Some good news

Colonial Pipeline is restarting its line up and down the east coast. Once they're back up to capacity we should see a lot more gasoline around here.

It can't come soon enough though. I went out for supplies last night - Lisa and I have decided we will not be making any more trips out than we absolutely have to, and to consolidate the trips out as much as we can 'cuz there's no telling how much gas there is out there right now - and the cheapest I saw gas was $2.99 per gallon. The most expensive was $3.49. Anyhoo, when Colonial gets the whole line going full-bore again we should start seeing a little bit of a drop at least.

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Michael Sheard has passed away

"You have failed me for the last time, Admiral." And with those words from Darth Vader, Admiral Ozzel - Michael Sheard's character in The Empire Strikes Back - went down in history as the first of many victims of Vader's deadly "Force choke".

I met Sheard a few times, the most recent being at Star Wars Celebration III in Indianapolis a few months ago. I knew he played Ozzel and he was the guy who played Adolf Hitler in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade but I didn't know 'til today that he'd been in a TV show over in Britain called Grange Hill and by all accounts his character on that show was a wild success. He also did a few episodes of Doctor Who.

So it is that I must sadly report his passing away yesterday. That and just wanted to say that he was a really neat actor and all-around nice guy.

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President Bush speaks about the crisis...

...wow, that had to have been just about the most unconfident motivational speech I've ever heard.

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CONFIRMED: Gas running out all over town

In the last half-hour I've called WFMY News 2 and Fox 8 WGHP, the two stations that give Greensboro the most coverage, about gas shortages that are said to be hitting this area. I received a report earlier today that a lot of the stations were putting bags over their pumps, signifying that they were all empty. One oil distributor that I know of is said to have shut down completely because there's nothing left to deliver. I've heard of at least one station in Winston-Salem that's run out, and have confirmation from a source known personally to me that many stations in the western mountains of North Carolina are going dry. In light of all this I decided to confirm it with News 2 and Fox 8.

WFMY told me that they've been getting reports about this all day, but they haven't been able to confirm it yet. However, Fox 8 said that it has been confirmed and there's even a blurb about it on their website right now.

So, it's happening. And it's starting to come down the wire.

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American anarchy: 6 days and counting?

Parse this as you will. A pretty reliable source has shared with me that figuring in the blow that Katrina dealt to crude refining, and other problems that have hampered domestic production lately... that there is approximately 6 days of reserve gasoline in commercial storage tanks left in the United States.

And after that, there's no more juice.

Like I said, make of this what you will, but this source has made some pretty accurate prognostications in the past, just based on some seemingly minor observations. If they're wrong this time, I'll be happy. If they're right...

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"Perched atop the stack was a bewildered toddler."

The New Orleans Times-Picayune has been forced to relocate their offices because of the flooding, but they're still working to get the news out via blogging. The following is their report from a Wal-Mart that everybody - and I mean everybody was looting from...

At the Wal-Mart on Tchoupitoulas Street, an initial effort to hand out provisions to stranded citizens quickly disintegrated into mass looting. Authorities at the scene said bedlam erupted after the giveaway was announced over the radio.

While many people carried out food and essential supplies, others cleared out jewelry racks and carted out computers, TVs and appliances on handtrucks.

Some officers joined in taking whatever they could, including one New Orleans cop who loaded a shopping cart with a compact computer and a 27-inch flat screen television.

Officers claimed there was nothing they could do to contain the anarchy, saying their radio communications have broken down and they had no direction from commanders.

“We don’t have enough cops to stop it,” an officer said. “A mass riot would break out if you tried.”

Inside the store, the scene alternated between celebration and frightening bedlam. A shirtless man straddled a broken jewelry case, yelling, “Free samples, free samples over here.”

Another man rolled a mechanized pallet, stacked six feet high with cases of vodka and whiskey. Perched atop the stack was a bewildered toddler.

Throughout the store and parking lot, looters pushed carts and loaded trucks and vans alongside officers. One man said police directed him to Wal-Mart from Robert’s Grocery, where a similar scene was taking place. A crowd in the electronics section said one officer broke the glass DVD case so people wouldn’t cut themselves.

“The police got all the best stuff. They’re crookeder than us,” one man said.

When even the cops are looting... man, how much worse can a situation like this get?

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"Thousands of bodies" in Katrina's wake

Breaking on Free Republic now: word from a rescue worker that they are "thousands" of dead bodies - some hanging from the trees - being recovered in Gulf Port, Mississippi.

I didn't see any news footage today of bodies floating anywhere. It almost looks... well, too sanitary a disaster, for lack of a better phrase. It's been something I've wondered about more than once: are we not being shown the full brunt of the devastation?

If this report is true, other reports and then pictures are going to start leaking out. And then the major news outlets will be all over this. I'd give it a day, day and a half, at the most for this to bear out.

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I was thinking the same thing: New Orleans = No Man's Land

Okay, despite my previous history with it, I still watch Free Republic from time to time. When it comes to something happening on the scale of Katrina, it really is one of the best places you can go to for on-the-spot reporting and commentary from some pretty sharp people. Even if its guiding philosophy has gone to pot: it's not a true conservative site anymore, but I digress... at a time like this, it really does become an invaluable tool.

Well, a little while ago somebody posted something on a thread about New Orleans being evacuated and, darn this is exactly what ran through my mind today when I first heard about the bridges being washed away, the entire town basically left on its own. I wanted to cite it here 'cuz this guy was the first, so far as I know, who made a note about this...

To: gondramB

5 posted on 08/30/2005 4:14:12 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater (The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.)

And others picked up on the similarities too...

To: Future Snake Eater

My gosh! That was what I have been thinking about since yesterday. The No Man's Land scenario after the earthquake devastates Gotham, where basically any people staying behind have to fend for themselves without any intervention from the govt.

73 posted on 08/30/2005 5:26:32 PM PDT by spetznaz (Nuclear-tipped Ballistic Missiles: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol)

Of all the Batman stories in the past twenty years or so, No Man's Land stands out as being the most jarring (yeah even more than what happened when Bane first came to town). Gotham City was ravaged by a massive earthquake that left the whole place pretty much hopeless. Bruce Wayne went to Washington D.C. to beg for disaster relief funds but the condition of the town - and its notoriety for spawning so many costumed freak villains - led Congress to effectively cut off Gotham City from the rest of the United States. People were told to evacuate, and those that didn't were left to their own devices. The U.S. government destroys all the bridges and every other way into town and for the next year Batman, Commissioner Gordon and a few others fight to maintain law and order amid a vicious turf war by the Joker, Poison Ivy, and the rest of the bad guys.

It's a very good story. It immediately came to mind earlier today after hearing about how bad things are getting. And it's downright scary that others who've read No Man's Land are seeing the same thing happen in real life.

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Fill up now: price gouging has begun

I filled up my car on our way back from the bookstore tonight. It's a Shell station with the cheapest gas I've seen around here: $2.53 per gallon of regular unleaded. There's another station much closer by that had it at $2.69 when we drove past it earlier this evening.

On our way back, this same station had regular unleaded posted at $3.09 per gallon. That's a forty-cent jump in less than an hour.

I dropped Lisa off at the apartment, then drove her car back to the first one and filled it up too. Ain't no telling how much it's gonna be tomorrow at this time.

Radio stations here reporting a number of places in the Winston-Salem area have gas in excess of three bucks per gallon.

I know that refining is down from the hurricane, but you can't tell me that there's not any gouging going on right now by the big oil companies. The gasoline in most of these stores' tanks was delivered well before Katrina hit: it's not like it's costing extra to hold the stuff, is it?

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Whatever Sudoku is I hope it's not contagious

It must be though, 'cuz I first heard about this in a newspaper two days ago and tonight at Border's bookstore there were maybe three books about Sudoku. And now my friend Chad has picked up on it. It's some kind of numerical logic game from Japan that according to Chad it's pretty addictive. I haven't played yet, haven't even studied up on the rules of the game but I might have to check this out.

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Because we could all use a laugh right now...

Newsmax is reporting that the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky sexcapade is set to be portrayed next month in a new musical debuting on Broadway: "Monica! The Musical!-savoring glory.

Clinton Sex Scandal Ready for Broadway

A musical based on the sex scandal that turned Bill Clinton into the first elected president ever impeached is set to debut next month on Broadway.

"American Idol" veteran Frenchie Davis will play the role of Clinton's White House secretary Betty Currie in "Monica! The Musical!" - which premieres Sept. 21 as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Actress Christine DiGiallonardo plays the thong-snapping intern, with actor Duke LaFoon potraying Bill Clinton in all his cigar-savoring glory.

"Monica! The Musical!" reportedly has its own "toetapping" signature song - "Blue Dress."

Also to be portrayed in the musical are Hillary Clinton, Vernon Jordan, Janet Reno, George Stephanopoulos, and Ken Starr (gotta wonder how he got worked into this thing).

I wonder if it'll be nominated for any Tony awards...

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I've cried every time I watch this man

Harvey Jackson of Biloxi, Mississippi...BBC has the story that's breaking hearts all over the place. Every time I watch Harvey Jackson talk about losing his wife like this I can't help but believe that he doesn't even know he's talking to a reporter, he's that kind of dazed about it. Not that anybody could blame him.

But I also like to think there's plenty enough room for a miracle: awful lot of incredible rescues happening from this. Praying that Harvey's wife will turn up safe somewhere.

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Yesterday it looked like the big one had been dodged...

Today, there are reports that hundreds may have been killed in Katrina. No schools operating in New Orleans for at least the next two months. At least two levees have broken alongside Lake Ponchartrain - which is what everyone was really worried about - and the "bowl" of the Big Easy is filling fast.

Here's some of the more haunting pictures I've been finding...

I spoke prematurely yesterday when I thought this had been almost too easy. Not just in Louisiana but hundreds are being reported dead in Mississippi and elsewhere.

I never thought I'd live to see a storm that would topple Andrew in '92 as being the most destructive in American history. But, here it is.

Thoughts and prayers to everyone who's been affected by Katrina.

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North Carolina is getting a lottery

Breaking now.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!

Finally, we won't be sending millions of more dollars of our money flowing across the border we have with every state around us. It gets to stay here in North Carolina, toward our own education system.

I never thought this day would ever come. We are no longer the laughingstock of the southeastern U.S.

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It could have been a lot worse...

Damage reports still coming in, but looks like New Orleans dodged a bullet bigtime.

Here's praying that some steps can now be taken to better prepare that town for when the really big one hit someday. By all accounts it's a great place to visit. Really hoping to go there sometime :-)

Anyway, thoughts and prayers going up for the people having to deal with Katrina's aftermath tonight.

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Bush is opening the Strategic Petroleum Reserve... ummmm, why?

Coming down now that Bush is gonna open up the strategic reserve in light of Hurricane Katrina. Which makes NO sense whatsoever. The 'cane knocked out possibly one-quarter of domestic oil refining. Simply putting more crude oil out there isn't going to do any good without the means to "crack" it.

This is a political gesture, nothing more. And, it's one that could do potentially far more harm than good down the road, seeing as that's reserve that'll have to be repleted somehow. It's only supposed to be opened for extreme wartime emergencies anyway.

Like I said, this move makes no sense. But again, I'm just a guy with a blog... what do I know?

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Meteorlogical muscleman

Somebody's noted that Joe Bastardi from AccuWeather has been up for like 40+ hours straight, studying Katrina and warning everybody to get the heck out of Dodge. Now, how does a weatherman keep going like that nonstop?

Well, here's what Joe looks like...

That is not a Photoshop-fixed image... that's what AccuWeather's Joe Bastardi really looks like! Turns out he's a champion bodybuilder in addition to being a top-notch weather guru.

I just thought that would be a pretty cool thing to post, to sorta break the tension of what's a very grave situation.

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