The trouble with Katrina message boards: Too much chat

DOMAIN ROULETTE
This New Orleans site(http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx) sends people here
http://www.katrinasafe.com/WebEntryApplication/searchform.aspx
CityofNO.com asks citizens to use Katrina Safe, the Red Cross Missing Persons Directory to connect people in the wake of relocations forced by the evacuation of New Orleans. All content materials © The City of New Orleans.

This URI http://www.new-orleans.la.us didn't work, when I checked it. The la.us site was found on a site that claimed it was the NO police site.
Be aware: The use of the words "New Orleans Police Department" and/or the display of the NOPD logo, shoulder patch and badge are for informational purposes only and do not reflect any endorsement by the New Orleans Police Department.

I don't think it was the NO Police.
This http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=1&load=~/SystemModules/SiteMap.ascx
is the site map. These folks went dot net
http://www.jeffparish.net/

Bottom line. Try the state site http://www.louisiana.gov/wps/portal/
The state police have a site
http://www.lsp.org/index.html
I don't understand why the state site is dot gov and the police are dot org. I thought all government agencies were supposed to use the state dot us URI system. No wonder the emergency response was so bad. This stuff relies on the Internet and you have all these different government agencies using different domains. Instead of government, you have googlment or something and people are dot lost thinking Yahoo is like some sort of magic carpet.

Unfortunate isn't it...the politics seems to permeate everything and it's not useful at this time.

I dunno a solution, Steve, but keeping people on the topic originally posted is a problem with blogs, too. (Hi, Jim!)

And as the HuffPost post from Heather indicates, once you're an extremely popular site, hand approving comments can be a real issue (not one I've had to face personally).

People are going to say what they want to say, regardless. I think, though, that your post shows a problem with using message boards as a contact information system. Along with your prior comment on multilingualism, it's something that needs to be considered as we continue working on Recovery 2.0

CORRECTION- sorry, I attributed the HuffPo post to Heather, not you - fixed here.

I dunno a solution, Steve, but keeping people on the topic originally posted is a problem with blogs, too. (Hi, Jim!)

And as the HuffPost post from you indicates, once you're an extremely popular site, hand approving comments can be a real issue (not one I've had to face personally).

People are going to say what they want to say, regardless. I think, though, that your post shows a problem with using message boards as a contact information system. Along with your prior comment on multilingualism, it's something that needs to be considered as we continue working on Recovery 2.0

THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!!! why is ther such a contriversy over KATRINA" human, people have lost ecerything they own due to living in acity below sea lvl. whith weak levees and a weak system its no way the"USA" should have allowed people to live in N.O ever now theUSA is turning their backs on us like its our faults i feel like alaughing stock unwanted unimportant to those it matters too! thers too many people still displaced too many lives lost too many people living in conditions worse than befor by everybody should be placed in places exceptable by them not government! everybody is acting dumb like they dont know whats going on! whats going on is anatural disaster like sunami" like 911 like iraquee war! FEMA

I just read that guys comment and he is right! we in new Orleans have been forgotten. the rest of the nation don't care about us. as long as they got theres. we lost everything, I don't want to even go to the old house its just a mess. I'm a old man of 76 and can't go clean this house out. For what, so somebody can buy me out and rebuild it. I wish we could rebuild it! it a nice house but it was under water for 5 weeks. I think its going to take 10 years to get NOLA back to almost where it was. the poor people get cheated and the rich get richer. the papers are preparing us for higher elec. bills. so whats that tell you. who would want to live in a big soup bowl anyway? after what I seen what Katrnia did not me.I love the south and will stay down here forever, but i will stay 15 miles east of the lake. If the water gets that far and we get flooded out again. is anyplace safe?

DEADLINE TO APPLY TO THE ROAD HOME PROGRAM IS JULY 31

Louisiana homeowners affected by Hurricane Katrina or Rita who have not yet applied to The Road Home program have until July 31, 2007 to file an application for assistance, officials announced today.
“Homeowners with damages to their homes who have not yet applied should do so right away,” said Michael Taylor, director of the Disaster Recovery Unit, Office of Community Development. “We want to ensure that homeowners who need assistance apply before the deadline so as not to miss out on potential program benefits.”
Louisiana homeowners who owned and occupied their homes at the time of Hurricane Katrina or Rita, and suffered damage as a result of one of the storms, may be eligible to receive assistance through The Road Home program. Owners of single-unit, double-unit, condominiums and mobile homes are encouraged to apply.
Any Louisiana homeowner who has yet to apply to the program can start the application process by visiting www.road2LA.org or by calling 1.888.ROAD.2.LA (1.888.762.3252 or TTY: 1.800.566.4224).
Program officials stressed that this is a deadline to apply, not a deadline for the entire program. Those who have already applied can call the same numbers to check on the status of their application and get additional information - even after the deadline.
“July 31 will be the final day for those homeowners that suffered damages to their homes as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Rita to apply for the program,” said Taylor. “The Road Home program will continue to process applications and move applicants through the process to closing, but those that need to start the process must do so by July 31.”
This application deadline applies to applications for the Homeowner Assistance program only. Applications for the Rental program will be accepted during the time that rounds are open.

How to Make Money using Paypal?
How to make extra money in paypal as seen on oprah ?
EARN EXTRA MONEY IN PAYPAL AS SEEN ON OPRAH AND 20/20
______________________________________...
Dear Friend,

You probably have seen these, but they really really do work, give it a try -- think of how you waste $6 in a
day,
week or month. It's a minor investment with great rewards. This might really help you pay off those credit cards
and give you the ability to move out.

If you could start your own mail order list with an investment of
$6.00, and make $800,000 over the next
year would you do it? This is sooooooo real, I swear on the bible!!

_____________________________________
***Proven by various, highly-respected U.S. TV and Radio programs as being 100% legal, feasible and true.***

***Oprah Winfrey and ABC's investigation team 20/20 also prove it can be done.***

IF A 15 YEAR OLD BOY COULD MAKE $71,000 IN JUST 5 WEEKS AND OTHERS $250,000 IN A FEW MORE WEEKS -- SO CAN YOU !!!

Would you like to make $71,000 OR $250,000 in a few weeks?
As seen on the Oprah Winfrey show and ABC's 20/20

======================================...

The true story that has everyone talking:
Parents of a 15yr old boy find $71,000 in his closet:

You may have seen this story featured on a number of major news programs (United States), and reported elsewhere
around the world. His mother was doing some cleaning and putting some laundry away when she discovered a
large brown paper bag that was suspiciously
buried beneath some clothes and a skateboard in the back of her 15-year-old sons closet.

Nothing could have prepared her for the shock she got when she opened the bag and found that it was full of
dollar bills -- $71,000 to be precise!!

"My first thought was that he had robbed a bank", says the 41-year-old woman, "There was over $71,000 in that bag,

that's more than my husband earns in a year".

The woman immediately called her husband at the car-dealership where he worked to tell him what she had discovered.
He came home right away and together they drove to the boys school and picked him up.
Little did they suspect that where the bills were coming from was going to be a bigger surprise than actually
finding them in the closet.

As it turns out, the boy had been sending out, via E-mail, a type of "Report" to other E-mail addresses that he
obtained off the Internet.
Everyday after school for the past 2 months, he had been doing this on his computer in his bedroom.

"I just got an E-mail one day and I figured what the heck, I put my name on it like the instructions said and
I started sending it out", says the 15-year-old.

The E-mail letter he received had 5 names and addresses listed on it and contained instructions on how to send
one $5 dollar bill to each person on the list.
Then delete the name and address at the bottom of the list (Report # 5) and move the other 4 names and addresses
down one step,
finally adding your own name and address to the top of the list (Report # 1).

The letter goes on to state that you would receive several thousand dollars in five-dollar bills within 2 weeks
if you sent out the letter with your name and address at the top of the 5-address list.

"I get junk E-mail all the time, and really did not think it was going to work", the boy continues.

Within the first few days of sending out the E-mail,
the Post Office Box that his parents had gotten him for his video-game magazine subscriptions began to fill up
not with magazines, but envelopes containing $5 bills.

"About a week later I rode my bike down to the post office and my
Post Office Box had 1 magazine and about 300 envelopes stuffed in it."

Over the next few weeks, the boy continued sending out the E-mail.

"The five dollar bills just kept coming in and I just kept sorting them and stashing them in the closet,
I barely had time for my homework". He had also been riding his bike to several of the banks in his area
and exchanging the $5 bills for twenties, fifties and hundreds.

"I didn't want the banks to get suspicious so I kept riding to different banks with like five thousand at a time
in my backpack.
I would usually tell the lady at the bank counter that my dad had sent me in to exchange the bills and he was
outside waiting for me.
One time the lady gave me a really strange look and told me that she would not be able to do it for me and my
dad would have to come in and do it,
but I just rode to the next bank down the street (laughs)."

Surprisingly, the boy did not have any reason to be afraid.
The reporting news team examined and investigated the so-called "chain-letter" the boy was sending out and found
that it was not a chain-letter at all. In fact, it was completely lawful according to United States Postal and
Lottery Laws
which state; a product or service must be exchanged for funds received.

Every five-dollar bill that he received contained a little note that read, "Please send me report number xyz".
This simple note made the letter lawful because he was exchanging a service (A Report on how-to do something)
for a five-dollar fee.

It's true. The boy legitimately earned $71,000.
You should print this, read it and read it again and again if necessary.
Then follow the simple instructions. You too could make $71,000 and much much more.

This program has gained such respectability and it is working so well, that many people are now entering the
program for a second and third time.

Some are reporting they are earning enough money to give up their jobs and they are spending just a few hours a
day sending out e-mails.

======================================...

INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO DO:
Some people will perceive this as an "off the wall" idea to make
money, but others will look at it as a great
business opportunity. This by far is the safest, most risk free
opportunity you will find to start your own
business because you use Paypal, the most trusted banking system on
the internet. Not only is this an
opportunity to gain financial freedom, but you will help others do
the same as they help you. A basic
principal that has been forgotten about - Giving to one another.

This is a very simple opportunity. This is an even simpler automated way to make money that does not require
opening mail, only a Paypal account.

Create a Paypal account for free.

Give six people $1.00. (Paypal IDs are listed below.)

Post this opportunity to others on the internet.

Other people create a Paypal account for free.

Thousands of people give you $1.00 to be put on your mailing list.
(Once you add your Paypal ID.)

If we all work together everyone will benefit.

Here's how!

Paypal verifies that this $6 investment program is 100% legal and is
a big hit this year
see their note below or ask them directly...

For a simple investment of 15-30 minutes and just $6, it is 100%
worth it to make thousands so quickly.
This is not another scam that takes lots of your hard earned money;
this is a no risk investment that will
make you thousands of dollars very easily and quickly.

From PayPal:

"Dear Member, it has come to our attention that there is a Paypal
opportunity floating around at the
moment you may have heard or seen the $6 opportunity.

You may have even taken part in it well we have been asked a lot of
questions about this opportunity the
answer is yes it does work and yes it is safe to use providing you
follow the rules it is legal and has made a
big hit on the internet this year.

If you would like to take part in this opportunity or would like a
bit more information then please see the
attached file that was kindly donated to us.

Thank you for using PayPal!"

Turn $6 into $15,000 in only 30 days...heres how! You have most
likely seen or heard about this project
on TV programs such as 20/20 and Oprah, or you may have read about
it in the Wall Street Journal.

If not, here it is below - revealed to you in step-by-step detail.

This program is by no means new.

It has been in existence in many forms for at least a decade.

I found this on a bulletin board and decided to try it:

Make Money with your Paypal account as shown on Oprah!

IMPORTANT: This is not a rip-off; it is not indecent; it is not
illegal; and it is virtually no risk-it really works! If
all of the following instructions are adhered to, you will receive
extraordinary dividends.

AGAIN, PLEASE NOTE:

Follow these directions EXACTLY, and $20,000 or more can be yours in
4 to 6 weeks.

This program remains successful because of the honesty and integrity
of the participants.

Please continue its success by carefully adhering to the
instructions.

A FEW LEGAL TIPS:

You are starting a Mailing List

File your responses alphabetically everyday. If you have a computer,
all the better, if not get one
with your first mail responses.

You will soon compile an extensive mailing list. It can be very
useful in your business, to start a new
business, or for other businesses to acquire information from you.

When you send out these letters, you are in the mail order business.
People are sending you $1.00
to be put on your mailing list. This is a legal helpful service.
Once again see Title,

section 1302 and 1341 of the US Postal and lottery laws.

Here are the 4 easy steps to success:

STEP 1:

Take a few minutes to join Paypal: Remember to verify your account.

www.paypal.com/us/mrb/pal=3DC2RREFZTEZ...

The Internet's most trusted Internet banking system for your future
income.

When creating your Paypal account make email address you used for
Paypal on the list below so people
can send money to your account.

STEP 2:

Once you have a Paypal account running, use Paypal to post $1 to
EACH of the 6 Email Addresses below
because you pay people with an email address in Paypal. Select "SEND
MONEY".

To do this you may need to use a credit or debit card, which is very
easy, and secure so nobody but
Paypal may see it.

What you are doing is creating a service. This is absolutely legal!
You are requesting a legitimate service
and you are paying for it!

Here are the 6 individual Email addresses that you have to send $1
to through Paypal for this to work
properly and for you to receive money.

(If you don't send the money and decide to post the message with
your name in it anyway, Paypal will
instantly pick this up and terminate your account, immediately,
besides the other penalties!!)

If you did this you could get into serious trouble because it is
fraud. (So follow the instructions and post the
$6 and you will make lots of money with no hassles.)

Now Send $1.00 to each of the six people on the list using Paypal, and
in the comment (Subject) section type "Please add me to your list".
Below are the emails that you transfer the money into:

These groups of email addresses are Paypal IDs or usernames.
Choose what group of email addresses you what to Send 1 Dollar :

1.) rcsenterprises2008@yahoo.com
2.) honeymooners18@yahoo.com
3.) certificarts@canada.com
4.) meldiner@yahoo.com
5.) gavin_himself@hotmail.com
6.) dustinandmissy@ns.sympatico.ca
STEP 3:

Now after sending $1.00 to each of the email placements above, take
the #1 Email Address off the list,
move the other Email Addresses up (6 becomes 5, 5 becomes 4, etc.)
and add Your Email Address as
number 6 on the list.

STEP 4:

Change anything you need to, but try to keep this article as close
to the original as possible.

Now, post your amended article to at least 200 news groups (there
are thousands of groups).

And email your message to as many people you can. Remember, the more
you post and email the more
money you make! This is perfectly legal!

You are getting paid for a service, the sender of the money asks you to “Please add me to your list”,
Therefore it is legal. Remember to send a dollar to the above names or this is considered illegal.

=95 If you have any doubts, refer to Title 18 Sec. 1302 and 1241 of
the Postal Lottery laws.

Keep a copy of these steps for yourself and, whenever you need
money, you can use it again and again.

PLEASE REMEMBER

This program remains successful because of the honesty and integrity
of the participants and by their
carefully adhering to the directions.

You are simply paying into a money making chain of participants and
if the chain is broken you are
screwing someone else out of their fair share.

So, as each person who joins the family and the directions are
followed, six members will be reimbursed for
their participation as a Mailing List Developer with one dollar
each.

You then insert your Email Address into the list and it will move up
geometrically.

So that when your name reaches the #1 position you will have
potentially received thousands of dollars
into your account!!!

What an opportunity for only a total of $6.00! $1 for each of the
first six people listed above.

To begin with, please send you're $1.00 to each email address listed
above then add your own Email
Address to the list and you're in business!

This is not a scam, I myself tried this and Im just a stay at home mom with
two kids. Please try this out..it could really help you or a friend out.