"It appears that the money has been moved in the president’s budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq, and I suppose that’s the price we pay. Nobody locally is happy that the levees can’t be finished, and we are doing everything we can to make the case that this is a security issue for us."

-- Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; New Orleans Times-Picayune, June 8, 2004.

Later that month, a man named David, who would like to keep his last name confidential, organized a zombie mob in San Francisco. The actors shuffled across the city on July 24, ending up in front of an Apple store, where they smeared fluids on the windows and looked for brains.

They didn't find any.

David says he supports all groups of zombies.

"We stand beside them in their quest for more brains," he said of the Austin event. "If they find any brains there, they should let us know."

Oh Hecubus?

There was a zombie flashmob (one of the first, I think) that stormed a medieval battle reenactment on Mont Royal in Montreal. Hysterical. The reenactors seemed to have a great time playing along.

From the pictures, I'm pretty sure that those weren't re-enactors, but LARPers. I'm quite doubtful that it was SCA as bloggers reported from the look of the gear (cardboard props, etc.)

If it was SCA then there should have been a bunch of duct tape.

You know, it's too bad the Kingdome isn't still up, or else the refugees could have experienced the trifecta of butt-ugly 1960s and 70s domed stadia.

I heard somewhere that this is the first time there's been a full, long-term evacuation of a major US city since Sherman burned Atlanta.

Jeez.

Then there was the Zombie Dance Party held at a McDonalds in July: [link]

It sounds like this is where the medieval battle reenactment zombies went afterwards.

Could you pass 8th-grade math? [link]

Nearly all U.S. states have set new standards for academic achievement in their schools. To help ensure that "no child is left behind," states now periodically test students to see if they meet these standards. Most kids are not amused. What are today's kids expected to know? Get a hint by taking this sample of the Illinois State Board of Education's math test for 8th-graders. We promise you won't have to repeat a grade.

10 out of 10 for me. Considering all the math I've had, I would have been very disapointed if I had gotten any wrong.

You know, it's too bad the Kingdome isn't still up, or else the refugees could have experienced the trifecta of butt-ugly 1960s and 70s domed stadia.

Well, it's a bit of a trek for the refugees, but we do have an attractive late '90s roofed stadium we won't be using in another months or so....

From the pictures, I'm pretty sure that those weren't re-enactors, but LARPers. I'm quite doubtful that it was SCA as bloggers reported from the look of the gear (cardboard props, etc.)

Since I don't know the difference, I'll bow to your greater wisdom.