The Digging Out Channel

Thanks to Ethan Zuckerman for pointing to Michael Barnett's interdictor blog, which now begins,

This journal has become the Survival of New Orleans blog. In less perilous times it was simply a blog for me to talk smack and chat with friends. Now this journal exists to share firsthand experience of the disaster and its aftermath with anyone interested.

It's much more than that. While much of it is about getting technology up and running (e.g. "If anyone who works for or has connections with Bell South or Telcove is reading this, tell us what it's going to take to get those OC3s back up and running. We will try to coordinate and make it happen."), much is also about keeping civilization going in the midst of bungled politics. Such as with this open letter to Jesse Jackson:

Jesse Jackson
Dear Sir:

Respectfully, I submit that you should shut the hell up. Looting and lawlessness IS the problem. The National Guard choppers are BEING SHOT AT. The NOPD are BEING SHOT AT. You want to focus on the levee? So do they, but check this out: THEY CAN'T UNTIL THE MOB STOPS ATTACKING THE RESCUE OPERATION.

I know you're looking at this situation with concern for the racial implications of the deterioration of civilization out here, but this is bigger than whether people are going to be racists after this is over. This is about rescuing the masses i.e. life and death.

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and blame your stupid comments on your lack of knowledge of the situation. Don't prove me a fool for doing so.

Regards,

Michael Barnett

If you're a techie, a concerned citizen or somebody's who just too tired of watching human manequins try to make sense of the new American Haiti on cable TV, Michael's is one of the most riveting and informative sources of information -- and heroism as well -- on the Web right now.

More here.