I’ve heard, from the president to the FEMA director down to the talking heads on FoxNews, subtle and not-so-subtle blame being placed on those who “chose not to leave” along the Gulf Coast, particularly those in the poor sections of New Orleans. It’s true that some of those who remained behind chose for varying reasons to do so. But for many of those that stayed, it was no choice. The evacuation plans relied on the evacuees having their own transportation out in a city where over 40% of the population didn’t own a car (N.O. bus service was shut down within hours of the evacuation order). Once again, those in power and those who speak for them show that they have no idea what it’s like to be poor. These people do.

• Being poor is knowing exactly how much everything costs.
• Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.
• Being poor means your money is eaten away by fees: for money orders, for cashing a paycheck.
• Being poor is hearing your daughter tell you twenty years later that she finally realized that ‘Mommy already ate, sweetie’ was a lie.
• Being poor is people wondering why you didn’t leave.

Herd mentality and panic buying took over Athens today, as everyone in town tried to fill every gas tank they had at the same time. Gas prices were up ten cents overnight, but by five pm they were up another ninety – those stations that still had gas were happy to sell it at $3.39 a gallon. As I was driving home, the local radio news station was doing a special broadcast on the panic, and a county spokesman actually had to get on the air and implore the public to stop calling 911 to ask where the cheap gas was. (!!!) Apparently it happened in Atlanta too, where the governor waived environmental restrictions and enacted price gouging laws One well-publicized station was selling gas at well over $5 a gallon at the end of the day. Meanwhile, it’s Dawn of the Dead over in NOLA. All that’s standing before the complete breakdown of civilization are some well-prepared (and well-armed) nerds at an internet data center.

There was much eating of cake and playing with presents.

Thirty-Nine Questions for Charlie Daniels Upon Hearing "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" for the First Time in 25 Years
(more inside)

Here is one of the large red flowers with three visiting bees.

For the first time, we’re growing a patch of flowers. These are about 20 varieties of heirloom sunflowers.

Is this thing on?

“See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda. (Applause.)” -- President George W. Bush, 5/24/2005

The view from over the northern Georgia-Alabama line.

All the sweet, green icing flowing down Someone left the cake out in the rain I don’t think that I can take it ‘Cause it took so long to bake it And I’ll never have that recipe again Oh, no! Oh, no No, no Oh no!!