Library of Congress Photo Collection

So I happened upon this collection of color photos from the depression. They're entrancing. Honestly. There's so much detail that I'm not used to seeing in old photographs. And the color just brings life to the era. In the same way that black and white photos bring out details of the world today that you don't typically notice, color pictures of the past bring out details I never knew about.

fifth floor of the Lib

Why are all my t-shirts apparently made for short fat people with thick necks? And all of my undershirts for taller people with skinnier necks? SO frustrating. Honestly- I think I need tailored shirts or maybe I should just wear them once and buy new shirts like every week and give the old ones to charity or something. It's seriously so annoying. But oh well. I'm writing this paper thing and it's not getting much longer so I really should get back to that. Seriously.

CNN.com - U.S. given 'more F's than A's' on terror preparation - Dec 5, 2005

Specifically, the panel gave the government an 'F' on homeland security spending for cities most at risk, on improving radio communication for emergency agencies and on airline passenger prescreening. They awarded only one A -- actually an A-minus -- for the administration's efforts to curb terrorist financing.
-CNN.com

While I wouldn't want to be the one who said 'Yeah, our homeland security efforts are great' and then have to eat my words when something blows up and lots of people die- there is a lot of evidence that our efforts really aren't up to par. The response to Katrina was evidence of that. Here's a National Planning Scenario drafted in 2004 which outlines the exact problems which would be faced in the aftermath to Katrina. And yet we didn't do much to offset the results of these problems. A lot has been done and I recognize that the administration has taken the initiative to get it done but there is still more to be done and their partisan attitude isn't helping get it done.

Things from today. Today being the Second of December

"In the next two weeks, we will publish the National Preparedness Guidance. The Guidance will include detailed instructions on how communities can use the Goal and a description of how the Goal will generally be used in the future to allocate Federal preparedness assistance."- From a DHS document


My new favorite word: Prophylaxis. What an awesome combination of crazy letters. What does it mean? Prevention of or protective treatment for disease. -Dictionary.com

CNN.com - TSA�announces security screening changes - Dec 2, 2005

TSA screeners this year alone have confiscated 12.6 million prohibited items, including 3 million sharp objects, according to the Homeland Security Department.
They've also taken away 8.1 million lighters, the only item prohibited by law. Congress, concerned that terrorists would have an easier time igniting a bomb with a lighter than with matches, enacted the ban. It took effect April 14. -CNN.com

Hysterical.