not for spying

The director of a new "fusion center" for intelligence sharing, on its purpose: "'It's not a system that we're putting into place to spy on people. We really aren't,' Smith said."

Nope, no spying here. Just a system to " provide statewide information sharing among local, state, and federal public-safety agencies and the private sector in coordinating intelligence against terrorism." Glad to hear it.

Emigration Update

Torture Girl has decided that now is a good time to become a devout Christian "the husband is the head of the family" wife and convince Peak Oil Boy that our decision about whether we accept the offer of New Zealand permanent residency that we painstakingly applied for is properly entirely his. Torture Girl stands ready to submissively execute Peak Oil Boy's will, after Jesus speaks to him in his heart to tell him exactly what we should do. Man, that makes my life a hell of a lot easier now.

Volunteer doctors turned away by FEMA for fear of liability

Here.

For fucking fuck's sake!

Back from Spain

...where we saw our dear, dear friends M. and G. tie the knot in Galicia (no, not the Galicia of our ancestors and of Joseph Roth, but the other one). The Spaniards are wonderful with children and never seem to mind even when Biscuit Baby goes bonkers in restaurants. Complete strangers will ruffle his hair, even in the Metro, and everybody's face lights up at the sight of children. It's fantastic.

On a political note, on arrival at immigration in Boston, there is a poster that has a US and UK flag interlocked, saying "WE STAND TOGETHER." Can that be anything other than subtle pro-Iraq-war propaganda?

It's here, kids. It's here.

Amy and I really think that the unprecedented catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico could push us past the tipping point into permanent energy crisis. Airports likely forced to close, permanently damaged petroleum and natural gas production in the Gulf... it ain't pretty, kids.

We're off to Spain this afternoon for a wedding. We fear it risks being our last long airplane trip...