straight from the idiot's pataphysics

Poor correlations are not the exclusivity of intelligent design coreligionaires

in right

dry heads

After all it is natural to blame Brown. When such a colossal disaster strikes who has the guts to think - I'll take care of it myself? In fact you expect a higher power to pull you out of trouble. Brown was not such power, nor was it he expected to ..

in politics of katrina help

times goes by

No doubt it needs to let employees go. As it devotes its energy to fact check nudging and it starts charging for columnists, the coverage of katrina was the weakest...

nytimes

deja vu

Isn't it the story of the mujadeens in Afganistan?

in hurricanes or politics of
terrorirsm

to the stones' show in a limo

There is no other proper way to go there -someone like me who know but one of their songs - Satisfaction.
It was a pleasure though seeing Keith Richards meandering thru the stage - and only great moment Keith stopping to sing - I am the worst. Forty years of rock. Still being there almost to the end of the rock's age. In this world of broken marriages. A piece of history.

in stones

falling between left and right

failing between left and right.
Lack of common purpose might doom the reconstruction. The two ineffectual parties. Politicians- paper tigers, paper leaders. Facts cannot sustain the political dogma. No personal responsibility. No conservative like in conservation and no compassion.

in hurricanes
in politics of katrina

going there

I am about to go down South. If I can find the means I will post from there.
Four years ago was making a similar travel. One of the strongest memories - the shock created by the fast transition from a city where life was close to routine to that horrific WTC ruins.

in politics of katrina help

et a la fin de l'envoy je touche 

poker faces

Risk and reward. This is what any MBA learns. Or financial analyst. Expected value.
The risk was known. The probabilities were known. The cost was estimated.
The locals did not wan to make the calcs. Some of them still don't.
The technicians hid their calculations. Or introduced " the days of our life" in the equation.
The politicians - did not see votes in this. Moving dirt in the Big Easy?
Is there anyone not sleeping well now? Besides the evacuees? Is there anyone else uncomfortable? How can we know?
The put their poker faces on.
We lost [using good management skills]

in hurricanes
in politics of katrina

don't shoot the cashier

Imagining the agency's name is related to the function I attended a FEMA meeting about seven years ago. Clinton's FEMA. It was just talk of grants. How to apply for money. This is the main function of FEMA. Transfers money from the federal government to the public or the states. Occasionally helps supplement the technical needs of a locality. It is a claims adjuster.
Seems that the public,even the informed one, makes the same mistake I made. Definitely FEMA is not about management. Maybe knowhow. Maybe some. The mayor should not be exempt from blame. Nagin was checking with his staff the Saturday before the hurricane if he can order a mandatory evacuation. How come he was not prepared to answer this?
in hurricanes
in politics of katrina

scarred and scared.

Coming at 7 pm thru Lincoln Tunnel. Almost no traffic -Labor Day.
I don't know? People are scared? Or sad? A different tomorrow?
When you see so many people who lost everything. When you see senators crying on TV. When you see Donna Brazile talking about her sister. Do we have a sand castle that started to crumble? Ineptitude or irresponsibility? Lack of human empathy?
All those who had had a great time for a weekend in New Orleans. Reminescing. They never saw New Orleans, never guessed all those stranded in the dome.
The Times reports the Bronx is the poorest county in the country. Reminiscing about New York...
in hurricanes

in politics of katrina

A member of the family

My dog died Saturday morning. Over the night he could not sleep, breathing fast.
A beautiful Maltese, only ten years old. He did not like long walks, but when we were going out together-wife, daughter and myself- he was proud to lead us. Our little pack. No more now.

role? or part?

don't criticize him. They just forgot to tell him what his role was. Is it just a part? [stars get roles, starlets get parts]
Even Fox criticized today- The president should not have been so unhappy with the response. Things are going pretty much OK.in hurricanes

in politics of katrina

The other side

The other side of the argument, the intelligent design side and this. Yes, I couldn't stop myself from making a point.
What is the point? There are always some people who know. There are always many arguments. Better listen to those who are recognized in their profession.
This Jewish story was told to me in engineering college. No less.
A flood is threatening the village. There are two bridges. One stone, one reed. They ask the rabbi which one should they choose. Go on the reed bridge. And pray. They do this and are saved as the stone bridge collapses.
On his deathbed the rabbi calls the faithful for final words of wisdom. Next time when the flood comes, you better be on the stone bridge.
in hurricanes.

in katrina

Beware the manager who gives too many interviews.

in hurricanes

isn't he supposed to know

Chertoff, the man ultimately in charge of FEMA, complains that we were hit simultaneously by two disasters - a hurricane and a flood. He doesn't even have someone to brief him that floods are part of hurricanes. These are the people that should protect us and win in Iraq.
in hurricanes

show off time

They try to score points out of a disaster?
Check them out, the little people, needing to prove they are always right. Building a pedestal out of other people misery. So they can be seen - the sorry clowns of right and left. While people are thirsty and die. When the most used words in reports is "like animals".
The men in charge rush to settle their little scores. Take money from entitlements.

Yes you can ask at right or left Where is my shepherd. Where is man? Show heart not petty righteous faces. Do something to be proud of.
in hurricanes