FNF: Shoes

This addition of the FNF is a bit different from normal in that the picture tonight is from and of one of the readers of this blog. I'll leave it to the lady in question if she wants to reveal herself, no pun intended, in the comments below. Otherwise, all hail our first "Ladies of the Blogosphere" FNF.

116-337-42

PaPong joins Andrax as mate #116.

Out of 42,913 teams from around the world, Team Andrax now ranks #337 in total production with more than 9 million points. Not bad for a team less than ten months old.

Our team has turned in 30,129 results with more than 42 years of total cpu time volunteered in the fight against cancer.

Kudos all around to such dedicated crunchers. Anyone with a computer and internet connection is welcome to join us in the search for a cure. See my sidebar for additional information or email me if you have specific questions.

A few random kudos:

Karen 24,029
Catherine 23,309
Autumn 13,826
Christa 10,981
Melly 3,732

Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

Colin Powell

Mario

We got the call Sunday morning from our Vet. Mario has cancer of the stomach--terminal, as in hours or days. He is lying beside me as I work. Tears in his eyes and tears in mine. I'll write more when I can.

Ain't no angel gonna greet me
It's just you and I my friend

_______________________________

Thanks to everyone for so many kind and thoughtful comments regarding Mario. The little bugger is hanging tough. His spirits are so much better since we brought him home on Sunday and although he only has a few days remaining, there is still a wonderful light in his eye and he still manages to show his belly and lift his leg, which is his sign that he wants you to rub his belly.

As many of you know, we have five yorkies. Mario was the first and the father to two of the others. He is only eight years old and by far has the most loving personality. He is getting the best care possible. Each morning we take him to the vet for fluids along with some choice drugs and then again in the afternoon he goes back for another visit and receives his nighttime dose. I hope if I ever find myself in his situation I can receive the care and attention he is getting.

I work from home and have a window that receives morning light next to my desk. Each morning Mario takes in the morning light and then spends the rest of the day at my feet on a special bed of pillows and towels. His daughter Maria will often come and lay down beside him and just stare at her daddy with her big brown eyes.

Today, for the first time since Sunday, he was able to drink some water and keep it down. He actually showed interest in food for the first time tonight and we fed him a very small amount, as in less than the tip of my pinky--that's all he wanted.

So many thoughts at a time like this. I lost my father to stomach cancer ten months ago, and now my dog to the same disease. As I watch him lie peacefully on the floor beside me I dream of miracles, of a misdiagnosis, of a unexplainable recovery. I understand denial and I understand that is the ground I stand on at the moment, but quite frankly I don't have it within me to give up hope--no matter how hopeless the situation--until he takes his last breath.

At night, he sleeps with us in bed, in his usual spot between Sherry and I at the head of the bed. I consider the last few days and hopefully the next few as a special blessing--extra days beyond what anyone could have expected.

A friend of mine, Charlie Jones, has brain cancer. Several months ago he was told by his doctor he had one year to live. Charlie went home and told his wife the news and then said he was touched beyond words for how much God loved him. His wife was at a loss to understand.

Charlie explained that God had loved him so much that he had given him an extra year to say goodbye to all his family and friends and that so many others never had that chance. If you knew Charlie, you would know there was simply no other way he would have processed the news except with gratitude and appreciation of the gifts of love and life.

Likewise, the last few days have been a gift from Mario to us. His love, as seen in his eyes, has been beyond priceless. He will be missed, but his example of love, the unconditional love he has shown all in my family will remain long after he is gone. We have been blessed.

Andrax welcomes Kelly Campbell as mate #115

Kelly, welcome aboard this great international team of caring and compassionate cancer fighters. Glad to have you join us and if you are a reader of this blog, please introduce yourself in the comment section. Still amazed as our team continues to grow.

________________

Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:48 am Post subject: Rosetta job complete

"We finished another Rosetta job over the weekend. A new job has already been uploaded and the workunits are currently being dispatched. Any outstanding workunits from the previous Rosetta job will be credited for a week. Thank you for your contribution."
_________________
-----------------
Robby Brewer
Senior Support Engineer
United Devices

SNF: Black Leather

Fall Arrives

FNF: The Eyes

Jasie joins Andrax as mate #114

I'm amazed as our team continues to grow. Jasie, welcome aboard to this wonderful international team of cancer fighting mates.

1,000,000

Our great teammate from the Netherlands, oVo, surpassed 1,000,000 points last night. Uncharted territory, for no Andraxian has ever attained such heights. oVo, my friend, I cannot imagine a more deserving teammate to lead Andrax into the next million points. Like the twin jet engines above, there ain't no catching you now. Thanks for everything you've done and everything you do for this fine international team.

From the Decadent One

Mountains are climbed the same way as hills...
one step at a time.

Autumn

Thoughts and Prayers for Mensa Child

Our teammate Catherine Ryan posted this yesterday. Mensa Child is her oldest son.

Mensa Child has just been diagnosed with a malignant tumor. He is scheduled for surgery on Thursday morning at 11. We are waiting for a phone call tomorrow to go get blood work done. The doctor wants to compare the protein in his blood before and after removal of the tumor. After the surgery, he will need a CAT scan to see if it spread elsewhere. In the meantime, we will wait for biopsy results while he’s recovering from the surgery.

As you know, I believe in the collective power of positive thinking. Some people call it prayer. Whatever you call it, I’d appreciate your positive thoughts for Mensa Child during the next week - but especially on Thursday - for a quick recovery and a diagnosis that does not include radiation or cancer.


Catherine, our thoughts and prayers are with you and Mensa Child. Please keep us updated.

Words Women Use

1. FINE
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2. FIVE MINUTES
If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3. NOTHING
This is the calm before the storm. This means "something," and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with 'Nothing' usually end in "Fine"

4. GO AHEAD
This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it.

5. LOUD SIGH
This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing"

6. THAT'S OKAY
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7. THANKS
A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say you're welcome

Five Surgeons

Five surgeons are discussing who makes the best patients to operate on.

The first surgeon says, "I like to see accountants on my operating table, because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered."

The second responds, "Yeah, but you should try electricians! Everything inside them is colour coded."

The third surgeon says, "No, I really think librarians are the best; everything inside them is in alphabetical order."

The fourth surgeon chimes in: "You know, I like construction workers...those guys always understand when you have a few parts left over at the end, and when the job takes longer than you said it would."

But the fifth surgeon shut them all up when he observed:

"You're all wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There's no guts, no heart, no balls, no brains and no spine, and the head and the ass are interchangeable."

Andrax welcomes Tommi and Sylvia as mates #112 and #113

Tommi, aka kernoweb2, has joined Team Andrax as mate #112. Tommi hails from Cornwall, England and has been a part of the grid for quite some time with Team GB. Rumor has it, kernoweb1, Tommi's wife Sylvia, will be joining us soon--and she has! Welcome Sylvia. Tommi loves the paranormal so be sure to visit his excellent site on the matter --->Spirits of Cornwall

Tommi and Sylvia, welcome aboard. I can already feel the positive energy both of you bring from across the pond. Team Andrax is very lucky to have you join us.

In Tommi's own words: What about......YEAH BABY YEAH !!!!
__________

From Sylvia's website: A part of us will always belong to the Internet. Why? Read the following account, written by our youngest son .....

"In January 2001 my dearest mother Sylvia sat down on her chair at her PC and went in an Internet chatroom. She used this next speech: 'Does anybody want to talk sensible?', and there was a response from Tommi. My mother started talking to him.

"After a while they got to know each other and got each other's telephone numbers. Eventually they started talking to each other on the phone.

"My dearest mother and Tommi got together their thoughts and decided to move in together. Tommi lived in Northern Ireland and was going to move from Belfast to England. On the first of August 2001 Tommi arrived in Cornwall.

"After just a couple of days Tommi asked Sylvia to marry him, and so they came to be together for ever and ever, beyond the stars above for their great love."

Waxing Gibbous Tonight

National Do Not Call List

JUST A REMINDER... 24 days from today, cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS...

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888/382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years.

Or you can go here --->National Do Not Call Registry

FNF: Masquerade

Surgery Tomorrow

Tomorrow, September 16th, Karen has her double mastectomy. Karen, our team is with you in spirit and our thoughts and prayers are heading your way. Your courage over the last several weeks has been inspiring and I feel fortunate that our paths have crossed. Won't be long before that trip to the tattoo parlor :-)

Unscientific poll for Linny

Blonde or Brunette?

Another Andrax Mate--w00t!

Team Andrax belatedly welcomes Melly!

S21melly, previously unknown to us, joined Andrax on August 31st has has quietly turned in several results. Melly's blog All Kinds of Writing currently has the story of Terry Fox front and center.

Below is part of the Terry Fox post--please visit Melly's site to read it all. Again, welcome aboard Melly! And thanks for introducing yourself--we are very glad to have you on board.

Terry Fox Foundation

Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 18-years-old.

Terry's leg was amputated 15 centimetres (six inches) above the knee in 1977, but despite going through his own ordeal, the suffering of other cancer patients touched him and he decided to start running across Canada, yes, with only one leg, to raise money for cancer research.

After practicing for 18 months, Terry started the Marathon of Hope in Newfoundland on April 1980.

He ran 42 kilometres (26 miles) a day and reached Thunder Bay, Ontario, but on September 1st Terry's cancer appeared in his lungs and he was forced to stop after running for 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles).

Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at age 22. Canada grieved.

More than $360 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry's name through the annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world.

Terry's quotes:

I'm not a dreamer, and I'm not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to.

If you've given a dollar, you are part of the Marathon of Hope.

You can find all about Terry Fox here.

Breaking Andraxian News

Major recruiting kudos to J_Snow.

Welcome to our 2 newest Members:

tds4u and G_ (mates #110 and #111)

"Two very fine collegues who have graciously agreed to not only donate their own machines but also to add the machines at their respective properties!!!!!

So expect device counts to go up by about 40 machines in the next few weeks!

Hows that for some serious recruiting T!!!! "

J, brother, that is simply outstanding work. Major league kudos, since that is like recruiting 40 new mates in a single day.

Secret Garden--Greenwaves

There are waves of forgiveness and waves of regret. And the first waves of true love I'll never forget.

SCHULTZ PHILOSOPHY

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read the post straight through and you'll get the point.


1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Wasn't that easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." (Charles Schultz)

Andraxian Stats--Free-DC Style

Click on the link above to view our team stats in a new and interesting way. Chart to the right is today's top 10 producers.

Bottom line is I don't really know much about Free-DC other than they started tracking our team stats yesterday and offer some interesting pie charts. I do like that each day they show the top 10 producers from the day before, which is kinda interesting.

A few kudos are in order:

Yesterday, Karen, aka Starfish, was the #3 producer with 1861 points; Catherine Ryan was #6 with 1059; and J_Snow was #8 with 731 points. And oVo took top spot with an incredible 8937 points. oVo, the baton is extended brother.

Agnes, I'm still keeping your spot warm :-)

View from the saddle

Picturesque view from one of my rides. The road, as it leads to the left of the picture, is the scene of my worst accident on the bike and the place where I met one of the angels in my life.

This shot is from the top of the hill. Immediately to my left the road turns down sharply. I had new tires on my bike and had decided to try for a new personal speed record. My previous high was just over 50mph.

This particular spot is about 18 miles from my house and I don't often ride in this direction. As I started down the hill I miss calculated one last turn in the road before it straighten out. I had reached about 45 mph when I realized my mistake. As I tried to make the curve, I quickly ran out of road to my left as the road curved right. At 38mph I hit the gravel on the side of the road and the bike slid out from under me. I missed a hidden culvert by 10 feet.

When I picked myself up, I had blood streaming down my arm with razor-like cuts on my back and side and my right hip looked like ground meat. The cut on my left elbow eventually required stitches inside of stitches.

With the adrenaline flowing, and thinking I could and would ride back home, on this deserted road in the middle of nowhere my angel appeared. She was looking for her son and when she saw the mess I was in, immediately stopped and demanded that I get in her car.

Even with her aid, the cut on the elbow became infected and six days after the accident I was in the hospital for surgery. I no longer attempt to set personal speed records. Instead, I enjoy the view and thank God that angels still pass this way.

This photo on top is actually two photos stitched together. Click on the image to see a larger view. The second photo is where the road starts it's descent. The miscalculated turn is out of site around the bend.

D
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FNF: Return of Autumn

FNF: Equal Time

Memories

____________________________________

Remembrance:
The Great Storm of 8 September 1900, Galveston, Texas

Together

I have not the words for the outpouring of support our nation and the world has shown. Yesterday I was driving up Franklin road, had my iPod playing Louisiana 1927. At the exact moment (I'm not making this up) as the chorus played Louisiana, Louisiana, they're tryin to wash us away, I spied to my left a local church busting with activity. Signs everywhere for hurricane relief, parking lot filled with cars. Men, women and children earnestly carrying boxes of supplies inside. If I told you my eyes didn't fill with tears, tears of togetherness, tears of love, tears of compassion, I would be lying.

The invisible force that holds the universe together, call it love, often is hidden, unseen, forgotten. Yesterday I saw, unexpectedly, on a back road, that love personified. To the nation, to the world, thanks.

___________________________________


500 Miles

If you miss the train I’m on, you will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles,
A hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles,
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles.

Lord I’m one, lord I’m two, lord I’m three, lord I’m four,
Lord I’m 500 miles from my home.
500 miles, 500 miles, 500 miles, 500 miles
Lord I’m five hundred miles from my home.

Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name
Lord I can’t go a-home this a-way
This a-away, this a-way, this a-way, this a-way,
Lord I can’t go a-home this a-way.

If you miss the train I’m on you will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles.

Peter, Paul & Mary

Armstrong return?

Lance Armstrong plans to train with his team this winter, increasing speculation he will end his retirement and attempt an eighth straight Tour de France win.

"It's definitely an open possibility, I know he is on the bike," Discovery Channel team director Johan Bruyneel told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday. (Click title bar for full article)

________________

Official statement from Lance regarding his career:

"While I'm absolutely enjoying my time as a retired athlete with Sheryl and the kids, the recent smear campaign out of France has awoken my competitive side. I'm not willing to put a percentage on the chances but I will no longer rule it out..." - Lance Armstrong

HOUSING Opportunities for KATRINA SURVIVORS

This is a housing services hub for Katrina victims. You can offer up housing space for victims, or hurricane survivors can search for available rooms/houses/apts/etc. This site is working in cooperation with other support organizations.

Beds Available
160,973

Survivors Placed
5924

Any assistance on distributing this web site would be greatly appreciated. We have tens of thousands of people posting, but we need hundreds of thousands more in order to make many housing options available to the Katrina survivors. Also, if you are involved in the rescue and recovery efforts, please print the housing lists and distribute to those in need of temporary housing.

Disclaimer

MyTechSupport takes no responsibility for liability to refugees or donors resulting from matching up donor homes with refugees in response to events relating to the Katrina disaster or any other interaction, transportation or other activities resulting from the services provided or listed on this website.

Katrina Housing.org

"DMort is telling us to expect up to 40,000 bodies"

A co-owner of Shelbyville-based Gowen-Smith Chapel has been deployed to Gulfport, Miss., to help with recovery since Hurricane Katrina, and his business partner here has described the grim task there.

"DMort is telling us to expect up to 40,000 bodies," Dan Buckner said, quoting officials with the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, a volunteer arm of Homeland Security.

His partner, Dan Hicks, of Paducah, Ky., was deployed Monday. Buckner, of Dickson, is on standby. Their funeral home is one of several collection sites for donations to be taken to the Red Cross in Fayetteville on Wednesday for transfer to places in need.

The 40,000 estimate does "not include the number of disinterred remains that have been displaced from ... mausoleums," Buckner told the Times-Gazette Monday. (full article in comments and also linked with title bar)

National Geographic/Scientific American

Gone with the Water (National Geographic--October 2004)

Drowning New Orleans (Scientific American--October 2001)

One week ago New Orleans was the 35th largest city in the country. Today it exist in name only.

______________

"We are the lucky ones."

I spent an hour on the phone with my uncle in Baton Rouge today. Baton Rouge has grown from a city of 240,000 to around 500,000 in the last week. The infrastructure cannot support this level of growth. No hotel rooms available, no apartment space available for rent, all office property occupied. 8 of 10 gas stations have no fuel, grocery stores are not able to keep their shelves stocked, traffic--already bad--is virtual gridlock. Helicopters fill the air. Where my uncle lives one passes overhead every five minutes or so. And yet, as my uncle says, "We are the lucky ones."

_____________

By the way, does anyone know where Dick Cheney is?

Where have all the flowers gone

Sept 5th, 2005

3:32 P.M. Ben Morris, Slidell mayor: We are still hampered by some of the most stupid, idiotic regulations by FEMA. They have turned away generators, we've heard that they've gone around seizing equipment from our contractors. If they do so, they'd better be armed because I'll be damned if I'm going to let them deprive our citizens. I'm pissed off, and tired of this horse$#@@."

2:24 P.M. - (AP) Some 400 to 500 police officers from New Orleans' 1,600 member force were unaccounted for, Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said.

Reinforcements for police arrive from around the country, allowing a rest for emergency workers who have been working nearly nonstop since before the storm hit.

10:12: A.M. - Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard: I'm not surprised at what the feds say, they're covering their butts. They're keeping the body counts down because they don't want to horrify the nation. It's worse than Iraq, worse than 9-11. They just don't want to know how many were murdered by bureaucracy.

10:10 A.M. - Broussard: I know what the body count is so far, but I won't horrify the nation.

Mayor: Katrina death toll may hit 10,000

Armstrong donates to help cancer patients displaced by Katrina

The Associated Press
This report filed September 4, 2005

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will donate $500,000 to help cancer patients displaced by Hurricane Katrina get treatment.

Armstrong said Saturday he expects the money will be used to help transport cancer patients to hospitals and cancer centers for treatment. He said more money from his namesake cancer survivorship foundation could be donated in the future.

"If you've started treatment and you miss a week or two weeks, it's potentially fatal," Armstrong said. "For me and the foundation, we just looked at that and asked not just what can we do, but how does it fit into our mission?"

Armstrong survived a bout with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain before he won the first of his record seven straight Tours titles. He retired from competitive racing in July after his final Tour victory.

FEMA knew storm's potential, Mayfield says

Sunday, 4:44 p.m.

By Mark Schleifstein
Staff writer

Dr. Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, said Sunday that officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, including FEMA Director Mike Brown and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, listened in on electronic briefings given by his staff in advance of Hurricane Katrina slamming Louisiana and Mississippi and were advised of the storm’s potential deadly effects. (full article in comments)

Would someone please fire this man

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Defending the U.S. government's response to Hurricane Katrina, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff argued Saturday that government planners did not predict such a disaster ever could occur.

But in fact, government officials, scientists and journalists have warned of such a scenario for years.

Forget everything else that has happened over the last six days. For Chertoff to make this statement is either the height of ignorance, incompetence or simply bold-face lying.

For my friends not from New Orleans, position papers and studies on what would happen if the leeves broke are as old as the leeves themselves. I knew as a child, because my parents and relatives all told me, what would happen if the "big one" ever hit NOLA directly. We are not talking rocket science here. New Orleans is below sea level and surrounded by water. Only the leeve system kept the city dry.

Full article here--->Chertoff: Katrina scenario did not exist

Folks, the final death toll will probably be in five figures. What we are seeing is the greatest CYA operation in recent memory. Chertoff knows someone is going to have to answer for this massive loss of life and he is trying to shield himself from blame. Comments like the ones he made yesterday are salt in an open wound.

______________________________________

"The first few days were a natural disaster, the last four days were a man-made disaster."

Phillip Holt, 51
New Orleans evacuee

Door-to-Door

Officials feel as many as 10,000 or more still awaiting rescue.


8:10 A.M. - Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu - The images you've seen on TV was the lawless young men who did horrible things and have to be dealt with but what you didn't see, because the cameras weren't allowed in there, was that 99 percent were golden.

8:08 A.M. - Landrieu: This was the largest, most gargantuen storm in history. Ninety percent of the harm, tragedies and deaths were because of things beyond anyone's control. About 10 percent will be because of what someone didn't do.

8:05 A.M. - Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu - There's a lot of blame to go around, and a lot of credit. Heroes and demons. This is an American tragedy.

8:00 A.M. - Landrieu: We have rescuers going door to door. There are people still in their houses in Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Lakeview and Uptown, waiting to be rescued.

7:55 A.M. - Landrieu: We're going to need $150 billion to rebuild the area and that might be a low estimate.

5:25 A.M. - BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) --Emergency officials in Louisiana say they are still getting calls from people trapped and in need of rescue. Officials say they received a thousand such calls just yesterday, with some people saying they are still trapped in their attics.

Authorities are using color-coded maps to locate anyone in need of rescue. They plan to go door-to-door if they have to, in order to find all remaining survivors.

Helen Keller

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart."

Qatar Offers $100 Million in Aid

First comment "in the comments" is the text on the current state of the city from the inside. People are still dying. Do not read if you do not want to read more tragic news.

Louisiana 1927

Last night I watched Aaron Neville, a New Orleans native, sing Newman's Louisiana 1927. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing when he got to the chorus Louisiana, Louisiana They're tyrin' to wash us away. I couldn't get the image of Hastert's terribly cruel comments of the day before out of my mind. How Aaron was able to maintain his composure is beyond me. I have a copy of his recording, but I can tell you the emotion he put into the song last night eclipses his earlier recording. If you get a chance to see a rebroadcast (MSNBC) do yourself a favor--this performance is one not to be missed.

What has happened down here is the wind have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

The river rose all day
The river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood
Some people got away alright
The river have busted through clear down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

CHORUS
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away

President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
With little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
The President say, "Little fat man isn't it a shame what the river has
done
To this poor farmers land."

'Louisiana 1927'
A song and a tragedy

_______________________________________________________

9/3/2005, 6:07 p.m. CT
By ALLEN G. BREED
The Associated Press

New Orleans left to the dead and dying

______________________________________________________
07:32 PM CT Saturday, September 3, 2005

Anne Rice

What do people really know about New Orleans?

Do You Know What It Means to Lose New Orleans?

Path of Destruction

Katrina Base Map

Click on the link above (not the map image) for the "live" map that will allow you to zoom in on detailed sat images of the entire path. Thanks to J_Snow for the heads up.

Katrina Information Map

This link provides specific information on damages. If you have first hand information, please go here. Likewise, if you are looking for damage info start here.

Love via Red Cross

1-800-Help Now

Online Donation Form

My Canadian friends can help here--->Canadian Red Cross
(thanks firefly for that heads up)

"When we are in our hour of need, our hour of darkness, will we remember the words of our enemies or the silence of our friends?" MLK Jr

Hurricane 2005 Relief:

Victims of Hurricane Katrina are attempting to recover from the massive storm. American Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the hardest hit areas of Katrina’s destruction, supplying hundreds of thousands victims left homeless with critical necessities. By making a financial gift to Hurricane 2005 Relief, the Red Cross can provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.

Ending the night with Heroes

I've got to end the night on a positive note. The heroic work of the USCG has been nothing less than awe inspiring. Coast Guard pilots were in the air on the trailing edge of Katrina trying to get a damage assessment literally in the moments after the storm passed. The story of these brave pilots have not been told in the press but we have seen the helicopter pilots pluck more than 3000 from roof tops, working in extremely dangerous circumstances, day and night. USCG has been nothing but magnificent.


NEW ORLEANS (Aug. 30, 2005) - Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott D. Rady, 34, of Tampa, Fla., give the signal to hoist a pregnant woman from her apartment here today. In all, the Coast Guard rescued 11 survivors from the apartment building. Rady is a rescue swimmer sent from Clearwater, Fla., to help aid in search and rescue efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 2nd Class NyxoLyno Cangemi

FEMA Who?

3:54 P.M. - FEMA Spokesperson: I'm probably going to lie awake at night for a long time second guessing how we responded.

3:52 P.M. - FEMA spokesperson: The magnitude of this overwhelmed us.

3:14 P.M. - St. Bernard Parish officials say that FEMA has not called them yet...five days after the storm.


Robinette interview with Nagin was unforgettable radio
By Dave Walker TV columnist (full text in comments)

No FNF tonight

For my friends that have come to expect a "Friday Night Flirtation" post, I just don't have it within me tonight in light of the tragic events still unfolding in my home state. The FNF will return in good time. For those that might need a FNF fix, I've linked past editions at the bottom of my sidebar. Thanks again for so many thoughts and prayers.

Houston

To the city of Houston I applaud your leadership in this time of darkness. To the leaders and people of Houston, your heartfelt generosity has been a light in the night. When I think of the best of our country, right now, I see Houston. Thank you.

Death toll in Louisiana could be above 10,000: US Senator

Four days ago I received news from within the medical community of New Orleans saying the city had ordered more than 20,000 body bags. Now we have the first Louisiana public official, saying what we all fear--a death toll in the five-figure range is likely.

"My guess is that it will start at 10,000, but that is only a guess," Vitter said, adding that he was not basing his remarks on any official death toll or body count.

Friend of mine in Louisiana reports that temporary morgue has been set-up in St. Gabriel, Louisiana. Trucks seen and heard arriving with the deceased. CNN reporting U.S government is sending four mobile morgues to the area.

I cannot overemphasis the scope of this tragedy. Please pray and if you have the means, donate money.

Sarah Johnson yells for help outside the Convention Center for the woman she provides in-house care for.

--Melissa Phillip/Associated Press

90,000

90,000 square miles have been declared national disaster areas. To put this in perspective, think of an area that would exceed the land mass of Ohio and Michigan combined or an area roughly the size of Great Britian.

As many as 400,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.

New Orleans Mayor Issues 'Desperate SOS'

House Speaker Dennis Hastert dropped a bombshell on flood-ravaged New Orleans on Thursday by suggesting that it isn’t sensible to rebuild the city. (see full article in the second comment)

Prayer

The last few days have been shocking and stunning. I have family and friends who were in harm's way, some have lost their homes, a few I still have no communication.

The purple and gold colors of the flower remind me of my days at LSU. My memories of those 10 years on that campus are memories of a lifetime. When I think of my home state, I like to think of the good, the part that will always be a part of who I am. Each day, the news from New Orleans is more heartbreaking, the stories more tragic. As Brett Farve said yesterday, things will get worse before they get better.

This flower represents all that is good, from the Coast Guard pilots working night and day to save lives to the folks that visit here and leave notes of support. The flower is my way to say thanks to all who visit here. This is the hour of need for more in my home region and I can count. What can you do? Pray. Just pray. If you feel moved to give, give cash to the charity of your choice. Material gifts are not needed at this moment, but I'm sure will be needed in time. My heartfelt appreciation my friends.