Live-blogging Gatekeeper

8:00 a.m.
Got up at about 5:30 to go in for this emergency exercise. Had to to get here by 7 am.

Police command post RV, flashing signs say exercise... looks like the right place, but I don't see our contact yet. He's no doubt part of an elite, highly-trained, can-kill-you-27-ways-with-their-bare-hands, emergency, anti-terrorism strike force at the ... let's see... DC Dept of Transportation. Hmm... Maybe no M16s this time, but I might get to use one of those stop/go traffic direction signs. Watch out bin Laden; no going 30 in a 20 mph zone while I'm here!

9:30 a.m.
Two of us volunteers showed up, but the other one bailed, because we weren't going to get to do traffic control; we're being assigned to the Police Dept. instead. Yeah, that really sux; traffic control sounds so much more exciting.

Celebrating The Big Rumble

TheBigRumble.org: "This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. The Big Rumble commemorates the anniversary with a week-long series of special events designed to connect our communities with preparedness resources."

Wikipedia: "The Loma Prieta earthquake killed 63 people ... injured 3,757, and left some 3,000, 8,000, 10,000, or 12,000 people homeless. ... During the earthquake, the [Cyprus Viaduct] freeway buckled and twisted ... and sent the upper deck crashing to the lower deck. In an instant, 41 people were crushed to death in their cars."

TheBigRumble.org: "... folks all over the City of San Francisco will be rolling out their barbeques and world famous potato salads and throwing their own 'Where Were You in '89' Neighborhood Block Party -- and so should you! ...we have a Block Party Host Toolkit with tons of great tips on how to throw the perfect bash..."

Woo hoo! How about a Jello "cake" with a house of cards and little figurines on top? And games like, "Stomp on the Hot Wheels track!"

BTW, what's the deal with those homeless numbers? "7,500, margin of error: 60%"?