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September 02, 2005
Friday Creature
Sheesh! I got a photo all ready to put up earlier today and then I just... well, forgot, or something. Maybe the phone rang or I was distracted by some shiny object -- who knows? Anyway, here is a lovely male goldfinch. I haven't seen too many of these in my yard this summer, but lately a few have been visiting more frequently (or it could be that I'm seeing more of them due to some rearranging around here -- now when I'm working at my computer, I am sitting right in front of the window with the various birdfeeders strung out in front of me). Since I'm posting so late in the day, there should already be lots of critters up on the ark!
I haven't had much to say this week. Like the rest of you, I've watched in horror as the situation in the Mississippi Delta has transformed into a disaster scene you'd maybe expect to see in third-world country, but not in one of the most wealthy and advanced nations on earth. Our country's response was painfully slow and inept. But I hope that the weekend will see the area receive the relief that is so badly needed. If you haven't given yet, check out the relief thread over on hamdems for some organizations that are in need of contributions (and at least one person who is looking for specific items to send to some families that are starting over after losing everything).
UPDATE: please take a minute and read Lisa's thoughts on The Third-World in our Backyard. She speaks to what a lot of us have been feeling this week and then closes with a challenge that we cannot afford to ignore.
And WR Pitt echoes some of those thoughts.
Egalia: "Apparently, even the ultra-conservative Washington Times doesn’t think our dear leader deserves any more accountability-free moments. Thank God there are actually some conservatives who put sanity, or compassion for their fellow humans above party loyalty. But there do not appear to be many. Most seem to take any criticism of Bush as always political and never righteous, even when people are dying for him to act." Here's the link to the editorial from the Washington Times.
So, just what were Mike Brown's qualifications? And are all of Bush's appointments this qualified for their jobs, or is this a unique case? There's a phrase to describe this administration's relief efforts, and it begins with "cluster" and ends with "uck".
... ugh ... the cost of this disaster has been incalculatably higher than it would have been if we had taken the proper measures before the hurricane hit. We knew it was coming, and we did not prepare for it.
...maybe it's time to go to a tranquil place.
Posted by alice at September 2, 2005 05:11 PM
Comments
Great picture! What a chillingly appropriate quotation. A lot of old rightwing quotations have been coming true lately, gawd help us.
Posted by: egalia at September 2, 2005 09:49 PM