Missing the TV
Being out of the country shields me from network news, which is mostly a good thing. I wind up getting virtually all of my news from the internet, and I'm pretty well informed of what's gone on relative to the hurricane. But there is something missing that I expect from the television. The gulf wars, 9/11 and the like: my eyes glued to the box, transfixed to the disaster. I run the gamut of emotions. Now I settle for a minute of coverage on the local channel in Spanish, then turn to the internet.
It comes to mind as I just found a CBS feed with Shep Smith being interviewed by David Letterman. He (Shep) looks and sounds devastated and defeated. On the program they showed about 30 seconds of feed from one of his dispatches, and I felt that 'missing' feeling.
Brad Delong posted an article describing a New Orleans disaster preparedness plan culled from the New Orleans Times-Picayune. It talks about how local officials came to the conclusion that were a major hurricane to strike and the worst happened, they could do nothing for the poor people. In essence, they are on their own. The officials produced a DVD that was meant to be distributed to the poor folk, but it never made it out to the people. On the video it gave advice as to what to do in the event.
DeLong decries the effort and a good discussion ensues in the comments section.
