I don't need to start malaria meds (malarone) until I leave. So right now it's just the annoying every-other-day of the typhoid meds. Hard to remember, and because of the empty stomach thing, it's not like I can take them as soon as I remember.

Jesse, once you've recorded them they stay, no matter what you can receive.

The reason why the levee broke in NO was because barges slammed into it?

I've heard that the surge went over the flood wall and then undermined the base, which gave out. It was not unexpected that a Category 4 storm could take out a floodwall designed to only withstand a Cat 3 storm.

But maybe I'm missing some recent news.

ita, Lori is using your pre-travel med experiences as a justification for why we shouldn't go someplace really exotic (which I'm arguing for) January and February.

Jesse, once you've recorded them they stay, no matter what you can receive.

Nice. I figured, but would have been very sad if they were all gone tomorrow.

Don't get typhoid, ita!!!

Lori is using your pre-travel med experiences as a justification for why we shouldn't go someplace really exotic

Because I can't remember to take meds every two days? She needs better ammo than my lame memory. Everything else is fine -- I haven't fallen ill due to any of the shots (I managed to get a slight case of chicken pox from that inoculation a few years back, so I live in pessimism on that count). Other than that -- a course of malaria pills I haven't started, and some anti-diarrhea pills I may never need.

Suela, is there financial need for them to sell the vacation house? Would they consider putting it in trust for you and your sibs to inherit? Alternately, if you joined forces with your sibs, would you collectively be able to buy it?

We probably could, expect we're in Chicago, Boston (soon to relocate to DC), Beijing, and Oakland. It wouldn't get much (any) use in the near future, and it would need to be maintained and looked after (even if it's used as rental property).

Besides, they probably could use the cash: they paid $25K for it in 1974, and they'll probably get over $250K for it now. Which is rather nice; Dad lost a fair amount during the stock crash. I'm really not in a position to tell them they shouldn't.

I've heard that the surge went over the flood wall and then undermined the base, which gave out. It was not unexpected that a Category 4 storm could take out a floodwall designed to only withstand a Cat 3 storm.

That sounds right. And ironically, the floodwall was the newest part of the system.

The pre-storm package the T-P had specifically stated that in a Cat 3 or higher the surge would overwhelm the navagation canal levees and send water into the 9th Ward. Only the navagation canal is wide enough for barges, so that's probably the one they're referring to.

::hugs B.org and decides never ever to let go of it again::

Consuela, I hope the meds adjustment goes well and your mom feels fine.

ita, when do you leave?

A friend of mine left today for the Congo for two weeks to do consulting work. I'm a little worried, it's not very stable. I also told her to beware of monkeys.

2:30 P.M. - BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- As President Bush visits Louisiana, it's hard to hide the rift with Louisiana's governor over hurricane relief efforts.

Both leaders have been talking to people in Baton Rouge today, but not always with each other.

At the Bethany World Prayer Center, Bush and Kathleen Blanco seemed like estranged in-laws at a holiday gathering, keeping their distance as they walked around.

According to Blanco's office, the governor wasn't informed of the timing of Bush's visit, nor was she immediately invited to meet him or travel with him.