Would You Send Your Mom To Jail To Make Money?

Should we not demand that China clean up its civil liberties act before we start selling them our technology? Apparently, that is not a major concern for most American businesses.

Further evidence that the end o/t world is near...

A Good Read (If a bit long)

Click on the link above for a bit of commentary from the Toronto Globe and Mail.

Welcome to September 11, 2005.

I woke up this morning to a power outage. I distinctly remembered paying the electric bill, so I was a bit puzzled as I went about the place flipping light switches to no avail. I wandered down the stairs to my front door - no tag left by PSE - then out back to the meters - all four apartments showed blank. Mmmm. Same with the neighbors.

Clearly the entire city was without power - no doubt due to a terrorist attack!

I called Puget Sound Energy with my cell phone to get the scoop, while scanning with my car radio for any news on the attack. (Who knew there could be so many classical music stations in one city?) A service representative came on line and explained that a wayward balloon from a church festival this morning had broken loose and caused a transformer to short out, leaving over 900 citizens without power. Crews were at work and should have power restored within a few hours.

Indeed, power was restored - along with my internet connection - within the hour. No terrorists bombing Bellingham.

I am almost disappointed, but mostly relieved.

Thanks!

Do I have to say it?

IMPEACH
BUSH
NOW!

On the other hand...

I did not mean to imply that New Orleans should not be rebuilt. Sorry if that's what came across.

New Orleans should be rebuilt BETTER than it was.

Start by bulldozing the buildings ruined by water, wind, fire, and toxic mold. Then, make those places that were below sea-level into sanitary landfills - to raise them up to a safe level to avoid such further flooding. THEN rebuild on the site.

No more shanty-towns, people. No more substandard housing for the poor. Build low-income housing that is up to code and fit for people to live in.

oh, and strong enough to survive a hurricane, if you please.

Between blows...

Katrina was the worst hurricane to hit NOLA in a very long time. So far.

I've been saying for years that the overall effect of global warning will be to make our weather more energetic - particularly hurricanes, which are essentially heat-driven.

The hurricane season is not over for this year. And what about the next?

New Orleans was a very pretty little city. It will take a lot of money to rebuild it. Even more the next time. And the next.

At what point do you give up and move the tourist traps to Baton Rouge (which is French for red stick)?