Ugly American

As usual, times of disastrophies bring out the best and the worst of people.

It's no surprise that Rush Limbaugh has never disappointed us. From latimesblog dot com:


After President Obama urged Americans to contribute money to earthquake recovery efforts and directed them to the White House website to learn how they can help, Limbaugh suggested that visiting the site will just get someone on Obama’s campaign e-mail list. (We checked the website's short blog post, which has direct links to the Red Cross and the Center for International Disaster in neat bullet points -- no e-mail forms to be seen.)

"We've already donated to Haiti,'' Limbaugh told the caller on his radio show. "It's called the U.S. income tax."

Helping Haiti

This area, which shares a diverse cultural treasure trove with the devastated country of Haiti now has one more thing in common: coping with unbelievable disaster.

I'm not trying to compare the Katrina and the horrific 7.0 earthquake that hit the country two days ago, along with dozens of aftershocks. But after listening to the news this morning and crying - knowing we now share in the aftermath experience of waiting for help while our fellow citizens suffer and die.



The logisitics of disaster assitance are far more difficult for Haiti. The country has no heavy machinery and must rely upon it to be air dropped or shipped in. Keep these people in your prayers. So many are suffering.

The most important donation a person can make now is the donation of cold, hard cash.
Due to the technological advances of social networking, you can donate thru your cell phone and the donation is added to your bill.

Mark over at Toulouse Street mentions how to donate via Wyclef Jean's website here.

Architecture for Humanity is supporting rebuilding efforts at this website .

It's looking like the Red Cross is getting all the biggie donations. If you would like to donate to them , here's the website. But heads up. The CEO for the Red Cross - Gail J. McGovern - earns a salary of $565,000. (thanks to Lisa/Loki for the link to a great website called Charity Navigator , where you can check out all charities).

On the same hand, there's a Charity called Hope for Haiti, whose charter states "....works to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people, particularly children, through education, nutrition, and health care." Their CEO makes 53K/year.

People short on cash can donate their frequent flyer miles.

Here's a site that lists seven reputable charities to donate to. You can check them out at Charity Navigator dot org.

A Good Choice

Gambit's "New Orleanian of the Year"

From their January 4, 2010 cover story:

The mere mention of Letten's name sends shivers down the spines of crooked pols and evokes cheers from citizens, but he gives all the credit to his staff, fellow prosecutors, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies. While his office has amassed an impressive record on many fronts since Katrina, 2009 was a banner year for Letten and his team of modern-day Untouchables: more than a dozen high-profile criminal indictments and trials against political crooks from every corner of southeast Louisiana — and major investigations are, says Letten in his best Eliot Ness game face, "ongoing."

He's been a busy man these past two years: Here's a link of the 2009 activity for the office of the Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney's office.

The listing of criminals is not just comprised of notable names like Greg Meffert and his crew, former Mandeville Mayor Eddie "DWI" Price , Derrick "clean cash" Shepherd , Bill "buy the little lady a car" Hubbard and that wacky family of crooks, the Jeffersons (moving on down), but your typical everyday sleaze bags, too.

Thanks Gambit for recognizing Mr. Letten and his office.

I just had to _ Drew Brees youtube

Drew Brees and the rest of the 2009 team are the best.

What is special about Drew is his passion to fire up the players in the pregame, as shown here:

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Gotta love his passion. Gotta love the 2009 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS!!!

WHO DAT!

Saints vs Panthers

Now matter what happens agains the Carolina Panther's tomorrow, I just want to be on record that the 2009 New Orleans Saints team AND fans have given us all more joy than we expected. Bless you boys!!!

devour the 'KATRINA SHORTHAND'

Let's make 2010 the year we do away with "Katrina Shorthand"

From the website, Levees dot org">Today.......many articles are covering the most memorable events of the decade. Naturally, they all include the metro New Orleans flood.

But the former chief of Gannett's Capitol Bureau stands out and gets a "seal of approval" from us for accurately describing the August 2005 flooding.

Today, John Hill, discussing the effect of hurricanes on Louisiana, is quoted as saying,

...absent the Noah-like flooding of New Orleans because of levee failures, Katrina would have taken second place to Rita.

Hill effectively resisted simply saying 'Katrina flooded New Orleans.' 

Indeed, that would be like saying traffic broke the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis. Both the traffic and Katrina exposed structural flaws. Both revealed blatant civil engineering mistakes.



John McQuaid co-author of Path of Destruction with Mark Schleifstein has observed this is more than a matter of semantics.

Says McQuaid, using Katrina as 'shorthand' and its association with a natural disaster is confusing because it implies "what the heck are those people doing living down there?"



The flooding of metro New Orleans was a civil engineering failure, the worst in the world since Chernobyl according to Dr. Ray Seed, levee expert and geotechnical specialist at the University of California Berkeley.

And responsibility for the failures belongs overwhelmingly and primarily to the federal Army Corps of Engineers.


Thanks to all of the folks from Levees dot org who have relentlessly fight to bring out the whole truth in the flooding of NOLA post Hurricane Katrina.

Super Scuzzbucket

Not from Louisiana this time. From the Huffington Post dot com comes the story of a 73 year old Colorado state employee who stupidly (my opinion) forwarded an email which shows President Obama shining the shoes of Sarah Palin. The small minded woman used her work email account to forward the email.



What in the world is wrong with people? Can they not just accept that Obama IS the president and support him? Why are they so racist?

recycling Christmas Trees

okay, southern Louisianians, recycle your Christmas trees.

Here are the details by parish:
Jefferson Parish - All residents of unincorporated Jefferson Parish and Lafitte are asked to place their tree curbside on the evening of January 6 for collection on January 7, 8, and 9. Trees should be stripped of all tinsel, garland, lights, ornamentation, plastic bags and tree stands. Flocked or painted trees cannot be used in this project. Garbage trucks will make only one pass through each neighborhood, typically on the second scheduled collection day.

Jefferson Parish is looking for volunteers with shallow draft boats to assist with placing Christmas trees into pre-constructed shoreline fences located in Goose Bayou, near the town of Jean Lafitte. Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at Cochiara’s Marina, 4477 Jean Lafitte Boulevard in Lafitte, Louisiana on the following four Saturdays: January 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2010. If inclement weather (rain or high winds), please call 731-4612 to check if scheduled event has been cancelled.

Volunteers must be at least 17 years of age. Volunteers should wear layered clothing including long pants, long sleeved shirt, and closed-toe, sturdy shoes. Hats and sunscreen are recommended. Gloves, safety glasses and life vests will be provided. Lunch and refreshments will be provided as well.

Lafourche Parish - Lafourche Parish Government is asking residents to help fight coastal erosion by recycling their Christmas trees. Each Christmas tree recycled through this program is placed along the coastline in Lafourche Parish to help restore the coast and lessen the impact of hurricanes which causes erosion. Curbside collection of Christmas trees will occur on January 7, 8 and 9 and again on January 14, 15 and 16. Residents wishing to participate can simply place their Christmas tree curbside, separate from garbage and trash items, for pick-up during these periods. Residents can also drop off their tree at any time in the designated bin at one of the three drop-off sites: Thibodaux High School, Central Lafourche High School, and South Lafourche High School.

All trees should be completely bare. Residents should remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel and tree stands. Only green trees will be collected; no flocked or artificial trees. Any tree placed on the curbside AFTER January 16, or any tree which is not recyclable, will be picked up with the regular garbage pick-up. Again, residents are encouraged to be a part of this wonderful program and recycling their tree by bringing it curbside during one of the collection periods or by dropping it off at one of the three high school sites.

Orleans Parish - The initiative collects used Christmas trees after the holiday season to be deposited in Bayou Sauvage as part of an ongoing wetland restoration project. Residents of Orleans Parish who would like to participate are asked to place their trees curbside on the evening of January 6 for collection on January 7, 8 and 9. Trees should be stripped of all tinsel, garland, lights, ornamentation, plastic bags and tree stands. Flocked or painted trees cannot be used for the project. Garbage trucks will only make one pass through each neighborhood.


Plaquemines Parish - The tree pickup will begin January 5. NATURAL TREES ONLY. (Painted, flock, and artificial trees not accepted).

St. Charles Parish - The Department of Public Works will be out starting Monday, January 4 through Friday, January 8 to pick up Christmas Trees to be recycled. Residents are being asked to put your trees by your curb for pickup. Please do not put trees in the roadways. For those unable to get their trees out that week, Monday, January 11 will be the final day for picking up the trees. Any trees not pickup will be the responsibility of the resident to dispose.

St. Tammany Parish - The annual Christmas tree recycling program is taking place in St. Tammany Parish. Starting Wednesday, December 30, citizens may drop off their discarded Christmas trees at two locations in St. Tammany: in Covington, at the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds Florida Street (East) Entrance, and in Slidell, at the Slidell Parish Complex on Military Road just north of Brownswitch Road. Citizens may also call their individual waste haulers for information on tree pick up dates. Look at your bill to determine your waste hauler and phone number.

Terrebonne Parish - Crews will collect Christmas trees January 2 to January 9. Only green trees will be accepted. Flocked trees or trees with tinsel and decorations cannot be used. Only trees that meet these criteria will be picked up and used for this program. For more information, contact the Terrebonne Parish Solid Waste Department at 985-873-6739.

Christmas in New Orleans

New Orleans blogger Slate recounts how exhilarating it was living thru that first Christmas after the storm. (the good, the bad,the ugly) Read it, it's a great post.

The Snakes of 2009

Via American Zombie's blog , the snakes in the NOLA area for this year. Excellent!!!

Scuzzbucket is too nice a name for this

From nola dot com



Not only is this man freaky looking, but he's dumb as a rock. Here's the story:


Authorities say a Florida man who called 911 claiming he'd been beaten and shot at was hoping the tale would get him a ride to a bar.

Instead, 37-year-old Gregory J. Oras is facing charges of misusing the 911 system and battery of a law enforcement officer.

An arrest report says Oras called 911 three times before his arrest early Tuesday in Oldsmar, northwest of Tampa. He told the dispatcher he had a broken nose and bleeding ears, and claimed people were shooting at him.

Authorities say he was actually looking for a ride to another bar.

The report also says Oras kicked a Pinellas County sheriff's deputy in the knees and a Taser was used to subdue him.

Online records show he is being held at the Pinellas County Jail but don't indicate whether he has an attorney.