(no subject)

Oh fuck. Me. So after going out last night and spending all day today...I mean Saturday out, I took a shower and figured I'd power nap before hitting Maggie's party, Joe's party, and possibly chiaro later. I do this power nap all the time, works great. Well, I woke up at 1 fucking 16 in da AM. Not only did I just sleep through Sat night, my sleep schedule is going to be so screwed up now! Thank god tonight is Taint on the 3-day weekend. I'm tempted to hit the last couple of hours at chiaro...this is just too funny. Not worth smelling like smoke and needing a shower just to show up for an hour.

(no subject)

NOLA donations - people have talked about the red cross and salvation army, amongst others. I note that the salvation army sucks chunks - they are rabidly anti-gay, famously so. Red cross on the other hand isn't perfect, they still have weird questions about gay sex (not allowing you to donate blood if you are a male, had sex even once with another male since 1977; or within the last 12 months, given a female money or drugs to have sex with you - nice to see that banging a hooker is more tolerated than sex with your fellow man) before they allow you to donate blood, but otherwise their politics are gay-friendly.
http://www.redcross.org
Many people cannot donate now due to their own financial situation. That's fine, but it's not a bad idea to keep future donations in mind when the issue is no longer in the news daily. This event has cost a fortune, and will continue to drain the resources and reserves of various charity organizations. It will take years for the organizations to replenish their reserves - if you want to take a second job or save funds for later to help others, that is a viable option.

The gas companies are not going to be hit for "price gauging." You see, my understanding (unresearched) is that the idustry, to avoid charges of price gauging, has determined to set gas prices based on the futures market. The futures market is of course entirely objective, out of their control. The innocent little oil conglomerate is a mere paper boat in the waves of the economy. Of course, they make absurd profits using this scheme, charging future prices for cheaply produced oil. Bush will use this crisis to steer more US tax dollars to helping the companies since the free market "failed." The gas in the ground that everyone is buying was purchased during a time of plenty, but is being charged at hurricane prices. Americans all around are topping off their 1/2 filled SUVs - do these same people have patriotic stickers while they screw their fellow man?

This AM I saw a news reporter ripping into the Mayor of NO, trying to cut him with questions about his personal responsibility for the mess. After noting he ordered a mandatory evacuation and that he called various officials, she kept at him. I wonder if the machine has to work this way now - someone in washington made the call
We have a black man in power. I repeat, we have a black man in power. This is not a drill. Mobilize forces.
Press - create chinks in the armor. Blame the outspoken.
Police - focus resources to non-supporters. Warning - this Mayor has no history of drug use. Manufacture history, this is a top priority.
Analysts: Stop this man. He is a black man, I repeat a black man, that the public supports. He is not a rap star, athlete, or Uncle Clarence Thomas. I repeat, he is a black man...