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Born April 13, 2005

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^{2005 September 13}
Confirmation Hearings as Theater: 14 years ago I was rivited by the confirmation hearings of now Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Today I am captivated by the congressional hearings for John Roberts, possibly the next Supreme Court Chief Justice. There is a big difference, however. In the case of Thomas the hearings were really soap opera; often earthy and tasteless, but always fascinating. I remember one day I became seriously ill during the Thomas hearings. I flatly refused to let Jim take me to the emergency room, where I almost certainly belonged. I was not about to miss a minute of the drama appearing live. I was well again even before Thomas was confirmed!

Today, the Roberts hearing is not high drama, but it is still theater. On one hand it is a jousting tournament as opposition Senators make every effort to unseat Roberts and others to reinforce his position. (His baseball analogy was far more apt than my jousting analogy, but I'm a "girly girl" after all and I'd rather knit than joust.) On the other hand, and far more interesting to me, is Judge Roberts humor, brevity and ability to present complex analyses in clear language without a lot of legalistic mumbo jumbo. Whether or not you support Roberts for the Supreme Court, he is perhaps the most impressive subject of a Senate Hearing that I have ever heard. This hearing may not have the soap opera quality (thank goodness!) of the Thomas hearings, but it has far more content for those of us wishing to better understand the law, and the minds of those who argue as well as those who apply the law.

Becky |

^{2005 September 12}
Buying Bitchin' Rights: One of my favorite blogs is Callimachus' Done With Mirrors. The author is actually historian/etymologist/editor Douglas Harper. Since he does not link his various other websites, you have to do some searching to discover Doug's many facets. I'll give you a couple of hints to start you on your way: I first discovered not his blog, but his Etymology Dictionary. Sometime later I ran across one of his Civil War essays on Northern Slavery. I followed a few links and began to put two and two together and it added up to Douglas Harper is a multi-dimensional character who brings a lot more than opinion to the blogging table. Most of the time I agree with his blogged opinion, but rarely with the same fervor I felt with I saw this:

Howzabout we institute a national color-coded biometric "Bitchin' Level" card? You donate $100 to hurricane relief, you get a green card that entitles you to talk/write for 10 minutes a day blaming someone or something for everything that went wrong. After that, you shut up till tomorrow and go make yourself useful. $200 gets you a yellow card and an extra half hour. So on up the scale.

Becky |

^{2005 September 10}
Red Crescent of Embrace?: Since I don't often read Michelle Malkin I rhought this was some kind of a joke in extremely poor taste. Well, it is in very bad taste, but according to the Pittsburg Post Gazette, it is no joke.

Maybe it's time to put an end national memorials. The heroic victims of Flight #93 deserve more respect than this. Whatever happened to "Rest in Peace"?

Becky |

^{2005 September 9}
When Communications Fail:

Fox's Shepard Smith shouted questions at a cop who refused to answer, saying: "What are you going to do with all these people? When is help coming for these people? Is there going to be help? I mean, they're very thirsty. Do you have any idea yet? Nothing? Officer?"

Howard Kurtz

Where were the ham radio operators during the aftermath of Katrina? How is it that TV and radio reporters manage to get their satellite trucks in and workings, but no one managed to provide communications to the police, fire, and emergency response centers? A lot is being said about the emotional reporting of Shepard Smith, Anderson Cooper and other TV reporters on the scene, and I along with millions of others joined them in yelling, kicking, and feeling utter frustration our inability to "do something." Why, though, did Smith, instead of asking questions it was obvious the police office could not answer, not consider handing over his microphone (and those of other Fox correspondents) to the emergency personnel who had no way to communicate? It might not make as compelling a "picture story" for television, but if that police officer had been able to contact a dispatcher to get instructions, and to requisition food and water to the impromptu gathering of people who had managed to get themselves from the water to the highway, perhaps a food and water drop could have been arranged, and even umbrellas or temporary shelters from the blazing sun. One of the problems with disasters is all the potential humanitarian crises cannot be perfectly predicted. People go where they can; not necessarily where plans and planners intended that they go.

If it is true that Governor Blanco refused to send food and water to the SuperDome in the beginning because she feared that would attract people (duh) then she has no understanding of people or emergencies! Wherever the people are, the food and water must be delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible. Of course the SuperDome (or any place withing the confines of the New Orleans "cereal bowl" is not an ideal choice for shelter, but forget perfection and deal with reality, Governor!

Stop asking dumb, unanswerable questions, all you news correspondents, and become part of the solution. If there are no other communications available them why can't the police and other emergency personnel commandeer the communications that are available?

I wonder what disaster preparations now incorporate public citizens. The internet has largely replaced amateur radio in most communities. In the 70's and 80's I, as an amateur radio operator, spent many many hours working with the local SkyWarn programs and the Lubbock (TX) Amateur Radio Club preparing for and responding to emergencies. We were among the first responders for local disasters, but were also on the air relaying messages around the world during non-local emergencies. We were incorporated into the city's disaster planning and participated right alongside fire, law enforcement, Red Cross and medical response teams in disaster simulations. I know that simulations are still used (thank goodness!) but it's been a very long time since I have heard about citizen involvement. Does the R.A.C.E.S still exist? Am I simply out of touch? If so, why have we not heard a single word from the Gulf Coast or New Orleans about amateur participation in the rescue? If communication is the key to the failures, why aren't the communications experts at the forefront? Government cannot help people if people are not there to help people.

Becky |

^{2005 September 5}
Linky love for Bill Whittle's Tribes: I don't often link to a blog just for the sake of linking, but this is such an incredible example of clear thinking I'd hate for you to miss it...besides, I want to be sure I have saved the link for posterity.

Becky

"Here I come to save the day...": Sean Penn as Mighty Mouse is pretty funny, or it would be if it weren't so sad. It seems that everyone "knows" how to solve the problems of the crisis on the Gulf Coast, but of course the Mighty Mouse approach simply adds to the problem. Fortunately Penn and his entourage did not drown and did not have to be rescued themselves, but that might as easily have been the outcome of his absurd publicity stunt.

Alongside the wannabe heroes, and worse the do-nothing critics (too numerous to list), there are many genuine heroes in New Orleans and certainly in Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula as well: a nurse who stayed in his Ward 9 area to aid his neighbors; an (no, many) unidentified man who many many trips from the 9th Ward to Highway 10 helping his neighbors to escape the flood waters; Jabbor Gibson who "stole" an idle schoolbus and drove 80 desperate victims to the Astrodome. How many of these quiet heroes will go unheralded? Meanwhile, the TV media report any negative rumor they hear.

Amidst the media chaos, General Honore is apparently not going to sit back and let the rumor-mongers control the story. In an age in which if it didn't happen on camera it didn't happen, General Honore tells the media to get out on the streets and see what is happening instead of listening to, and reporting, rumors and isolated incidents. So far I like what I have seen of the new "Ragin' Cajun." He looks like a real leader where one is desperately needed. Now if we only had a press corps who reported news rather than opinions we might see some real progress. It has been ONLY one week since Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. If you are in water up to the rafters a week is a lifetime, but in perspective, progress is pretty remarkable in that period of time.

Becky |

^{2005 September 2}
Governor Rick Perry: One Star Shines Not many politicians are faring well in the aftermath of Katrina, but one shining exception is Texas' Gov. Rick Perry. I have been rather neutral in regard to Perry's leadership until now, but his hands on approach to opening the Astrodome in Houston to New Orleans' flood victims is remarkable. I am very proud to say Rick Perry is my Governor and Texas is my home.

Even before the magnanimous offer of the Astrodome, the Red Cross had opened an emergency shelter at Reunion Center in Dallas. As we anticipate 100,000 or more refugees in Texas we have decided to make our own contributions to the local Food Bank. It is impossible to comprehend the full import of this disaster. We hear that the Gulf Coast is going to be starting over from the ground up, but who knows when New Orleans will even be able to reach the ground!

Becky |

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