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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
United Houma Nation
From Gambit writer Sean David Hobbs, an excellent, heart wrenching article about his recent trip down to Terrebonne Parish to visit with United Houma Nation Principal Chief Brenda Dardar Robichaux.
I didn't know until I read this article that this Louisiana-recognized tribe is NOT recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Although the BIA acknowledged that the Houma had Native American ancestry, it was unable to find sufficient evidence that they were actually the descendents of the Houma tribe. Because of this, the United Houma Nation is ineligible to receive any sort of relief from the Federal Government for the myriad of losses they've been experiencing from Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike.
But our Government can bail out a bunch of rich Wall Street Bankers. Go figure.
I didn't know until I read this article that this Louisiana-recognized tribe is NOT recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Although the BIA acknowledged that the Houma had Native American ancestry, it was unable to find sufficient evidence that they were actually the descendents of the Houma tribe. Because of this, the United Houma Nation is ineligible to receive any sort of relief from the Federal Government for the myriad of losses they've been experiencing from Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike.
But our Government can bail out a bunch of rich Wall Street Bankers. Go figure.
Take a Visual Diversion
UK "grafitti artist" Banksy visited New Orleans around the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and left his mark.
Here's some of his work. Scroll from left to right to view some of this great stuff.
Here's some of his work. Scroll from left to right to view some of this great stuff.
Is this fool for real?
Courtesy of Your Right Hand Thief
Quote from Northwestern Professor Steven G. Calabresi
This Administration deserves to be trusted because it has kept us safe from terrorist attack since 9/11, has fought and won two wars, has presided over eight years of economic growth, has appointed two stellar justices to the Supreme Court, and has even learned how to do Louisiana’s job of protecting that state from hurricanes. The day will come, and not before long, when Americans will wish that George Bush was still president.
where's my puke bucket?
Quote from Northwestern Professor Steven G. Calabresi
This Administration deserves to be trusted because it has kept us safe from terrorist attack since 9/11, has fought and won two wars, has presided over eight years of economic growth, has appointed two stellar justices to the Supreme Court, and has even learned how to do Louisiana’s job of protecting that state from hurricanes. The day will come, and not before long, when Americans will wish that George Bush was still president.
where's my puke bucket?
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Scuzzbuckets of the Week
Actually, scuzzbucket isn't strong enough word for this week's evil people. Gleaned from local headlines, we have two cases of horrific child abuse.
The first case took place this past week in Harvey, Louisiana where a babysitter became "frustrated" with a five month old baby and put it in the clothes dryer and TURNED IT ON. Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies on Thursday booked 19-year-old Ariel Smith, of Harvey, with one count of first-degree murder.
Investigators say Smith was babysitting Andre Jenkins and his 18-month-old brother and said she admitted placing the infant in the dryer because she was frustrated with him.
Meanwhile, this fine young couple from Shreveport, Louisiana have been arrested for abusing not one, but TWO babies.
The children of Christopher Vailes and Conchetta Rhymes were taken to LSU Hospital in Shreveport on Wednesday for their four-month check up when the pediatrician suspected one of the infants had a broken leg, police said. X-rays later showed both children to have multiple injuries to their ribs and femurs and swelling to the soft tissues in their spines.
Just makes one want to cry, doesn't it?
The first case took place this past week in Harvey, Louisiana where a babysitter became "frustrated" with a five month old baby and put it in the clothes dryer and TURNED IT ON. Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies on Thursday booked 19-year-old Ariel Smith, of Harvey, with one count of first-degree murder.
Investigators say Smith was babysitting Andre Jenkins and his 18-month-old brother and said she admitted placing the infant in the dryer because she was frustrated with him.
Meanwhile, this fine young couple from Shreveport, Louisiana have been arrested for abusing not one, but TWO babies.
The children of Christopher Vailes and Conchetta Rhymes were taken to LSU Hospital in Shreveport on Wednesday for their four-month check up when the pediatrician suspected one of the infants had a broken leg, police said. X-rays later showed both children to have multiple injuries to their ribs and femurs and swelling to the soft tissues in their spines.
Just makes one want to cry, doesn't it?
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Gate needs a gravestone
Just catching up on the news of the week after spending some time behind the walls of the hospital recovering from an extremely vicious attack on my digestive system and ran across this story about Hurricane Ike disturbing - actually freeing - the remains of the late, great Clarence "Gatemouth Brown
I see that Varg caught this story first, but I just had to talk about it too.
According to The Associated Press, the Grammy winner's casket was one of dozens .......that floated up from the ground as Ike's gulf and rain waters flooded Hollywood Cemetery, (note that this story incorrectly identifies the cemetery as being in Bogalusa, Louisiana when it is actually in Orange, TX)....
...two days after Ike reached land, water gurgled and bubbled ominously from submerged graves ..... the top of Brown's vault had popped off, and his bronze casket had floated away. But three jars of Bama grape jelly remained by his aluminum marker, no doubt left by a fan of his instrumental classic "Grape Jelly."
"Somebody made the comment that he's evidently still touring. He probably wouldn't care too much to be in the ground anyway" said Gate's longtime manager Jim Bateman of Bogalusa.
Gatemouth's trademark was a cowboy hat, with boots and Western wear.
He liked to smoke a pipe.
And his long, thin fingers glided flat over guitar or fiddle strings with the grace of a ballet dancer.
He called himself a "guitar slinger" and had a stick figure caricature he used, including one attached to his black Cadillac.
The 81-year-old musician was living in Slidell when Katrina destroyed the city.
Gate went home to Texas die after evacuating from Katrina in September of 2005. When he evacuated to Orange, he brought an oxygen tank, which he had been carrying everywhere. He played the New Orleans 2005 Jazz Festival in April using the oxygen tank, Colin Walters, Gatemouth's last biographer, said.
image from pbase dot com
Orange local educator and church music director Robert Finch is on a quest to put a label on Gatemouth - well, at least on his grave.
Finch has set up a non-profit group to raise money for a tombstone and hopefully a state historical marker. He ultimately would like to see a statue of Gatemouth in the cemetery.
The account for Gatemouth Brown is set up at Sabine Federal Credit Union in Orange, Texas: Gatemouth Brown Memorial Committee Acct # 1892149.
I'll be contributing and hope you will, too. Gate was a great musician. Hubby & I were lucky enough to have several opportunities to see and hear him live in Slidell before his death . What a colossal talent he was.
I see that Varg caught this story first, but I just had to talk about it too.
According to The Associated Press, the Grammy winner's casket was one of dozens .......that floated up from the ground as Ike's gulf and rain waters flooded Hollywood Cemetery, (note that this story incorrectly identifies the cemetery as being in Bogalusa, Louisiana when it is actually in Orange, TX)....
...two days after Ike reached land, water gurgled and bubbled ominously from submerged graves ..... the top of Brown's vault had popped off, and his bronze casket had floated away. But three jars of Bama grape jelly remained by his aluminum marker, no doubt left by a fan of his instrumental classic "Grape Jelly."
"Somebody made the comment that he's evidently still touring. He probably wouldn't care too much to be in the ground anyway" said Gate's longtime manager Jim Bateman of Bogalusa.
Gatemouth's trademark was a cowboy hat, with boots and Western wear.
He liked to smoke a pipe.
And his long, thin fingers glided flat over guitar or fiddle strings with the grace of a ballet dancer.
He called himself a "guitar slinger" and had a stick figure caricature he used, including one attached to his black Cadillac.
The 81-year-old musician was living in Slidell when Katrina destroyed the city.
Gate went home to Texas die after evacuating from Katrina in September of 2005. When he evacuated to Orange, he brought an oxygen tank, which he had been carrying everywhere. He played the New Orleans 2005 Jazz Festival in April using the oxygen tank, Colin Walters, Gatemouth's last biographer, said.
image from pbase dot com
Orange local educator and church music director Robert Finch is on a quest to put a label on Gatemouth - well, at least on his grave.
Finch has set up a non-profit group to raise money for a tombstone and hopefully a state historical marker. He ultimately would like to see a statue of Gatemouth in the cemetery.
The account for Gatemouth Brown is set up at Sabine Federal Credit Union in Orange, Texas: Gatemouth Brown Memorial Committee Acct # 1892149.
I'll be contributing and hope you will, too. Gate was a great musician. Hubby & I were lucky enough to have several opportunities to see and hear him live in Slidell before his death . What a colossal talent he was.
The Murder of New Orleans Neighborhoods
(Posted at Mosquito Coast, cross posted from Squandered Heritage) The political puppet that is Ray Nagin keeps proving that he does not give a damn about saving the soul of New Orleans through his actions that allow the demise of New Orleans' historical structures.
......In the wake of Gustav, a number of buildings around town suffered severe damage and fell down. Since the middle of last week, city Code Enforcement inspectors have been surveying properties to determine if any are in Imminent Danger of Collapse (IDC). If a property is truly IDC,..... under a city law that has been on the books for years, the city can move to knock it down immediately and clear the debris, bypassing all the normal (historic value, preservation) reviews.........
image from Matternetwork dot com
What this appears to be is a naked grab at power, using Gustav’s glancing blow to Orleans Parish as an excuse. The mayor is temporarily (I hope) stamping out a committee made up mostly of citizens, a committee formed to protect citizens’ rights to not have their property arbitrarily destroyed. His aim would appear to be to accelerate demolitions resulting from Katrina, in order to look good in the eyes of Washington.
The link provides the whole sickening story. The murder of historic neighborhoods for the nightly news to make everything looks shiny and new.
What horseshit.
What horseshit
......In the wake of Gustav, a number of buildings around town suffered severe damage and fell down. Since the middle of last week, city Code Enforcement inspectors have been surveying properties to determine if any are in Imminent Danger of Collapse (IDC). If a property is truly IDC,..... under a city law that has been on the books for years, the city can move to knock it down immediately and clear the debris, bypassing all the normal (historic value, preservation) reviews.........
image from Matternetwork dot com
What this appears to be is a naked grab at power, using Gustav’s glancing blow to Orleans Parish as an excuse. The mayor is temporarily (I hope) stamping out a committee made up mostly of citizens, a committee formed to protect citizens’ rights to not have their property arbitrarily destroyed. His aim would appear to be to accelerate demolitions resulting from Katrina, in order to look good in the eyes of Washington.
The link provides the whole sickening story. The murder of historic neighborhoods for the nightly news to make everything looks shiny and new.
What horseshit.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Been Away.....
Spending the better part of a week in the ICU is not my idea of R&R. Still 'incarcerated' but a little more freer and feeling better than the last few days. Got some catching up to do......
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
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Harrah's New Orleans Hotel I can identify all but one of the flags flying, which depict the city of New Orleans and Louisiana's...
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I think I'm missing something. Razoo Bouncers not guilty of murder. Levon Jones, 26, of Statesboro, Ga., died after being pinned to th...
