I got 99 on the Constitution test, for goodness sakes.....

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 10 out of 10 correct!

(h/t Her Caffeinated Crankiness)

Posted by: caltechgirl at 01:19 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 41 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Ooh. I like my new nickname! "Her Caffeinated Crankiness" has a nice ring to it!

Posted by: CrankyBeach at August 31, 2005 05:10 PM (VA6NK)

2 This quiz was way to easy.

Posted by: Contagion at September 01, 2005 11:51 AM (Q5WxB)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Someone famous that is, but this guy is SO not a hollywood type....

WKIT-FM 100.3 here in Bangor, Maine is a radio station owned by Stephen and Tabitha King. They're holding a pay for play day on the station - call with a request and a pledge, and they'll play any song you desire. All donations are going to the American Red Cross, with the Kings matching all donations dollar for dollar.

He may be a liberal nut job, but at least Steve King is a real person with a real heart. The radio station's website is here, although they don't have any links to the pay-for-play day. However, the phone # is there if you'd like to participate....

(h/t Kristian who found it on MM)

UPDATE: BET is also on the ball. The BET network is hosting a telethon to aid Katrina's victims on Friday, September 9th, one week from Friday. Their webpage also lists many links for place to donate, get help, find relatives, etc.
Way to go BET!

Posted by: caltechgirl at 11:29 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 179 words, total size 1 kb.

Gracie, posting at Da Goddess's site says somethings that I've been thinking about lately. All the people who are stranded because they had no means to leave or underestimated the storm. They're sitting out there now, waiting to be rescued, or expecting their services to come back because they can't get any news from the areas hardest hit.
Gracie says:

All I could think of was how arrogant those people were to expect that they could ride it out and then expect our public agencies to come and rescue them. Having lived in the south for an extended period of time, I feel comfortable in my "right" to say how things are there. The south is unlike anywhere else. The entitlement mindset is dominant. It's everywhere. The whole "you owe me" lifestyle is alive and well down there and it's as disgusting as you'd think. I saw it first hand everywhere I went. Sure, there are hard working, honest and decent folks, but there are an awful lot of people who go around with a tremendous chip on their shoulder for things that happened long before our grandparents were born and that we cannot undo today. The attitude extends to all people, not just those of a particular race or color. It is one of the biggest reasons I left the south. So with that in mind, as I said, I got angrier and angrier watching those helpless people be plucked one by one from their rooftops. I thought of how much danger the rescuers were in and how if these people had just done what they were ordered to do (LEAVE), they wouldn't be where they are.

I mentioned this last night at dinner to my Mom. She stopped me cold with these words. "Don't you remember what poverty looks like? Don't you remember all those stories you told me about people who were so downtrodden and unable to care for themselves because there are no jobs and no way to get to the cities where there are jobs? Don't you remember how you told me of their lack of what we consider basic essentials such as running water (yes, seriously...there are many without it in the rural areas), transportation and even a sound roof over their heads? Those people did not ignore orders...they could not obey them. They had NO WAY to get out. No money to get out. No car, no gas, nothing. Some may not have known what was coming. They stayed because they had no choice." Ouch. She's right. Not for everyone, but for many...I'd say a majority of those who stayed...they had no choice.

Coming full circle back to my friends who DID have a choice and chose to stay. I didn't sleep Monday night and was unable to eat for most of yesterday until the phone rang and finally, it was them. My relief at hearing her sweet voice was almost trumped by my anger with them for the foolishness that they showed. She assured me that while things are bad..really really bad, they're ok. Their house is untouched...and in fact, every inch of where she prayerwalked is also almost entirely damage free. A stray branch here and there but no catastrophic damage. Less than 10 feet from where she stopped...devastation. They have no water, no food and no power, but they're ok. She told me that from what she could see, Katrina was simply overhyped...so I had to tell her the truth. The stunned silence and sound of weeping confirmed what I already knew of my beautiful friend...she had no idea.

Read the whole thing here.

I remember the ice storm in NC. We had no power, and there were trees and power lines across our street for days. We had no idea whether the road to town was open or closed, what the rest of the area looked like, or even how much would have to be repaired before we got our power back..... I know that people in lesser hit areas are probably patting themselves on the back and just waiting for the power truck because they have no TV or radio, no newspaper, phone, or internet. They have no idea that even though they still have a house, they should probably evacuate....

Posted by: caltechgirl at 11:12 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 719 words, total size 4 kb.

Shakey Pete of the Shootin' Shack suffered what appears to have been a stroke earlier this week, and is in the hospital. If you pray, pray for a full and speedy recovery.

Go over to Pete's and drop him a cheery note, or just a smokin' piece of Gun pROn, it'll do him a world of good....

Here you go Pete! Oh yeah!

Posted by: caltechgirl at 10:32 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 67 words, total size 1 kb.

Evil Glenn and TTLB have joined forces to promote a blogswarm for donations to Katrina.

Not Exactly Rocket Science is participating tomorrow, and is pleased to recommend the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), a fine charity that we've been supporting all of our lives over here. UMCOR is unique in that it's major distribution center is already in the area, so they're able to mobilize quickly. Also, since UMCOR is a subsidiary of the United Methodist Church, 100% of your donation goes directly to the area you choose.

More tomorrow.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 10:23 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 103 words, total size 1 kb.

for a change....

Two House eps. on tonight, including my favorite at 9pm. Three Stories is the episode that tells the story of House and Stacy, and how he lost most of the use of his leg.....

Yee Ha!

BTW Season 1 of House was released on DVD today!

Posted by: caltechgirl at 06:48 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 55 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Would I be gloating to tell you that I received the DVDs as a gift today from one of my blog 'tenants'?

Posted by: Ith at August 30, 2005 07:42 PM (bM2fM)

2 Haven't seen a single episode of House yet. Is it good? Just haven't lucked upon it. They come out on DVD so soon now. Nice site - Ben O. http://everyothernamehasbeentaken.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Ben O. at August 30, 2005 11:28 PM (eXHfE)

3 I've seen two episodes and have fallen in love. I think I need to start hinting about Christmas presents now. . .

Posted by: Margi at August 31, 2005 01:30 AM (nwEQH)

4 yep. It's really really good.

Posted by: caltechgirl at August 31, 2005 01:13 PM (GkfB2)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

WWL is reporting that they just received word that a NOPD officer has been shot by a looter robbing a gas station in Algiers......

This is bad. First reports are that the cop was shot in the back of the head. Hospitals are closed. Roads are impassable.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 02:12 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 51 words, total size 1 kb.

According to Brendan, CNN is now reporting that all people being rescued are being taken to the Superdome, and since the water continues to rise, people are going to be evacuated from the Superdome soon.

Airlift of 30,000 refugees is about to commence.

The water is still rising all over NO. The cop on WWL right now sounds scared.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 02:06 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 63 words, total size 1 kb.

Where the Hell is Hollywood?

It took maybe 5 minutes after 9/11 for all of these bleeding heart @sswipes to get on TV and try to help. They'll raise money for starving african children but not one damn dime for our own poor kids so far. It's been 24 hours. I know they're showing the NOLA devastation out here in LaLa Land on the news, so what's up, folks?

Even stars that are linked with New Orleans, the Gulfcoast, or Louisiana, are still mum on the subject. A quick perusal of their websites (these are examples) shows that no one has yet even put up a link to relief efforts.

We're watching you, Hollywood hypocrites!

If you have any examples of Hollywood folks responding to this crisis, leave the link below.....

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:08 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 141 words, total size 1 kb.

Two weeks after I arrived in NC Hurricane Dennis plowed ashore. Two weeks later a monster Cat 4 called Floyd churned right up the same pathway.

Princeville, NC and much of the area we call "down east", the east-central portion of the state were completely obliterated.

Princeville went from a thriving, historic town to row upon row of trailers provided by FEMA. Fewer than 100,000 people lived in that area and getting everything rebuilt took more than 4 years. I can only imagine what this will mean for a city like New Orleans.... what can be done for SO MANY people....

Housing and economic concerns will drive those who can afford it away from the city, which can only increase the problems of poverty and despair in the urban center. New Orleans is already among the US' poorest cities.

Five weeks is a minimal estimate. And what happens if a second storm comes?

I feel lucky to have been able to visit New Orleans two years ago. It was always on our list that DH and I would go there together someday and explore the city, go to the zoo (which used to be fantastic, you could ride a riverboat there), listen to some Jazz. Now I wonder if that will ever happen. My impression of New Orleans was a city of conflicts and compromises, radical urban poverty side by side with genteel historic homes. Small artisans' shops and big tourist traps. An easy city to walk around. Lots of things to see and do, and some amazing restaurants.

It is my hope that this will be again, and that won't take long, either.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 11:58 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 278 words, total size 2 kb.

Jefferson Parish has just decreed martial law, and residents will be kept out for 1 week, when they can return for clothes and essentials, and then MAY NOT RETURN FOR 1 MONTH.

Jefferson Parish is the home of several MAJOR NOLA suburbs, and all of its residents will now be homeless for at least FIVE weeks.

Five weeks. That's October 6th folks.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 11:13 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 68 words, total size 1 kb.

The story from New Orleans continues to get worse. Levees along Lake Ponchartrain are breaking and worsening the flooding in areas of the city (like the French Quarter) that were dry are filling up.....

Live coverage from WWL is back online either here or at cbsnews.com (click on the Live video link)

WWL is liveblogging the updates, the best news is here.

Brendan Loy is back up after some bandwidth issues, check out his updates (which continue to be the best on the web at The Irish Trojan or his backup site.

Thanks, Brendan for keeping us all up to date!

Of course now is the time to start helping out all of the people who lost their homes and loved ones. Go here for a list of charities mobilizing for the relief effort already. Thanks, Lee Ann.

More lists of charities are out there. Here's another comprehensive list

Posted by: caltechgirl at 10:28 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 155 words, total size 1 kb.

He had the nuts to sing the Dodgers' version of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" tonight at Wrigley Field as the Dodgers beat the snot out of the Cubbies....

You see, the lyrics of this particular version include "Root Root Root for the Dodgers".....

Too bad I can't find a link to the video....

My personal favorite version of the song, goes a little like this:

Yeah, I know, it's rhyme-challenged, but it sounds damn good at top volume in chorus from the upper deck at Chavez Ravine.....

Posted by: caltechgirl at 11:04 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 153 words, total size 1 kb.

Not that I'm a fan of most of the Slate babble, but you just gotta love it when you get a mention ABOVE THE PUPPY BLENDER!!!!!!

Oh Hell yeah!

**of course, I also got mentioned above the Divine Ms. M and He-Who-Is-Not-Dale-Gribble, but who's counting????

Posted by: caltechgirl at 02:27 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 49 words, total size 1 kb.

Everyone and their aunt is blogging the hurricane, which is the closest I get to round-the-clock coverage without cable....

The best on the web?
--Live coverage from NOLA CBS affiliate WWL here (click on live coverage link)

--Irish Trojan Brendan Loy has comprehensive updates

Posted by: caltechgirl at 07:18 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 46 words, total size 1 kb.

a four drawer would be too tall....

I am: a file cabinet Reams and reams of information that just might need to be retrieved and looked up some day, stored in a convenient low-tech form that everybody can read or produce easily.

(h/t Songstress7)

Posted by: caltechgirl at 01:15 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 56 words, total size 1 kb.

It's Saturday night. For me that means football (Go Broncos!!!) and (Deb and Margi close your eyes...) crocheting. Trying out a new blanket pattern. (Ok, you can open them now) and of course soaking up the air con.

So, what are you all up to? Why are you web surfing instead of out doing something?

Posted by: caltechgirl at 06:51 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 61 words, total size 1 kb.

I haven't seen much coverage of this on the 'Net.

This couple's house was misidentified as a terrorist hideout because a possible terrorist used to live there....

Link fixed...

Posted by: caltechgirl at 05:28 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 39 words, total size 1 kb.

Almost 2 years after landing on the Martian surface and unfurling its solar panels, the rover Spirit is now poised atop the highest point on the nearby Martian plain.

"When we started the mission, if anyone had told us that we would not only drive all the way over to the Columbia Hills, but also drive to the highest point there, I think we would not have really believed it," [team scientist William]Farrand told Space.com.

Farrand said that a lot of credit goes to the rover planners — the engineers who plot out the drives and movements of the instrument-tipped mechanical arm carried by each of the Mars rovers.

"They’ve done a fabulous job with both rovers and getting Spirit to the ‘top of the hill’ is an amazing accomplishment," Farrand added.

Amazing. Read the whole article.

(h/t Jack of Random Fate)

Posted by: caltechgirl at 03:45 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 144 words, total size 1 kb.

This post from Contagion reminded me of a story that's made the rounds in our family.

In the early sixties, my dad's best friend was a teacher and coach, and he took a job for a year or two at a college just outside of Portland, OR. A few months after he moved up there, Dad decided to visit.

Now Dad's friend lived in a house that was surrounded by brush and trees, but supposedly there was a lawn in the middle of all that.

When Dad arrived at the house, after driving 15 hours to Portland, he was greeted by this mess.... After a few hours rest, the 2 of them rented a heavy-duty lawn mower and attacked. Everything was going along smoothly until...THUMP. Dad looked up to find a tree in front of him. A somewhat mature tree with at least a couple of years' growth that had been hidden in the high grass. Ok, he thought, I'll just mow around it.... until THUMP.

Yep, you guessed it. Another tree. About the same size. All in all they found 7 actual trees hidden in the grass and took out as many or more that were just starting to root.

Eventually, they took those trees out too, but I never heard that they fought back or died in a pulsating pile......

Posted by: caltechgirl at 01:10 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 230 words, total size 1 kb.