Katrina

Election-weekend political comedy

andtruth — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:41:56 -0400

There's a political comedy show election weekend in the South End which I wrote much of; it's only $9. Here's the information:

>>If you're ready for the election to just end, join "Schmolitics" for some pre-votin' comedy. One weekend only, Thursday October 30 through Saturday November 1 at 8 PM at the Factory Theatre for the low, low price of $9.

Why this election matters to the city of Boston.

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:40:01 -0400

A look back on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the dawn of Hurricane Gustav. link

Katrina evacuees: The final days at Camp Edwards

adamg — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 21:24:31 -0400

ChezNiki reports on a meeting in Roxbury about the last days of the last Katrina evacuees at Camp Edwards:

... Families separated, no privacy, no continuity of care, untreated depression and high stress, filth, open disrespect from the Base and State police. Additionally, Evacuees were only allowed to take two bags off the base and forced to leave items behind. Some were sent to Taunton during the time that the Whittendon Dam was about the break. Some have been offered jobs on the Cape at lower than the normal going rate; many of the women have been steered into Domestic work. But the most heartbreaking stories were about the evacuees who asked, "What took you (the Black community) so long?" and "Where were you?" People in attendance at the meeting on Wednesday were literally crying. ...

She also reports a bizarre confrontation after the meeting with Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's chief of staff about what she's posting on her blog.

Katrina evacuees and the demon rum

adamg — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:28:27 -0400

The Herald is aghast that people of legal age are spending money on legal products and services. Will we learn tomorrow that Katrina evacuees have been photographed buying condoms and copies of Playboy?

Yeah, yeah, they were spotted drinking in public, and gosh, that's illegal here in Massachusetts and the locals would never, ever do that (plus, as the story notes, way at the bottom: "Falmouth police Chief David Cusolita said police cracked down on public drinking at the Wal-Mart after complaints last month but he reported no recent incidents").

Rob, however, finds the evacuees' actions truly absurd!!! and adds:

You know, there is NO reason why Katrina victims should be shipped all the way to Massachusetts for temporary housing except that it has politicians with Presidential aspirations who want to fawn over them. What stupidity ...

The Unchosen One is a bit more sympathetic:

... OK, I can't condone their actions, but I can't really condemn them either. These people lost everything. No houses, no clothes, sometimes no family, no jobs, nothing to do all day. I say let the poor bastards spend a few weeks wallowing. ...

My standard newspaper disclosure.

Hurricane coverage blows

adamg — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 09:34:08 -0400

Paul watches slackjawed as CNN has somebody try to stand in a wind tunnel at 111 m.p.h. as part of its live, continuing coverage of Tropical Storm Rita:

... For some unknown reason the cable news networks adopted a policy that once NOAA indentifies a hurricane they will devote every single broadcast minute tracking it until it makes landfall. Unless something really important happens like a plane landing safely at an airport. ...

Living in Boston after Katrina

adamg — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 15:50:01 -0400

Before Katrina, Michael was a law student in New Orleans. Now he finds himself in Boston, sharing a new apartment in Brighton with girlfriend (and fellow Katrina survivor) Sarah and attending BU Law School:

... Honestly, all things considered, life is good. I'm happy living with Sarah, attending a great law school, am able to work out, and now live in a tremendous city. As long as my student loans come through, I can squeak through on that account too. Plus, so many people have been generous already, sending clothes or money to help us through this difficult time. I am very thankful for all of that.

Nonetheless, many things are just difficult. Starting all over has sucked, as has leaving behind everything you own. As soon as Mayor Nagin said we could return to New Orleans, Sarah and I booked tickets back to salvage her damaged apartment and hopefully to store things in mine, which we hoped at the very least would secure our peace of mind. And allow us to return with some winter clothes. But now this new hurricane is creating problems, and wouldn't you know it, we're supposed to fly through Houston.
...

Sarah is also blogging:

... Cried a lot, then had a drink, or three. Then I woke up at 5:00 AM after a dream in which Bry and I were on top of a building and there was a tidal wave coming and we were about to wash away. Stared at the ceiling some. Didn't sleep.

Somebody tell me what to do. I cannot let it go, if there's a chance I can save it.

We might as well just wait for doom

adamg — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 09:02:42 -0400

Earlier, I expressed some optimism that were Boston to be faced with a Katrina- or Rita-like impending disaster, we could evacuate the city. After all, City Hall has A Plan (charmingly dubbed Exodus), and never mind that the state officials who would have to re-configure state highways to get us all out haven't even read it.

Recent events, however, make one wonder.

Adding hurricanes to the curriculum

adamg — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 21:58:36 -0400

Dennis wonders why Brookline schools aren't doing more to discuss Katrina with students:

... When my daughter was in fourth grade, she too looked up nervously at jets overhead, asking which one might crash into Brookline. This year she watches Katrina's devastation, asking, as she did four years ago, "How could this happen?" The tragedies of Manhattan and New Orleans - more visually and emotionally powerful than the mere threat of disaster that assaulted my generation - and the endless War on Terrorism's escalation of fear of The Other will form the backdrop of her generation's memories of childhood and adolescence. The inevitable anxieties are certain to play themselves out in decades to come.

In response to this changed world confronting our children, our schools should be expanding coverage of intense events. This is no time to stick to a pre-packaged curriculum. ...

Blues for New Orleans

adamg — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 13:16:00 -0400

Peter has the details on the New Blue Cross 2005 Benefit for Louisiana Blues Community Relief, a 12-hour benefit marathon featuring blues musicians from Louisiana and Boston on Oct. 9 at Shooters/Club 58 in Quincy.

If FEMA had been around on April 19, 1775

adamg — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 12:51:13 -0400

Jay writes some alternative history:

... Menotomy Minutemen! Where do you think you're going? Who authorized you to defend that village against Redcoats? It's not even on the map. It says here "Arlington." You haven't even filled out a Sparsely Populated Urban Warfare AQ-207-1 form!!! Get back to the stonewall!