Vy Blog

Coming together

Talked to the Red Cross -- their first opening to collect blood is the 20th, a Tuesday.  Will have to see how that fits.  I'd rather have a weekend event if doable, to give maximum opp'ty for folks to come give a pint.

Collected some more ideas today for an event where we can make a dent.  I'll sort it out tomorrow with Gerry and get something firm on the calendar.

I registered bighelpbigeasy.com to park information.  Nothing there yet but I'll put up good links and information about the effort.  Feels good to be doing something helpful.

I still am nonplussed at the behavior of the authorities.  Yes, the government is inefficient and close to incompetent, but they do manage somehow to fulfill functions (think air traffic control, national defense, etc.).  They just seem clueless.  It's a PR mess for the Bush administration, but that's a discussion for another day.

What we don't need is what I've been reading about:  Jesse Jackson running his mouth, Oprah in a helicopter above the city, and nakedly opportunistic politicos stepping into the leadership vacuum with an obvious finger-pointing agenda.

More as it develops.

Life

I could post about PR, about aviation, about history, about any of the myriad of things that fascinate, interest or annoy me, but screw that for now.  The hurricane is the worst natural disaster we've ever seen in the U.S. and our spare resources -- including brainpower -- should be focused on getting that situation under control.

I've been reading and, frankly, it's hard to believe some of what's going on.  Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said, truthfully, disasters like this bring out the best in most people.  Let's hope for more best, because in places, worst is winning big.  I guess no one has all the facts, but I'm surprised at how sluggish the federal response to the crisis is -- why isn't the military in New Orleans in a big way, establishing order and bringing in serious relief?

I've had several fond memories of New Orleans, and I have good friends in Mississippi.  I just talked with one whose parents live in Meridian, two hours north of the coast -- she said Monday night, the storm was still a hurricane when it hit Meridian.  Her folks are without power and are standing in line for water and ice, but their house is still standing.  Everyone is alive, and civilization is functioning there.

I've been in touch with the Red Cross and am going to put together an event, probably here, probably on September 20, to collect relief supplies, blood and donations.  Big Relief for the Big Easy.  Anyone who wants to help, e-mail or call.

Hug your kids and your family, say a prayer for your fellow man, and do something to help.

Read on:

• Interdictor: live from the New Orleans central business district (fascinating debrief from N.O. police)
• Brian Oberkirch's blog for Slidell, Louisiana
• NOLA, the Times-Picayune's only current publication
• Insomina, a play-by-play of what's happening in N.O.
• Mississippi's Clarion Ledger
• al.com weblog from Alabama, keeping tabs on the Mobile region

Pitch in, please

• New Orleans: Never seen anything like it.  Help if you can.  Good list here of organizations mobilizing.
• Most else pales, doesn't it?  Hug your kids, hug your family, take care of yourself.  Be kind to each other.

On that note, for the love of all that's holy, can you people behave like adults?  God, you're stupid.  If we can't get along on the Comment Section Playground, maybe we should close it down.  Idiots.

The looting is getting scary.  I'm surprised there's not more military supervision.  The local authorities are hopelessly overloaded.

Mike Lopresti puts it in good perspective for everyone so prone today to overstatement:

Invariably, it is like this in a crisis. When a sports culture that so comfortable and commonly uses words such as "disaster" and "adversity" and "loss" one day turns on the television and sees what disaster and adversity and loss truly look like.

That a place such as the Superdome suddenly sits amid foul waters and floating bodies, its inhabitants turned into refugees, the contrast is all the more jarring. The grand playground, suddenly a place where people have fled to for their very lives.

It was designed and built to be a giant sport jewel, impervious to every inconvenience and discomfort. Now it is too dangerous and rank even to be a life raft.

So at the moment, it is hard to drudge up much emotion over the usual ebb and flow of our games.

We could sit here and try to understand David Wells' tantrum, as he ranted about the baseball commissioner having the gall to suspend him for bumping an umpire, and the calamity — absolute calamity — that the All-Star Game ended in a tie a couple of years ago.

But then, better take another look at the pictures from Biloxi.

We could commiserate with the plight of Terrell Owens, who has claimed injustice and misfortune at the idea of a lousy $49 million contract.

But then, listen to some of the interviews from the survivors in Gulfport, Miss., with nothing left but stories to tell.

We could observe the players who invoke God in their home run trots.

But then, watch the reports from New Orleans, where prayers are truly needed.

The Crescent City

Well, obviously, few of us have seen anything like what's happening to New Orleans.  Let's pray for them.

I've been there a number of times and love the city -- I hope, indeed, that Gov. Blanco will lead a great effort to recover and rebuild.  Until then, let's hope for survivors, and that they can get out of the city before it's all too late.

And not to be insensitive here, but I hope we can learn a good lesson about weather (me included).  It's not to be laughed at.  Many of the people who stayed, thinking if you've seen one hurricane you've seen them all, paid with their lives.

In my backyard here, Northwest Medical Teams is gearing up to help out.  Tremendous organization that will make a big impact when they arrive.  Give something to the effort if you can.

If you want an up-close look at what's going on from downtown, read this running blog from our domain industry colleagues at DirectNIC.  They're in the New Orleans CBD and are trying to keep their business, and themselves, alive.

Good wishes and prayers, folks.

If you're of Slidell, or need info about anyone there

PR man and Slidell native Brian Oberkirch has a blog up and running with continual updates.  Spread the word.

David's recommendation; glad to help.