For those who didn't know, I had some minor out-patient surgery this past Friday. As is my tendency, I naïvely thought I would be up and about like my usual self by the next day, if not that evening. Note that there was no arrogance in this, just a complete lack of understanding of what this was going to mean for my system. I am (today) starting to come out of the haze of the (heavy-duty prescription) painkillers, so it seemed like a quick update was in order.

The surgery was wonderfully uneventful. Everything seems to have gone as planned and on the time-table they expected. I was out of the center at the time they told my ride to be there. My friend stopped with me at Safeway to pick up the painkiller prescription (mmm... Darvocet) and a few things I would need for the recovery period. Speaking of which...

Without going into graphic detail, this work was related to my digestive tract. And because of that, I have to maintain high-fiber, high-other-things practices that promote fast and (relatively) smooth transition through the digestive system. In some cases, this is no big deal– high-fiber foods aren't awful, and Metamucil is tolerable. But this also includes drinking some amount of prune juice per day. And that shit is vile.

I've decided that the whole, "Prune juice is a warrior's drink" facet to the character of Lt. Worf was a massive practical-joke on Star Trek geeks. It was a ploy by the writers to see if they could get the same hopeless nerds who go to these conventions in full Klingon regalia to also choke down this vile-but-natural laxative. Personally, I'd love to see a con require that anyone who wants to walk around in Klingon Warrior garb drink a minimum of one "tankard" (or whatever sort of cup they're carrying with them) per day. I mean, if you want to play the part of a warrior, you gotta drink the part, too. And since there's no equivalent to "blood wine" handy... egads, what if the writers were implying that Klingon Blood Wine was similar to prune juice in taste? No wonder those guys were always quick to fight– had to get the fighting out of the way before your bowels exploded. If this is true, my regard for the Star Trek writers has at least doubled.

Anyway, I'm still taking pain meds at 4-5 hour intervals, but now I'm only taking one pill at a time, not two. Last night, I did a little coding while watching some of my TiVo backlog. My illusions of using the time off of work like a free vacation, though, are now being shone in a more realistic light. But I could be a hell of a lot worse off (indeed, there was a small chance that the doctor would have had to do additional work that could have lengthened my recovery time from 4 days to 7). I'm not driving around much, but I'm answering e-mail with reasonable reliability. In other words, I'm doin' OK.

Just too drained to have posted anything over the weekend. Luckily, jwz collected some real gems in his LiveJournal. Take special note of points titled, "Photo Op," "Daley 'shocked' as feds reject aid," and "Teenager 'loots' a rescue bus."

More recently, we have a cold look at Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff's reading habits.

Barbara Bush chimes in with her views on the state and status of the refugees who've found themselves in Houston (emphasis added by me):

A post at Daily Kos summarizes some of the best examples of FEMA's shoddiness:

• FEMA won't accept Amtrak's help in evacuations
• FEMA turns away experienced firefighters
• FEMA turns back Wal-Mart supply trucks
• FEMA prevents Coast Guard from delivering diesel fuel
• FEMA won't let Red Cross deliver food
• FEMA bars morticians from entering New Orleans
• FEMA blocks 500-boat citizen flotilla from delivering aid
• FEMA fails to utilize Navy ship with 600-bed hospital on board
• FEMA to Chicago: Send just one truck
• FEMA turns away generators (See entry from 3:32 P.M. by Ben Morris, Slidell mayor)
• FEMA: "First Responders Urged Not To Respond"

(No, that last one isn't really an Onion headline, it just reads like one.)

Lastly, one thoughtful suggestion on how Bush could personally help out: President Bush: Sell the Ranch.

Remember, disaster elsewhere is great for real estate prices

(A little light non-Katrina content for a break...)

As it happens, there are more than a couple of those statements I can't really argue with...

One great improvement over yesterday, we're no longer brushing off the offers of foreign aid. And Condi cut short her shopping trip in NYC. Cheney, it seems, is still on vacation).

Article in the Washington Monthly detailing the chronology of how the current administration has systematically gutted FEMA and buried our ability to respond: January 2001: Bush appoints Joe Allbaugh, a crony from Texas, as head of FEMA. Allbaugh has no previous experience in disaster management.

As with prior hurricanes in Florida, and earthquakes in California, it seems clear to some people who is to blame:

The FEMA director and the Dept. of Homeland Security Director seem to have impressions of the situation that have no backing in actual reality. Their opinions and talking points are handily routed by the reports of people actually on the ground there.

In fact, it seems that, according to Brown (FEMA director, a man who's previous job must have been some stellar credentials, except for the whole getting fired part), "the federal government did not even know about the Convention Center people until today." The "today" in that statement was Thursday, September 1. Oddly-enough, the rest of the country seemed to know about those people while Bush was still on vacation.

And speaking of which, no look at a colossal disaster is complete without dropping in on the Big Guy. Sometime either before of after the latest staged photo-op, Bush had time to comfort some victims in Biloxi, Miss.:

To the tune of, "America Fuck Yeah!" (accoustic mix)

(Alternate title, "The Politics of Human Suffering")

I'm glad to note after yesterday's post, that military and expanded National Guard presence is now in the area. Helicopters are also all over the place doing what they can. Nut-jobs in the area, though, are screwing things up for everyone by firing upon helicopters and otherwise attacking those trying to help. There are reports of rescue-boats being tipped over, and there is apparently news footage of NOPD officers (in uniform no less) looting stores– not just for food and water, which they're supposed to be getting so that they can help people, but tape of officers carting away new computers and flat-screen TVs. As a co-worker pointed out to me, "this isn't a natural disaster; the disaster here is the lack of preparation and planning."

Some quick notes:

Over at Wonkette.com, they got a message from someone at the EPA, about how (and why) locals have taken to referring to the NOLA flood waters as "Lake George".

Apparently, not enough gub'mint money has made it to "faith-based initiatives", because FEMA is directing donations to Rev. Pat Robertson. Yes, Pat "we should take him out" Robertson. Note that the link this page points to no longer has the charity list on it. From that page, click on "Volunteer or Make a Donation". Also, "Operation Blessing" seems to have moved from the no. 2 spot to no. 3.

It seems that Canada has not only offered aid, but very specialized and highly-relevant aid. It also seems that the Dept. of Homeland Security doesn't want them shifty Canucks crossin' our borders. I hope that one proves to be a misunderstanding.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (well, to be fair, he left Crawford two days ago, only three days after all this started), it's business as usual for the RNC:

Can't let a little thing like a hurricane get in the way of tax-relief. After all, Condi needs her some new shoes:

Yee-haw!

I'm a big proponent of standards, especially in regards to web development and related issues. Especially XHTML for web content. Put down that tired old busted HTML 4.01 and get with the new millenium.

Still, I'm more than a little concerned that the XHTML Fist t-shirt features a hand with six fingers. And the left hand, no less. You can't even try to explain it away as being Count Rugen's.