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.
A look back on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the dawn of Hurricane Gustav. link
ChezNiki reports on a meeting in Roxbury about the last days of the last Katrina evacuees at Camp Edwards:
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").
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. ...
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:
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.
Dennis wonders why Brookline schools aren't doing more to discuss Katrina with students:
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.
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!
This Sunday, September 18, Otto's Angels will collect items to be sent directly to refugee families in Louisiana.
The collection will take place from 9am to 3pm at Marty's Furniture, 99 Washington Street in Melrose (1/2 mile from the Oak Grove T station). They need donations of common household goods (toiletries, newly purchased underwear, bed linens, baby items -- see below for a full list). They also need volunteers that day to help collect and sort the donations.
WBUR had an interesting interview this morning with Carlo Boccia, Boston's homeland-security director (the interview requires RealPlayer).
Ron has details on a fundraiser at the Place tonight.
The city of Boston is collecting new clothing, toiletries and children's books at a variety of locations through Sept. 23.
The Herald hears about the New England Baptist Church signboard suggesting God hates New Orleans, sends out a reporter and a photographer. And the church promptly removes the message.
A church deacon said the sign, which read "New Orleans: Natural disaster? Or God's anger with sin?" was meant as a general comment on how we're all sinners. He added the church is "working" on making a donation to hurricane relief.
As David notes, Mitt Romney's been taken out to the woodshed and is now hewing the Republican line on Katrina, i.e., it's all the fault of those damn Democrats instead of FEMA (which he'd earlier called "an embarrassment"). David points to this AP story in which the governor reveals he'd be much happier back in Utah:
The New England Baptist Church sign that suggests God sent Katrina to New Orleans, that is.
Mark writes:
... What's most offensive about this, on further reflection and considerable correspondence, is that this is a New England church that is pretending to be asking whether someone else's misery is justified by God's just anger at someone else's supposed sins. ...
Sooz: Crazy talk
Tangognat's posted a photo of the New England Baptist Church sign about Katrina, which asks whether the hurricane was a natural disaster or
God's anger with sin?
Earlier:
God to Katrina victims: Serves you right.
Wow. What was that again about Massachusetts being a liberal beacon in the conservative night? Mark reports:
Now on view at the Baptist church in Medford, there's a charming sign that blames all those nasty sinners in New Orleans for calling down God's Judgment on their heads. Now, this might play in Peoria, but surely it can't happen here? Oy.
This demands photos. Anybody up Medford way with a digital camera?
Update: I asked Mark where exactly the church is. He replies:
John posts a whole mess of New Orleans photos (but still no word on just what he's doing down there).
Otto's Angels is collecting warm clothes for Camp Edwards evacuees who probably aren't used to our, um, brisk falls and winters. They're also organizing fundraisers to buy clothing and needed supplies for New Orleans evacuees down south.
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