"Let us please not forget the government’s absurd declarations that they were moving as fast as they could—when journalists, private rescue organizations and even a few celebrities had absolutely no problem getting into New Orleans. If we do forget—and there are those who cruelly say, “Enough, let’s just move on”—then we have little hope of realizing our aspirations to be an eternally compassionate nation."-Patti Davis, Newsweek

What was known. What cannot be forgotten.

CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE
Katrina - Sunday, August 28, 2005








For those of you who have not seen Spike Lee's HBO documentary: "When the Levees Broke: A Requeim in Four Acts", I highly recommend it. Forget color, class, whatever, you will be moved and sometimes disturbed by the stories and images of the massive devastation to lives, property and culture caused by Hurricane Katrina. Lee (who is never seen) has produced an unforgettable account of a horrendous failure of government at all levels.

Most unsettling, is the disclosure of while thousands in the middle of the disaster suffered without food, water or medical care, President Bush was playing "air guitar" at a California speech on the war in Iraq, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was shopping for shoes, catching a Broadway play and playing tennis with Monica Seles and Vice-President Dick Cheney was fly-fishing.

As the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating blow to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast approaches, I thought I would post the National Hurricane Center's advisory on Katrina as of Friday, August 26, 2005 at 11 p.m.

To all in the federal government who have said time after time: "We didn't know...," well guess what: YOU DID:

ZCZC MIATCDAT2 ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
HURRICANE KATRINA DISCUSSION NUMBER 15
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2005

...STUBBORN KATRINA CONTINUES TOWARD THE WEST-SOUTHWEST...EXPECTED
TO BECOME AN INTENSE HURRICANE IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO...

KATRINA IS FORECAST TO MOVE DIRECTLY OVER THE WARM LOOP CURRENT OF THE GULF OF MEXICO...WHICH IS LIKE ADDING HIGH OCTANE FUEL TO THE FIRE. THEREFORE...THE OFFICIAL FORECAST BRINGS KATRINA TO 115 KNOTS (135 m.p.h.)...OR A CATEGORY FOUR ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. THE GFDL IS MORE AGGRESSIVE AND CALLS FOR 124 KNOTS (145 m.p.h.) AND 922 MB. THE FS SUPERENSEMBLE IS EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE BRINGING KATRINA TO 131 KNOTS (150 m.ph.)*

THE OFFICIAL FORECAST BRINGS THE CORE OF THE INTENSE HURRICANE OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO IN 48 HOURS OR SO. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THE GUIDANCE SPREAD HAS DECREASED AND MOST OF THE RELIABLE NUMERICAL MODEL TRACKS ARE NOW CLUSTERED BETWEEN THE EASTERN COAST OF LOUISIANA AND THE COAST OF MISSISSIPPI. THIS CLUSTERING INCREASES THE CONFIDENCE IN THE FORECAST.

FORECASTER AVILA

*It should be noted here that Katrina at one point over ran the model predictions on Sunday, August 28th with a pressure of 902 mb and sustained winds of 185 m.p.h. with gusts to 215 m.p.h.

"Yes Condi. The stupid, old, white bastards haven't a clue."

"2nd Verse Same as the 1st: The Week In Review"

A suspect turned himself in confessing to the murder of Jon Benet´Ramsey.... The tragedy here is that it is very difficult to even conceive the little beauty queen as an innocent victim of an horrific crime when the only images we've seen of her are as an "adult." The Ramsey's have driven this machine since the discovery of their daughter's body. John and Patsy Ramsey have carried a terrible secret for ten years: they know the real killer of their daughter and will protect him forever.

Actor - Director, Mel Gibson was sentenced....to four years probation for driving under the influence, defaming Jews, taking VERY bad pictures with female fans, and claiming to own Malibu. Somewhere, Barbara Streisand is very pissed.

Actor Haley Joel Osment may face six years in prison....for crashing his car a month ago under the influence and posessing marijuana. Something tells me he was seeing more than dead people that night.

"Snakes on a Plane" opened in theaters this Friday....I have nothing really to say here.

"Desperate Housewives" actress Marcia Cross is miffed at "The View's" Barbara Walters....for asking her if she was a lesbian over a year ago. Cross recalls: "She (Walters) told me she was going to enquire about the rumor, and I asked "Why?" Walters responded "that it was a hot topic." Cross asked the subject not be brought up as her parents were in the audience and more importantly it was tabloidy AND NOT TRUE. Walters "went there" on the air prompting Cross to say she will never do another interview with "The View" creator. Walters is now a caricature of a journalist. Say this three times: "View has no Validity without Viera." Barbara do us all a favor and exit stage right, left, back, sign-off or whatever is people like you do to shut up!

No sooner N'Sync crooner Lance Bass admitted he is gay....he is denying rumors that his relationship with reality star Reichen Lehmkuhl is in trouble. Lehmkul has gone on record admitting that he liked it when things were a bit more quiet. Good luck there Reichen.

"We're tired of professional athletes marrying Playboy Playmates".... was quoted this week in a Chicago newspaper. There seems to be an epidemic of this in Major League Baseball with the likes of San Diego Padre's Mike Piazza and Chicago White Sox's Scott Podsednik (a favorite of this blog.) Podsednik married one of the 'groupie chicks" in that awful Kid Rock, Scott Stapp tour bus sex video. Both Podsednik and Piazza are rarely seen or photographed with their "bunny" spouses. You know where I'm going with this one.

And how was your week?

Picture of the week.....

Mary and Mom












My sister Mary was in the hospital this week. She is home recovering. Get well fast "Sister Unit."

"On the Move....again...sort of"

When my partner John and I move to Chicago, I had roughly about three days to pound the pavement with two agents and find a place. The housing Gods shined on us and we landed in this great loft in west Lincoln Park, top floor, complete view of downtown, and pretty convenient to most everything.

We got the news last week that our owner wants to sell. After the shock wore off, we hit all the web sites looking for another place. Again, we were very fortunate. Saturday of this past week we saw a complete "walk-up" renovation with two bedrooms, two full baths, everything stainless and granite (that should be)and brand new hardwood floors ready for move-in October 1 in the North Halsted area of Lakeview.

Initially it was our intention to find a place in this part of town, but nothing really appealed to us. It will be great to live on a tree-lined street between Halsted and Broadway in walking distance to so many great places and shops. The street is quiet and has more of a "neighborhood" feel.

It is a work in progress, sort of like my life. I have included some pictures of the latest work. I will post some completed photos once we move in. Time to pack.

"The Cat that Barks"

Some of you may have read postings in which I mention our cat Skutty. I think it's time you knew a little more about our freaky, lovable feline.

"Skutty....hmmmmm..that's a stange name" you say. Skutty was adopted from the New Orleans S.P.C.A. about 12 years ago. When I ventured to the shelter to pick out a cat, I found it funny that all the "pretty" breeds were showcased in the "eye-view" cages. As I stared around, I noticed in the bottom corner row, a small black and white kitten sitting with a stare. I was intrigued by the silence as all the other kittens were screaming. I asked to hold the silent but curious kitten. As I held her, she laid her head in the nook of my folded arm and was completely still. She knew that she was sprung. I looked no further and adopted "Skutty."

As for her name, we owe that to former Tulane University women's basketball player, Christy Thomaskutty. A point-guard for the Tulane "Green Wave", Christy holds the school record for the most three point shots. Fans and teammates quickly pegged the player "Skutty." I thought that would be a great name for a cat. Eventually we would become friends with Christy and she would meet her namesake.

Skutty is not your average cat. She behaves more like a dog than a feline. She can fetch and comes to me on command. The command is rather strange if you don't know me. It is the "Skutty Cat Call." No matter where Skutty is hiding or hanging out she will appear on this command, expecting a reward of course. Even when she managed to escape my house in New Orleans and ventured down two properties, I called her and she came flying up the street, up the stairs to my porch and ran inside to her food bowl.

Skutty was not a talker until I moved to Texas. She manages a pathetic "meow" when a can opener is used (thinking tuna) or when she wants your attention. Now that we live in Chicago, she has become even more animated. When I get out of bed in the morning, I'm greeted with a meow and I meow back and so on. If I do not hear my alarm in the morning, she will meow in my face until I get up (making her part rooster as well.) She is with me now as I'm typing this sleeping next to my chair. Not a "lap cat", Skutty prefers to sit next to you and be admired. She loves to hang out with me and will lay next to me if I'm sick or feeling down. She sits next to me when I'm shaving in the morning and sit betweens the liner and curtain when I'm taking a shower.

Since we moved into our loft, there are designated areas we call "kitty killers." These areas would be the hallway (our building is the home of many huge dogs), the utility closet (a maze of twisted pipes and steel), and under the kitchen sink. If she should venture near any of these areas, I scream in a high pitch: "KITTY KILLER!"
This frightens my partner John and reinforces the fact that I am indeed a freak and must be accepted as such.

Skutty loves my partner John. He is an avid reader and she loves a human body that is at rest. She will curl and fall asleep. When John plays too rough with Skutty, she will bite him at which John will exclaim: "Ow, bitch!" Skutty NEVER bites me.

Skutty has many aliases: "Miss Kitty","Girlfriend","Puddin' Head", "Mini-Head", and "Hey Bitch" when she is being bad. An open drawer or armoire is "kitty" heaven to Skutty. If not careful, Skutty can be locked in an armoire all day. When John or myself get home from the office and she is not at the door to greet us, the armoire is a safe bet. Once opened, she'll give a big yawn and hop out.

Skutty travels well. However, she did not like the drive from Texas to Chicago. I attempted to make the trip in one day, but she would have the final say as her crying drove me into a Holiday Inn Express at Rolla, Missouri. We both needed some food and a good night's sleep.

So that's Skutty, still as cute and lovable as the day I held her at the shelter, still taking care of me.

Picture of the week...

White Sox's Scott Podsednik wins again.

SMILES FROM WRIGLEY FIELD

-My partner John and I, Saturday, August 5, 2006

A few good reasons to watch baseball.....

Chicago White Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik















Houston Astro's catcher Brad Ausmus

My partner John is an avid baseball fan, I mean really avid. This was something to get used to when we first met. C'mon, there are not too many gay men who buy cable's premium package to get all the sports channels.

My father loved baseball and almost made it to the majors until a bad leg break ended his chances to play the game. I'll never forget the first time I saw the film "Field of Dreams." I called my dad in tears to tell him that I loved him. He was John Kinsella. When I was caring for him in 2004 as he battled lung cancer, we always managed to find a game to watch. Dad was a walking stat book on the sport, so I was always well informed. He passed away in September of 2004.

When John and I moved to Chicago in December 2005, part of the excitement for my partner was moving back to the city that has the "cathedral" of baseball: "Wrigley Field." I have to admit, to watch a game at Wrigley is not just watching baseball, it's an experience. It is all about the sights, sounds and the atmosphere my father spoke of so frequently.

Wrigley Field or "The Friendly Confines" as it is called by locals, sits adjacent to the largest concentration of Chicago's gay community in Lakeview's North Halsted district or "Boys Town." White Sox fans call Wrigley: "the world's largest gay bar" Wrigley hosted the closing ceremonies of the "2006 Gay Games." If you make one visit to the home of the White Sox's Comiskey Park or U.S. Cellular Field, as it is known these days, you'll know Wrigley Field is truyly the place to watch baseball. Wrigley Field is surrounded by all these great bars and restaurants and tree-lined neighborhoods (Wrigleyville.) Comiskey is surrounded by, well, nothing.

Bleacher seats are the best bet at Wrigley. When it gets hot all the guys shirts come off. Someone always emerges as the "bleacher hottie" (city attached if from out of town) making them, say, the "Minnesota bleacher hottie." Of course the players themselves are not exempt.

If John and I are watching a game at home, I'll utter an occasional: "Ooooh, who's that?" and John always knows the answer. "That's Brad Ausmus" my partner exclaimed as we watched the Houston Astros. I was really starting to get something out of this. Nothing however would perpare me for the Chicago White Sox's Scott Podsednik.

We were in the left field bleachers as the cross town rival White Sox and Cubs played the last game of the north side series. The Cubs, down two games, soon exploded in a home run frenzy. Podsednik was positioned close to our seats. I soon began to notice certain stances that Podsednik took in between plays. To the average spectator, which was basically everyone around me, Podsednik's antics went completely unnoticed until I pointed it out. Everyone gay in attendance caught on pretty quickly. The outfielder soon became a welcome distraction.

Podsednik showing off his bat early on with the Milwaukee Brewers












The Cubs would go on to win the game 15-11. That game was played on the heels of White Sox coach Ozzie Guillen's infamous rant referring to a Chicago sports writer in derogatory gay terms. Making our way out of the stadium I couldn't help but chuckle at a T-shirt with the picture below declaring: "Ozzie's not gay. He's a homoSOXual." This photo was taken when the White Sox won the 2005 World Series. The photo is real and has not been tampered with or retouched. It seems a certain White Sox player couldn't contain his excitement and planted one on ole Ozzie.


I could go few places with this one, but I think the photo speaks for itself. Indeed, there are a few good reasons to watch baseball.

"Serena said it..."

"WE ARE NEVER THROWN OUT, AND WE NEVER LEAVE QUIETLY. WE STALK OUT IN A HUFF AND WE GET REVENGE!"
-Thanks to "The Bewitched and Elizabeth Montgomery Fan Site" for the use of this image.