Day 1096: A Favre Trade
August 27, 2008 - Filed Under football, funny, wisconsin
Breaking news! “Jets decide against Brett Favre; Green Bay takes him back and trades him to Chicago. In a sudden turn of events, the Green Bay Packers have traded Brett Favre to Chicago. In return, Chicago is giving us Door County, Lake Geneva, The Dells, Minoqua and the left lane of the Interstate back.” Sorry, thought we could use some levity right about now.
This list is a damned lie because the University of Wisconsin is not on it. 3 comments #
Day 1052: Brett Favre Interview On Fox
July 14, 2008 - Filed Under football, green bay packers, wisconsin
Oil crisis, shmoil crisis. Brett Favre will be interviewed by Greta Van Susteren on Fox News at 9PM tonight. In the interview, we will hear that “he wants to play but doesn’t feel welcome in Green Bay, so he’s asking to be released.” What a load of dairy cow poo. Which sane organization wants to lose their star QB who was just beginning to gel with his new offensive lineup? You’re breaking my heart, Brett, by making me realize that the NFL is only a business after all and even you are not above the unsavory side of it.
Update with D’s analysis of the interview: “Brett wants to be unconditionally released, screw the team. He should have made up his mind in March before the draft. He needs to grow up.”
Part 2 of the interview airs tomorrow night.
For all three of you dying to know what I think of the current fiasco in Green Bay, let it suffice to say that Ted Thompson made the right decision in not granting Favre an unconditional release from his contract, the Packers organization and fan base have always been nothing to our quarterback short of loyal and supportive and do not deserve this treatment from him and Bus Cook smells. 1 comment #
Day 1024: Floods Past, Present And Future
June 16, 2008 - Filed Under We Are Not Ok, culture-society-history, new orleans, photographs, weather, wisconsin
This past weekend’s visit to Wisconsin was tailed by an earnest and eerie soundtrack: everywhere we went, every TV channel we landed on were newspeople, chyrons and footage that screamed Flood! Flood! Flood! More rain coming! On Friday, Julie informed us that her grandmother was being evacuated from her southern Wisconsin home as were a number of the residents of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Those who lost their homes to the catastrophic draining of Lake Delton, Wisconsin are preparing to sue the town for not signing its FEMA paperwork and for allowing said residents to build their million-dollar homes on sand instead of bedrock. Gays Mills seriously considers picking up the entire town and relocating to higher ground after the second flood in less than a year. Residents reason that such a move is preferable to “the trauma of being repetitively flooded.”
Someone asked me if this reminds me of Katrina. Looking at him as if he were sprouting a third ear, I said, “Nope. This is someone else’s disaster, someone else’s pain. Also, the two floods were not made equally. The geologic, meteorological, political and sociological causes and aftermath are vastly different, not to mention that this is 2008 and that was 2005. I’ll give you one upsetting similarity, though - FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers. These two agencies simply cannot handle preparation and emergency.”
And then, I come home to this:
… the intersection of St. Charles and Louisiana avenues was pronounced impassable, even for fire trucks … New Orleans reported that Sewerage & Water Board pumps had functioned well but could only handle 1 inch of rain in the first hour and 1/2 inch every subsequent hour.
And this:
AP: NOAA: New Orleans at risk from Cat. 2 hurricane
Daily Kos: Matt McBride - Corps of Engineers protects NOLA with duct tape, rope, and rusty pipes
I’m worried, guys, I really am. My life thus far, like that of many others on this planet, cannot be described as placid or uneventful, but what the hell?* Nor will I state that nowhere is safe, but every last one of us lives at the mercy of this planet. What’s next? More importantly, are we prepared for what comes next? While those in Wisconsin currently plot their paths into this unexpected future, what do New Orleanians imagine will happen here? What are our contingency measures and how many will endure FEMA, the ACoE, insurance companies, Road Home and contractors all over again? Is America prepared for this and are we prepared for them?
We have so much to live for, so much to protect and enjoy, so much to live and learn. Times like this make me wonder how humankind made it this far. Is it because we helped one another or pure, stupid luck? Our endurance to date may be evidence that we will make it, but our increasing blunders and hubris make me wonder.
I don’t see clear answers right now, only the thin rope between here and … where?
Day 1020: First Floods, Now Tornadoes
June 12, 2008 - Filed Under travel, weather, wisconsin
Today, my parents celebrate 44 years of being married. Holy cows, are the sixties that far back in our past? I called Mom and Dad this morning to, as we desis say, “wish them.”
In typical Mom fashion, my mom told me to be very careful when traveling in Wisconsin this weekend and not to get “caught up in the water.” I’m a) going to be in northeastern Wisconsin and b) not partial to flooding of any sort after witnessing what went on here in 2005. Following that, even more typically, she expressed sorrow regarding the news that four people died last evening in a freak tornado in Little Sioux, Iowa. Flood. Tornadoes. Friend’s sister’s house almost caught on fire from extremely near and tremendous lightning activity.
Are rains like this going to become more typical in the Upper Midwest? Will this nation step up to the challenge of infrastructure repair? Should humanity abandon the flood plain? Where is safe?
Points to ponder as I head into the sky again. I’m a-comin’, Wisconsin. See y’all next week.
Day 1019: Now I’m Really Worried About The Midwest Flooding
June 11, 2008 - Filed Under government, midwest, weather, wisconsin
Bloomberg.com: U.S. Midwest Flooded as Mississippi, Cedar River Rise
The National Weather Service said a total of 200 locations are flooded, and issued warnings for Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma and Montana. The deluge in some Iowa towns reached an all-time high following days of heavy rainfall, according to the service. More rain and some storms are predicted today and tomorrow in the Midwest.
… The Mississippi River may continue to flood along points of a 200-mile stretch from Dubuque, Iowa, to Gregory Landing, Missouri, as tributaries swell the river, the National Weather Service said.
All of those people, my people, and their homes. This is awful, but I know they will come back from it. That’s not what worries me. This is:
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials will visit flooded areas of Wisconsin tomorrow, including Lake Delton, where climbing water broke through defenses and drained the lake, and Vernon County, where 113 roads are closed due to the floods. Areas of the state were flooded on June 8 and 9.
Governor Jim Doyle will seek a federal disaster declaration once the FEMA officials have made an assessment, the state’s Web site said.
Run! FEMA’s coming! As D says mockingly, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help … myself!”
Related: People Get Ready - “I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This!”
Day 1011: Why I Love Wisconsin And Blogging
June 4, 2008 - Filed Under blogistas, family & friends, photographs, wisconsin
Face to face time with the marvelous and talented ladies of First Draft!
Scout!
Athenae! (with the honorable statesman from Louisiana)
The reunion of Athenae and Maitri at the wedding of a mutual friend was priceless. Dinner was over, cake had just been served and I placed my camera and purse in a chair before getting down on the dance floor to the Hometown Sweethearts. Eyes focusing in the freshly-dimmed lights, I noticed a familiar, solitary figure standing by the entrance to the reception hall (also conveniently where the bar was located). One of these things is not like the other … process process … she told me she wasn’t coming … process process … but that’s totally her. And I was off, sprinting in my heels, “Atheeeeeenaeeeeee!” Initially a blogger caught in headlights, Athenae jerked her head up with a WhoWha? look on her face, and then came the smile of recognition. The rest was all Hug OMG Hug Squeeee Hug HandSwat HandSwat OhYouLookSoGoodInThatOutfit Hug!!!!!!1!! Almost immediately after that came the Politics Sucks, Madison Rocks, Babylon 5 Was The Best, Who The Frak Is The Last Cylon and We’re Tired But Let’s Dance Like Olive To Superfreak In Little Miss Sunshine Anyway discussion among A, Mr. A, D and me. I love my friends.
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