who brought in his shooting iron got a $100 gift certificate as a reward for possessing illegal firearms. The gift certificate was good for merchandise at Circuit City or a Ralph's Supermarket- places where the thugs could not obtain a new weapon with their gift card. A total of 260 firearms were traded, including 185 handguns, high powered rifles, shotguns and one Tec-9 semiautomatic machine gun pistol. All will undergo ballistic checks to see if any were used in crimes before being melted down for scrap metal. Officials say it will be an annual program. Great! now the Compton thugs and rearm with more guns in anticipation of being rewarded for turning them in...after they use them to rob, rape and pillage until next Christmas.
All day I had problems with high speed, I appreciate when it works well, but it gives me so many problems compared to regular internet , it stresses me (not as much as you stress me!!!!!)
Celebration Revelations
The night before Christmas Eve I took Jane and a friend to this years "scaled down" version of the annual Christmas at the Oaks celebration. In former times this was a bright and lively celebration of rides, food, performances, decorations lights etc. But this year the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina made it far less garish.
Some observations follow that may reflect on the effect the storm had on my city, as seen by this microcosm event- Christmas at the Oaks.
1) We drove to it after dark. What an experience! I had not been to that section of New Orleans, and I was surprised that it also is nearly deserted. House after house we passed along the way was damaged severely. I remarked that with the total darkness around us (There is not electricity in the area) that it seemed we were driving to an eerie spooky Halloween event, not a Christmas celebration. But most of my city looks like a Halloween haunted house now anyway! 2) We arrived after a brief search for an entrance to Christmas At The Oaks. There is no electricity in the park except where the event is held. The rest is still un-electrified. I could see many trees that were dead but still standing, waiting to be removed. The park lost about 1/2 of all it's trees, including some of the 200 year old oaks that majestically swayed there. We saw debris still on the park grounds, as the city is broke and has no funds to clean it completely (Bush and Congress still have not sent us the help we need). If a city is defined by it's zoos and parks, New Orleans is a patient in critical condition.
3) On entering we noticed the much smaller scale of the celebration. For instance, instead of the permanent rides at the park (most of which were completely destroyed) a carnival company had ben hired to temporarily set up rides on the site grounds. About 1/4 of the usual area for the event was in use. City officials say they will have the Celebration of The oaks "back to normal" next Christmas. I have my doubts it will ever be the same (as I doubt my city will be as a whole).
4) Oh, my! Where was our great New Orleans food! For a city that prides itself on it's food, this time the Celebration could hide in shame. The menu from the few food stalls was unappetizing hot dogs, nachos, popcorn etc. Now where was there to be found gumbo, jambalaya, ettoufee' etc. I wondered if our food will ever be what it once was.
5) The crowd seemed much better heeled than before. It was reflective of the fact that New Orleans poor have largely migrated out now. I wondered if the hurricane would make us not only a small city, but a more affluent one.
6) The park grounds opened for the Celebration looked beautiful. The lights and decorations were gorgeous and the atmosphere comforting and joyous. I thought to myself as well if this might instead be the future of New Orleans. Would our people "work" at bringing back the city as the park employees worked so hard to make a pleasant event out of nothingness.
7) Jane and her friends spent much of the night riding rides. I walked the grounds saw the sites and finally gravitated to a big tent where food and entertainment were available. What did I find in the entertainment card? Well, it was nice, particularly the performances of several very talented teens and a 12 year old. The 12 year old looked 20 and sang as lovely as her appearance. then there was a14 year old girl who sand country western songs, yodel and all, and two teen dancers...
But the point is that when the MC introduced all at the end of their performances, it was revealed that all had lost their homes- covered and ruined by flood water. yet those talented kids returned to restart their lives. I thought to myself that we perhaps we have many more of those, and that the floods can't wash away our determination to be renewed. We shall see in the years ahead. I now wonder if that event more reflected the future of New Orleans than the present. If so, the city will do well.
I have another bizarre cell phone story for you. The stupidity of many cell phone addicts is only matched by their rudeness. At least they amuse me. In this case, an unidentified 24 year old woman loves her cell so much she would rather...uh...rather swallow it than let her lover borrow it. And swallow it is what she did! You could say that when she downed the cell phone she "ended the conversation". Hehe It all started because her boyfriend wanted the phone. "He wanted the phone and she wouldn't give it to him, so she attempted to swallow it," said the detective in charge of the investigation. "She just put the entire phone in her mouth so he couldn't get it." Police got a call (I wonder what phone he used to make that call?) from the boyfriend who told them the lady (is a cell phone swallowing woman really a "lady"? What bad manners!) had trouble breathing, and sure enough.....when they arrived at the home the woman had the phone lodged in her throat. An ambulance was dispatched and the cell nut was rushed to a local hospital for treatment (Let's hope she is also treated for cell phone addiction). Contrary to rumors, there isn't a ringing coming from the woman's stomach, but if there is how will she answer?
I think all kids remember learning some kind of music in school. For us it was flute that was compuls
Some observations follow that may reflect on the effect the storm had on my city, as seen by this microcosm event- Christmas at the Oaks.
1) We drove to it after dark. What an experience! I had not been to that section of New Orleans, and I was surprised that it also is nearly deserted. House after house we passed along the way was damaged severely. I remarked that with the total darkness around us (There is not electricity in the area) that it seemed we were driving to an eerie spooky Halloween event, not a Christmas celebration. But most of my city looks like a Halloween haunted house now anyway! 2) We arrived after a brief search for an entrance to Christmas At The Oaks. There is no electricity in the park except where the event is held. The rest is still un-electrified. I could see many trees that were dead but still standing, waiting to be removed. The park lost about 1/2 of all it's trees, including some of the 200 year old oaks that majestically swayed there. We saw debris still on the park grounds, as the city is broke and has no funds to clean it completely (Bush and Congress still have not sent us the help we need). If a city is defined by it's zoos and parks, New Orleans is a patient in critical condition.
3) On entering we noticed the much smaller scale of the celebration. For instance, instead of the permanent rides at the park (most of which were completely destroyed) a carnival company had ben hired to temporarily set up rides on the site grounds. About 1/4 of the usual area for the event was in use. City officials say they will have the Celebration of The oaks "back to normal" next Christmas. I have my doubts it will ever be the same (as I doubt my city will be as a whole).
4) Oh, my! Where was our great New Orleans food! For a city that prides itself on it's food, this time the Celebration could hide in shame. The menu from the few food stalls was unappetizing hot dogs, nachos, popcorn etc. Now where was there to be found gumbo, jambalaya, ettoufee' etc. I wondered if our food will ever be what it once was.
5) The crowd seemed much better heeled than before. It was reflective of the fact that New Orleans poor have largely migrated out now. I wondered if the hurricane would make us not only a small city, but a more affluent one.
6) The park grounds opened for the Celebration looked beautiful. The lights and decorations were gorgeous and the atmosphere comforting and joyous. I thought to myself as well if this might instead be the future of New Orleans. Would our people "work" at bringing back the city as the park employees worked so hard to make a pleasant event out of nothingness.
7) Jane and her friends spent much of the night riding rides. I walked the grounds saw the sites and finally gravitated to a big tent where food and entertainment were available. What did I find in the entertainment card? Well, it was nice, particularly the performances of several very talented teens and a 12 year old. The 12 year old looked 20 and sang as lovely as her appearance. then there was a14 year old girl who sand country western songs, yodel and all, and two teen dancers...
But the point is that when the MC introduced all at the end of their performances, it was revealed that all had lost their homes- covered and ruined by flood water. yet those talented kids returned to restart their lives. I thought to myself that we perhaps we have many more of those, and that the floods can't wash away our determination to be renewed. We shall see in the years ahead. I now wonder if that event more reflected the future of New Orleans than the present. If so, the city will do well.
I have another bizarre cell phone story for you. The stupidity of many cell phone addicts is only matched by their rudeness. At least they amuse me. In this case, an unidentified 24 year old woman loves her cell so much she would rather...uh...rather swallow it than let her lover borrow it. And swallow it is what she did! You could say that when she downed the cell phone she "ended the conversation". Hehe It all started because her boyfriend wanted the phone. "He wanted the phone and she wouldn't give it to him, so she attempted to swallow it," said the detective in charge of the investigation. "She just put the entire phone in her mouth so he couldn't get it." Police got a call (I wonder what phone he used to make that call?) from the boyfriend who told them the lady (is a cell phone swallowing woman really a "lady"? What bad manners!) had trouble breathing, and sure enough.....when they arrived at the home the woman had the phone lodged in her throat. An ambulance was dispatched and the cell nut was rushed to a local hospital for treatment (Let's hope she is also treated for cell phone addiction). Contrary to rumors, there isn't a ringing coming from the woman's stomach, but if there is how will she answer?
I think all kids remember learning some kind of music in school. For us it was flute that was compuls
Holiday Times And Hanukkah
A quick paragraph or two now about the forgotten holiday- Hanukkah. Many non Jewish people don't think about Hanukkah during Christmas time, but it is on December 26th, and runs for eight days and nights. The word Hanukkah means "dedication: and that holiday commemorates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem after a big Jewish military battle about 2000 years ago. I went to elementary and high school with many Jewish children and learned some things about that holiday, and the Jewish religion.
On the whole I think Judaism is very reasonable and demands real sacrifice from the worshippers. Maybe you have seen the menorah candle, for instance. That's the eight pronged candle that is lit one candle per day until on day eight all nine are all glowing at the same time. Supposedly, with each successive candle lighting the greatness and growth of the miracle of the victory at that battle is honored.
I also remember one child bringing Latkes to school when I was in the 2nd or 3rd grade. Latkes are potato pancakes ( grated potatoes mixed with onions, egg and flour and seasoning) cooked in oil (foods cooked in oil are common at Hanukkah to remind the believers of the miracle when the original menorah candle burned for weight days rather than the usual one) And of course a donut fanatic like me would never forget those Sufganiyots the Jewish kids brought to school during Hanukkah time. A Sufganiyot is the ancestor to today's heavenly jelly donut. The batter is dropped in oil randomly to form hole less donuts, covered in powered sugar and filled with jam after cooking.
Wow! I should convert and become Jewish!!
Santa is doing an extra special good dead this year in Birmingham, England. Its the "Parking Ticket Santa" who has been spreading not only good cheer there, but also cash in the form of Christmas cards containing 30 pounds ( $53) on windshields of drivers who have received parking tickets. "Don't let that ticket spoil your Christmas," declares a note in each card. "Here's 30 pounds to pay it off. Merry Christmas- "Parking Ticket Santa". So far 14 ticketed drivers have said they got the cards and lot to pay the fines, and the scheme seems to have done good things for Santa's image.
NO! Don't even think about it. There is no E mail Santa in this mail, and no money either!
On the whole I think Judaism is very reasonable and demands real sacrifice from the worshippers. Maybe you have seen the menorah candle, for instance. That's the eight pronged candle that is lit one candle per day until on day eight all nine are all glowing at the same time. Supposedly, with each successive candle lighting the greatness and growth of the miracle of the victory at that battle is honored.
I also remember one child bringing Latkes to school when I was in the 2nd or 3rd grade. Latkes are potato pancakes ( grated potatoes mixed with onions, egg and flour and seasoning) cooked in oil (foods cooked in oil are common at Hanukkah to remind the believers of the miracle when the original menorah candle burned for weight days rather than the usual one) And of course a donut fanatic like me would never forget those Sufganiyots the Jewish kids brought to school during Hanukkah time. A Sufganiyot is the ancestor to today's heavenly jelly donut. The batter is dropped in oil randomly to form hole less donuts, covered in powered sugar and filled with jam after cooking.
Wow! I should convert and become Jewish!!
Santa is doing an extra special good dead this year in Birmingham, England. Its the "Parking Ticket Santa" who has been spreading not only good cheer there, but also cash in the form of Christmas cards containing 30 pounds ( $53) on windshields of drivers who have received parking tickets. "Don't let that ticket spoil your Christmas," declares a note in each card. "Here's 30 pounds to pay it off. Merry Christmas- "Parking Ticket Santa". So far 14 ticketed drivers have said they got the cards and lot to pay the fines, and the scheme seems to have done good things for Santa's image.
NO! Don't even think about it. There is no E mail Santa in this mail, and no money either!
Looting The Victims
The sad saga of the Hurricane Katrina victims here is an on going struggle. So again I write more about that event. Today it is about the inhuman theft of the personal property of those flooded in the storm. There are more and more reports now of looting by "contractors" (who allegedly are at the homes to fix them) and a few locals outside the looted area.
Because many homes in those areas are two stories high, they have become targets for the looters. Looters know that many of the homes were flooded up to the second floor of the residence, and that the upper floors still contain valuables- antiques, furniture, electronics personal keepsakes etc.- that the homeowner has not yet removed, given that many of them have no place to transfer and store their possessions.
One man, for instance, even had his W.W. II medals taken by thieves. And the thieves don't just steal, they trash the residence while doing it, destroying what is not taken. Police have arrested over 300 looters, mostly workers from Texas and Mexico here to "help" victims fix broken lives, so far in areas of heavy damage- Eastern New Orleans, Lakeview, Plaquemine's Parish, St Bernard. But every area of the city has houses that have been looted by people who work on fixing others and then re enter a home at night to steal property form a separate unguarded home.
The estimate is that more than 1000 homes have been looted since the storm destroyed them. But wait! It's so bad that even some families have been caught in looting sprees. That's right! Some local families are out looting together, mothers fathers, the kids, husbands wives... they do it because the destruction is so wide spread, police can not patrol the devastated areas well enough to nab them. Too, police say it's hard to tell who legitimately belongs in many of the properties because of the plethora of contract workers clearing homes.
So far residents have resorted only to being at their property 24 hours a day (despite no electricity, water or rest room facilities, and a stench that is unbearable), removing what valuables they can store, or boarding up and locking stairs that lead to the upper floors of the home to make it difficult to unload stolen property. There has been no call for more patrols or using military of national guard troops to roam the areas at night. So one wonders when we will have the first "I shot the looter" incident. That would be even more surreal that the looting, but in some ways nothing here can be called surreal now.
This years award for bad taste in Christmas decorations goes to Joel Krupnik and Mildred Castellanos of New York City. Joel and Mildred have a rather sick way of protesting the commercialization of Christmas decor. So this year they decked the halls of their mansion with a grisly scene that includes a 5 foot tall Santa who has a knife and a very menacing look, a tree full of decapitated Barbie dolls, and a elf hidden behind the tree with fake blood spurting out of his eye sockets.
While mom won't be taking the kiddies to see that Christmas decoration, Joel and Mildred say they are doing it "for God". "Christmas has p religious origins, " he said. "It's in the Bible. Santa is not in the Bible. He's not a religious symbol." So Joel wants to make Santa a symbol of mass murder....I guess. Merry Christmas to Joel and Mildred!
Because many homes in those areas are two stories high, they have become targets for the looters. Looters know that many of the homes were flooded up to the second floor of the residence, and that the upper floors still contain valuables- antiques, furniture, electronics personal keepsakes etc.- that the homeowner has not yet removed, given that many of them have no place to transfer and store their possessions.
One man, for instance, even had his W.W. II medals taken by thieves. And the thieves don't just steal, they trash the residence while doing it, destroying what is not taken. Police have arrested over 300 looters, mostly workers from Texas and Mexico here to "help" victims fix broken lives, so far in areas of heavy damage- Eastern New Orleans, Lakeview, Plaquemine's Parish, St Bernard. But every area of the city has houses that have been looted by people who work on fixing others and then re enter a home at night to steal property form a separate unguarded home.
The estimate is that more than 1000 homes have been looted since the storm destroyed them. But wait! It's so bad that even some families have been caught in looting sprees. That's right! Some local families are out looting together, mothers fathers, the kids, husbands wives... they do it because the destruction is so wide spread, police can not patrol the devastated areas well enough to nab them. Too, police say it's hard to tell who legitimately belongs in many of the properties because of the plethora of contract workers clearing homes.
So far residents have resorted only to being at their property 24 hours a day (despite no electricity, water or rest room facilities, and a stench that is unbearable), removing what valuables they can store, or boarding up and locking stairs that lead to the upper floors of the home to make it difficult to unload stolen property. There has been no call for more patrols or using military of national guard troops to roam the areas at night. So one wonders when we will have the first "I shot the looter" incident. That would be even more surreal that the looting, but in some ways nothing here can be called surreal now.
This years award for bad taste in Christmas decorations goes to Joel Krupnik and Mildred Castellanos of New York City. Joel and Mildred have a rather sick way of protesting the commercialization of Christmas decor. So this year they decked the halls of their mansion with a grisly scene that includes a 5 foot tall Santa who has a knife and a very menacing look, a tree full of decapitated Barbie dolls, and a elf hidden behind the tree with fake blood spurting out of his eye sockets.
While mom won't be taking the kiddies to see that Christmas decoration, Joel and Mildred say they are doing it "for God". "Christmas has p religious origins, " he said. "It's in the Bible. Santa is not in the Bible. He's not a religious symbol." So Joel wants to make Santa a symbol of mass murder....I guess. Merry Christmas to Joel and Mildred!
Santa Gets Rowdy
Yesterday I had to drive through another desolate section of New Orleans, this one near the French Quarter area. It was heavily flooded and is still virtually deserted, but like the horrific Lakeview area I saw previously the destruction abruptly ends where the section adjacent to it seems almost normal. That's because the flood waters stopped at that point.
There is life where there was no flood water (only about 20% of the city) and emptiness elsewhere. Anyway, after seeing an automobile that was both overturned and still covered in the mud from the flood waters that carried it to it's death, sitting upside down on it's top in the middle of an interstate on ramp (which of course is still closed and the reason authorities left the car where it was), I decided I would take Jane to view part of Lakeview (it is closer, about 15 minutes from my own home) after I picked her up at school.
Well, we went. Her reaction was telling. She seemed speechless as we drove through the remains of what had once been a thriving, affluent community of homes, but now is simply rubble and gutted frames of damaged houses, some of which have fallen off their foundations from the rush of water that engulfed them for almost two weeks. Jane has seen the area pre Katrina, so the contrast now was eye popping for her.
"Is this worse than you expected," I asked Jane. She mumbled a "yes" and I could see she was having trouble believing the sites she saw. I worried that she was upset or would be traumatized. In one of those all too familiar but silly Hollywood disaster films it would be believable, but this was her home city and it wasn't a movie. Jane was mostly silent as I narrated an straightforward version of the scene and explained some of the repercussions of what had happened.
So why did I risk upsetting, no scaring Jane by taking her there? I wanted her to understand the magnitude, no the inhumanity of the obliteration. One can never understand a huge disaster site unless seeing it him or herself. The scope is too broad to be interpreted correctly, other than with the naked eye. Jane did utter a "I never knew it was so big" when I mentioned that the destruction went on for many miles in all directions, that this was a tiny part of it, and that it was much worse in some parts of the city, the state and in the neighboring Mississippi and Alabama coastal sections hit directly by Hurricane Katrina.
I reassured Jane that the mess was the result of negligence by politicians and engineers, who built a levee system that was far from what was supposed to be built. "Nature could not do this with assistance from man". Further, I told her what I hope will be the truth, "I want you to see this so you can tell your own children what happened, because it will never happen again." Well....it shouldn't happen again.
Oh, my! That naughty Santa is loose again. Not only are there drunken Santa's pillaging Auckland, but two more reports have surfaced of pre Christmas hanky panicky in Germany, as Santa sowed his oats this year before making his Christmas deliveries. In Ludwigshafen, Germany one Santa dressed in his best red suit, grabbed a gun and robbed a furniture store by forcing two cashiers to open the store safe.
You guessed it! He filled his sack with cash, locked the two female employees in the safe and escaped. Well that Santa may still be on the loose, but the one in Tuebingen, Germany got nabbed. He grabbed a toy machine gun , put on his red suit and robbed a bank in the town. But apparently Rudolph and the other reindeer are slowing down That Santa was caught hiding in a ditch in a nearby forest shortly after the robbery. "The machine gun was fake, " said the police who nabbed that fake Santa. It seems the impostor is also wanted for stealing 500,000 euros in four other robberies.
But what about another Santa in Dabringhausen, Germany who was found drunk in a Christmas market............Sigh.... I guess I should stop believing in Santa and stick with the Easter Rabbit this year.
There is life where there was no flood water (only about 20% of the city) and emptiness elsewhere. Anyway, after seeing an automobile that was both overturned and still covered in the mud from the flood waters that carried it to it's death, sitting upside down on it's top in the middle of an interstate on ramp (which of course is still closed and the reason authorities left the car where it was), I decided I would take Jane to view part of Lakeview (it is closer, about 15 minutes from my own home) after I picked her up at school.
Well, we went. Her reaction was telling. She seemed speechless as we drove through the remains of what had once been a thriving, affluent community of homes, but now is simply rubble and gutted frames of damaged houses, some of which have fallen off their foundations from the rush of water that engulfed them for almost two weeks. Jane has seen the area pre Katrina, so the contrast now was eye popping for her.
"Is this worse than you expected," I asked Jane. She mumbled a "yes" and I could see she was having trouble believing the sites she saw. I worried that she was upset or would be traumatized. In one of those all too familiar but silly Hollywood disaster films it would be believable, but this was her home city and it wasn't a movie. Jane was mostly silent as I narrated an straightforward version of the scene and explained some of the repercussions of what had happened.
So why did I risk upsetting, no scaring Jane by taking her there? I wanted her to understand the magnitude, no the inhumanity of the obliteration. One can never understand a huge disaster site unless seeing it him or herself. The scope is too broad to be interpreted correctly, other than with the naked eye. Jane did utter a "I never knew it was so big" when I mentioned that the destruction went on for many miles in all directions, that this was a tiny part of it, and that it was much worse in some parts of the city, the state and in the neighboring Mississippi and Alabama coastal sections hit directly by Hurricane Katrina.
I reassured Jane that the mess was the result of negligence by politicians and engineers, who built a levee system that was far from what was supposed to be built. "Nature could not do this with assistance from man". Further, I told her what I hope will be the truth, "I want you to see this so you can tell your own children what happened, because it will never happen again." Well....it shouldn't happen again.
Oh, my! That naughty Santa is loose again. Not only are there drunken Santa's pillaging Auckland, but two more reports have surfaced of pre Christmas hanky panicky in Germany, as Santa sowed his oats this year before making his Christmas deliveries. In Ludwigshafen, Germany one Santa dressed in his best red suit, grabbed a gun and robbed a furniture store by forcing two cashiers to open the store safe.
You guessed it! He filled his sack with cash, locked the two female employees in the safe and escaped. Well that Santa may still be on the loose, but the one in Tuebingen, Germany got nabbed. He grabbed a toy machine gun , put on his red suit and robbed a bank in the town. But apparently Rudolph and the other reindeer are slowing down That Santa was caught hiding in a ditch in a nearby forest shortly after the robbery. "The machine gun was fake, " said the police who nabbed that fake Santa. It seems the impostor is also wanted for stealing 500,000 euros in four other robberies.
But what about another Santa in Dabringhausen, Germany who was found drunk in a Christmas market............Sigh.... I guess I should stop believing in Santa and stick with the Easter Rabbit this year.
Auto Eating
One of those addicted, entranced cell phone drivers nearly collided with me this morning as I was driving Jane to school, not a singular event today with the roads filled with those creatures. As the traffic light changed from red to green, I looked both ways (a necessity in these days of enigmatic, erratic distracted electronically intoxicated drivers) before accelerating forward. It's a good thing I did. A speeding driver was hurling toward me, in my lane, oblivious to the fact that his light had turned red several seconds before. As I pulled out, I steered hard t0 the left avoiding him.
And the indignity of it all was that he continued to giggle on his phone the entire time, apparently unaware that he was driving an automobile twice the speed limit across a red light. This scene has been repeated more than once! Perhaps I should become an Islamic terrorist and fly into one of those cell drivers. Allah would surely admit me instantly into the gates of heaven for removing a cell infidel from the roadways...
Eaten your breakfast, lunch or dinner in a car lately? Well, it's not as nutty an idea as it may sound. That's because the latest driving insanity is not gabbing on cell phones when driving as the former was doing. It's eating one's meals in the car- particularly when driving.
Yep! As more and more people in my country are willing or have to eat in their cars, food makers are obliging them with an array of drip free, finger friendly goodies. The so-called "cup holder cuisine" ranges from health w food cereal bars with milk a fixed in solid form to the top to bigger eats like Mexican food chain Taco bell's "crunch rap", a leak proof taco.
In fact, some fast food chains say that as much as 75% of their business is done with drive through dinners, and that they general eat their food as they drive, not taking it home for a suit down meal. I am not a big consumer of fast food, but I like some of it. I am amazed at how user friendly it is to eat that stuff while driving. The packaging is designed to make it all spill free and easy to handle. Even grocery stores here are converting some of their foods to that style of easy handling. Yogurt is squeeze tubes, soups and snacks in cylindrical tubes that fit snugly in car cup holders, drinkable soups etc.
I read a poll by the research group NPD that said the average American ate 32 restaurant meals in the car last year (I hope they also weren't talking on their cell phones as they ate). Eating that in a car while driving is a "recipe" for an accident. Insurance companies have long said that coffee is the most dangerous edible for a driver (followed by hot soup and tacos). But then, our commute time to work is length and subjects one to the temptation to eat on the car. Sigh...I think I better start walking more.
It might be a whole lot safer. An update from the "How fat have we gotten department". Believe it ot not, it seems that American women's butts are so fat now that injections into them are missing their target!
That's right. Research shows that standard sized shot needles fail to reach the American butt muscle in 23 out of 25 women whose rear ends were examined (I would have examined them if they had asked) after what was supposed to be intramuscular injections of drugs. As a result of the fat butts, almost 2/3 of the fat butt ladies in a study did not receive the full dosage of the s drug injected into their huge posteriors. Instead, the medication became lodged in the fat tissues of their big buttocks. Mot shots are given in the butt because that part of the body has few blood vessels, nerves or bones that can be damaged by an injection.
No, no..I won't ask you how fat your butt is, but should I suggest you ask your doctor for a longer needle when you get your next injection....
And the indignity of it all was that he continued to giggle on his phone the entire time, apparently unaware that he was driving an automobile twice the speed limit across a red light. This scene has been repeated more than once! Perhaps I should become an Islamic terrorist and fly into one of those cell drivers. Allah would surely admit me instantly into the gates of heaven for removing a cell infidel from the roadways...
Eaten your breakfast, lunch or dinner in a car lately? Well, it's not as nutty an idea as it may sound. That's because the latest driving insanity is not gabbing on cell phones when driving as the former was doing. It's eating one's meals in the car- particularly when driving.
Yep! As more and more people in my country are willing or have to eat in their cars, food makers are obliging them with an array of drip free, finger friendly goodies. The so-called "cup holder cuisine" ranges from health w food cereal bars with milk a fixed in solid form to the top to bigger eats like Mexican food chain Taco bell's "crunch rap", a leak proof taco.
In fact, some fast food chains say that as much as 75% of their business is done with drive through dinners, and that they general eat their food as they drive, not taking it home for a suit down meal. I am not a big consumer of fast food, but I like some of it. I am amazed at how user friendly it is to eat that stuff while driving. The packaging is designed to make it all spill free and easy to handle. Even grocery stores here are converting some of their foods to that style of easy handling. Yogurt is squeeze tubes, soups and snacks in cylindrical tubes that fit snugly in car cup holders, drinkable soups etc.
I read a poll by the research group NPD that said the average American ate 32 restaurant meals in the car last year (I hope they also weren't talking on their cell phones as they ate). Eating that in a car while driving is a "recipe" for an accident. Insurance companies have long said that coffee is the most dangerous edible for a driver (followed by hot soup and tacos). But then, our commute time to work is length and subjects one to the temptation to eat on the car. Sigh...I think I better start walking more.
It might be a whole lot safer. An update from the "How fat have we gotten department". Believe it ot not, it seems that American women's butts are so fat now that injections into them are missing their target!
That's right. Research shows that standard sized shot needles fail to reach the American butt muscle in 23 out of 25 women whose rear ends were examined (I would have examined them if they had asked) after what was supposed to be intramuscular injections of drugs. As a result of the fat butts, almost 2/3 of the fat butt ladies in a study did not receive the full dosage of the s drug injected into their huge posteriors. Instead, the medication became lodged in the fat tissues of their big buttocks. Mot shots are given in the butt because that part of the body has few blood vessels, nerves or bones that can be damaged by an injection.
No, no..I won't ask you how fat your butt is, but should I suggest you ask your doctor for a longer needle when you get your next injection....
Times Picayune Mirrors It
Maybe what I am going to write will not be interesting (let me know if that's the case) because I am sounding redundant relative to the hurricane event here in late August. But here's a slice of life on our progress in trying to rebuild more than 3 months after Hurricane Katrina demolished New Orleans and surrounding parishes.
What I have today is from my daily newspaper, The Time Picayune. It's a daily published list of announcements relative to community meetings, openings (schools and businesses that will finally be reopened after the storm) and web site and telephone number information for those in need of help in practically any area effected by the storm. It' an entire page of the newspaper, so I will concentrate in just the title of eight meetings that were listed.
I think that by reading the title it can best explain how much of a mess New Orleans still is. Here were today's meeting announcement headlines.
1) Red Mass For the Healing and Renewal of New Orleans- This as an announcement of a Catholic mass (we are a Catholic city), presided by the Archbishop of the area, for all members of the local law profession and for anyone else interested.
2) Gentilly Cleanup- Gentilly was a middle class and affluent area virtually completely destroyed by floods from Lake Pontchartrain after a levee break. Its is a call for any person who lived there or plans to rebuild to meet for a discussion of how the area might be saved and rebuilt. Few houses in Gentilly are still standing, none livable.
3) After the Storm, Managing Multiple Sclerosis- An announcement for a meeting of anyone with MS to give information on special help available for those of that affliction.
4) Welcome Home Workshops- Boy is this an optimistic group! It offers topics involved in aiding people in New Orleans who plan to fix their homes and return to live in them.
5) How To Parent In The Aftermath of The Storm- My own parish, Jefferson, is sponsoring this to give information on how to help our children cope with the disaster and de traumatize them so the kids may return to some degree of normality.
6) Pontchartrain Park Residential Aim To Rebuild- a meeting of a residents middle class neighborhood with their local political elected official. At this session, residents of the demolished subdivision will ask (some in a rather hostile tone) their local politician why they flooded and what will happen to the area next.
7) Delgado Community College Workshop- Delgado is one of the colleges destroyed by the flood waters. It plans to reopen in January and is using this meeting to make contact with past and future students.
8) Volunteers Sought: Paint Rally for New Orleans Public Schools- asks for citizen volunteers to help repair damaged school buildings- scraping and painting classrooms, landscaping and minor building repairs. It also asks for the volunteers to donate supplies to help. Only a few schools have reopened in New Orleans.
That's today's meeting list. Bear in mind that the lists changes each day, and that subject matters concerned in the lists also vary. It does show how crippled we are here and how badly help is needed to rebuild the buildings, and people who were attacked by Hurricane Katrina.
What I have today is from my daily newspaper, The Time Picayune. It's a daily published list of announcements relative to community meetings, openings (schools and businesses that will finally be reopened after the storm) and web site and telephone number information for those in need of help in practically any area effected by the storm. It' an entire page of the newspaper, so I will concentrate in just the title of eight meetings that were listed.
I think that by reading the title it can best explain how much of a mess New Orleans still is. Here were today's meeting announcement headlines.
1) Red Mass For the Healing and Renewal of New Orleans- This as an announcement of a Catholic mass (we are a Catholic city), presided by the Archbishop of the area, for all members of the local law profession and for anyone else interested.
2) Gentilly Cleanup- Gentilly was a middle class and affluent area virtually completely destroyed by floods from Lake Pontchartrain after a levee break. Its is a call for any person who lived there or plans to rebuild to meet for a discussion of how the area might be saved and rebuilt. Few houses in Gentilly are still standing, none livable.
3) After the Storm, Managing Multiple Sclerosis- An announcement for a meeting of anyone with MS to give information on special help available for those of that affliction.
4) Welcome Home Workshops- Boy is this an optimistic group! It offers topics involved in aiding people in New Orleans who plan to fix their homes and return to live in them.
5) How To Parent In The Aftermath of The Storm- My own parish, Jefferson, is sponsoring this to give information on how to help our children cope with the disaster and de traumatize them so the kids may return to some degree of normality.
6) Pontchartrain Park Residential Aim To Rebuild- a meeting of a residents middle class neighborhood with their local political elected official. At this session, residents of the demolished subdivision will ask (some in a rather hostile tone) their local politician why they flooded and what will happen to the area next.
7) Delgado Community College Workshop- Delgado is one of the colleges destroyed by the flood waters. It plans to reopen in January and is using this meeting to make contact with past and future students.
8) Volunteers Sought: Paint Rally for New Orleans Public Schools- asks for citizen volunteers to help repair damaged school buildings- scraping and painting classrooms, landscaping and minor building repairs. It also asks for the volunteers to donate supplies to help. Only a few schools have reopened in New Orleans.
That's today's meeting list. Bear in mind that the lists changes each day, and that subject matters concerned in the lists also vary. It does show how crippled we are here and how badly help is needed to rebuild the buildings, and people who were attacked by Hurricane Katrina.
Drunk Santas
Saturday night Jane had 11 of her schoolmates over for a Christmas party. What's eventful about this is that Jane and a classmate planned the whole party, a great learning experience for toe 11 year olds.. It turned out well. The idea was that each girl was to bring a gift and at the party they would draw names to match the gift giver to recipient. So no one new which gift she would receive.
I remember such a party in my own child hood. It's a good idea because kids can easily exchange gifts without having to but many gifts for their friends. It rained all day, a cold rain that canceled the Christmas event we were going to go to. One of the girls was to dance in a performance at the event.
The rain also stopped Jane's plans to take her guests to the huge earthen levee on Lake Pontchartrain behind my house. They were going to ride down the levee on cardboard boxes (Whatever that is called?). So I looked on the internet for some kid Christmas party alternatives. One the girls tired and loved is the old scavenger hunt. But this one had a Christmas theme. I found a couple of Christmas scavenger hunt lists on the net and printed them.
So the 11 year old girls divided themselves into two teams to try to see which team could find the most of the items, things like a Christmas cookie cutter, a silver bell, an egg, a red ornament, a red can of soup, a piece of popcorn...all things eclectic and related in some way to Christmas. The people in this neighborhood were generous and nice to the kids as they came back with quite a load. I found a list of Christmas games on the net as well, and they played those, played twister, did karaoke on Jane's karaoke machine, and in general "played" in the house.
I give Santa thanks for making me the father of a girl and not those rowdy boys .These girls were terrific, needing little supervision and getting along famously.
Santa's been drinking on the job! That's right. (The fat old one not me, Santa) must be nervous from all those little kids and their gift request, because reports from New Zealand say he has been seen in public in a drunken state. In fact, a group of 40 or so Santa's in full costume, many of them drunk, rampaged through Auckland, New Zealand yesterday, assaulting security guards and robbing stores. Local media in Auckland called the rampage "Santarchy" because the Santa's threw beer bottles and urinated on cars from an Auckland overpass.
They then rushed through a central city park, overturned garbage containers, threw the beer bottles at passing cars and spray painted graffiti on buildings. When one drunk Santa climbed the mooring line of a cruise line ship, the police ordered him down. Other Santa's there objected when he was arrested and launched an attack on the cruise line security guards. "They came in, said 'Merry Christmas' and then helped themselves." one store owner said.
But Santarchy is apparently an organized rowdy Santa activity tainting the name of the real Santa out there. A spokesperson for those Auckland Santa's said that Sanatarchy is an organized "movement designed to protest the commercialization of Christmas." Three of the Santa's were arrested and charged with drunkenness and disorderly conduct, meaning the only present they will get this Christmas is a stint in an Auckland prison. I doubt if they will Ho, Ho, Ho that.
I remember such a party in my own child hood. It's a good idea because kids can easily exchange gifts without having to but many gifts for their friends. It rained all day, a cold rain that canceled the Christmas event we were going to go to. One of the girls was to dance in a performance at the event.
The rain also stopped Jane's plans to take her guests to the huge earthen levee on Lake Pontchartrain behind my house. They were going to ride down the levee on cardboard boxes (Whatever that is called?). So I looked on the internet for some kid Christmas party alternatives. One the girls tired and loved is the old scavenger hunt. But this one had a Christmas theme. I found a couple of Christmas scavenger hunt lists on the net and printed them.
So the 11 year old girls divided themselves into two teams to try to see which team could find the most of the items, things like a Christmas cookie cutter, a silver bell, an egg, a red ornament, a red can of soup, a piece of popcorn...all things eclectic and related in some way to Christmas. The people in this neighborhood were generous and nice to the kids as they came back with quite a load. I found a list of Christmas games on the net as well, and they played those, played twister, did karaoke on Jane's karaoke machine, and in general "played" in the house.
I give Santa thanks for making me the father of a girl and not those rowdy boys .These girls were terrific, needing little supervision and getting along famously.
Santa's been drinking on the job! That's right. (The fat old one not me, Santa) must be nervous from all those little kids and their gift request, because reports from New Zealand say he has been seen in public in a drunken state. In fact, a group of 40 or so Santa's in full costume, many of them drunk, rampaged through Auckland, New Zealand yesterday, assaulting security guards and robbing stores. Local media in Auckland called the rampage "Santarchy" because the Santa's threw beer bottles and urinated on cars from an Auckland overpass.
They then rushed through a central city park, overturned garbage containers, threw the beer bottles at passing cars and spray painted graffiti on buildings. When one drunk Santa climbed the mooring line of a cruise line ship, the police ordered him down. Other Santa's there objected when he was arrested and launched an attack on the cruise line security guards. "They came in, said 'Merry Christmas' and then helped themselves." one store owner said.
But Santarchy is apparently an organized rowdy Santa activity tainting the name of the real Santa out there. A spokesperson for those Auckland Santa's said that Sanatarchy is an organized "movement designed to protest the commercialization of Christmas." Three of the Santa's were arrested and charged with drunkenness and disorderly conduct, meaning the only present they will get this Christmas is a stint in an Auckland prison. I doubt if they will Ho, Ho, Ho that.
They Got No Mail
I noticed that our mail problem here, post Hurricane Katrina, has made the news wire nationally. Mail service to the city of New Orleans is slight at best. Some areas were so destroyed that the post office can not deliver there. Since there is no home lefty or or no one residing, the mail is sent to forwarding address provided or to Baton Rouge (our second largest city to the north).
What this means is that people who live in the city get mail with a mailing date as much as 3 months ago. Here in my own suburb of Jefferson Parish this is not such a problem. Mail is slower, but only slightly. Now that residents here are back in their homes and debris has been removed, the post office is trying to conduct routes normally in my area.
But there is quite a volume of mail sent before and in the first weeks after the hurricane that I never received. I assume it is lost or has been destroyed, yet the post office will not admit to it. Some may be important mail, as in tax bills that must be paid to avoid delinquency or social security, settlement checks from an insurance company or other pension checks.
Other mail, like magazine subscriptions, are not things to worry about. Essentially, a letter a child sent to Santa Claus at the "North Pole" this year would arrive there faster than a Christmas card that was mailed to anyone in the city of New Orleans. About half the city itself still has no mail service, and the other half if inconsistent. There is an embargo on second and third class mail (magazines, gift catalogues) and "junk mail" (those unsolicited advertisements. What this means is that information/communication is taking place by phone and E mail here more than by regular mail. Ahhhh, I know this is a trivial topic, but it shows you just one of many ways our daily lives are still being disrupted by the greatest natural disaster in American history, Hurricane Katrina.
What this means is that people who live in the city get mail with a mailing date as much as 3 months ago. Here in my own suburb of Jefferson Parish this is not such a problem. Mail is slower, but only slightly. Now that residents here are back in their homes and debris has been removed, the post office is trying to conduct routes normally in my area.
But there is quite a volume of mail sent before and in the first weeks after the hurricane that I never received. I assume it is lost or has been destroyed, yet the post office will not admit to it. Some may be important mail, as in tax bills that must be paid to avoid delinquency or social security, settlement checks from an insurance company or other pension checks.
Other mail, like magazine subscriptions, are not things to worry about. Essentially, a letter a child sent to Santa Claus at the "North Pole" this year would arrive there faster than a Christmas card that was mailed to anyone in the city of New Orleans. About half the city itself still has no mail service, and the other half if inconsistent. There is an embargo on second and third class mail (magazines, gift catalogues) and "junk mail" (those unsolicited advertisements. What this means is that information/communication is taking place by phone and E mail here more than by regular mail. Ahhhh, I know this is a trivial topic, but it shows you just one of many ways our daily lives are still being disrupted by the greatest natural disaster in American history, Hurricane Katrina.
Kenner Demographics Changing
Kenner is become a Hispanic city, if only temporarily. In fact I think much of that new Hispanic population is illegal, here to do work on the damaged property after Hurricane Katrina. The fact that the demographics of Kenner and the rest of the New Orleans area has so changed was again brought to my mind when I took Jane and her friend out to eat dinner last Friday night at the 'Super Asian Buffet' (I know, buffets are usually terrible, but this one is ok). About half the restaurants in Kenner have reopened since the storm, but fewer past 6 pm, given the labor shortage here now.
Thus, long lines waiting to be seated at restaurants, even fast food places, is a common thing here. Oh well, better than New Orleans itself which still has fewer than 100,000 residents and very few businesses opened. But after we were seated and began eating I surveyed the tables around me. What did I see? I saw at least half the dinners speaking Spanish, dressed in work outfits involving construction, obviously workers who stopped to have dinner after completing their jobs for the day.
Media outlets here say that most of them are From Texas and other states near the border with Mexico, and some are illegal immigrants who rushed across the border to offer their talents as roofers, dry wall specialists etc., given the shortage of workers living here now. And the question is hoe many will stay here instead of returning to Mexico or Texas? I think construction tasks related to the storm will be on-going for at least 2 or 3 years. Therefore, some may put down roots and settle here, changing the character and culture of the area permanently.
It will be interesting for me to see how that sudden and unusual influx will change Kenner. I hope it will be for the better.
Thus, long lines waiting to be seated at restaurants, even fast food places, is a common thing here. Oh well, better than New Orleans itself which still has fewer than 100,000 residents and very few businesses opened. But after we were seated and began eating I surveyed the tables around me. What did I see? I saw at least half the dinners speaking Spanish, dressed in work outfits involving construction, obviously workers who stopped to have dinner after completing their jobs for the day.
Media outlets here say that most of them are From Texas and other states near the border with Mexico, and some are illegal immigrants who rushed across the border to offer their talents as roofers, dry wall specialists etc., given the shortage of workers living here now. And the question is hoe many will stay here instead of returning to Mexico or Texas? I think construction tasks related to the storm will be on-going for at least 2 or 3 years. Therefore, some may put down roots and settle here, changing the character and culture of the area permanently.
It will be interesting for me to see how that sudden and unusual influx will change Kenner. I hope it will be for the better.
Buying The Tree This Year
I have Christmas fever (probably as escapism from the dreary situation here after Hurricane Katrina) because I again spent time yesterday perusing the internet for Christmas listings (the graphic below is one thing I ran into and downloaded). Every year, a few weeks prior to and up to Christmas I like to find the games, cooking recipes, activities, whatever... that is so prevalent on the net.
I do it because I am a kid at heart and it gives me joy. The universality of Christmas is one of age. We are all allowed to be children at this time, never fearing sanction for it (unless a Scrooge pops up to "Bah Humbug" our child-like pursuits) Evidently, many others feel the same way.
It's surprising to see so many free non commercial Christmas links on the net That's a testimony to the fact that many love the intangible, ethereal lift Christmas gives to their ordinary lives. The religious concept of Christmas has been lost by many (me included), as the holiday has become a secular feast of Santa Clause, gifts, parties, decorations, generosity etc. But is that bad? I think not.
Oh, well. So much for that......... Since Jane was sick last week I decided to buy our Christmas try myself. I went to Home Depot, the large home supply store that every year has the largest selection and best prices for tress. Not many tree sellers are in business here following the storm, but I expected Home Depot to be a big vender for the trees. I was wrong. Apparently the reports that shipping trees down this year was too costly has limited both the number of sellers and the amount ot trees for sale. I see about 1/3 the number of Christmas tree business this year in Kenner (here are practically none in New Orleans), and what those stands are selling is more of the larger specialty trees.
Home depot had only two sizes of trees for sale and just two varieties, the Douglas Spruce and Fraser Fir in either 6 to 7 foot sizes or 7 to 8 foot. Last year there were at least 5 different varieties and many sizes. This is a microcosm of progress here- that is, how much progress the area is making is reflected by the number and variety of Xmas trees sold. New Orleans and some other parishes have few or none, since they were destroyed and have had little rebuilding. But here in Jefferson Parish we are bouncing back quickly. This is because our damage was much less severe than New Orleans. I am encouraged that we will rebuild quickly and perhaps help New Orleans proceed faster in its own rebuilding progress. Anyway..so much for my tree report.
I do it because I am a kid at heart and it gives me joy. The universality of Christmas is one of age. We are all allowed to be children at this time, never fearing sanction for it (unless a Scrooge pops up to "Bah Humbug" our child-like pursuits) Evidently, many others feel the same way.
It's surprising to see so many free non commercial Christmas links on the net That's a testimony to the fact that many love the intangible, ethereal lift Christmas gives to their ordinary lives. The religious concept of Christmas has been lost by many (me included), as the holiday has become a secular feast of Santa Clause, gifts, parties, decorations, generosity etc. But is that bad? I think not.
Oh, well. So much for that......... Since Jane was sick last week I decided to buy our Christmas try myself. I went to Home Depot, the large home supply store that every year has the largest selection and best prices for tress. Not many tree sellers are in business here following the storm, but I expected Home Depot to be a big vender for the trees. I was wrong. Apparently the reports that shipping trees down this year was too costly has limited both the number of sellers and the amount ot trees for sale. I see about 1/3 the number of Christmas tree business this year in Kenner (here are practically none in New Orleans), and what those stands are selling is more of the larger specialty trees.
Home depot had only two sizes of trees for sale and just two varieties, the Douglas Spruce and Fraser Fir in either 6 to 7 foot sizes or 7 to 8 foot. Last year there were at least 5 different varieties and many sizes. This is a microcosm of progress here- that is, how much progress the area is making is reflected by the number and variety of Xmas trees sold. New Orleans and some other parishes have few or none, since they were destroyed and have had little rebuilding. But here in Jefferson Parish we are bouncing back quickly. This is because our damage was much less severe than New Orleans. I am encouraged that we will rebuild quickly and perhaps help New Orleans proceed faster in its own rebuilding progress. Anyway..so much for my tree report.
Dolls For Christmas
I went doll shopping the other day...no, no, not the human kind (sigh, no such luck). I went to buy Jane some dolls for Christmas. She likes the Bratz and Polly dolls now and there are many of each. When I asked Jane a couple of weeks ago what she wanted for Christmas gifts she said "I don't know". At that point I suggested she make a list after thinking about it and watching TV (the kid shows she likes). Those I soon had a list filled with mostly those dolls or related ones. Now I have some observations about girls dolls.
I think that dolls are a good toy for little girls, for they require imagination to use. Most dolls look the same and have few working parts. So the child must pretend with them. But why do those dolls cost so much? In looking at toys I find that dolls are among the more expensive toys, relative to what it cost to produce them. And there are so many dolls that look identical, the clothes being the only distinction. So a Bratz Chloe doll, for example, looks almost identical to a Bratz Samantha doll.
Maybe the expression on the doll is s different or the hair color, but other than that they look the same. I wonder how Jane can tell the difference between one Bratz or one Polly doll- but she can. Clearly the manufacturer creates the many editions to drive the parent (who must pay for them all) nuts! Sigh.... Forget it....I should ask Santa to bring me some real live dolls to play with. People who rob banks are usually the dumb ones.
I think that dolls are a good toy for little girls, for they require imagination to use. Most dolls look the same and have few working parts. So the child must pretend with them. But why do those dolls cost so much? In looking at toys I find that dolls are among the more expensive toys, relative to what it cost to produce them. And there are so many dolls that look identical, the clothes being the only distinction. So a Bratz Chloe doll, for example, looks almost identical to a Bratz Samantha doll.
Maybe the expression on the doll is s different or the hair color, but other than that they look the same. I wonder how Jane can tell the difference between one Bratz or one Polly doll- but she can. Clearly the manufacturer creates the many editions to drive the parent (who must pay for them all) nuts! Sigh.... Forget it....I should ask Santa to bring me some real live dolls to play with. People who rob banks are usually the dumb ones.
The Death Of Lakeview
Yesterday I decided to have a look at one of the four areas of the city that were completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. This part of the city is called Lakeview, about 10 minutes from my home, just across the border from my parish (I live in Jefferson Parish, Lakeview is in Orleans Parish). I wanted to see first hand what the storm did to demolish the area, and Lakeview is open to anyone now as reconstruction of the infrastructure and collection of debris is ongoing. Also, a few (foolish?) homeowners are gutting what is left of their houses and remodeling them.
Most homeowners wait to see if Bush commits to fulfill his promise in several speeches to the nation last September) to rebuild the levees that broke and flooded Lakeview. But as usual, Bush's talk does not match his actions. He does nothing for the city. Here is some of what I saw. The most striking sight is how different the left side of the 17th street canal looks in comparison the the right side (Lake view). On entering the flooded area one drives over a slightly elevated bridge and into Lakeview, the side from which I entered looks fairy normal, having suffered mostly wind damage and little flooding.
But the Lakeview side looks like a bombed shell of what used to be homes for many. Even the vegetation is dead, killed by the salt water that flowed from the canal (the canal is connected to a salt water lake , Lake Pontchartrain). All bushes below approximately 10 feet are brown, even some smaller trees were killed and brown from sitting in the salt water for 10 to 12 days. Of course, there is no live grass anywhere. As I drove through the beginning of the first Lakeview's subdivision I was amazed that even sections of the roads had collapsed from the weight of flood water sitting on top so long.
All of Lakeview's streets must be rebuilt if anyone is to live there. There are few electrical wires up, and few have electricity in Lakeview. The rebuilding of that system is on hold. Mounds of trash and debris line every home (or what is left of the homes). Some piles reach as much as 6 meters high. I saw garbage trucks removing this debris and more debris being deposited by city workers or residents gutting homes. I think it will be at least a year before all of it is removed. Lakeview was both a middle class and upper income area, in some parts the neighborhoods mixed by income. It was a grand place, very pretty, but now an eyesore of ugliness. Most of the homes are torn apart, few doors or windows remain on homes and one can see mold climbing to ceilings. There is little content in most houses.
A few jokesters even put up handwritten "For Sale" signs in front of the rubble that used to be a grand home. I doubt if anyone except the government would buy those homes. Even the land is worthless, because Bush and Congress have not honored their commitment to rebuild the levees around Lakeview. No one will rebuild if their home is unprotected from another flood. Homeowners there do not know what to do as government officials twiddle their thumbs in apathy and indecision. Many of houses were pushed off their slabs by the force of the on-rushing flood water. They lean forward or backward, looking if the slightest wind will blow the into the street or just break apart what remains of the brick and wood that once was a building.. All look dirty, covered with mud and grim. There are even some cars still parked in driveways, totally covered in a dry mud cake as the flood waters covered them for so many days. Eventually they will be picked up for their scrap value. I saw one car still on top of a house. It had floated on top in a 12 foot flood of water and has yet been removed. The home owner probably has never even returned to that house. Roofs were damaged, or missing on some homes.
A few homes had burned, leaving charred crisps on top of slabs. Those homes exploded and caught fire after gas leaks from broken gas lines ignited. I think those home owners were the lucky ones. They will have little trouble getting a full insurance settlement and can move to a new area if they wish. A sad sight in all cases were the personal items on curbs- childrens' toys, mold and decayed family picture albums, someone's guitar etc. The flood water ruined it all.
I drove on to another section of Lakeview, this one between the 17th street canal and the London Avenue canal. That area was the hardest hit because both canals broke and about 12 to 15 feet of water covered the homes. Every one of these houses has the orange X! Military personal painted those after the waters subsided enough to enter the homes to check for dead or live bodies.
Although only about 1200 people died in the storm here, it is a large total given that 95% of the residents of the area had evacuated before the storm came. The orange X was spray painted each house entered to show that a search had been done. On top of the X the date entered was painted and a number put in the bottom portion of the X. If a 0 was there it meant the house was searched and no bodies were found. I did see one x that had a 2 on it, meaning two people droned in their home as the water rushed in. Most probably they fled to the attic and were trapped their in 120 degree heat, perishing from dehydration.
Most homes in Lake view had been searched because flood waters were so high there. A chilling site was the number of roofs that had man sized holes chopped in them. Those people had chopped their way out of the attic as the waters rose, and fled to roof tops to be rescued. I could almost imagine those people frantically chopping the roof to escape as waters lapped at their feet. Unfortunately, many dead bodies were found in those attics because not all people brought a chopping tool with them into the attic.
Too, the flood waters rose so rapidly many panicked and headed to the attic immediately. Those who tried to wade through water by escaping on ground more often than not drowned. Typical of residents of New Orleans, I saw much optimism and humor among the mess. Residents hand painted the names of their former streets and nailed them to trees, one guy wrote "FEMA- This is your stump. Please pick it up (FEMA is the agency collecting downed tree stumps), a nearly totally demolished home had full sized Santa Clause figure next to the house (Evidently, Santa didn't know how to enter the destroyed home), and even a temporary trailer on a home site decorated with Christmas lights.
An amazing aspect is that there are two streets in Lakeview that hug the lake which did not flood. They look as they did before the storm, a reminder to other residents what their homes and Lakeview used to look like. As a life-long resident of the area seeing all of this was heartbreaking, a once glorious section reduced to rubble because levees were not built to the stated specifications of safety by those responsible for building them. Many locals, even those who have never lived in the Lake wood, who have seen Lake view and three other sections as badly destroyed are said to have weeped uncontrollably.
I was saddened and emotional in seeing it as well, knowing how many lives had been, lost ruined or damaged by the flood. And too, by the fact that this President and Congress now seem uncaring about the future of a city that gave so much to the country (for instance, we supply 30% of all natural gas and other petroleum and 40% of all seafood). I think the apathetic view of those who could help, but won't, is as bad as the waters that rose during the storm. They are throwing mud on our casket every day.
Most homeowners wait to see if Bush commits to fulfill his promise in several speeches to the nation last September) to rebuild the levees that broke and flooded Lakeview. But as usual, Bush's talk does not match his actions. He does nothing for the city. Here is some of what I saw. The most striking sight is how different the left side of the 17th street canal looks in comparison the the right side (Lake view). On entering the flooded area one drives over a slightly elevated bridge and into Lakeview, the side from which I entered looks fairy normal, having suffered mostly wind damage and little flooding.
But the Lakeview side looks like a bombed shell of what used to be homes for many. Even the vegetation is dead, killed by the salt water that flowed from the canal (the canal is connected to a salt water lake , Lake Pontchartrain). All bushes below approximately 10 feet are brown, even some smaller trees were killed and brown from sitting in the salt water for 10 to 12 days. Of course, there is no live grass anywhere. As I drove through the beginning of the first Lakeview's subdivision I was amazed that even sections of the roads had collapsed from the weight of flood water sitting on top so long.
All of Lakeview's streets must be rebuilt if anyone is to live there. There are few electrical wires up, and few have electricity in Lakeview. The rebuilding of that system is on hold. Mounds of trash and debris line every home (or what is left of the homes). Some piles reach as much as 6 meters high. I saw garbage trucks removing this debris and more debris being deposited by city workers or residents gutting homes. I think it will be at least a year before all of it is removed. Lakeview was both a middle class and upper income area, in some parts the neighborhoods mixed by income. It was a grand place, very pretty, but now an eyesore of ugliness. Most of the homes are torn apart, few doors or windows remain on homes and one can see mold climbing to ceilings. There is little content in most houses.
A few jokesters even put up handwritten "For Sale" signs in front of the rubble that used to be a grand home. I doubt if anyone except the government would buy those homes. Even the land is worthless, because Bush and Congress have not honored their commitment to rebuild the levees around Lakeview. No one will rebuild if their home is unprotected from another flood. Homeowners there do not know what to do as government officials twiddle their thumbs in apathy and indecision. Many of houses were pushed off their slabs by the force of the on-rushing flood water. They lean forward or backward, looking if the slightest wind will blow the into the street or just break apart what remains of the brick and wood that once was a building.. All look dirty, covered with mud and grim. There are even some cars still parked in driveways, totally covered in a dry mud cake as the flood waters covered them for so many days. Eventually they will be picked up for their scrap value. I saw one car still on top of a house. It had floated on top in a 12 foot flood of water and has yet been removed. The home owner probably has never even returned to that house. Roofs were damaged, or missing on some homes.
A few homes had burned, leaving charred crisps on top of slabs. Those homes exploded and caught fire after gas leaks from broken gas lines ignited. I think those home owners were the lucky ones. They will have little trouble getting a full insurance settlement and can move to a new area if they wish. A sad sight in all cases were the personal items on curbs- childrens' toys, mold and decayed family picture albums, someone's guitar etc. The flood water ruined it all.
I drove on to another section of Lakeview, this one between the 17th street canal and the London Avenue canal. That area was the hardest hit because both canals broke and about 12 to 15 feet of water covered the homes. Every one of these houses has the orange X! Military personal painted those after the waters subsided enough to enter the homes to check for dead or live bodies.
Although only about 1200 people died in the storm here, it is a large total given that 95% of the residents of the area had evacuated before the storm came. The orange X was spray painted each house entered to show that a search had been done. On top of the X the date entered was painted and a number put in the bottom portion of the X. If a 0 was there it meant the house was searched and no bodies were found. I did see one x that had a 2 on it, meaning two people droned in their home as the water rushed in. Most probably they fled to the attic and were trapped their in 120 degree heat, perishing from dehydration.
Most homes in Lake view had been searched because flood waters were so high there. A chilling site was the number of roofs that had man sized holes chopped in them. Those people had chopped their way out of the attic as the waters rose, and fled to roof tops to be rescued. I could almost imagine those people frantically chopping the roof to escape as waters lapped at their feet. Unfortunately, many dead bodies were found in those attics because not all people brought a chopping tool with them into the attic.
Too, the flood waters rose so rapidly many panicked and headed to the attic immediately. Those who tried to wade through water by escaping on ground more often than not drowned. Typical of residents of New Orleans, I saw much optimism and humor among the mess. Residents hand painted the names of their former streets and nailed them to trees, one guy wrote "FEMA- This is your stump. Please pick it up (FEMA is the agency collecting downed tree stumps), a nearly totally demolished home had full sized Santa Clause figure next to the house (Evidently, Santa didn't know how to enter the destroyed home), and even a temporary trailer on a home site decorated with Christmas lights.
An amazing aspect is that there are two streets in Lakeview that hug the lake which did not flood. They look as they did before the storm, a reminder to other residents what their homes and Lakeview used to look like. As a life-long resident of the area seeing all of this was heartbreaking, a once glorious section reduced to rubble because levees were not built to the stated specifications of safety by those responsible for building them. Many locals, even those who have never lived in the Lake wood, who have seen Lake view and three other sections as badly destroyed are said to have weeped uncontrollably.
I was saddened and emotional in seeing it as well, knowing how many lives had been, lost ruined or damaged by the flood. And too, by the fact that this President and Congress now seem uncaring about the future of a city that gave so much to the country (for instance, we supply 30% of all natural gas and other petroleum and 40% of all seafood). I think the apathetic view of those who could help, but won't, is as bad as the waters that rose during the storm. They are throwing mud on our casket every day.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Long Live Fruitcake
Today I come to praise fruitcake, not to bury it (Forgive me Shakespeare, but I needed to borrow from Julius Caesar, given the important nature of the topic- the noble fruitcake. Fruitcake, the much maligned Christmas sweet, is often the butt of many jokes and eschewed by many. But I write today to tell you there are good fruitcakes.
I suppose just about everyone has eaten a piece of fruitcake at one time or another, for it is an important part of Christmas tradition. But some, like me, seek out the "good fruitcakes" and gobble them up each holiday time. I even put some in my freezer so I may relive the fruitcake delirium in summer, spring or fall.
Forget the image of the old , hard inedible glob that is better used as a doorstop than eaten. That kind of fruitcake is a rare one, like the cheap ink pen that doesn't write or the phony diamond your sweetie once gave you! I am here to tell you what a good fruitcake is, and why you should rush out and find one to nibble. I want to convert you to the glories of fruitcake.
Beware! First, a quick history of the fruitcake. It dates back in origin to ancient Egypt where it was said that fruitcake must be eaten in the afterlife (though some today say eating in while alive will kill you). Fruitcake evolved over time, with the Romans adding other ingredients to preserve it so it could be carried as food during those Roman army conquests. Centuries later, in the Middle Ages, much of the ingredients found in fruitcake today were added, giving it a similar appearance to what you can buy as "fruitcake' at your local bakery or grocery store.
I have no idea how fruitcake became part of the Christmas holidays, because historians are clue less too. But I suspect Charles Dickens may have popularized it in his novel Christmas Carol and other stories with a Christmas setting he wrote. It is known that in England pieces of fruitcake were passed out to poor women when Christmas carolers sang their tunes in the late 1700's (Give me fruitcake and I'll sing for you!). Later still, the Victorians ate fruitcake at major holidays. There was even a tradition for unmarried ladies to put a slice of fruitcake under her pillow so she would dream of whom she would marry.
A good fruitcake contains dried fruit, candied fruit, citron, fruit rind, nuts, spices, some liquor or brandy in which it may have been soaked, and just a tiny bit of flour to hold it together. The ratio of fruit and nuts to batter should be fairly high. The bad ones are mostly globs of flour with sprinkles of candied fruit. Avoid them and seek the former. Too, fruitcakes may be either light or dark, the lighter ones, which are made with ordinary granulated sugar, being less rich with more subtle flavor and aroma. The darker fruitcakes have molasses in the batter (which give it the dark color).
True aficionados of fruitcake swear by the dark ones, but I prefer a light fruitcake. There are innumerable sites that sell fruitcake listed on the internet. One good one is the Collin Street Bakery. I used to buy an "Australian Apricot" fruit cake from them by mail order and it was heavenly. There are also surprisingly good fruitcakes in grocery stores, though one has to look hard and be lucky to find them. I find that "homemade" fruitcakes are usually threats to good health an normal pallets. One should avoid those when possible., for making a good fruitcake is laborious and a long process.
I myself make one with a whoel orange ( ruind and all) processed as abase for it. . I do remember a friend of my mom who lived in Mississippi. She used to make "Friendship Cakes" (her name for a fruitcake she created) filled with delicious dried and candied fruit and fruit in a dark batter. To this day I always think about that cake at Christmas time, though I have not tasted it for many years. Sooooooo are you ready to eat fruitcake? You must be crazy! That stuff could kill you.
Ok, we can debate whether giving someone a fruitcake is an awful gift or a gift from the Gods. But I have a gift list form Australia that even Santa wouldn't want. Choice Magazine announced in canberra last week the results of a survey of 12,000 people who were asked what would be the worst gift they could receive at Christmas time. And the winner of the worst gift contest is....an electric ice shaver.
I have no idea why, unless some of the respondents have had trouble with that gadget. Number two was an ice cream maker, probably because people feel kitchen objects are work gifts rather than pleasure ones. Number three was a foot spa. Huh? Who gives that? I never heard of it. Among the other bad gifts were: electric can openers. aromatherapy diffusers, hair removal appliances. heated rollers, hair curling wands and deli slicers. Relax., I never give any of those. But you better run and hide. You might get a fruitcake.
I suppose just about everyone has eaten a piece of fruitcake at one time or another, for it is an important part of Christmas tradition. But some, like me, seek out the "good fruitcakes" and gobble them up each holiday time. I even put some in my freezer so I may relive the fruitcake delirium in summer, spring or fall.
Forget the image of the old , hard inedible glob that is better used as a doorstop than eaten. That kind of fruitcake is a rare one, like the cheap ink pen that doesn't write or the phony diamond your sweetie once gave you! I am here to tell you what a good fruitcake is, and why you should rush out and find one to nibble. I want to convert you to the glories of fruitcake.
Beware! First, a quick history of the fruitcake. It dates back in origin to ancient Egypt where it was said that fruitcake must be eaten in the afterlife (though some today say eating in while alive will kill you). Fruitcake evolved over time, with the Romans adding other ingredients to preserve it so it could be carried as food during those Roman army conquests. Centuries later, in the Middle Ages, much of the ingredients found in fruitcake today were added, giving it a similar appearance to what you can buy as "fruitcake' at your local bakery or grocery store.
I have no idea how fruitcake became part of the Christmas holidays, because historians are clue less too. But I suspect Charles Dickens may have popularized it in his novel Christmas Carol and other stories with a Christmas setting he wrote. It is known that in England pieces of fruitcake were passed out to poor women when Christmas carolers sang their tunes in the late 1700's (Give me fruitcake and I'll sing for you!). Later still, the Victorians ate fruitcake at major holidays. There was even a tradition for unmarried ladies to put a slice of fruitcake under her pillow so she would dream of whom she would marry.
A good fruitcake contains dried fruit, candied fruit, citron, fruit rind, nuts, spices, some liquor or brandy in which it may have been soaked, and just a tiny bit of flour to hold it together. The ratio of fruit and nuts to batter should be fairly high. The bad ones are mostly globs of flour with sprinkles of candied fruit. Avoid them and seek the former. Too, fruitcakes may be either light or dark, the lighter ones, which are made with ordinary granulated sugar, being less rich with more subtle flavor and aroma. The darker fruitcakes have molasses in the batter (which give it the dark color).
True aficionados of fruitcake swear by the dark ones, but I prefer a light fruitcake. There are innumerable sites that sell fruitcake listed on the internet. One good one is the Collin Street Bakery. I used to buy an "Australian Apricot" fruit cake from them by mail order and it was heavenly. There are also surprisingly good fruitcakes in grocery stores, though one has to look hard and be lucky to find them. I find that "homemade" fruitcakes are usually threats to good health an normal pallets. One should avoid those when possible., for making a good fruitcake is laborious and a long process.
I myself make one with a whoel orange ( ruind and all) processed as abase for it. . I do remember a friend of my mom who lived in Mississippi. She used to make "Friendship Cakes" (her name for a fruitcake she created) filled with delicious dried and candied fruit and fruit in a dark batter. To this day I always think about that cake at Christmas time, though I have not tasted it for many years. Sooooooo are you ready to eat fruitcake? You must be crazy! That stuff could kill you.
Ok, we can debate whether giving someone a fruitcake is an awful gift or a gift from the Gods. But I have a gift list form Australia that even Santa wouldn't want. Choice Magazine announced in canberra last week the results of a survey of 12,000 people who were asked what would be the worst gift they could receive at Christmas time. And the winner of the worst gift contest is....an electric ice shaver.
I have no idea why, unless some of the respondents have had trouble with that gadget. Number two was an ice cream maker, probably because people feel kitchen objects are work gifts rather than pleasure ones. Number three was a foot spa. Huh? Who gives that? I never heard of it. Among the other bad gifts were: electric can openers. aromatherapy diffusers, hair removal appliances. heated rollers, hair curling wands and deli slicers. Relax., I never give any of those. But you better run and hide. You might get a fruitcake.
The "Atheist" Religion
Do you know what the fastest growing religion is in the United States? No it isn't the nutty Islamic or Christian Fundamentalist sects. It's the "religion" of atheism. So-called non religious people make up a growing group of American society.
Ok, I know a "religious atheist" is an oxymoron. But today's atheists are a different breed from their predecessors. In short, atheists are those who believe in reason alone, in those things that can be arrived at through intellect and the scientific method. Concrete evidence for the existence of a God, they argue, just does not exist.
They believe one can live a happy life based on the human ethics that were developed, not from a God handing down a tablet of commandments, but rather through a natural evolutionary process. For most atheists today, it's not just denying the existence of God but a passive practice of that "faith". In many ways they are more like humanists who substitute man for "God" than true atheists.
And they know that they are one minority in society that is very much vilified by the believers. In America, atheists are not very well thought of, and it's still acceptable to criticize their non belief in a ..uh..not so polite way. People may have negative views about Jews, Muslims, Catholics or other religious sects, but they know they are not supposed to voice their views. But it is still socially acceptable in the U.S. to say anything one wants about atheists. So it isn't surprising that atheism in America is a silent movement?
Yet, in a poll by the Graduate Center of the City of New York University, the population of people who describe themselves as "non religious" more than doubled fro 1990 to 2001, from 14.3 million people to 29.4 million people. The only other groups to show such growth are the other extremes- Fundamentalist Muslims and Christians.
Could it be that the extremes are pushing the center outward? But doesn't this religious split mirror the split in other areas of our society? Is not the middle (old way) being shoved aside by the two extremes? And is this a good , bad or neutral change? You tell me.
Ok, I know a "religious atheist" is an oxymoron. But today's atheists are a different breed from their predecessors. In short, atheists are those who believe in reason alone, in those things that can be arrived at through intellect and the scientific method. Concrete evidence for the existence of a God, they argue, just does not exist.
They believe one can live a happy life based on the human ethics that were developed, not from a God handing down a tablet of commandments, but rather through a natural evolutionary process. For most atheists today, it's not just denying the existence of God but a passive practice of that "faith". In many ways they are more like humanists who substitute man for "God" than true atheists.
And they know that they are one minority in society that is very much vilified by the believers. In America, atheists are not very well thought of, and it's still acceptable to criticize their non belief in a ..uh..not so polite way. People may have negative views about Jews, Muslims, Catholics or other religious sects, but they know they are not supposed to voice their views. But it is still socially acceptable in the U.S. to say anything one wants about atheists. So it isn't surprising that atheism in America is a silent movement?
Yet, in a poll by the Graduate Center of the City of New York University, the population of people who describe themselves as "non religious" more than doubled fro 1990 to 2001, from 14.3 million people to 29.4 million people. The only other groups to show such growth are the other extremes- Fundamentalist Muslims and Christians.
Could it be that the extremes are pushing the center outward? But doesn't this religious split mirror the split in other areas of our society? Is not the middle (old way) being shoved aside by the two extremes? And is this a good , bad or neutral change? You tell me.
Louisiana, They're Just Trying To Wash Us Away
There is wisdom in the belief that "what goes around , comes around. It's true that the old does become the new again, and I noticed this recently in the form of a song by songwriter/singer Randy Newman (he is a native of my state). The song is called "Louisiana" and it was written about 15 years ago, at the time getting modest play on radio stations and sales in stores. "Louisiana" is a song about the great flood of 1927, before Hurricane Katrina, the greatest natural disaster in my state.
"Louisiana, Louisiana, Louisiana They're just try to wash us away They're just trying to wash us away" That chilling refrain from the song telling the listener that the U.S. government doesn't care about my area and is not so sad it is being washed away is the feeling we have here now after Hurricane Katrina. In the song it's President Coolidge who is indifferent and says "too bad for those crackers" (A derisive term for people who live in the south) as he brushes aside the thousands of deaths and total destruction of the same area that flooded in August.
But one could place George Bush in Coolidge's place and not miss a beat of the song. In fact, every detail is the same as the disaster we had with this hurricane, apart from the fact that the 1927 flood was of the Mississippi River (It runs through New Orleans), not flood waters from the Gulf of Mexico, rivers, lakes, canals and other water sources here that pushed over and through inadequately built levees.
I have heard the song played often here and on two documentaries shown on network TV. It is as I wrote "chilling" because it is too close to what happened in August to not be. It makes us wonder if they will wash us away. One "expert" has already said that New Orleans should be abandoned as un livable, that resident should be relocated. Of course not one of those who wants to see us washed away wants also to wash away the oil . gas, seafood, sulfur etc. that make my state one of the richest natural treasures in the U.S. It seems they just want us to go away so we don't make them spend money to protect us- just like in 1927. If you get a chance, listen to the song. You can find the author's version with commentary at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/storyphp?storyld=4838741 or hear Billy Idol sing it with a free download at http://www.gotbrandy.com/industry/music
Lovely, but cold and dull Singapore is at it again. In the land where smiling is considered rude, and emotion takes second to finances comes a new technology that's a good fit for the lifestyle there. Forget about hugging your child or honey. In Singapore there is news of "cyberhugs". It's a new a way to transmit the sense of touch over the Internet using a vibration jacket the hugged person wears. Bizarre as it seems, research scientists at Nanyang Technological University have devised a wireless jacket for chickens or other pets that can be controlled with a computer to give the animal the feeling of being touched by its owner.
The next step, the Singapore group says is to use the same concept to transmit hugs over the internet. "These days, parents go on a lot of business trips, but with children, hugging and touching are very important, said one of the researchers, Adrian Cheok. NTU plans to make a pajama suit for kids, which would use the Internet to adjust changes in pressure and temperature to simulate the feeling of being hugged. Parents could wear a similar suit to be "hugged back by their kids. Haha Only in Singapore could emotion be transformed into electronics. But...sad to say...that may be an improvement for Singaporeans.
"Louisiana, Louisiana, Louisiana They're just try to wash us away They're just trying to wash us away" That chilling refrain from the song telling the listener that the U.S. government doesn't care about my area and is not so sad it is being washed away is the feeling we have here now after Hurricane Katrina. In the song it's President Coolidge who is indifferent and says "too bad for those crackers" (A derisive term for people who live in the south) as he brushes aside the thousands of deaths and total destruction of the same area that flooded in August.
But one could place George Bush in Coolidge's place and not miss a beat of the song. In fact, every detail is the same as the disaster we had with this hurricane, apart from the fact that the 1927 flood was of the Mississippi River (It runs through New Orleans), not flood waters from the Gulf of Mexico, rivers, lakes, canals and other water sources here that pushed over and through inadequately built levees.
I have heard the song played often here and on two documentaries shown on network TV. It is as I wrote "chilling" because it is too close to what happened in August to not be. It makes us wonder if they will wash us away. One "expert" has already said that New Orleans should be abandoned as un livable, that resident should be relocated. Of course not one of those who wants to see us washed away wants also to wash away the oil . gas, seafood, sulfur etc. that make my state one of the richest natural treasures in the U.S. It seems they just want us to go away so we don't make them spend money to protect us- just like in 1927. If you get a chance, listen to the song. You can find the author's version with commentary at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/storyphp?storyld=4838741 or hear Billy Idol sing it with a free download at http://www.gotbrandy.com/industry/music
Lovely, but cold and dull Singapore is at it again. In the land where smiling is considered rude, and emotion takes second to finances comes a new technology that's a good fit for the lifestyle there. Forget about hugging your child or honey. In Singapore there is news of "cyberhugs". It's a new a way to transmit the sense of touch over the Internet using a vibration jacket the hugged person wears. Bizarre as it seems, research scientists at Nanyang Technological University have devised a wireless jacket for chickens or other pets that can be controlled with a computer to give the animal the feeling of being touched by its owner.
The next step, the Singapore group says is to use the same concept to transmit hugs over the internet. "These days, parents go on a lot of business trips, but with children, hugging and touching are very important, said one of the researchers, Adrian Cheok. NTU plans to make a pajama suit for kids, which would use the Internet to adjust changes in pressure and temperature to simulate the feeling of being hugged. Parents could wear a similar suit to be "hugged back by their kids. Haha Only in Singapore could emotion be transformed into electronics. But...sad to say...that may be an improvement for Singaporeans.
So many To Vote For
I read an article in my local paper today about political parties that are registered in my state. It is interesting to see the variation in types of parties that run candidates in our state's elections. In my state of Louisiana for a party to be recognized (that means the party candidate who runs can have the party name listed next to his name on the ballot) it has to have at least 1000 registered voter signatures (we have about 3 million registered voters in the state), file forms with the state and pay a $1000 registration fee. That's it!
So here are the parties that will have candidates in the next elections we hold.
Aerosmith Party
American Communist Party
American Mohican Party
Anarchist Party
Baptists Party
Bath Party
Black Panther Party
Bull Moose Party
Cajun Party
Christian Party
Communist Party
Confederate party
Conservative Party
Democratic Socialist Party
Dixiecrat Party
Druid Party
Fascist Party
Federalist Party
God's Party
Gypsy Party
Independent Party
Jedi Party
Jesse Ventura Party
Lesbian Party
Liberal Party
Marxist Party
Moderate Party
Monarchist Party
Muslim Party
Found one you like? If you like a big one, try the Independent Party. It has more than 30,000. The smallest are the Aerosmith Party and Black Panther party, with one member each. The sexiest must be the Lesbian Party..which the God Party members probably accuse of being sinful....but then, the Muslim Party members probably say the God Party members are nothing but infidels.
Sigh... I am so confused I think I will skip voting next election.
So here are the parties that will have candidates in the next elections we hold.
Aerosmith Party
American Communist Party
American Mohican Party
Anarchist Party
Baptists Party
Bath Party
Black Panther Party
Bull Moose Party
Cajun Party
Christian Party
Communist Party
Confederate party
Conservative Party
Democratic Socialist Party
Dixiecrat Party
Druid Party
Fascist Party
Federalist Party
God's Party
Gypsy Party
Independent Party
Jedi Party
Jesse Ventura Party
Lesbian Party
Liberal Party
Marxist Party
Moderate Party
Monarchist Party
Muslim Party
Found one you like? If you like a big one, try the Independent Party. It has more than 30,000. The smallest are the Aerosmith Party and Black Panther party, with one member each. The sexiest must be the Lesbian Party..which the God Party members probably accuse of being sinful....but then, the Muslim Party members probably say the God Party members are nothing but infidels.
Sigh... I am so confused I think I will skip voting next election.
Inspecting Food, Not Levees
More proof that we eat too well here in New Orleans. New Orleans has always had a reputation as one of the world's great food cities, but it may be a negative in the case of our Levee Board inspectors here. It seems that when engineers from both here and other states and Orleans Levee Board officials gathered twice a year to inspect the area levees for safety and structural integrity, the inspections lasted less time than the main event of the day- lunch in some of our fine restaurants.
Uh, the post inspection lunches of crab cakes with champagne dill sauce, white chocolate mousse with a raspberry coulis and other goodies ordered from the menus. took about as long as the cursory 5 hour drive-by of the 125 miles of levees. In fact, the Chief Engineer in charge of seeing that the levees were built to specification and are a safe, personally tended to the menus for the lunches, ensuring that there were few absentees those inspection days.
The "inspectors" apparently had hearty appetites, if poor eyesight, in not seeing the too short and leaning levees that wee supposed to prevent the kind of disastrous flooding we had with Hurricane Katrina. Lunch bills ranged into the thousands with one group of 32 (out of 55) inspectors at one restaurant ordering a prime rib entree selection that cost about $20 per person.
But the inspections were not as thorough as the dining experiences they all had. Records show the inspectors often never left an automobile that drove adjacent to the levees, instead peeking out of car windows to glance here and there at the levee that was supposed to be studied, measured, analyzed and sampled. Well, in the view of some prosecutors that kind of inspection system is criminal, given the wide spread death and destruction of property that resulted from badly built levees that broke during Hurricane Katrina.
There is an investigation to assess that criminal liability and indictments for criminal negligence and fraud may soon be coming. Sigh.. Though I suppose those levee officials aren't worried. Instead, they probably are already thinking about what meals to order from the prison mess hall they may soon inhabit.
Uh, the post inspection lunches of crab cakes with champagne dill sauce, white chocolate mousse with a raspberry coulis and other goodies ordered from the menus. took about as long as the cursory 5 hour drive-by of the 125 miles of levees. In fact, the Chief Engineer in charge of seeing that the levees were built to specification and are a safe, personally tended to the menus for the lunches, ensuring that there were few absentees those inspection days.
The "inspectors" apparently had hearty appetites, if poor eyesight, in not seeing the too short and leaning levees that wee supposed to prevent the kind of disastrous flooding we had with Hurricane Katrina. Lunch bills ranged into the thousands with one group of 32 (out of 55) inspectors at one restaurant ordering a prime rib entree selection that cost about $20 per person.
But the inspections were not as thorough as the dining experiences they all had. Records show the inspectors often never left an automobile that drove adjacent to the levees, instead peeking out of car windows to glance here and there at the levee that was supposed to be studied, measured, analyzed and sampled. Well, in the view of some prosecutors that kind of inspection system is criminal, given the wide spread death and destruction of property that resulted from badly built levees that broke during Hurricane Katrina.
There is an investigation to assess that criminal liability and indictments for criminal negligence and fraud may soon be coming. Sigh.. Though I suppose those levee officials aren't worried. Instead, they probably are already thinking about what meals to order from the prison mess hall they may soon inhabit.
Dwindling Fish Species
Did you ask me for a fish report today? Haha I didn't think so, but it's what I start with. More specifically, I am here to tell you about the decline in fish species world-wide. According to a paper published in the Journal of Science, the variety of species of fish in the world's oceans has dropped by as much as 50% in the last 50 years.
A combination of over fishing (though this is the main reason for lost species) habitat destruction and climate change has narrowed the range of fish across the world. Here are some of the disclosures given un the report.
1) In certain areas, in particular off northwest Australia, the decline has been tremendous.
2) On average the person who throws out a fishing line today catches 5 species of dish. Fifty years ago the same line would have caught about 10 varieties.
3) There are only five spots on earth that still have the same wide variety of species as 50 years ago. They are, the east coast of Florida, south of Hawaii, near Australia's Great Barrier Reef, off Sri Lanka and in the South Pacific.
4) Over fishing is what is mainly depleting the decline. The report says it is the best way to prevent more loss. Climate changes (global warming?) have caused some species to leave water that is now either too warm or too cool. Most species like medium temperatures.
5) Tuna and bill fish are indicators of wider ocean diversity. They are disappearing everywhere and being replaced by predators like snake mackerel and stingrays.
The committee report recommendation is to institute an international ban on fishing in ecologically valuable waters and a general policy for setting up protected areas in the ocean, much as there are land preserves. Is this likely to happen? I would doubt it in a world that seems to agree only on disagreeing. Hehe By the way..did you eat fish for dinner last night?
A combination of over fishing (though this is the main reason for lost species) habitat destruction and climate change has narrowed the range of fish across the world. Here are some of the disclosures given un the report.
1) In certain areas, in particular off northwest Australia, the decline has been tremendous.
2) On average the person who throws out a fishing line today catches 5 species of dish. Fifty years ago the same line would have caught about 10 varieties.
3) There are only five spots on earth that still have the same wide variety of species as 50 years ago. They are, the east coast of Florida, south of Hawaii, near Australia's Great Barrier Reef, off Sri Lanka and in the South Pacific.
4) Over fishing is what is mainly depleting the decline. The report says it is the best way to prevent more loss. Climate changes (global warming?) have caused some species to leave water that is now either too warm or too cool. Most species like medium temperatures.
5) Tuna and bill fish are indicators of wider ocean diversity. They are disappearing everywhere and being replaced by predators like snake mackerel and stingrays.
The committee report recommendation is to institute an international ban on fishing in ecologically valuable waters and a general policy for setting up protected areas in the ocean, much as there are land preserves. Is this likely to happen? I would doubt it in a world that seems to agree only on disagreeing. Hehe By the way..did you eat fish for dinner last night?
Too Much News Is Bad News
Have you seen too much news on TV , the computer, newspapers and magazines. I mean, is there too much news hitting us, and is it a bad thing if we are saturated with news every waking minute of our lives? I think seeing too much news is like eating too much chocolate cake. It's not a good thing for us.
There is a human price to pay for living in a world where the news never stops. But I don't recommend disconnecting CNN or never watching your local TV news cast or reading a newspaper. What I think is better is to recognize that we may be addicted to news, and hence, may exaggerate the importance of it- particularly when being informed of an unusual or dramatic story.
What has happened to us because of this informational overload is that we have become compelled not so much by legitimate thirst for information as by an addiction to technology and impulses that make us think we have something to fear every second every day. It's the mentality people have that they are unsafe from "terrorists" or that "global warm will destroy us". So our mind is fed a series of histrionic news stories that fills us with distorted and exaggerated anxieties about what is happening in the world and what might happen to us.
Ha! Remember the ridiculous Y2K fears that all computers would crash when 2000 came? How about the Bush imagination that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that could harm the U.S.? There are countless more reactions to the informational overload of today. After a "disaster" (at least as defined by the media) TV news shows the same images with no additional information. The horror is beaten into the public and a false message is imparted on our brains- that the world is big, dangerous, scary and completely out of control.
Because of the communication and technological mediums we are bombarded by negative news reports we tend to overestimate the amount of violence and evil in the world. I think the obsessive and overly dramatic coverage of the 911 event showed the media that ratings are best obtained by saturating us with endless and exaggerated stories of tragic or dangerous events. They crank up their doom tone now, even when the event they cover is really not one to merit such a tone. We have been inundated with more news, from more sources, and some of these put a rather "creative" spin on their reporting to keep our attention.
Much of the news, particularly on TV, the "entertainment" source of our news, is speculative, repetitive, and is a phantom news of sorts. That is, the event being covered (the runaway bride story or the Michael Jackson trial, for instance) is much less important and relevant than the amount of coverage given. And by inundating us with coverage the media makes a trivial event significant for us. So be being over exposed to news have we lost our ability to distinguish the important from the mundane?
Maybe some people are. the best way to fight this news assault is through education. In particular, kids need to be taught about news- how it differs from opinion and entertainment, how it's source can drive its content, how current technology has altered it's reality. As for we adults, maybe stopping to think and evaluate a story is our best weapon against news overload. if the story isn't relevant, forget it. Evaluate every story the media gives to separate the real news from the entertainment, and ignore the latter.
Hehe By the way ..did you hear the news about..... Ok, here is my trivial news story of the day. But I promise, unlike media outlets, to make this a one time disclosure.
There is a human price to pay for living in a world where the news never stops. But I don't recommend disconnecting CNN or never watching your local TV news cast or reading a newspaper. What I think is better is to recognize that we may be addicted to news, and hence, may exaggerate the importance of it- particularly when being informed of an unusual or dramatic story.
What has happened to us because of this informational overload is that we have become compelled not so much by legitimate thirst for information as by an addiction to technology and impulses that make us think we have something to fear every second every day. It's the mentality people have that they are unsafe from "terrorists" or that "global warm will destroy us". So our mind is fed a series of histrionic news stories that fills us with distorted and exaggerated anxieties about what is happening in the world and what might happen to us.
Ha! Remember the ridiculous Y2K fears that all computers would crash when 2000 came? How about the Bush imagination that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that could harm the U.S.? There are countless more reactions to the informational overload of today. After a "disaster" (at least as defined by the media) TV news shows the same images with no additional information. The horror is beaten into the public and a false message is imparted on our brains- that the world is big, dangerous, scary and completely out of control.
Because of the communication and technological mediums we are bombarded by negative news reports we tend to overestimate the amount of violence and evil in the world. I think the obsessive and overly dramatic coverage of the 911 event showed the media that ratings are best obtained by saturating us with endless and exaggerated stories of tragic or dangerous events. They crank up their doom tone now, even when the event they cover is really not one to merit such a tone. We have been inundated with more news, from more sources, and some of these put a rather "creative" spin on their reporting to keep our attention.
Much of the news, particularly on TV, the "entertainment" source of our news, is speculative, repetitive, and is a phantom news of sorts. That is, the event being covered (the runaway bride story or the Michael Jackson trial, for instance) is much less important and relevant than the amount of coverage given. And by inundating us with coverage the media makes a trivial event significant for us. So be being over exposed to news have we lost our ability to distinguish the important from the mundane?
Maybe some people are. the best way to fight this news assault is through education. In particular, kids need to be taught about news- how it differs from opinion and entertainment, how it's source can drive its content, how current technology has altered it's reality. As for we adults, maybe stopping to think and evaluate a story is our best weapon against news overload. if the story isn't relevant, forget it. Evaluate every story the media gives to separate the real news from the entertainment, and ignore the latter.
Hehe By the way ..did you hear the news about..... Ok, here is my trivial news story of the day. But I promise, unlike media outlets, to make this a one time disclosure.
Who's Killing Kid's Sports
Who's killing kid's sports today? I don't know about elsewhere (Well, isn't the world so much the same that our cultures are practically indistinguishable?), but in America the answer may be "mom and dad". That's right. Parents are behaving so badly about their children's' sports activities that many kids have given up the idea of even playing an organized sport.
Across the country, millions of kids are being chewed up and spit out by a sports culture run amok. In my childhood sports days kids played organized sports at local playgrounds for fun. There was not an all star league, or expensive trophies for winning, and the concept of first place was not the dominant motivation for joining a team. But not now!
Now parents push their little ones to be the best, to win and sadly the children sometimes provide a way for the parent to live his or her own life through the child's own achievements on the playing field. It's not now uncommon to see scouts and coaches of higher level teams, even pro scouts, haunting the playgrounds in search of the next Michael Jordan or David Beckham. Parents send the winning and being best" message to kids and the kids often respond by using steroids to win for mom and dad. In short, the crisis in kid sports can be summed up in one word- adults. Adults run the kiddy sports programs and they run them badly.
The emphasis isn't on having fun and learning a skill, but rather in being first and best. Nothing else is seen as acceptable. Because of this, many kids no longer want to compete. Youth sport participation numbers have declined dramatically in the past few years. And who can blame the kids?
Some parents behave ..well...like children..when attending games. They curse officials, blame the coach their little one isn't in the game or staring, and in an ugly increasing trend, even physically attack opposing players, coaches, the officials or their child's own coaches. Some kids are too embarrassed by their parents' bad behavior to participate or are uncomfortable by moms and dads who push them to be first.
Fortunately for me, my daughter was interested in karate, a sport that is totally in their control of the coaches, is an individually designed activity, does not have frequent "competitions" and is one in which parents re observers rather than vicarious participants. But I see many playground sports where children are unwilling participants, their normal childhood enthusiasm ruined by the inappropriate behaviors of mom and dad. It only takes one and adult example to ruin a child's perspective for sports, and we have millions of bad examples every day.
Perhaps parents and adult coaches of little ones should be educated to encourage all the kids to participate, regardless of skill level, to emphasize enjoyment, to be realistic about their children, to leave coaching to coaches, and to ..err... how do I sugar coat this...to SHUT-UP and let kids have fun.
Across the country, millions of kids are being chewed up and spit out by a sports culture run amok. In my childhood sports days kids played organized sports at local playgrounds for fun. There was not an all star league, or expensive trophies for winning, and the concept of first place was not the dominant motivation for joining a team. But not now!
Now parents push their little ones to be the best, to win and sadly the children sometimes provide a way for the parent to live his or her own life through the child's own achievements on the playing field. It's not now uncommon to see scouts and coaches of higher level teams, even pro scouts, haunting the playgrounds in search of the next Michael Jordan or David Beckham. Parents send the winning and being best" message to kids and the kids often respond by using steroids to win for mom and dad. In short, the crisis in kid sports can be summed up in one word- adults. Adults run the kiddy sports programs and they run them badly.
The emphasis isn't on having fun and learning a skill, but rather in being first and best. Nothing else is seen as acceptable. Because of this, many kids no longer want to compete. Youth sport participation numbers have declined dramatically in the past few years. And who can blame the kids?
Some parents behave ..well...like children..when attending games. They curse officials, blame the coach their little one isn't in the game or staring, and in an ugly increasing trend, even physically attack opposing players, coaches, the officials or their child's own coaches. Some kids are too embarrassed by their parents' bad behavior to participate or are uncomfortable by moms and dads who push them to be first.
Fortunately for me, my daughter was interested in karate, a sport that is totally in their control of the coaches, is an individually designed activity, does not have frequent "competitions" and is one in which parents re observers rather than vicarious participants. But I see many playground sports where children are unwilling participants, their normal childhood enthusiasm ruined by the inappropriate behaviors of mom and dad. It only takes one and adult example to ruin a child's perspective for sports, and we have millions of bad examples every day.
Perhaps parents and adult coaches of little ones should be educated to encourage all the kids to participate, regardless of skill level, to emphasize enjoyment, to be realistic about their children, to leave coaching to coaches, and to ..err... how do I sugar coat this...to SHUT-UP and let kids have fun.
How To Sell To Younger Consumers
What's the new crystal ball to some of the younger members of society? I'll give you a hint. It's something on-line. Give up? Well, it has to be the blog and chat room. Blogs and chat rooms are everywhere and for advertisers or marketers with goods to say, what easier way to find out want the consumer, particularly the pre teen and teen consumer that blogs so much, wants and needs to buy. And the 10 to 25 age group uses blogs and chat sites like no other.
No more does a company need to hire a marketing firm to conduct a consumer preference survey by phone, focus groups or just by hanging around schools and other youth centered places. There's the new and cheaper shortcut, blogs and chat rooms where the opinions, whims, and heart throbs of today's big spenders- the youth- are freely aired for marketers to hear. These are unbiased consumer opinions for the asking, and now many companies are using the chat/blog data to design and market programs for the young market. One big cell phone/communcation company says it picked basketball star Kobe Bryant as it's spokesperson after reading the blogs and listening in to the younger set (who are most the addicted to communication devices) raving about Kobe.
In a sense, the most intimate consumer preferences and turnoffs are free for the taking right on line, making market research cheaper and more accurate than ever before. Well..this is true to an extent. But what about new products. Reading blogs and listening in on chat lines is great fro telling what kids like, but what about future products? It takes instinct, vision and luck to know what the future star products will be.
Yes, those future winners have blogs and chats yet to be written and gabbed about. Still, it's interesting to note the change in how manufacturers prepare to propagandize the consumer into buying their "junk
No more does a company need to hire a marketing firm to conduct a consumer preference survey by phone, focus groups or just by hanging around schools and other youth centered places. There's the new and cheaper shortcut, blogs and chat rooms where the opinions, whims, and heart throbs of today's big spenders- the youth- are freely aired for marketers to hear. These are unbiased consumer opinions for the asking, and now many companies are using the chat/blog data to design and market programs for the young market. One big cell phone/communcation company says it picked basketball star Kobe Bryant as it's spokesperson after reading the blogs and listening in to the younger set (who are most the addicted to communication devices) raving about Kobe.
In a sense, the most intimate consumer preferences and turnoffs are free for the taking right on line, making market research cheaper and more accurate than ever before. Well..this is true to an extent. But what about new products. Reading blogs and listening in on chat lines is great fro telling what kids like, but what about future products? It takes instinct, vision and luck to know what the future star products will be.
Yes, those future winners have blogs and chats yet to be written and gabbed about. Still, it's interesting to note the change in how manufacturers prepare to propagandize the consumer into buying their "junk
New Vocabulary
English is a most adaptable and a changing language. It accommodates the best and worst from everywhere, and is a language that is made to change often. Why, English has almost twice the vocabulary of any other single language, and the idioms....enough...you get the idea. The new Oxford Dictionary of English is out and there are some more vocab terns for your study, new words and phrases of the , uh, "unconventional" ilk.
Among the new entries this year are "potty-mouthed" (meaning using or characterized by bad language), "lush" (a new form of the old reliable "lush", this one means "very good") and "scopophilla" (sexual pleasure derived chiefly from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sex).
And how about the latest techno word, "phishing" (those phony e mails that imitate real sites and ask you to give your bank account or social security number so the phisher can steal from you)? Or the new words that are formed by joining two old words together, as in "chugger" (someone who approaches pasers-by in the street asking them for donations for a charity).
Another merged term to make the dictionary this year is "labradoodle" (a cross between a labrador retriever and a poodle). Want to insult me for writing about these stupid words? No problem. Try calling me a "chuckle head" There are now about 350 new words to insult idiots like me.
But if you do... I will hurl the new language at you in increasing streams. Why, I might say that, "Your potty-mouthed but lush descriptions of my stupidity makes me want to go chugging with my labradoodle for a defense fund to fight back.
Among the new entries this year are "potty-mouthed" (meaning using or characterized by bad language), "lush" (a new form of the old reliable "lush", this one means "very good") and "scopophilla" (sexual pleasure derived chiefly from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sex).
And how about the latest techno word, "phishing" (those phony e mails that imitate real sites and ask you to give your bank account or social security number so the phisher can steal from you)? Or the new words that are formed by joining two old words together, as in "chugger" (someone who approaches pasers-by in the street asking them for donations for a charity).
Another merged term to make the dictionary this year is "labradoodle" (a cross between a labrador retriever and a poodle). Want to insult me for writing about these stupid words? No problem. Try calling me a "chuckle head" There are now about 350 new words to insult idiots like me.
But if you do... I will hurl the new language at you in increasing streams. Why, I might say that, "Your potty-mouthed but lush descriptions of my stupidity makes me want to go chugging with my labradoodle for a defense fund to fight back.
Suing Too Much
Time for me to rant again. This one is about the growing willingness to assume responsibility for self when misfortune happens. Why is it that people must "blame someone else" when they have an accident or a bad experience? Further. why must they litigate for "damages" every time something bad happens to them?
It's the attitude "Something bad happened to me. Someone else must be to blame. I can't be at fault. I should sue!" This is not to say that suing is never advisable or morally right. It is, when there is a grievous los and the loss is the direct fault of another person or organization, suing is legitimate. But these days people sue out of avarice, not to correct a wrong.
A recent example of this sue at all cost mentality is the Air France jetliner near crash on a runway in Toronto back on August 2nd. All 309 passengers and crew survived when the jet skidded about 200 meters off the end of the runway and slammed into a ravine. Every person proceeded to exit the plane before it caught fire, with only a few having bumps and bruises. One would think he or she would give thanks for averting a potential disaster. But no! About 50 of the passengers and their relatives decided Air France might be their gold mine. Urged on by sleazy lawyers in Toronto, they met at a hotel and decoded they should sue immediately, though none have suffered any apparent damage from the crash, short of the upset of it.
Lawyers told them that post traumatic stress syndrome and other psychological trauma often "don't hit patients for months", sometimes even years.... Air France has already compensated the passengers in the amount of $1000 to $3,500 for loss of luggage and in the case of a few, the trip to a hospital for examination.
But this is not enough in the age of litigation. A number of the passengers feel entitled to more. "We need compensation that is fair and just, and if it comes to the point of having to sue them because they're not doing what they're supposed to do, then I will do that," said one passenger, Jo Ann Bundack, an executive with the Marriot hotel chain. Bundack's words are a microcosm of the sue mentality philosophy.
It's the " because you are rich and have the money you owe me if I have an accident" concept. In reaction, Air France knows that defending itself against these kinds of lawsuits (where the victim is inconvenienced and suffers slight damage, but thinks he or she deserves big compensation) is difficult. So it is promising more money for the passengers on the flight. Investigators say the flight voice and data recorders have indicated that the Airbus jet was working properly and that no mechanical fault is suspected. They believe that weather conditions (maybe those nutty passengers should sue the local weatherman for a "bad forecast") are the likely cause of the problem.
Too many passengers have praised the Air France crew for quick action in getting them off the plane quickly and safely. Nothing Air France did caused the plane to skid off the runway, the flight crew handled the emergency well.....no one on the plane suffered more than lost baggage, upset and inconveience....so why the pending $269 million class action law suit against Air France? I think the motivation for the suit is called, "greed".
Sigh.. someone should sue them all for that!
It's the attitude "Something bad happened to me. Someone else must be to blame. I can't be at fault. I should sue!" This is not to say that suing is never advisable or morally right. It is, when there is a grievous los and the loss is the direct fault of another person or organization, suing is legitimate. But these days people sue out of avarice, not to correct a wrong.
A recent example of this sue at all cost mentality is the Air France jetliner near crash on a runway in Toronto back on August 2nd. All 309 passengers and crew survived when the jet skidded about 200 meters off the end of the runway and slammed into a ravine. Every person proceeded to exit the plane before it caught fire, with only a few having bumps and bruises. One would think he or she would give thanks for averting a potential disaster. But no! About 50 of the passengers and their relatives decided Air France might be their gold mine. Urged on by sleazy lawyers in Toronto, they met at a hotel and decoded they should sue immediately, though none have suffered any apparent damage from the crash, short of the upset of it.
Lawyers told them that post traumatic stress syndrome and other psychological trauma often "don't hit patients for months", sometimes even years.... Air France has already compensated the passengers in the amount of $1000 to $3,500 for loss of luggage and in the case of a few, the trip to a hospital for examination.
But this is not enough in the age of litigation. A number of the passengers feel entitled to more. "We need compensation that is fair and just, and if it comes to the point of having to sue them because they're not doing what they're supposed to do, then I will do that," said one passenger, Jo Ann Bundack, an executive with the Marriot hotel chain. Bundack's words are a microcosm of the sue mentality philosophy.
It's the " because you are rich and have the money you owe me if I have an accident" concept. In reaction, Air France knows that defending itself against these kinds of lawsuits (where the victim is inconvenienced and suffers slight damage, but thinks he or she deserves big compensation) is difficult. So it is promising more money for the passengers on the flight. Investigators say the flight voice and data recorders have indicated that the Airbus jet was working properly and that no mechanical fault is suspected. They believe that weather conditions (maybe those nutty passengers should sue the local weatherman for a "bad forecast") are the likely cause of the problem.
Too many passengers have praised the Air France crew for quick action in getting them off the plane quickly and safely. Nothing Air France did caused the plane to skid off the runway, the flight crew handled the emergency well.....no one on the plane suffered more than lost baggage, upset and inconveience....so why the pending $269 million class action law suit against Air France? I think the motivation for the suit is called, "greed".
Sigh.. someone should sue them all for that!
Safe Browsing
Consumer Reports magazine has released its 2005 "State of the Net" consumer server and the results show many people think the Internet is becoming a more assault able venue. In the survey results the respondents said that the Internet is no longer the simple information highway it was ,s ay five years ago.
It's more like a no-holds-barred raceway teeming with dangerous and criminal drivers with hardly a police car in sight. Those of us using the Internet face increased assaults through E Mail (Hehe but I am ok), Web site infections, messaging services and downloads. The Consumer Report study concluded that if you use the Internet at home you have a 1-in-3 chance of suffering computer damage, financial loss, or both because of a computer virus or spy ware that attacks your computer.
Further, the survey showed that most on-line threats are worse than they were a year ago, despite the industry's efforts to make it safer. This is largely in part because government does not keep pace with the criminals making the Internet less safe. Here are some of the highlights of the survey of 3,200 households who regularly use the Internet.
- On third said a virus or spy ware caused a serious problem with their computer, resulting in some financial loss
- Half of the respondents said they had been infected by spy ware during the previous 6 months. 18% of those said it was so bad they had to erase their hard drive.
- 51% said they visit fewer web sites because of the danger, and 38% said they download free programs less often.
- 64% said they had a virus on their computer in the past two years.
- Overall, spam decreased slightly. This is the only reduction in malicious Internet activity.
- 6% succumbed to phishing scams and gave personal info because of it. -
- Mac's are safer than Window's PC's. For instance, only 20% of Mac users reported a virus in the past year.
- Despite the dangers, 17% weren't using any virus protection program.
- Spy ware is the fastest growing and most complex threat today and can infiltrate a computer in every imaginable way. One in six people had a major, costly spy ware problem.
Many recommendations were given to help protect the user computer, most so obvious (like downloading the Microsoft Service Packs, using a firewall, virus protection and spy ware program, and not opening suspicious E mail), I need to repeat them all. The problem with most of is that even though we know the dangers and ways to reduce them, often we ignore them. Oh...by the way, this blog is virus free.
It's more like a no-holds-barred raceway teeming with dangerous and criminal drivers with hardly a police car in sight. Those of us using the Internet face increased assaults through E Mail (Hehe but I am ok), Web site infections, messaging services and downloads. The Consumer Report study concluded that if you use the Internet at home you have a 1-in-3 chance of suffering computer damage, financial loss, or both because of a computer virus or spy ware that attacks your computer.
Further, the survey showed that most on-line threats are worse than they were a year ago, despite the industry's efforts to make it safer. This is largely in part because government does not keep pace with the criminals making the Internet less safe. Here are some of the highlights of the survey of 3,200 households who regularly use the Internet.
- On third said a virus or spy ware caused a serious problem with their computer, resulting in some financial loss
- Half of the respondents said they had been infected by spy ware during the previous 6 months. 18% of those said it was so bad they had to erase their hard drive.
- 51% said they visit fewer web sites because of the danger, and 38% said they download free programs less often.
- 64% said they had a virus on their computer in the past two years.
- Overall, spam decreased slightly. This is the only reduction in malicious Internet activity.
- 6% succumbed to phishing scams and gave personal info because of it. -
- Mac's are safer than Window's PC's. For instance, only 20% of Mac users reported a virus in the past year.
- Despite the dangers, 17% weren't using any virus protection program.
- Spy ware is the fastest growing and most complex threat today and can infiltrate a computer in every imaginable way. One in six people had a major, costly spy ware problem.
Many recommendations were given to help protect the user computer, most so obvious (like downloading the Microsoft Service Packs, using a firewall, virus protection and spy ware program, and not opening suspicious E mail), I need to repeat them all. The problem with most of is that even though we know the dangers and ways to reduce them, often we ignore them. Oh...by the way, this blog is virus free.
Steroids
We are having a steroid crisis in sports here in the U.S. A recent case is that of baseball star Raphael Palmeiro who, in March of 2005, swore to a U.S. Congress committee investigating the use of illegal drugs by athletes that he never had before used steroids, was suspended by his sport for using the drug
After being caught, Palmeiro said he meant in previous statements about the drug is that that "never knowingly used steroid". I have no idea how he could inject steroids without being aware of it, but that's Palmeiro's problem to explain. But authorities dropped an inquiry into Palmeiro's possible steroid use, saying "it's impossible to tell" if he used them.
The problem of pro athletes using steroids and other enhancement performers is so pervasive that routine testing is done in most sports to weed out the druggies. But it of course is a flawed process. It seems that many athletes have drug masking technology that is usually a step ahead of the testing itself. We al know about Olympic druggies, and about the accusations against Lance Armstrong and other premier athletes who "just haven't been caught'; but are suspected as being cheaters.
The first drug cheating by athletes dates to the late 50's, in East Germany. If one looks at films of the East German female swimmers in the 60's and 70's it is an eye-opening sight. They appear to be male and have huge muscular definition, probably completely steroid created. Those swimmers ruled the waters until drug testers caught them in their ruse and forced them to swim without drugs. Shortly after the scandals the East German swimmers became an after thought, rarely winning competitions but suddenly appearing to be female again in appearance. In the years after, athletes became more muscular looking and records began falling regularly. the open secret is that most of the world's premier athletes use steroids, and of course all deny that they do.
The sad aspect to cheating with drugs is that their cheating has disillusioned spectators and caused many sports to lose the big fan base they once had. Too, the steroid problem has seeped into all levels of sports. Coaches of high school and junior high athletes have been caught supplying steroids to their little athletes.
As a teacher, I see the huge muscular appearance of high school sports starts today. It is a noticeable change from earlier years. Though the testing programs have reduced the numbers of cheaters overall to those who know who to mask the drugs when tested, the problem persists because sports legislative bodies do not punish cheaters severely enough. I think, suspension for a year or two for first time offenders and life time bans on competition is a reasonable punishment for a second time cheater.
Yet, most punishment is cosmetic to appease fans. If those who regulate sports do not take a more serious approach to eliminating drug cheating in their sports, the world of sporting will lose even more appeal for fans and some sports will die from the apathy fans show toward them. It's sad to think that to see a "clean" competition today, one must turn to the 7 and 8 year old beginners...uh....well.....maybe they are clean.
After being caught, Palmeiro said he meant in previous statements about the drug is that that "never knowingly used steroid". I have no idea how he could inject steroids without being aware of it, but that's Palmeiro's problem to explain. But authorities dropped an inquiry into Palmeiro's possible steroid use, saying "it's impossible to tell" if he used them.
The problem of pro athletes using steroids and other enhancement performers is so pervasive that routine testing is done in most sports to weed out the druggies. But it of course is a flawed process. It seems that many athletes have drug masking technology that is usually a step ahead of the testing itself. We al know about Olympic druggies, and about the accusations against Lance Armstrong and other premier athletes who "just haven't been caught'; but are suspected as being cheaters.
The first drug cheating by athletes dates to the late 50's, in East Germany. If one looks at films of the East German female swimmers in the 60's and 70's it is an eye-opening sight. They appear to be male and have huge muscular definition, probably completely steroid created. Those swimmers ruled the waters until drug testers caught them in their ruse and forced them to swim without drugs. Shortly after the scandals the East German swimmers became an after thought, rarely winning competitions but suddenly appearing to be female again in appearance. In the years after, athletes became more muscular looking and records began falling regularly. the open secret is that most of the world's premier athletes use steroids, and of course all deny that they do.
The sad aspect to cheating with drugs is that their cheating has disillusioned spectators and caused many sports to lose the big fan base they once had. Too, the steroid problem has seeped into all levels of sports. Coaches of high school and junior high athletes have been caught supplying steroids to their little athletes.
As a teacher, I see the huge muscular appearance of high school sports starts today. It is a noticeable change from earlier years. Though the testing programs have reduced the numbers of cheaters overall to those who know who to mask the drugs when tested, the problem persists because sports legislative bodies do not punish cheaters severely enough. I think, suspension for a year or two for first time offenders and life time bans on competition is a reasonable punishment for a second time cheater.
Yet, most punishment is cosmetic to appease fans. If those who regulate sports do not take a more serious approach to eliminating drug cheating in their sports, the world of sporting will lose even more appeal for fans and some sports will die from the apathy fans show toward them. It's sad to think that to see a "clean" competition today, one must turn to the 7 and 8 year old beginners...uh....well.....maybe they are clean.
Promises and Lies
Looking around New Orleans now, four months after Hurricane Katrina battered it, is a feats for the eyes. Dark, 2/3 empty of people, ravaged....it's like a biblical city that was "laid to waste" by God. But God didn't destroy New Orleans. Nature helped and man failed to build adequate levees and drainage pumps to protect it. That is, the federal government has assaulted this unique city of mine by its negligence and neglect.
It has been disclosed that the Corps of Engineers, the government agency in charge of building the levees that protect us (we are 6 feet below sea level and surrounded by water), knowingly built inadequate levees and failed to inspect properly those that were built. We read admissions and disclosures that these levees were far short of the height underground needed to ensure they would not break and of stories of inflated contracts given by the Corps of Engineers to politically positioned companies who had not the engineering skill to build them. And now my least favorite president's, George Bush, empty promises after the storm (his speeches to the nation seem to have been vote appeals, not real promises to help us) to spend "whatever it takes to build adequate levees" was just another Bush administration lie.
He does nothing and has backed off his promise. Bush is maddeningly incompetent and immoral. If I may borrow from The Greek philosopher Euripedes, "Those whom the Gods seek to destroy they first make mad." Well, Bush is not God, but he is driving us mad. And Congress his abandoned New Orleans too. The issue of hurricane relief and of rebuilding the city is no longer the "sexy" issue it was when in the headlines. Now we are being told our levees will only be rebuilt to "the level before the storm".
This congress is maddening us too. But our insanity is not an internal illness. It is imposed by the neglect our own government (though no one here believes the Bush administration is capable of fair and rational behavior). We are now a maddened city wrapped in confusion, uncertainty, fear and anger..oh, so much anger at the betrayal and neglect we have had hoisted on us. The hurricane was nothing compared to the Bush administration and Congresses scorn. So I guess it truly is a Greek tragedy.
New Orleans is dead. Long may it be remembered by those who once new and loved it. And may a Biblical plague fall on those who buried us.
It has been disclosed that the Corps of Engineers, the government agency in charge of building the levees that protect us (we are 6 feet below sea level and surrounded by water), knowingly built inadequate levees and failed to inspect properly those that were built. We read admissions and disclosures that these levees were far short of the height underground needed to ensure they would not break and of stories of inflated contracts given by the Corps of Engineers to politically positioned companies who had not the engineering skill to build them. And now my least favorite president's, George Bush, empty promises after the storm (his speeches to the nation seem to have been vote appeals, not real promises to help us) to spend "whatever it takes to build adequate levees" was just another Bush administration lie.
He does nothing and has backed off his promise. Bush is maddeningly incompetent and immoral. If I may borrow from The Greek philosopher Euripedes, "Those whom the Gods seek to destroy they first make mad." Well, Bush is not God, but he is driving us mad. And Congress his abandoned New Orleans too. The issue of hurricane relief and of rebuilding the city is no longer the "sexy" issue it was when in the headlines. Now we are being told our levees will only be rebuilt to "the level before the storm".
This congress is maddening us too. But our insanity is not an internal illness. It is imposed by the neglect our own government (though no one here believes the Bush administration is capable of fair and rational behavior). We are now a maddened city wrapped in confusion, uncertainty, fear and anger..oh, so much anger at the betrayal and neglect we have had hoisted on us. The hurricane was nothing compared to the Bush administration and Congresses scorn. So I guess it truly is a Greek tragedy.
New Orleans is dead. Long may it be remembered by those who once new and loved it. And may a Biblical plague fall on those who buried us.
Too Much Sensitivity
Our future generation looks frightening, even at present. But nice pictures, anyway. In this age of being politically correct, of never saying or doing anything that would offend anyone (the "You have no right to offend me with your words" mentality) even our universities are victims of this thinking. The latest "I dare not do if I offend" of over sensitivity comes from the NCAA ( National Collegiate Athletic Association), the governing body of all college and University sports. To say that they are being oversensitive is a vast understatement.
The NCAA executive committee decided to ban the use of American Indian mascots (those men and women who rove the sidelines during games dressed as Indians) by sports teams during any post season, championship event. Nicknames or mascots deemed "hostile or abusive" would not be allowed by teams on their uniforms or other clothing beginning with any NCAA tournament game after Feb 1, 2006.
At least 18 universities have those "inappropriate" mascots, even though many schools that use the name "warrior" are not considered to be offenders and are not subject to the indian name ban. How crazy is this? Banning the word Indian in school names is idiotic, but why would "warrior" be acceptable? Isn't an Indian a warrior?
Just two years ago the NCAA showed a degree of wisdom when it announced that schools should determine for themselves whether the Indian depictions were offensive. But special interest groups have pressured the change in policy, even though most tribal Indians have said they are not offended by their heritage being used by sports teams to show strength.
Too, many ethnic groups are represented by universities as mascots or nicknames. For example, how about the Notre Dame Fighting Irish? Should anyone of Irish heritage demand a name change because he or she fears others will perceive him or her as a fighter? Ridiculous! One of my state's best named university nicknames is the University of Louisiana Lafayette "Raging Cajuns". A Cajun is a person of French Canadian heritage who immigrated to my part of Louisiana 200 or more years ago. I live in Cajun country here and know that those Cajuns can rage...and if I would suggest that their school name is offensive and should be changed they would rage all over me.
The NCAA executive committee decided to ban the use of American Indian mascots (those men and women who rove the sidelines during games dressed as Indians) by sports teams during any post season, championship event. Nicknames or mascots deemed "hostile or abusive" would not be allowed by teams on their uniforms or other clothing beginning with any NCAA tournament game after Feb 1, 2006.
At least 18 universities have those "inappropriate" mascots, even though many schools that use the name "warrior" are not considered to be offenders and are not subject to the indian name ban. How crazy is this? Banning the word Indian in school names is idiotic, but why would "warrior" be acceptable? Isn't an Indian a warrior?
Just two years ago the NCAA showed a degree of wisdom when it announced that schools should determine for themselves whether the Indian depictions were offensive. But special interest groups have pressured the change in policy, even though most tribal Indians have said they are not offended by their heritage being used by sports teams to show strength.
Too, many ethnic groups are represented by universities as mascots or nicknames. For example, how about the Notre Dame Fighting Irish? Should anyone of Irish heritage demand a name change because he or she fears others will perceive him or her as a fighter? Ridiculous! One of my state's best named university nicknames is the University of Louisiana Lafayette "Raging Cajuns". A Cajun is a person of French Canadian heritage who immigrated to my part of Louisiana 200 or more years ago. I live in Cajun country here and know that those Cajuns can rage...and if I would suggest that their school name is offensive and should be changed they would rage all over me.
Lower Blood Pressure-Longer Life
Today I saw a TV segment on a medical news report that reported on a study of blood pressure readings, specifically on what effect lower than normal blood pressure readings mean for longevity. And the good news for me (I have always had below normal blood pressure readings) and many others is that those people more than 35 years old with readings below average readings have a statistical probability of living 7 years or more longer than people with high or normal blood pressure levels.
Seven years is a significant amount of time, perhaps enough for some people with above average readings to change their lifestyle and decrease their own blood pressure levels. I got an E mail today from someone who had not written in more than three years. That is not so unusual on the Internet, but it did cause me to reflect on styles people use when writing E mail, at least what I have observed from those wo write to me.
So here are some of the common styles I see. And..... I am not saying which if any is mine, nor making any judgment about the quality of each style. I appreciate any E mail I receive.
1) Brevity is best- This writer says little and often says so "I don't know what to write". But the brevity E mailer does write and keep in touch...but is always a mystery to me since a paragraph a letter is hardly descriptive..Give them a C+ for loyalty.
2) A few words are never enough- These writer is wordy and goes on and on, often unsure that I am understanding (Well, I am a little stupid and do need great explanation). The Wordy E mailer is descriptive. He or she will go into detail, about anything, even his or her hemorrhoids.
3) Advice wanted- being a teacher I receive many E mails form people asking for my advice. Why I am seen as wise or insightful I am not sure. Hehe It can't be because of the advice I give. Perhaps the title "teacher" makes me seem more than I really am. Anyway, the Advice seeker always asks my opinion of something in every E mail.
4) Philosopher King or Queen- The Philosopher likes to discuss issues and debate them. This one is a higher order thinker than most because the Philosopher is concerned about more than his or her immediate world. I like this mail except when the issue is a little....uh...esoteric. When the Philosopher wants to debate whether Tom Cruise is faithful to Kate Hudson I want to resign my membership in the philosophy club.
5) Recapper- The recapper tells me the daily events in his or her life, from wake-up to bed time. I like this type when I do not want to debate an issue or idea that the Philosopher may have challenged me with in a precious mail.
6) Funny mail- This is a joy to read. It can be a scatterbrained, unintended monologue that leaves me in stitches, or someone who is skilled at purposefully making me laugh.
7) Sender- The sender is great because, even if he or she never writes a word to me about his or herself or about me. I receive endless amounts of jokes and attachments. This is the one who also starts those rumors we see in our E mail. You know, the one who claims Microsoft has a check waiting for us if we fill in a survey, or the one who says we should donate money to that little girl dying from the attacker who took both of her kidneys.
Ok, there are more E mail types. But this is just a quick summary of some and I am not going to identify your type!!. I like them all and appreciate every E mail. E mails are always interesting to me, and friendships made over them can be deep and lasting..but I refuse to give any money to the girl without the kidneys!!!!!
Seven years is a significant amount of time, perhaps enough for some people with above average readings to change their lifestyle and decrease their own blood pressure levels. I got an E mail today from someone who had not written in more than three years. That is not so unusual on the Internet, but it did cause me to reflect on styles people use when writing E mail, at least what I have observed from those wo write to me.
So here are some of the common styles I see. And..... I am not saying which if any is mine, nor making any judgment about the quality of each style. I appreciate any E mail I receive.
1) Brevity is best- This writer says little and often says so "I don't know what to write". But the brevity E mailer does write and keep in touch...but is always a mystery to me since a paragraph a letter is hardly descriptive..Give them a C+ for loyalty.
2) A few words are never enough- These writer is wordy and goes on and on, often unsure that I am understanding (Well, I am a little stupid and do need great explanation). The Wordy E mailer is descriptive. He or she will go into detail, about anything, even his or her hemorrhoids.
3) Advice wanted- being a teacher I receive many E mails form people asking for my advice. Why I am seen as wise or insightful I am not sure. Hehe It can't be because of the advice I give. Perhaps the title "teacher" makes me seem more than I really am. Anyway, the Advice seeker always asks my opinion of something in every E mail.
4) Philosopher King or Queen- The Philosopher likes to discuss issues and debate them. This one is a higher order thinker than most because the Philosopher is concerned about more than his or her immediate world. I like this mail except when the issue is a little....uh...esoteric. When the Philosopher wants to debate whether Tom Cruise is faithful to Kate Hudson I want to resign my membership in the philosophy club.
5) Recapper- The recapper tells me the daily events in his or her life, from wake-up to bed time. I like this type when I do not want to debate an issue or idea that the Philosopher may have challenged me with in a precious mail.
6) Funny mail- This is a joy to read. It can be a scatterbrained, unintended monologue that leaves me in stitches, or someone who is skilled at purposefully making me laugh.
7) Sender- The sender is great because, even if he or she never writes a word to me about his or herself or about me. I receive endless amounts of jokes and attachments. This is the one who also starts those rumors we see in our E mail. You know, the one who claims Microsoft has a check waiting for us if we fill in a survey, or the one who says we should donate money to that little girl dying from the attacker who took both of her kidneys.
Ok, there are more E mail types. But this is just a quick summary of some and I am not going to identify your type!!. I like them all and appreciate every E mail. E mails are always interesting to me, and friendships made over them can be deep and lasting..but I refuse to give any money to the girl without the kidneys!!!!!
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