All of my family members are safely out of town. My parents didn't call me last night, and I couldn't get through on their cell phones this morning because all of the circuits were busy. I finally found my mom online this afternoon, and they sent me the hotel's number. My mom is quietly freaking, which is what she does, and my dad is remaining stoic, which is what he does. They bought a generator and some water at Wal-Mart today, so if/when they can get back into the city, they can try to power the fridge and a few lights.

My grandparents, great-aunt, and uncle went to a casino in Vicksburg this afternoon.

I'm trying to believe that a lot of the hysteria is because CNN and the Weather Channel have a lot of airtime to fill.

I haven't heard from -t and her DH. Hopefully they made it here okay and just haven't needed anything.

I'm trying to believe that a lot of the hysteria is because CNN and the Weather Channel have a lot of airtime to fill.

This is what I keep hoping. I know a few years back, I first learned New Orleans was below/at sea level (apparently, I didn't learn it well) because there was some hurricane that was supposed to wipe it out, and it didn't.

I'm so sorry for your folks, but I'm glad they are out. As hard as it is to know what the city could be in for, it is better to know people are getting out, and finding shelter.

My grandparents, great-aunt, and uncle went to a casino in Vicksburg this afternoon.

I think I just fell in love.

I'm glad your family got out fine, Dana.

My aunt and cousins are waiting it out- Cousin was on a boat in the Gulf that made it up to near Baton Rouge. I wish they wouldn't.

Haven't heard from another cousin, she's hauling 4 kids with her, so she may be a little frazzled to answer HER FREAKING PHONE!

Jon's cousin and family are here with us.

Friend Cynthia is in Baton Rouge.

Now I'm just worried and sad for the city itself. I was sorta scheduled for a visit Labor Day weekend, but I was iffy about it anyway, now I just don't think I want to see it all battered and broken.

I'm trying to believe that a lot of the hysteria is because CNN and the Weather Channel have a lot of airtime to fill.

I'm hoping this, too.

I am finally back in DC, and for at least a month or so now. This summer, I think the longest I've spent in any one place at a time was three weeks, and most of the time, I was in each place for a few days or a week. Now, back here until either the High Holidays or Thanksgiving.

Any Newyorkistas about? Do you hear fireworks? I guess I could go up to the roof.

monkeys have the same characteristic of not distinguishing that others can't just see what they see.

This is called Theory of Mind, and is the coolest thing ever. Just the idea that we can observe a child developing the facility to separate one consciousness from another. When the kids themselves know it, there's this funny Aha! moment that a prof of mine in college used to record in her studies -- they were like, OMG I have knowledge nobody else has! POWER!!!

I learned today that cheetahs have notoriously low spermcounts.

Well, the reason they let the elderly 13 year old cheetah show the younger male cheetah (Rekii?) what to do with Allie is because...his is...reallly low. Also, any cheetah can be a blood donor to any other cheetah because they are so inbred. The zoo is desperate to get Rekii and Allie together because they are not nearly as related as many. (see, people TALK to me.)

Let's not conflate masculinity and sperm count.

See above exhibit.

ita, good. I can now trust this mail place. It was just really busy and there was a confused new employee dealing with me. Who, incidentally, was the only non-Jamaican in the place (the other employees and owner were talking about home.)

I'm watching a tv show about.... catsup/ketchup.

Even NPR was getting in on the Katerina coverage. The weather forecasters/hurricane specialists sounded so depressed at the prospect of being right. Gotta suck, for a highpoint of your career being that you were right about a disaster. I just hope the roof on the superdome thingie stays put. For some reason, this really worries me.

I don't know nothing about no fireworks.

And am glad to hear that people's families have gotten out of Dodge. Or at least New Orleans. Dodge should be OK.

But this?

Estimates predict that 60 percent to 80 percent of the city's houses will be destroyed by wind.

That's fucking terrifying.

When the kids themselves know it, there's this funny Aha! moment that a prof of mine in college used to record in her studies -- they were like, OMG I have knowledge nobody else has! POWER!!!

Some days it's all that gets me out of bed.

This morning My youngest brother came into the study and asked me, "Do you know what the problem would be if Keiran [other younger brother] were in charge of the American military? He'd just be looking for an excuse to say 'Defcon 4!'" The problem? Who looks at the prospect of giving my brother the strongest military on earth to play with and can't just trust their reflexive reaction? Is there an upside I'm not seeing that should be given some weight? (Apparently so, because Brendan added "At least it would get it out of Donald Rumsfeld's hands.")

Just heard from my teevee: " Those mustard people are zealots!"