Linda Z

Thanks, Digger, for firsthand info. I'm proud of everyone who's working so tirelessly, from the military to the citizen volunteers to the neighbors helping neighbors. And I know more help is pouring in now, which is very heartening.

None of the above. I would have left at the first voluntary evacuation, with my dog, my cat and even my son's pretty little corn snake who's staying at my house at the moment and my son's dog if he were with me at the time. If I couldn't find a hotel that would allow me to bring the critters, I'd find a campground that would and I'd pitch my tent there or sleep in my car. My furry companions are more important to me than my house or any of my belongings.

Are the gas shortages confined to the Southeast so far, or are they occurring across the country? Anyone know? My son's driving to Chicago and back this weekend, and I'd hate like heck for him to be stuck somewhere with no way to get gas!

Gas prices here in Cleveland jumped from $2.09 or $2.19 to $2.69 a gallon a couple weeks ago. After Katrina they zoomed up to $3.09 and by the end of the week they went up again to $3.19 and $3.29 at some stations. We have a chain of supermarkets that has tied a brilliant marketing campaign to high gas prices. When you buy groceries, you get a discount of ten cents per gallon for every $10 you spend once you hit $50. My cupboards were bare, so I spent $80 for groceries yesterday and will get an 80-cent discount at the pumps. The grocery store only has a few gas stations around the city, but fortunately one isn't far from me. Is that genius, or what? We have basically two large grocery store chains in Cleveland. Both offer comparable goods and prices. So which one do you think I shop at?

Heh heh, Tom, I know I had a password, but as soon as I found out I could get in without it, it was erased from the old computer in my noggin. Hmmm, interesting point, George. I go to the chat room very rarely myself...if anyone's been mean and obnoxious in there with my name, it wasn't me! Honest!

Psalmie: The database on the site whose URL I posted earlier in the thread is back up. There were only 750 names on it, but I'm sure it will grow as people spread news of who's okay and who isn't by word of mouth. Again, it's http://www.gulfcoastnews.com

Selfish, at best, Long Gone? Maybe selfish at worst...and otherwise a normal human desire: to know if someone you love is alive or not. I think "selfish, at best" is a bit harsh.

I was so excited. CNN announced the name of a Web site where they're building a database of survivors you can check: http://www.gulfcoastnews.com Then I got there and found this: **Our database site was Hacked - We attempt to restore service in the near future ** There are some sick ba$tards in this world.

I had a password?

Psalmie, from what I've seen on the news, they don't even know who's alive and who's not. Communication is so limited. I'm praying like crazy for everyone in the three states that have been so ravaged by this awful hurricane. It sounds like bedlam in N.O., with the looting and the fast-deteriorating conditions. Now they're talking about evacuating everyone out of the city. I don't know how they'll pull that one off, but I wish them Godspeed. Danny, yes, that would be great if you could check on Evan for us. I have a friend through work whose husband is a doctor in N.O., so they probably had to stay behind. I keep praying they're okay.

I'm so glad you guys are okay, Danny. Boy, we still need to pray for the people who've been slammed by Katrina. More people die in the aftermath than in the hurricane itself, and the amount of rebuilding that will be needed is beyond belief.

Yes, I do, Long Gone. The Maggie Muggins thing is a minor point, really. It was just something I was curious about awhile ago so I started Googling.

Just for the sake of the facts, B.G. Leonard didn't make up those charcter names, either. Maggie Muggins, for example, was a character in a popular children's book...I think they made a radio or TV show about it in Canada, which was where B.G. Leonard lived. If you Google her name, you see people seraching for the Maggie Muggins doll.

Praying for you and your family, Danny, and for Evan's, too. Hang on! Let us know you're okay as soon as you can, please.

Belle, I was just thinking that as I watched the pictures of the looming Katrina on TV. One weather guy said Katrina's like a gigantic F3 tornado. Very scary. At least when we have tornado warnings in my neck of the woods, we can take to our basements or, lacking a basement, can hunker down in the center of the house or in the bathroom, where the plumbing stacks offer some structural support. But if this hurricane causes massive flooding, as expected, that obviously won't be an option. They're now saying go to the third floor. Well, that pretty much sucks for someone with a one- or two-story house! I can't imagine why anyone in New Orleans would opt not to leave. Some people have such a cavalier attitude toward these storms. I used to think I might feel that way until a month or so ago when I got caught driving in an isolated but powerful storm that rolled in off Lake Erie. It was said to be equivalent to a category 1 hurricane, with winds around 90 to 100 mph. Good Lord, if that was "only" a category 1, I don't even want to imagine the force of a category 4 or 5. It tossed small planes and helicopters around at the small lakefront commuter airport like toys and popped the windows out of buildings and cars. The region of the country in or near Katrina's path for sure needs our prayers.

Belle , I wasn't questioning your character at all. I understood that you were just saying you "get" the Southern duplicity because you grew up around it. I was just saying it's not a quality I think very highly of. I think it's interesting how the different cultures we live within affect our thinking and behavior. I like for people to know where they stand with me. If I don't like something, I say so. Rosalie used to tell me I was "too vocal." Thank God I was. I spoke up when she pulled her two-faced tricks on me and left HQ. I suppose I owe her a big vote of thanks for being the catalyst for me to begin breaking away from twi.

Because Belle has so perfectly described RFR's modus operandi, I'm not saying much in this thread, lest I say something I regret. I'll say this much, though. Rosalie is the queen of smiling at you, with syrup dripping from her mouth, while stabbing you in the back. I don't find that kind of deceit "charming" or "cute," personally. Give me the open, in-your-face Yankee insult any day!

It's a miracle that New Orleans is still there. With all those streets of old, attached buildings in the French Quarter, I'm surprised a modern-day fire hasn't wiped it out, never mind the floods and hurricanes. Suz, if you're lurkin', your son's in my prayers, along with gc and a friend of mine down there and the rest of the city. It would be great if Katrina were to suddenly veer off into some uninhabited area or take an unprecedented U-turn back over the gulf waters and just fizzle. Nevertheless, I hope people have the sense to get the heck out of there.

Praying for those in Katrina's path...stay safe! I saw some woman in Miami commenting on CNN yesterday morning. She was quite surprised that winds of "only" close to 100 mph could do so much damage. Well, duh!

Dear, Strange Tom: I would google and google, But 'twouldn't be frugal I'm working, you see Like a little doggie. When I'm out of the crunch I'll eat snow cones for lunch And I'll play and I'll play With Google all day! -->

Tom Hanks Forrest Gump Sally Field

The Untouchables Kevin Costner The Postman

Okay, I don't know where I came up with ten thousand...must have been halloopinatin'! But "even a few hundred marching together" is a bizarre idea in the context of the subject at hand, and my question remains. What on earth are you thinking?

Oakspear, you're usually pretty reasonable. I don't know why you're bringing up "ten thousand marching" in connection with anyone's memorial service. What are you thinking??

Now that's just mean! :P-->