News – Is Michael Brown in the Right Job?

North America

Michael Brown, current head of FEMA, has his credentials questioned. He cites previous disaster recovery experience, though said experience turns out to be less than cited. His resume says he’s worked for the city of Edmond, Oklahoma in the 1970s “overseeing the emergency-services division.” But Claudia Deakins tells Time he was more like “an assistant to the city manager.” There’s not been an expression of confidence in him yet, with White House Spokesman Scott McClellan parroting the no “blame game” line. One wonders what the results of this disaster will hold for Brown. I’d say there isn’t a lack of time for him to salvage things.

Colin Powell joins those criticizing the disaster response to Katrina, from the top to the bottom of the government pyramid.

The official death toll crests 300, though the number of unidentified dead are likely much higher. Bush is siphoning more billions into the relief effort.

Rita Gillete, her husband Hazzert, both 63, and their son Howard, 21 are still in New Orleans, refusing to evacuate unless forced to. From Belize, they say they’re used to disasters and Katrina’s aftermath is minor by comparison. That, of course, is hardly the case with the unsanitary nature of the risen water.

Slate’s Fray argues over rebuilding New Orleans.

Organizers of the Katrina telethon won’t be cutting out barbs that the starts might toss at the government.

California’s Senate approves drivers licenses for illegals. Arnie says he’ll veto it.

A Texas grand jury indicts Texans for a Republican Majority of illegally funneling corporate donations into a 2002 campaign to win control of the Texas Legislature. This being a group Tom DeLay helped create, for whatever that matters.

Dr. Erica Frank of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta opines that , by the calculated costs, the U.S. “war on terror” is saving fewer lives than just spending the money on disease prevention and research, and has probably caused deaths by taking money away from basic services. I don’t doubt it, since terrorism causes few deaths in comparison to disease, malnutrition, AIDS and other hazards of our modern world. The deaths are just more emotionally charged than the millions who die every year due to other causes.

A group trying to start up a low power radio station for hurricane evacuees at Houston’s Astrodome managed to get three 90 day licenses from the FCC, but are being stymied by a handful of temporary administrators.

Ophelia wakens, though has lingered in tropical storm status. A good thing, Florida doesn’t need another hurricane.

Michael Mullen of Washington State is charged with double murder after telling police that he had decided to hunt down and kill two sex offenders listed in an online sex offender registry.

Personally, I question the necessity of having a minority or woman to replace justice O’Connor. Diversity seems forced when people talk about it as if there is some requirement that there be a woman or minority in a position of power. Diversity should come naturally, not in some sense of requirement. It just goes to prove that we’re not done with progressing from our biased past. Only when we naturally do such things without self flagellation over the issue will be have finally arrived.

The refiners are the ones that make out like bandits when gas prices soar. They should have some of the ire, not just the gas station and the owners of the crude reserves.

Middle East

The US mulls an attack on Tal Afar I in northern Iraq. Another stronghold of the insurgency, where an attack won’t matter much because they’ll just fade back from a big attack and stronghold themselves elsewhere, just as with Falluja.

Reconstruction projects in Iraq are slowing as US funds run out, diverted toward security.

Arafat’s medical records are released, but still don’t supply a clear cause of death.

Many Israelis are glad to have pulled out of Gaza, many of them the IDF personnel with memories of guard duty in the territory.

General

Drugs based on RNA interference could start payign the smack down on the likes of the flu and cancer if the evidence gathered by scientists proves solid.

A review of the Exorcism of Emily Rose. The movie is losely based on the death of a young German woman in the early ’70s in the course of an exorcism. It seems like a movie I might watch for the effects, without caring as much about the underlying theistic themes and bias. Also, a review of The Man, with Samuel L. Jacks on and Eugene Levy.

Explainer details the origin of the New Orleans accent.

<A HREF="http://slate.msn.com/id/2125983/?nav=fix”>Today’s Papers has the Federal Government starting to build a big wall to protect New Orleans in the 70s(stopped by a judge for not doing the proper environmental impact assessment and apparently never taken up again since. Quitters.), Democrats rejecting the Republicans proposed “bipartisan” but GOP-controlled congressional investigation of the Katrina response, no official word on when forced evacuations will begin and more in the one page news.

Amusements

The genius of morality ringtones, brought to you by The Department of Farting Against Thunder

Hard to know who’s stupider: The man who asked his friend to break a glass on his head, or the friend who agreed to do it

League asks naked soccer fans to please stay home

Topher Grace to play Venom in “Spiderman 3,” but the real villian is obviously the casting director

Grambling football coach Melvin Spears demands that the SWAC record a forfeit for Alcorn State after Alcorn State refuses to play following Hurricane Katrina

Secret Service investigates Kentucky student for suggesting on a message board that Bush should be shot

Paris Hilton wants to settle down and become a homemaker, just as soon as her fiance coughs up the $2 million engagement ring she wants. (With topless mostly-SFW pic from Vanity Fair cover)

A pet monkey escaped, chased 12-year-old boy into his house and bit his ass

Couple fake storm damage to their crops by throwing ice onto a tomato field and beating plants

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop contest: Dating no-no’s

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Rejected soda pop flavors

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Photoshop your favorite Shakespeare play in a different time and place