from _eb

Movie goods selling Serenity movie poster for 30 bucks

And a GIP from azuredflame

*rolls eyes* Deductive thinking, it's so hard

So V continued her incredibly naive rants and outrage today about the things she was hearing going on in the hurricane affected areas. Which, I guess it's good that she's sheltered, I just can't understand how she's managed it being in Philly all her life and being 21. It's really ridiculous.

That, or as usual, I just expect everyone to be decently read and informed about a wide varieties of social topics.

I mean, how hard is it to understand that the looting, the anger and violence among those still stranded, possibly even the gunfire (and sniper...though, granted, I haven't had time today to read the latest developments) are in all likelihood pretty much the expression of race and class tensions that have been simmering in this country for almost a decade. If nothing else, I've been surprised we haven't had riots on the scale of the LA riots a lot sooner the way the elections have gone lately.

Then again, I think my attitude might have a lot more to do with the fact that I grew up in OK and am now on the east coast. Yes, racism exists in the northeast, I've seen it. But at the same time, the South and Midwest have it on a whole different scale. I still remember how shocked B was when he went home with me, and later when he visited Birmingham, AL, for a grad school interview, at the levels of racism that was blatantly in your face as well as the huge disparities in income.

The large cities through the entire country face some similar problems, but I can say for a fact that those problems have a different feel entirely in the red states of this country. I'm out of touch with it now, so I don't know if it's better or worse than 10 years ago. My impression is that due to the economy, the way welfare/medicaid is run now, and the worsening meth problems, it's probably much worse.

So yeah, I hear about the alleged shootings around the NO hospital and Superdome, and it doesn't surprise. Especially after seeing the images of those left to fend for themselves entirely on the interstates with no supplies or transportation. People get fed up of being ignored eventually...and they start to make sure that you can't ignore them any more. Hopefully all the agencies will get their shit together and things will start to ease quickly so the violence doesn't boil over.

Hopefully.

I'm not going to hold my breath for it though.

Any Philadelphia area college students enrolled in schools affected by Katrina

I just received this and I'm posting this just in case anyone knows some who can benefit from it. Feel free to spread the word or link.

"TO: The Penn Community
FROM: President, Dr. Amy Gutmann

The University of Pennsylvania stands with the nation in mourning the
victims of terrible tragedy in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.
We are committed to finding solutions to help the survivors rediscover
hope and rebuild shattered lives. To that end, we will offer
academically-qualified Philadelphia-area undergraduates enrolled at
colleges and universities in hurricane stricken areas the opportunity to
take fall semester classes at Penn on a space-available basis.

In addition, Penn faculty and staff interested in serving as volunteers
with the organizations involved in hurricane relief efforts may be given
up to three weeks of paid time off.

We are driven by our belief that it is important to offer students from
the Philadelphia area as much continuity as we can until they can resume
studies at their home institution. In addition, many of our faculty and
staff have expressed interest in volunteering their services in New
Orleans and other areas needing assistance.

We expect to be able to accommodate as many as 100 undergraduate students.
In addition, graduate and professional students will be considered on an
individual basis, depending on available space.

Penn will not be charging tuition to the displaced students, instead
allowing tuition dollars to continue to be directed towards the students
home school. If students have already paid their fall semester tuition
to another college or university, Penn will provide available space in
classes at no additional cost and will work with students to assure they
remain eligible for federal financial aid.

Students seeking to enroll in the emergency program should contact the
College of General Studies at 215-573-4338.

Campus housing is already full and will not be available to the additional
students. The expectation is that the emergency program would serve
students within commuting distance. At the end of the fall semester, Penn
will give students in the program transcripts for the courses they
complete.

As they become available, additional details will be posted at:
http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/hurricane.php

Sincerely,
Dr. Amy Gutmann"

Tomorrow will be interesting

So, President Bush is touring the hurricane affected areas tomorrow.

I'll be interested to see afterwards if W gets his first exposure to real life in...at least 6 years. Will the Secret Service push out anyone chanting for water and help? Will he actually walk among those stranded and waiting for transportation, water, and other basic necessities?

Or will it be W's regime as usual in which he only meets with high level officials and specially cleared Republican toadies for whom even the Apocalypse is the cause of those evil liberal Democrats?

I hope the outcome surprises me.

Another serenitysummer contribution

Title:Entitlement
Character: Rance Burgess, Belinda Burgess, Nandi
Rating: T-teen.
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Joss.
Summary: Rance deserves a child.
Spoilers: Heart of Gold
1058. Thanks to poisontaster for the beta.