...while wondering what ever happened to FEMA

When push comes to shove, we are a generous people in the United States. We can be petty, picky and spoiled but when a situation arises where people are truly in need, we tend to stand up and do the right thing. Ethiopia. Afghanistan. Wherever a true crisis arises, we help. As the wealthiest nation on Earth, this is as it should be. Now we need to help our own. Even if it's only ten bucks, give what you can to the Katrina relief effort. This area was dirt-poor before the storm, with crumbling infrastructure, crooked politicians and rampant poverty. Help is desperately needed. These people are not a burden. They are our brothers and sisters. And there but for the grace of God, go we.


Now, political persuasions aside, am I the only one concerned that the president wants to make a guy who has only been a judge for two years the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? How can this possibly be a good idea? I mean, it would be like making a guy who has only been governor of a state for a few years the President. Oh, wait a minute...Professional athletes get a pretty bad rap these days, what with drugs, crime and selfishness, some bad apples have spoiled the proverbial bunch. The outpouring of generosity that we have seen over the last two weeks however, has been amazing. From local heroes coming home to give aid to Stephon Marbury -- who has never lived closer to New Orleans than New York City -- breaking down and absolutely bawling on live television -- while personally donating $500,000 to the relief effort, the reaction from the professional sports community has been truly inspiring, particularly when compared to that of our government...Idiot of the Week goes to Ann Coulter who said the following: "I'd rather fight the terrorists on the the streets of Baghdad than fight them on the streets of New York City. The New Yorkers would probably lay down and surrender." apparently Ms. Coulter forgets that much of September 11, 2001 actually happened in New York City. By the way, Ann, there's this really neat new thing: it's called food. You might not look like that if you ate some...I never thought I would write these words, but Hero of the Week goes to Dallas Mayor Laura Miller, with a big assist from Bishop TD Jakes of The Potter's House Church. Saying to hell (no pun intended) with the federal government, the mayor and the messenger have set a date of 18 September for moving all evacuees out of Dallas' Reunion Arena and Convention Center and into private apartments and homes. The coalition of private, public and religious benefactors will pay for rent, utilities, food and furniture for all evacuees for sixty days. Hopefully by then the federal government will be able to help some...Are you ready for some football?!? The NFL is back and life is good. Here are ten things to look for:

1) The Arizona Cardinals will make the playoffs.
2) The Green Bay Packers will not.
3) Ricky Williams will rush for 1,000 yards.
4) Peyton Manning will throw 50 touchdown passes.
5) He will once again fail to do anything in the playoffs.
6) The Minnesota Vikings will have NFC home-field advantage.
7) They will once again fail to do anything in the playoffs.
8) The San Diego Chargers will prove that last year was no fluke
9) Buffalo rookie QB JP Losman will be the real deal.
10) My beloved Browns will go 5-11.
You say you want useless playoff predictions? Why sure, we can do that. NFC division winners: Philadelphia, Minnesota, Atlanta and Arizona. Wild Cards: Seattle and Carolina. AFC division winners: New England, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and San Diego. Wild Cards: Jets and Jacksonville. NFC Championship: Philadelphia over Carolina; AFC Championship New England over San Diego. Super Bowl: New England over Philadelphia...Again, as we look for source material for Scattershooting each week, we come across some pretty strange stuff on the internet. Like this. Or this. We find the funny, as well. And if you ever want to win an argument about the web being chock full 'o porn, just google images of Ann Coulter. Who knew?...In closing, disasters can have strange effects. For the first time in a very long time, I can say I am proud to be a citizen of this country. Being 36, I have only heard stories about how the nation worked together toward the common goals of surviving the Depression and winning World War II. While many tales have been terribly romanticized, looking into the eyes of my countrymen over these last two weeks, I can finally see the grain of truth embedded in all I have been told of these seminal moments in our history. And I am proud to be amongst those who call themselves Americans.