HumidCity

it appears the the local media (TV and TP as well as Gambit) is busy reporting stories about business as unusual in the Big Easy (crime, corruption, and frustration). Readers are growing tired of false expectations and bad promises. Readers have grown weary and bleary-eyed of the focus on the BAD NEWS of bad, bad New Orleans. Shouldn’t we try to see something positive? Wouldn’t we be more likely to get people to return? Wouldn’t we be more likely to get businesses to stay? Wouldn’t we be more likely to convince other states to help? You know… it’s the old flies and honey cha cha cha… Vigilantes and murders may sell papers, but they’re not going to help the economy. I know there is good news out there, I beg you to shout it from the top of monkey hill… we need it. We need it desperately. We need it now. No shots need to be fired. No crimes have to be committed. But, is that such a bad thing? BLOG THIS!

This excerpt from Dangerblond’s site really gets it across. A long but brilliant Dear John letter from that aging southern belle, New Orleans, to her troubled mayor. If you get something out of the excerpt go read the whole thing on her page. Highly advised for before hitting the polls.

dangerblond.org » the blond truth: i still love you, ray

Ray, you made me look like a fool. In front of, well, everybody. Every lousy cab driver in America thinks I got exactly what I deserved for not having enough sense to keep my levees up. Now Douglas Brinkley has told the entire world what hotel you were in while Katrina was in town. I may never live this down, Ray, and you getting drunk and babbling about god and the chocolate city did not help matters. You know, you can leave here. You can get another job and leave all this behind you. But I have to stay here and face people, I don’t have a choice.

I see someone was paying attention Tom D’Antoni: The Real Jazzfest: Anger and Sorrow | The Huffington Post

Courtesy of Mark Folse here is an intersting use of the google api that answers that question. http://www.gooferdust.com/maps/midcity.html