while Rome burned, Nero fiddled

It's easy to be overwhelmed by the human tragedy that's unfolding in/around New Orleans. I suspect it's the sound bites .. the anecdotes .. that I'll remember the longest. Things like:

Did New Orleans Catastrophe Have to Happen? 'Times-Picayune' Had Repeatedly Raised Federal Spending Issues which questions President Quagmire's decision to spend money on His Oil War, versus going after Usama bin Laden and leaving a few coins for things like levee repair.

Other anecdotes, in no particular order:

Levee repair would've cost $250M
Flood drainage + New Orleans repairs may top $25B $200B
For those of you math wizards, that's 100x 1,000x more for the cure, than the prevention

One news story showed a frustrated semi-truck driver, who said he had a load of bottled water en route Monday but was told to park his rig until Thursday, when the Feds signed off on the paperwork.

Based on what I've heard about the filthy conditions in the Superdome, I wonder if they'll have to tear it down and rebuild?

Most of the looters appeared to be seeking water, food, shoes but the Louisiana governor says she wants a "shoot to kill" order (zero tolerance) enforced. And President Quagmire backs her up. Now there's compassion!

"Help Wanted" ad spotted:

Construction company hiring 1,000 people to help with hurricane clean up. $10/hr, 80-90 hrs weekly, food, lodging, transportation to area. Start immediately, could go on for 1-2 years

Heard somewhere else that the "disaster site" is equal to that of Britain.

and, last but not least:


While New Orleans drowned, President Quagmire fiddled.
(actual photo from Tuesday 30/8/2005, when he was in San Diego at a fundraiser)

There are more stories on the Times-Picayune (New Orleans newspaper) site.