Even with the tensions of others surrounding me the past few days, not to mention the calls from relatives regarding my where abouts and means out of New Orleans since my transportation is bi-pedal.
Plenty of options.
Plenty of typical taurus bull in me, too.
I had a plan on wed. but, was still waiting until Sat./Sun. before the trek out.
Today, there was work to do.
And then a much needed bicycle ride through the quarter and along the river.
Lovely evening.
Decadence weekend is not so decadent this year.
The Eerie silence and humid air clinging a bout.
We rode past the convention center to see with our own eyes that the National Guard was posting up.
Reassuring indeed considering.
The river is lower than I have ever seen it.
I am no meteorologist but I believe it is the suction caused by Gustav. ?.
Frenchmen Street was quiet.
It seems that this go round folks have chosen to exit for the weekend and wait it out elsewhere or tourists know their flights lead them out by Sunday OR they are looking forward to the city emptying out.
If it is a 3 or lower, I'd stay.
Probably be the same affects practically in Baton Rouge where thanks to Helen, i have a place to crash or there is my Uncle Anthony (too many others) or P's parents even. Worse Worse Worse case scenerio I'd have to ride a bike, which is not that big of a deal.
But, I have a vehicle.
So, I have chose to ride it out until tomorrow or Sun. morning.
Then, tonight, last stop Molly's I ran into Pableaux (SGT. Pableaux).
I mentioned how impressed I was that the military was already showing a presence.
He mentioned how if I stayed that I'd be one more person he
'd have to worry about. In general, any one how stays does somewhat jeopardize operations whether we want to see it that way or not. Anyone poses a threat.
Which got me thinking also of the looters and low life thugs who are viewing this as an opportunity to prey and have there fantasy thug life while the storm gets us out of town.
That is when I decided to leave.
It is not Gustav I fear. It is the predators lurking around, waiting to strike. Creepy ride home from the quarter... lots of strange people looking intently with sinister smirks.
I wish I could leave now actually.
Bypass BR and head to the mountains or Arkansas or Nashville.
Make it a hurrication not an evacuation.
I mean if I can't come back until Wednesday or Thursday, it would be nice to try and make the most of it.
I already got a bag together on Wed. when the first predictions came out..just in case. I checked over it this evening adding my passport and a few toiletry items.
It was then that I realized that for the first time in my life, I am truly excepting of loosing material possessions even down to my grandfather's art and my photographs and memorabilia.
It is inanimate and of no real use except sentimental value.
My life however, is not worth hanging around to see what happens in the lull time of the storm
or the chaos that could break the day after. The day after a tropical storm or hurricane is so peaceful and serene filled with wonder, really.
Best to leave the protecting to the National Guard.
Fridge is cleaned out. (not repeating that fiasco)
House is tidy.
Back yard is free of debris. Tree limbs are iffy.... But, I feel secured and ready.
Now my instinct says go on, get cha self out.
That is my midnight rant.
I know where my dawgs at!!!!!!!
There is nothing we can do but wait.
We live here ready to leave.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Forces
Everything is a force of nature.
We must concentrate forces and work together in order to remain in our bowl below sea level.
In the same day Gustav is stirring up activity in the Gulf with New Orleans dead center of the potential direct hit areas the list of The New Orleans 100 comes out.
100 organizations, musicians, artists, businesses, and social entrepreneurs stirring up change in New Orleans.
A juxtaposition indeed.
In describing today’s accelerating changes, the media fire blips of unrelated information at us. Experts bury us under mountains of narrowly specialized monographs. Popular forecasters present lists of unrelated trends, without any model to show us their interconnections or the forces likely to reverse them. As a result, change itself comes to be seen as anarchic, even lunatic.
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”
- jack kerouac
So call me a lunatic but I am dedicated to a place, a people, and a history I am fortunate enough to be a part of.
I know what it means to miss New Orleans.
And so do thousands of other human beings
And so I say to those who spend their days commenting irrelevant and non-factual information onto sites across the web, I have the following information for you.
We are all in the same boat.
Levees.org
The hurricane did not destroy us, the levees and governmental failures share responsibility for that.
And remember over 20% of the countries goods come through New Orleans, not to mention the amount of oil.
Y'all are guaranteed to be affected so please don't be so quick to wish us harm. After all, we welcome your visit any time.
We're not going anywhere else.
It's likely you won't either with such ease if we are to fall ruin.
Wish us well. Send the good and leave your bad for your own community.
We must concentrate forces and work together in order to remain in our bowl below sea level.
In the same day Gustav is stirring up activity in the Gulf with New Orleans dead center of the potential direct hit areas the list of The New Orleans 100 comes out.
100 organizations, musicians, artists, businesses, and social entrepreneurs stirring up change in New Orleans.
A juxtaposition indeed.
In describing today’s accelerating changes, the media fire blips of unrelated information at us. Experts bury us under mountains of narrowly specialized monographs. Popular forecasters present lists of unrelated trends, without any model to show us their interconnections or the forces likely to reverse them. As a result, change itself comes to be seen as anarchic, even lunatic.
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”
- jack kerouac
So call me a lunatic but I am dedicated to a place, a people, and a history I am fortunate enough to be a part of.
I know what it means to miss New Orleans.
And so do thousands of other human beings
And so I say to those who spend their days commenting irrelevant and non-factual information onto sites across the web, I have the following information for you.
We are all in the same boat.
Levees.org
The hurricane did not destroy us, the levees and governmental failures share responsibility for that.
And remember over 20% of the countries goods come through New Orleans, not to mention the amount of oil.
Y'all are guaranteed to be affected so please don't be so quick to wish us harm. After all, we welcome your visit any time.
We're not going anywhere else.
It's likely you won't either with such ease if we are to fall ruin.
Wish us well. Send the good and leave your bad for your own community.
The New Orleans 100
The New Orleans 100
A Look at the Good That's Happened Since Katrina
Please help spread the word. Help us show the world what New Orleanians have been doing to rebuild and renew our beloved New Orleans.
forward this link http://www.alldaybuffet.org/neworleans100/ and let our voices be heard!
"The New Orleans 100" is a worldwide initiative that will highlight and encourage discussion among millions about 100 of the most innovative and world-changing ideas to take root in the city since Katrina. After hearing so many of the positive changes and innovative projects post-Katrina, we've decided enough is enough. It's time to put an end to the negative press in mainstream media. The world needs to know about the NEW New Orleans. And to quote Brad Pitt, "If you're going to rebuild something, why not rebuild it right?" Amen brother.
To combat top down media during the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we will leverage bottom up tools on the social web (email, blogs, twitter, facebook, digg, etc.), which can reach a combined audience of millions to raise awareness about New Orleans and inspire action to make a difference. The list will be released on Monday, August 25th - the week of the Hurricane Katrina anniversary. Our goal is to reach 1,000,000 pageviews by 8/29/08.
We encourage you to spread the word by emailing the list, blogging it, digging it, stumbling it, and yelling it out your windows!
To view the list, please visit http://www. alldaybuffet. org/neworleans100
CULTURE:
Dirty Coast: Carries awesome NOLA shirts and our favorite one is "The Beauty of Entropy" shirt because in New Orleans, there is beauty in the decay.
A Look at the Good That's Happened Since Katrina
Please help spread the word. Help us show the world what New Orleanians have been doing to rebuild and renew our beloved New Orleans.
forward this link http://www.alldaybuffet.org/neworleans100/ and let our voices be heard!
"The New Orleans 100" is a worldwide initiative that will highlight and encourage discussion among millions about 100 of the most innovative and world-changing ideas to take root in the city since Katrina. After hearing so many of the positive changes and innovative projects post-Katrina, we've decided enough is enough. It's time to put an end to the negative press in mainstream media. The world needs to know about the NEW New Orleans. And to quote Brad Pitt, "If you're going to rebuild something, why not rebuild it right?" Amen brother.
To combat top down media during the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we will leverage bottom up tools on the social web (email, blogs, twitter, facebook, digg, etc.), which can reach a combined audience of millions to raise awareness about New Orleans and inspire action to make a difference. The list will be released on Monday, August 25th - the week of the Hurricane Katrina anniversary. Our goal is to reach 1,000,000 pageviews by 8/29/08.
We encourage you to spread the word by emailing the list, blogging it, digging it, stumbling it, and yelling it out your windows!
To view the list, please visit http://www. alldaybuffet. org/neworleans100
CULTURE:
Dirty Coast: Carries awesome NOLA shirts and our favorite one is "The Beauty of Entropy" shirt because in New Orleans, there is beauty in the decay.
Tropical Storm GUSTAV
Looks can be deceiving.
For the record, I don't feel it. I just don't feel a wrath upon us.
And I refuse to give it energy until Friday albeit prepared for departure if necessary.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Let your ACTIONS speak louder than words!
I call for anyone who knew Jessica, anyone who lives in her neighborhood and cares, and anyone with a sense of decency in this city and believes her death to be an awful tragedy, to place in whatever manner comfortable for you, hearts along the 3000 block of Chartres near where Jessica lived. For those of you who don't know the area that well, it's the same stretch of block that Dr. Bob has his compound on.
Please read below.
=====
To all of our neighbors and friends, if you knew Jessica, go to her friend's site that was set up this past week and honor the memory of a wonderful person, who came to our city because she loved it and believed in it. I won't dishonor her memory here and now by mentioning the ills of New Orleans, there will be time enough for that.
I call on everyone in her neighborhood and anyone passing through her neighborhood to honor her memory by placing a heart along the 3000 block of Chartres.
It's time for us to show our love for a fallen sister in the belief of a better tomorrow.
-=-=-=-=-
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
A place in honor of our beloved friend Jessica Hawk who was murdered at her house in New Orleans. With this place we want to remember her so she can rest in peace knowing that many people loved her.
For Jessica's family all our love and support, we will do all we can so her life will not be forgotten and her death will not go unpunished.
Please if you have any information concerning Jessica's murder please call 5046585308 or 504 6585300. If you saw something or heard something Please do not hesitate to contact with us at these numbers.
http://wont-forget-jessicahawk.blogspot.com/
=-=-=-=-=
Thanks to Ivonne for creating the site in Jessica's memory
Please read below.
=====
To all of our neighbors and friends, if you knew Jessica, go to her friend's site that was set up this past week and honor the memory of a wonderful person, who came to our city because she loved it and believed in it. I won't dishonor her memory here and now by mentioning the ills of New Orleans, there will be time enough for that.
I call on everyone in her neighborhood and anyone passing through her neighborhood to honor her memory by placing a heart along the 3000 block of Chartres.
It's time for us to show our love for a fallen sister in the belief of a better tomorrow.
-=-=-=-=-
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
A place in honor of our beloved friend Jessica Hawk who was murdered at her house in New Orleans. With this place we want to remember her so she can rest in peace knowing that many people loved her.
For Jessica's family all our love and support, we will do all we can so her life will not be forgotten and her death will not go unpunished.
Please if you have any information concerning Jessica's murder please call 5046585308 or 504 6585300. If you saw something or heard something Please do not hesitate to contact with us at these numbers.
http://wont-forget-jessicahawk.blogspot.com/
=-=-=-=-=
Thanks to Ivonne for creating the site in Jessica's memory
Monday, August 11, 2008
New Orleans Market opens in lower 9th ward
From 10-3 in the old Walgreen's parking lot on St. Claude near Caffin.
Fresh produce, art, prepared foods, children's activities, health screenings, lower 9 history, live music, etc.
--
Ken Foster
www. ken-foster. com
The Sula Foundation
www. sulafoundation. org
Fresh produce, art, prepared foods, children's activities, health screenings, lower 9 history, live music, etc.
--
Ken Foster
www. ken-foster. com
The Sula Foundation
www. sulafoundation. org
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The uptown get down with DJ Soul Sister!
soul sister presents
a NEW PARTY
***ENJOY*** ~ the uptown get down with resident dj soul sister & special guests
kicks off this Friday, August 8 @ a new spot, the awesome upstairs space at Takumi sushi lounge. (2800 Magazine St. at Washington Ave, across from Starbucks)
10pm-1am and then some
no cover
dancefloor classics, spirits and japan-nola fusion tapas served late. ladies always drink free sake.
come ready to party on a FRIDAY!
another right on party situation: djsoulsister. com
a NEW PARTY
***ENJOY*** ~ the uptown get down with resident dj soul sister & special guests
kicks off this Friday, August 8 @ a new spot, the awesome upstairs space at Takumi sushi lounge. (2800 Magazine St. at Washington Ave, across from Starbucks)
10pm-1am and then some
no cover
dancefloor classics, spirits and japan-nola fusion tapas served late. ladies always drink free sake.
come ready to party on a FRIDAY!
another right on party situation: djsoulsister. com
Can Creativity save New Orleans?
On November 1, 2008, Prospect.1 New Orleans [P.1], the largest biennial of international contemporary art ever organized in the United States, will open to the public in museums, historic buildings, and found sites throughout New Orleans. Prospect.1 New Orleans [P.1] has been conceived in the tradition of the great international biennials, and will showcase new artistic practices as well as an array of programs benefiting the local community. Over the course of its eleven-week run, Prospect.1 New Orleans [P.1] plans to draw international media attention, creative energy, and new economic activity to the city of New Orleans.
Methinks.
For more information:
http://prospectneworleans.org/
Methinks.
For more information:
http://prospectneworleans.org/
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Social Entrepreneurs of New Orleans
As stolen from Humid Haney's blog:
Mission
SENO's mission is to support the people with the ideas and the ventures that will tackle and solve the most pressing social problems in New Orleans.
Vision
Now is the time. Just as Silicon Valley is known for technological innovation and Berlin for design, New Orleans is rapidly becoming known as the hotbed of social entrepreneurship. We believe in harnessing the power of local diversity and the new participatory mentality to launch the problem-solver into action. Since Katrina, New Orleans has seen an unbelievable surge in citizen activism, and SENO is poised to capitalize and nurture this creative energy. Our belief is that individuals and communities who are resilient and ready to take action on the problems around them lead to significantly improved communities and can end the social problems that exist. Our solution is to empower individuals and communities through social entrepreneurship.
What is a social entrepreneur?
We realize that definitions abound as to what a social entrepreneur is; intentionally, we are keeping our definition broad. A social entrepreneur is someone who has identified a social challenge and has stepped up to find innovative, immediate, small-scale and large-scale solutions that produce sweeping and long-term change. We understand that social entrepreneurs are not only crucial to New Orleans' redevelopment but are also unique members of the professional community. They are driven to produce social impact while employing a selfless, entrepreneurial intelligence and innovative drive.
You can check out their site
http://www.seno-nola.org/index.php
And see for yourself.
Wow!
Ok, so I feel like such an idiot. SENO, known only to me before as a project my boss has been working on through the web development and design branch of one of his companies, the studio formerly known as Whence.
Now known as CANARY.
thecanarycollective.com
I've seen the all caps in many areas of our shared interwebs but since it didn't involve me, I never bothered to look at what SENO stood for. Now that I see it I am even more amazed at the endeavors taken on by the guy who continues to blow my mind with his ideas.
I told him once that he was a human computer with feelings.
A human computer with a cause & feelings.
I mean it just makes sense. I have been under the magnetic pull of New Orleans for 8 years now. I have always felt that there were more people here who did ACTUALLY mean what they say and said what they mean. Oh, there are the "select" others born and bred under the philosophies of our politically correct corruption. But we are seeing a mobilization of those who would say what they mean and do what they say. An honest people working for the greater good of community and society drawing on the cultures and "neighborly" energies to effect change in their surroundings.
And I am one of those people.
And I work for an awesome Humid Being!
Mission
SENO's mission is to support the people with the ideas and the ventures that will tackle and solve the most pressing social problems in New Orleans.
Vision
Now is the time. Just as Silicon Valley is known for technological innovation and Berlin for design, New Orleans is rapidly becoming known as the hotbed of social entrepreneurship. We believe in harnessing the power of local diversity and the new participatory mentality to launch the problem-solver into action. Since Katrina, New Orleans has seen an unbelievable surge in citizen activism, and SENO is poised to capitalize and nurture this creative energy. Our belief is that individuals and communities who are resilient and ready to take action on the problems around them lead to significantly improved communities and can end the social problems that exist. Our solution is to empower individuals and communities through social entrepreneurship.
What is a social entrepreneur?
We realize that definitions abound as to what a social entrepreneur is; intentionally, we are keeping our definition broad. A social entrepreneur is someone who has identified a social challenge and has stepped up to find innovative, immediate, small-scale and large-scale solutions that produce sweeping and long-term change. We understand that social entrepreneurs are not only crucial to New Orleans' redevelopment but are also unique members of the professional community. They are driven to produce social impact while employing a selfless, entrepreneurial intelligence and innovative drive.
You can check out their site
http://www.seno-nola.org/index.php
And see for yourself.
Wow!
Ok, so I feel like such an idiot. SENO, known only to me before as a project my boss has been working on through the web development and design branch of one of his companies, the studio formerly known as Whence.
Now known as CANARY.
thecanarycollective.com
I've seen the all caps in many areas of our shared interwebs but since it didn't involve me, I never bothered to look at what SENO stood for. Now that I see it I am even more amazed at the endeavors taken on by the guy who continues to blow my mind with his ideas.
I told him once that he was a human computer with feelings.
A human computer with a cause & feelings.
I mean it just makes sense. I have been under the magnetic pull of New Orleans for 8 years now. I have always felt that there were more people here who did ACTUALLY mean what they say and said what they mean. Oh, there are the "select" others born and bred under the philosophies of our politically correct corruption. But we are seeing a mobilization of those who would say what they mean and do what they say. An honest people working for the greater good of community and society drawing on the cultures and "neighborly" energies to effect change in their surroundings.
And I am one of those people.
And I work for an awesome Humid Being!
Local designer fights imitations of her work
Trashy Diva is one of my favorite Boutiques in New Orleans. The creativity and originality flows through their take on designs from the 50's and 60's.
Of course someone out in California who had been selling the dress through wholesale decided to "rip off" the design and have them made in some sweat shop in LA, that's what I would expect from a California-based retailer... after all, there isn't much originality out there in plastic land, is there?
"Sincerest form of flattery or a downright rip off? Where does imitation cross the line?
When New Orleans fashion designer Candice Gwinn found out that a California-based online retailer recently started selling a replica of one of her most popular dresses, flattery was not what she felt."
Read more....
Of course someone out in California who had been selling the dress through wholesale decided to "rip off" the design and have them made in some sweat shop in LA, that's what I would expect from a California-based retailer... after all, there isn't much originality out there in plastic land, is there?
"Sincerest form of flattery or a downright rip off? Where does imitation cross the line?
When New Orleans fashion designer Candice Gwinn found out that a California-based online retailer recently started selling a replica of one of her most popular dresses, flattery was not what she felt."
Read more....
Monday, August 4, 2008
Beware Nola!
This Friday 8/8/8 Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd will be teaming up and terrorizing our city. Is 8/8/8 the new sign for the devil?
No telling what ignorance this will breed.
I spent my formative years using Lynyrd Skynyrd as a male reader.
If a guy liked Lynyrd Skynyrd he was out. Automatically. Gone.
Then when Kid Rock showed up on the scene I had another way to monitor potential mates.
Kid Rock saved me from mistakes that could have been.
Now, they have come together in my city to pollute the air with their mindless dribble.
No telling what ignorance this will breed.
I spent my formative years using Lynyrd Skynyrd as a male reader.
If a guy liked Lynyrd Skynyrd he was out. Automatically. Gone.
Then when Kid Rock showed up on the scene I had another way to monitor potential mates.
Kid Rock saved me from mistakes that could have been.
Now, they have come together in my city to pollute the air with their mindless dribble.
Molly and Dean visit New Orleans
and then they go to the Beach.
I didn't get to do the Beach time but, I did get to view the blueprints that she had pre-done for her sand castle.
That child is brilliant and beautiful and full of curiosity...and I don't mind saying that she takes after me.
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