From the democratic underground dot com read the reactions to Bryan "talking head" Williams' idea to compare what happened in California to what happened in New Orleans.
Bryan Williams decided to compare one group of refugees in Qualcomm with the NOLA refugees in the Superdome. He said something to the effect that "Things are going much more smoothly. There is even clowns here to entertain the children and no fear of crime because of the police patrols."
Sure, the folks in Qualcomm Stadium are suffering, but they
1) have power;
2) have running water;
3) didn't have to boat/swim/wade through polluted water to get there;
4) didn't have the f**king police shooting at them;
5) have a functioning mass transit system.
I'm sure there are many other things I'm missing, but it pisses me off that anyone would compare what is happening in California with what happened with Katrina and then say "We've learned our lessons." Bull-fucking-shit.
Rant off.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Capitalizing on Ineptitude
Former FEMA director Michael "Brownie you're doing a helluva job" Brown is
offering his "expertise" to San Diego.
The agency has learned some hard lessons regarding the handling of mass evacuations especially in regard to the bureaucratic red tape that is involved in such a process," said Mr. Brown. "This is a tragic time for many of the people of California, and Cotton Companies is working to ensure that normalcy is restored and that businesses and organizations are back up and running as soon as possible."
Cotton has already deployed a team to San Diego to prepare recovery efforts and has a Community Assessment Team in full force.
Mr. Brown can speak to the turmoil being caused by the California wild fires as well as to some of the new processes in disaster relief efforts that will help to restore California communities. He can offer advice to residents and businesses on proper relief and recovery efforts and provide suggestions for future disaster preparedness.
Excuse me while I barf.
offering his "expertise" to San Diego.
The agency has learned some hard lessons regarding the handling of mass evacuations especially in regard to the bureaucratic red tape that is involved in such a process," said Mr. Brown. "This is a tragic time for many of the people of California, and Cotton Companies is working to ensure that normalcy is restored and that businesses and organizations are back up and running as soon as possible."
Cotton has already deployed a team to San Diego to prepare recovery efforts and has a Community Assessment Team in full force.
Mr. Brown can speak to the turmoil being caused by the California wild fires as well as to some of the new processes in disaster relief efforts that will help to restore California communities. He can offer advice to residents and businesses on proper relief and recovery efforts and provide suggestions for future disaster preparedness.
Excuse me while I barf.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
You Can't Make THIS Up
From the T.P.:
A man New Orleans police believe committed an armed robbery -- and afterward fled to the home of District Attorney Eddie Jordan -- is also a suspect in the home invasion and shooting of a police officer and his wife a day later, several police sources confirmed Wednesday.
The bizarre confluence of events began the evening of Oct. 11, according to those sources and police documents obtained by The Times-Picayune.
The 20-year-old man stopped by Jordan's house minutes after he allegedly fled after an armed robbery outside a nearby Shell gas station. He arrived at Jordan's house on foot, having run away after the robbery victim rammed his sport utility vehicle into the car carrying the suspect, police documents said.
Investigators later also connected the suspect, Elton Phillips, to an eastern New Orleans robbery and shooting by two gunmen, who critically wounded a police officer and shot the officer's wife in the foot after breaking into their home late at night.
On Wednesday, Jordan said he didn't know Phillips, and didn't know Phillips had allegedly committed armed robbery shortly before arriving at his home. The district attorney said his longtime girlfriend Cherylynn Robinson knows Phillips, and she in fact had spent Oct. 11 -- her birthday -- with him and his relatives in Baton Rouge. He said Robinson is not related to Phillips.
After Jordan saw a news report naming Phillips as a robbery suspect, he said, he immediately called New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley.
I called Warren Riley and said I wanted to speak to the police, Jordan said. "I called him immediately after I discovered he had been wanted for an armed robbery," he said, referring to Phillips.
But investigators had difficulty interviewing Jordan, according to documents. Those reports indicate investigators repeatedly called Jordan's cell phone over the course of three days, but he failed to answer and his voice mail was full. At one point, investigators went to Jordan's home and rang the doorbell for 10 minutes, but no one came to the door.
An investigator finally confirmed Jordan had gotten the interview request by sending it through an intermediary, Ralph Brandt, head of Jordan's trials division, according to a police document. The investigator had told Brandt that Jordan's lack of cooperation could result in bad publicity, the document said.
The officers "didn't express concern about any substantial delay," Jordan said. "The question was, 'How do we find this guy?'¤"
Jordan said he could not be reached simply because it was a busy week, not because he sought to avoid investigators.
I don't know if you've been reading the papers lately, but I got some things going on, he said. "I got one or two things going on. I'm getting it from all sides."
Jordan, who is black, has taken heavy criticism this week after a federal judge ruled that the assets of his office could be seized to pay off a $3.7 million judgment against his office for racial discrimination in the firing of white employees.
According to police documents, the investigation into the armed robbery led to a tip that Phillips was at Jordan's home on Lennox Boulevard in Algiers, where Jordan lives with Robinson. Police conducted surveillance of the block, but learned shortly later that the suspect, Phillips, had left.
When interviewed via phone on WWL radio Thursday morning, Jordan stated that the Times Picayune article is untrue and contains "outright lies".
Jordan said he checked with NOPD's Marlon Difillo who said the kid was not a suspect in the home invasion.
Jordan called the article a "smear campaign….it's so obvious".
His girlfriend, Cherylynn Robinson, said she knew Phillips through his grandmother, who lives in Baton Rouge.
Robinson was helping the grandmother pack for a move from back to New Orleans. The grandmother
offered Robinson a ride back to New Orleans later in the day, using a car rented by the grandmother.
During that trip they stopped for gas when Robinson "discovered" she was missing money, although she
never said she confronted Phillips about it.
Updated information is here
Two Legislators are calling for Jordan to be impeached
More here.....
and over here
As well as here
Interesting facts over here.
A man New Orleans police believe committed an armed robbery -- and afterward fled to the home of District Attorney Eddie Jordan -- is also a suspect in the home invasion and shooting of a police officer and his wife a day later, several police sources confirmed Wednesday.
The bizarre confluence of events began the evening of Oct. 11, according to those sources and police documents obtained by The Times-Picayune.
The 20-year-old man stopped by Jordan's house minutes after he allegedly fled after an armed robbery outside a nearby Shell gas station. He arrived at Jordan's house on foot, having run away after the robbery victim rammed his sport utility vehicle into the car carrying the suspect, police documents said.
Investigators later also connected the suspect, Elton Phillips, to an eastern New Orleans robbery and shooting by two gunmen, who critically wounded a police officer and shot the officer's wife in the foot after breaking into their home late at night.
On Wednesday, Jordan said he didn't know Phillips, and didn't know Phillips had allegedly committed armed robbery shortly before arriving at his home. The district attorney said his longtime girlfriend Cherylynn Robinson knows Phillips, and she in fact had spent Oct. 11 -- her birthday -- with him and his relatives in Baton Rouge. He said Robinson is not related to Phillips.
After Jordan saw a news report naming Phillips as a robbery suspect, he said, he immediately called New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley.
I called Warren Riley and said I wanted to speak to the police, Jordan said. "I called him immediately after I discovered he had been wanted for an armed robbery," he said, referring to Phillips.
But investigators had difficulty interviewing Jordan, according to documents. Those reports indicate investigators repeatedly called Jordan's cell phone over the course of three days, but he failed to answer and his voice mail was full. At one point, investigators went to Jordan's home and rang the doorbell for 10 minutes, but no one came to the door.
An investigator finally confirmed Jordan had gotten the interview request by sending it through an intermediary, Ralph Brandt, head of Jordan's trials division, according to a police document. The investigator had told Brandt that Jordan's lack of cooperation could result in bad publicity, the document said.
The officers "didn't express concern about any substantial delay," Jordan said. "The question was, 'How do we find this guy?'¤"
Jordan said he could not be reached simply because it was a busy week, not because he sought to avoid investigators.
I don't know if you've been reading the papers lately, but I got some things going on, he said. "I got one or two things going on. I'm getting it from all sides."
Jordan, who is black, has taken heavy criticism this week after a federal judge ruled that the assets of his office could be seized to pay off a $3.7 million judgment against his office for racial discrimination in the firing of white employees.
According to police documents, the investigation into the armed robbery led to a tip that Phillips was at Jordan's home on Lennox Boulevard in Algiers, where Jordan lives with Robinson. Police conducted surveillance of the block, but learned shortly later that the suspect, Phillips, had left.
When interviewed via phone on WWL radio Thursday morning, Jordan stated that the Times Picayune article is untrue and contains "outright lies".
Jordan said he checked with NOPD's Marlon Difillo who said the kid was not a suspect in the home invasion.
Jordan called the article a "smear campaign….it's so obvious".
His girlfriend, Cherylynn Robinson, said she knew Phillips through his grandmother, who lives in Baton Rouge.
Robinson was helping the grandmother pack for a move from back to New Orleans. The grandmother
offered Robinson a ride back to New Orleans later in the day, using a car rented by the grandmother.
During that trip they stopped for gas when Robinson "discovered" she was missing money, although she
never said she confronted Phillips about it.
Updated information is here
Two Legislators are calling for Jordan to be impeached
More here.....
and over here
As well as here
Interesting facts over here.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Some Progress
Possible new Bidness for Slidell
Bayer Properties of Birmingham Alabama has announced......$900 million mixed-use development in Slidell, La., which would include office, retail, residential and medical facilities.
The project is a collaborative effort between the developers, the City of Slidell, St. Tammany Parish and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It will be situated on Interstate 10, minutes from New Orleans, at a major interchange currently being constructed (Fremaux Ave).
The 400-acre project, which Bayer said will have a $1 billion impact on the Hurricane Katrina-ravaged area, is a joint venture between Bayer, Corporate Realty of New Orleans and landowner Robert Levis, which incorporated as Slidell Development Co. LLC.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Kindred Spirits
Wishing a speedy end to mother nature's wrath in California. If y'all need any advice about dealing with insurance companies and FEMA, check the local bloggers
here. You guys are going through an extremely tragic time and you're in my prayers.
Prytania Waterline shares my same feelings for our fellow countrypeople on the fire ravaged west coast. As does Bart and XY.
Varg too
here. You guys are going through an extremely tragic time and you're in my prayers.
Prytania Waterline shares my same feelings for our fellow countrypeople on the fire ravaged west coast. As does Bart and XY.
Varg too
Curious
A lot of "doom and gloom" around the NOLA political blogsphere this week.A lot of folks are extremely upset that Bobby Jindal won. Because he acts like a politician.
Guess what? He IS a politician!!!! Nice clean people do not win elections in the real world.I am not happy with his lack of voting during the last 6 or so months. If he had intended on not showing up for votes, he should've resigned. He should do the right thing and give up is seat now and concentrate on the job ahead.
Some have accepted it, like adults
and realists
The following are politicians, too. And they lost.
Phil Donahue's brother. I come from a long line of hard drinkers and THIS guy looks like he enjoys his booze.
Self made millionaire from the parish. I couldn't vote for someone who did that horrible Tide commercial. It made me puke.
Yuppie weirdo with an ego problem
from Gambit The owner of a cigarette and video poker distribution company as well as several other businesses, Georges, 47, didn't shy away from his ties to the gaming industry. In fact, 'shy" is not a word that should be associated in any way with the name of John Georges. As Gambit contributor Jeremy Alford noted in a recent profile of Georges, the 'enigmatic" millionaire 'ponders aloud, wrapping his mind around his favorite subject: himself."
Yeah, I'd like to look at that self centered puss for four years. NOT!
The way I see it, Jindal's in there for four years. I hope that he adopts some of the good ideas from his opponents and runs with them. I hope that he can work with the lawmakers of this state and work for the good of Louisiana. Just like Nagin's re-election, he's there. Life's too short to get all bent out of shape over it.
Just my opinion. We made it thru Katrina together, we need to get thru this together
Guess what? He IS a politician!!!! Nice clean people do not win elections in the real world.I am not happy with his lack of voting during the last 6 or so months. If he had intended on not showing up for votes, he should've resigned. He should do the right thing and give up is seat now and concentrate on the job ahead.
Some have accepted it, like adults
and realists
The following are politicians, too. And they lost.
Phil Donahue's brother. I come from a long line of hard drinkers and THIS guy looks like he enjoys his booze.
Self made millionaire from the parish. I couldn't vote for someone who did that horrible Tide commercial. It made me puke.
Yuppie weirdo with an ego problem
from Gambit The owner of a cigarette and video poker distribution company as well as several other businesses, Georges, 47, didn't shy away from his ties to the gaming industry. In fact, 'shy" is not a word that should be associated in any way with the name of John Georges. As Gambit contributor Jeremy Alford noted in a recent profile of Georges, the 'enigmatic" millionaire 'ponders aloud, wrapping his mind around his favorite subject: himself."
Yeah, I'd like to look at that self centered puss for four years. NOT!
The way I see it, Jindal's in there for four years. I hope that he adopts some of the good ideas from his opponents and runs with them. I hope that he can work with the lawmakers of this state and work for the good of Louisiana. Just like Nagin's re-election, he's there. Life's too short to get all bent out of shape over it.
Just my opinion. We made it thru Katrina together, we need to get thru this together
Monday, October 22, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
A reminder
Website Katrinafilm dot com has created an excellent montage of photos that remind us of why we love living here. Go see it!!!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
This Saturday's Election
Curious about all the stuff the ballot this Saturday? Here are some resources.
BGR.ORG
The Bureau of Governmental Research is a private, nonprofit, independent research organization dedicated to informed public policy making and the effective use
of public resources for the improvement of government in the New Orleans metropolitan area.
They have created a comprehensive report that details - in everyday English - each of the four constitutional amendments on the October 20th ballot. This is the place to go to make a wise decision on the amendments.
SOS.LOUISIANA DOT GOV
Here you can find sample ballots by Parish
VOTESMART DOT ORG
Enter your zip code to get the ballot relating to your Ward/Precinct
Here's a look at mine in Slidell Note: scroll down to see all the information.
CABL
Council for a Better Louisiana's provides in depth info on candidates here
Information on where to vote here
PARC
The Public Affairs Reasearch Council of Louisiana has done an excellent job of putting each amendment into everyday language and explains what your vote means for each. Click here to read their opinions.
Take some time and write down your positions before you go and vote. You only get three minutes. Hell, I was in and out in last year when we had 13 amendments to vote on only because I wrote down my decisions before hand. Other wise, with my diminished near term memory, I'd be wondering why I was in the voting booth at all!!!
BGR.ORG
The Bureau of Governmental Research is a private, nonprofit, independent research organization dedicated to informed public policy making and the effective use
of public resources for the improvement of government in the New Orleans metropolitan area.
They have created a comprehensive report that details - in everyday English - each of the four constitutional amendments on the October 20th ballot. This is the place to go to make a wise decision on the amendments.
SOS.LOUISIANA DOT GOV
Here you can find sample ballots by Parish
VOTESMART DOT ORG
Enter your zip code to get the ballot relating to your Ward/Precinct
Here's a look at mine in Slidell Note: scroll down to see all the information.
CABL
Council for a Better Louisiana's provides in depth info on candidates here
Information on where to vote here
PARC
The Public Affairs Reasearch Council of Louisiana has done an excellent job of putting each amendment into everyday language and explains what your vote means for each. Click here to read their opinions.
Take some time and write down your positions before you go and vote. You only get three minutes. Hell, I was in and out in last year when we had 13 amendments to vote on only because I wrote down my decisions before hand. Other wise, with my diminished near term memory, I'd be wondering why I was in the voting booth at all!!!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Voice of the Wetlands
Under sunny skies and dry, cool weather we ventured south to Houma to
attend the Voice of the Wetlands Festival.
Held at Southdown Plantation, this somewhat small festival was chock full of information,
displays and handouts discussing the dangerous situation that our wetlands are facing, particularly in Louisiana..
This was the fourth VOW festival and I'm hoping that in the near future that it becomes more well-known around the world.
During Katrina and Rita Louisiana lost over 215 miles of wetlands due to the erosion caused by the storms. This affects not just the people who live near the wetlands,
"but the whole country. From the VOW website The wetlands of Louisiana fade daily due to erosion - at the rate of one football field an hour. When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Mississippi with levees, it cut the river's ability to hold back the power of the Gulf. The Gulf has been winning for nearly 100 years - and its spoils are lost land. In the early 1700s, 215 million acres of wetlands existed in the United States. Now in the beginning of this century, 90 million acres are left. That number is decreasing at a staggering rate.
"
Besides the wealth of information provided at the festival, there were opportunities to buy the poster, hat and T-shirts. Additionally, for $35, you can
take a Voice of the Wetlands discovery flight over the wetlands just outside Houma to witness the deterioration first-hand. I believe that the opportunity to take these flights extends past the festival. Call Hammonds Air Service at (985) 876-0584 to schedule a flight. It's eye opening.
The music was entertaining. Early in the evening was a band from Lafouche/Terrebone called Southern Cross. They were very good.
l-r Johnny Sansone, George Porter, Tab Benoit, Johnny Vidacovitch, Anders Osborne
Can someone help me with the sax player?
At 8 the VOW Allstars took the stage. Comprised of Tab Benoit, Anders Osborne, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, George Porter, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Waylon Thibodeaux and Johnny Vidacovitch the VOW Allstars kick ass.
"
NO matter what your taste in music, if you can't appreciate the beauty of Waylon Thibodeaux's playing, you're missing something.
I'm hoping that more aggressive marketing is done for next years fest to get the word out about the dire straights that our wetlands are in.
Right now our useless president is promising to veto the Water Resources Bill
that would put us in just a little more of a precarious situation.
H.R. 1495: Water Resources Development Act of 2007 needs your help. Please send your comments to comments@whitehouse.gov
The Wetlands affect everyone. There are many grass roots efforts taking place to restore our wetlands
Helping restore our wetlands is not a pipe dream. It's a necessary job.
Further reading on the importance of our Wetlands
" Nature's Revenge: Louisiana's Vanishing Wetlands
- September 2002
- From Joshua Clark via the Boston Globe - "Disaster is only One Marsh Away"
From the Hurricane Digital Memory Bank :
We are the Student Hurricane Network, one thousand law students from over 70 of the nation's finest law schools who traveled to New Orleans and other affected areas of the Gulf Coast to provide legal services between semesters and springs breaks. We have been to the source. We have born witness to the incredible effects of the greatest "failure of state" in American history, and we are deeply concerned. Now, we are calling on the legal resources of the nation to build a single, complete case to prove responsibility, force accountability and demand a comprehensive and sustainable solution.
attend the Voice of the Wetlands Festival.
Held at Southdown Plantation, this somewhat small festival was chock full of information,
displays and handouts discussing the dangerous situation that our wetlands are facing, particularly in Louisiana..
This was the fourth VOW festival and I'm hoping that in the near future that it becomes more well-known around the world.
During Katrina and Rita Louisiana lost over 215 miles of wetlands due to the erosion caused by the storms. This affects not just the people who live near the wetlands,
"but the whole country. From the VOW website The wetlands of Louisiana fade daily due to erosion - at the rate of one football field an hour. When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Mississippi with levees, it cut the river's ability to hold back the power of the Gulf. The Gulf has been winning for nearly 100 years - and its spoils are lost land. In the early 1700s, 215 million acres of wetlands existed in the United States. Now in the beginning of this century, 90 million acres are left. That number is decreasing at a staggering rate.
"
Besides the wealth of information provided at the festival, there were opportunities to buy the poster, hat and T-shirts. Additionally, for $35, you can
take a Voice of the Wetlands discovery flight over the wetlands just outside Houma to witness the deterioration first-hand. I believe that the opportunity to take these flights extends past the festival. Call Hammonds Air Service at (985) 876-0584 to schedule a flight. It's eye opening.
The music was entertaining. Early in the evening was a band from Lafouche/Terrebone called Southern Cross. They were very good.
l-r Johnny Sansone, George Porter, Tab Benoit, Johnny Vidacovitch, Anders Osborne
Can someone help me with the sax player?
At 8 the VOW Allstars took the stage. Comprised of Tab Benoit, Anders Osborne, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, George Porter, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Waylon Thibodeaux and Johnny Vidacovitch the VOW Allstars kick ass.
"
NO matter what your taste in music, if you can't appreciate the beauty of Waylon Thibodeaux's playing, you're missing something.
I'm hoping that more aggressive marketing is done for next years fest to get the word out about the dire straights that our wetlands are in.
Right now our useless president is promising to veto the Water Resources Bill
that would put us in just a little more of a precarious situation.
H.R. 1495: Water Resources Development Act of 2007 needs your help. Please send your comments to comments@whitehouse.gov
The Wetlands affect everyone. There are many grass roots efforts taking place to restore our wetlands
Helping restore our wetlands is not a pipe dream. It's a necessary job.
Further reading on the importance of our Wetlands
" Nature's Revenge: Louisiana's Vanishing Wetlands
- September 2002
- From Joshua Clark via the Boston Globe - "Disaster is only One Marsh Away"
From the Hurricane Digital Memory Bank :
We are the Student Hurricane Network, one thousand law students from over 70 of the nation's finest law schools who traveled to New Orleans and other affected areas of the Gulf Coast to provide legal services between semesters and springs breaks. We have been to the source. We have born witness to the incredible effects of the greatest "failure of state" in American history, and we are deeply concerned. Now, we are calling on the legal resources of the nation to build a single, complete case to prove responsibility, force accountability and demand a comprehensive and sustainable solution.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Stuffage
Signs of progress in NOLA
Wishful thinking
If they'd done
this earlier, Nagin wouldn't be a problem
VOW fest starts Friday.
How can you say no to a FREE festival featuring The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars?
Get Gambit this week if you like to eat out The October 9th issue
has a Fall Restaurant Guide
Wishful thinking
If they'd done
this earlier, Nagin wouldn't be a problem
VOW fest starts Friday.
How can you say no to a FREE festival featuring The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars?
Get Gambit this week if you like to eat out The October 9th issue
has a Fall Restaurant Guide
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