The national attention deficit/ limited attention span has moved on to "PIRATE attacks!!!" on MSM (which merited an inch and a half on page 16 in the NYT). Page 1 highlighted abuses in African prisons. Is this part of the spin for "See, we aren't so bad in how we treat OUR prisoners..."? will we be seeing more coverage of the Inquisition as well? The Natural Disaster front has tornados in Indiania.... Pakistan - which will be racking up even MORE deaths (over 100,000 as winter hits?) has faded from the US media - but then they're way
over there, and I confess, I'll be ignoring them here as well...
The occasional stories about our own recent spate of natural disasters seem to ignore the obvious follow-up questions. The NYT has a story on the reopening of Catholic schools in New Orleans - private ones remain closed. A brief mention is made that a full-press effort is being made to turn 20 or so PUBLIC schools into Charter Schools (two short paragraphs leave more questions unasked than answered).
Where is the REAL coverage? Why isn't anyone asking the questions that SHOULD be asked? more
One story - read in hard copy during the week but unfound in a Google search, talked of the rising cost of "body recovery" - with the contracted company maintaining a full staff despite declining recovery rates. Cost somewhere around $9,000 per body a month ago now comes out to $65,000 a body in recent weeks. Same overhead, less bodies. BTW, FEMA foot the bill for a DVD player and movies... have to have SOME entertainment I guess. But the larger quesions were unanswered (at least from my memory).
How many bodies have been recovered?
How many of the dead have been identified?
How many bodies have been turned over to families?
Any death counts for ALL these disasters? (and how are we defining "cause?") What about the apparent homicides? One minor story on that a while back... I remember a reporter talking about gunshot wounds on a body THEY saw in the water - and someone saying it was a "good time to settle things." We heard a little about possible euthanasia - a story that seems to have died (and thankfully for who can judge what doctors and staff were left to deal with?). Any follow-ups on the rape reports? They weren't ALL "media frenzy."
And how many people are still "missing?" Any kids looking for family still? no mentions in the media but one Social Services person up here was "perturbed" in her dealings with "refugees" from LA. How many people still in tents? Any left in shelters? Hotels?
About ALL those trailers and mobile homes? Being used?
Everyone get to apply for aid? A few reports of new centers being openend in LA. But then Wilma showed people STILL stuck in trailer pareks how long after hurricanes?
How much have we spent so far? and where's it gone?Oversight?
LA is shutting down services left and right - due to a $400 million revenue shortfall. Maybe the US ought to loan the states some money? Maybe even give it to them? Let the state keep employing people? Is that too logical? But rational thought isn't the focus.
Mr. Brown still has the ability to amuse and astound - now via his e-mails. But what IS happening NOW? Is ANYONE paying attention? Well, besides the illegal aliens being stiffed on paychecks? Or do we only care about Brown's e-mails and fashion sense?
But good news. Mardi Gras will be on for '06.
