News – How Much is New Orleans Worth?

North America

Health officials are now looking from trauma care to the lingering effects of the polluted water that flooded the city. Disease a serious concern as a result. It leads me to wonder if it’s a good idea to worry about the New Orleans area at all right now. The costs of rebuilding the area will be considerable, the threat of injury from lingering crud ever present as not everything can be sanitized. As well, the area could easily be so flooded and destroyed again, unless someone has made massive steps in making levees that can hold back the same natural power that breeched them this time. Otherwise, the billions we’ll be spending will be spent again in the future. Is New Orleans or any one city worth that much obvious expense?

Satellite Phones are big in the wake of Katrina, with the communication infrastructure ravaged.

Bush pledges to investigate the initial response to Katrina, but resists attempts to start now. As Scott, the White House mouthpiece parroted over and over, we’re better focused on the disaster relief. Yet a government has many people for a reason, allowing it to take on multiple responsibilities. I think that an investigating group can be formed to start the initial work on such an investigation without effecting the relief. Unless we’re tapped out as to attention and effort. And, as the political conflict turns back on the accusers, so to do rebuttals to the rebuttals start to emerge.

All considered, is it wise for us to ignore Cuba’s offer of 1,500 doctors to help with the survivors of Katrina?

Authorities are finally removing forcefully those few remaining who don’t wish to leave the ruined city of New Orleans. It’s been opined that these folk are crazy. Some might be, but I’d suspect most of them simply don’t wish to leave their city. You know, loyalty to hearth and home, which can be irrational at times.

Explainer notes why Katrina won’t put any insurance companies under and why New Orleans cell phones aren’t working.

Tom Delay says that even now there is no support for rolling back federal gas taxes to offset the rise in prices. Not even temporarily, like other things are being rolled back? “Now more than ever you’re going to need … that infrastructure, those highway trust funds, to rebuild the bridges that were destroyed, rebuild the railroads that were destroyed. You have to have the infrastructure or you can’t have a recovery,” DeLay said. I doubt a temporary rollback would be that bad for the federal government.

California’s Assembly gives final passage to a bill that allows gay marriage. It was backed by the state senate last week.

The US warns China that energy ties with Iran could put it into conflict with the US and won’t provide the energy security they’re looking for.

The latest info on John Roberts.

Middle East

Militants in Gaza dragged former security chief Moussa Arafat from his home and shot him in the street. This factional violence has to stop before Palestinians can start moving forward.

AlQueda in Iraq is looking to disrupt the coming referendum on the constitution, seizing a town near the Syrian border in that effort.

General

A new pocket sized projector could have you taking presentations on the road with ease.

Today’s Papers has Republicans ready to proceed with tax cuts, House republicans sticking by their proposal to cut funding for Louisiana flood control, Bush expected to ask for the first $50 billion for the ravaged area and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Bush under fire again over Katrina, this time from the Vicar of Swansea. Who?

New Zealand MP just bids on whatever at the Rainbow Labour charity auction and winds up with a one-meter photograph of a penis. “I was getting a hard time”

Police blow up man’s cannonball — man wants them to buy him a new one

Prison contraband crackdown finds lamb chops, steaks and rice cookers in prisoners’ cells

Man granted deferment from military service so he can compete in an international computer games competition

Police use cell phone left at the scene of a crime to call idiot suspects

Police recruit with outstanding warrant takes part in fingerprinting exercise. Hilarity ensues

Fark Photoshop Challenge: “Everything’s possible with a Hoveround.” Photoshop someone in a Hoveround/scooter/wheelchair doing something unlikely

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Today’s photoshop secret ingredient: Something happy

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Rejected “The Price Is Right” pricing games