Random thoughts as we watch…
1) I can imagine the looters going into Whole Foods and thinking, “what IS this crap?”
2) Shipping the Superdome folks to the Astrodome. From the world’s largest indoor stadium to the world’s smallest. I’m sure Houston is thrilled. I say that city needs thousands more impoverished folks wandering around. But at least they’ll have a/c.
3) Those bus rides over are going to be tremendous, ain’t they? They were cooped up for two days in the dome, now they’ll be cooped up for SIX HOURS in an even SMALLER area.
4) It would be a wonderful story if they finally plug the holes in the levee with thousands of cans of Dutch Boy paint.
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#1 is hilarious! My thoughts and prayers for all affected by this tragedy.
I nearly shot coffee out my nose. That was much-needed levity at a time when I’m waivering between shock, desperation, and numbness. Thanks you guys for making this group of refugees smile.
Ariana French, Pableaux Johnson, Meredith Young, Greg Drevenstedt, Adrienne Lamb - all ok in St. Martinville, Louisiana
The rescuing of those who crawled into their attics to escape the rising flood waters WITHOUT a means to get out is a case of the US Coast Guard inteferring with the process of natural selection.
Glad to see that Pableaux and krewe are alive and well. And humor is something that is in pretty short supply. You can’t have too much money or be too funny.
We here at your SF sister site are thinking of you. Great post - humor is the only saving grace, isn’t it?
I love the Dutch Boy idea. I hope someone with photoshop is already working on mock-ups.
They also have fireworks in the Astrodome! Thanks for the laugh. We all need it . . .
Maybe they’ll get people on the buses by telling them tehy’re going to the casinos in Lake Charles.
Does anyone know the name of the made for tv movie that came out earlier this year about a hurricane hitting N.O. and destroying our oil system? Thanks!
OIL STORM
This is what makes (made?) NOLA kick ass…..we’ve been cracking jokes since minute one….not that we don’t understand or take it seriously….but we are not going to constantly wine for years like some other places….
NOAA has Katrina remote sensing imagery available from yesterday:
http://alt.ngs.noaa.gov/katrina/
Could somebody set up a website that people could sign up to sponsor or foster a family until they can get home? If you could keep one or two people in your home or if you can afford to put a family up in a motel until they can go home. This is one way to know for sure that your donation is going directly to help somebody.
that’s this first thing that has made me smile in three days. Thanks.
Could somebody set up a website that people could sign up to sponsor or foster a family until they can get home?
There are several places where this can be done, but the two most active are the New Orleans Craigslist Katrina Help site (http://neworleans.craigslist.org/hhh/) and the Katrina Help Wiki site (http://katrinahelp.info/wiki/index.php/Help_Offered)
Not even. The Astrodome seats 60,000. The Kibbie Dome seats 16,000 for football.
http://www.uiathletics.com/default.asp?PageID=154
And there are some major advantages to the Astrodome. It’s air conditioned. It’s bug-free. It’s basically unused. The parking lot is huge and can be used as a staging area. Astroworld is across the street for the kids. And the Saints will probably play a couple of games in Reliant Stadium, which is in the parking lot as well.
Compared to some of the other alternatives (e.g. tent cities upstate), this is the Ritz-Carlton.
My understanding is the Astrodome is being provided rent free until December.
Definitely the first laugh I’ve had at Katrina’s expense - thanks Craig! And hello to Pableaux and Ariana from Rob (Geoff & Karley’s friend.) That’s not g/l/s brooks, is it?
Man — how could I have overlooked the Kibbiedome? I stand corrected and apologize to University if Idaho fans everywhere.
Um — y’all want some refugees up there?
The situation in NO is aweful, my thoughts and prayers go out to all of those impacted. However, how is it that these “animals” who are looting the city of everything that isn’t nailed down can look at themselves in the mirror. They should start to shoot the looters on sight.
We were thinking up here that it’s too bad we blew up the Kingdome, because then we could offer refugees the ultimate trifecta tour of ugly-ass 1960s and 70s domed stadia.
Still, Safeco Field is available. I mean, the Mariners sure aren’t using it this year.
All of us in Chicago are praying for you all. This is absolutely horrible and gut wrenching to watch. I wish you all a speedy recovery…
thought 1 made me laugh out loud. which i needed. merci beaucoup.
We may be praying for all people suffering from Katrina
Once they all get to Houston what happens if the NEXT STORM this fall HITS Houston?? Why could people not have been mass-evacuated using the RAILROADS??? Probably because the Republicans have already destroyed your local Amtrak service and replaced freight lines with trucking!
(It’s not called The Grand Oil Party (GOP) for nothing folks!
(With railroads they could pack the looters into Freight cars like the Nazi’s but instead of taking them to the Gas Chamber-just let them SIT in the sun for a while -to play with their LOOT!)
Don’t plug the levees… just RAISE THE STREET LEVEL by making N.O. into a vast REGIONAL LANDFILL, a place to put ALL THE DEBRIS from the entire disaster region!
Then when the “landfill” is full and ‘crests’ above Sea level it will be a FINE time to begin “Rebuilding” the city now immune to future floods!
If they have to leave the Astrodome, let Bush set a tent city in Crawford. He can vacation and tend to the disaster at the same time.
Why doesn’t not ship the people from new orleans to the military bases that they were planning on closing? The bases are in tact , have all facilities and it would solve two problems.
I can’t wait for you to rebuild - I wish I had thought of this.
from
a spiderhole in Pakistan
Ship all the looters to France, those bastards got us in this mess.
Greatest city in the world, Cajuns will rebuild and remove the riffraff at the same time.
good luck and god bless
looking at the overwhelming video footage from this disaster, it’s impossible to deny that the vast majority of victims are black/poor.
Based upon the United States’ response to other emergencies in the past, Federal action seems a little slow in coming to this hell-zone.
I wonder when someone will try to link one with the other.
Further random thought-
Those left behind in N’Orleans just sit around and await rescue while showing the entire world their default level within civilisation
Further random thought with correct link-
Those left ebhind sit around and await rescue while showing the entire world their default level within civilisation
Valton C….I know you must be joking! The majority of the victims are black and poor??? Every person that evacuated is a victim…..there are white, black, brown, other brown, lighter brown….rich, poor, mediocre…….and ALL of them have lost…..so the rich are not so rich anymore, the poor are even poorer and the mediocre just upped the percentage of poor. There, I connected it all for you.
in response to kathy, in response to valton c…
indeed people of all colors and color variations have lost and perhaps dropped a peg or two on socio-economic scale. however one can’t deny the majority of those seen on television, newspapers and blogs are black. this is true because most of the people suffering from lack of food, inadequate shelter, and unsanitary conditions are black. unlike 9/11, mass media has yet to figure out a way to white-wash this tragedy. perhaps because most of the people unable to leave the city and are now being moved from one dome to the other are black.
poor people of all colors are now poorer, but most of those poor people are black. and the rich are never rich in one type of asset alone so although they undboutedly have lost, they will have some point of refernce from which to begin again. the same can’t be said for the poor who are for the most part, at the very least are of color.
as far as federal action, i personally reserve my judgement on that for the next 48 hours to see how they react, but the connection loudly hinted at by valton c is plainly clear.
poverty and mediocrity don’t go hand-in-hand nor does one precede the other. as difficult as it can be to get out of poverty, it is more difficult to become less mediocre. it is also completely possible to be rich and still be mediocre…so, nuff said about that.
while at this time it is probably a good idea to believe the best about one another, this attitude should not be assumed in ignorance. what is real and plainly obvious should not be ignored for the sake “dealing with one issue at at time.” no one is asking anyone to now engage in a debate about the overlapping issues of race & poverty. however, ignoring these issues as they stare you in the face has an impact on society that is and has been far from benign. and if what is real makes one uncomfortable; then this is a good thing. it means one is not insensitive to suffering, and not ignorant of the inconsistencies in our society. it means change is possible. there’s nothing wrong with discussing these issues with someone as you write your check to the red cross or take a family-no matter their pre-hurricane katrina background into your home for a few days.
we have to understand that many issues are multi-layered. we have to be able to hold more than one idea in mind, understand that there is more than one reality.
there are several connections that must be made…
now can someone please get us back to the jokes
I think that joking about this major catasophre is in poor judgment. These people have no where to go. With many of them under the poverty level of income, you tell me how that is a JOKE. Because I feel as though the United States is just sitting back and watching this become a bigger problem instead of getting up and doing something about helping these people. In the small commiuity that I live in, The children are ralling together to send food and colthing, and other things they need. We wish we could provide housing for them. Because that is what they really need. Is someplace to sleep. How would you feel if you were left homeless and stuck somewhere that was not going to get any better. Stop Joking and do something.
I’d add the Skydome to the list of available stadiums, but I’m afraid the price of rum up here in Canada would send you poor suthiners into shock lol.
As for the ‘bad taste’ of joking during these times, I disagree. Yes, terrible things have happened and are continuing to happen. Lives have been lost or destroyed. HOWEVER life goes on, and if we can leaven the depression a little bit with a joke or two here and there, who are you to shoot us down?
“How would you feel if you were left homeless”
For your information, Craig HAS been left homeless, for the time being we hope, by Katrina.
Hello Everyone,
In this time of need. These people are in total desperation. There are several situations that are not always considered:
1. Can everyone evacuate from a major city or metropulous?
The answer is no. The amount of people that depend on public transportation is tremendous and if the system shuts down,,,as it did. What do you do?
2. The poverty level?
If everyone thinks that this is centralized in New Orleans,,,think again. If this or a similar disaster hit Atlanta, Detroit or any other city, there would similar loss of life This is just an example. A lot of people just have a hard time from paycheck to paycheck. Not to mention the laid off groups. It takes money to evacuate to high ground, stay at a motel for an extended stay etc.
3. Communities need to develope evacuation plans, depending on the geographical location and reevaluate their abiliy to carry it out successfully. That means evacuating everyone!
Just on another note, President Bush does’nt even think about the amount of unemployed or laid off here in the USA. Now gas prices and shortages will only hurt the low income ppl even more. We as a whole have got to get it together and help our brothers and sister.
If people said looters among those hurricane
I wonder if the next disaster plan of action includes at least one dedicated relief squad and vehicle. When the dust settles, a guy with a message of ‘help is coming’ comes in first. He instructs the people to organize themselves to receive the aid. Then with much improvisation, alla MacGyver, supplies of water and possibly food are scrounged and provided ad naseum. All this is able to take place ’cause the initial response team identified the ‘hot spots’ of needed control and went there first to secure the peace,or at very least reassure the masses; martial law from the get go. Deal with the three looters you shot and hung up later….
Angie….Sweetie….Darlin…..
I AM homeless for now. And it ain’t funny.
….but it is. Kinda.
If I can’t laugh about it, I’ll cry for it.
….and that accomplishes nothing. For anybody.
It’s just life, baby. Live it or lose it.
…Craig
Angie, humor is the only thing that keeps us going in the face of tragedy. When my father died, we kids (all adults by then) laughed all the way to the cemetery. I know the limo driver thought we were nuts, but Dad could be a corker and it eased a lot of the pain to be able to retell all the funny things he did.
Humor is a coping mechanism. Any (good) psychologist will tell you that. If you can find some absurd facet in any situation, you’re halfway to recovery. Craig himself is displaced from his home in New Orleans, and he’s the one who started the jokes.
Now, have you heard the one about the two guys from Minnesota?
Alton wrote: “President Bush doesn’t even think about the amount of unemployed or laid off here in the USA.”
Alton, With all the Bush bashing that occurred yesterday, you probably missed the news about the latest monthly employment report which was released by the Labor Dept. on Friday. The US unemployment rate hit a 4-year low of 4.9% as more than 200,000 new jobs were created. There has been over 3,000,000 new jobs created during the last 18 months. We are now in the 46th consecutive month of positive GDP growth with low inflation, low interest rates and record home ownership. When one considers all the hits that the US economy has taken (the stock market bust, the 9/11 attacks, the corporate scandals, and the continuing cost of the War on Terror), the economic record of the Bush Administration is truly outstanding.
Alton wrote: “President Bush doesn’t even think about the amount of unemployed or laid off here in the USA.”
Alton, With all the Bush bashing that occurred yesterday, you probably missed the news about the latest monthly employment report which was released by the Labor Dept. on Friday. The US unemployment rate hit a 4-year low of 4.9% as more than 200,000 new jobs were created. There has been over 3,000,000 new jobs created during the last 18 months. We are now in the 46th consecutive month of positive GDP growth with low inflation, low interest rates and record home ownership. When one considers all the hits that the US economy has taken (the stock market bust, the 9/11 attacks, the corporate scandals, and the continuing cost of the War on Terror), the economic record of the Bush Administration is truly remarkable.
Sorry about the repeat posts. It’s not my fault as this website was giving me error messages that “page not found”.
come on, gary, we all know that those “unemployment rates” are based on bullshit evidence - the number of NEW PEOPLE who apply for unemployment every month. That doesn’t take into account the people who have not applied for unemployment help or the people who are sporadically in and out of the unemployment office.
Jeff chen - you are right on the money - i agree with you 100%
I agree with you Tony G. as well as with Dogless and Stormy. And thanks guys for the laugh, humor is always the best medicine. The one thing I would like to comment on here is how can this site help to disseminate information to N.O. residents displaced from their homes? For instance, I am staying with an aunt in New Iberia and have heard that anyone from N.O. can apply for Red Cross help, but there is no information as to where the Red Cross (nearest here)is located or when/if they will be here. How about if you guys ask those who have information to post it here so others can be privy to that info.?
Thank you Gary for the positive remarks regarding our President. Our country has been hit hard during Bush’s presidency. And I thank God that he has been there to get us through. People don’t realize what shape we could be in. I am also tired of people trying to turn this horrible devistation in New Orleans into a racial descrimination. The New Orleans 2000 census reported that the population of whites was at 28.05% while the black population was 67.25%. Could it be that the hardest hit area was the Lower Ninth Ward which is mainly housed by black. 25% of these households live on less than $10,000 yr. and 50% on less than $20,000 yr. Over half of the population in this ward are “not in the labor force” simply because they have ceased looking for work. The poverty level is 36.4% according to the 2000 census. Once again we all need to come together and use our God given resources and gifts. WE ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD!!
Wow, there are people that are not wanting to leave NewOrleans but the National Guard and authorities are saying that they need to clean up rather than worrying about bringing in food and water to those who stay behind. I think that if people want to stay, they should be allowed, they are being warned about the diseases and bacteria in the water (the water is deadly, even the touch of it on non broken skin)…
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