MRGO Update

When Army Corps of Engineers contractors pounded the last of the steel-reinforced, 140-foot-long concrete "soldier" pilings deep into the marsh and clay that underlies the MR-GO and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, it marked the ceremonial end of an era. The work closes a shipping corridor that destroyed critical marsh and made the region more vulnerable to hurricanes.

Each piling is 66 inches in diameter and had to be moved into place using three of the five largest cranes available in the United States, corps representatives said. Once in place, cages of steel rebar were lowered into each piling before they were filled with concrete. (taken from the TimesPic)

At the website, MRGO must go, they've listed five broad-scale initiatives needed to fix damage caused by MRGO and protect people from hurricanes. Included with each initiative are the projects necessary to reach the goal of each task, the benefits from each project, the existing committments and the next critical steps.



MRGO, as you may recall, was instrumental in the flooding of the Ninth Ward, New Orleans East and St. Bernard Parish during Katrina.



This is one small step towards saving Louisiana's coastline.

Vote for CNN Hero of the Year

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- Drumsticks in hand, Derrick Tabb has found a way to transform New Orleans children from troublemakers to tuba players.


Derrick Tabb's program provides free tutoring, instruments and music instruction to more than 100 students.

Tabb, wearing a gold chain and a baseball cap, doesn't look the part of a typical band teacher. But every weekday evening in the French Quarter, he beats out the rhythm on his music stand as students play their chosen instruments. In doing so, he gives them an alternative to New Orleans' rough streets.

"I tell everyone I'm competing with the drug dealers," said Tabb, 34. His program, The Roots of Music, offers free tutoring, instruments and music education to more than 100 students. Vote now for the CNN Hero of the Year Voting continues until Thursday, November 19, 2009 (6 a.m. ET). There is no limit on the number of times you may vote for the Hero of the Year. Each of this year's honorees will receive $25,000 in recognition of their work.

So go support this local hero.

Healthcare in NOLA Post K

New Orleans Slate: A Day at LSU Clinic

Getting Fired UP!

New Orleans Saints 48 New York Giants 27

The Saints are fired up, folks!!! Five wins, no losses



Here's a video of Drew Brees firing up the team. Got to love it!

Autumn's Colors

We spent last week driving from Louisiana to Maine to witness autumn colors. We were not disappointed.

Scuzzbucket in Tangipahoa Parish

I noticed that this story made headlines all over the country

Louisiana Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell Refuses to Marry Interracial Couples



Dear Mr. Bardwell, go back into the woods that you came out of, you redneck racist.

From Politics Daily, Ria Misra writes
As the child of an interracial marriage -- and someone who isn't suffering anymore than is usual for a girl wearing soggy boots and a damp skirt after being caught in this afternoon's rain -- I'm always annoyed when someone tries to pin their own anxieties about multiracial children onto children instead of onto themselves.

What's really appalling though is that Bardwell has done this before -- and without being removed as a justice of the peace. Bardwell told the AP that he's refused to marry four interracial couples in the last 2 1/2 years. Bardwell also claims that at least one office of Louisiana's state government had been made aware of his refusal years ago.

Mr. Obama's NOLA visit

I was driving through the Shenandoah Mountains on Thursday when the president came to New Orleans, so I missed it. But Eli was there and has nicely documented the visit here , along with his discussion on significant signs of progress specific to our region during the administration's first nine months.

It's a great read.

Nothing to Sneeze At

The Norwegian Nobel Committee says U.S. President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

More on the impact of this announcement here

2009 VOW Festival

It's time again for the Voice of the Wetlands Festival at the beautiful Southdown Plantation in scenic Houma Louisiana!



We attended a few years ago and enjoyed the music. The food could've been better, though.



President of the VOW, Louisiana born bluesman Tab Benoit has been putting on this fest since right before Katrina, when he realized how fast the Louisiana Wetlands were disappering and decided to bring this tragedy to a national audience. VOW is just one outlet. Tab performs over 300 days a year across the country to bring this news to anyone who'll listen.



There's a great musical lineup found here and lots of hotel rooms in Houma if you want to spend the night. Unfortunately, hubby and I will be on our East Coast Roadtrip this weekend, so can someone go for us and let us know if the food got better?

On this rainy, humid Monday in October.....

Those of us in the Gulf Coast region are oblivious to the weather conditions because
THE SAINTS ARE 4 AND 0!!!!!




Bless you, Boys!

Jindal repeatedly is the anti governor

We who voted for Bobby Jindal were so happy when he won the election, thinking that FINALLY, this state was going to move forward. Then came the reality, in so many ways. The latest reason to regret our votes for the child governor came when we found out that Jindal doesn't have the balls to
go for a project that may have helped the southeastern part of the state .

Once again, Jindal is soooooooooo wrong for Louisiana.