Signs the economy is bad: September 15, 2017 edition

Welcome to another edition of "Signs the Economy is Bad" here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is the semi-regular (as in when I have time and/or feel like doing it) feature where I scour the Internet in search of the oh so subtle hints that the economy is bad. Sure, pundits may say things are getting better, but what do they know? And to show not all is bad, once in a while we look at how good the uber rich have it.

I leave you alone for a couple of weeks, and serious mayhem breaks out from eclipses to hurricanes. So let's see what has been happening in the bad economy for this week.

Let's start with the hurricanes. Sure, places like Houston and Florida had been hit hard, not to mention the devastation in the Caribbean. However, the hurricanes themselves are not a sign of the bad economy. Here are your bad economy hurricane signs:

• Houston was hit seriously hard. I have a soft spot for the city because I lived and worked there for a few years. I still have some friends there. They are fortunate. Many Houstonians lost their homes and all they owned. This included renters. So, what did the landlords do? They decided to demand rent anyhow on properties that were under water (literally) or completely gone from people who lost everything, even the shirts off their backs. In a nutshell, greedy fuckery. This reminded me of this ("fuck you, pay me." Link to video clip) Story  via Countercurrent News. 
• Here is more fuckery out of Houston. This is the Christian edition. Joel Osteen, paster of the notorious megachurch in Houston, decided he wanted to keep his church clean and pristine, so he kept it close despite, well, being a church that one would think serve as sanctuary. His initial excuse was that it flooded. He was called out on that lie when people actually verified it was not. Eventually the social media shaming was so bad  he finally allowed his tax shelter to be an actual shelter for the needy. You would think the story ends there. Oh, you would be wrong. He had to make up somehow, so when those needy people were in  the church, people who lost everything, he decided to pass around the collection plate to them. Story via Countercurrent News. 
• Naturally the Pendejo In Chief put an appearance in Houston, and he was peddling hats. Hey, this is America: you got to find ways to make a buck even at the expense of others' misery. Story via Crooks and Liars.
• Speaking of exploiting vulnerable people, Delta Airlines decided to jack up their flight rates out of Houston. You know, a little price gouging. Story via Alternet.
• In another case of "fuck you, pay me," the IMF pretty much  told Barbados that even though  the island is devastated. Story via Courthouse News.

In other signs the economy is bad:

• Let's take a moment and look at the suffering of the well-to-do as United Airlines, notorious for beating people up when they overbook, are now taking away perks from the first class passengers. Oh gods, the horror, the horror. Story via Inc.
• Now if you somehow manage to get on a plane and take a flight to Spain, they might not want you there. Though tourism is often good for the economy, apparently Spaniards are a little miffed at their tourism boom, especially since a lot of tourists behave like boorish assholes. Story via The Christian Science Monitor.
• LEGOs are not doing well. The company is cutting jobs for the first time as sales fall for the first time in 13 years. I will tell you why: they went ahead and got every other film license they could, and then jacked up prices in large part to get at the adult collector market. Some of those sets are ridiculously overpriced, and in the bad economy, LEGOs are discretionary items. In other words, when it comes to food or LEGOs, you get food (usually). Story via The Lexington Herald Leader.
• Sean Spicer shows that you can be an outright liar and enabler of lies, get canned from your White House job, and still get hired by a speakers' agency as long as you got "candor" and "wit." Go figure. Story via The Week. 
• In rural counties, more than half of them do not have a hospital able to deliver babies. Story via The Rural Blog. 
• It is not a good time to be poor in the United States as local governments find all sorts of ways to be cruel to the poor. Why? Because fuck them, that's why. Story via Alternet.
• The other big story in this period was the Equifax hack. Learn how U.S. regulators basically  set things up so this just had to happen. Story via Naked Capitalism.
• Now I wonder how the Equifax mess will affect people borrowing money, especially in light of a recent report that Americans borrowing are at a record high. Apparently, they did not learn anything of the last economic crash. Story via NPR. 
• Apparently Motel 6 is tight on money as it is (allegedly) selling out undocumented immigrants who are guests in their  motels at $200 a pop to ICE agents. Story via Alternet.
• Another sign the economy is bad? More grandparents are raising children. Story via The Conversation. 
• And yet another sign of the bad economy: "I need this job." Learn why that little phrase is so significant. Story via Esquire.
• In creative business options. Business travel got you bummed out? Maybe you miss the small comforts of home? Well, in some hotels, maybe you could rent a goldfish to keep you company for the night. Story via Atlas Obscura.

In higher education news:

• In Kentucky, the Party of Stupid governor they elected has told colleges and universities to get rid of any classes, departments, and programs that they do not need. If your degree does not lead to a high paying job on demand, then it should be on the cutting block. Either that, or such a degree could lead you to becoming a useless, selfish ignorant politician like Matt Bevin, who has a degree in East Asian Studies. So what I want to know is when is he returning his useless degree, manning up, and getting a serious and rigorous STEM degree? Story via Inside Higher Ed. 
• Universities are reporting declines in international students. Part  of the reason is  the current political climate in the U.S., but  the bad economy is also a factor. Story via Inside Higher Ed.

And how are the uber rich doing?

• In shitty rich hipster ideas, two guys who used to work for Google want to put New York City bodegas out of business. How? With vending machines they are calling "Bodega." Because not only are they being dicks at targeting the businesses, they do so shamelessly by appropriating their name. Story via Daily Intelligencer.
• If cheap toothpaste is not your thing, maybe you want to consider $17 toothpaste. Story via Boing Boing.
• And if you are uber rich, you want to sleep in comfort. Nice bed sheets are a good for a comfy bed, and recently, you could save $20 on a nice set of organic cotton bed sheets. Story via Boing Boing. 
• Speaking of organic and other fancy labels, you can now also find gluten free water. Story via The Conversation. 
• The Pendejo In Chief's golf clubs are doing very well as lobbyists have paid millions to join them. They would not be seeking any special access or anything, would they? Nah. Story via VICE.
• And speaking of  politicians, keeping the appearance of being uber rich is often a concern. The struggle is real, so some of them resort to a little theft. Now, how do you avoid getting caught pilfering your government's own funds? Pro tip: Maybe try not to buy a tuxedo for your dog. Story via Esquire.
• Finally for this week: If you are into BDSM and fetish, and you got some money to burn, maybe you want some custom made wooden furniture for spankings and floggings. Some models start at $5,000. Story via VICE.

Here we go again: Another instance of censorship in Texas

When I first saw the title of this post at Bookshelves of Doom-- "There is BIG trouble a'brewing in Humble, Texas"-- I knew I had to look it over. I pretty much had the reaction of "now what are the locals making a fuss about?" When I went over, and I read some of the links provided, I was able to say, "no big surprise." This is Texas, known for its intolerance when it comes to literacy and reading. The Bookninja, who mentioned the story simply had this comment to say: "People, it’s Texas… Why do you think?" I think that little snarky remark says it all. Now some Texans may want to say that not all their brethren behave that way, but overall the state is developing quite the reputation for being anti-education and anti-reading among other things. That a school librarian was instrumental in mobilizing three or four parents who think their will has to be imposed on everybody else did not surprise me that much either. I've had to deal with librarians who are, to put it politely, less than enlightened. The point I am trying to make is that when something like what is happening in Humble, TX comes out, I am not really surprised anymore. If anything, it does make me just a bit more ashamed that I live in Texas, a state that supposedly prides itself on its hospitality, friendliness, the fact that people are independent and self-reliant, not to mention its scenery. That the state has become yet another right wing sanctuary does create some concern.

So, what is the issue? According to School Library Journal, which is linked in BoD above, "A handful of YA authors who were scheduled to attend the Humble ISD Libraries' Teen Lit Festival in Texas this January won't be going after all. Organizers uninvited writer Ellen Hopkins--and most of her fellow presenters withdrew to protest the censorship." To put it in plain English, a school librarian who did not like Hopkins' books (and that is her prerogative) decided to take it upon herself to get her removed from the YA Book Fest in Humble.  In the fine tradition of public schools everywhere, she found a few busybody parents to gripe to the school. Naturally the school district folded like a cheap suit wanting to avoid the appearance that they were somehow coddling an author who writes about issues that are relevant to teens: issues like teen sexuality, substance abuse, and mental health. Things that teens probably need to consider and develop awareness for at some point. I call those parents busybodies for a simple reason: they want to prevent their kids from reading Hopkins' books or seeing her presentation, that is their right as parents. What is not their right is to dictate to the rest of the community what it may or not read. It is arrogant on their part that they think they can decide what our children read or view. That's the job of the other parents, and I am willing to bet there are a few parents who would be more than willing to welcome an author like Hopkins (actually they have done just that since Hopkins has been to Humble on two previous school visits that went along fine).

The situation gets more interesting because other YA authors have chosen to stay away from the festival to express solidarity with Hopkins as well as to protest censorship. Now, I am sure some of the local busybodies will argue this is not censorship, that no one is removing the books from the local libraries. Make no mistake. This is censorship at its worst, and I am willing to bet that this forced removal of Ms. Hopkins is a preemptive strike to have her books pulled from the local school libraries. Pete Hautman, one of the authors who chose to withdraw, responds to one of those "this is not censorship" detractors on why this is indeed censorship. "Nate" is a commenter on Mr. Hautman's blog. His words are very appropriate:

"To 'Nate': You are technically correct about my misuse of the term “censorship.” My use of the term is deliberate. We all know that the “uninviting” of Ellen H. was not literally censorship. It would be more accurate to say it was “the active suppression of an author to discourage teens from reading her books.” (Can we find an acronym in that? Wait a sec…okay, how about Activist School Suppression of Hopkins’ Access to Teens. I’m sure there’s an acronym in there someplace!) In any case, elephant or mastodon, it’s still a pachyderm. We all know what we're talking about. They may not have literally “censored” Ellen Hopkins, but their actions point to a similar intent." 

 To try to spin it and say this situation is not censorship is just plain hypocrisy. You can try to spin the truth, but you cannot hide behind a technicality.

So why am I writing about this? I write because someone has to say something. Sure, the conservatives will play the victim and say something along the lines of "we did not like the writer's books" or "we are standing up for our values" or my personal favorite, "we are protecting our children." What they are really doing is expressing their intolerance for any diverse or differing viewpoints, then playing martyr when they get called on their intolerance. I write because I want to express support for the authors and for the freedom to write and express ideas freely in a nation where, supposedly, one of the cherished values is freedom of expression. I believe it is enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, a document that conservatives love to call upon. What those busybodies are doing is saying, "we know better. We think this way, and so should you." I write because I have to ask, "who do they think they are? Who died and made them king or queen?" When someone says, no matter what their political stripe, "I know better. This you cannot read" that is just a step down to the road of tyranny. Whether you like or dislike Hopkins' work, whether you think your child should read it or not, the books should be made available to everyone so they can read and decide on their own. It is how you build critical thinking; it is how you make an informed citizenry that safeguards democracy.

Now if calling out those censors earns me the label of "intolerant" (talk about missing the irony), then yes, I will wear that label proudly. I will go so far as to say it clearly: I do not tolerate censors nor tyrants, and those people in Humble, TX who are keeping Ms. Hopkins out for the sake of an ideological and moralistic agenda are just petty tyrants. As such, you deserve to be denounced. As such, you deserve to have the light of scorn from the rest of the rational people upon you.

I don't like picking on this state, but I do get tired of seeing stories like this one coming out of this state. I do get tired of other states pointing at Texas as if it was some retrograde backwater. Those people in Humble are not doing the state any favors. They are not doing themselves any favors. Because in the end, in addition to looking like retrograde folks fearful of a few books, their actions will just inspire other youths to seek out and read the books. Whether they check them out from another library or go out and buy them, all these people do, as many censors usually do, is stimulate curiosity. I am betting a good number of people will go out and find the books just to see what the "big deal" is all about. Sounds like a good outcome to me. Heck, I may have to see if I can order some copies of her books for our library's YA collection.

I would like to end with some words by author Tera Lynn Childs, another writer who chose to withdraw from the event. She wrote a letter to that school superintendent, which she posted to her blog. The part I want to quote and leave for my two readers is the following:

"The books Ms. Hopkins writes are not the kinds of books I write, there are no mermaids or goddesses or other elements of teenage fantasy. Her books reveal a truth about the lives of modern teens and the world in which they live, no matter how much we wish the truth were otherwise. To exclude her from an event because the topics of her books might trouble some attendees (or, more likely, their parents) does not make our world any more ideal. Covering teens' eyes and ears does not remove them from the realities of their world. And to suggest that you could do so is the epitome of conceit and naivety."

 An update note (same day): It seems I cannot go very far without yet another story about Texas and education (or rather the many ways in which Texas comes across as retrograde). This story out of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is worth a look. In brief, the situation, according to the article: "Last month, Sagal learned that his play, about a confrontation at an executive boot camp, would be included in a test given to students in Texas schools. But a problem arose when the state wanted to edit out 'for God's sake' and Sagal objected." In the end, the play was not used, and the TEA official interviewed claimed that the testing agency was being overcautious. Anyhow, Sagal had the best line at the end: "Sagal complained on his blog that the request was irrational and indicative of Texas' reputation as 'the state that's leading the charge back into the middle ages in terms of educational standards.'" It is becoming a well-earned reputation for Texas.

Update note (8/27/10): The festival has been cancelled. And even then, the author still graciously says she will come, paying her own way, if invited. Hopkins has more class than those busybodies in Humble will ever have. 

Bus driver throws hissy fit? But I still got to work

This morning was the kind of morning that you wonder what else could possibly happen. A couple of days a week, it is my turn to drop my daughter off at the bus stop. This morning, apparently, the bus driver got into an argument with a couple of parents, and she decided to throw what I can only describe as a hissy fit and actually drove off leaving about 20 kids or so stranded for the morning. No explanation as far as I can tell; she just drove off. Needless to say, I had to then drive and take my daughter to school myself. I don't mind that part as much, but I did mind the fact it created an inconvenience for me. You see, I take the commuter Metro bus to downtown, and the extra time to take my daughter in to school meant I missed my own bus. While my workplace knows that on the days I drop off my daughter I will come in a little later, I don't think the extra half hour or so was what they had in mind. So, to the driver of bus 784 for the CyFair ISD, thanks a lot for making our mornings that much harder.

I should clarify that I do have some sympathy for the driver; I believe that often there are two sides to a story. I have observed countless times when a couple of parents, who are not exactly paragons of good behavior, go up to the driver as the kids are boarding to either yell at their kids for not behaving or at the driver for trying to get their brats to actually sit down so the bus can move. You see, the driver won't drive on until all the kids are safely seated. Some safety thing I am sure. These are the type of kids that you take a look at them, then at their parents, and you know exactly why the kids are brats. So, dear driver, I certainly have some sympathy as I guess that you simply figured you weren't taking any more crap from those mofos. To be honest, had it been me, I might have done the same thing (or better yet, run those parents over). A pity though that you had to make your stand at the expense of the rest of us who are simply innocent bystanders. My bet is a couple of those mofo parents went to the school to complain, but they probably left out their role in the process. At any rate, odds are good we are getting a new driver tomorrow.

However, the day was not a total loss. I managed to drop my public library and drop some books off in their book drop. As I was driving towards the Park-and-Ride, for a brief time there was this lady in a red Geo Tracker laughing her head off. I don't know what she was reading on her paper, and I hope she was talking to someone on one of those hands-free cellphones (otherwise it would look like she was talking to herself and thus not as sane), but whatever it was seemed funny enough it made me smile to see her laughing so. I guess laughter can be contagious.

Now, I got to my Park-and-Ride late, and it looked like I would have to wait anywhere from a half an hour to an hour for the next bus. After the rush hours, they cut down to about an hour. However, a very nice lady heading downtown gave me a ride. Actually, there is a little carpool system going on that I have seen but never paid much attention to until this morning. So, for the benefit of those who may have the same questions I had, allow me to explain.

Here in Houston, there is an HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane system on some major highways, which allow commuters to take those special lanes during rush hours. What some people do is they pick up riders so they can share the ride and meet the minimum number of riders in a car (at least 2 where I go from, but it can be up to 3 depending on location and time). When I take my bus in the morning, there is a line labeled "Carpool" and people standing in it. Cars pull up, and people get in, getting a ride downtown. I never gave it a try. For one, I figured you needed a healthy degree of faith to get into a stranger's car, not to mention they had to have the same faith, or more, you were not a carjacker or worse. Two, I wondered how they would agree in terms of where downtown the riders would get dropped off. For me, I can pretty much drop anywhere as soon as one gets off the HOV since the campus is not far from that area, and I can always take the light rail as well. The process can work in reverse in the afternoons as some drivers will pick up passengers at bus stops to ride back to the Park-and-Ride (assuming of course, the driver is headed to that area).

Since I was running late this morning, and this lady was looking for a rider, we both got lucky. We were both running late, and we were both coming in at a time out of the ordinary for us. Her tale of why she was late was certainly more amusing than mine. As she drove, she then told me some of the information I outlined above, which put helped me make better sense of how the carpool process worked. This only works during the rush times. This morning was the tail end of it, she had come to the Park-and-Ride hoping someone else was late too, and she found me. I was more than happy to help out. She did mention she often gets passengers in the mornings, but since she works long hours, does not do so in the evenings since it would be too late. Coming out of town may be more interesting, since people can be a bit more wary over passengers. She explained that, for instance, some women may choose to only ride if the driver is a woman as well. In this day and age, I can certainly understand that. However in her case, by then, traffic going back out of town is not too bad. So, to the nice lady who gave me a ride to work this morning, thank you, and I hope you enjoy your office holiday party.

Almost had to swim to get back to work, but I am back safe from JCLC

I got back safely from the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color in Dallas on Sunday. It rained during the entire trip. Then it turns out Houston flooded all over the place, and the university closed down due to the flooding. For a change, they actually made the decision to close in a timely fashion. So, I am back to work today, rescheduling some classes I had to teach yesterday, prepping, and otherwise catching up again. As soon as I can, I will be posting my notes from the sessions. Best, and keep on blogging.

Crossposted from The Gypsy Librarian.

Houston is "only" the 17th angriest city

According to a recent study by Men's Health Magazine, Houston ranks number 17 in the list of angriest cities in America. Orlando was number one. I guess the Magic Kingdom is not exactly conducive to happiness after all, huh? Actually Florida has four cities in the top ten. Maybe all those hurricanes are really pissing some people off. I am starting to wonder if some of those survey people actually ever set foot in Houston. I mean, another study found Houston was number nine when it came to road rage. I would have expected then the rank for angry to be higher for Houston. At any rate, the study was based on the following:

"Our search for evidence of urban anger began with the percentage of men with high blood pressure, from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (as calculated by Sperling's BestPlaces). We then factored in FBI rates of aggravated assaults and Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers on workplace deaths from assaults and other violence. And because rage and the road often go hand in hand, we also included traffic-congestion data from the Texas Transportation Institute, as well as speeding citations per state from the Governors Highway Safety Association."

Houston is only 9th when it comes to road rage?

The AutoVantage road rage survey is out, and it has been making the rounds in the news. I caught a glimpse of it on CNN, but as I am looking for a good link, it seems that all the online news sources are putting the same AP story. One example of this is the reprint at Houston Chronicle, which is pretty much AP rehash for the most part anyways. I guess an illustration of lack of original reporting and news conglomeration, but I disgress. The point is I heard that Houston was ninth on the survey, but the only reference I found to Houston is that it was mentioned along with other cities in the survey. This wire story out of Connecticut, where the company that did the survey is based, mentions Houston.

At any rate, if Houston was ranked ninth, I have to say I am a little disappointed. I thought the city would rank higher. In the short time I have been living here, I have discovered that Houstonians make it a point of pride to be rude and enraged when they drive. This even applies to school zones. I have actually had people in their large SUVs honk at me, pass me at a fast clip, barely cutting me off because I was driving within the speed limit in a school zone during school hours. Heck, they even honk and get mad in the school zones with the deputy sheriff parked nearby. And don't even get me started on the guy who went down the wrong way on a one way street, almost hit me head on, and when I swerved to the side to avoid him, actually stopped his car, got out of it, threw a tantrum, and began to yell at me. Needless to say, I just made my turn and left him there. Last thing I need is some whacko who apparently does not know the regulations of the road getting some gun out of his SUV. Apparently illiteracy goes along with road rage for the local morons since there was a prominently displayed "DO NOT ENTER" sign as the guy strolled in. And by the way, the guy was fairly well dressed, professional looking. Readers can find my recent encounters with other local road mofos here.

The top road rage city according to the report is Miami. The nicest places are Minneapolis, Nashville, St. Louis, Seattle, and Atlanta.

Morning mofos, and I had not even made it to work yet

Commuting in Houston at times looks like something out of the Mad Max movies or maybe one has to drive like Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle. I usually would not complain or rant, since at this point I am starting to get used to the fact that people who drive here just have no sense of civility, to put it politely. Don't get me wrong. I learned to drive in Puerto Rico, one of the worst driving places you can imagine, but at least there people have some civility when they do something. Back in Puerto Rico, they may cut you off, but at least they wave as they do it. I have also driven in Chicago and a few other metropolitan areas. Houston just has that, "je ne sais quoi," that something about its drivers who proclaim, basically, "f*** you, I am driving here." In Spanish, we would call them "hijos de puta," except to do so might actually lessen such a lofty insult reserved for true s.o.b.'s. Apparently, all that campaign about Texas hospitality is lost in Houston roads. At any rate, the "Morning Commute Mofo" Award for this morning goes to:

The guy in the white luxury (I think it was a Lexus) car who, seeing that the three lanes in the road were moving slowly (due to one of the many delays in Houston's fine roads), decides to get into the left turn only lane (the road at the intersection I was in diverges from three lanes to five, the two extra for a left turn), thereby blocking everyone behind him, including myself, who actually had to make that left turn. And why does this mofo deserve the MCM Award? Because the reason he got into the turn lane was in a lame attempt to get ahead in traffic. In the end, he actually found some sucker to let him back into his lane as he sped ahead with the intention of cutting off whoever was going to move ahead with the green light. And he did not even get ahead at all. A lot of people passed by him. The only reason I am not posting that mofo's license plate here to add him to the Hall of Mofos is that he was two cars ahead of me. Now, what would be an MCM Award without a runner up? Today, we can nominate two.

One, the lady who also got into the left lane, then into the turning lane to try the same stunt, only to see right away she was not going anywhere. Mind you she did it without a turn signal, and only the fact that I drive cautiously and defensively kept me from being hit. Had it being another of our upstanding reckless drivers, the wreck would have probably delayed me for another hour in getting to work.Not to mention that she had been "jackrabbiting" lane to lane earlier in a lame attempt to find the fast lane. You know it's Murphy's Law: the moment you move to the lane that seems to move faster, it slows down. Apparently, she was not familiar with Murphy or his laws.

Two, the lady behind me, who was driving this huge Fjord Explosion while fiddling with God only knows what on her seat. Could it have been her cellphone? Her breakfast? Her makeup? Her lingerie? The world will never know. All I know is that I had visions in my rearview mirror of being squashed like a bug by an Urban Assault Vehicle, not unlike one of those little cars at a monster truck rally. By the way, ladies doing their makeup in their cars as they drive in the morning could be a post onto itself. These are the women that men usually mean when they say, "damn women drivers." And before some angry feminist woman writes to me, keep in mind, I am married to a woman who is a good driver (one of the very few people I will allow to drive for me. I prefer to drive myself), as was my mother (health prevents her from doing so now), and most women I know personally are decent on the road. One common pattern? They don't try to apply mascara or pull up their pantyhose up while they drive. Maybe one of these days if I get one of those camera cellphones I will post the proof. These ladies are women who think they get bonus points if they can apply their lipstick while talking on the cellphone while driving. The point is those ladies give a bad name to women driving as a whole. Thinking about it, rather than coming after me, any feminist woman out there thinking of directing their outrage at me can instead direct it at them. Just tell them, "hey sister, you are making the rest of us look bad."

And finally, what would a commute be without some indecent exposure? Some readers may know that I commute via Houston's (not-so) fine public transportation system. I drive to a Park and Ride, and then I take the bus downtown. Once I got into the lot, after the aforementioned left turn (and by the way, I would say that particular intersection likely has about an accident a month, usually a mofo who thinks the yellow light will wait a bit longer for him or her. Another common reason is people like to speed in the long stretch before hitting the Interstate, but they fail to slow down if the traffic slows down. Resul is usually a rear end fender bender. I saw one last week in fact, but I disgress), I started walking to the bus. Now, I usually park a bit of a distance. While I was walking, I look to the right to cross from one parking aisle to another, and what do I see? A man with his pants wide open. Yes, you read it here. The guy was apparently tucking his shirt in, and he had opened his pants to do so, thus showing a bit more than usual. The thing I wonder now is if the lady who arrived at the Park and Ride at about the same time saw him or not. He seemed totally casual about walking in broad daylight, opening his pants and fixing his shirt. How he kept his pants up is beyond me as he walked is beyond me.

And all this before I even got on the bus to work. Just another fine day here in Houston.

Hurricane Rita was a close scare, much too close

I just spent what can only be described as two days of anxiety, tension, and rushing to prepare for Hurricane Rita (this post was started three days ago, so read accordingly. I have been adding to it 'til today). To my readers and friends, my family and I are safe and well. We live on the Northwest side of Harris County, so mercifully, we dodged the proverbial bullet. However, I have not been as concerned about a hurricane since I was a child. I am not stranger to hurricanes, having being born and raised in Puerto Rico, which is often in the path of hurricanes in the Caribbean. One of my earliest memories of hurricanes was of Hurricanes David and Federick in 1979. Readers may ask why do I find myself recalling hurricanes of my childhood. Mainly because I was at the age my daughter is now, the child who was afraid and wondered what would happen when Rita came. Would we be leaving? Would we stay?

My employer sensibly sent us home on Wednesday at noon (then again, in hindsight, maybe sooner would have helped). I commute, and getting home that day was not particularly easy. Already the roads were full of people wanting to leave. I usually take one of the buses that go on the HOV lane, but as often the case, they were travelling so full I had to wait for the next one. There was no next one, so I took a different bus that would get me to where I wanted albeit through the city, which I did not mind too much. However, given that the traffic was heavy, what would have likely been a trip of about 40 minutes to an hour became one of two and half hours. I got to the Park and Ride only to see that the highway next to it was already jammed with people trying to get on the Interstate to get out of Dodge. I knew my wife was likely on the road already, so I did what seemed sensible. I walked out of the Park and Ride, and I actually met her on the road. Yes, I walked out between cars, spotted her, met with her, and we then turned back to go home and pick up our daughter from school. At home, we began to make small preparations: making sure we had enough food, check the flashlights, you know, the stuff one usually does when a hurricane comes (well, I think of it as usual).

Our initial decision was to leave Houston. I have family upstate, so we would have been more than safe. Since my wife had to work on Wednesday night (her employer was not as sensible), we would not be able to leave until that morning. I kept an eye on the news, seeing how the traffic was only getting worse and worse, and then the stories began to flow about people being stranded out of fuel after only advancing a few miles. We had the hope things would get better. As we know by now, things did not get better, only worse. We waited on Thursday to see if there would be an opening to leave, by country roads if need be, looking up the maps for routes. In the meantime, I taped up glass windows, secured things like computers and some electronics in case of flooding (been here for only a year. I think my spot is high enough, but I hear the drainage in Houston in general is awful anyhow), and waited. We had plenty of water in a big trash can, food, batteries, flashlights, radio, candles, first aid kit, and the car had enough gas in case we had to make a quick run. We came to the realization by Thursday early evening that we would be staying here. I told my parents as much when they called. My dad, who is a hurricane veteran, having faced the likes of Hugo and others after I came to the states, was giving me a lot of last minute advice and reminders. My mom lit a candle. My middle brother (I have to younger brothers) would call now and then to check on us. Even though they felt so far, I felt them very close.

Which led me to think about David back in my childhood because it happened around the time I was my daughter's age. A child asking you if you have seen a hurricane and are we going to be ok sort of puts things in perspective. Part of the perspective was my memories of my father boarding up our house back in Puerto Rico. We had a nice house in the coast. The beachfront was about a block or so from my house. In fact, the subdivision we lived in was built over beachfront, so there were actual crab holes in the lawn since the houses were basically built on their land. My dad put up the plywood boards covering up the windows and glass doors. We had to make sure we had the needed supplies, and then we would sit in the house listening to the radio as the power went out. The wind howled, and it rained hard. All we could do was sit and wait for days. It flooded enough that the crabs came from the lawn to knock on our door to let them in the house. Ok, that last one was a joke, but the crabs did come out of the holes, though I am sure they managed better. By luck or providence, the flooding just came up to our front porch, but no further. I have not thought about that experience until now. And while I overall have a healthy respect for hurricanes, I did not really fear them (fact of life in the Caribbean), but Rita did make me think a bit more.

This brings me back to the present. Again by luck or providence, the hurricane turned away from Houston. It still did a lot of damage, and I was sad to see all the damage it did cause where it went, especially to areas that did not need it after Katrina. But it was a nerve wracking experience to wait for it. We took a small walk around our neighborhood before the landfall, and we talked about the likelihood things would not look the same when we ventured out again. We were fortunate that other than some wind and a little rain, we are well. Power flickered as did the water, but otherwise we are not the worse for wear as the saying goes. I will say I have not slept well in the last couple of nights. Last night was the first night I had a full sleep. My wife says it's leftover stress. Maybe so; I feel like we dodged a bullet, and yet, I know I could have easily been one of those people stranded on a freeway had we decided to try to leave. And that makes me angry. That so many people did as they were told in terms of leaving, and they were left stranded to their own devices due to poor planning. Had that hurricane struck as it originally intended, it would have been a disaster. I don't care about the politics; all I know is this could have been a major disaster because no one actually thought that all those people leaving would need efficient roads and fuel to do so. For now, I am thankful we are ok, and my thoughts go out to those who have suffered so much.

My employer is closed until Thursday, but I have to report back on Wednesday afternoon to prepare for the students coming back. My wife has been pretty much working the whole time. They closed until Sunday. My daughter is off until tomorrow. This has given me some time to gather my wits, and to reflect that, in the end, my wife and daughter are safe. Everything else is just things. Don't get me wrong, I am not wealthy. Losing our things would be terrible, but those can be gradually replaced. The ones I love are not. So, I am fortunate and hope we can catch a break. As for my blogging, I am slowly catching up on my readings, and I will try to get back to it. In the meantime, a small sigh of relief.

The Itinerant Librarian Visits the Houston Hot Sauce Fest

For the second time, we decided to go visit the Houston Hot Sauce Fest. We caught it last year shortly after we moved to Houston for my job. This is a two day event, usually in the middle of September, where people can go sample and buy hot sauce and other spicy foods. As it is a fest, they have music and other craft vendors. There is also a competition for the spicy food makers, and people attending can vote on their favorites in various categories, such as the hottest sauce in the fest. I had to work this Saturday, but as soon as I got off work, we had lunch and then went over. The day itself was a scorcher, and we had not even tried out the first sample. The festival takes place at the grounds out on State Highway 6, and while it is under roof, it is still very hot overall. Maybe next year I will go in the morning. We got to try out various sauces, salsas, and jellies. Who knew you could make jellies and jams with stuff like jalapeños and chipotle? Actually, some of the vendors make some excellent jams with berries and peppers. They have just a little kick, but nothing extreme. Now, when it comes to trying out hot sauces, a little word of advice. If they tell you just a little, take just a little. I was lulled into a sense of false security after trying a sample of allegedly hot sauce that was anything but hot. So, as I walked along, I saw another booth with a sign claiming to be the "hottest sauce in the festival." After the previous sample, I told myself, "how hot could it be?" Never understimate the claims or the power of a really hot sauce. I tried that one sample, known as the Black Mamba, and I think I lost the top layer of my taste buds. Of course, like most good hot sauces, the kick does not hit right away. So, you swallow the chip with the sauce and figure you are ok until it hits about three seconds later. My mouth burned; I could barely stay still as my throat hurt and my eyes watered. There was not enough water to extinguish the burn, which lasted for about five to ten minutes. I think the guy at the booth had a good laugh over the fool who put such large amount on his chip. But damn, that was good sauce, well worth the burn. The event overall had a good sized crowd, but I don't think it was too crowded. You could walk around fine. As they also feature a kids area, we watched our daughter get her face painted (she chose a dragon design) and slide down the large air slide. As our time came to an end, we bought a few jellies, a jar of sauce or two, and a very nice margarita mix and a daiquiri mix both made out of cactus, which the missus and I will be mixing later with some Cuervo or Bacardi. She is more partial to rum and daiquiris; I am more flexible. All in all, it was a nice afternoon.

Hurricane Katrina: Give money to Red Cross, and some information

(I am placing this post in both of my blogs)

I have steered away from posting about the hurricane since so many places have been doing it. Also, reading the news only angers me as I see a lot of incompetence at high levels of government and things that should have been done that were not done. My thoughts go to the victims. One of the things I thought about doing was putting together a little list of information resources, after all, being a librarian, information is something I know a thing or two about. However, finding this information is not as easy as it sounds. After doing some searching, here are some things I have learned, and if in some measure, they help others, so much the better:

• For people who are not there or anywhere near it, probably the best thing they can do is donate money to the relief organizations. I personally recommend the American Red Cross, but there are other organizations as well that are looking for donations.
  
• Often people wonder why it is that organizations ask for money and often turn away goods and volunteers. The Red Cross has an excellent explanation here. Basically, it has to do with logistics and cost. Often, transporting goods to far away places costs too much to be effective. The money helps in various ways, including giving people cash vouchers, buying stuff locally, and other needs.
  
• Another resource is FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They have various information items, including the list of places to donate money listed above as well as some information on avoiding donation scams. Yes, it sounds terrible, but there are actually vultures out there (actually, I could put in some choice expletives for those low life forms, but I won't) who prey on the victims and what little they may have left. They also prey on the goodwill of those of us who want to help. In terms of donating money, do so to reputable charities and agencies such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. They also have some tips on how to locate relatives. This is also another thing to be careful about as some people will use this as a scam.
  
• Locally, states often have state emergency management agencies. Here are the links for the ones in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana. These are places that will list items such as shelter locations. Sometimes they have a list; other times they will give a phone number to call. Also, the Red Cross site I have linked above, if you enter a zip code, you can get local information. However, the Houston Chapter of the Red Cross where I am at does not seem to have as much yet. Either that, or not as easy to find.
  
• Which leads me to the next place to find information: the local news. I jumped at some of the local television stations and the newspaper, and I found listings of local shelters available, where to make donations, who is taking supplies, and who may be asking for volunteers. By the way, I just picked one of the local stations as an example. The other local affiliates of the big networks will have similar information as well. I have found that these are a lot quicker to get information out on community information.
• My bet is that down the road, as people get somewhat settled (if anyone can get "settled" after such a horrible disaster), people will be looking for other information sources. Down the road, many of the victims may not be able to go back home. Some may well realize they have to make a new home someplace else. This is where libraries, especially public libraries, come in. We should probably be preparing lists of local information and resources to help refer people to shelters, agencies, jobs, places to live.

Update note (at 5:30p): American Libraries (online edition) has a report collecting short articles and pieces on libraries affected by the hurricane. The site promises to keep adding updates.

Interesting article on Houston's Joel Osteen

Texas Monthly is one of the magazines on my personal reading list, but it is one that I usually just scan to get a sense of what is going on around the state. If I find something interesting, I usually read it. This month (August 2005), the cover story is the article "Prime Minister" written by William Martin. It covers the life and ministry of Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church and widely known for his television program and books; his bestseller, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential, is a book that I have often seen people read on the commute to work. As a note, you need to be a subscriber to read the article online, which is why I did not link to it. However, if you live in Texas, odds are this is one magazine most public libraries will pick up. While the article is a bit on the rosy side, rosy in the sense that it seems to be very favorable to the pastor, it is still interesting nonetheless. For anyone who does not know much about the pastor, and that includes me), the article gives some background on the church, how Joel Osteen came to become its pastor, and how the church is moving into the future. I found particularly interesting how he answers some of his critics who see his brand of religion as "Christianity Lite." I will note that I am transplant to Texas, and before I came here for my job, I had seen the preacher while channel surfing, but kept on surfing (ok, so maybe I stopped for a minute or two. The guy does have an enthusiasm that is hard to ignore, even for heathens like me who do move on after the minute or so of peeking). I have come to learn that he is quite the presence in Houston, enhanced by the church's move into the Compaq Center. Regardless of where readers stand, the article presents a very optimistic man who seems sincere in his faith. Overall, the article is well written and worth a look. While readers do not have to read the Harper's piece, for me at least, it made a nice complement.