CNN.com - Katrina's effects at a glance - Aug 31, 2005

CNN.com - Katrina's effects at a glance - Aug 31, 2005: "Katrina's effects at a glance
Wednesday, August 31, 2005; Posted: 12:36 p.m. EDT (16:36 GMT)

Following is a rundown of the situation in the states most affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Louisiana
Estimated 80 percent of New Orleans under water, up to 20 feet deep in places. Water still rising as engineers struggle to plug two breached levees along Lake Pontchartrain with giant sandbags.

Deaths: Relief crews put aside the counting of bodies to concentrate on rescuing the living, many trapped on rooftops and in attics.

Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu said 3,000 people rescued by boat and air.

Sections of Interstate 10, only major freeway leading into New Orleans from the east, destroyed.

At least 370,000 customers estimated without power.

Looting broke out in some New Orleans neighborhoods, ripping open store gates and taking guns from a Wal-Mart. One police officer shot in the head by looter but expected to recover.

Quote: "You know, it's not like people are just there because they want to be there. They're there because they're trapped in the city." -- Gov. Kathleen Blanco on ABC "Good Morning America"

Mississippi

More than 1,600 Mississippi National Guardsmen activated.

Deaths: At least 110.

Close to 1 million customers without power, utilities said.

Hundreds of waterfront homes, businesses, community landmarks and condominiums obliterated.

Casinos built on barges along the coast damaged or destroyed, some floated across beach onto land. Dozen casinos employed about 14,000 people, generated $2.7 billion in annual revenue.

Major bridges damaged in three coastal counties, including those linking Biloxi with Ocean Springs and the connection to Bay St. Louis.

Looters picked through casino slot machines for coins and ransacked other businesses.

Quote: "It is indescribable -- blocks and blocks and blocks of no houses. Ninety percent of the structures are gone. I saw Camille and the aftermath in 1969 and this is worst than Camille." Gov. Haley Barbour on NBC's "Today." Camille killed 143 and destroyed 6,000 homes.

Alabama

Flooding reached 11 feet in Mobile, matching record set in 1917, according to National Weather Service. Water up to roofs of cars in downtown Mobile and bayou communities. Piers ransacked and grand homes flooded along Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay.

Deaths: Two.
About 405,000 homes and businesses without power.

Major bridge over the Mobile River partially reopened; it was struck by oil drilling platform that floated away from a shipyard.

Florida

Deaths: 11, according to state tally on South Florida strike last week.

38,000 customers without power in the Panhandle, hit by eastern edge of storm Monday. In South Florida, about 70,000 customers still without power Wednesday.

CNN.com - Conditions deteriorate in Katrina's wake - Aug 31, 2005

CNN.com - Conditions deteriorate in Katrina's wake - Aug 31, 2005: "(CNN) -- Rescuers and residents along the Gulf Coast struggled Wednesday to cope with the destruction left by Hurricane Katrina, as New Orleans faced a horrifying trio of challenges -- rising water, stranded people and a refugee situation that is getting worse by the hour.
The death toll from the storm is estimated to be at least 120, but officials expect it to be much higher.
In Mississippi alone, the death toll was as high as 110, an emergency official told CNN.
More than 2.3 million people don't have power in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida."

almost there

just changed money for the trip got $665 USD to spend , changed $800 CDN.

just 1 more full day left, hopefully tomorrow wont be too busy and have time to wind down.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney-MGM Studios

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney-MGM Studios: "This ride is awesome! You will never forget the first time you went on it. For some people, it's scary! This is one of my favorite rides in Disney World. -- Peter Kurek, Hamilton, New Jersey

this ride was awsome my first drop ride we queued 30mins and that was with 2 fastpass pretty good cosidering the normall qiue tome was 120mins the drops were awsome and the way the windows opened and then u just dropped a must do attraction! -- april burton, welwyn garden city, United Kingdom

Well at first i didnt understand how an elevator can move forward..but the whole thing before you drop is preety fun, at least it doesnt do the same thing over and over, so i got to ride this 3 times. Probably a 6/10. It was longer than Dr. dooms thingy at universal studios. -- Kyle Maharlika, Miami, Florida

Don't wait longer than 2 hours. I think its one of the best attractions at Disney World. You don't know how many times you will drop in the dark. Its different each time. The least I droped was 2 and the higest was 7. It was awesome but don't wait longet than 2 minutes for any attraction unless your desperate. -- Christian Nicely, Dover, Florida"

2 days left at work

getting excited now for trip to disney on friday. been reviewing some rides online i have to go tower of terror at MGM, i hope Jayne will come on it with me !

heres the itinery that we have so far:

Fri = take it easy day
Sat = Universal
Sun = Universal
Mon = Typhoon Lagoon water park
Tue = Magic Kingdom
Wed = Universal/Epcot/MGM

Just 2 more sleeps till we leave

U.K. school tailors policy to foul mouths - School Inc. - MSNBC.com

U.K. school tailors policy to foul mouths - School Inc. - MSNBC.com: "As children throughout the country head back to school, many of them are probably muttering a few choice words about the prospect of returning to the classroom and the expected onslaught of homework. But can they utter those choice words and swear at their teachers? If theyre heading back to school in one town in England, then yes, they can.

According to a report in the U.K.s Daily Mail, one school in the town of Wellingborough is allowing pupils to swear at teachers, providing they only do so no more than five times in a class. A tally of how many times the f-word is used will be kept and if the class exceeds the limit, they will be spoken to, the newspaper reported.

The school believes the policy will improve behavior, but parents and parliamentary members have condemned the rule and warned it would backfire. "

Airlines delay, cancel flights due to Hurricane Katrina - Aug. 30, 2005

Airlines delay, cancel flights due to Hurricane Katrina - Aug. 30, 2005: "As Hurricane Katrina moves north, major cities that it could hit include Louisville, Ky., Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, N.Y., and Toronto, according to the report. "

CNN.com - Katrina pounds Louisiana, Gulf Coast - Aug 29, 2005

CNN.com - Katrina pounds Louisiana, Gulf Coast - Aug 29, 2005: "Katrina pounds Louisiana, Gulf Coast
New Orleans pumps fail; Mississippi coast like 'hell on earth'
Monday, August 29, 2005; Posted: 3:38 p.m. EDT (19:38 GMT)
Satellite and radar image of Hurricane Katrina from 12:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET Monday"

3 more days at work

well ive only got 3 more full days left at work till me and Jayne head to Disneyworld for our hols. Gotta sort money out, do laundry and pack before thursday night...bring it on ! hope hurricane Katrina is long gone out of the way by then

First Post

Welcome to my blog...... here i will update you on stuff that is going on here in the life and times of me.....proper joe !