The second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is approaching, and on Sunday — two years to the day since my oft-quoted “New Orleans in peril” and “get the hell out” posts — I’ll be giving a talk, or hosting a forum, or whatever you want to call it, on the hurricane at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church at 10:05 AM, part of their weekly “Sunday forum” series. I was asked to do this by Edward Lollis, chairman of the church’s forum committee, who is a fan of my blog and wanted to do something for the storm’s anniversary. Anyway, here is what the church’s official newsletter has to say about Sunday’s event:
Forum at 10:05 AM— “Hurricane Katrina: What Went Right and What Went Wrong”: When Hurricane Katrina roared ashore two years ago today, its human toll would have been far less had Mayor Nagin and the Louisiana media heeded the warnings of Brendan Loy, a 23-year old law student in South Bend, Indiana. Immediately after the storm, Loy’s predictions were acclaimed by the New York Times and Washington Post, and his web log (blog) became one of the most frequently linked-to websites of all times. Loy recently graduated from the University of Notre Dame and moved to Knoxville. He will tell us how he scooped the nation in 2005 and how the mainstream media and government continue to fail the people of New Orleans.
I’ll try my best to live up to that billing. To be honest, I’m still working out exactly what I’m going to say. :) I suspect I’ll be somewhat heavy on the 2005 stuff and somewhat lighter on the “continue to fail” part, as I haven’t followed subsequent events in New Orleans as closely as I’d like. But I think I’ll still have some reasonably valuable things to say, if I don’t get totally bogged down in the minutiae and run out of time! Whatever I say, I’ll definitely have to issue my standard clarification/correction about the whole “predictions” thing — I didn’t “predict” it, I just sounded the alarm, as I always say. Anyway, the church is at 2931 Kingston Pike here in Knoxville, if anyone wants to come on down.
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Categories: Tennessee & environs, Hurricane Katrina
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August 24th, 2007 at 9:14:11 am
You should ask them why they shun the Trinity.
August 24th, 2007 at 10:29:30 am
Basically, it’s “Believe In Whatever You Want.”
August 24th, 2007 at 10:36:41 am
This is the first step! Soon you’ll be rich and famous. Giving talks all over the country! Then you can take care of me in the lifestyle to which I’d like to become accustomed. In return, I’ll be a companion to Becky when she wants and I’ll supervise the nanny. :)
Good luck!
August 24th, 2007 at 10:45:47 am
“Basically, it’s “Believe In Whatever You Want.”
Those damn monotheists!
August 24th, 2007 at 11:21:01 am
“one of the most frequently linked-to websites of all times”
If remotely true, it would be quite impressive… :)
August 24th, 2007 at 11:42:23 am
It’s true. Brendan was the Tay Zonday of Katrina…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTZ2xpQwpA
August 24th, 2007 at 2:31:58 pm
I was wondering if anyone would post “Chocolate Rain” on this blog…
It’s something everyone needs to see. This is “A Whiter Shade of Pale” for our generation.
My favorite lyric from Chocolate Rain: “The bell curve blames the baby’s DNA”
August 24th, 2007 at 2:59:48 pm
give them the same advice … get the hell out, now.
I’m sick and tired of my tax dollars funding morons who believe they should be able to live below sea level in a coastal region and who believe they’re victims when reality bites their butts.
Let ‘em swim, next time.
August 24th, 2007 at 4:30:37 pm
Don’t forget to tell them that the hurricane was racist. It hated black people along with W. If not for the supernatural efforts of Al Sharopton and Jesse Jackson blowing all that hot air and weakening and shifting the hurrican, all would have been lost.
August 24th, 2007 at 6:13:21 pm
Don’t forget to choose your Unitarian Jihad name first.
August 24th, 2007 at 8:50:33 pm
Brendan, keep your ears open from the moment you walk in the door and let me know if you hear the words “the Bible” or “Jesus” any more times than you can count on one hand.
August 25th, 2007 at 12:14:36 pm
Yeah, and TVUUC is the college campus version of a UU congregation, and on the edge of one of the older, snootier neighborhoods overlooking the river in Knoxville, so it’s more country club-lite (w/o the golf course) than church.
I’m pretty sure Brendan’s going to catch a large amount of flack for saying anything other than George Bush and FEMA were completely and utterly responsible.
That’s just the nature of the crowd.
August 25th, 2007 at 2:02:14 pm
Yeah, my thoughts exactly, Jay. Watch yer back, Brendan. The UUers are said to be a Peaceful people but when you get to the part about how No you don’t think it was all a big Racist plot, they might put out a Fatwah on you ;]. Yes, Christianne Amanpour may even have to tack on a Part IV to her CNN series: “God’s Agnostic Warriors.” :>
Not altogether unrelatedly, it seems that your old docu-partner Spike has jilted You for Soledad O’Brien :) though I can’t imagine Why ;>.
Anyway, good luck tomorrow. Dazzle ‘em with Brilliance :}.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:36:04 pm
So, how’d it go?