This Web Blog was haphazardly produced without using Spell Check one danged time. We like it that way.

ESOTERICA: Yeah, the top country for readers here is still the USA. But only about 47% of the people reading this site come from America. More than 50% come from elsewhere. We're still trying to figure that out.

In the coming weeks, expect our partnership with CinemActivist.com to provide you with reviews of great documentaries from Cinema Libre Studio, PBS, and Working Films that provide you knowledge and move you toward activism. Just so you know.

And, yeah, I ditched the Forums thang because no one was using it. Superfluous.

8 August 2007: I'm glad you came back to play but I must start on a rather sad note. As you know, I'm from New Orleans, so it's no surprise I got this over the transom:

My dear friends-

Most people down here realize that elsewhere in our country there is no longer much interest in New Orleans and its problems since Katrina. The country's attention span regarding it has waned to the point now that when there IS some discussion, it's about how crazy we are down here to love - and still want to live in - this city, Louisiana, or the rest of the Gulf Coast.

Yes, what happened outside of New Orleans was a natural disaster called Katrina and people in those areas truly deserve more help and attention than is being provided. No one in New Orleans denies them their pain.

But what happened in New Orleans was a MAN-MADE disaster?perpetrated by the bungling Army Corps of Engineers, politicians, and other scalawags for the last 60, even 100 years. Almost all of the work done to control, redirect, and levee the Mississippi river has been destroying the natural hurricane protection of our coastline. A football field of wetlands EACH DAY is being lost because of it. Imagine how much has been lost just since 1960!

The morning after Katrina came ashore, we in New Orleans thought we'd "dodged another bullet" and we'd clean up some downed trees, replace a lot of blown-out windows and generally clean up another?minor mess. The home of Mardi Gras is used to that.

Then, the inadequately?designed and built "protection" levees failed and all hell broke loose. Everyone in the country watched in horror the results of that (again, a MAN-MADE) disaster - with awe, tears, and sorrow. Many, many folks opened their hearts and pocketbooks for us then. But, to this day, not many understand why it happened and why it will probably happen again, and I don't mean only to?New Orleans. The Corps has built?shoddy things all over the country, so there is good reason for everyone to fear what hell will come next. The next catastrophe may occur anywhere the Corps has been active. Everyone needs to be aware of the real reasons for the flooding in New Orleans. As I've said before, I don't know how the people from the Corps can sleep at night, if only for those 900+ poor folks who lost their lives directly because of the levee breeches. [Editor's Note: My friend underestimates the number of deaths by half as government statistics document. - RA]

Please take the time (it is long) to read the article written by Michael Grunwald in the latest issue of Time magazine. Either pick up a copy of the magazine, or below is a link to the story. Please forward this message to anyone you think should read it. I hope it goes to every person in your address book.

It's really important to us down here that people understand not only what happened here, but why, and that it could be just as important to everyone in the country.

And, for those who think anyone who wants to live here is nuts...yes, New Orleans has her problems with crime, lousy schools, unemployment, etc. But she had those problems (as do most cities) BEFORE Katrina and everyone loved New Orleans then. Why would we not love her now, when she needs our help more than ever?

The link: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1646611_1646683_1648904,00.html

And people wonder why I so openly express dissent. Puh-lease!

7 August 2007: Good Morning, Kids!

I suppose it's time that I step into The Confession Booth. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. At least I have had the benefit of acknowledging my own Dark Side.

I wasted an hour and half today watching the "Yearly Kos Convention" Democratic candidate debate. An hour and half! Did I learn anything more than that Mike Gravel is the only Truthspeaker out there or that John Edwards has more charisma than any of the other candidates? Nope.

Thing is, Obama sounds like the most knowledgeable and reasoned of the lot - while we have to accept that he is as bought and paid for as Hillary Clinton. So what are we about to get again? Wall Street NOT Main Street. And that's just a damned crying shame. Literally.

What a waste of a morning!

MIke Gravel is right, why do we the people continue listening to these shameless millionaires who continue to promote a corrupt oligarchy?

SO NOW LET US SPEAK OF REASON. I watched the film "Becket" with Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton and John Gielgud over the weekend and was reminded that - once in a great while - a truly practical (if cynical) mind comes along who manages to sort out the muddle.

St. Thomas Becket was such a man.

As I begin to review more modern (and non-fictional) documentaries here at Lightning Strikes, I trust that you'll see me bringing a knowledge of history, cynicism and practically to how I address our current issues. IF I can exhibit half as sharp a mind, I shall be most pleased.

Here's your weekly vid, Kids: [WARNING: Semi-adult Content. - RA]

"Bo'olah kay?"

"Kay sa."

"Inta kuwoise?

"El hamdu' Allah!"

That is my (extremely poorly) transliterated rending of how a conversation might behind at the beginning of an elevator ride in Cairo, Egypt, today. It has been years since I've lived in Cairo, as regular readers know, and I have not been around Arabic speakers during the interim.

What I do know is that Arabic, even colloquial Arabic - as I learned it, is a poetic language. All storytelling depends on a sense of poetry, and Arabic certainly has that. In the Western tradition, when we look at the legends of Beowulf or Siegfried, we see the same thing. As well, when we look at Shakespeare's many historical legends. It might possibly have been Homer with his great poetic words who started it all.

Long-term readers of my work also know that I am not one for poetry, myth and legend. I am quite prosaic because journalism is how I make my living. I'm not a great story-teller; I am a provocateur. That does not preclude my ability to appreciate what poets and storytellers can achieve.

I bring this last part of my post to your attention in order to again remind you of the power of words, not only mine but also your own. WORDS HAVE CHANGED HISTORY. Please remember that.

YOUR WORDS can change history. Whether you do it through storytelling or my more prosaic means, someone will be touched. A nation, perhaps, can be touched.

Speak up.

Cheers!

Keep me in your prayers as I keep you in my own.

Thanks for visiting.

Talk to you in a day or so.

Be well.