HumidCity

Yessireebob! That is exactly what Bill O’ Reilly is! The man who has such respect for the “homies,” down in New Orleans is a true, blue pro. This little piece from Media Matters should bring back fond memories. (Emphasis mine)

CALLER: George Bush doesn’t care about American people. After Katrina, he passed a law making it so his contracting buddies could bring in a bunch of illegal immigrants, instead of putting Americans to work, plus it took them five days to get down there. In response, O’Reilly said: “On the rebuilding of New Orleans, you’ve got to use contractors that can do the job. So, you can’t — you know, if you’ve got contractors who specialize in infrastructure rebuilding, you’ve got to bring them in.” He then added, “And the homies, you know, who you don’t know — I mean, they’re just not going to get the job.”

If WordPress played well with flash media I could just embed this video, but instead I will steer you over to visit Bec and take a look at what passes for grace under (minute) pressure on O’Reilly’s part. I would do so quickly though, YouTube has already pulled it and I don’t know how long it will last on break.com.

This is one of the big voices of modern day conservatives, a group who is no longer conservative by any measure I can discern. The group whose reckless approach to their duty as public servants has caused such hardship for my fellow New Orleanians in the aftermath of the Levee Failure. No matter what your political leanings you should be appalled at this behaviour worthy only of a spoiled child (with a foul mouth).

Fine example, eh?

-Loki, HumidCity Founder

Via NOLA.com:

A New Orleans police officer has been suspended from duty after being booked with DWI following a May 1 collision with a Causeway Police car on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. Officer Roy Caballero, 28, was driving his personal vehicle north on the bridge about five miles from the Metairie shoreline around 3 a.m. when his pickup swerved from the right lane into the left lane and into the Causeway cruiser’s path, said State Trooper Joseph Piglia. State Police Troop B is handling the accident investigation.

Do I really need to say anything?

Loki, HumidCity Founder

Violence. It surrounds us these days more than ever. From the vicious slayings of the city streets to the consistent array of rapes and hazings at Tulane University we are suffering a deluge of it. Both the city and the University desperately need enforcement. This is an issue with pre storm roots.

Along with the violence comes the pungent aroma of fear. I know I am subject to it.

City streets seem darker and more threatening than ever and small movements caught in the eye’s corner make you jump almost out of your skin. Everyone has those moments whether they admit it out loud or not. Its part of life in the city, especially these days.

So how far do we allow fear to propel us? Where do we find the line between making ourselves safe from extraordinary circumstances and sacrificing our liberty for perceived safety? Ben Franklin once said that those who abandon liberty for safety deserve neither. But how to stay firm in that resolve when you have a family?

Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans and the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association want us to sign their petition to keep the National Guard in NOLA. With my office located in the Bywater and a lovely wife at home Uptown I find myself supporting that aim. At the same time I cringe at the thought of endorsing the concept of armed troops on American soil, especially ours.

In the French Quarter a new initiative has begun - cameras in every window. QuarterSafe is something I only just discovered when they sent me an email about an hour ago. Its a movement to have people hook up cameras to their computers watching the streets of the Vieux Carre. “Orwellian,” was my first thought. “Could it work?” was my second. After reading in the Times-Picayune that violent crime is up 20% and rape is up 85% I find I am not not as secure in my ideals as I would like to be. Perhaps the 20+ funerals I have been party to since the levee failure has something to do with it as well.

I am merely ruminating here. I have no magic solution, no wave of a Harry Potter wand to dispel the complexity of what faces us. I just know this:

I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

We must face our fears and determine our proper course. In the final analysis it is a dialectic between each individual and their own conscience.

So, how do YOU feel about the New Orleans Brand ™?

Loki, HumidCity Founder

[EDIT: And then Karen G. points me at this as a coda.]

Lets start with a recap:

A former janitor for the city of New Orleans was first arrested Oct. 9, 2006, just three days after a small fortune in cocaine, cash and ammunition — all evidence collected for criminal cases pending trial — was found missing from Orleans Parish Civil District Court.

The burglary victim was the Orleans Parish district attorney’s office, which houses its juvenile division at the Loyola Avenue courthouse.

Craig Alton “Poncho” Thompson, 43, confessed to everything: the burglary, the rifling through evidence packets and the theft of cash, weapons, drugs and critical documents related to pending cases.

Of course this was during the reign of that racist incompetent Eddie Jordan. That never bodes well in a story about crime. So here we are, 18 months later, and Jordan’s successor is finally doing something. A handoff.

Eighteen months after Thompson owned up to the burglary and led police to his FEMA trailer Uptown — where evidence, including drugs, was recovered — the DA’s office moved on the case by punting it to the attorney general on April 8. Within 16 days, assistant attorney general’s office secured an indictment from a grand jury and ensured that an arrest warrant was issued, once again, for Thompson, who had been at large since October 2006.

Oh goody! So he has been out wandering the streets along with all the 701 releases. At least he’s not a killer (I hope).

There are two major concerns that are tearing away at the fabric of our society right now: lack of enforcement and lack of justice. When the police are doing their jobs (instead of breaking up Second Lines) the DA’s office drops the ball. Who the hell are these people, The Saints? All too often the arrests and “enforcement” seem to be limited. Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs, Second Line Funerals, and Mardi Gras Indians on Super Sunday getting harassed while the janitor helps himself to some complimentary cocaine?

-Loki, Founder HumidCity

For anyone who may have a desire to listen to my drivel instead or reading it, here is a video interview I did with NOLA.com over the course of Jazz Fest. It’s three minutes of sleep deprived and over caffeinated Loki talking about Jazz Fest, WWOZ, and internet tech.

-Loki, Founder and Blog Wrangler, HumidCity

Jazz Fest is always a busy and energizing time for me. Working out on the Fairgrounds, ground zero for entertainment during the season, is always fun. (Well, maybe not running through the rain with PCs wrapped in garbage bags trying to safeguard the gear, the rest is pretty great.) Its especially good this year because I actually have a team to work with. The pictures here were taken by one of the long standing HumidCity Irregulars: M. Styborski (who you may well know from his blog Nation of Morons). We’ve been putting out a good variety of nearly real time content and having fun doing it (except for the rain).
This year I have two surprising new bits of additional good fortune to share.

The first one is tomorrow. Instead of my usual ride to the Bywater on my bike I will be making my way to the French Quarter on the streetcar and heading over to Aranud’s for drinks. The lovely ladies of Tales of the Cocktail have been generous enough to ask me to be a judge, so tomorrow will be an afternoon of careful cocktail appraisal. Their office is next to my own, and we have been working together on fund raising efforts for the Ashley Morris Fund, yet despite knowing me they asked anyway. Brave or foolhardy, you be the judge.

If you’re not familiar with them click the banner below and check out their website:

The second is an odd bit of internet flotsam. I noticed a trackback in the site log that appeared to be brand new, yet when I followed it I got a surprise. Evidently my yearly anti-caterpillar rant here on the HumidCity was picked up and quoted in The New Yorker. Not only that, but the article is almost exactly a year old. I must admit to being quite amused that my words ended up there of all places not to mention puzzled at why it would take a year for a trackback to show. I’ll be damned.

Well here we we go, the last day of the first weekend. With storm clouds overhead failing to impede the enthusiasm of the masses I find myself bouncing between the stages and the WWOZ Brass Pass tent where our web team has set up the silicon. If anybody cares to read my drivel, as well as the words of various other voices ranging from WWOZ DJs to random Jazz Fest attendees, you can stop by the WWOZ Jazz Fest Blog on NOLA.com.

Once again I am acting as Blog Producer for WWOZ during Jazz Fest, so look for our posts and pictures on the Jazz Fest Blog! Come on by, leave some comments, go to the WWOZ site and tune in the stream.

Its time for some food, some music and one hell of a good time.

-Loki, HumidCity Founder 

Gary Garitson, formerly of New Orleans and a member of The Krewe of Chartreuse send us the following drink recipe from the Wilds of Cinncinatti, OH. He, his lovely wife, and their son (my godson) have settled up there in the icy northern region from which he originally hailed. So, without further adieu allow me to present:

The Pirate Chef’s “Big Easy” A SoCo Manhattan, extra bitters and bruised

• 2 oz. Southern Comfort
• 1/2 oz. Sweet Vermouth
• 6 shakes Agnostura Bitters (only Agostura, no substitutions!)
• 1 ea. Marichino Cherry

Put everything in a cocktail shaker half full of ice. Shake. Bruise. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry. Repeat as needed.

Let him know what you think! (And congratulate him on the advent of his spawn while you at it!)

I am still overcoming the deleterious effects of my recent trials at the hands of Dr. Pinkerton. This evening I was kidnapped and dragged to the suburban Secret Lab of The Consortium of Genius. I barely escaped with my life, and would have been caught if Pinkerton had not stopped to answer a threatening phone call from none other than Momus Alexander Morgus.

I am unable to continue. Look for details of my trip to the lab and tales of the two maddest scientists New Orleans has ever seen in a post tomorrow. In the meantime I must recuperate….

Bow 2 The COG

While neither the wife nor I are overly enamored of Valentine’s day, that Hallmark driven feast day of merchandising and consumerism that it is, I would like to take a moment to tell the world how much I love her.

She has stood by me during some sincerely dark times: the loss of my best friend, Katrina exile, the year of ten funerals, and my own times of being less than pleasant. After eight years together and fifteen months of marriage I am still thrilled every morning when I wake up to see her face on the pillow.

Whatever else may happen as long as we are together I will always have hope and I will always try to be the best person I can be for her.

Honey, I love you!

Loki, Founder HumidCity

This year we had a meeting of the Krewes as The Krewe of Chartreuse and the Skelton Krewe joined up in the Vieaux Carre on Fat Tuesday. Pictured above is the ceremonial passing of the spanker from our Captain to theirs.

Despite being somewhat impaired by my injured wrist and all over aches I managed to march. Despite the many things going wrong right now Carnival, as always, has lifted my spirits. The trials of life in the new New Orleans fade a bit as I reflect on the fact that for the first time I am doing something I absolutely love for my livelihood (blogging and online social networking), I have a fantastic marriage, and wonderful friends. All in all life is good.

I hope to be writing more frequently soon, lately I have had to save my typing for work forcing me to leave you to the tender mercies of our other writers (Thanks Bigezbear!). Until I’m in better shape I will be doing short posts and throwing up photos on a regular basis to keep a hand in.

Look out tomorrow for a special post I will be making concerning the Grey Ghost and Rex Dingler of NOLA Rising.

Pax,

Loki

It feels like right after Katrina to me. That was the last time I was typing mostly one handed due to an injury. But it is not the dawn of HumidCity, rather it’s the first weekend of Carnival 2008 (celebrated with the picture of Comus back in 1938 that you see above), and we have just skipped the first parades of the first weekend. Why, you ask? Because it’s bloody cold and wet and I’m still pretty beat up from my encounter with a car a few days back.

The temps here are running towards weather only a resident of Seattle or Edinburgh could appreciate. While out of town readership may laugh to us 36 degree weather with rain is pure unadulterated evil. The humidity and rain make it chill to the bone in a fashion I have seen shock yankees.

Hoping to have pics tomorrow from the daytime parades to share by the later evening manana. Staying minimal on the typing outside of work for awhile longer, at least until my Thursday doctor’s appointment tells me (I hope) that these all over body aches are exactly that, aches. Simple pains that will pass with a bit of time and hopefully before the big march with my Krewe on Mardi Gras morning. Cross your digits for me. In the meantime, I return you to the (?)saner(?) voices of HumidCity.

-Loki

Hand hurts, just wanted to thank the bear for keeping things sparky in my absence. Not up to writing much so instead I’ll aim you at some of the online photo galleries that HumidCity administrates. Enjoy!

• HumidCity Community
• Defend New Orleans Community
• WWOZ Guardians of the Groove Community
• New Orleans Flyers Community
• Mr Bingle Lives! Community
• Krewe of Chartreuse Community
• Vintage New Orleans Mardi Gras Community
• Mardi Gras Marching Clubs Community

Happy viewing. In the words of the Governator, “I’ll be back!”

-Loki

Let me start by saying I am basically all right. A little shaken and banged up, but not hospitalized.

I will be mostly out of the fray for a bit. I got hit by an inattentive driver who turned across traffic on Poydras yesterday while I had the green.

My bike is somewhat screwed, and I doubt I will be typing much except during the work day for the indefinite future. I leave you in good hands with Lord David and the Bigezbear while I get back up to snuff.

-Loki

I spent a significant part of my day trying to acquire copies of my father’s death certificate that I need to deal with settling his estate. I would just like to note that the New Orleans Dept of Vital Records has at least one worthless waste of protoplasm working there.

When someone is calling about their father’s death you are not supposed to

• Interrupt them repeatedly
• Sigh in exasperation at every question
• hang up on them mid sentence.

While I cannot remember the woman’s name, and was so furious I did not write it down, I will have to aim my curses and profanity at my memory of her voice. Here’s to karma, baby, hope you get yours!
This is how the city departments run. This is why We Are NOT Okay. The feds and the state bear more than a fair share of blame, but there is a whole lot to go around on the local level.

Neil Gaiman, as usual, says it far better than I ever could:

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who
thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make
some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And
I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

This is what he wrote in 2001, and has reposted in both ‘04 and this year. I can easily see why, it’s the best statement of everything a new year should bring, distilled down to three potent sentences.

May the above be true for everyone this year!

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This afternoon in the Still Perkin coffeshop on Prytania Senatorial candidate David R.M. Williams met with several local bloggers including Maitri of Vatul Blog fame, Metroblogger’s Craig Giesecke, Becky Houtman and yours truly.

It was an enlightening two hours or so, but then I am prejudiced, he is my uncle after all. Since family ties make anything I have to say suspect I will instead be linking to any other pieces that float up through the blogosphere as I locate them. I will be paying particular attention to the bloggers who were kind enough to join us.

Also, since I am family, and am obeying strict transparency, I can be very direct about encouraging you to vote for David Williams. I think he is our best shot

Hello All,

the wife and I are enjoying our excursion to the US. It is rather nice to be up north where people think we are completely rebuilt and are annoyed about their taxes flowing down to NOLA. One kid who waited on us at a Steak and Shake had just been down to NOLA for his honeymoon and actually was appaled at the state of things, which reassured me a little.

Detailed postings forthcoming once we return to the third world (early October), in the meantime I return you to the vitriolic paws of my Skull Club emmissary, Lord David.

-Loki

It was an email from Ohio that made me realize just how much this blog has been neglected for the past few weeks. The subject line, “You’re Fired,” made me sit up and take notice. Things here have been spinning wildly, and I do apologize for not providing my usual daily portion of drivel for those of you who read this.

Part of it has been the extraordinary amount of chaos and strangeness going on with my family. From missing persons reports to hospitalizations its been a thrill. The other part of it has been that I just cannot decide what to write about. So much has occurred since my Jazz Fest contract.

Should I write about Jerry Falwell? About how respect for the dead should be like respect for the living, earned. It pains me to say this of anyone, but the world will be far better off without him.

Should I write about the fact that Hurricane Season looms in about a week? I’m sure I could squeeze out quite a few familiar sounding paragraphs about fear, unease, and rising water.

Should I write about how much I will miss Alvin Batiste? The world of jazz has taken a serious blow. He will be missed.

Non functioning pumps, La Nina, The Road Home……

Too much material for little old me. I’m just going to start off by saying, “I’m back!” Stay tuned.

7am tomorrow I head out towards the Fairgrounds as Jazz Fest launches. This year is going to be very busy as I am not only acting as AP to the Program Manager for the continuous live broadcast / webcast (stream here) of the event, but I am also cordinating and producing a group blog of postings by the DJ’s, myself, and possibly a few others.

It will be a nonstop run unitl 2am Monday night when we wrap Piano Night. Then its the prep and craziness of weekend two.   By the way, for my out of town friends who may have escaped exposure to it WWOZ is worth checking out, its not like any other station on earth and its all New Orleans sound. Check out the Wiki , The Site , The Flickr Photo  Group, and (of course) wwoz_90_7fm

I should hopefully have some good pics and stories to share when its all over, in the meantime I will be out of the loop until after the first weekend of May.

Thanks to the invaluable aid of M Styborski and his big honking truck we are now well underway with the move. Hope to have internet, power, etc up and runing and be sleeping over there in the near future. Hopefully the next post will be made from here:

(I just love having a courtyard again!)

For me there is only one news item of note right now:

One of my siamese cats, Kallisti, was hit by a car sometime last night and died.

I rescued her and her sister eight years ago when they were seven month old kittens on their way to the pound. Since then she has mad many adventures for a young cat. She escaped with us and the other four felines during Katrina and the Tennesse, Indiana, New York odyssey of our subsequent exile. She made headlines on the BBC and got her picture in the Rivertown Enterprise newspaper as a four legged refugee.

Since returning she has been an indoor/outdoor cat. Our only one. High strung and cowardly under normal circumstances, after the Storm she just stopped using the litter box. We tried everything: medications, discipline, rewards, etc. The only thing that worked was allowing her outside.

She loved being outside, and was an incredibly happy and affectionate child. Outside has taken my daughter from me, and I will miss her terribly.

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