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Saturday Night Open Thread: New York Greets Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene has reached New York. Mayor Bloomberg says it's too late to evacuate, just stay indoors.

Here's the current tracker. For those of you on the east coast, how are you doing?

< Saturday Open Thread: Hurricane Irene Still a Threat | Sunday Morning: Irene Downgraded to Tropical Storm >
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    Reporting from the UWS (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by JDM in NYC on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 01:16:24 AM EST
    Well so far on 102nd St. and Broadway it's just heavy rain and some wind (2:00 AM). We're on the 13th floor, so no flooding, but my big concern is the windows. We face east, and on our block, we're above any buildings between us and the East Side, so there's nothing to block the storm when it really hits.
    I went to the local "megastore" yesterday, and got the last loaf of bread they had (literally)- it was Wonder Bread, which tells me that in this neighborhood, even in a hurricane Wonder Bread is the absolute last choice.
    I stopped in a wine store today, which had a long line- the checkout guy said "I just want to remind everybody that there is going to be another hurricane next weekend, so remember to stock up again next Friday."
    I think the neighborhood markets have made a big profit in the last couple of days, which I am glad to see, regardless of the cause, because the economy has killed a lot of local businesses in the past year. And there has been no price gouging; some stores were even discounting things.
    I think I am going to be up all night.

    please keep checking in (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 02:11:20 AM EST
    Even if we don't read until tomorrow, I love the updates. Stay safe and away from your windows.

    Parent
    From my Zone B .... (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:29:53 AM EST
    part of B'klyn, things seem okay so far.  Storm drains handling the rain. Sometimes they have trouble with much less rain.  But there are still hours to go.

    The 24 Deli across the street from me stayed open through all this.  I think the one on my corner did as well.

    Not many cars on the roads.  Saw a car delivering papers drive by a few minutes ago.  And just saw a livery cab move through the intersection.

    On the bread front, I was able to get some Polish bakery rye yesterday.  Tasty.

    Parent

    I've (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:42:01 AM EST
    always admired NYer's for their tenacity and I'm not surprised that there are delis that are staying open. If 9/11 had happened in the south, we probably would have just folded up shop.

    Parent
    One should also ... (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:46:27 AM EST
    never underestimate NYers ability and desire to nosh.  I remember commenting on the amount of noshing that went on in NYC during 9/11.

    ;)

    Parent

    Nobody seems to have (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:53:58 AM EST
    a schedule they are dedicated to.  I love trying to go about daily business and find doors here locked, and sometimes there isn't even a note on the door as to why it is mid morning on a Wednesday and nobody is at work :)  If we had a real reason to not open, who knows how that would go down.  

    I remember my husband a few years ago getting really mad at a guy who was driving a big truck you couldn't really pass easily 25 mph on a narrow two lane while talking on a cell phone.  When the road widened to a four lane before a stoplight, my husband pulled up alongside him, rolled down the window and started chewing the guy out.  The guy looked at him very surprised and asked him if he was in a hurry to die or something :)

    Parent

    You don't (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:43:34 AM EST
    see all that so much here in the Atlanta area because the drivers are so crazy but even worse, and this happens a lot when we go to SC, is when drivers actually pull out in front of you and go 15 mph. I always think my husband is going to have a coronary right then and there every time it happens!

    Parent
    Bit south of you, but my (none / 0) (#9)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 06:45:28 AM EST
    experience is about the same.

    Wonder Bread has always been taboo in my house! Doesn't it just sort of collapse into nothing?

    Parent

    7:40AM update (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 06:44:23 AM EST
    The power is on in my neck of Manhattan, and I was able to sleep most of the night.

    This mostly seems like a big rain event to me--knock wood. I'm sure it's different for people in other places (especially where a big rain event is a big flooding problem).

    That's the difference between (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by CoralGables on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 10:29:37 AM EST
    a cat one and a cat three. A cat one is more of a warning and an education for future use should you ever need it. It also serves to show where newer construction has its flaws.

    Parent
    My circa 1991 windows didn't leak a drop (none / 0) (#37)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 10:37:39 AM EST
    I'd say that's a good sign.

    Windows that are good enough to keep out most of the noise of Manhattan seem equally effective at preventing hurricane insomnia!

    Parent

    I know (none / 0) (#42)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 12:20:50 PM EST
    I cringe

    Parent
    Sunday afternoon (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by JDM in NYC on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 01:39:50 PM EST
    Went to bed at 3:30, woke up at 8:30 and found that water was leaking in around the casings of our windows. There had been a big project a couple of years ago repointing and sealing the outside of our building- didn't work all that well I guess. Mopped up, went back to sleep.
    Now with the windows open there's a nice breeze, and the windows are cleaner, too.
    We're going to take a walk in Riverside Park later, to see how it fared.
    So now we have a lifetime supply of batteries, and of course that loaf of Wonder Bread...

    Parent
    Re "back to unemployment" (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:39:32 AM EST
    problem comment aboe, what possible rationale supports Pres. Obama scheduling a speech on this issue weeks in the future?  Doesn't seem to connote urgency. Yes, I know he is a speechifier.

    The fierce urgency of (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by MO Blue on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 12:31:22 PM EST
     later.

    Parent
    The fierce urgency of now (none / 0) (#58)
    by Politalkix on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:50:52 PM EST
    Fierce urgency? (none / 0) (#59)
    by MO Blue on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 10:03:48 PM EST
    Per article you referenced, this effort, while nice, will only create 62,000 jobs in ten years at a cost $2.5 billion in stimulus funds. We would need about 200 - 250 times that to create the jobs we need now.

    By almost any account, the White House has fallen woefully short on job creation during the past two and a half years. But galvanized by the potential double payoff of skilled, blue-collar jobs and a dynamic clean-energy industry -- the administration has tried to buck the tide with lithium-ion batteries. It had to start almost from scratch. In 2009, the U.S. made less than 2 percent of the world's lithium-ion batteries. By 2015, the Department of Energy projects that, thanks mostly to the government's recent largess, the United States will have the capacity to produce 40 percent of them....
    ...
    Every company I visited not only had plans to get their primary factories running full speed by 2012 or 2013 but also to build or expand others. Jennifer Granholm, Michigan's former governor, has predicted that advanced batteries will create 62,000 jobs over the next decade.

    Also, it is estimated that a net of 159,000 jobs will be lost if Obama is successful in pushing through his free trade agreement with S. Korea. That alone would would wipe out any projected job gains due to manufacturing of batteries here in U.S.

    Parent

    Read the lines (none / 0) (#60)
    by Politalkix on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 11:02:06 PM EST
    that you posted. It says the Obama administration "had to start almost from scratch. In 2009, the U.S. made less than 2 percent of the world's lithium-ion batteries.".

    These sort of investments should have been made in the 1990s for us to not fall into the hole that we did with misguided policies of the 4 presidencies before that of BHO.  But better late than never!

    S. Korean wages are not as low as Chinese wages. It is a country with a smaller population with high standards of living. There are advantages to having free trade agreements with small, democratic countries where wages are high and people look to us for their defense needs; it is not like enabling the entry of China to the WTO.

    Parent

    Read what it said (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by MO Blue on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 11:38:39 PM EST
    In 10 years this investment of $2.5 billion will generate 62,000 (that is thousand) jobs. Based on real unemployment right now, 25 million people are unemployed or underemployed. Obama's ambitious achievement that you are so proudly touting doesn't even qualify for a drop in the bucket. It is over 24,000,0000 jobs short of what is needed now even if the battery industry generated all 62,000 jobs right this minute and not over a ten year span.

    It has been estimated that the S. Korea trade deal will cost the U.S. 159,000 jobs taking into account their wages and standard of living. That is why the Democrats in Congress are trying to build in additional dollars to retrain U.S. workers into the legislation.

    So bottom line, taking into account the investment in manufacturing batteries in the U.S. offset by the loss of jobs to outsourcing to S. Korea, those two Obama policies will cost the U.S. 57,000 jobs.

    Basically Obama's fierce urgency of now is more targeted to meeting the goals of big business than to generate NET positive job growth for the citizens of this country.

    Parent

    In S.Korea there were huge protests also (none / 0) (#62)
    by Politalkix on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 12:23:58 AM EST
    about the number of jobs that will be lost to the US. You have latched on to a dubious number as the gospel truth in a way that is quite hilarious to me.
    Ever heard of a concept of trying to help yourself instead of waiting for the government to help you with everything? If you stop buying things that were made outside the country and convince others to do so, businesses will take notice. That is a more direct way to retain jobs than spending all your time on the internet complaining about what the government is doing.
    Nobody said that working to bring back battery manufacturing in this country is going to solve our entire (or even a big portion of our) unemployment problem right away. However, it is silly to deny that bringing back battery technology manufacturing is the right thing to do, it is a step in the right direction and there is an urgent need to do so at this time.

    Parent
    25 million jobs are needed (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by MO Blue on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 07:25:04 AM EST
    and 62,000 jobs to be created over a 10 year span is the response.

    Falling back on your usual personal attack mode to distract from the fact that your argument is less than sound does not change the fact that 62,000 in 10 years is a pitiful response to the unemployment situation where 25 million people are unemployed or underemployed.

    Parent

    Nobody (none / 0) (#67)
    by Politalkix on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 08:53:35 AM EST
    said that bringing back battery manufacturing will be the only response to high unemployment. It is you who is in your usual mode of atack. I could not help but notice that you are silent about the general complicity of people who you claim to care about and union pension funds about the offshoring of jobs. This is the reason I believe that your concerns about unemployment are not real but of a political nature.
    If people in America refuse to buy things made outside the country and union pension funds stop investing in companies that relocate jobs overseas, the unemployment situation can be solved directly, quickly and easily. But you already know that!
     

    Parent
    Once again personal attacks (none / 0) (#68)
    by MO Blue on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 09:09:44 AM EST
    that are off topic because you can't substantiate your position. The topic initially under discussion was the fierce urgency of creating jobs NOW. Your response was as inadequate as Obama's job creation program. 62,000 jobs are not even a drop in the bucket when 25,000,000 jobs are needed. Creating jobs in 10 years does not help the person who is unemployed now. Maybe you have been spinning so long that real numbers don't register with you so I will provide you with visuals.

    Jobs needed now:  25,000,000
    Battery Jobs:         62,000

    NOW:                    2011
    Ten Years From NOW:     2021

    I don't suggest you take your position on the road. Telling a person who is unemployed NOW that he/she will be able to compete with 25 million other people ten years from now for the 62,000 positions in 2021 might not generate any votes for Obama. Of course, if you fail there you can always attack the voter. I'm sure that will work.  

     

    Parent

    I do not care how many votes (none / 0) (#69)
    by Politalkix on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 10:15:21 AM EST
    are generated for BHO. I believe however that retaining R&D and working to bring back manufacturing are right things to do for the country. I have said repeatedly that I will support spending to build and develop infrastructure. However, your political attacks in laying all blame on the current President for every ill that has befallen the nation owing to unsound policies of the last 4 Presidencies may win you some kudos in this blog but do nothing to improve the situation of people that you claim to care about. If people think that voting for Perry or Romney will improve their economic situation, more power to them. In my opinion, they will be grieviously wrong. But this is a democracy, people have the right to vote their choice. If people think that voting for a 3rd party candidate or not voting will help the unemployed get jobs, they should exercise that option. I would not however like the government to recreate the bubble economy that caused so much damage to this country; I can only talk about my preferences. I would also like our country to rebuild an economy that produces things, not just consumes. I will only support policies that enable retaining a strong technogical base inside our shores. BHO repeatedly said before 2008 that he would like the USA to move away from a boom and bust economy or an economy dependent on bubbles. I will be very happy if he keeps his promise in this regard.

    Parent
    Awwweee ... that's cute (none / 0) (#70)
    by Yman on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 01:39:19 PM EST
    Still "hoping" for "change" and pointing to campaign promises, despite the long (and growing) list of broken promises?  Apart from a little stimulus spending, what has he done to further these promises?

    Heh.

    BHO repeatedly said before 2008 that he would like the USA to move away from a boom and bust economy or an economy dependent on bubbles. I will be very happy if he keeps his promise in this regard.

    BHO said a lot of things in 2008, but pointing to statements like this is just silly.  I bet he's also in favor of motherhood and apple pie.  

    Parent

    Your CDS is showing .... again (none / 0) (#64)
    by Yman on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 07:25:52 AM EST
    These sort of investments should have been made in the 1990s for us to not fall into the hole that we did with misguided policies of the 4 presidencies before that of BHO.  But better late than never!

    Riiiiiiiigggggght ... Clinton should have been able to push through a massive government stimulus through a Republican Congress at a time when the economy was humming along.  Guess he was too busy helping to create 22 million jobs, rather than a few thousand.

    Heh.

    Parent

    Interesting (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:00:02 AM EST
    At the Tomb of the Unknowns, they have the perseverance of a NYC deli

    When something has been (none / 0) (#36)
    by CoralGables on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 10:36:13 AM EST
    done for over 63 years without a break, I can't see someone in that group saying, sorry folks it ends today. It's an impressive bunch.

    Parent
    I know...those delis kick ass :) (none / 0) (#41)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 12:16:03 PM EST
    I kid, but I did have to look up what the plural of deli is :)

    Parent
    Pretty sure the plural (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by Peter G on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 12:46:57 PM EST
    would be "delitzim" ;).

    Parent
    Loved it (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by CoralGables on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 12:54:49 PM EST
    as someone that always enjoys dishing out a little verbal twist, you gave me a New York mile high pastrami sized grin with that one.

    Parent
    well, its here (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by CST on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 09:47:39 AM EST
    We still have power, but there is already one tree that came down in the driveway and branches all over the street/yard.

    So we're all off the top floor and staying away from Windows.

    How is your grandmother doing? (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by MO Blue on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 12:21:06 PM EST
    Hope Irene played gently with her and her companions on the island.

    Parent
    last we checked (5.00 / 2) (#49)
    by CST on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 01:37:24 PM EST
    just fine :)

    It's weird because the wind is coming in gusts, so it will be earily quiet and still, then all of a sudden, 50-60mph winds come through.  There's almost no rain anymore, but trees are still coming down.

    Things aren't very bad, it's mostly just a waiting game and hoping nothing goes down the wrong way.

    But we've had worse nor'easters.  And looking at the news reports, where I am is some of the worst wind and damage.

    Parent

    oh (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by CST on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 10:05:11 AM EST
    And the road down the street that always floods in the rain, is flooded, and the cops already had to pull a car out that got stranded.

    We all packed bags just in case one of these trees comes down the wrong way.  So far we've been lucky, but we have a few more hours of "the worst" of it.

    right now (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by CST on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 10:44:52 AM EST
    It's like the trees are intentionally missing us.  Literally the whole driveway is covered in branches, except where the cars are.  And I'm not talking about twigs.  These are the size of small trees.  So far they're hitting nothing but asphalt.

    Stay safe (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 12:28:50 PM EST
    I've seen a few cars taken out by those falling limbs.

    Parent
    Survived intact (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by jbindc on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 08:08:47 AM EST
    Power went out at my apartment a few times, but only for a minute or two each time, so my roommate told me.  I was staying a few miles away in Arlington, VA, and we never lost power, and there were a few small branches and leaves down. BF and I went for a walk around the neighborhood on Sunday morning and by the afternoon, it was one of the most glorious August days - low 80's, low humidity, and not a cloud in the sky.  We went over to the Air Force Memorial and the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial because even though we live here, we'd never been.  Both very cool and highly recommended for those who visit the DC area.

    Got home Sunday night however, to find that my DVR is fried, however, which means I lost many, many hours of TV shows, including the entire summer season of several shows.  Maybe that's nature's way of telling me I watch too much TV....

    All is well and I'm back at work, rarin' to go on Monday.

    And for all those west coast people who made fun of us for the earthquake - I say, how many of you have lived through an earthquake and a hurricane in the same week?  :)

    The electricity is still on (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Sat Aug 27, 2011 at 11:49:00 PM EST
    in my neck of Manhattan.

    I'm going to think about sleeping soon. Nothing I can do about mother nature, but I hope she doesn't take away my air conditioning!

    New Jersey now getting hit hard (none / 0) (#2)
    by Towanda on Sat Aug 27, 2011 at 11:51:46 PM EST
    (from previous thread, for New Yorkers who may have missed this link) according to twitterers reporting to this site.  Reports of a house collapsing amid tornadoes, high winds, power outages, etc.  Photos linked show serious beach erosion -- and the worst is said to be yet to come on that coast, where the comments indicate that the forecasters were spot on.

    I'm hoping to hear tomorrow from some TL'ers in the East who have not reported in for a while -- perhaps owing to power outages.  May that be the worst of the storm for them, and may they all be among the many smart folks here who stocked up well ahead of the storm, as other photos showed lines that were blocks long to get into stores with shelves already nearly emptied.

    I hoped we might hear from the Maryland (none / 0) (#3)
    by caseyOR on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 12:22:54 AM EST
    TLers, Anne and Zorba, by now. Maybe in the morning. Perhaps it is just a matter of lost power.

    There is nothing about Irene that I like, but I grew up with tornadoes, and I really hate them.

    I suspect the entire eastern seaboard will look very different once this is over. Irene is rearranging the coast line in rather brutal fashion.

    Parent

    We're fine (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Zorba on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:29:01 AM EST
    Out this way, it was only a lot of rain and some wind- nothing really bad.  No trees down or anything.  Anne is closer to the coast- she may have lost power.

    Parent
    Glad to hear that everything is O.K. (none / 0) (#25)
    by MO Blue on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:38:01 AM EST
    your way. AP reporting that 4 million people are without power.

    Hope that everyone else is doing alright and that we will hear from them soon.

    Parent

    It wasn't bad in Baltimore city (none / 0) (#51)
    by sj on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 02:26:32 PM EST
    Heavy rain, heavy wind (but not fierce).  No power outages here  The trees in the park showed very minimal damage this morning.  And fortunately it had stopped raining so my dog could have her morning constitutional.  

    Tried to take her out for evening potty break and she refused to squat.  Didn't want to go back inside though -- I think she was convinced there was some dry land somewhere that she could use.  Did I mention she hates wet grass and sidewalks?  But it was odd to be the only soul out.  Everybody else was smarter than me.  Except for my dog.  This time she wasn't smarter than me.

    Parent

    Pennsylvania slammed. Major flooding (none / 0) (#4)
    by caseyOR on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 12:32:58 AM EST
    in large portions of the state.

    In Philadelphia the Schuykill River is expected to crest at 15 feet, the highest it has been since 1869. Lots of flooding.

    God, I hope people are safe.

    Me too. (none / 0) (#14)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:43:56 AM EST
    I remember Hurricane Agnes going to PA and almost destroying a lot of towns. Very sad and I hope the damage isn't that bad this time.

    Parent
    In the western suburbs of Philadelphia (none / 0) (#34)
    by Peter G on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 10:15:44 AM EST
    we have lucked out, with plenty of rain, but no flooding or leaks, only twigs blown off trees, and no loss of power at any time.  Brisk winds overnight, and still blowing pretty hard outside now, at 11 a.m. Sunday. We are about 100 miles west of the main track of the storm, less than ten miles west of central Philadelphia. But local news reports show significant flooding, tree limbs down, and plenty of power outages less than five miles from our neighborhood.

    Parent
    Tolerable night in DC (none / 0) (#7)
    by koshembos on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 04:07:59 AM EST
    Isabel 2003 was much worse. We have power, the winds never gut nasty, the rain was mostly as predicted. Some areas, though, were deluged.

    Back to the unemployment problem and dreaming of a real Democrat for president in 2012.

    And she has become a Tropical Storm (none / 0) (#18)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:00:46 AM EST


    So far so good... (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:15:21 AM EST
    in Western Suffolk County, mid-island...not too much rain here, wind is whipping as I type, but only small limbs down at my crib...the big trees holding strong so far, if swaying.  And the juice is on.

    Watching live footage over in Long Beach, rougher and tougher on the coastline, tide coming in adding to the flooding.  Might lose some boardwalk, saw a lifeguard tower boung around.

    Whoa, big gust just now...power flickered but back on.

    Hang tough everybody!

     

    Was watching Long Beach too (none / 0) (#20)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:26:03 AM EST
    Looks challenging, stay safe

    Parent
    If the trees... (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by kdog on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:39:22 AM EST
    stay strong I'm in the clear, my crib is surrounded by some big old trees...my only real concern.  No flood worries by me in the ghetto 'burbs, I'm probably in the best locale on the Island as far as hurricanes are concerned.

    Dem trees are getting a workout though, damn...dancing like Fred and Ginger.  

    Parent

    Just went outside... (none / 0) (#28)
    by kdog on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:54:24 AM EST
    to do a little recon, across the street a few houses up had a tree uprooted, missed their house thank goodness.  

    Kinda shocked power is still on, all power lines above ground out here. Knock on wood.

    Parent

    Jesus Cripes (none / 0) (#21)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:30:20 AM EST
    CNN has homeland security Katrina failure Michael Chertoff on asking FEMA "important" questions.  Are there absolutely no standards for getting a television gig acting like you know something?

    I can't believe it (none / 0) (#22)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:33:27 AM EST
    Candy Crowley said he is staying on with her.

    Parent
    CNN is such ... (none / 0) (#23)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:34:52 AM EST
    an embarrassment.

    Parent
    I'm sending in a huge complaint (none / 0) (#24)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 08:36:29 AM EST
    And I switched channels to MSNBC.

    Parent
    I was getting my oil changed (none / 0) (#66)
    by jbindc on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 08:17:34 AM EST
    And the dealership had FOX news on.....trust me - I would have loved Candy Crowley.  I was forced to watch an hour of some blonde with way too much makeup on and a Farrah Fawcett hairdo ask the guests the dumbest questions ever.

    Even better was that they kept showing images of places they weren't talking about, so it got very confusing as to what was happening where.

    Parent

    Looks like the worst ... (none / 0) (#29)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 09:13:36 AM EST
    of the storm is over.  But these things are all about the aftermath.  So I won't feel totally at ease for another 6-8 hours.

    Anderson Cooper is on (none / 0) (#30)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 09:36:01 AM EST
    Wouldn't be a hurricane without him. Gary Tuchman too.

    Glad the worst is over and it wasn't as bad as expected for those in NY.

    Turned on Msnbc this morning hoping (none / 0) (#32)
    by brodie on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 10:03:05 AM EST
    to get my weekly dose of Prison Doc Bloc, but instead they are actually putting some live people to work covering the East coast Big Blow which has apparently fizzled out to a gentle breeze with some trees down and power outages and localized flooding.

    Well at least this not quite total disaster allows the network an opportunity to give Lil Luke Russert some added reporting experience before he is bumped up to take over at MTP.

    Parent

    Am I a terrible person (none / 0) (#47)
    by ruffian on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 12:54:06 PM EST
    for wishing he would get blown off that sailboat he was bobbing around on yesterday?

    Parent
    kdog: what did your "crib" (none / 0) (#39)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 10:52:27 AM EST
    look like when you got home?

    Roomies... (5.00 / 4) (#40)
    by kdog on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 11:28:03 AM EST
    took care of business, kept it most hospitable, now if we can just stay on top of it.

    Next we gotta rake up leaves like autumn come early...so much for taking the rest of the summer off from domestic duties!  But sh*t I'll take it, if one of our trees came down I'd have no roof for sure.  

    Parent

    Can't recall who mentioned glow sticks as a help (none / 0) (#52)
    by jawbone on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 04:05:39 PM EST
    during power outages...Jeralyn? Thanks much; it had never occurred to me.

    Didn't need the few I picked up, but I'm starting a small electricity outage stash in my bedside table drawer.  Matches, candle in its own glass, glow sticks. Just enough to get to other stuff without feeling my way.

    My flashlight that worked by shaking to create the electricity has failed, I discovered when I was testing it last night. It was so neat. Not the brightest, but I didn't have to worry about batteries losing power. But, now, after little use, it no longer generates electricity, so maybe those type of batteries also go bad.

    Sooooo glad the electricity has not gone out, but we still have strong, strong wind gusts here in northern NJ.

    Jeralyn, there is a site violator (none / 0) (#53)
    by caseyOR on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:36:12 PM EST
    called xiao1 who is spamming many many old comment threads, some going back to 2006.

    Yup (none / 0) (#55)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:40:51 PM EST
    We're under attack!

    Parent
    Quick, call NATO. We (none / 0) (#57)
    by caseyOR on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:42:20 PM EST
    need air strike support.  :-) (sort of)

    Parent
    And here is that same SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#56)
    by caseyOR on Sun Aug 28, 2011 at 07:41:24 PM EST
    here on this thread. Busy busy typist.