HumidCity

Some of our readers may well have noticed that once again a new crop of authors are appearing on the blog. You see, HumidCity is an organic community that continually grows and shifts. While I remain the dictatorial overlord the cast of characters goes through a pretty consistent state of flux.

Rooted firmly in the “pass the mic” ethos of the hip-hop scene we try to bring in new voices that we beieve need to be heard. Unlike the well known Metroblogging sites we do not make any money from the effort. As a pro blogger I wholeheartedly support being paid for my words, it is what keeps a roof over my wife’s head. I also believe that there are times when purity of message requires a removal of profit motive. HumidCity exists perpetually in one of those times: post levee failure New Orleans.

That said  would like to share the current roster of internet reprobates that have agreed to share their wit, wisdom, rants, and perspectives with you.  As always the list of active authors will change as people join and leave. I’m going to try to recap the current culprits monthly (we’ll see how that works out…)

• Bigezbear
• Dirtysouthbureau
• Editor B
• GBitch
• George Ingmire
• Liprap
• Lord David
• Loki, Founder (Me!)
• Louis Maistros
• M Styborski
• Maitri
• NOLARising
• PH Fred
• Kami Patterson
• Rachelle Matherne
• Greg Peters
• Eli Ackerman
• Wet Bank Guy

[EDIT: I am a clod. I completely forgot that the madcap snarking of Adrastos will also be found here on occassion. Omission now rectified. -Loki the clod]

As always, these voices are brought to you free of censorship by HumidCity. Please go check out their blogs, especially if you live outside of the New Orleans area. It will be infuriating and educational, I promise!

-Loki, Founder HumidCity

Ladies, Gentlemen, and Undecided,

The schedule of events and speakers for Rising Tide III is now available! In this third year of our “blogger conference” there is much of interest, as can be seen below. More details and online registration are available at the Rising Tide Conference Blog. Come on down and get the skinny on Year 3K, from levee failure to living in the aftermath this one has it all. Even better, if you wish to levy abuse upon yours truly then you can do so at the Conference as I will be liveblogging the proceedings for HumidCity and Katrina: An UnNatural Disaster.

-Loki, HumidCity Founder

Friday night, 8/22, 7:30 PM - Meet and Greet at Buffa’s Lounge, 1001 Esplanade Avenue. Pick up your badges, grab some refreshments, and chat with other bloggers. Drinks are not included in the conference fee.

Saturday, 8/23, 9:00 - Conference begins at Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center, 1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd - coffee and pastries are served.

The following presentations include 15-minute Question and Answer sessions:

9:30- 10:30 - Keynote speaker: John Barry, author of Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America and commissioner for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - East

10:45 - 12:00 - The Past, Present, and Future of Elementary and Secondary Education in New Orleans.

Panelists:

· Dedra Johnson – author, professor and blogger, author of Sandrine’s Letter to Tomorrow

· Jeffrey Berman - teacher, Booker T. Washington High School and Schwarz Alternative School

· Grayling Evans - teacher, Coghill Elementary School

· Leigh Dingerson - Education team leader of the Center for Community Change, editor and contributor to Keeping The Promise?: The Debate Over Charter Schools

· Clifton Harris - concerned parent and blogger

· Christian Roselund - UTNO Communications, blogging at Dirty South Bureau

Moderator: Patrick Armstrong, former Recovery School District teacher and blogger

12:00 - 1:00 - Lunch provided by J’anita’s

1:00 - 2:15 - Journalism and Blogging: Intersections and Digressions

Panelists:

· Lee Zurik: WWL-TV investigative reporter

· Kevin Allman: author, journalist, and blogger, frequent guest blogger at Gambit’s Blog of New Orleans

· David Winkler-Schmit: journalist and frequent contributor to Gambit Weekly and the Blog of New Orleans

· Eli Ackerman: blogger at We Could Be Famous

Moderator: Jeffrey Bostick

2:30 - 3:45 - Local Politics Panel - Panelists and Moderator TBA

Refreshments can be purchased at the Zeitgeist concession stand for the duration of the conference.

Sunday, 8-24: Community Service Activity TBA