Michele

Speedy, it's more than likely that it's a reaction to the heater/furnace flying the year's accumulation of dust around. FIL/FIV (feline leukemia and feline aids)are two tests which are done at the vet's office, and should've been done when you first brought him in. Whatever cat comes into my house gets tested; I've never had a positive test yet, in all the rescues and adoptions I've done. That's not to say that it isn't a serious illness, but it tends to stay in colonies/groups...and neighborhoods. So I don't think immediately of FIV/FIL when a cat, previously healthy, starts sneezing. Check him out really well...is there goop in his eyes *(or moreso than usual)? Runny nose? Has his behavior changed at all? Is he still doing all his business in the proper, trained place? Eating all right? Diarhhea or intensely stinky urine? Excessive crabbiness and/or energy level change? Any hiding outside of his normal routine? Any other changes that you've noticed? If no, I'd say it's likely nothing more than the furnace. If yes, make an appointment for the vets come monday, and see what he says. If he's due for shots, then don't put them off; get them, sooner rather than later. In the mean time, watch him a bit, and see if there's any sort of change. I'll be around this weekend (if my internet connection stays together, that is...) so don't hesitate to send a pm. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

A 4.0 centered near Riverside, according to the chart I just looked at. It hasn't been reviewed yet, so perhaps it's off in either mag or location. No shaking up in my neck of the woods; lots of rain, flooding and thunder/lightning, but no shaking. Yet... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Gia. Go be a kid. Take a vacation from adult responsibilities, remember the joy and exhilaration and anticipation of being 5; remember the awe and the pure freedom...go take 10 minutes and play. But come in before the thunder comes your way; we've just passed a horrible night and day here in Los Angeles with lots of thunder and lightning and even a few tornado watches...and there's worse to come tonight (or so they say). So now, while you can, go play. Dance, run, taste the rain...and remember. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Dom, it was great to see you on Sunday, but I was dismayed to find you were moving *(apparently, I had missed that factoid because of the nature of my life at the moment...). Know that your friendship is appreciated, and that Florida's gain is, sadly, the desert's loss. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I will be there. It's been a long while since I've been able to jump, and I rally, really want to be there. Most likely it will only be on Sunday, though. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Please rescue one. I've got five rescues now, and they are all completely amazing. I'm currently trying to find a home for a cat that some tenants left behind, and I'm so angry at people at the moment who abandon their animals. So get a rescue; there are some very special cats out there. Run a search on some of the breeds; some owners turn over their cats to breed rescues, especially if they are active and/or rambunctions, like bengals and siamese. Don't bother with the hundreds of dollars for a pure breed, because you can find them for free or low cost at breed rescues. And people, if you're not going to keep your animal for it's life, don't take them. if you can't make the commitment, don't take them. And for God's sake, don't leave them behind to roam (and get sick and die, or get hit by a car) when you move. If you can't take them, bring them to a no-kill shelter, and give it another chance. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Any link? Not that I doubt you, mind, but I just want to read the story from the site it appeared on. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks for serving; I appreciate it! As for layoffs, yes, it's really like getting back on a bike. You may have some wobbles at first, but pretty soon you'll be flying like you never left the sky. I'd take the poster above up on his offer when you get home, and then you'll be good to go. Thanks again! And stay safe! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yes...haven't you? 'Round and 'round the mulberry bush... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Everyone, stay safe, and be careful. Post when you can to let all of us know you're all right...and for those not in TX but in LA, same for you. Let people know where you're going if you leave, and if not, let us know you're safe after riding out the storm. This is going to be rough for everyone. You're all in my thoughts and prayers. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

My bad...life, I suspect, will continue. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Just because I was curious, I did some searching on the origination of the story, and it's authors, Larry Bradshaw and Lorrie Beth Slonsky. I've found that they are either contributing editors or editors/reporters for Socialist Worker, which can be located here...http://www.socialistworker.org/. the story this entire thread is based on was first published in the Socialist Worker. Another comment made by the authors of the article... "Whatever you think about what happened to us in New Orleans, we only hope that we can all work together to expose injustice, challenge racism, hold the Bush administration accountable for its actions and inactions, and, most importantly, collaborate to build a better world for all of us." While I agree in principle with that comment, I'm not sure what it says about the way the incident was reported...or the tenor in which it was written. And yes, I am sure I'm not using hyperbole and exaggeration...my example holds. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I see your point, but I also have two considerations. 1. Emotions tend to run rampant in this sort of situation. I've read accounts of the '94 eq, which was a devastating event in my neighborhood. Some people swore that they "knew they were going to die." Obviously, they didn't. Hyperbole is used - often very effectively - by people to make a point...but what is the point? Often it's something less than what they're saying. You've done this yourself - exaggerate to emphasis a point - and that doesn't make it wrong; it just makes it an exaggeration based in truth but recounted larger than life. It's a normal, usual tactic in reporting, i.e "plummet to his death." To not acknowledge that there is some amount of exaggeration and hyperbole (i.e. 800 people under a bridge, $25,000 in cash from where?). 2. Eye witness accounts are not as accurate as we would like them to be. Many, many experiments demonstrate this. I'm wondering, in this particular story, why others are not speaking out as dramatically as the EMT is? There is no doubt that something happened. What, exactly, is still unclear, and likely will never be clear. What is clear is that the professor who allegedly authored the story did not, in fact, experience Katrina. He also made mention of the fact that he could not verify the story as being real or true. He would/could not confirm any details of the story as accurate or inaccurate. This I know from first hand communication with him. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I was wondering when someone would bring this up...'cause that's what my reading also led me to understand. Minimum wages are not being touched; prevailing wage - as Gawain described, might be. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

No, 'Twardo, you're not. Go with them. That is your family, and your four legged beasties are also your family. Go, be safe, and be together. Same thing for you, SkydiverMom...stay together, and get out. I don't want to read a thread where we haven't heard from you in a while. That would not be a good thing. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Nah. I never identified where I was calling from, what site I had found it on (in fact, I let him believe it was an email group...), and he asked that I clarify on his behalf. So I did. While it could be argued that it was a research project, it was not an intentional one...perhaps telling in retrospect, but not a planned, controlled experiment. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Well then, back to arguing.

ROLFMFAO. Ok., somtimes picking up the phone really clarifies things. Someone suggested that someone else pick up the phone and ask why he was in NOLA when there was a Cat 5 headed out. So, I'm just off the phone with Joel Stillman, the professed author of the article. When I asked him if he'd clarify something about the article, he told me no, he was unable to do so. When I asked for clarification about that, and his response was "I wasn't there; as far as I know, no sociology professers were; none that I know of, at least." He then explained that he had taken a story written by EMTs, as well as a NYT article, and forwarded it to his email group. Somehow, in the forwarding of it, the names of the EMTs (who are the actual authors) were edited out, and that it became this big thing about him. He asked me to clarify this to everyone, and thanked me for calling; apparently, he's gotten tons of email, and phone calls, and is doing his best to get the truth out there. He apologized, and again explained that he wasn't there, and had no first hand knowledge of the situation. As for the EMTs, they stayed because they thought they might be able to help. That's honorable, and decent of them. I am sorry they had such a horrific experience, but thankful that they survived. Funny how a phone call can stop the whole "operator" experience. LOLOL! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

You're right, I meant MS. My bad...and I'm glad MI didn't get it too badly, too. Ciels- Michele (who is a she....) ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

As was stated, the analogy failed. While what happened to the Professor after he chose to not evacuate is untenable, I can't help but wonder what he was doing there in the first place. Jen, I can't help but read your response as an over reaction to a comment you didn't agree with...sorry, but if you can clarify why the analogy works, or why it was proper that the Professor stayed, please do... As for him being at a conference, I doubt that the mandatory evac order (or indeed, common sense) precluded leaving before it was done. I've left seminars before they were complete as well, with no ill effect, and not under an evacuation order. Was there government failures from bottom to top? Yes, of course. But why some people who could've left (and note his "story" picks up several days after the mandatory evac. order and hurricane, and (possibly) the levy breaks all occurred) and chose to not leave still amazes me. As stated in an earlier post, the absolute only way I'd stay in a mandatory evac. area is if my 82 y/o father refused to leave, and I had somehow broken both arms and couldn't manhandle him into the car. He gives no explanation as to why he remained; where were the others in the conference? Not usually is a conference attended by only a dozen people... Dunno...just dunno. Maybe it is about an adventure gone wrong; maybe it is a classic opportunity to study first hand human nature when society breaks down. Or maybe it's about a book...I just dunno. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Um, I have a question about this, corroborated or not... He opens with the sentence "Two days after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, the Walgreen's store at the corner of Royal and Iberville streets remained locked." Which means he stayed in NOLA after the mandatory evacuation orders were received... and then, he goes on to say: All right, so why did he stay again? What was the purpose of intentionally staying in an evacuation area? Apparently, he was able to get the money to leave, so why didn't he? What on earth was the purpose for him staying? And if there were enough people to raise $25,000, why wasn't any of this done ***before the damned hurricane*** in the first place? (I mean, get together, pool cash, get the fuck out of the time bomb...) Sigh.....just my thoughts. Take it, leave it, whatever. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Well, it's about 5 days out...no one knows with any percentage of certainty where it will go...Mexico, Galveston, hard right turn to GA... Considering how badly NOLA was hurt, as well as MI and AL, I think that a good, long, potential head's-up is appropriate; especially since they're just starting to let people back in to the Algiers section of NOLA. They will need extra time to get out, because of all the infrastructure which was lost. So, well, while it may be a fear, it may also be real...and Katrina followed the same path - TS to Cat 1 in Florida (killing 11, if I understood correctly), blossomed into a gigantic Cat 5 in 4 days on the Gulf... I'm just sorry for the entire region; yet another series of hurricanes, not dissimilar to last year. It's getting rough out there. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I see your point. But 121 (now 122?) posts on this thread, a second thread, a third thread with at least one comment on it...photos of him...saying someone'd have put him 6 feet under...pulling his website apart...alluding to additional criminal behavior, and on and on. I've looked at the security/scam alerts...they're not 100+ posts long...if you can't see the difference in tonality and quality, then...well...I just don't know. I am sorry you're apparently a victim of him, and I hope you are remunerated appropriately. Look. I firmly believe that if he is guilty of theft, he should be punished appropriately. I also think that if he has a mental illness, was on but is now off meds, he needs to get into counseling and back onto the meds which apparently worked before...one does NOT preclude the other, although one is far more productive than the other one. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

LOL, what I thought when I saw it: I know that look. And have the scars to show it (although not from a persian...) Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Congratulations to you both. I don't think I'll be able to show up, but I just wanted to send you my best wishes! Best to you, and many, many happy years together, injury free and with all the love and joy you two feel right now. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~