NOLA above sea level,

While visiting the city last week I saw this story on the front page. Apparently much of the city isn’t below sea level.

North Pacific Gyre

I ran across this story a while back, and it seemed to odd to be real. It seems there is an area the size of Texas in the North Pacific, that due to currents, accumulates lots of trash, mostly plastic. There is currently 6x more plastic in the water than plankton.

From Wiki: The North Pacific Gyre Lots of other info on this phenomonon elsewhere ....

Pope revises limbo view, suggests hope for unbaptized babies

This just in: Pope revises limbo view, suggests hope for unbaptized babies

A Reworked New Orleans Panel Adopts a Get-Tough Attitude on Levee Repairs

The New York Times discusses the Levee Board. The story begins with: 'After years as a symbol of government sloth and corruption, the levee board here, newly revamped, is flexing its muscle and pushing the Army Corps of Engineers to prepare the city better for the next big storm.'

A Reworked New Orleans Panel Adopts a Get-Tough Attitude on Levee Repairs

Wedding Ceremony

Sorry to be out of pocket lately. We've been back to NOLA twice in the past month for weddings, one of which I performed myself as a ULC minister (OK, technically, they had been married secretly by a justice-o-da-piece in January for insurance purposes, but that's a long complicated story AND beside the point). I was the officiant at their public, non-denominational ceremony

It was a lovely outdoor affair on a perfect Spring day in City Park at the Peristyle. The bridesmaids carried kittens and the bride's family decided to come in costume. In attendance were Antony & Cleopatra AND the St. Pauli Girl, among other less formally costumed folks.

The reception was at the Rock and Bowl and included open bar AND food from Ye Olde College Inn.

It was fun to do and I'm sure there's $ to be made here, at least enough to support my cigar and bourbon habit.

Legal Briefs

Counselor Philip Seymour Morphy is still blog-challenged, but wanted to pass on these legal briefs (which I guess helps answer the popular line of questioning : boxers or briefs?).

How much is your mom worth?

page 4 is interesting. How was he to know to get out of the car when he was being shot at?

How much is a 9 year old kid worth?

And the untitled: http://www.aclu.org/natsec/foia/pdf/Army0612_0617.pdf

YouTube

I've been surprised by the stuff you can find on YouTube these days. Last week someone forwarded me a link from some early 1970s "Prep Quiz Bowl" shows. Last night I ran across some great old Justin Wilson bits. I'm also happy to report that he is really a Cajun. I heard a rumor many years back that he was from from New York (not true!). They must have confused him with Jerry Jeff Walker. But Justin Wilson is perhaps the original TV chef, and much funnier (and a better cook) than most of the 'chefs' on TV today. Perhaps one day there will be a dial on my TV where I can set the date, not just the channel ("I'd like to watch TV in 1972 today").

Kurt Vonnegut

I liked Kurt Vonnegut's writing well enough to read maybe a half dozen of his books. But I can't say I was ever aware of all the criticism he took from the literary establishmant. Yeah, his books were easy reads, but so what? I enjoyed this Brit obit from the U.K. Guardian more than the one I saw in the local paper.

Kurt Vonnegut
The author of Slaughterhouse-Five and one of America's greatest humanists dies at 84

Controversy Continues over Post-Katrina Spending on Trailers

Controversy Continues over Post-Katrina Spending on Trailers
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/weather/jan-june07/katrina_04-09.html

Don Imus is an idiot,

Not just for what he said, but for the way he’s allowed himself to be bullied by the likes of Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson. Since when are these bozo’s the moral arbiters of anything? Let’s see. The Reverend Al falsely accuses a white man of raping a black girl and has yet to apologize for it. And who can forget the Rev’s “white interloper” remarks? He later apologized for saying it, but never was it suggested that he retire from his social activism, yet he has no qualms about calling for Imus’ retirement.
About JJ. Fathered a child out of wedlock, referred to Jews as Hymies and called NYC “Hymietown”. Yeah, he’s a real example of upstanding, moral conduct.
If you want to hear someone using language like “ho’s” and other infantile words, just turn on any hip-hop/rap radio station. Or just look up the lyrics to some of their music, like E-40’s crap called “Captain save a hoe”. Where are Rev. Al and JJ on this entire culture devoted to degrading women? Oh that’s right, I forgot, the rappers aren’t white guys.
For the record, Imus is an idiot for making the comments he made, but he apologized and now it’s over. He should stay on the radio.

Couple Vows to Get Beer Flowing Again in 'Dixie'

I didn't know the modern history of Dixie Beer, or that Katrina had put at least a temporary end to it. Another sad story, post-Katrina.

Couple Vows to Get Beer Flowing Again in 'Dixie'

Eddie Robinson dies at 88

Long time Grambling coach Eddie Robinson passed away yesterday.

Eddie Robinson dies at 88

Congressional subcommittee criticizes Google pre-Katrina images

In December I was looking at the satellite images on New Orleans on Google Maps. At the time I was wondering how many trees were killed. I was expecting to see lots of brown patches. What I saw was all green, and a harbor full of sailboats at the West End. I was very confused by this and contacted a friend who knows alot about Google maps. He didn't have any answers. I believed my lying eyes and thought things on the ground in New Orleans were much better than they actually were (in spite of being in constant contact with family and friends in the city).

I'm still puzzled by all of this. Why was this done? And the hold on updated images appears to only cover only parts of Orleans and Jefferson. East of the Industrial Canal looked devestated (but perhaps this is how it looked pre-K ? :^)

This story was widely picked up by the international press. It is clearly a conspiracy of some sort. One guess is it was intended to help bring tourists back to the city. I don't know. It seems like bad judgement all around. But there seems to be no shortage of bad judgement these days.

Lawmakers Question Google's Pre-Katrina Images