Notes From The Table

When work bogs you down and you need to blog but can't because you don't think you have time, nothing works like a good ol' list of random stuff that you've been thinking about!

... From the Blacksburg desk, courtesy of Gina: "This is what happens when government agencies try to be hip. Who uses the word 'mitigation' in a kid痴 song, much less a rap?"

... Also from the Blacksburg desk, I had a good time this past weekend in the 'burg. What I really want to mention, though, is that the new stadium upgrade is super-impressive. Lane looks all that more intimidating to visiting teams, and it sure is a heck of a lot louder during a home game. It will be interesting to see just how intense it can get under Miami-game levels.

... In the spirit of not getting too bogged down into a routine, I'm going to attempt a slightly different method of getting to work tomorrow, involving a couple of Metrobus lines. If all goes well, I'll end up at the office at about the same time, save on gas, and also save about $40-$50 per month on parking costs. Yes, I did the math, and yes: I enjoyed doing it. I'll keep you posted on the Great Bus Race.

... What is up with this hurricane season? My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who is currently in Rita's projected path. Our primary concern should be to save as many lives as possible, naturally, and it seems as if most - residents and government officials alike - have learned their lesson from Katrina's wake-up call. Despite that, with Rita at one point being the third-strongest storm (in terms of internal pressure) ever to have been recorded while heading toward the U.S., the Gulf region looks to be in for another batch of hard times. Let's pray for a miracle. No matter the outcome, I'm also hoping that the media keeps the efficiency and helpfulness that it displayed during Katrina's aftermath, so that the Rita situation isn't sensationalized for the sake of drastic headlines and the exploitation of suffering.