Endymion Assault-Seizure of Public Property Begins

I must start by saying I respect the Endymion tradition and am happy that it is returning to Mid-City to bring happiness to so many. Mid-City is a world-class neighborhood that deserves a BIG, world-class parade like Endymion.

But then there is the behavior of some of the people (certainly not most) who go to Endymion. The Times-Picayune makes it easy to see the problem (see pic below--couldn't find it on nola.com, so I scanned it).

I don't need to say much more than does the great letter that ran today in response to yesterday's picture. I will say that while it may be tolerated by the police that people do their cordoning off thing, I firmly believe that the police should be equally tolerant of anybody who just walks right through these areas, stands in the middle of them, parks their own ice chest on somebody else's tarp, whatever. It's public space. If a small group of people display bad manners, I think the best thing to do is to ignore their bad manners and assert one's right to public space.

Here's the pic and the letter:

Has Katrina taught us nothing?

Thursday, January 31, 2008

I am a citizen of New Orleans. I have an issue with the spray-painting of a neutral ground, the property of the city of New Orleans.

Is this not a form of graffiti? Isn't this illegal? Can I go around and spray paint anything I want and not get arrested?

What right does one citizen have to block all others from participating in Mardi Gras' free show?
Ladders, taping, etc. -- all allowed -- are forms of division.

These obstacles make it difficult for all to enjoy the show.

This behavior is selfish. It seems like Katrina has taught us nothing.

Celeste W. Robinson
New Orleans

Lunch Today at Casamento's

They were good, and the small shrimp sandwich was even better.

Only problem: the oysters weren't cold at all.

This-Part-of-the-World Class Summit

Although my blog is counting the days until he leaves office, I want to thank President George W. Bush for these words in his State of the Union address last night:

Tonight the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in the Gulf Coast. America honors the strength and resilience of the people of this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them build stronger and better than before. And tonight I am pleased to announce that in April we will host this year’s North American Summit of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the great city of New Orleans.

I will take President Bush at his word when he makes promises about "stronger and better than before." The people who live here want exactly that, in addition to the truth (as opposed to what we got before) from the Army Corps of Engineers.

I note that as of now, we have been promised 100-year flood protection by 2011. That is only equal to what we were promised years ago--in other words, not "stronger and better." I look forward to Dutch-style ingenuity and resolve from our leaders in the coming years to get us to the 10,000 year level.

Two more things: it's amazing that New Orleans is prepared to host the elected leaders of three nations this spring, but we won't be ready to host two unelected candidates in a penny-ante debate in the fall.

It was cool to see Irvin Mayfield in the crowd (sitting behind Laura Bush) listening to the State of the Union address. Little Irvin hangs with Clio IV sometimes.

Congratulations to Matt Forte of Tulane University

Matt Forte of Tulane University is the Most Valuable Player at the Under Armour Senior Bowl for 2008.

The top American football players in the United States of America played in that game.

And who was the best?

Matt Forte, of Slidell and Tulane and World Class Metro New Orleans.

World Class, Bay-Bee!!!!!!

P.S. I've seen him play multiple times in the World Class Louisiana Superdome. He is Deuce Junior.

It would be great to get him in the 2nd or 3rd round, but Berto and I think he will be gone before Coach Payton and GM Loomis ever get a chance.

My Bridge's Days May Be Numbered (Yes!)

According the map above, published with this front-page article from the T-P, work will commence (and, I hope, be completed) on my street. You see, my street currently has no drainage. I don't mean "bad drainage." I mean NO drainage. There are no drains--none, zero--for when the rain comes. My house was built sometime in the 1880s, and we have the same drainage here that existed when horses and carts were traversing my neighborhood. Quaint, but not world class.

When we moved here in 2003, we realized the problem: a hard rain means that we can't even get to the sidewalk or street without going through ankle-deep (sometimes mid-calf deep) water. Thus, within a week of moving in, I had built The Bridge, which has been a fixture in our block. Everybody hates that we need it, but nobody complains when they avoid having to put on galoshes or going barefoot to get to their car. (The people at Guy's PoBoys call it The Bridge Over the River Kwai.)

I recently upgraded The Bridge with hanging flower boxes. Right now it has purple, green, and gold pansies, in honor of Mardi Gras. We'll change over to some kind of springtime flower for Easter in March.

Pictures are below. If the city does in fact install real drainage for our street this year, I plan to have a block party, with NOPD and NOFD on hand. I want to burn the bridge in the middle of the street.

Dang, I think Daneeta's getting serious about this next film.

Also, she clues us in on NOLA/Katrina/LeveeFailure stuff at Sundance.

CNN Democratic Presidential "Debate"

Tonight was the most I've watched of any debate so far.

Obama and Edwards are WAY beyond Clinton--for the country, as well as for New Orleans.

I have no doubt that Clinton would throw NOLA under the bus for any sort of deal that put her or kept her in office.

Can't Get Rid of Us

I quite enjoy that the networks have been continuing to show this commercial even during the Saintsless playoffs.

Although I don't especially enjoy the anti-cash, you-must-use-Visa message, the music and visuals are pretty damn good. (I will say that I love my Visa Check Card, though.)

(The person who posted it on You Tube has an odd interpretation of the ad; I see it as an anti-geek, anti-prepster ad at worst.)

P.S. The version of "When the Saints" by Louis Armstrong appears to be his version Live at the Hollywood Bowl. When NOLA and Cali mix it up, good things often happen.

Ending Like We Started

I'm not paying a whole lot of attention to the NFL right now (we in New Orleans have other things to do), but I would like to point out that Berto's sign (which we displayed at the Saints' opening game loss to the Colts) is looking rather prophetic right now.

Eli Manning will rightfully be getting a lot of attention over the next two weeks. I hope everyone also remembers the sentiment visually documented above.

I am happy that Archie and Olivia are smiling these days.

I am also happy that two of the last four Super Bowl quarterbacks were raised in my part of town on Domelise's and Parasol's po-boys.

Next year will be different. Our favorite 7-9 team is coming back purposefully angry. Look out.

Buzzards 2008 Practice March Pix!

This is the way we live. Yes, I'm proud this man is my brother.

As he says, "Wonder what dey doin' in Indianapolis today!!!????"

Indie Film News for Louisiana

From Daneeta, who (in London) knows World Class, I received this news:

PLEASE SUPPORT INDIE FILM & LOUISIANA ARTISTS!

The film "Little Chenier: A Cajun Story" opened in Louisiana on January 18. It was written, funded and shot in an around Lake Charles - the director writer and producers are all from Lake Charles.

The film has won 9 best pictures on the festival circuit.

This was their first serious theatrical release, and they wanted to let you all know about it......also Mr. Mancuso's company "Radio London Films" is making a second film in New Orleans this summer (He "kinda fell in love with the place").

This film features the late Mark Krasnov and many other great performers that you may know.

The trailer can be found at this link.

The website is here.

THE FOLLOWING INFO IS PROVIDED FOR YOUR QUICK REFERENCE The following theaters are showing the film:Little Chenier2hr 0min - Rated R - Drama AMC Westbank Palace 16 1151 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey, LA, USA11:10am 1:50pm 4:40pm 7:25pm 10:05pm Hollywood Cinema 9 1401 West Esplanade Avenue, Kenner, LA, USA11:20am 1:30pm 3:40pm

I Need Help on This One

Hey, Angels and Saints and Bears Oh My, I'm gonna need help on this one. The Falcons, Panthers, and Bucs fans are gonna be all over us for this. It's not that I have a big problem with it--although it's a bit surreal. It's just . . . it's just . . . how will I respond to the inevitable abuse about the home of the Saints without getting into a fist fight?

Thanks for the tip, Suspect Device.

"Roadblocked" Should be a New Movie Starring Tim and His Family

. . . but the concession stand at the theater would have to serve Pepto or Tums. As I read his account of his experience with the Road Home and the SBA, I am actually getting physically stressed in my gut--the kind of feeling I used to get before a big test or presentation at school.

I certainly hope that the loudmouths and criminals are being treated as poorly by the Road Home and SBA as this intelligent, reasonable man is.

I'm serious. Somebody--a major national publication, followed by a major studio--needs to run with this.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five

P.S. Added bonus: he uses the phrase "going all 'Ashley Morris' on him." That would be a vital part of the film--a fantasy sequence that would be really gratifying. Looking forward to seeing Dr. Morris at Krewe du Vieux this weekend.

P.P.S. Who would play Tim? Himself? Kevin Costner (too old). Steve Carell?

Could be a Cool Carnival Brawl

The T-P helpfully gives us the heads-up that Orpheus will name their celebrity monarch today.

I really hope it's Mr. T.

Then he and Hulk Hogan can have a kick-butt old celebrity dust-up sometime between Bacchus on Sunday and Elks Orleanians on Carnival Day.

Lies and Misrepresentations

The person who has decided to spend some time lying about the federal government and New Orleans has now decided to lie about me. I should be honored, I guess, but I'm not.

In response to his unAmerican (or perhaps very American) ode to hate and Bush-administration-lie parroting, I posted a comment that said:

All hate, no reason, no relationship with reality--this makes for a dull blog, sir. Goodbye.

I planned to go back to his blog of lies one time to ensure that my comment was posted. What I found was raw proof of the kind of person he is.

He found the need to edit my comments and post this as my comment:

All sharp points, made with reason, close relationship with reality--this makes for an great blog, sir. I'll be back. As a life-long member of New Orleans, I at least am not stuck on stupid.
Posted by: Mr. Clio at January 14, 2008 4:28 PM

That's the kind of guy we're dealing with.

I respectfully request that you immediately delete your deliberate warping of my comment. It is a fundamentally dishonest thing to do.

See, this is the way we do things in World Class New Orleans, the Great American Story of the Early 21st Century. We tell the truth and treat people with respect.

Oh, by the way, our inspector general's staff got fully funded yesterday. Any news on your city's inspector general? Or on an inspector general who would monitor President Bush's no-bid contracts?

Don't Get Stuck on Stupid, Reporter

My mantra.

Huge Fire on Claiborne Avenue

I was on the way to the Hornets' game with Clio III. At first we thought the Arena was on fire--from where we were around Louisiana it looked that way--but in fact it was not even close to the Arena. Huge flames, but the NOFD was there in force, doing their thing. Nice job, people.

UPDATE: It was a big apartment complex with no gas or electricity. Hmmmm . . .

Thank You Once Again, General Honore

"There's an attitude everywhere else that people are smarter than they are in New Orleans and in Mississippi. They're not," [Russell] Honore, 60, said at his office at Fort Gillem outside Atlanta. "What happened in New Orleans could have happened anywhere on the eastern seaboard."

Congratulations to the Tigers of Louisiana State University

. . . and to the LSU fans who stayed on the bandwagon during the Curley Hallman and Gerry DiNardo years to get here.

It was really great to hear the NPR news announcer this morning say that Louisiana State University had won the national championship.

I would like to point out that the Green Wave of Tulane University permitted LSU to score 34 points. The vaunted Buckeyes of Ohio State University permitted LSU to score 38.

Perhaps the Buckeyes should've played the Green Wave. It might've been a better game.

Lafcadio Hearn is smiling.

Nagin and Carnival Season: Huh?

Last night, I watched WWL-TV's brief news story on the kickoff of the 2008 Carnival season, which took place at Gallier Hall. It looked like a nice event, with the St. Mary's Academy band, representatives of Rex and Zulu, and king cake.

One problem.

Mayor Nagin said that he was glad Mardi Gras is early this year, because it means that the people in town for the BCS Championship Game can enjoy the season.

Um, could someone please explain to the Mayor that Carnival season begins EVERY YEAR on January 6?

Check out "Juno"'s Opening Credits

It's a great start to the film, great use of animation.

You can view the whole thing here.

What does any of this have to do with World Class New Orleans?

Um.

Contains the letters "NO"?

Rhymes with "SUNO"?

How about "It's a World Class Film"?

I saw "Juno" last night . . .

and it made me want to stop going to movies like "National Treasure 2" (which I saw and even sort of enjoyed) and only spend time going to movies that feature actual human beings.

Wow. "Juno" is a gift. It is fitting that I saw it on the eve of the Feast of the Ephiphany.

Old School

Here's Dilly and Berto at the final home Saints game. We temporarily set aside the jumpsuits to become Old School Saints. As section 635 dwellers, we paused for a moment with our compadre Fleur D licious.

I've noticed over the past several days that the Saints' surprisingly early departure from the NFL season has increased dramatically my savoring of the run-up to Carnival. This is going to be a great year.

As for the NFL, it's dead to me now, until July. I will not watch a single minute of the playoffs or Superbowl. I will be at Thoth and Bacchus for the latter.

On to the Next Project

Daneeta, now working to get Tokyo Cowboys out there, is already starting on her next film, which will be about our World Class region. Follow the process here.

What's the difference between "meh" and "feh"?

Is there one? There seems to be, and I'd enjoy hearing an elegant explanation.