I'm sure glad someone is keeping this topic on the front burner. I live in Houston, which has seen some bad storms before. Had the Houston Ship Channel taken a direct hit from a (then-)Category 5 Rita, the consequences would have been devastating. People here are well aware of the dangers bigger, stronger hurricanes pose -- not to mention tropical storms that can sit over the city for days like Allison did. Regardless, and even with the flood of New Orleanians we welcomed in the aftermath of Katrina, I'm not sure folks are aware enough.

Well then woe to the Heathens out there who aren't neo-Nazis -- which would be most of them.

Fact check: Lakewood Church meets in the former Compaq Center, not the Astrodome.

-- livinggreen

Houston, TX

Dear LW:

What you're describing sounds like resistance. I highly recommend Steven Pressfield's book The War of Art. Inside, a lot of practical advice about resistance.

Best wishes,

A fellow writer

And just this morning on Today, Brian Williams talked about how things were turning some sort of peaceful corner because there was no bombing to report on *this morning.* Yes, a one-day streak of peacefulness.

When will these folks join the reality-based community?

Beloved Amy's Ice Cream of Austin (and Houston) stands head and shoulders above the rest for one reason: mix-ins or no, Amy's ice cream is actually amazing all by itself.

Oh, lay off the Texas bashing already. I have doubts Sara Taylor has anything at all to do with Texas except that her former boss used to be the governor. Although I can't find definitive information on her state of birth, her father is a former senator from Iowa.

I fail to see how a Texas accent is "nasty." Not to mention that having a Texas accent does not make a person stupid, xenophobic, a liar, rude, or otherwise unethical. All those are equal opportunity graces.

- livinggreen

in Houston

on proof:

Well, let's start here.

http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/57/17327

There are few things more enchanting than implying a writer should be so grateful to have the right of free speech as to just shut up. That, along with impugning a writer's professional credentials with a nonsensical argument. Oh, and let's not forget sanctimony and the mention of nations whose policies have no bearing on the argument at hand. Good job.

I've seen some of the Stratfor analysis on policy in the Middle East, and I just have to say this:

What the hell is wrong with people that the bloodshed of thousands is nothing before a game of geopolitical chess?

All the so-called reasoned analysis in the world is nothing more than a road to hell on earth if it fails to take into account the real people on the ground who are affected. It also boggles my mind that the folks who make these arguments seem not to take into account or to underestimate or mistake the effects of this sort of geopolitical gamesmanship coming home to roost in unplanned-for uprisings, etc. The blowback in Afghanistan that brought about the rise of the Taliban is just one example.

Just because the United States hasn't been hit by another terrorist attack since September 2001, it does not logically follow that the administration's invasion of Iraq has prevented anything at all.

Actually, as the recent post over at War Room states, McClellan got a less than $100,000 advance. That's not "never work again" money.

Bravo, Gary!

Not to mention that it actually *is* relevant that the board in question was Annenburg's. Many high-profile Republicans sat on that board. Not one of them objected to Ayers' presence at the time. The only objections we're seeing now are fomented by McCain/Palin out of political desperation. Suddenly Republicans care? Please.

Additionally, this matter was vetted during the primaries. There is no "there" there.

M-O-O-N. That spells moon.

Reallynow,

Why is it that a simple Google search finds references to this stuff only on anti-abortion or anti-abortion-leaning sites?

My dad is a die-hard Republican. He is a Jewish engineer who was laid off multiple times in his career (one of the hazards of said career), now retired, with a wife who has been disabled and on Medicare for the last 20 years. None of those circumstances seem to have had any affect on his political status or his worldview, which as far as I can tell seems to be based on fear, scarcity, the use of force, and the conflation of rich, bootstrap-loving Republicans with "the way things ought to be."

All this makes some conversations nigh impossible, being as my worldview is diametrically opposed to his. We don't start in the same place, with the same assumptions, so it's increasingly difficult to meet in the middle, and forget about influencing each others' opinions.

Mugging by reality doesn't always result in sudden empathy. A contracted worldview might be expanded by making exceptions for one person or for a class of people. Or, it might not be.

Stephanie,

Thanks for this article. I adored Patrick Swayze. May he rest in peace, and rest well.

A minor correction: The Beast was actually an A&E network show.

Best,

Livinggreen

And a third recommend for The Sundays' version. Susan's is brilliant as well.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/21533160/detail.html

According to the press conference held last night:

1. No, the soldiers don't actually carry guns at Ft. Hood. They consider it to be their home, and they behave as such.

2. There are normally both military police and Department of the Army civilian police on base. When the call went out, both responded.