not much to update on before work, but here's some notables:

Yet another mirror of the Slonsky article (which notes that people were prevented from leaving at gunpoint): http://www.socialistworker.org/2005-2/556/556_04_RealHeroes.shtml (This article is actually starting to be fairly widely mirrored which is a Good Thing)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9234045/ (Info on how multiple countries are offering aid...and FEMA does its damndest to make sure it doesn't get there)

http://www.livejournal.com/community/dark_christian/249449.html details how Operation Blessing (one of the dominionist charities that FEMA was promoting and--thanks to bad press--seems to have removed from their website) is associated with the trade of blood diamonds (diamonds from conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa which are used largely to fund those conflicts and oppression by dictators). Whilst Operation Blessing is no longer on the list, at least three groups with clear associations with dominionist groups still *are* (including the charity wings of the two largest dominionist/Avengelical denominations in the country, both highly linked to the present administration): http://www.nvoad.org/membersdb.php?members=National (Yes, they're simply pointing to the NOVAD list. Methinks NOVAD should be notified of the dominionist links)

Unfortunately, the Wayback Archive doesn't have an archive of the previous page (where Operation Blessing was promoted) nor does Google; if anyone happened to archive or get a screen capture, please post on here so that it can be recorded for archival purposes.

Will update this more throughout the day. Also, if any of you find any interesting articles, etc. or commentary, feel free to post.

EDIT:

More on blocking of aid: http://tinyurl.com/dvj2p (links to NY Times article)

Apparently morticians are among the people who were (ironically) blocked from entry into NOLA: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15147862&BRD=1817&PAG=461&dept_id=68561&rfi=6

WWL-TV also reports on how FEMA literally sat on sending even the National Guard out for two days: http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html

The same blog also reports on how forced evacuations are now authorised. (First they won't let people leave by gunpoint, now if you *don't* leave on the *specific* method that they tell you,they'll shoot you. Go figure.)

Another report from the same blog: Apparently in all that media hubbub on CNN yesterday about evacuees arriving in Washington from NOLA, they neglected to mention that a person attempted to kill himself on one of the flights from Houston (it was diverted to Nashville). (They have already had people protesting that they are being sent away to Kentucky--which is very nearly a day or two of driving from NOLA.)

As I think we all need some good news (hell, after all this bad news, the good news starts to sound better), here's two articles on a happier note:

Southern Decadence, despite the hurricane and curses from the "Avengelical" community, still isn't cancelled: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA090505.24A.katrina_french.89fd85d.html

Oh, and for that matter, neither is Mardi Gras: http://www.wwltv.com/sharedcontent/nationworld/katrina/stories/090605ccKatrinawcmardigras.2ef14c87.html