Reports From My Nanocosm

*UPDATE: My niece is safe. As it turns out, my niece’s mother decided to leave New Orleans very early on Monday as the storm came closer to the Big Easy. They’re in Austin. Not sure why it took three days before they called. Thanks for the borrowed eyeballs and good vibes*

My niece Robyn (pictured) was in New Orleans with her mother when Hurricane Katrina struck and we haven’t heard from them yet. All communications systems in the city are down so it is understandable why we haven’t heard. I just hope they’re safe and sound.

Robyn’s mother lives inside the city and chose to stay. I don’t understand why anyone would choose to risk their lives riding out a major hurricane in a city mostly below sea level. Idiotic.  My sister and brother-in-law evacuated before the storm and called this morning to say they’re safe although he’s gone back down to find Robyn.

I’m letting my sophmoric side out to comment on this article.  You can tell the article’s author was having too much fun writing this. I can only imagine the pain this village must be going through to keep their street signs.

Brits driving Austrians bonkers over rude village name – Yahoo! News

Televangelist Calls for Chavez’ Death – Yahoo! News

I don’t think Pat Roberson is being a very good Christian by suggesting Chavez should be killed. Then again, I don’t think he’s ever been a very good Christian.

ICANN Delays .xxx Top-Level Domain – Yahoo! News

I’m actually not sure what the complaint is. Porn will exist on the Internet, no matter what. At least this gives options. This gives it a place to go that will make it easier to filter out. Don’t think browser companies won’t build in a filter from .xxx domains. Sure, porn companies will continue to use .com, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be corralled by future laws into using .xxx only. The illegal stuff like child porn will continue to be illegal.

This brings up another reason why ICANN shouldn’t be bound by or controlled by the U.S. or any other government. The Internet is borderless and the governance should reflect that. Time to free the net.

This AP headline cried out for a comment: “Monsignor Named As ‘Other Man’ in Divorce” (AP via Y! News)

Sad that my first thought was that at least it wasn’t a little boy.

Only later did I think about how hypocrisy continues to rule in the Catholic Church. But that isn’t new and I don’t doubt it is similar in other religious groups.