On a smaller scale, the damage to New Orleans would not be nearly so bad if the wetlands were still in place, or if they hadn't built levees to expand the city. But are the real estate developers and politicians going to suffer? No. The poor will, and the rich will claim against insurance so that the rest of us pay to bail them out.

You should totally read Rising Tide. It's all about NO old money and politicians and the levee system.

I'm not sure I have a favorite thing. Or even a list of favorite things.

I have memories and stories, but they're not really things. Just random bits, like the guy who was playing steel drums in the square who had me watch his stuff so he could go pee. I sold one of his tapes for him, and he gave me a jangly anklet. I think I still have the portrait the artist next to him did for me. Hanging out at the hooka place with a table full of friends. Linz and I riding the bull. Walking down the steps at Laffite's...Dear lord, Laffites.

Good news: Katrina is now down to a high category 4 -- 155mph.

Unfortunately, with the current situation, a fact like this sounds like it should be coming out of the mouth of Prof. Farnsworth.

20th is a subsidiary of News Corp. The information you're looking for is probably here, if anywhere... assuming they report down to the per-show level.

Thanks all. Due to me being me, I have newscorp bookmarked. Those reports tend to have info on licensing the show out, but not on merchandise.

Part of market analysis for book sales.

I'm selling a book. Yep. I sure am.

No matter how many times I say it, it seems all very unreal.

My dad read it. He said, "I was telling someone at work, that's my daughter, she's funny and sarcastic and she explains things real good."

I found the annual report for Newscorp (also a PDF) newscorp.com/Report2004/2004_annual_report.pdf

Okay so I'm slow.

My dad read it. He said, "I was telling someone at work, that's my daughter, she's funny and sarcastic and she explains things real good."

Oh, that's an awesome post to skip to.

I was poking my head to post that, according to the Buffista Calendar, today is Jen K's birthday. Also, not on the Calendar, but my sieve managed not to let it fall through the holes, today is also meara's birthday. Happy birthday, Jen! Happy birthday, meara! With lots of wishes for a great day and a wonderful year.

Also, of course, lots of thoughts and hopes and wishes-for-the-best for NOLA.

Happy Birthday, Jen and meara!

Happy birthday, meara and Jen! We are entering Virgo season, where the birthdays come hot and fast here.

First day of school. I worry that my pencils aren't sharpened enough and I have forgotten my milk money.

Here's our birthday girl from yesterday: [link]

Oh, flea, that smile! She looks like almost-a-kid, but not fully quite, if I make any sense. And she's lovely.

Jen! meara! Casper! (I knew the lattermost was yesterday, but I was too busy with my day of painful servitude to a 26' U-Haul to pop in.)