"What became clear is that the rumor of crime, as much as the reality of the public disorder, often played a powerful role in the emergency response. A team of paramedics was barred from entering Slidell, across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, for nearly 10 hours based on a state trooper's report that a mob of armed, marauding people had commandeered boats. It turned out to be two men escaping from their flooded streets, said Farol Champlin, a paramedic with the Acadian Ambulance Company."
The public was told a pack of lies. Nevertheless, our biased media spread the unsubstanuated rumors which influenced decisons by our incompetent leaders.
Most people stiill believe the lies. Where is the intense media coverage of this discovery?
The press is neither left or liberal.
I need to clean up my language!
Lately, I have been swearing alot at this darn computer.
Blankity blank thing!
Everything is slower and harder now.
I am shocked at some of the words that seem to be coming out of my mouth the last few days. I'm ashamed. :-/
With all that is happening in the world, I guess I shouldn't want one more thing. As it is, I really need someone to help me get rid of some of the stuff that is already here. And ... one would think that my desire for material things should be dwindling, yet...
The object of my desire is so beautiful.
The only thing that could make it any better
would be if it was made out of lucite.
It doesn't take up hardly any room
... and it doesn't have all those messy cords.
But it is big. A full 20 inches across.
And, it is so easy. Sigh.
YOGA YOGA YOGA
I am loving yoga!
So far this week, I have gone to 4 yoga classes. Of course, parts of my body will no longer move in certain directions, but there is still a lot I can do. :-)
Yeah me!
Feeling the love again....
Because I have been the recipient of a wonderful gift, I am once again feeling that I can give out. There has been an energy shift from negative to positive. That does not mean that my head has gone into the sand. It just means that I am not overwhelmed by rage. THANK YOU!
More Prepared?
It looks like some lessons have been learned as a result Katrina. Things are moving very differently for those in the path of Rita.
Safe Landing
Tonight, Pete and I watched as a Jet Blue pilot made an perfect emergency landing in LA. It was beautiful to see the pilot hold the nose up and expertly guide the plane to safety. All the time we were watching, I was saying my mantra. I am sure I was not alone.
WE CAN BECOME THE CHANGE
We each can help change the world conciousness. There are lots of folks all around the world who can use our love. Sending out love is good for the soul and the body. Join me.
I heard once that there was and old Chinese curse that went;
"May you live in interesting times!"
Well, we certainly are living in interesting times!
There are new Hurricane warnings for New Orleans, the Florida Keys and Hawaii.
The recent election in Germany is being disputed.
It is reported that North Korea may abandon it's nuclear weapons program.
And, that plans are underway for a new manned moon landing.
But it looks like that will be some time away.
Sometime in the year 2018.
Just about when I turn 78.
We'll see.
BY THE WAY...
Friday night, I experienced a miracle.
Two kinds actually. :-)
I can tell you that the new iMAC 2GHc is amazing.
I'm drooling again.
Speaking of computers, Michael tells me that my PC now has more protection against any nasty virus or spyware than nearly anyone's. Even more than the big guys. When he replaced my deceased hard drive, he added more. I think he said that I now have 3 anti-viral programs and a couple of spyware programs running all the time.
Yesterday, Mike reinstalled the Webroot Spyware program. Today, Webroot did an automatic sweep and found over one hundred cookies or traces that had been lurking on my computer.. I don't know exactly what takes place, but the computer is now running faster.
All sorts of strange looking windows had been popping up on my screen that told me to do this or that. I wasn't sure what I was suppose to do and didn't know where they were coming from. Mike made some adjustments and assured me once again that no one is spying on me. :-)
I do have an active imagination.
My vastly more intelligent and knowledgeable sons tell me that many of my worries are groundless. Unfortunately some of the things I have worried about in the past have come about. And, I found out that I wasn't so far off in my thinking after all.
Nevertheless, I will do my best not to dwell on all the scary stuff. Because I do trust my sons, but mostly because because I am assured that even in the darkest times, God is there.
Once again, I was reminded that She is always there.
Thank You!
A few minutes ago, I slipped into bed, reached for a book that I keep near. The book fell open, and as I started to read the the words on the page in front of me, I realized I'd just been given confirmation of of something that had been shared with me earlier tonight. I will share what I read with you.
"Aye, you are like an ocean, And though heavy-grounded ships await the tide upon your shores, yet, even like an ocean, you cannot hasten your tides. And like the seasons you are also, And though in your winter you deny your spring, Yet spring, reposing within you, smiles in her drowsiness and is not offended."
-Kahlil Gibran
GOOD PEOPLE
I have often spoken of the work of the Save the Children organization. After learning of the effects of Hurricane Katrina, I sent another donation to these people because I believed that they would be one I could count on to step up to the plate to help the children affected.
Today, I checked their website. And I see that they didn’t waste much time getting to work. Look Here!
TED LIEU WINS!
After waking up from a fitful night of intense dreams, I walked downstairs to get a cup of coffee in hopes that my favorite chemical would sweep the cobwebs from my mind. The first thing I saw was a headline in our local newspaper that Ted Lieu won the local election for Assemblyman of the 53rd District. YEAH!
Because we are two blocks out of his district, we were not allowed to vote in this election. (Some years ago, our area was gerrymandered in such a way as to put us in the 55th District.
Nevertheless, I was a supporter of this fine young man, and spent some time campaigning for his election. I was very impressed when I met him and heard him speak. We all hoped that Ted would get at least 50% of the vote in this primary in order to avoid a run off in Arnold's Special Election in November.
Ted recieved nearly 60% of the vote! I hope that this is a precurser of things to come in future elections.
GETTING STARTED
Today i began a yoga class. Just before leaving the house, I grabbed a tatami mat and a towel to put between the Elks club floor and me. To make more of a committment, after lunch I went shopping and bought myself a yoga mat.
US POSTAL SERVICE
On Monday afternoon, I took a big box to the local post office to send off to Matt and Yvette. This evening, Matt called to let me know it arrived at his office today. That is pretty cool. Day after day our postal service really does do a remarkable job.
I wonder why the people in charge of disaster planning did not consider the possibility of civil unrest. Almost every book or movie using a future disaster as its theme contains this as part of the plot complication.
It seems to me whenever a huge population would be put into a small space; add a fear of survival, shortage of basic needs of life, there is always likely to be some people whose sick minds or distorted thinking would make them capable of terrible acts. With severe crowding, no light, electricity, communication, water or food, the likeliness of some thugs committing terrible acts is almost assured.
Last year, I read a book titled Blindness by Jose Saramago. This book had been chosen for a book club meeting that I had hoped to attend. I was unable to attend this meeting, but still wonder about the reactions of the other members.
After hearing the awful rumors of the civil unrest that developed in New Orleans, The details of this book came back to mind.
Thinking about the the reported civil unrest, I started remembering discussions with some fundamentalist relatives who believe without the belief in hell and punishment, most people would commit crimes against others. I don't think that fear of punishment is what makes most people behave morally and ethically.
Those people I know, and those who do not believe in any kind of afterlife punishment are often the most morally upright, loving and giving people I've ever met. The idea that one has to be a believer to be good is just not true.
It brings tears to my eyes to see that our neighbors to the South are bringing needed aid supplies into Texas. One of the main things they are bringing is fresh food, the equipment and the personal to cook it.
I am glad to hear that we are finally willing to accept aid from people around the world. Even Cuba is offering medical aide .
I hope that we will accept it all in humble appreciation.
It is pretty obvious that the people in charge have not done a very good job so far. Maybe it's time we realize the truth. We are not alone.
A classmate sent me the following article by George Friedman.
I wasn't aware of the geopolitical importance of New Orleans.
Did you?
You bet I am angry.
FEMA's operation is a joke.
Now the Republicans are trying to blame the local officials for the failure of the government to get help to people affected by the Hurricane Katrina sooner.
Take responsibility Mr. President!
......
I was outraged when I saw the listing for donations on the FEMA website. If you missed this jewel, I suggest you take a look at this article.
It fed my fury when our president stated that "no one expected this kind of disaster". I guess he just didn't want to hear the bad news. No wonder. He was responsible for gutting FEMA and putting an inexperienced crony in charge.
I need to get a grip on this anger.
It is doing no one any good.
After another late day at the office, Michael called tonight while driving home from work. One thing led to another when I started talking about the recent news. It wasn't long before my optimistic son said; "Mom, you just have to have faith."
I understand. After a long day, the last thing someone needs to hear is their mom complaining. I'm glad Mike is an optimist. I used to consider myself an optimist too. I guess I'm not anymore. This is not good. So for Mike....
"There's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America." - Bill Clinton.
It is amazing how quickly the veneer of civilization breaks down. How easily the rules we agree to live by crumble in times of panic. The worst predictions, by writers of fiction, of what would happen when real disaster strikes are being played out before our eyes.
Not that I can blame the victims of Katrina's devastation for grabbing anything they can. When faced with the same situation, many of us would take anything we could find to use to barter for the necessities to survive. It may really be the difference between life and death. Don't be too quick to judge!
One would have thought that here in the United States, we would have enough helicopters, enough trained people to rescue nearly everyone ... at least to make sure that there was water and medical supplies for the survivors... But then, of course, most of our national guard and military reserve units are fighting Bush's war in Iraq.
Had enough yet?