I'm not saying it wasn't bad in Florida, because it was, but it seems to me that just as the History Channel seemed for a while a few years ago to be the "All Hitler, all the time" channel, the news channels for the last couple of days have been "All Irma, all the time." That enhanced satellite image up there of where Irma was at 8:06 AM EDT (12:06 PM GMT) today looks really, really bad, but at this moment north Georgia is receiving only a very light rain, the long, slow kind that the grass loves.
Irma is no longer classified as a Category 4, 3, 2, or even 1 hurricane. She is a tropical storm now. Things may change by this afternoon, and probably will, but that is no reason for everybody in Georgia and Alabama and South Carolina to panic. Well, maybe South Carolina. But the 24/7 coverage the last few days of Irma's slow progress seemed to me to be more of an exercise by government officials in learning how well the populace will respond to instructions from on high.
As usual, this has been one man's opinion.
Other things were happening in the world as well, which one would never have known from watching the news channels. Twenty-four hours a day of relentless coverage of a single story, important as it may be, is not my idea of a news channel. Where was the Mexico earthquake? Where was Kim Jong Un? Where was the run-up to the sixteenth anniversary of 9/11/2001? Where was Prince George's first day of school? Where was the Georgia Tech versus Jacksonville State University football game?
And another thing: Since government in this country is increasingly a top-down effort (rather than a bottom-up effort as God and the United States Constitution intended), the Federal Government apparently sent a man to oversee fleets of ambulances to (where else?) the capital city of Florida, Tallahassee, to help evacuate the elderly and residents of hospitals and assisted-living centers in the Miami area. The announcement was accompanied by self-congratulatory pats on their own backs and speeches from government officials all around. Friends, Tallahassee is 480 miles from Miami. This is akin to having an emergency weather event in Sheffield, Yorkshire, and sending fleets of ambulances to the Isle of Lewis.
Rant over. I think. Everyone is glad, of course, that the damage done by hurricane Irma turned out to be much lower than anticipated.
In our family, however, the most important event of the weekend was that our Alabama grandson in the JSU band received a visit from his Georgia aunt and uncle:
You probably can't spot him on the field, but you can definitely enjoy the sound of the band (4:32).
Unfortunately for JSU fans, the final score of the game was Georgia Tech 37, Jacksonville State 10.
It's been much the same here. Irma, Irma and more Irma. It's over land now so will lose energy.
ReplyDeleteThe BBC have had some excellent footage from it's track and even managed to include pictures of Black looters. I thought Blacks and Muslims were perfect. Apparently not. BLM...Black Looters Matter.
Stay safe.
Adrian, it was reported on Facebook that no work boots were taken in the looting
DeleteI too sympathize with all the people affected by the terrible natural disasters that have been happening. That being said I also am sure other things are happening in the world. I wonder what they are.
ReplyDeleteEmma, hereabouts there's still a lot of post-Irma reporting (trees falling on houses, mostly, each instance of which becomes a 30-seconds-of-fame TV photo op for the homeowners). I'm sure we will find out what's going on elsewhere eventually.
DeleteSadly the news reported is very, very selective. And news from the backyard (so to speak) takes precedence over the bigger picture.
ReplyDeleteHorrid Harvey and Irritating Irma have got a lot of coverage here too, but mostly about their impact in your country. And the devastating floods in Nigeria and India (to name just two places) get very little coverage.
Sue, I have always found other people's backyards much more interesting than my own.
DeleteAfter all the lead up to Irma and then it didn't amount to so much, the news agencies feel obliged to make it worth the fuss, which of course just creates even more fuss.
ReplyDeleteWhile we are mentioning world events, how about the plight of the Rohingya in Burma? 300 000 people have walked out of their homeland in just a matter of weeks
kylie, there are newsworthy stories everywhere, most of them heartbreaking and sad.
DeleteI've always thought that the news would be more palatable if they'd just report as much good news as they do bad. In that light, I shall report to you some excellent news: In Washington State, the Doyle family is thrilled to announce that after waiting 35 long years, Mr. and Mrs. Doyle will become grandparents for the very first time at the end of April, 2018, Lord willing! If that isn't good news, there isn't any to be had! Your prayers on their (our daughter and son-in-law) behalf would be greatly appreciated!
ReplyDeletePam, congratulations on the upcoming blessed event! Grandchildren are wonderful, you'll see!
Delete"As usual, this has been one man's opinion." - and a fine man at that. I've said as much on my blog coverage-wise, it's ridiculous, and doesn't help people feel empathy at all to centre on one area, or country for that matter.
ReplyDeleteThis line in the comments is quite awful I must say;
"I thought Blacks and Muslims were perfect. Apparently not. BLM...Black Looters Matter." - As usual, just one woman's opinion mind you.
Well done to your grandson! x
Michelle, the words you cite seemed to be pure "essence of Adrian" to me. I let them stand to see how (and if) anyone would react.
ReplyDeleteFleets of ambulances to the Isle of Lewis. Well we have hurricanes and the ambulances would first have to get across the Minch.
ReplyDeleteGraham, I know. It would be absurd to send fleets of ambulances to Lewis if they're needed in Sheffield, just as it is absurd to send fleets of ambulances to Tallahassee when they're needed in Miami.
ReplyDelete