You want to see some heroes? Here's what I saw in Port Arthur today. https://t.co/aiIKyCg7hO pic.twitter.com/qeC4GtsKbp
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) August 31, 2017
Apart from (doing our best) staying positive, what’s on the agenda as we wrap up the week?
***********
From Quartz, pretty good use of social media — “A three-day-old crowdsourcing website is helping volunteers save lives in hurricane-hit Houston”:
On the night of Sunday, Aug. 28, Matthew Marchetti was one of thousands of Houstonians feeling powerless as their city drowned in tropical storm Harvey’s deluge.
By Monday morning, the 27-year-old developer, sitting in his leaky office, had slapped together an online mapping tool to track stranded residents. A day later, nearly 5,000 people had registered to be rescued, and 2,700 of them were safe.
If there’s a silver lining to Harvey, it’s the flood of civilian volunteers such as Marchetti who have joined the rescue effort. It became pretty clear shortly after the storm started pounding Houston that the city would need their help. The heavy rains quickly outstripped authorities’ ability to respond. People watched water levels rise around them while they waited on hold to get connected to a 911 dispatcher. Desperate local officials asked owners of high-water vehicles and boats to help collect their fellow citizens trapped on second-stories and roofs…
The idea behind his project, Houstonharveyrescue.com, is simple. The map lets people in need register their location. They are asked to include details—for example, if they’re sick or have small children—and their cell phone numbers.
The army of rescuers, who can also register on the site, can then easily spot the neediest cases. A team of 100 phone dispatchers follows up with those wanting to be rescued, and can send mass text messages with important information. An algorithm weeds out any repeats.
It might be one of the first open-sourced rescue missions in the US, and could be a valuable blueprint for future disaster volunteers…
Maryland shelter receives 100 animals from Texas (WARNING: Dangerously cute video of dogs and cats!) —-> https://t.co/VOK1ztLDxj
— NBCWashington (@nbcwashington) September 1, 2017
No seriously, it is someone's job to create the support infrastructure to save these animals. This is why emergency managers are awesome. https://t.co/seLAkhTtHA
— Moira Whelan (@moira) September 1, 2017
— Tamara Cofman Wittes (@tcwittes) September 1, 2017
SiubhanDuinne
That video PSA about sending money is very effective. Nice animated origami.
Sab
One thing that has changed since Katrina is that now there is awareness that most petowners won’t evacuate without a safe place for their pets.
Anne Laurie
@Sab: Yes, that seems to have been helpful! It’s why they’re shipping animals out of Houston-area shelters to rescues elsewhere — it means the TX shelters can keep peoples’ pets safe until they can go home again together. (Even in cases where ‘home’ turns out to be a whole different place… )
Baud
So you’re saying I shouldn’t donate my old mattresses?
Anne Laurie
@Baud:
Do you really wanna give Trump any more bad ideas?
Sab
The other big lack is families with special needs. I have family that couldn’t go to shelters because of parents with dementia, and children with downs syndrome or with autism. They survived the last big storm, but what about the next. Shelters with 10,000 people aren’t a realistic option.
rikyrah
Good Morning,Everyone ???
Baud
@rikyrah: Good morning.
Quinerly
@rikyrah: @Baud: @<a href="#comment-
Good morning from Poco and his kitty advisers. Baud/Poco2020?!
JAFD
There are many sales of ‘back to school’ stuff this weekend. Some of us plan no academic endeavours in the coming months, but there are items we need / want / can use which are readily available and/or cheap now, difficult to acquire the rest of the year. So wondering what’s on your shopping list ?
For my part, got big bottle of ‘general purpose white glue named after bull’ (was almost impossible to find in March, spent more for ittybitty bottle then than giant one last week), a box of dozen mechanical pencils (kept half, put one everywhere I could conceivably need pencil, giving rest away), a box of 24 crayons (50 cents, couldn’t resist, might be useful…)
Still looking for ‘locker mirror’ (unbreakable reflector, tho I want one to stick up in bathtub) and a roll of double-sided-sticky ‘poster tape’
And if you said ‘A New Ruler’, go stand in the corner ;-)
Happy Labor Day, everyone, and Back To School for the teachers, students, supporting cast, etc of Balloon Juice !
satby
@rikyrah: Good morning ?!
@Baud: you wouldn’t believe the trash people really do “donate” sometimes. Dirty clothes with holes, old electric stuff that doesn’t work, unusable pots and pans with the teflon peeling off. Many people are very kind and generous, but some people are just nuts (or jerks) and the manpower to sort and dispose of donated goods takes volunteers away from other tasks. Always donate money ?!
Schlemazel
@Sab:
It seems an app like the one mentioned in the post is a good starting point for dealing with issues like those. It would be a simple tweak to include special needs and homes that could accommodate them.
Baud
@satby: So you’re saying I shouldn’t donate my old underwear?
Schlemazel
@satby:
I can’t tell you the number of times I have helped sort or food shelves and had to throw garbage away. The most memorable was a can of beans with the top and bottom expanded more that I would have thought possible and the bulging sides made the can almost round. I was afraid to handle it because I figured it was ready to explode.
SOme people are just assholes.
satby
@Baud: oh yeah old underwear is always a treat. Bonus if unlaundered. And I know you’re kidding.
@Schlemazel: after I posted the first comment I realized I hadn’t mentioned the expired food. Especially the expired pasta boxes with mealy bugs.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: Sell it!
?BillinGlendaleCA
@satby:
Think of it as an extra source of protein.
Sab
@Schlemazel: Thanks. I live in the Midwest where our disasters are tornados, and the only response is how fast can you and the dogs get to the basement. My in laws near the Gulf have a whole different set of concerns and options, and none of those seem to be good or safe.
OzarkHillbilly
@satby:
I’m real good at sorting money.
OzarkHillbilly
Houston pastor plays piano in flooded Texas home – video
Just watch it.
bystander
We went with Americares and the ASPCA, but we are assiduously avoiding seeing photos of the rescued animals that were shipped near us in Orange County.
Looks as if we are leaving the city today, so won’t be able to make the BJ meet up. Hope it’s fun and be sure to ask Alain to publish any Weegee-style photos of the jackals the NYPost may take.
Sab
I know they mostly will, but how do these folks ever dig out from this?
Jeffro
@OzarkHillbilly: I saw that on Twitter and retweeted it, along with NPR’s list of ways people can help. Would love to know what the song he’s playing is…
Baud
@OzarkHillbilly: He should have played My Heart Will Go On.
OzarkHillbilly
@Jeffro:It sounds familiar to me but I can’t place it.
Jeffro
I missed this (from 2 days ago) until this morning: Trump’s Insubordination Problem.
See, according to Rich Lowry, the problem isn’t that Trumpov’s a raging, moronic maniac: it’s that all these guys like Mattis and Cohn are making him look bad. Hey Rich, you dick, the ‘more serious crisis’ began the moment this buffoon and his minions decided to keep the grift going, work with the Russians, giggle over the enabling of the American media, accept the nomination, win, and then govern like the 71-year-old Fox News addict that Trumpov is.
Jeffro
@OzarkHillbilly: I tried to get SoundHound to pick it up, but no dice.
MomSense
@Schlemazel: @satby:
And this is why we raise money for the backpack program so we can buy the food ourselves.
Have to put in a plug for the backpack program. Check your local food bank and schools to see if you have one. We fill packs of food for teachers to discreetly put in their students’ backpacks so they have food to eat over the weekend.
debbie
@OzarkHillbilly:
I saw that last night, but didn’t realize he was a pastor. Very moving.
@Sab:
With zero help from their landlords, who are demanding their rents today.
debbie
@Jeffro:
Thank God there are insubordinates!
satby
@Jeffro: yeah, Lowry’s worry is how this undercuts the worst person ever to sit in that office, not that Drumpf shouldn’t be there in the first place. But then, Palin gave him starbursts, so Rich is a pretty poor judge of everything.
Skepticat
My insignificant other listens to Faux News (yes, remove the “a”), and as I was passing the TV this morning, I heard one of the fair and balanced commenters talking about rescue efforts–and how there are no liberals doing a single thing to help people. Exfreakingcuse me? I thought I showed admirable restraint by not smashing the TV–or him–but I’m not certain how long I can continue that.
Good friends in Houston who were flooded out already had all the sheetrock and insulation torn out of their house by early yesterday, and there were dozens of friends and neighbors pitching in (as I might if I weren’t two thousand miles away). Although it wouldn’t have crossed my mind to pay attention to this, I happen to know that most of them lean left. BUT WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH IT?
OzarkHillbilly
@debbie: Insubordinates Unite!
satby
Wow, I just realized today is the anniversary of my move to S.Bend following the mini-disaster of the tree totaling the house in Michigan. Been two hectic and chaotic years, now settling into normalcy (personally, not nationally). Wish I could share it with everyone.
rikyrah
@Quinerly:
Morning to Poco, Ivan and John Lennon ?
rikyrah
@OzarkHillbilly:
Beautiful ???
OzarkHillbilly
Quebec Offered Texas Aid, but the Sec. of State Said They Just Needed Prayers
The stupid, it hurts.
rikyrah
@Jeffro:
This is a problem. And, if this were a legitimate President, I would be more worried. As it is, we need the protection FROM Dolt45. We’re trying to survive here.
rikyrah
@satby:
Happy Anniversary ???
Kay
@Jeffro:
He’s a bad manager though. It’s a lot of words that say “he’s a bad manager”. Voids get filled by ambitious people, and Trump is a void.
It still blows me away that the entire premise of his Presidency is complete bullshit. He’s not even good at firing, which was his tag line. He’s unusually bad at firing.
Bad at hiring and bad at firing = bad manager. There’s no other possible result to that equation. It’s 80% of his job.
donnah
I have a Paypal account, and they offered a list of secure charities where donations can be directed. I donated to one for people and one for animals. My husband and I are also putting together some cases of bottled water, toliletries, and some pet food to be dropped off at a relief station downtown, which will be driven to the flood areas.
Every little bit helps.
O. Felix Culpa
@Sab:
This. We’ve started working on emergency preparedness in our little community. One big issue is ensuring people have their meds and other necessary devices with them or documented if/when they need to evacuate. As well as having the proper care in a reasonably hospitable environment wherever they end up.
And good morning!
OzarkHillbilly
@rikyrah: If this were a legitimate president it wouldn’t be happening.
Kay
@Jeffro:
This to me is this crazy idea that the appearance of something matters more than the thing itself. If all these people pretend Trump is good at the job Americans will believe he’s good at the job….and, what? What happens then? It somehow won’t matter what actually happens? It’s wacky.
It’s not our job to prop up institutions by believing in institutions. They’re supposed to be substantively credible and then we believe in them. The “belief” was grounded in performance. It wasn’t a strings-free gift that never expires. The President can’t draw credibility from The Presidency. It’s not a bank where he makes withdrawals. He has to earn it himself.
Jeffro
@satby: I know, right? How does anyone with half a brain not see that these guys undercutting Trumpov helps keep America safer? (Answer: Lowry has less than half a brain, I guess)
O. Felix Culpa
@Sab: Portlight is an organization that’s helping people with disabilities get the services they need during Harvey: http://www.portlight.org/home.html
Jeffro
@Skepticat:
it’s worse than that…there are quite a few memes going around about how Black Lives Matter protestors have been blocking police and food/medical aid deliveries. No joke.
They are at the point where they have to outright lie and make shit up just to keep their dwindling base in line. I’m not sure if I should be upset or glad for that.
rikyrah
@Kay:
Tell that truth, Kay
satby
@rikyrah: ??
OzarkHillbilly
@Kay:
Well in that case, he should just pick up his toys and go home.
Jeffro
@rikyrah:
True – we do need the protection, and extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. Trumpov, Bannon, & Co have been relying on the tendency for normal folks to keep trying to act normal. Fuck that. Go Mattis, Cohn, and Tillerson (until we can get Trumpov out of there, anyway, and then y’all have to go, too)
O. Felix Culpa
@satby:
Wow, already? I remember the tree fall and saga of the insurance non-help. Seems like only yesterday. I’m so glad that your move to S. Bend has worked out well for you. Now to get that office job sorted out. Or ended – are you still planning to leave at the end of this year?
Jeffro
@Kay: What’s amazing is how it clearly has not dawned on Lowry that having Mattis, Cohn, Tillerson, etc “tow the party line” and quit making the president* look bad won’t make the problem go away. The problem IS the president*. They could tow the ever-loving shit out of the party line and it won’t matter.
I’m shocked that more of the GOP leadership isn’t encouraging Trumpov to ‘declare victory and go home’ while he still can. But then, they know what a vindictive little mean girl he is, and how he’d just as likely sic his mouth-breathing base on them, just out of spite.
satby
@Jeffro: I have seen those memes on FB. It’s really vital for all of us to debunk that stuff every time we encounter it. I use the Hamilton bot tracker to show people these are propaganda memes pushed by Russian bots. Even if it doesn’t convince them, it shuts them up to be accused of pushing Russian propaganda.
Hat tip to Cheryl Rofer for first posting that.
MomSense
@satby:
Congratulations! We all wish you many more happy years in S. Bend.
OzarkHillbilly
@Jeffro: “and how he’d just as likely sic their mouth-breathing base on them, just out of spite.”
FTFY.
Jeffro
Btw, the always on-point Catherine Rampell puts it this way in today’s WaPo: the only guiding principle of the Republicans is that they always want to cut taxes for the rich. Only the sales pitch or rationale ever changes.
satby
@O. Felix Culpa: I
Yes! And only waiting that long to try to help them finish a very long delayed IT project, and then the end of benefits rush when people suddenly remember in the last week of the year they haven’t used their vision benefits and are about to lose them. And after that point I will skip merrily away from the cray-cray that is working for that manager.
debbie
@satby:
Lucky you! I’ve been knee-deep in SSI reading matter. What a muck-up!
satby
@MomSense: thanks! I think if there is an afterlife that my mom would be pleased at how she helped me reach a safe harbor. And she’d really have liked this house. Wish I could have shown her it.
raven
@satby: So if I have an HSA I can buy glasses?
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Racism and quiet acceptance of white supremacists is over and done with in the USA.
bystander
Is it too soon to start referring to the Offal Office?
O. Felix Culpa
@satby:
Yippee! Anticipatory happy dance for you!
satby
@debbie: one of my old bosses just landed a VP gig and has implied she’s going to be looking to build our old account team back. I’m not sure how to think about that, but I haven’t been offered anything (officially) either. If that happens I’ll cross that bridge then.
satby
@raven: sure! People use them for that all the time!
O. Felix Culpa
Poor widdle Trumpelstiltskin: During a summer of crisis, Trump chafes against criticism and new controls
Gin & Tonic
@satby: OT, but yesterday you asked about my medical appt the other day, but I didn’t revisit the thread until much later. I wrote about it Wed evening; so as not to repeat, you can find that post here. This wasn’t a “new doctor” in the sense that he’ll be treating me from now on, this was a recognized expert whom I was seeing for a second opinion. I don’t really feel the need to see him again.
satby
@Gin & Tonic: ok, thanks, I was hoping you’d get positive news out of that consultation and it sounds like you did.
debbie
@satby:
That would be great if it worked out, but you have the luxury (so to speak) to sit back and see how it works out. Plus, you’d be able to work and get benefits and then bank the extra funds. Even better, it would be a great way to end your working life, with people you like. Win win in this nutty world, I say!
WaterGirl
@satby: it can’t have been 2 years already.
danielx
@bystander:
Should have been done before this.
OzarkHillbilly
@Gin & Tonic: I have to say that as someone who suffers from loose bodies in a few joints I am not so optimistic. Which is not to say he’s wrong about any future difficulties they may cause, just that a “wait and see” approach is what’s called for.
satby
@WaterGirl: one year since the move. The two years statement included the previous year of job loss, exchange student hosting (wonderful but consuming) and then my mom’s terminal illness which had me planning to move to Florida, not Indiana. Lotta boomeranging those two years, but it ended up ok (thanks to mom in the end).
satby
@debbie: yeah, if it doen’t require travel I might consider it, though it will wreak havoc with the SS I just started getting ?. But I have been out of the field for 3 years, that’s a lifetime in IT, even though at that point I was a manager, not hands on support. So we’ll see. Not counting any chickens…
Gin & Tonic
@OzarkHillbilly: Well, the loose fragments are not in any joint, they are alongside the radius a couple of inches south of the distal radial-ulnar joint. In that location they’re not on the load-bearing side, and since they are (apparently) still connected to muscle, they’re not going to go anywhere. Load is borne by the main shaft of the radius and the steel plate they installed, so if the shaft is, say, 90% of what it was, then it’s still stronger than the other side because of the reinforcement. What concerned him was that if there was significant “non-union” across the shaft, then *all* load would be borne by the plate, which they really want to avoid because it can fatigue.
Waiting for someone to read the CT scan I had yesterday to know for sure.
Sab
@O. Felix Culpa: Thanks you for that info.
OzarkHillbilly
@Gin & Tonic: OK, “still connected to muscle,” is good.
Immanentize
@satby:
One year ago, my wife and I were getting our son ready to start his Sophomore year, confident Hillary would be President.
Funny old world….
O. Felix Culpa
@Immanentize: Yes. We don’t know what’s around the corner and we treasure what was good and pray for strength to walk through the grief. {{{Many hugs to you and Immp}}}
Gin & Tonic
@Immanentize: I was traveling and missed the ending of part of that story, so never had the opportunity to express my condolences for your loss. I hope you and your son can get to that point Uncle Joe Biden described.
Lapassionara
Good morning everyone. Have any of you seen a Twitter account called realtimewwii? It is tweeting out new reports of the war as if events were happening now. Sept 1 being the day Germany invaded Poland. The mixture of Hitler comments and Trump tweets is illuminating. And, no, I do not follow Trump, but others send his tweets my way.
satby
@Immanentize: and what a year you’ve had! No death in the family is easy to bear, but when an elderly woman with no quality life to look forward to slipped away peacefully my sisters and I could feel that it was a blessing for her and take comfort in that. Knowing Julie isn’t suffering any longer may comfort you a bit, but she went too young. Hard to have comfort in that. Virtual hug to you and the Immp.
Immanentize
@satby: my mom who will be 87 next month travelled with my brother to see J. when she was in the hospital. My mom told Julie that if there was any Justice in the world, she would be able to trade places as she had lived well and long enough. An amazing thing to say.
Immanentize
@Gin & Tonic: Thank you. We will get there… All told, I think travelling was the better option.
The Moar You Know
@Sab: I’d never consider it. My weird little Golden wouldn’t last two days on his own. We are a pack, a family, and we either all live together or die together, but nobody’s getting left behind.
JanieM
On the helping front, it’s cool that people are so creative — a Colby College student from Houston created a mobile phone app to help people find the nearest shelter.
Elizabelle
@Immanentize: So glad to see you here. Wishing you and Immp the very best. And your mother sounds wonderful.
Just attended a family funeral/reunion for a 91-year old who’d lived a full life, until dementia and a broken hip really set in at the end. The last of the cousins of his generation. Such a different situation from yours with J.
Be well, everybody, this Labor Day weekend.
Cheryl Rofer
@Immanentize: ((((hugs))))
Skepticat
@bystander: For the win!