From the Newsweek article “Cash and ‘Cat 5′ Chaos,” about the FEMA red tape complicating recovery efforts:
An issue raised by the Feds that [mortician contractors] found distasteful: an instruction that chaplains bless recovered bodies. A company source said the Feds are insisting on this, and the first chaplains are supposed to go out this week. […]

I was listening to (I think) NPR’s story on the Valerie Plame case this morning, and I noticed something odd. The reporter referred to the leaker responsible for Judy Miller’s trip to the hoosegow as “Lewis Libby, chief of staff to Vice President Richard Cheney.”
In 5+ years, this marks the first time I have ever […]

I’m feeling nostalgic.
Remember that time right after 9/11 when that bastard started mailing all those people that anthrax? The major news networks and government offices, getting the deadly anthrax?
Man, that guy was a jerk. How much jail time did that guy end up getting?
What’s that?
They never…? Not even close to…? Just sort of gave up […]

I read a discussion yesterday between writers –comic book writers, no less –about “the myth of writer’s block.”
“Lazy writers use the Block as a way out a tool that allows them to avoid putting in long hours expending brain muscle,” said one author brashly.
“Grrr,” I said. “I ought to write this guy and tell him […]

life in no particular order:

VAH still cute, safe in bosom of Holy Mother Church as of Sunday
moved to new house Friday
sister moved to different new house 3 miles away
house pictures taken; anyone cares?
my commute not impacted; wife’s commute significantly shortened; Household Peace Coefficient increased 27%
no phone line; phone company comprised of impaired monkeys, possibly heavy […]

From Friday’s Washington Post:
Organizers of the Pentagon’s 9/11 memorial Freedom Walk on Sunday are taking extraordinary measures to control participation in the march and concert, with the route fenced off and lined with police and the event closed to anyone who does not register online by 4:30 p.m. today.
…(The march route) has not been specified […]

Undoctored quote from the Houston Chronicle:
This morning, U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s visit to the Reliant Park this offered him a glimpse of what it’s like to be living in shelter.
While on the tour of a shelter with top administration officials from Washington, including U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and U.S. Treasury […]

The mayor blames a lot of the post-hurricane crime on junkies who freaked out because they were cut off from their fixes.
People, please remember: try to keep batteries, bottled water, and at least a one week supply of heroin on hand in case of emergency.

If anything good has come out of New Orleans (and I hesitate to suggest such a thing is even possible) it’s this. Everyone I talked to this weekend brought up that Robert Seigel interview in amazement; I heard it on the way home that day, and I drove while clapping.

Post-hurricane/clusterf***: when everyone in America sounds like Michael Moore, what does Michael Moore sound like?
Times-Picayune Open Letter to the President: that just about says everything.

“Don’t buy gas if you don’t need it.”
-President Bush, swinging into action
I’m probably overreacting because he was on vacation for the first two days of this disaster and this is still the best he could do, but has anyone ever bought gas that didn’t need to?
“We need to hit the Mobil station on the way […]

1) Fats Domino is missing in New Orleans
2) Fats Domino did not die 25 years ago
3) Fats Domino is 25 years younger than I thought he was
4) News reports in which people you believe to be long dead are referred to as “missing” are creepy.
In contrast, Orville Redenbacher has been dead for ten years. So, […]