Cold, Eh?

--Grapes of Wrath (1940), Joad family

Folks with plenty of plenty
They've got a lock on the door
Afraid somebody's gonna rob 'em
While there out making more - what for?
--I Got Plenty of Nothing, Gershwin

--Okay, here's an idea; we can stop outside of Brainerd,
I know a place there we can get laid. Whaddya think?
--I'm fucking hungry now, y'know!
--I'm sayin': we can...stop, get pancakes and then we'll get laid, alright?
--Fargo (1996)

If there was a law, they was workin' with
maybe we could take it, but it ain't the law.
They're workin' away our spirits, tryin' to make us cringe
and crawl, takin' away our decency
--Tom Joad, Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Wait till you see that sunshine day
You ain't seen nothin' yet
--The Best is Yet to Come, Frank Sinatra
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First, a somber remembrance of the date which will live in infamy, December 7, 1941.

On a happier note: yesterday the WaPo delivers us the Good News that North Dakotans are living "in a bubble," free of all this unemployment balderdash (North Dakota Asks, What Recession?) Cold, y'say? Pfffht! However, economic analysts say--

“North Dakota’s cheery circumstance. . .is showing clear signs that it, too, may be in jeopardy.”

“Our problem is that everybody thinks that it’s a cold, miserable place to live,” said Bob Stenehjem, a Republican and the State Senate’s majority leader. “They’re wrong, of course. But North Dakota is a pretty well-kept secret.”

Just putting two-and-two together, this might be the place for the deracinated of New Orleans to make a new start. FEMA is cutting the Katrina survivors loose, and the kids are still suffering a heap of problems, according to an article in the same issue (Many Children Lack Stability Long after Storm.)

Maybe we could start an initiative to get these kids working on that Fargo condo. After all, many have been attending school the past few years yet have failed to pick up even one credit. What is the use?

It's a thought--provide them some balaclavas and Marge Gunderson jackets and they're good to go. An initiative Brownie could get behind.