Katrina Anniversary

On the one year anniversary of Katrina, we need to remember the lives of those lost. We also need to remember that Katrina shows that the Bush administration is unable to keep us safe. The failed response and the fact that things got as bad as they did in the days following Katrina showed all of us that 4 years after 9/11, the administration still can’t handle the response to a natural or terrorism disaster.

Katrina also reminds us that poverty is still a major problem in America. President Bush vowed then to learn from Katrina and renew a commitment to fight poverty in America. This is a promise he has either broken, or forgotten.

This was a massive failure of government. Back then, the President told America that there was no way to anticipate that the levees would breach, but the Associated Press reported months ago that he was given a private briefing about how likely it was that they would breach. Even ex-FEMA head Michael Brown warned the President in advance if New Orleans flooded, the Superdome would not have enough capacity or supplies for the survivors and it would be a "catastrophe within a catastrophe."

One year later, the President is on a public relations blitz while little progress has been made. Close to 60 percent of the businesses in New Orleans have still not reopened, a third of the trash has yet to be picked up, and 60 percent of homes still lack electricity.

What a disgrace.

Odd Obsession

"Crack is wack!" or so said singer Whitney Houston. Osama Bin Laden on the other hand doesn't think Whitney is wack. In one of the oddest stories of the year, Osama has a little crush on Whitney. I think we need to arrange a celebrity boxing match between Bobby Brown and Bin Laden, with Whitney as the prize.

Its Time to Change Climate Change

I just got back from seeing Al Gore's global warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth", and I can't emphasize or stress how important I think it is for everyone to see this movie.

What we are dealing with is a looming crisis of proportions never seen by civilized mankind. It wasn't until the twentieth century that mankind finally realized that we have the ability to wipe human beings off the face of the planet. Unlike nuclear weapons, global warming is moving at a slower pace, but a pace that is rapidly growing. If things don't change, billions of people will die. Countries and markets will collapse. Industies will be crippled. We will face refugee crises of epic proportions. Terrorism will rise. The effects of climate change are already being seen around the world.

Not only does combatting climate change make sense from morally and environmentally, it also makes huge sense politically and economically. By investing in research and technology that does not rely on fossil fuels, we would gain sustainable energy independence, create jobs, and promote a healthier environment, reducing health care costs.

Check out the links below to gain more understanding about global warming and energy independence.
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The Story Continues

As most of you know, I received a strange letter from a Mr. Falconer residing in Calgary. I sent him a letter asking for additional details last month. Here is his response.

"In 1966 and 1967 I dated a Kathrine Hunter from Ada, OK who attended C.W.C (Temple Buell) at the time. To me she is "an old flame" and after 40 years her situation may have changed as my situation has. Upon graduating Colo. Mines in 1969, I married a Greek-Canadian but was divorced from her in 1985. I subsequently remarried in 1987 another Canadian gal and our rocky 25 year relationship has left us estranged for the last few years. In 2003, after ankle surgery, infection claimed my rt. leg below the knee. After using a prosthesis for a few moths, I fell and re-injured what was left of my rt. leg. After 3 months in bed in 2006 my rt. knee healed partially frozen.

Let's say Katherine Hunter was living alone in Boulder and you were her son, wll then, her situation would have changed like mine.

I would love to rekindle an old relationship with, as I remember; a 5'9" tall, skinny blonde archer; however, if kathrine is currently happily married to Mr. Stewart ??? and you are not her son and do not know of me or what I am talking about; then you and I, let's make this letter our last communication.

Again, I only wrote to you to attempt to communicate with Kathrine (Nee) Hunter from Ada, Oklahoma."

I think that this is the end of my correspondence with Mr. Falconer, but I am glad that I found out the full story about why he was contacting me. Just an elderly gentleman, down on his luck, attempting to re-establish a relationship with an "old flame".

Lelie Holdout

As those of you living in Broncos Nation know, Ashley Lelie has not reported to the Broncos training camp. Lelie claims that he is holding out because he wants to be a No. 1 receiver and doesn't believe he'll ever be one in Denver. What many people do not realize is that Lelie was selected by the Broncos with the 19th pick in the 2002 draft. The 20th pick of that draft just happened to belong to the Green Bay Packers, who selected Javon Walker. This might provide a little information about why Lelie is so upset. Lelie likely views the trade to obtain Walker as the Broncos saying they made the wrong pick in the draft. But rather than prove it on the playing field, Lelie is currently a hold out at the Broncos training camp.