A lot of needless wars are fought over land and this is so idiotic because it’s just dirt! I could never imagine fighting, killing or dying over land. Those people who won’t give up their homes and refused to leave before the storm are just morons.

Thanks for trying to lift our spirits in the middle of this tragedy. Your podcast celebrating New Orleans is much appreciated. I visited the city for two days in the summer of 1998. It was great to soak in the culture and atmosphere of the place. New Orleans has that old city/other culture feel. I totally loved the place, and I was just passing through! I can’t even fathom how you must feel, really loving the place as you do.

Hold your head high and laissez le bon temps rouler.

Great job Dave.

I saw the late news, and you’re correct.

I wonder what’s happened to respect for life here..

–Ken–

Those plans to bring people to dc are now on hold. Check the NBC4 webpage. Something about having to know their identities and who will take care of them.

I’m watching Channel 4 (NBC) from Washington DC. Over the weekend the DC government has marshalled its forces, and made provisions for 600 or so evacuees to be housed in the Washington DC Armory. We just saw the report, cots neatly made, RedCross bags presumably containing toiletries, etc, on each cot. And a caravan of 10 Buses or so were on the way to NO, and were on the outskirts last night. Today, we find that no one in NO was able to designate who should stay, and who should go, so the buses are probably returning empty-seated. I’ve been in the DC area for 14 years, actually in Northern Virginia, and am the first to tell you the DC government cant find it’s ass with both hands. And I hope the bureaucratic inertia of NO doesn’t migrate to here. Doh! That *came* from here. I was actually cheering yesterday that DC finally got something right, then through no fault of their own, their efforts are unheeded.

Again, Don, best wishes to you in your efforts.

And,Dave, if I’m misappropriating EGC to inappropriately rant, shoot me a mail-o-gram, and it’ll stop. Part of the grief process is anger; I seem to be stuck there for now.

–Ken–

I’ve also found a way to be even more involved in helping. Some of you may find this as well. Our local Red Cross is seeking volunteers for all kinds of aid. Everything from putting care packages and tools and stuff together to actually taking groups down to Texas to help the relief that is going on there. I filled out my volunteer application today online. I’m hoping to put some real days of help in with the $$ I’ve donated.

dt

–Ken–

I hear you on all levels. I read the “comments” these douche nozzles left on the post in question; it is devoutly to be hoped that they don’t represent their countries’ views.

TE, American lives are no more intrinsically important than the lives of anyone else; lives are lives, and the natural, and proper thing to do, is to preserve life. The US forces have mobilized almost overnight to respond to horrific disasters around the globe; the American people have responded with donations, in abundance. And sorry if I’m selfish, but the American donations are pouring in for the Katrina disaster, but we want to know where, and to what extent, the US government’s aid has poured into a disaster in our own damn country? And family extends to anyone in need, anywhere. I shudder to comtemplate the possibility that these Gulf Coast victims would have been better cared for, had they lived elsewhere.

Dave, we ponied up our ducats for relief today; my company is matching our “wish we could do more”. .But, they’re also matching through 9/16, and there’s a payday between then and now… so we’ll give some more in 10 days or so..

I’ve not shed tears like this in a long time..

–Ken–

There are all kinds of things wrong here in America. This week has shone the bright light of truth on many, many wrongs in America.

And that same bright light has caught more than a couple of your commenters and shone them to be complete assholes.

My interpretation of what you have said in the past week boil down to 2 distinct things: (1)We need to have compassion for the unfortunate victims of this immense tragedy and (2)those that are responsible for helping Americans in a tragedy of this magnitude need to fucking do it. Now.

I find it impossible to believe that anyone with an ounce of humanity has a problem with either of those two ideas. In fact, I think that those who don’t agree with those two things have shown themselves to assholes of an immense magnitude. Congratulations, boys. I hope you are proud of yourselves.