Just to clarify on my post of a few days ago, I do believe that it is important to commemorate the 9/11 attacks, and Katrina/Rita. My frustration was with the fact that for days, or even weeks, leading up to the event, we were innundated with just stuff. And most of it wasn't new stuff, or discussion about current impacts. I'm all for that.

And PS, I absolutely agree that nationwide, people need to realize that the hurricanes impacted more than New Orleans, something most of Louisiana has a hard time with. They really hit some of the coastal parishes hard, especially Cameron and Calcasieu (which I probably misspelled), and Katrina hit costal Mississippi even harder than it did Louisiana. The reason you only hear about New Orleans is that A) it was the most major city hit (Biloxi was less than half it's size), and B) the government of our fair state has managed to screw up pretty much every thing it has touched as relates to the recovery efforts. I can't talk about a lot of what I know from the inside (since I'm loosely in the industry, and I like my job), but suffice it to say, a lot of the blame for the current condition of the state should be placed squarely at the feet of the resident of the Governor's mansion, who is currently in Spain to "drum up business for Lousiana." She has taken many such trips over her term in office, which, mercifully, comes to an end soon.

Speaking of which, I have an election rant, too. Our elections are coming up in November. We are electing Governor, Lt. Governor, a few statewide offices, and some state representatives and senators. All over town I'm seeing, "Vote Pro-Life" signs. Now, I have no objection to people placing those signs and encouraging others to vote that way. What I do have a problem with is the sillohuette of a fetus on the signs.

Being against abortion is not being pro-life. It is being anti-abortion. I bet if you surveyed these folks, they would agree that they are against abortion, euthanasia or assisted suicide, and stem-cell research, but they would tell you that they have no problem with the death penalty, with the torture of political prisoners or prisoners of war, with the lack of access to health care that so many in our state have (one estimate puts it at over 50% of working adults without health insurance), with the ridiculously low minimum wage, etc. All of those are Respect Life issues, too. If you are going to declare yourself to be pro-life, you better embrace all of what that means, hook, line, and sinker. Otherwise, just tell it like it is and say you are anti-abortion.

Sorry. This has been a pet peeve of mine for as long as I can remember, and every election year it gets my dander up.

By the way, I'm embracing my new goal to use as many cliches as possible in everyday life. Did I hit the nail on the head?