Huh. [link]

I don't know about the accusations of racism. Some of the people (who are outside of the situation) being quoted in the media certainly seem biased, but I think the pitiful response time is a combination of utter cluelessness and the fact that the trapped people aren't seen as potential campaign donors. Either way my rage is on.

I think there is a racism. I think it's easier for some people to dismiss black people as being lazy and irresponsible -- look at the intial righty reactions of "They should have left. Why didn't they do what they were told?" The characterization of "looting" could easily been called "scavenging" or "desperate measures" if it were in Kennebunkport -- there was the example in Salon of two different people with purloined groceries, the caption under the black person was 'looting'. (true, they were from two different news services)

I think there is a lot of classism too. The assumption that anybody has the forty bucks to spend on a tank of gas, another couple of hundred for a hotel room and food, a car in the first place...

Yes, the racism is out there. Certainly. I just don't know what evidence there is that the evacuation cluster-fuck is a result of that. There may be individual examples of it, but on the larger scale I'm seeing incompetence and an inexcusable lack of communication as the big contributing factors. And some really dumb-ass adherence to bureaucracy.

There may be individual examples of it, but on the larger scale I'm seeing incompetence and an inexcusable lack of communication as the big contributing factors. And some really dumb-ass adherence to bureaucracy.

I think it's really possible, even likely, that if it was tow-headed blue-eyed babies more than a little red tape would have been cut quicker. I think the sense of "those" people as opposed to "our" people encouraged the quagmire.

Because, hey, they're being all irrational and loud and animalistic. But that's how they are.

I just read this week's EW, about the new TV season. Three things popped out at me. 1) I hope Kitchen Confidential is good. it seems like it has a lot of potential. 2) I didn't know Alfre Woodard appeared on Desperate Housewives last year, and will be on again this year. (that's not a spoiler, is it, since she was already on?) I wonder if that's enough to make me watch. 3) What have people heard about My name is Earl? I just watched one ep, and it looks like it could be funny, but I dunno.

But with Homeland Security (I still boggle at that name) and FEMA operating the way they are, they still wouldn't have a clue how to proceed.

Perkins, she only appeared in the season finale.

Yep, but according to EW she will be back. (do I need to whitefont, or delete this).

I like her. I just am not sure if it is enough to get me to watch.

Re: the racism: Watching the news cover the President's visit to New Orleans and Gulfport to day, Joe noticed something. Most of the coverage and front page photos and slideshows have predominantly shown African American survivors. There was NOT. ONE. black person shown with or near The President. WTF is THAT?

Right, they introduced her in the finale.

Technically, yeah, we should probably be whitefonting -- it hasn't been a year yet, right?

I also have high hopes for "Kitchen Confidential".