In the Wake of Katrina... Ernesto

Tropical Storm Ernesto
A phone call with my parents this morning reminded me of the old August-September hurricane woes. It's about this time of year that the Gulf gets a hurricane. Indeed, this time last year, we were watching Katrina (permanently referred to as "the Storm" by my New Orleans friends) inch her way toward us.

Tonight, it is Ernesto, which is not in hurricane status yet. It's alarming to think of the "what-if" scenarios. New Orleans and the patched-up levee system is not prepared for another storm. The Mississippi Gulf coast and the Texas-Louisiana coast are also still recovering from last season. Not that there's ever a good time or place for storms, but this is definitely not ideal for a number of reasons. And it's ironic to imagine the Katrina commemoration events being cancelled because of Ernesto coming ashore anywhere in the vicinity.

Latest on the Storm
Weather Center's Enresto Watch
MSNBC's Ernesto Watch
Baton Rouge News' Storm Coverage
Brief from New Orleans

The Folks Back Home
The Baton Rouge news claims generators are going fast. My parents already have a generator and a good stock of water, so they're set to ride it out. The wrinkle for us personally is that my Mom was planning to fly up to see me for her birthday this weekend. We will see how the storm affects the New Orleans airport. Last year I caught one of the last flights out of Baton Rouge the day before Katrina for a business trip and watched the whole storm from Dallas. I'm hoping my Mom can do the same. Actually, I'm hoping some miracle happens and nobody has to ride out the storm. Period.

My Guess
When storms hit the Gulf, they take an Easterly jog, so Florida gets the majority. My guess is that the Florida panhandle will get this one since they usually get the early storms. Either way, everyone along the coast has to keep an eye open at the moment.

Ernesto's Projected Path - 5 p.m. 26 Aug
Source: National Hurricane Center

Clinton, Nagin, and Ezekiel 38 & 39

Mid-East
I opened my browser this morning, and the first thing that caught my eye was this headline:

French Troops Join in Lebanon Force

Could this be Ezekiel 38-39?

New Orleans
In true form, Mayor Ray Nagin dropped this comment according to CNN:

During the CBS "60 minutes" interview, a correspondent pointed out flood-damaged cars still on the streets of New Orleans' devastated Ninth Ward. Nagin replied, "You guys in New York can't get a hole in the ground fixed, and it's five years later. So let's be fair," according to CBS.

Former Pres. Clinton Sighting...
....at a Mets-Cardinals game (and no I haven't converted to a Cards fan, Bradley). Has Pres C been working out?

Duct Tape Humor for the Week
Thanks to my good friend Candi in NC:

Have You Sent Your Duct Tape Art Entry Yet?

Do you realize that the Duct Tape Art Contest ends tomorrow (Friday) at midnight? That's right. Just a friendly note to remind you to take a couple of minutes and email me a pic of something you've created that required duct tape. The possibilities are endless. Hope to get your entry!

Sponge Cake, Pez, and Books

Happy National Sponge Cake Day
Have you thought much about the origin of the sponge cake? If not, you need to check out this sponge cake history site.

Links I Surfed Today
I could care less about Tom Cruise. And I haven’t read up on the Survivor story. Instead I happened upon these unusual sites:

Evangelism in Major League Baseball

Pez Dispenser for Dogs

Book Report
I started Peace Like a River yesterday at the recommendation of a friend. I have to say that so far it is the most refreshing work I’ve read in awhile. Leif Enger manages to treat Christianity without being either contemptuous or trite—a happy surprise for books with a religious theme.

The other book I have started is E. L. Doctorow’s The March, as promised. I’d heard a lot of exciting reports, but honestly I am not impressed at this point. I have read a lot of Civil War fiction, and I’m afraid to say that the initial 75 pages of The March is the standard formula. Nothing new here yet, but there’s still room to hope.

More on Soulwinner's Bootcamp

Bootcamp Pics
You probably read the Soulwinner's Bootcamp cover story on Ninetyandnine Monday. However, just so you know, pictures have recently been added. Be sure to check them out.

Duct Tape Contest Countdown
I can't stress it enough. Send in your entry for the super duper duct tape art contest now! It's fun, it's easy, and the winners take home cool prizes plus the incredible honor of being champion duct taper.

Countdown = 3 Days!!!

Public Service Announcement: Only 4 Days Left in Contest!

Hurry, hurry, hurry! Please get your duct tape art contest entries in as soon as possible. Remember, there are just a few simple rules, summed up with "Have fun!"

More Info: Duct Tape Art Contest Guidelines

Deadline: Midnight, Friday August 25, 2oo6

Top 10 Good Things that Came out of Dixie

I suppose you've seen the great top 10s on Ninetyandnine today. I suppose you've also seen my fellow bloggers' fun top 10s, too. At the risk of looking like a peer-pressure-giver-inner, I wanna play too. So here's my shot based on recent recollections of "southerness."

Top 10 good things that came out of Dixie:

1. Wal-Mart - I think it speaks for itself.

2. Dollywood - Besides being located in Gatlinburg, the Pentecostal honeymoon capital of the world, this rip-roaring iconic theme park is your one chance to indulge in toe-tapping bluegrass music without having to feign contempt or indifference.

3. Deep fried saltines - That’s right, you heard me. At a recent wedding shower I discovered that someone had brought fried crackers, further proof that Southerners fry everything. Just when you thought we couldn’t find anything else to deep fry… The good news is that frying promotes recycling since we re-use the grease 4 or 5 times. [I couldn't find a link for this one (shocker), but I did find a link for fried jelly beans.]

4. Jerry Clower and Minnie Pearl - God rest their souls.

5. SEC football - So much fun: tailgating, being related to half the stadium, tailgating, firing football coaches every third year, and did I mention tailgating?

6. Bug zapper - Okay, I cannot honestly substantiate that this originated in the South. But c'mon, it had to. Who else would sit around on the porch and consider listening to the zapper a form of entertainment? Only people who can watch stock cars drive around in a circle and call it a sport.

7. The Happy Goodmans - You loved them. Admit it.

8. William Faulkner - Where else but in the South could someone win the Nobel Prize for Literature for writing about a good ol' boy with a thing for his sister (a.k.a. The Sound and the Fury)?

9. Waffle House - The greatness of this classic dining establishment is too immense to gloss in a word. Refer to previous expository essay.

10. Bubba-ism - You can't argue with a phenomenon that has teeth.