The Edge keeps giving

I’m not crazy of perma-nicknames (e.g., Sting) for anyone but bloggers, but I’ll continue to make an exception for The Edge.  Mr. Edge has been simply great to our city:

No one could ever come close to repaying the debt of those who have established this form (of music) that we all take totally for granted, this hybrid of European melody and African-American rhythm that’s given us jazz and R&B and rock ‘n’ roll

While we’re singing his praises, here’s one of my all-time favs.

A few miscellaneous observations

Is George “bowtie” F. “vitiated” Will really calling Barack elitist?  How’s the silver-spoon everyman we have in there now working out for you?

I don’t know if it’ll be there tomorrow, but the roasted garlic on the salad bar at Whole Foods tonight rocked.  Get it when you can… by the pound.

Speaking of WFM, tonight I ran into Troy Andrews and Deacon John there.  I love seeing greatness at my store.

For the record, I’ve liked Chris Rose more than most bloggers, but I thought his tribute to Ashley was really good.

Speaking of Ashley, is it just me, or does the “Remember Ashley Morris” picture (and I need someone to help me put that up) look like he should be posthumously dubbed thus.

Michelle Obama will be the perfect first lady, in my view.  (Note the legs comment down toward the end)

The perfect response to Obama’s “bitter” controversy:

Artie Jefferson,
Tour Guide
“Hillary knew a young, inexperienced Obama would slip up sooner or later and be honest with people.”

I’ve often said that the racism in NO would dissipate a lot of people would just come onto Xavier’s campus and eavesdrop on students’ conversations.  Yeah, there’s plenty of banality going around, but today was the first day of our Festival of Scholars, and there’s some damn fine work going on.

Today when I got home a poller from Tulane & Kaiser interviewed me on my life since K.  I noted that although I said my life is overall very good, I ended up answering that I’m dissatisfied with a lot of things.  It’s a bit like something in psyc we call “false uniqueness.”

Ashley’s in the book.  I’ve added a bit from Ashley’s obituary to the chapter from E’s & my Psychology of Disasters book that deals with the rally effect.  I know most of us were rabid pro-NOLA people before the storm, but I know that we’ve gotten more defensive and vehement since, much like the flag pins that emerged after 9/11.  I hope it’s a good bit of subtle tribute.

In solidarity with Tibet, I am refusing to compete in the China olympics.  You’re welcome.

PHD Comic on Tulane/Katrina

Not, like, “haha” funny, but damn good.

h/t Billy

Stuff I’ve been meaning to post…

Dilbert & Religion:

Thank you for taking time out from feeding the poor to complain about comic strips. I know Jesus would have played it the same way.

–Scott Adams (Dilbert)

I don’t typically read Scott Adams’s blog, but this post is great.

Obama & McCain: I’m really bummed I didn’t get around to ordering a green O’Bama shirt in time for St. Pat’s (maybe they’ll be cheaper now), but his speech today, I believe, will be remembered long after he’s gone. Folks, this could be a real turning point in the nation’s dealings with race. It may lose him the election by causing subtly racist moderates to finally have their reason to jump ship, but it’ll force a bunch of folks to face some ugly truths.

Incidentally, if you weren’t scared enough of McCain before (I’ve been guilty as considering him a relatively minor threat, but I thought the same about W way back when, so I’m guilty), consider that he actively solicited the support of John Hagee, who said this:

All hurricanes are acts of God because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that.

In that interview, he goes on to say that there was to be a parade with homosexual sex at unprecedented levels. The lack of rationality that goes into these kinds of statements (like, what about Rita? No storm hits a god-fearing region?) just blows me away, so to speak. What a prick.

HomeStretch: Like some respected not-really-lent-type others, I’ve been on the wagon for Lent. E did this a few years ago, but I decided to join her this time. It sucks, but I’ve learned some things. More on that later. Believe me, this level of masochism deserves its own post. If you see someone puking on Chris Owens Sunday, that’ll be me.

T-Mac Watch: Tomorrow E and I are going to watch the Hornets kick the Rockets’ asses and end that streak and take over 1st in the West. Big prize to anyone who helps me incorporate my hatred of McGrady into a concise sign. Remember these words:

If I don’t feel like it’s going to be safe, if I’m on that team, I will think about not going.

That was the first thing I thought about [regarding the game being held in New Orleans next season]. I thought about how much safety and security there’s going to be for the players. I don’t think it’s the right city right now. Safety has to come first.

BTW, I’ve never personally seen a player take over a game the way Chris Paul did last night. G & I thought we were toast, and we were already lamenting how we gave away a game to a mediocre team (even if 2 KU players are on the team), when Paul became superman and decided he WOULD NOT LET US LOSE. So tomorrow we play to end the streak and take over 1st in the West and in the division. I’m drooling.

BTW2, I’ve been elated to see JuJu come alive and get some game, becoming a crowd favorite in the process. I think he’s going to be an impact player, and I hope we can keep him. Also, props to Bonzi, who I’d been critical of before last night. Jeez, I love the Hornets. Keep supporting them folks! I need them here for my fix!

Super-Duper Sunday: Man, was the weather great, and our “dead city” showed its unique spirit and a great time. Too many pix here.

Family: How old do you get before your family starts giving guilt trips about your personal weaknesses? Just wondering.

More later.

Update:  I didn’t realize Houston played Boston tonight.  Not sure if I should root against Houston (I guess I will, for NO’s sake and for KU’s Paul Pierce), or for Houston (have I mentioned I hate Tracy McGrady) so we can end their streak instead of Beantown.

Thanks

On a weekend that saw the Saints give one away, I’m keeping my focus on the good fortune we experienced at the end of another hurricane season.  I think it was Michael Homan who suggested that instead of having a festival on Aug 29 each year, we make Nov 30 a party.  I say we celebrate Thanksgiving on that day each year.  Since we’re not part of the US anyway, we don’t really have to honor that Plymouth Rock Mayflower crap anyway do they?  And this is one place that’s actual appreciated its native habitants, at least to some degree and belatedly.

It really has been a remarkable run.  Back in the day, evacuations were pretty rare, but during my 2nd stint here starting in 2000, we canceled classes each year through the awful ‘05 season.  Now we’ve had 2 years without an evacuation or major threat, and we should always remember to be grateful for that.  I’m sure I’m not alone in reflecting every day that those of us in the region has paid our dues, and I hope that those of you who had so much more to deal with than I did will never have to go through it again.

Whatcha been doing all this time, Bobby?

Although I’m glad Bobby and Kathleen are off to show a bipartisan united front to get some relief flowing in here, but what the hell kept them from doing it before now?  He was already a Repub, she was already a Demo, and she could have crashed at his pad over there and saved us some money.  Now he’s acting like his gonna be the governor of action, when a little action, say, a couple years ago might have made a difference.

Not-so-bold prediction:  W will eat it up and be all, “Now this is what I’ve been waiting for all this time!  Blanky, why couldn’t you have been this kind of gov’ner?  We could have taken care of you before, but it took this strapping young genius to make it clear.”

Are Californians as stupid as New Orleanians?

The chapter on E’s-&-my (don’t know how the grammar works on that) book is on attributions in disasters.  That is, how do we explain the disaster itself and the behavior related to it.  Whether one calls it “Hurricane Katrina” or the “Federal Flood” implies different sources of responsibility and represents the attributional process itself.

Joan Walsh has an interesting take on the attribution shift by W and his minions.  Apparently, we’re stupid for not anticipating flood, but he’s not.

Perino also insisted comparisons between Hurricane Katrina and the California wildfires are misplaced, because wildfires are unpredictable, but “when you have a hurricane, there are days when you can prepare and prepare for evacuation.” That contradicted her boss, President Bush, who defended the government’s inaction two years ago by saying Katrina was a surprise, insisting: “I don’t think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.”

… And Speaking of Copeland

Keep the heat on people.  Maybe you can read more into this than I can, but here’s a letter from my friend GD to Stacy Head and her response.  Let me know what you make of this and if you hear of anything more going on.  I’m not sure why Chase can’t move a little faster, but there y’go.

Dear Council Member Head,

I wrote to you almost one year ago about conditions at the intersection of
St. Charles and Napoleon Avenues.  There are two abandoned properties at the
intersection.  Specifically, I refer to the properties formerly occupied by
the Rite-Aid Pharmacy and Copeland’s Restaurant.  I would like to know when
the city plans to impound these properties and convert these buildings for
public use.

It is my understanding that the city has the authority to seize properties
that remain unrepaired and vacant.  I can offer many suggestions for uses
that will improve public welfare such as a children’s library, a streetcar
museum, a health clinic.  You might also add to the list of abandoned
properties another establishment on St. Charles Avenue, the building
formerly occupied by the Cheesecake Bistro.

The failure to restore these businesses is appalling, especially at a vital
intersection like St. Charles and Napoleon Avenues that is frequented by
locals and visitors alike.  These buildings are in the heart of the
unflooded area of the city and their shabby state sends the wrong message
about the city’s recovery.

At some level, I am not surprise that corporate callousness as displayed by
these prosperous firms, along with other national chains like Starbucks,
rules the day.  Clearly, these particular corporations have a clear focus on
profits and little interest in promoting our recovery.

Thanks for any assistance that you can provide in this matter.

Here’s Head’s response:

The rite aid is being redeveloped into a chase bank.  I requested that various departments cite copelands — but I have not yet received confirmation.  The expropriation ability that you speak of is dependant on the administration’s will to act.  I am pushing and prodding through council hearing etc to move expropriations forward, but it is difficult.

Homan Takes Care of Business

The entire region will be on the side of my colleague Michael Homan Wednesday when he sticks it to the Man in DC.  If you haven’t read his remarks, do it now and be proud.

For a little perspective, it’s well worth reading his riveting and moving account of his Katrina experience as well.

Bite Me, Tracy McGrady

Alright, I’m the first to agree that the NBA is a boring-ass league. I’d rather watch Central Southwestern State Tech play college ball than the Mavericks play pro. Simply put, the college players enjoy what they do, and they’re not dominated by prima donna assholes.

It was pathetically amusing a few years ago when the players were bitching about their salaries because they had to “put food on the table.”

Now pricks like T-Mac and players’ union chief Billy Hunter have expressed their fear of coming to the Crescent City because we’re too dangerous.

“If I don’t feel that I’m going to be safe, if I am on that team, I will look into probably not even going,” McGrady said.

“First of all, their police force is dissipated. They’re probably dealing with half the force they had before,” Hunter told Newsday. “They don’t have all the resources that we will need to properly police the city. They’ve got a serious crime problem as it is. And so what are they going to do?”

Fellas, just stay out of bars with Pacman Jones, and you’ll probably be fine.

As my friend GD says,

Eight inches shorter, 35 pounds lighter, and 35 years older, I have lived in the city since my return in 2005, one month after the levees broke. Maybe McGrady is just lacking in some other anatomical feature.

Update (also, links & quotes added):  Thanks for the hometown love (NOT), Shaq (you do know that Spike Lee was filming a year ago, right?):

“I’m not sure if the city of New Orleans is ready for something like that,” Shaquille O’Neal, who played at LSU, told Newsday. “I don’t know what New Orleans’ situation is, but from watching the Spike Lee special and watching the news, it doesn’t look like it’s ready for something like that.”

Jeez, am I getting sick of people who haven’t been here telling the world what it’s like.   No wonder congress doesn’t get it either.