Sound_n_Fury

I don't have a problem with Burns as a backup FB and ST ace....I just don't want to see him in the game as a RB

What's the chances of picking up a late cut for the #5 WR?

If they did, it would be the first time in NFL history. They're not playing Madden out there....after the first ten plays, the game plan usually becomes less and less a factor.

The final nail...

Looks like a seat cushion...

Bupkis website...although it would make a nice dart board if it were printed out.

Yep. That's pretty much how the Electronic Media approach these kind of stories...

By jove, you're right: http://www.bouncybean.karenalexander.co.uk...%20carnival.htm SOUTHERN DECADANCE IN NEW ORLEANS - 31 August-5 September- New Orleans largest gay/lesbian event with over 100,000 participants. Includes history, schedule, weekend pass purchases and discount hotels. Weekend passes are available for purchase on the website - 801 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70116 USA.

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/new_orleans/ "The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans has been temporarily closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. No decision can be made on a reopening date until the city of New Orleans is able to restore essential services to its residents, and permitting the assessment and repairs to the hotel – which were not major – to begin. Guests holding reservations will be contacted as soon as possible to assist with other arrangements or for future rebooking. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation."

Certainly, I agree the human toll is a major story since this country hasn't had an experience like this before. I just wish there were more "light than heat" in most of the stories I'm reading on the net, seeing on TV, etc. That's probably naive on my part, however.

Who said anything about sticking anyone's head in the sand? The point I keep trying to make (unsuccesfully, I guess) is that in a muliti-trillion dollar economy like the U.S., as bad as things seem right now, the OVERALL impact is still relatively small. The economy can absorb this if we don't get some kind of collective panic attack due to CNN/Fox overload. The issue appears to be too polarizing/emotional right now (understandable). But the impact/implications will become clearer in the next few days.

Yep, for now. It'll be the biggest natural disaster in U.S. history, undoubtedly. But will it cause a recession that touches all parts of the country? Not very likely. The following is a pretty good anlysis, IMO, of the macroeconomic impact of Katrina (which is the point I was making-- not the personal tragedy of those in the storm's path, which is indeed heartbreaking): Katrina was undoubtedly devastating, yet it is important to place the potential impact on economic output within the macroeconomy in greater context. As prior analysis on these pages have showed, the area impacted by the hurricane amounts to only 1.1% of total nominal output. Even if the entire regional economy impacted by the storm shuts down for days, or even weeks, the direct effect on U.S. GDP would likely be quite small. As an example, shaving 1.1% from second quarter nominal GDP would push the year-over-year growth rate down by a little less than one-tenth of one percentage point. However, Katrina's wrath was not just limited to Mississippi and Louisiana. The region is a sizable hub in the nationwide oil infrastructure. Disruptions in the flow of crude from offshore platforms, refinery outages and the resulting supply fears have pushed the Bush administration to open the strategic petroleum reserve and have caused the price of gasoline to surge over the past two days. With the timetable for any return to normalcy uncertain, energy prices could remain elevated for some time. In turn, consumer resiliency in the face of pressures at the pump will certainly be tested in the final month of the third quarter. It is through this conduit that we anticipate Katrina will impact growth in the second half of this year. We are still in the process of incorporating the aftermath of the hurricane into our U.S. forecast. Even with a slowdown in growth, it is likely that the economy will continue to expand at an above potential pace in the third and fourth quarters. Indeed, momentum going into the second half of the year was very strong. Demand for housing remains sturdy, inventories in the factory sector are lean and thus support a reacceleration in production, and fundamentals are in place for continued healthy business investment. Further, low interest rates (the 10-year note is flirting with the 4% threshold once again) will give the economy a boost, much as it did earlier this year. Given these supports, the framework is in place for above potential growth not only for the remainder of this year, but well into 2006. At this point, the only Fed official to comment publicly on the hurricane holds a similar view to our own. Despite the events over the past few days, Philadelphia Fed President Santomero expects the economy to grow at an above potential rate in 2005—an outcome which would suggest growth of roughly 3.5% to 4% during the the second half of the year. While risks to the economy are undeniable, Santomero believes that the expansion is sturdy enough to weather recent events without a sizable deceleration of growth.

Well, since you brought it up...how will it impact your life?? Let's have some examples.

On 9/11, we were attacked on U.S. soil for the first time by an agressor power. That WAS a national event. A natural disaster to one part of the country has much less national significance ("big picture"). I'll agree, on a personal level to the individuals involved, Katrina is much more significant. However, 150,000 people were killed by the tsunami vs. a thousand or so in N.O. so I don't agree with that comparison, either.

Man, I feel bad for those folks but I think we're getting carried away with this story. Louisiana and Mississippi account for 2% of U.S. output...it's not like this is a "tune out the lights" national crisis, or even remotely on the scale of 9/11.

More of the same...ho hum

No offense, but if one of Donald Trump's home's burned down, how much $$$ would you (or other TSW-ers) be sending him to rebuild? The U.S. is the richest nation in the world (GDP Per Capita). Even though we give billions in foreign aid to other countries, I'm not sure we need anything from them in return. The Gross State Product (value of all goods and services produced) of Lousiana and Mississippi represents 2% of the U.S. total. As bad a things are with the loss of life and property damage, this is something the U.S. can afford to handle.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/stor..._len&id=2147430 Saints director of operations James Nagaoka was in contact with officials from other cities, most notably San Antonio, about moving practices as early as next week. The team is currently practicing in San Jose, Calif., in advance of Thursday night's preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, and the preference is to return to a city in the South or the Southwest to begin preparations for the Sept. 11 regular-season opener. Mike Abington, director of the Alamodome in San Antonio, confirmed the Saints have spoken to city officials. Nagaoka inquired about the availability of the San Antonio School District Spring Sports Complex, a site that could be under consideration for team practices. The Saints practiced at the site last September, when they were forced to leave New Orleans in advance of Hurricane Ivan. It is believed that Nagaoka also contacted officials from other cities in the southwest. One league owner said he believed the Saints had begun "at least preliminary" talks about an alternative playing site, with the Alamodome topping the list. The owner said that he had heard Houston was a possible alternative practice site.

Tough break for BF, after all of the family crises the Favre's have endured over the past few years: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "One of our readers in Wisconsin tells us that WGBA-TV in Green Bay is reporting that the Kiln, Mississippi family homestead of Brett Favre was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. After being unable to reach his mother or other family members who stayed in Kiln to ride out the storm, Favre finally reached his mother, Bonita, on Tuesday afternoon. All family members are safe, but the family home is destroyed. Favre's farm in Hattiesburg, 60 miles north of Kiln, suffered extensive damage but is still standing."

Thanks, Doc

God help me it's a mess down there, but this made me think of Jimmy Griffin's famous line about the Blizzard of 77: http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050830/480/lad...HYzBHNlYwN0bXA-

Maybe not so funny after all, if that's the case: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no2/wenzel.htm

Just for laughs: Browns | Winslow Slowed By Infection Tue, 30 Aug 2005 12:46:14 -0700 Zac Jackson, of ClevelandBrowns.com, reports Cleveland Browns TE Kellen Winslow Jr. (knee, staph infection) is vowing to make a complete recovery from his torn ACL, but is being slowed by a staph infection in his knee. As a result, Winslow has not been able to lift weights the past six weeks and has dropped from his listed 254 pounds to 225.

Oglesby over Dornbos...not based off the snaps Preston made in the Bears game, IMO.

My sense is Dr. Z's just being somewhat outrageous/a gadfly on this. I've heard him say that pre-season pronostication is plain stupid, but it's an expected part of the job for a sportswriter, so he has to do it. Doubt he put much effort into his analysis. In other words, it's good for lining the bird cage with two weeks from now...