Humane Society Still Rescuing Animals After Hurricane Sandy
In the ongoing calamity that is Hurricane Sandy, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals remains determined to rescue vulnerable animals. Here’s where everyone can help. Text either ANIMALS to 20222 or PREVENT to 25383 to donate $10 to the ASPCA, or simply visit the ASPCA web site.
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November Is National American Indian Heritage Month
Since 1990, November has been marked as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Efforts to set aside at least a day to honor America’s indigenous peoples go back to 1915, when Red Fox James, a member of the Blackfoot nation, rode horseback from state to state calling for a day to honor Native Americans. The first “American Indian Day” was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, legislators enacted “American Indian Day” in 1919. Presently, several states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be a day observed without any recognition as a national legal holiday. It’s way past time for that to change. Meanwhile, please check out the “Native American Heritage Month” site for local activities.
Image courtesy “White Wolf Pack.”
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The “Long Island Express” of 1938
Hurricane Sandy’s assault upon New England has drawn comparisons to an infamous hurricane that took pretty much the same course 74 years ago. Known colloquially as the “Long Island Express,” the Category 4 tempest struck on September 21, 1938, killing nearly 700 people and leaving more than 63,000 others homeless.
More than two weeks earlier, a French meteorologist took note of a powerful dust storm that swept westward across the Sahara desert. Initially, the hurricane took aim for Puerto Rico, before turning abruptly northward and setting its sights on Florida. South Florida residents were already leery of such storms; it had been just three years since the notorious “Labor Day Hurricane,” a Category 5 behemoth that killed more than 400 people. But, the September 1938 hurricane veered eastward at the last minute and spared the Floridian peninsula. It then crept up the east coast and at first appeared to head out into the Atlantic, before suddenly shifting back westward and slamming first into the tiny fishing village of Montauk, Long Island. It literally caught New England residents off guard. The U.S. Weather Bureau (now the National Hurricane Center) ultimately denied any responsibility. The Jacksonville, Florida office would track storms as far north as the Carolinas’ Outer Banks; when they reached Cape Hatteras, the Washington, D.C., office would take over. However, a junior weatherman, Charles Pierce, in Washington predicted the hurricane’s path with astonishing accuracy. But, the Bureau reaffirmed their initial belief that the storm looked like it would head out into the North Atlantic and then claimed residents of the northeast were not “hurricane-minded.” Alas, the storm and its devastation didn’t receive the national attention it would today. Back then the country’s focus was on the lingering Great Depression and the Nazis’ growing power in Europe.
PBS’ American Experience series features an excellent documentary, “The Hurricane of ’38,” that provides firsthand accounts of the storm from survivors. R.A. Scotti’s book, “Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938,” also provides detailed insights into the catastrophe.
Here are some of the many pictures of that storm’s aftermath.
Atwood Machine Company – Willimantic, Connecticut
East Hartford, Connecticut
Providence, Rhode Island
Napatree Point, Rhode Island
Actress Katharine Hepburn beside the remains of her family’s Connecticut home
Rhode Island
New York City
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Long Island
Long Island
Long Beach, Long Island
Worcester, Massachusetts
Belchertown, Massachusetts
Cranston, Rhode Island
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Boston, Massachusetts
Long Island
Amherst, New Jersey
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Southbridge, Massachusetts
Thompson, Connecticut
Saving the Animals, Too
Unlike Hurricane Katrina, there has been a concerted effort to save animals along with people in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. As many coastal residents evacuated ahead of the storm, they brought their pets with them to shelters. And, for those trapped in their homes by the floodwaters, their pets are being rescued along with them. This is in stark contrast to the Katrina debacle, when not only were animals refused entry into shelters, the Coast Guard and other rescue personnel forced people to leave their pets behind.
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More Statesmanship in Action
“It’s been very good working with the President. He and his Administration have been coordinating with us. It’s been wonderful.”
– New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, about President Obama, on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“I want to just let you know that your governor is working overtime to make sure that, as soon as possible, everybody can get back to normal.”
– President Obama, about Governor Christie.
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Write Off
For the scriptually-challenged – yes, that’s a real term – the month of November has been designated by “Saint Literature” as “National Novel Writing Month,” a month to challenge prospective writers to produce a complete novel in 30 days. The technical goal is 50,000 words, which is about 1,700 words, or 6 double-spaced manuscript pages per day. “NaNoWriMo” began in July 1999, when a group of San Francisco writers decided to see what they could do with the written word in a month’s time. As with any artistic endeavor, the purpose was merely to make a statement – whatever that’s supposed to mean. In 2000, they moved the challenge to November. Last year 256,618 people took part in the event, and 36,843 succeeded in writing a complete novel.
Some have criticized it as a waste of time and energy. Who, after all, produces a quality literary piece in 30 days? As with any art work, though, it’s all a matter of perception. Some people may read my stuff and think it’s crap. I respect their decision, as I light a curse candle at midnight on their behalf. Make of it what you will, but we writers are the voices of our respective communities. If we didn’t put words to paper or computer screen, children would go blind from masturbating too much and more people would vote Republican.
Image courtesy of “NaNoWriMo.”
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Chief Writing Wolf 
More Stupidity in Action
“Obama’s making these phone calls, looking for somebody to play the role of a Greek column today, and he found Gov. Christie to do it. Christie’s the only Republican not just praising Obama . . . Let’s just put it this way: Is it wrong for one man to love another man? But that man-love out there is isolated in the state of New Jersey.”
– Rush Limbaugh on his radio show, condemning Chris Christie for working with President Obama on the Hurricane Sandy aftermath.
This is the downside of free speech: anyone with a microphone, computer or bullhorn can say just about anything they want – no matter how blatantly asinine.
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