The Abbreviated Saturday Post

Just some bric-a-brac, loose ends, and miscellaneous stuff for a Saturday…

I’ve noticed, as have others who have commented on the same thing (albeit in different places), that it’s taking me longer and longer each day to “make the rounds.” I kept track of the time I spent reading blogs yesterday, and it was four hours…give or take 15 minutes or so. I spent this time exclusively with the folks on the blogroll, and that includes chasing quite a few of the links my blog-buddies include with their posts.

The time I spend reading blogs has increased a lot lately, and that’s mostly a function of the increased size of the blogroll. I’m not complaining, mind you, as I firmly believe the time I spend reading blogs is time well-spent. And it’s winter, so the mo’sickle riding has been severely curtailed, along with my other usual, customary, and reasonable outdoor activities. But what happens when the weather turns nice again? Dilemma happens…that’s what.

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Speaking of blogs… I’ve yet to mention that Lou is in Aberdeen, Scotland for two weeks and is posting her “Innocents Abroad” tales (along with great photos of Aberdeen) at her place. I can’t wait until she and Toby get out in the countryside. One would be hard-pressed to think of a country more photogenic than Scotland…even in winter. Do go visit Lou’s place, if you haven’t already.

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My new just over a month-old scanner has been sitting unemployed for the whole year. You may remember, Gentle Reader, that I mentioned I was gonna retrieve my photo archives from SN2’s custody when I went up to Omaha for the holidays and launch a massive scanning project upon my return to P-Ville.

Well, Omaha never happened. I canceled the trip when the time came for the go/no-go decision because of weather most foul (Read as: Snow. Ice. And lots of both.) on the entire route between here and there. “Not to worry,” said SN2… “we’ll box up the archives and ship ‘em to ya.” I slipped SN2 a gentle reminder this past Thursday evening and have been assured the archives will be in the mail NLT Monday, possibly even today. Which means the scanning will begin in earnest the middle of next week. Or so.

I can’t wait. But I will.

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Ooooh. That’s gonna leave a mark! (Sorry, TripleE…won’t happen again.) Gerard comes right out and says what a lot of folks have been thinking:

I've considered the matter of New Orleans carefully.

I've weighed the never-ending, and now maudlin, saccharine suffering of its people against my now limitless cache of compassion fatigue. They have been found wanting.

To be fair and just, here's what I propose we give New Orleans from this day forward. Nothing. Niente. Zip. Zero. Nada. And a full-scale barium enema just for asking for one more thin dime. Did you send money to this barrage of bozos? I did and I want it back. With interest.

I love N’Awlins and I wish its citizens well. But I also wish their government…state, parishes, and municipal…would get off their collective asses, get off the FedTeat, and get to work. I’m speaking in generalities here whereas Gerard really isn’t. Still and even, after arguing The Big Easy should just be bulldozed and turned into wetlands (my words, not his) Gerard makes a few valid points. Provocative, and all that.

There’s a lot of good work going on in N’Awlins, mainly in the private sector, but there’s more…much more…soul-sucking, begging, and cajoling…and outright graft… in play by all levels of government, as well. That’s what I’m p!ssed about.

BTW…Gerard also mentions there’s a lawsuit for damages against the federal gub’mint…filed by a Katrina victim, of course…in the amount of three quadrillion dollars. You read that right: quadrillion. My mind is boggled. Now there’s some real chutzpah. Must’ve took that “Go Big, or Go Home” thing to heart.

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Today’s Pic: Not all sunrises and sunsets in P-Ville are spectacular. I went out the other night and took elebenty-lebben pics of the sunset, and this was as good as it got.

And here I am: reduced to posting filler. This will change, Gentle Reader…when the archives arrive.