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

Having just returned from a joyous day in a full body decon suit and face mask, sweltering in the heat and feeling like a character from the Andromeda Strain, I finally get to sit down and inflict my thought processes upon you all.

Yesterday, the day before my adventures with black mold, was Bastille Day. It was also the day of the ThinkNOLA Geek Dinner over at Casa Guttierez. Unexpected family issues had come up duiring the day, so I had not had time to cook yet. When I arrived it was toting a gumbo pot and jambalaya ingredients and looking harried. A quick survey of the building turned up a working stove a cocktail and we were off.

Boggle (bgl) n. - collective noun used to describe a group or gathering of bloggers. Usually accompanied by libation, conversation, and strange paranormal events.

As I cooked and had a few drinks the rogues gallery materialized. Shecky Darwin aka AdrastosDangerblond, Sophmom our NOLAblogger adoptee, Ashley, Maitri, Ray, Oyster, Editor B., Markus, Karen, Lisa, Schroeder, and Gentilly Girl (in whose honor this post shall be long), bombarded the place with personality and joie de vie.

It was most peculiar having people tell me they liked my stuff. Many are the times I feel I am simply ranting into vacuum. It was an interesting counterpoint to finally attaching faces, voices, and personalities with the words that regularly scroll across my computer screen.

Talking with Lisa was great, she and I have lot in common even if she is a Mac Elitist, I’m jealous she actually saw the Sex Pistols! . Likewise it was great to finally meet Oyster, who lives in my block and is the man whose post here on Humid City crystallised our decision to evacuate (When your own blog tells you to leave you LEAVE). Ray and Adrastos are also in the immediate neighborhood (insert Mr. Bingle Voice singing “It’s a Small World After All.”) Personally I am predicting sarcasm over drinks soon…

Anyway, Alan was a fantastic host and it was good to see him actually meeting these folks as well and filling them in on what we are trying to do with ThinkNOLA. Many hands make light work and hopefully some of the attendees will be interested in getting involved. It was far from sales pitch night though, it was a damn nice little shindig.

The icing on the cake was the arrival of Kalypso, the ten year old blogger who made this videoMichael Homan, a blogger himself and a really nice guy. I think he was a bit taken aback by the love the NOLAbloggers have for his daughter and her film. Its brilliant work, he should be very proud. which you must watch! Go. Do it. I’ll Wait………See? A journalistic prodigy, I cannot wait to see her tackle D.C. in fifteen years or so! Her father

I would love to say something about each of these digital maniacs but I am going on too long as it is. If you are reading this and have not already, I encourage you to visit all of the links in this post. You will find a wild and wooley variety that, taken as a gestalt, will provide you a window into the reasons We Are Not OK and what we are doing to change that. Visit them, leave a comment, stay informed.

We are the voices in the wilderness. We are the warriors of the wasteland. We have carpal tunnel syndrome. welcome to New Orleans, have a nice day!