Category: Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood

Adrastos, Diary, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

Maggot Brain

Peter Adrastos Athas

I had a fleeting personal acquaintance with maggots in October, 2005. It happened when Dr. A and I snuck into NOLA from our Red Stick exile. I emptied our fridge and tried but failed miserably to clean it. Back to maggots, when I opened the freezer, flying maggots came zipping out. No longer larvae but living large and post-larval. I thought of the magggot swarm (band name?) when I saw this piece at Salon: Peter Morrison, treasurer of the Hardin County Republican Party in Texas, suggests in his newsletter that the state should have an “amicable divorce” from the “maggots” … Continue reading Maggot Brain

Adrastos, Diary, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

Maggot Brain

I had a fleeting personal acquaintance with maggots in October, 2005. It happened when Dr. A and I snuck into NOLA from our Red Stick exile. I emptied our fridge and tried but failed miserably to clean it. Back to maggots, when I opened the freezer, flying maggots came zipping out. No longer larvae but living large and post-larval. I thought of the magggot swarm (band name?) when I saw this piece at Salon: Peter Morrison, treasurer of the Hardin County Republican Party in Texas, suggests in his newsletter that the state should have an “amicable divorce” from the “maggots” … Continue reading Maggot Brain

Adrastos, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Nature is Scary, Political Crack7 Comments

Malaka Of The Week: Michael Bloomberg

I’ve never cared for Michael Bloomberg. Arrogant plutocratic billionaires aren’t my cup of tea. But I’ve never spent much time thinking about him. That has changed. Not because of his endorsement of the Prez, but because of his preposterously arrogant and hubristic (izzat a word?) plan to hold the New York Marathon as scheduled this weekend.That’s why Mayor Billionaire Media Mogul is malaka of the week. Lemme see: half of Manhattan doesn’t have power, they’re still finding dead bodies in Staten Island and Mayor Malaka is determined to tie up police resources with a marathon? Methinks his priorities are a … Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: Michael Bloomberg

Adrastos, Diary, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Nature is Scary, Political Crack, Religion6 Comments

Waves of empathy

Peter Adrastos Athas

I don’t usually go in for even a semi-poetic tone but the images of NYC and Atlantic City have got me thinking about our little thing here in NOLA 7 years ago. 7 years? It was really another lifetime but whenever there’s a big disaster-especially in a place I’ve spent time in like Manhattan-my stomach gets knotted and my expression gets grim. There’s always an adrenaline rush before and during a massive system like Sandy. The next day comes the hangover, when the scope and extent of the damage is clear. This is a particularly strange event since it started … Continue reading Waves of empathy

Adrastos, Diary, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Nature is Scary, Political Crack, Religion6 Comments

Waves of empathy

I don’t usually go in for even a semi-poetic tone but theimages of NYC and Atlantic City have got me thinking about our little thing here in NOLA 7 years ago. 7 years? It was really another lifetime but whenever there’s a big disaster-especially in a place I’ve spent time in like Manhattan-my stomach gets knotted and my expression gets grim. There’s always an adrenaline rush before and during a massive system like Sandy. The next day comes the hangover, when the scope and extent of the damage is clear. This is a particularly strange event since it started as … Continue reading Waves of empathy

Adrastos, Big Damn Heroes, Diary, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, New Orleans2 Comments

Requiem for the Picayune: the Rising Tide 7 Media Panel

Peter Adrastos Athas

The estimable Jason Berry aka Ashe Dambala filmed the Rising Tide conference for the second year in a row. He did double duty as one of my panelists this time around. It was the end of a long day and everyone, myself included, was exhausted. The mood in the room was positively funereal. I looked at the audience and saw a section of former and soon-to-be-former Picayune-ites and decided to play it straight for once. I had a few puns and zingers planned but had to file them away for future use. Tone is everything when you’re performing in public … Continue reading Requiem for the Picayune: the Rising Tide 7 Media Panel

Adrastos, Big Damn Heroes, Diary, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood2 Comments

Requiem for the Picayune: the Rising Tide 7 Media Panel

The estimable Jason Berry aka Ashe Dambala filmed the Rising Tide conference for the second year in a row. He did double duty as one of my panelists this time around. It was the end of a long day and everyone, myself included, was exhausted. The mood in the room was positively funereal. I looked at the audience and saw a section of former and soon-to-be-former Picayune-ites and decided to play it straight for once. I had a few puns and zingers planned but had to file them away for future use. Tone is everything when you’re performing in public … Continue reading Requiem for the Picayune: the Rising Tide 7 Media Panel

Adrastos, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood1 Comment

Blankety Blank

There are times when I wish the rest of the world would forget about Katrina and just let us be normal again. This is one of those times: New Orleans became a blank slate after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. And ever since, entrepreneurs have rushed in to experiment with new ideas for building and running a city. Blank slate? Fuck you NPR and Debbie Elliott who is probably a well meaning, albeit misguided, lefty. There is no such thing as a community as a blank slate; especially not a city as enamored of its history, culture and as set … Continue reading Blankety Blank

Athenae, Economy, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood7 Comments

What We Can Afford

Allison Hantschel

We never question the price tag on this type of stuff, do we: The US Army Corps of Engineers plans to supervise construction of a five-story underground facility for an Israel Defense Forces complex, oddly named “Site 911,” at an Israeli Air Force base near Tel Aviv. Expected to take more than two years to build, at a cost of up to $100 million, the facility is to have classrooms on Level 1, an auditorium on Level 3, a laboratory, shock-resistant doors, protection from nonionizing radiation and very tight security. Clearances will be required for all construction workers, guards will … Continue reading What We Can Afford

Adrastos, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood1 Comment

Blankety Blank

Peter Adrastos Athas

There are times when I wish the rest of the world would forget about Katrina and just let us be normal again. This is one of those times: New Orleans became a blank slate after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. And ever since, entrepreneurs have rushed in to experiment with new ideas for building and running a city. Blank slate? Fuck you NPR and Debbie Elliott who is probably a well meaning, albeit misguided, lefty. There is no such thing as a community as a blank slate; especially not a city as enamored of its history, culture and as set … Continue reading Blankety Blank

Adrastos, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Malakatude, Nature is Scary, Political Crack7 Comments

Malaka Of The Week: Michael Bloomberg

Peter Adrastos Athas

I’ve never cared for Michael Bloomberg. Arrogant plutocratic billionaires aren’t my cup of tea. But I’ve never spent much time thinking about him. That has changed. Not because of his endorsement of the Prez, but because of his preposterously arrogant and hubristic (izzat a word?) plan to hold the New York Marathon as scheduled this weekend.That’s why Mayor Billionaire Media Mogul is malaka of the week. Lemme see: half of Manhattan doesn’t have power, they’re still finding dead bodies in Staten Island and Mayor Malaka is determined to tie up police resources with a marathon? Methinks his priorities are a … Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: Michael Bloomberg

Adrastos, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Political Crack16 Comments

Governor Meemaw On W’s Katrina Spin

Peter Adrastos Athas

Former President Beavis’ book has a chapter on Hurricane Katrina.According to Bush, the only mistakes he made were PR ones: he coulda shoulda spun it better. This is, of course, patent nonsense but that’s how the W in denial book tour is spinning it. According to Bush, the ones who made the big mistakes were mostly Louisiana Democrats. First, Senator Mary Landrieu was guilty of being emotional as her hometown drowned. Imagine that. Second, Governor Meemaw (aka Kathleen Babineaux Blanco) should have let him federalize the Louisiana National Guard to deal with the “insurrection” in New Orleans. As with so … Continue reading Governor Meemaw On W’s Katrina Spin

BP Oil Spill, Epic Blogger Win, Geek Cred, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Music, VirgoTex9 Comments

Not the only one

Yeah, yeah, posting out of turn and all but it’s Friday, plus Athenae said I could do some extra RT5-related posting. Pretty sure she meantduring, rather thanafter, the event but hey, in New Orleans, the party never really ends. Credit/blame toracymind for the song. It was on her ipod, we did pass byHammond, it became part of the trip soundtrack. But it does work here, too, because it’s a song — a story really — about families, mostly about choice, about what and who you choose to stand for and with. About how sometimes what might seem a choice to … Continue reading Not the only one

Athenae, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood6 Comments

Brave, Brave Brownie

Ugh: On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina began wreaking havoc on the Gulf Coast that’s still reverberating today — and many members of the public continue to see Michael Brown, head of FEMA at the time, as one of the story’s chief villains. Still, Brown, a KOA talk-show host who’ll broadcast live from New Orleans tonight and tomorrow, insists this feeling is hardly universal, as he learned after being caught in a recent storm. “I’ve actually been to New Orleans several times” since Katrina, he points out en route to the airport this morning. “This might be my fourth or … Continue reading Brave, Brave Brownie

Adrastos, Books, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood6 Comments

I’ll Be Howling In The Wires…

Peter Adrastos Athas

…and reading one of my pieces at the book launch tomorrow. Here’s the one I plan to read. It’s pretty good for a baby blogger if I do say so myself. It’s dated 1/15/06: Waiting For The Electrician Or Someone Like Him… …is the title of a 1968 LP by those wacky funstersFiresign Theatre who were kinda sorta the Yank version of Monty Python. I devoted part of my misspent adolescence listening to their records. (For the young uns reading this: A record is a black thing made of vinyl that is played with a needle. Ouch.) Now, you’re probably … Continue reading I’ll Be Howling In The Wires…

Adrastos, Books, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood

A Howling In The Wires

Peter Adrastos Athas

This is a bloggercentric version of the book announcement.Click on thisLINKto read the press release and to learn how you can buy this sucker. I’m honored to be one of the bloggers included: Gallatin & Toulouse Press announces the publication of A Howling in the Wires: An Anthology of Writings from Postdiluvian New Orleans. This collection combines the vivid post-Katrina experiences captured by the best New Orleans bloggers with the work of traditional writers from the same period, cataloging some of the best-written and most powerful reactions of the people who experienced Katrina. The book launch reading will be Thursday, … Continue reading A Howling In The Wires

Adrastos, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Malakatude, Sports, Stupid Republican Tricks6 Comments

Malaka Of The Week: Tom Benson

Peter Adrastos Athas

Tom Benson is the car dealer who owns the Saints and an increasing number of properties in downtown New Orleans. His star has waxed and waned over the years but right now his public stock is pretty high because of a certain football game earlier this year. I’ve always considered Benson to be a malaka; mostly because of his repeated attempts to get taxpayers to pay for a new stadium for his team. Right after Katrina and the federal flood, Benson seriously considered moving the Saints to San Antonio but it didn’t happen in large part because then NFL Commish … Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: Tom Benson

Adrastos, BP Oil Spill, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood

Anguish And Anger In St. Bernard Parish

Peter Adrastos Athas

There was a community meeting in St. Bernard Parish last evening, which is facing a crisis worse than Hurricane Katrina and the Federal Flood. That’s saying a lot since Da Parish took it in the neck in 2005. One fisherman summed up the situation by asking BP and the assembled officialdom:“Can you replace my heritage?” Here’s how WWL-TV’s Bigad Shaban covered the story last night: http://www.wwltv.com/v/?i=94794709 Continue reading Anguish And Anger In St. Bernard Parish

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Music, Television, VirgoTex

W.W.T.F.U.S: Sittin’ in La La

If you’re not watchingTreme, you should be. I’m not saying you have to subscribe to premium cable, but make a note because the DVDs will be out sooner or later. In the meantime maybe you can just persuade someone to record it for you, or invite you over for dinner on Sundays. It’s worth it, because likeThe Wire, it’s not just a story about one particular city. It’s about the stuff you read on this blog, it’s about this country we all live in. Not for nothing, there’s a hell of a lot of great music in it too. Sunday’s … Continue reading W.W.T.F.U.S: Sittin’ in La La

Adrastos, Geek Cred, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Music, Television3 Comments

Deep Smart Phone Thought

Peter Adrastos Athas

I have an iPhone and I really like it. I even know why they call it a smart phone, it does cool things and has swell apps but this smartness (izzat a word?) thing doesn’t translate to its users. I saw a woman crossing Canal Street this morning so engrossed in her smart phone that she didn’t notice the bus bearing down on her until the driver honked. I hate to use a cliche but she got that deer in the headlights look and dropped her phone, which was obviously smarter than her. Smash. A brief apology for my fleeting … Continue reading Deep Smart Phone Thought

Adrastos, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Malakatude, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks10 Comments

Malaka Of The Week: Haley Barbour

Peter Adrastos Athas

Every state in the union has a neighboring state they both mock and look down on. Here in the Gret Stet of Louisiana, we’re glad that Mississippi exists, otherwise we’d have to make it up. Both states tend to be at the bottom of lists you want to be on top of and at the top of lists you don’t even want to be on at all. Oddly, both states have conservative Republican Governors with Presidential ambitions. That brings me to this week’s “honoree” Haley Barbour. In many ways this is a lifetime “achievement” award. Barbour has been a malaka … Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: Haley Barbour

Adrastos, Bigotry, Diary, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Law/Justice, New Orleans6 Comments

Red Stick, Night Stick

Peter Adrastos Athas

Yesterday, the Baton Rouge Advocate ran a fascinating as well as appalling story about police misconduct and racism in BR post-K. Baton Rouge police officers routinely harassed black people, resorted to unnecessary violence and conducted illegal searches in the days after Hurricane Katrina, out-of-state troopers claimed in reports recently released by the Police Department. One trooper said Baton Rouge officers referred to black people as “animals” that needed to be beaten down. Troopers also reported that officers said they were under orders to make life rough for New Orleans evacuees so they would leave town. State Police in New Mexico and Michigan cited a pattern of violence and discrimination when they … Continue reading Red Stick, Night Stick

Adrastos, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Law/Justice4 Comments

The Frayed Blue Line

Peter Adrastos Athas

This is a piece I wrote formy blog and posted this morning. It’s geared to my NOLA readership so let me provide some context. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s violent crime and police misconduct were endemic.Marc Morialwas elected Mayor of New Orleans in 1994 and promised to clean house at the NOPD and hire a reform minded police chief. He did:Richard Pennington was hired and got rid of 1/3 of the force he inherited. Modern crime fighting techniques such as COMSTAT were brought in and the murder rate was halved. Pennington left office in 2002 after an unsuccessful … Continue reading The Frayed Blue Line

Adrastos, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Law/Justice6 Comments

The Danziger Bridge Case Explodes

Peter Adrastos Athas

Remember the Danziger 7? They were the New Orleans cops accused of murdering people on the Danziger Bridge in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the Federal Flood. A state court dismissed charges against them in 2008 but the Feds launched their own investigation into the episode and subsequent cover-up. The case exploded yesterday when the police Captain who investigated the incident pled guilty to obstruction of justice and admitted that it looked like a “bad shoot” from the git go. This is the *perfect* witness for the Feds: he knows all the details and wasn’t one of the … Continue reading The Danziger Bridge Case Explodes

Adrastos, Carnival, Diary, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Krewe du Vieux, New Orleans, Television4 Comments

Confessions Of A Carnival Parade Recreator

Peter Adrastos Athas

I almost called myself a reanimator but since I lack Dr. Frankenstein’s powers I decided not to. Recreator sounds quite weird enough, y’all. It makes me sound like the Jahweh of re-runs. Or is the proper term recreationist? Probably not, sounds more like Darwin denial to me… Now that I’ve mucked about with word play, off we go. TheTreme filming was something of a clusterfuck, which I know is quite typical. That’s why they call it show business with the emphasis on the latter. If anyone else decides to do some extra-ing, I have one piece of advice for you: … Continue reading Confessions Of A Carnival Parade Recreator