David vs Goliath

Michael Homan has been fighting Allstate since Katrina devastated his home. Today he testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The first panel of speakers includes senators such as Mary Landrieu and Trent Lott.

From his website I will be speaking in the second panel, along with Bob Hunter, the president of the Consumer Federation of America. We'll both be arguing in favor of Leahy's Insurance Industry Competition Act. Two speakers in my panel will be arguing against the act: Marc Racicot, president of the American Insurance Association, and Susan Voss, speaking on behalf of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The whole thing should be over in an hour I'm told.

The link above details his experience in fighting Allstate for his insurance claim that they refuse to pay. A David against Goliath tale.

Thank you, Mr. Homan.

Meet the victims

dapoblog has posted a list of the murders in 2007. This list comprises names and details of the crimes (links to the police reports). Excellent research.

I agree with Traveling Mermaid that all the murder victims should be recognized....they all had family, friends and lives. Even the criminals....who knows why they turned to a life of crime? One factor is the failure of our society and our community. The failure of a strong family structure by which I don't necessarily mean blood family. We need these murders in our faces everyday to motivate us all to do what we can to break this vicious cycle of violence. The big question is, what can we do as a community to turn it around?

they blew up the levees

I got this email last night:



It never ceases to amaze me how people like you can be so opinionated without all the facts. My family was displaced by Katrina. My father used to live in Slidell and my Sister is in the process of moving now.
All of my relatives, whom by the way, live are living and did live in New Orleans and Slidell agree, there was a suspicious explosion in the area of the levy before the flooding began and AFTER Katrina had already passed through. It was blown by the Army Core of Engineers.
Katrina was devastating in its own way but did not cause the damage the mainstream news wants America and the world to believe.
I do not know Mr. Nagin and most probably will never meet him but, I would like to see YOU deal with a situation like this and come out looking good when ALL the help that is normally available was cut off by the Federal Government during Katrina. The aftermath of this tragedy is that, it was ALL created at the top. From my point of view, it was time to get those poor people out of there.
Nagin my not be a genius but do you think Mr. Bush is?
If you ran for Mayor, I would vote for you just to see how well you will do.


I cannot believe how many ignorant people are running around out there. I bet this assclown hasn't even been down here since the storm.

Seeing is believing

Ronald Shamlaty Jr. traveled to New Orleans this week by way of the Biloxi airport. As he moved westward in his rental car from Mississippi to Slidell to eastern New Orleans, he was arrested by the devastation that suddenly came into view from the interstate.
"as we went over the bridges," ....referring to the Twin Spans, "we noticed apartment complexes just destroyed, their windows all boarded up. What really got us -- we got that frog-in-the-throat thing -- was seeing all the trailers still there a year and a half later."

This is a statement from a conventioneer passing through this week; 18 months post Katrina.

To all of you folks out there who think things are just "hunky dorey" down here, either plan a trip down here or check out the area bloggers at this site


This is a picture taken on February 28th driving along Highway 11 in New Orleans East. Part of the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, these trees were laid down by the storm's winds. There are thousands of trees that look like this. They will never appear green again.

To get an idea of the strength of the storm surge look at this boat.

It rode over this levee, from right to left.

By the way, this boat is still sitting there.

Yes, it's been 18 months, but those of us who live here and see the remains every day know that this isn't something you just "get over".

Kelly Leahy has written about her trip thru New Orleans east here

Loki oh so eloquently discusses the fact that we had Mardi Gras and what this means to us down here Here's an excerpt:
We exist in a place where Katrina, the Federal Flood, and the ongoing trials infect every aspect of day to day life. Every interaction, every conversation, every walk down the block are tainted with the events of the past 18 months. In this sort of environment catharsis is essential. On Mardi Gras Day a pauper can be a prince, a prince can be a clown, and the clowns that, “govern,” us can be skewered with impunity. Every masker is able to leave behind the wrekage of their former home and cut loose in a collaborative satirization of the pain we are steeped in.

This is how we heal.

Mark Folse pens what Mardi Gras means to him here

If you want to see more of the storm's remnants, go here

Naturally N'awlins

Craig Giesecke over at Metroblogging talks about his interesting week, from actually SEEING RAY NAGIN in public to his wacky, trash-can stealing neighbors.

Worth the read.

Scuzzbucket Trio

Who

the fuck

cares

about these talentless, self-centered whores?

did you realize that the AP put a blackout on stories of little Paris?
A whole seven days.

Here's America's reaction

Taking a break from Katrina

My commute into N.O. east takes me thru Irish Bayou every day.
Sights like this



I admire the gumption of the folks of Irish Bayou for rebuilding bigger and better.

But it's nice to get away......even if it's only thru pictures.....

We took a vacation Thanksgiving week, 2004 on Dauphin Island, Alabama.
This was two months after Hurricane Ivan split the island in pieces, taking away the west end. Katrina finished it off. Thanks, Katrina.

Anyway, here are pictures that make me think back to better, simpler, more relaxing times.
click on pictures for full-size images

for Mr. A

Random Thoughts

Riley & Jordan on "same page" (just two different books) How long will this last?

Mother Nature may delay the next Shuttle Launch. Why couldn't these errant hail storms hit Hillary Clinton on the head and put her in a 45 year coma?

Would we really lose anything if Dick Cheney were killed in this rocket attack? I think not.

Nancy Pelosi and her ilk are just another bunch of lousy politicians

For the second year in a row college kids are coming to the Gulf Coast to help in the rebuilding process Thanks to all of you!!

Chicago not only has horrific fans and crappy weather, but crooked politicians ...... like us!!!

Even though I do most of my communication via email and epay, I will be one of the first people in line to buy a forever stamp.

The rest of the country must be moving faster than us ....Katrina "happened 2 1/2 years ago!!"

Feels like spring

(click on photo for larger version)
Despite the damage brought by the storm, Bayou Liberty is still beautiful this time of year.
Taken February 15, 2007
While all you yankees were under lots of cold snow!!!
Yup, that's why we live here!

Sunday

Seen in Bayou Liberty, February 2007. (click on photos for larger sizes)

Nothing much happening. Well, yes a lot's been happening, but I just don't want to write about it at this time. So I leave you with a pretty site. Most folks won't consider this pretty, but in light of how things have looked since the storm, I think the fact that the swing is still there is a beautiful thing.

Well, there is something I want to write about, but not today....too many chores to be done.

An article about the historic Louisiana Forts in disrepair since the Storm

Fort Pike, eastern New Orleans

But that's for another time.