korilian | Clearly I am feeble in some way

Today was my first lesson French. My first lesson advanced University level French.

As I was listening to the teacher blathering away (in French) what was expected of us for the next few weeks, I could just picture myself sitting in that English class I could have picked, instead.
Sure, I'll read a book in English and then write a single paged review on it in English. Can I? Can I? Can I?
Will Lord of the Rings do? Read that about a dozen times.
Hell! How about I do it in German! I speak German!

But nooo! I figured it would be cool to learn a new language! Challenge myself! Your going to the university! Be braniacy!

Which brings me back to that advanced University level French class... And the fact that I don't actually speak French...

Je suis une imbecile!

But enough about me. Here's something I've been wondering about all day; If New Orleans has finally been evacuated completely, then how come my local paper is still posting interviews with people who decided to stay because they couldn't take their pets with them? Am I the only one who keeps getting this image of city officials entering the city six months down the road, only to be confronted by the independent peoples republic of Nawlins? Could hardly fault them really.

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Any chance of changing French for something you actually understand? :)

Technically, I still have a week to switch. I won't though. I'm just stuborn that way. *sigh*. Plus the books were mucho expensive.

I don't think that Nawlins will ever get completely evaced. I think they're saying they've managed to evac all the folks who WANT to be evaced.

As for the French, that's why you're taking it! Er, yeah! Cause you don't speak it! Heartfelt good luck. I've never been brave enough to try learning French.

Which brings us back to the people's republic of Nawlins. I think it has potential. To me New Orleans has always been the most interesting city in the US. Culturally speaking that is. But my fevered dreams of a post-apocalyptic City state, where they finally get it right, might have been inspired by 'Reign of Fire', which was on last night.

As for the French. I know, I know. It shouldn't have come as such a big shock that I'm out of my league. I've known all summer that this was an advanced course (French, English and German are the only languages you can't take at starters level... Bastards) and I signed up anyway... which still makes me une imbecile. Or quite possibly one of those red shirts one Star trek OS (let's face it, at some point the ensigns should start noticing they're colleges tend to come back in pieces and yet they still blindly beam down!). Oh well. I suppose if I fail, I could always take that Italian course in my third year (gotta take a language). Spend another 200 euros on books. *sigh*

If you need any help with French, don't hesitate to ask. I did most of my schooling in France and I'm still not over the trauma *s*

As for the people refusing to be evacuated, I really don't understand why some are surprised about that. It's driving me wild the lack of empathy over here in the US from the media. The victims of Katrina have lost everything. They've lost their homes. Some if not most have lost family. They don't know what the heck is going on, there's no one even trying to explain anything to them and they've been starved/ignored/left to die for days on end. Is it any wonder some think they can do better on their own? Truth is they probably can.

In a similar situation, if I was told I had to leave my pets behind after losing absolutely everything else, I'd tell my rescuer to sod off too *s*

I can definitely emphasize with people not wanting to leave their homes. After all, in their minds the worst is over. Well, the storm is anyway.

I just can't imagine how they're gonna survive though. Right now it's a ghost city. Is the government really gonna keep giving them aid for the next six months if they refuse to leave? Keep in mind we are talking about the Bush adminestration here and the US has never been known for its social security system. Right now, I wouldn't even be surprised if they actually decide to keep those people holed up in the Astrodome for half a year... well until the next super bowl at least.

Is the government really gonna keep giving them aid for the next six months if they refuse to leave?

Nah. They've decided to cut off all food and water to the people in the city and starve 'em out like the no good, horrible commies that they are *scowls at world for being so crazy at the moment*

The thing is, no matter where these people go, they'll require aid and support. That's something no one over here seems to be addressing. Stay or leave, it will be a drain. The victims have nothing anymore. They're homeless, without jobs or bank accounts at the moment and a lot of them were dirt poor to begin with. What are they going to do? Move somewhere else and buy/rent a place? They don't have the means to do that.

So they want to cling to what they know. And I don't see the problem with that. Granted, there's disease and health risks. But there's also absolutely no support system outside waiting for them. Nowhere for them to go. Heck, even the relief efforts are still uncoordinated. Without the knowledge that there's somewhere better for them to be and someone who knows what is going on, then any attempt to evacuate is bound to fail or require bodily force, which just makes the rescuers come of as brutes.

It's just all so frustrating I want to tear my hair out at times.

They've decided to cut off all food and water to the people in the city and starve 'em out like the no good, horrible commies that they are

Er... seriously? Please tell me that was a joke. If it isn't it still won't work. People can get wicked inventive when they have to. Even if it means going without our creature comforts.

All food and water is cut off and they are forcibly evacuating people (with an emphasis on the word force) as we speak. The one fun thing? The armed forces are involved in the evacuation now and with the powers they've been given to deal with it, they requisitioned CNN's boat to help with the evacuation effort :)

This entire sitch is so disgusting to me because nothing was done ASAP. The people were left to fend for themselves for days at a time, the town was blockaded by the National Guard and no one was being allowed out. Yes, that's right, no one was being allowed out. There were women and babies locked into the Convention Centre (locked in) with the dead and dying. Some kids were dying in fact. The reason? No one in there got food or drink for several days. But the guards outside were fine.

And thirty miles down the street from where another few thousand people were lying for days without information or food or water and dying by the dozen every hour, the food and supplies to help were being kept safe.

Do you know why? Because supposedly, Homeland Security didn't want to encourage people to stay in the city which they felt was bound to happen if they gave out any help. Oh, and yes, again, the city was blockaded to prevent people from getting OUT.

So basically, it was a death-trap. No help going in and most people unable to leave. That's starting to get better now. But honestly? The world is mad.

Now that I did hear. Bastards.

I was also shocked to hear that the national guard shot some looters crossing a bridge. From what I heard they started the fire fight too. I get that they have to stop the outbreaks of violence, cuz things were really out of control, but just killing people cuz they armed up (I'm big with the anti-gun, but I don't buy that only looters armed up after everything that went down).

As for the whole, 'We stopped the looting, pat our back' thing. Whoopee. Way to fricking prioritize! The handful of television sets that didn't short circuit because of the water, have been preserved for mankind. Maybe they'll still work by the time people can re-enter the city to reclaim their shops and houses.
Except for those who didn't get aid in time that is.

Oh and thanks for the offer! :)

De rien :)

If you need any pointer, there is really no problem.

And if you need pointer's' plural, then that's no problem either. *shakes head at his own typo-inducing klutziness*

Clearly I am feeble in some way

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