TC the Terrible

After all the talk about THE BOY going to golf camp I thought it might be best to show off the fine form he developed. The short game is his strong suit without a doubt. That makes sense when you consider that his drives, at best, go only 15 – 20 yards.

The camp was good for him over all, but he still lacks the attention span to play a full 18 holes. Riding around on the cart with THE WOMAN and me this past Saturday was more than he could take. By the 13th hole we were both ready to shoot him.

Being gluttons for punishment, we decided to take him out again on Monday. We were a bit smarter this time because we went to a par 3 course instead of a championship course. We were also a bit dumber because this course doesn’t provide carts, everybody has to walk. Like I said, THE WOMAN and I are not the brightest people on the planet.

We ended up leaving after nine holes. More because of my game than his complaining. I looked as if I had never picked up a set of clubs before that day. It was shameful the way I played. Out of nine holes, I was on the green with my drive exactly zero times. Only once did I even come close to hitting the green from off the tee. THE WOMAN was on from the tee box six times out of the nine holes. I’ve got to get back in the groove, or give the game up completely.

Out.

Yesterday’s main post was a long winded rant on how everyone involved with relief and aid for Katrina victims had screwed the pooch. This morning CZ linked over to my rant from his site. He also made a point that I really should have made myself. And I quote:

Also, please note that his commentary is NOT an official statement from the National Guard Bureau or the Army National Guard. It is only a personal observation and does not reflect the views of LTG Blum or LTG Vaughn or their staffs.

In fact I should add that disclaimer to the blog as a permanent thing. If nothing else, just to cover down on my own ass in the future.

Back to the validation thing. Two major American news sources are now running on line articles that back up the general tone of my rant. The Wall Street Journal On-line ran an Op-Ed piece today by Bob Williams, a former state legislator whose district just happened to be home to Mount St. Helens. By the way, he was in office in 1980 when said geographic feature blew its top. He makes several points, but the crux of the message is this:

The primary responsibility for dealing with emergencies does not belong to the federal government. It belongs to local and state officials who are charged by law with the management of the crucial first response to disasters.. . .

The actions and inactions of Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin are a national disgrace due to their failure to implement the previously established evacuation plans of the state and city. . . Detailed written plans were already in place to evacuate more than a million people. The plans projected that 300,000 people would need transportation in the event of a hurricane like Katrina.. .

. . . local, state and federal officials held a simulated hurricane drill 13 months ago, in which widespread flooding supposedly trapped 300,000 people inside New Orleans. The exercise simulated the evacuation of more than a million residents. The problems identified in the simulation apparently were not solved.

It does not get much plainer than that. In a much more generic report ABC News also notes that not enough was done by local authorities in the days leading up to, and after the hurricane. Of course since ABC News is primarily a television news team they don’t go into great detail for fear of losing your attention with big words and long sentences. They did provide one good quote:

As one FEMA official told ABC News, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco failed to submit a request for help in a timely manner.

Our friends over at the Communist Network News web site have still not given any coverage to who is at fault. At least not since it started becoming clear that President Bush can not bear the brunt of the blame. The same is true for our other friends at NPR. Both of them are living up to expectations.

Another long rant that makes me seem like an extremist from the ultra-right wing side of the aisle. Sorry about that.

I’ve finally got some pictures edited from THE BOY’s week at golf camp. A couple of those will get posted later today to lighten the mood a bit.