Snippets: September 2005 Archives

I tried to ignore the sheer theatricality of it, but while Karl Rove strategises to save the President's arse, Celine Dion gives a rather impassioned and moving plea for help for the people of New Orleans on Larry King. And she sings. And donates a million dollars.

Dear heartless Sula bassanus,

Don't be silly; I neither expected a response nor read into your lack of acknowledgement in any way, shape or form. I wasn't expecting it to be framed either, so I can't believe that you've gone and hung it above your bathroom sink to look at every morning, but each to his own; my writing does look kind of bizarre. I'm glad that you were happy to receive it, in any case; it's the last letter I've written (job application cover notwithstanding), and it was a nice diversion, so it helped me too, mired as I am in the funk of science writing.

I know what you mean about Katrina; the extent of the damage and the nature of the reaction to it at a city and national level are affecting in very different ways. To top it off, New Orleans is my favourite city in the whole of the United States, and I've seen more of the continent than many of my American friends; shabby, laid back and more European than any other urban centre in the country, she had it all. Now no one is really certain what she has. Other than a colossal abundance of stagnant water. In a few years I intend to return and spend my tourist bucks on her pauperised economy; beignets, voodoo and cemeteries are reason enough, but seeing her back on her feet will be even better.

Enjoy your gin; when I'm done I'm going to go for a swim in pool of Tanqueray and lime. With my eyes shut.
Ciao for now,

Stairs.