Thanks to kimmy for coming through on her duties as safety engineer for this site.  I think it’s no coincidence that the pink Power Ranger’s name is Kimberly.  Do you?  Thought not.  Someone almost got hurt and kimmy jumped in with valuable, liability-saving advice.  Thank you, kimmy.

This brought to light the need for more duties in need of assumption by commenters.  In my opinion, Mel should be this site’s decorator, although she has yet to accept the invitation. 

What else?  Who else?   

I passed on several social opportunities with friends to stay home tonight and enjoy some peace and quiet and get a vision for my furniture rearranging efforts. 

Not really.  I had nothing else to do.  

So, when reading about rearranging, I ran across a Feng Shui site.  WT!  I have relatives who live by this, but now, I’m afraid not to!  Should this be a part of the political platforms with which we’re presented?  Here.  Look!

“Whatever you do, make sure your feet don’t point out the door while in bed. In traditional Chinese culture, this is called the “Death Position” because the deceased are carried out feet first. Practitioners believe sleeping this way can drain your life force. If you can’t avoid it, use a footboard or a substantial trunk or other piece of furniture at the foot of your bed to act as a buffer (this is the one exception to feng shui’s normal “no footboard” rule). Finally, leave enough room around the bed for energy to flow freely, and for each partner to get up with ease. ”

Where does Sarah Palin position her bed?  If I’m in danger and I’m just a citizen, I want my potential government leaders to be well positioned to lead this country.  Can Sarah Palin see Russia from her bed, even if it’s in the wrong Feng Shui position?  C’mon, Charlie Gibson!  Ask the right questions. 

Shreveport, LA (STNews) - PETA is protesting the alarming numbers of fish being plucked from local waters by tiny bare hands, then choked and eaten, starting with the fins. 

One woman was seen wearing nothing but a sandwich board that read, “Stop the senseless strangulation of fish!” 

Wildlife and Fish authorities observed the kids are apparently skipping out on the cleaning and cooking process altogether.  One health official suggested that with all the health warnings lately, children aren’t getting near the levels of mercury in their system they once got, creating massive cravings for the fish and accounting for the unusual method of reelin’ ‘em in.

The week’s almost over.  Your weekend plans?

Relevant targeted ads.  That’s why you’re so distracted by the advertising on your own Facebook page.  The ads are targeting you based on the info you provide in your profile. 

So what do your ads say about you? 

“If my girlfriend is lost in the storm, can I apply for a government grant for a new one?”  –”tommy” during live internet chat 09-11-08

“I used to enjoy country music until my life turned into a country music song.”  –Wade Nessmith 09-09-08

Chrissi Coile:  “I almost broke my nose just then.”  Randy Bain:  “It might improve things.”  09-19-08

“Excuse me for interrupting your Waiting to Exhale session.”  –Tim McDearmont (Sparky) to Trish, Jody and Sherri

You talk during commercials?  So do we!  Here’s a new category.  We’ll call it “Commercial Chat”.  I’ll keep my Flip cam on the set during the news for whoever wants to grab it and record during the breaks.  I’ll post segments regularly here.  Enjoy.   Or turn away and scream in horror.  Here’s the break before we came back to say goodnight tonight. 

Been busy with the hurricane evacuee issue…didn’t want to neglect the sacred Caption Free For All vote, especially with elections so near. 

Let’s try something different (I know, I know…we hate change).  Pick your two favorites.  Put them in comments here and they both get t-shirts (and they will submit to pics in the T-Shirt Gallery)!  There were really funny entries this time!   We’ll go with the obvious winners Friday.  If there aren’t any, we’ll let Spuff decide. 

This is very scientific.  (Picture altered to make Spuff appear thinner) 

Based on your comments, I’m hijacking my own site for this issue.  Hang in there..really..it might be worth it.  (See previous topics on this for comments from around the country). 

Two things:  1)  Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover will testify before the U.S. Senate about FEMA and its state and local counterpart response to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.  That’ll be Tuesday at 9:00 CT.  Here is the link to that hearing if you’d like to watch it live at that time, click here.  http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/.  Can’t do that at work?  We’ll cover it on KTBS-TV and www.ktbs.com.

2) I just watched Interim Secretary of LA. Dept. of Social Services Kristy Nichols’ news conference in Shreveport this afternoon.  She basically said what’s in the attached news release. 

I’d love to see the same sense of urgency and focus granted to the children who are wards of this state, the same state that has failed many of those who were removed from their homes.  These kids are being failed twice in terms of healthcare and safety.  I’ve heard stories directly from the children.  (That’s also under Ms. Nichols’ new and maybe not temporary jurisdiction) But the national media has yet to attack that attrocity (based on reports and the closure of at least one state group home).  And in all fairness, this, too is an issue of society that needs to be addressed.  So, is the state the entity to deal with either or both issues?  What about the faith-based communities and/or private companies?   

Back to hurricane response:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2008

DSS Releases Initial Emergency Sheltering Improvement Plan

SHREVEPORT – Department of Social Services Interim Secretary Kristy
Nichols announced today an initial five-point plan to improve the
agency’s emergency sheltering operations after a preliminary review
found deficiencies in the response to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
Governor Bobby Jindal requested the review in order to make immediate
changes to the state’s emergency sheltering procedures.

“While there were many successes during Hurricane Gustav’s mass
evacuation and sheltering, DSS as an agency failed to fully meet its
obligation to effectively assist Louisiana citizens in their efforts to
seek safe and comfortable shelter during and after the storm,” said
Interim Secretary Kristy Nichols. “What I have found is that an
inadequate plan developed after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was poorly
executed by the agency, causing unnecessary and inexcusable hardships on
individuals who chose to seek emergency shelter provided by the
state.”

The initial five steps for improving the state’s disaster sheltering
operations are:

1. Develop one unified state sheltering plan for Louisiana.
Secretary Nichols and Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness Director Mark Cooper are preparing to hold a
statewide disaster summit in October to discuss and revise the state’s
sheltering mission. The summit would include local Office of Emergency
Preparedness Directors, sheltering experts, Hurricane Gustav and Ike
shelter residents, representatives from high-risk evacuation parishes,
representatives from sheltering regions, non-governmental disaster
preparedness organizations, ESF-6 primary and secondary partners and
representatives of out-of-state shelter management. The objective would
be to rebuild trust and foster cooperative relationships among all
sheltering stakeholders as well as to finalize an integrated
state/parish management plan for shelters moving forward.

2. Ensure the highest level of evacuation, mass care and sheltering
coordination among all agencies and partners engaged in disaster
operations.
The plan calls for the development of a Louisiana shelter public
awareness campaign, the implementation of parish-to-parish agreements to
ensure that local residents know their parish shelter destination in
advance of a disaster and the development of common evacuee tracking
systems for all state and non-state shelters. All shelter residents and
their families will receive timely and accurate information about
sheltering operations through the 211 system as well as additional
communication mechanisms that will be developed.

3. Ensure that in-state emergency shelters are fully equipped to
provide safe and comfortable housing for all evacuees seeking shelter.
Larger scale shelters will be reconfigured to enhance the privacy,
comfort and dignity for those seeking shelter. DSS and GOHSEP will
consult with the Louisiana National Guard to identify innovative
approaches for establishing secure and comfortable large scale
sheltering. It will also work to develop a family friendly environment
in all shelters and make sure supplies and services are ready prior to
the opening of these shelters.

4. Expand and ensure in-state emergency sheltering capacity.
DSS will work to expand in-state sheltering capacity by working with
parishes to identify new multi-purpose facilities with the capability to
serve as shelter locations within the state.  This may include
strategies that allow for greater usage of state facilities and
universities. DSS will also develop additional smaller shelter capacity
in partnership with non-governmental and parish entities and will
develop a contingency plan that includes local schools, hotels or
military barracks.

5. Expand out-of-state sheltering capacity.
The State of Louisiana will reach out to other states for assistance
with sheltering Louisiana evacuees. DSS will request additional
out-of-state sheltering through the Emergency Management Assistance
Compact when a threat is imminent. The return of evacuees will be
coordinated as soon as possible to foster trust and the state will
create Liaison Teams to better track citizens evacuated out of state.

“With more than two months left in the current hurricane season, this
plan allows for short-term improvements to the state’s sheltering
plan,” said Secretary Nichols. “It also prioritizes the next
steps that can be implemented to develop a long-term unified interagency
plan, which reaches all identified goals, and fulfills future ESF-6
sheltering functions. I look forward to working with GOHSEP, other state
agencies, parish and local officials, and sheltering stakeholders as we
move forward to ensure the safety and well-being of Louisiana citizens
during times of emergency.”