Frank Zappa Strasse

A street in eastern Berlin has been renamed after the late musician Frank Zappa. I recall Germans have a fondness for the song "Bobby Brown" from the classic "Sheik Yerbouti" album. Zappa also remains popular in many former Eastern Bloc countries. Nothing to do with New Orleans or Katrina, but I know there are some serious Zappa fans in the Morphy family (as well as some Germans).

Interdictor

During and immediately after Katrina, Michael Barnett (a.k.a. The Interdictor) kept a live feed from the CBD that was the only trustworthy source of news from New Orleans for sevaral days (weeks?). I believe his postings will be an important part of the permanent historical record of Katrina. If you haven't read these, they are worth your time. I had heard that he moved to Florida and was off-line, but the blog seems to be back at http://mgno.com/

Yahoo! NOLA Group

There is a Yahoo! group that is an online version of Big Ray's old New Orleans Mailing list. It is a a small (but suitably quirky) group that has been exchanging NOLA info for over a decade. Today one of the members (Trent Dang -- I believe this is his real name) talks about his move back post-storm, titled Objective Evaluation of NOLA:

Thought you guys might like an update as my wife has been back in NOLAfor 2 weeks now: The CBD is emptier after 5 than it used to be, but otherwise, unless you're in the 9th Ward, everything's just the way it was before. Some people are obviously still rebuilding their houses, like especially in Lakeview, but they're doing it. There's actually significantly more civic pride now - in spite of the city's poor management of the rebuilding process. An interesting phenomenon I've witnessed is theinflux of natives who did not live in New Orleans during the storm, but who are now coming back. We have two new lawyers here whose husbands fall into that category. They both started within the month.Tourism's not quite up to where it should be yet, we saw that the other week.

Yes men

The Yes Men strike again, in what could be their best prank:
It’s new, it’s disgusting! And it fooled an oil industry group

Iraq protests at Turkish shelling of N.Iraq

Somehow I missed this one. Turkey is starting to bomb northren Iraq: Iraq protests at Turkish shelling of N.Iraq And the north was supposed to be the peaceful part of Iraq. I guess all things are relative.

Gulf dead zone to be biggest ever

It seems the Gulf dead zone to be biggest ever. This appears to be from increased corn production to produce biofuels in the midwest. The fertilizer runoff into the Mississippi River causes the 6,000+ square miles of 'dead zone'. The good news: an active hurricane season may help reduce the dead zone by mixing the gulf waters.

Casinos Boom in Katrina’s Wake as Cash Pours In

Speaking of exploitation, the casinos on the Gulf Coast are doing great after Katrina. Boomtown tripled profits this year. This is mostly due to money spent by the locals: Casinos Boom in Katrina’s Wake as Cash Pours In

NOLA Homeowners Insurance

I've been hearing complaints about homeowners insurance in New Orelans, but never heard numbers until this morning. And I'm stunned. A friend with a nice place uptown, who has never had a claim, is looking at over $8,000 per year for $750k of coverage. I never expect corporate America to have a heart, but this is criminal. Are there no limits to the economic exploitation of misery of fellow citizens in the US today?

Bushonomics

The US seems to have shifted from the socialist idea that the rich should subsidize the poor to the feudalist idea that the poor should subsidize the rich, without ever seeming to pause at a reasonable place in the middle. Two articles in today's NY Times show how billionaire hedge fund managers want to skip paying taxes and how Hollywood executives want to stop paying royalties to actors, writers and crew.

Tax Loopholes Sweeten a Deal for Blackstone

Hollywood Executives Call for End to Residual Payments

Patchwork City: Road to New Life After Katrina Is Closed to Many

Another NY Times article about Katrina refugees: Patchwork City: Road to New Life After Katrina Is Closed to Many

Report Examines Path to Failed New Orleans Levees

A good Washington Post article on the modern (post-Betsy) New Orleans levee system and how it became the thing that it is: Report Examines Path to Failed New Orleans Levees

China Executes Former Food and Drug Regulator

China is getting serious about food and drug safety. Perhaps the FDA should take note of these accountability measures. Such policies could help the US avoid catastrophies like Vioxx: China Executes Former Food and Drug Regulator

U.S. warns citizens over Naples garbage crisis

In case you haven't been following the garbage crisis in Naples, Italy. They have had no garbage pickup since May: U.S. warns citizens over Naples garbage crisis

Canada puts muscle behind claim to Northwest Passage

Will the US and Canada go to war over disputed land? Note that said land may contain oil and Canada is increasing its military presence in the area: Canada puts muscle behind claim to Northwest Passage Also of interest is that global warming makes this area more accessible.

2 billion Chinese mice overrun lake area

I hate to pick on China, but here's a story for you: 2 billion Chinese mice overrun lake area Perhaps they could export these to the US as safe, Organic Cat Food.

Two N.O. Rebuilding Articles

Two articles today on rebuilding in New Orleans:

Largely Alone, Pioneers Reclaim New Orleans and

Levee Work Might Imperil French Quarter

Buy Uranium!

I ran across a chart on the commodities page that looked like something from the dot-com era. A close look showed it was uranium (!) Prices of all sorts of commodities have been going up dramatically, many tied to the price of oil (surprisingly, we are told this is not raising inflation -- but that is another story). But the Big U has really been on a run. Up 45% in the last three months alone and up a staggering 12x in the last three years: Uranium May Reach $200 in Two Years, Macquarie Says