4:24 PM. Eight Years Ago.

The moment the flood waters rose enough to stop this clock in Lakeview on 29 August 2005. They continued to rise another four and one half feet.


(Image by RSR)

There will be no other posts today.

NOPD = Not Our Problem, Dude

Guy gets beaten up in the Quarter.  Caught on video.  NOPD shows up, rules it "unfounded".

Here, Let Me Fix That Headline For You.

Hunting animals could return to parts of New Orleans. Hunting humans in the Big Easy has never stopped. Even though it has been banned for far longer than the hunting of animals.

Moving Pictures.

New Orleans in the 1920's:



How much has changed; and how much looks the same.

Where Are The Tourists Going To Eat Now?

Seems a local tourist landmark is closed. But not to worry, all you ill-mannered blobs from California and New York - the Quarter is full of overpriced eateries catering to your tastes.

Might I Suggest A Road Runner?

New Orleans has a coyote problem. And please - "co-existence" and "management" are not how you deal with it. If you can't get one of these, try this.

Meanwhile, Around The Crescent City...

Insert obligatory "touch my monkey" joke here.

Bigfoot discovered - in New Orleans' City Park.

We usually cut our coffee with chicory, but whatever.

To Protect and To Serve Time.

Another of New Orleans' finest allegedly raises, um... the bar.

Today's Helpful Hint.

Don't bring a machete to a pocket-knife fight.

UPDATE" A friend noted that this proves, once again, it's not the size of your blade but what you can do with it. OK... So why do the ladies always go for the guy with the broadsword and not the one with the Swiss Army Knife? Even one with the larger, locking blade SAK? Um... metaphorically speaking, of course.

UPDATE: Maybe now is a really good time to mention that I have one of these. And if a great blade is important to you, you should have one, too. And I'm not speaking metaphorically.

Bad Actor: Port Of Call New Orleans.

Actor Nicolas Cage was arrested in New Orleans last night on domestic abuse and disturbing the peace charges. Sounds like he was studying for a role as an NOPD police officer.

Post title reference is here.

Separate But Equal Yesterday, Separate But Equal Today, Separate But Equal Forever.

Jesse Jackson - the new George Wallace. Really.

A little background: SUNO - Southern University in New Orleans - is a mostly African-American college that is part of the separate public university system originally created for African-Americans during Louisiana's Jim Crow era. It is right next door to the University of New Orleans, and SUNO has a graduation rate of only 5% in six years. (UNO's is four times that, but still an anemic 21%)

In an era of threadbare budgets, the notion of having two universities next to each other doing the same thing is ludicrous, and Governor Jindal is right to want to merge the two.

But the controversy brings up another point that puts Jesse Jackson arm-and-arm with the former Alabama governor: Separate-but-equal is dead. Why, in 2011, any government has two separate university systems, effectively based on race, is beyond me. The Southern University system's continued existence is, to your humble blogger, an affront to everything I understand Dr. King worked for.

If Jackson, or anyone else for that matter, wants to start or fund a private university based on race, or religion, or national origin, I'm all for it so long they are accredited and don't take public funds. It's a free country. Here's an idea: Jindal could sell SUNO to Jackson and his Rainbow/PUSH group for $1, and let them take it private. Heck, give them the unspent FEMA money to get it going. If Jackson and his friends truly think a segregated university with a 5% graduation rate is an asset to the Crescent City, then let them prove it.

UPDATE 15MAR2011: The Louisiana Board of Regents, the folks who oversee all public colleges in the state, voted today to recommend the merger. Good.

Good Guy: 1.5. Bad Guys, 0.

A New Orleans resident defends himself. As harsh as this is... I say "good". Actions have consequences. Criminals will go elsewhere if they think they will get hurt. Or, maybe not turn to crime in the first place.

What? I'm Supposed To Be Shocked?

Millions of dollars property belonging to the State of Louisiana is missing.
Maybe they should try eBay.

Reporting The Obvious.

According to the 2010 Census, New Orleans lost 3 in 10 people since 2000. St. Tammany parish is now the fastest growing in the state, and East Baton Rouge parish is now the largest. If this were a just world, this guy's Congressional seat would be the one we are slated to lose. But, this isn't a just world.

Forecast: Rest In Peace, Nash.

Nash Roberts, a household name to any New Orleanian who ever survived a hurricane, has died. As a meteorologist, Roberts made a name predicting hurricanes - accurately - long before satellite imagery and computer models. He was the local TV weatherman for almost 50 years. And trusted. If Nash said it was going happen, you could bank on it.

How I Spend My Saturdays.

Doing this. Well, as many Saturdays as I can. My grandfather worked at Higgins Industries during WWII. This is the least I can do to honor his efforts, and the efforts of thousands of other New Orleanians, building landing craft, PT boats, and lighters during the war.

'Indecision Points' - In Stores Sometime Next Year.

Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco takes issue with the version of events following Katrina in George Bush's new book, Decision Points.

Oh, really? Let's take a paddle down memory lane:



According to the linked article:

The former governor is now working on her side of the story in her memoir that she hopes will come out sometime next year.

An American Prypiat.

In New Orleans:



The Prypiat reference.

He. Ain't. Cedric. Richmond.

Scott over at The Hayride makes a very convincing case for conservatives backing Joseph Cao in the LA-2 Congressional race. LA-2 readers, please read it all.

When you're choice is between slim and none, go with slim.

"I Don't Work For The State. The State Works For Me."

Clearly, New Orleans' own Cedric Richmond really does share Obama's values:



And when he's not getting in scuffles in pool halls and avoiding the justice system, Cedric is losing his law license. But wait - there's more!

He hates the Second Amendment, too.

This is who Barry wants in Congress because he "shares our values". I guess bar fights, gaming the system to get elected and gaming the system to get free government money are Obama's "values". Is this really the best the Democrats can do??

From The American Zombie via The Hayride.