Then she explained she's going to start learning to play an instrument. Either a violin or a harmonica. Based on which looks prettier.

God, I love kids. I need a new job -- I should totally go back to childcare.

Really? Do you have a number? Some statistics to back it up?

I've worked with two immigrant populations and lived in three heavily immigrant neighborhoods. It's pretty commonly observed. I've seen articles over the years with studies describing the phenomenon and I'll poke around and try and find one now.

Although I'm not a fan of living in a house that is likely to be destroyed in the short-to-middle term, it is also the case that, if private insurance doesn't offer the insurance you need, then, um, federal government beats no insurance at all.

Also, you know? What kind of shmuck says, Hey, disaster? Brought that on yourself, dude. Even when it's true, it's still unbelieveably rude to say.

Dana, I hope you have a safe trip, and get some much needed and deserved R&R.

I got a Full Metal Jacket/Thunderdome/Waco vibe off that lj, too. Visting the User Info page and looking at the interests and communities didn't lessen it: [link] I also wondered about a hoax. I know it's probably not, but I can't shake that feeling. I didn't watch the webcam broadcast, but I don't think I will. I don't understand what's going on.

Blankets? BLANKETS?!?!?!?!?! In 90+ heat??????? Even if the one in charge should be reading off laundry lists, there are a lot of higher priority items needed right now.

I agree with you about the laundry list angle, Fred Pete. That said, blankets have a lot of uses. People in shock need them. They can be torn and used as substitutes for bandages, slings, tourniquets, ropes, etc. They can be used to carry stuff. People need something to lie on. They can be strung up for a modicum of privacy. I can see blankets right there after water, anti-biotics, and food.

And of course, when the Earth is destroyed by some cataclysmic disaster, the aliens will be telling us, "Dudes. You chose to live on such a dangerous planet. And you just expect us to save you now?"

10:01 A.M. - (AP) -- The military plans to increase the number of National Guard troops on duty in Louisiana and Mississippi from a combined 7,400 to about 18,100, the senior commander in charge of military relief and rescue efforts said Thursday.

And of course, when the Earth is destroyed by some cataclysmic disaster, the aliens will be telling us, "Dudes. You chose to live on such a dangerous planet. And you just expect us to save you now?"

Vogons are building a hyperspace bypass as we type.

This is cool. I love the part about Office Depot. Don't you think the contents of their stores has already been "donated?"

SOME MONETARY DONATIONS

-- Chevron: $5 million.

-- JPMorgan Chase: $3 million.

-- Citigroup: $3 million.

-- Walt Disney Co.: $2.5 million.

-- Pfizer: $2 million.

-- Abbott Laboratories: $2 million.

-- State Farm: $1 million.

-- EDS: Will match employee contributions up to $1 million.

HEALTH CARE DONATIONS

-- Eli Lilly: 40,000 vials of refrigerated insulin.

-- Wyeth: antibiotics and nonprescription pain relievers.

-- Merck: antibiotics and hepatitis A vaccines.

-- Johnson & Johnson: Pain relievers, wound care supplies and kits containing toothbrushes, soap and shampoo.

-- Abbott Laboratories: At least $2 million in nutritional and medical products.

SOME OTHER DONATIONS

-- Nissan: 50 trucks for Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

-- General Motors: 25 cars and trucks to the Red Cross.

-- Sprint Nextel: 3,000 walkie talkie-type phones for emergency personnel.

-- Qwest Communications: 2,000 long-distance calling cards.

-- Kellogg: Seven truckloads of crackers and cookies.

-- Culligan International: Five truckloads of water.

-- Anheuser-Busch: more than 825,000 cans of water.

-- Office Depot: Contents of its five New Orleans stores, valued at $4 million.

Oh goodie - another MSM (mainstream media) article on Bush's budget cuts on the Army Corps of Engineers: [link]

WASHINGTON -- Despite continuous warnings that a catastrophic hurricane could hit New Orleans, the Bush administration and Congress in recent years have repeatedly denied full funding for hurricane preparation and flood control.

That has delayed construction of levees around the city and stymied an ambitious project to improve drainage in New Orleans' neighborhoods.

For instance, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requested $27 million for this fiscal year to pay for hurricane-protection projects around Lake Pontchartrain. The Bush administration countered with $3.9 million, and Congress eventually provided $5.7 million, according to figures provided by the office of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.).

Because of the shortfalls, which were caused in part by the rising costs of the war in Iraq, the corps delayed seven contracts that included enlarging the levees, according to corps documents.

....

"I'm not saying it wouldn't still be flooded, but I do feel that if it had been totally funded, there would be less flooding than you have," said Michael Parker, a former Republican Mississippi congressman who headed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from October 2001 until March 2002, when he was ousted after publicly criticizing a Bush administration proposal to cut the corps' budget.

Gee - someone warns about the dangers of Bush policy, and Bush fires him. I'm getting a sense of deja vu....

And of course, when the Earth is destroyed by some cataclysmic disaster, the aliens will be telling us, "Dudes. You chose to live on such a dangerous planet. And you just expect us to save you now?"

Would there be a difference between asking the aliens to rescue us, and asking them to rebuild for us, in the same dangerous spot? In practice, I'm not against the gov't paying to rebuild New Orleans, but in theory, I understand the objections.