Day: August 29, 2025

Katrina–20 Years On

On this day, 29 August 2005, a massive hurricane kicked the crap out of the Gulf Coast….a normal hurricane lasts about 5 hours, Katrina lasted 13 hours and 48 minutes with destructive winds and a huge storm surge….it left the Coast looking like a war zone.

  1. Hurricane Katrina was the largest and 3rd strongest hurricane ever recorded to make landfall in the US.^[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Hurricanes in History.” National Hurricane Center. Accessed March 2, 2014. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/outreach/history/#katrina.%5D
  2. In New Orleans, the levees were designed for Category 3, but Katrina peaked at a Category 5 hurricane, with winds up to 175 mph.^[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Hurricane Katrina: A climitalogical perspective.” National Hurricane Center. Accessed March 2, 2014. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/reports/tech-report-200501z.pdf.%5D
  3. The final death toll was at 1,836, primarily from Louisiana (1,577) and Mississippi (238). More than half of these victims were senior citizens. Keep seniors safe and sound, and help them plan for hurricane season.^[Jorgenson, Ellen. “Hurricane Katrina: Humanitarian Obligations and Lessons Learned.” University of Denver.Accessed March 2, 2014. https://www.du.edu/korbel/criic/humanitarianbriefs/ellenjorgenson.pdf.%5D
  4. The storm surge from Katrina was 20-ft (six meters) high.^[Ahrens, C Donald. “Hurricanes.” InStudyguide for meteorology today by ahrens, c. donald, isbn 9780840054999. S.l.: Academic Internet Publish, 2012. 447.]
  5. 705 people are reported as still missing as a result of Hurricane Katrina.^[Jorgenson, Ellen. “Hurricane Katrina: Humanitarian Obligations and Lessons Learned.” University of Denver. Accessed March 2, 2014. https://www.du.edu/korbel/criic/humanitarianbriefs/ellenjorgenson.pdf.%5D
  6. Hurricane Katrina affected over 15 million people in different ways varying from having to evacuate their homes, rising gas prices, and the economy suffering.^[FREY, ASHLEY ELIZABETH. “THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HURRICANE FLOODING INUNDATION, PROPERTY DAMAGES, AND POPULATION AFFECTED.” Texas A&M University. Accessed March 2, 2014. https://repository.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2009-05-616/FREY-THESIS.pdf?sequence=2.%5D
  7. An estimated 80% of New Orleans was under water, up to 20 ft deep in places.^[Cooper, Anderson, Kathleen Koch, David Mattingly, Jeanne Meserve, Miles O’Brien, Jim Spellman, Gary Tuchman, and John Zarrella. “New Orleans shelters to be evacuated.” CNN. Accessed March 2, 2014. http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/30/katrina/index.html?section=cnn_us.%5D
  8. Hurricane Katrina caused $81 billion in property damages, but it is estimated that the total economic impact in Louisiana and Mississippi may exceed $150 billion, earning the title of costliest hurricane ever in US history.^[Answers Corporation. “New Orleans Economy Still Recovering from Hurricane Katrina.” Business Answers. Accessed March 2, 2014. http://business.answers.com/economics/new-orleans-economy-still-recovering-from-hurricane-katrina.%5D
  9. Hurricane Katrina impacted about 90,000 square miles.^[National Research Council. Environmental Public Health Impacts of Disasters: Hurricane Katrina, Workshop Summary. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2007.]
  10. The region affected by the storm supported roughly 1 million non-farm jobs, and still, hundreds of thousands of local residents were left unemployed by the hurricane.^[Burton, Mark L.; Hicks, Michael J. “Hurricane Katrina: Preliminary Estimates of Commercial and Public Sector Damages.” Marshall University: Center for Business and Economic Research. September 2005. Retrieved on March, 2, 2014.]
  11. More than 70 countries pledged monetary donations or other assistance after the hurricane. Kuwait made the largest single pledge of $500 million, but Qatar, India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh made very large donations as well.^[“From abroad, offers of aid for Katrina victims.” People’s Weekly World, September 10, 2005.Retrieved March 2, 2014. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103×155747.%5D

But if facts are not your forte then take gander at the destruction….it is a short video but tells the story….

And this fly over after the storm….

Being on the ground the destruction looked so much worse than from a fly over.

It was pure Hell for weeks afterwards…..

A memory that none of us that stayed will ever forget.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Denmark Is Pissed!

Surely everyone has heard the news about Donny’s desire to annex Greenland….and at times he has said by any means necessary….well there is a new wrinkle in this pipe dream….

Denmark has summoned the top US diplomat in Copenhagen after a Danish broadcaster reported that Americans have been quietly working to stoke pro-US sentiment and push for Greenland’s secession from Denmark. According to Danish public broadcaster DR, “at least three” unnamed US operatives were allegedly trying to infiltrate Greenland’s society, build networks of useful contacts, and rally support for breaking away from Denmark, reports the Guardian. DR was not able to determine who these Americans were allegedly working for, though it alleged the men, whose names it chose to withhold, had been known to have ties to President Trump.

Danish intelligence previously warned that Greenland, which enjoys autonomy but remains part of Denmark, was being subjected to “various kinds of influence campaigns.” Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen had this to say on Wednesday, per ABC News:

  • “We are aware that foreign actors continue to show an interest in Greenland and its position in the Kingdom of Denmark. It is therefore not surprising if we experience outside attempts to influence the future of the kingdom in the time ahead. Any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the kingdom will of course be unacceptable. In that light, I have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the US chargé d’affaires for a meeting at the ministry.”

The BBC notes the US does not have an ambassador in Denmark at this time; charge d’affaires Mark Stroh is currently the top US diplomat in Copenhagen. A meeting is expected to take place later Wednesday, per the Guardian.

And then the next day the White House and its lying brats responded…..

A spokesperson for the US State Department confirms that Charge d’Affaires Mark Stroh, the United States’ top diplomat in Denmark, has met up with that country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and had a “productive conversation” over Danish intel reports that US operatives were running “influence campaigns” to get Greenland to secede from Denmark, reports the BBC. The US’ main take on the topic, however, per a White House official: “We think the Danes need to calm down.” As for the rumors on those unnamed US operatives, the State Dept. rep noted, per the AP: “The US government does not control or direct the actions of private citizens.” They added that the Trump administration “[respects] the right of the people of Greenland to determine their own future.”

A little advice for Denmark…..do not trust anything Trump or his Merry Band of Sycophants have to say….they are ALL notorious liars.

Ignore at your peril….they are trying to come for you.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

3 From The East

A couple of nations from the diabolical East will meet and compare notes….China, Russia, North Korea…..should we be worried?

Chinese President Xi Jinping is making a bold diplomatic play as he prepares to host both Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender, which ended its occupation of regions of China. It’s the first time the three leaders will gather together. The Sept. 3 gathering in Beijing, to bring together leaders from 26 countries in all, including Indonesia, Iran, Cuba, Pakistan, and Malaysia, serves as a high-profile showcase of China’s expanding influence on the world stage, per the BBC and NPR. While President Trump continues to struggle for a diplomacy breakthrough in Ukraine and seeks another meeting with Kim, Xi is demonstrating his ability to convene key players.

Kim’s presence is especially notable, marking the first time a North Korean leader has attended a Chinese military parade since 1959. Despite speculation that Kim’s growing alignment with Putin might have frayed ties with Beijing, his first visit to the country in six years signals otherwise. The visit also offers Kim “legitimacy,” per the BBC, as he shares a stage with other world leaders. Xi, meanwhile, stands to gain leverage in upcoming negotiations with Washington. Trump, who’s under pressure to resolve trade tensions and will be in the region at the end of October, has said he’s open to meeting Xi. As the BBC reports, “Xi will want the strongest hand possible as negotiations go on” and, following this visit, “he may even have information his US counterpart does not.”

Is this a strategy session on dealing with the US?

Are we looking at a new bloc to counter US adventurism?

Will this be more troubles in the Pacific?

Will this be money thrown at a ‘rising’ threat?

Should we be worried?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”