The Finch Formerly Known As Gold  28 August 2005  Meanwhile on
the coast  The National Weather Service Web site for New
Orleans, as of this writing, is still being updated as needed.
Making Light has a substantial (and substantive) comment thread
going, from which I copy this recap of a speech by the Mayor,
posted a few minutes ago:  I was struck by how well spoken,
calm, and intelligent he seemed. When pressed to describe what
the probable aftermath, you could see that he was very carefully
describing what he really thought possible, with no "politician
puffery." Darn. Why can't we have that guy for president?  The
bit that sticks in my mind was an estimate of 6 weeks of no
electricity in New Orleans.  He also frankly acknowleged the
difficulties of getting the pumps running again, reminding the
viewers that they only pump "one or two" inches an hour running
full speed. He also frankly acknowledged that with people's cars
most likely fully tanked up, that after a week or so of being
underwater, that they wo