i.e. a man-made error. Today’s nola.com hosts Evidence points to man-made disaster, a long and comprehensive article on the sequence of events leading up to the current state of Orleans and surrounding parishes, a timeline that heads back from August 29, 2005 into the 1950s.

Experts say the New Orleans flood of 2005 should join the space shuttle explosions and the sinking of the Titanic on history’s list of ill-fated disasters attributable to human mistakes.

… most structures that fail do so not because they’re hit by overwhelming forces, but because of flaws that creep in unnoticed during design, construction and upkeep … 80 percent of 600 structural engineering failures he studied in the past 17 years were caused by “human, organizational and knowledge uncertainties.”

… “What makes levee design and engineering so challenging is you can have a system that’s many, many miles long and you only need the weakest 150 feet to rupture for the whole system to fail.”

… Corps standards for levees and floodwalls date back decades, officials say, and were intended to protect sparsely populated areas, not cities and billions of dollars of infrastructure. The safety factor of 1.3 used in the designs is significantly lower than those used in structures with similarly large-scale tasks of protecting lives and property.

… and the list goes on. My concern does not surround what happened, but how and when this nation is going to address all of these now known problems before the next big storm. Or if they are at all. When the Army Corps of Engineers was responsible for the current levee circumstances, why are they on the job again? Are there no other options for southeastern Louisiana?

I fear that this nation as a whole is losing its Onwards and Upwards mentality, especially when it comes to science and engineering as well as sociopolitical areas in which it cannot easily see economic redemption. What an unfortunate fate for a country that coined the term Yankee Ingenuity. This taxpaying scientist cannot see anything that remotely resembles innovation and ingenuity in the complication-addled Iraqi occupation and NASA shuttle program, but these ventures continue to be funded and minus this level of contention. Why the resistance to readily fund an enviable engineering marvel – the modernization of the levee system in an area of economic and social import to America? Thoughts?

Following the last post, I received personal emails from a number of you wondering if I’m ok and to hang in there, take it one day at at time, and rely on the “simple human presence” of friends. Damned if I write an informal and personal post, and damned if I don’t, huh? I love you for your concern, am ok, and am taking it a day at once.

It’s getting increasingly difficult to hear about the news and stories of suicides and suicide attempts coming out of New Orleans. A metroblogger referred to the local newspaper as the Times Buzzkillayune, but Katrina is not over by the stretch of anyone’s imagination. Such a beautiful and joyous place should never have had to be reduced to this because of government incompetence during the storm, negligence even before, and the thoughtless comments of people who know little to nothing of the city. It hurts. Yet, results, goodness, and hope arise.

The post was meant to express that:

a) emotions abound and freely so, running in and out of center stage as they see fit, no permission, no knocking first,

b) it’s hard to be away from MY OWN SPACE for so long, even if it stands yet, even if it’s only a few more months until I go back, even if I live in the coziest house in The ‘Wood surrounded by the cutest puppies and kitties ever, and a friend who fixes my car for me even when I don’t ask,

c) some things aren’t getting better in New Orleans, but so much positive has happened and so incredibly fast (even by NOLA standards),

e) time heals a few wounds and renders gaping and horrific chasms of others,

e) people make me mad when they voice uneducated, unsolicited, and just plain rude opinion on New Orleans. Someone’s home is what you’re talking about – have a bit of respect. Whatever you think, kicking when someone’s down is impolite. As J and I caucused tonight, “Wait until your levee breaks!” and

f) even some other aspects of “back home” are messed up on many fronts.

I may consider myself very lucky, but it doesn’t stop me from being affected by sorrow sometimes. That’s all. Give it a rest.

As if all these other posts haven’t been. For a hundred days, I have explored life after Katrina. I’ve thought, meditated, observed, written, cried, laughed, raged, dreamed, travelled, advised, counseled, been counseled, and chewed my lip on who I am, what I want and what home (anywhere) means to me. Only a few of these emotions predominate at any give time, thankfully, and are soon replaced with another overwhelmer or those triple boons of my life – work, reading, and exercise. (As an aside, let me praise the ways in which these activities have saved a lot of us.)

With the onset of Christmas season, it makes me mildly ill to acknowledge that this coming weekend will not see me in my home putting up my tree, ornaments, and home decorations or burning the 500 assorted seasonal candles I bought for this season. At the very least, my candles are in storage in a home that still exists, right? Things could be a lot worse: my home could be a flattened pile of moldy wood, glass and slate with my personal possessions stolen or in an impersonal mound of debris on a neutral ground. As I mentioned to a colleague this morning, I could be a Pakistani orphan standing outside the rubble of my former home with trapped family members dead or dying inside. I could be … it could be …

You know what? Things could be a lot better. I could be in the solace of my own space, walking in my own town, surrounded by my own friends, shopping in my own favorite spots, and putting up my own Christmas tree, amongst other things that I will not mention here. I could be in one place instead of three (New Orleans, Houston, and on the road). When I think of my friends now in New Orleans, I feel a twinge of envy because, no matter the conditions, they are living and making decisions from one place – home base. “I want a home and some stability just for myself,” Ms. K said to me yesterday. Life wasn’t precisely a smooth slate even before the hurricane; this doesn’t help things.

Through all of this, the questions of identity prevail: Am I the sort of person who needs the comforts of life or can I make it through my day without certain luxuries? Do I require consistency or can I handle change and motion? Where is the line between displeasure and acceptance? What is my boundary between needs and wants?

As I ponder another hundred days of living away from home, a voice says, “Time flies, you know, Maitri.” In the case of some, it doesn’t. In this latest from Chris Rose, whom some believe to be the voice of New Orleans, see if you can’t feel his struggle and strength, too:

God help us. The most open, joyous, free-wheeling, celebratory city in the country is broken, hurting, down on its knees. Failing. Begging for help.

Somebody turn this movie off; I don’t want to watch it anymore. I want a slow news day. I want a no news day.

But we have to try. We have to fight this thing until there is no fight left … if [the woman in Rose’s story has] got a taste of [hope] in her mouth, then the rest of us can take a little spoonful and try to make it through another day, another week, another lifetime.

It’s the least we can do.

I purposely left out some crucial words and phrases from the above lines because I don’t want to give away what Rose wrote so passionately about. Read his words and why he penned them. Then, look New Orleans in the eye before denying its problems, writing the city off, casting punditry on it like you know anything of its character and living there, and spewing absolute, hateful, ignorant vitriol like this.

On a brighter note and speaking of airwaves: listen up, America, not everything black and out of New Orleans is bad (kindly refrain from placing your crime problems wholly on New Orleanian evacuees and those of the African-American persuasion). From the NY Times: “Today, Lil Wayne releases “Tha Carter II” (Cash Money/Universal), his fifth solo album. It’s an impressive CD, and in some sense historic: it is poised to become the first top-selling New Orleans album since the hurricane.”

Chris Rose asks a great question in his aforementioned column: “… if you weren’t from here, didn’t have a history here, didn’t have roux in your blood and a stake in it all: Would you want to be here?”

Yes, I would. If only to repay the debt I owe the city for giving me some of the most wonderful years of my life.

It’s the least I can do.

Pet de Kat Krewe Raises Money For The Red Cross: Steve Apple, New Orleanian and founder of the Pet de Kat krewe, wants you to know how to donate to the Red Cross and get a funky krewe shirt.

Until the end of the year, Pet de Kat Krewe donates profits from the sales of the brand new t-shirts to American Red Cross’ Disaster Relief Fund, assisting victims of Hurricane Wilma, Rita and Katrina. Your support is especially meaningful this holiday season. How about an alternative Christmas present in the name of a friend or relative?

“The 2006 shirt was designed by krewe founder and hurricane Katrina victim, Steve Apple. Apple came up with this design to project a positive image, with a bright sunny colorful design on the front and a cool Pet de Kat Krewe signature logo on the back.”

Click here for more information on the t-shirt and the krewe.

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An Evacuation Survey: (thanks, txyankee!) SciGuy at the Houston Chronicle wants to know what you thought of the Katrina and Rita evacuation experience. Although the survey is Houston-centered and a bit politically-motivated, it is crucial for the local government to discuss hurricane evacuation and, quite frankly, make it a key election issue. If hurricanes are to increase in number and intensity, Houston had better expedite the creation of a more viable evacuation plan for its residents, and prepare for yet more evacuees from other states.

Again, any tool that gets us thinking about what went well, what didn’t and how to communicate these opinions to your elected representatives is a good thing. Here is a direct link to the survey.

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Mardi Gras 2006 Explained: Yes, Mardi Gras season is four days shorter this year. Here is the latest schedule. Keep checking back for updates.

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Bohemian Armadillo Is Open: The owner of Marigny bed-and-breakfast, Bohemian Armadillo, was interviewed on NPR’s Weekend Edition this morning. Rachel Walton and her husband, temporary residents of Austin, TX, are on their way back to rebuild their business and to spend Christmas in New Orleans.

Ms. Walton (who also runs a blog!) expressed that, despite her physical and financial loss, she feels lucky to live in New Orleans. Her husband and she plan to use their Christmas decorations and lights to do up their courtyard. If all goes as planned, I may spend Christmas Eve with friends in the Marigny and will attempt get pictures of the new Bohemian Armadillo.