the five year anniversary of katrina

this next sunday it will have been five years... five years since that levee broke, and the water reclaimed our city. A manmade disaster of "epic proportions", would forever change the way america viewed us, and we viewed the government, and them. A television that was so mired in negative commentary, and pathetic images. You could see the underlying corporate news media's well paid for slant, and we still are dealing with the consequences of not only that, but our perception.

Spike Lee's documentary follow up to the levee's premieres tonite. a two parter, that deals with what I'm talkin, and the saints win, and the subsequent next disaster, the BP oil spill.

ABC news anchor Brian Williams has his take. I don't always know how to take him, and in his heart he means well, but he gets so much wrong. We can all thank him for standing on canal street telling the world that the french quarter was under water. It was not. Canal street is not the Vieux Carre. Five years later tourists are still asking the question... "How much water was in the Quarter".

Harry Shearer comes out also with the big uneasy. I love Harry Shearer, and his documentary will surely have a sarcastic, and truthful edge to it. He loves his city.

Recent documentaries coming are "Road to revolution", which is currently filming... A Wing and a Prayer, has been working on a documentary on voodoo, art, and rebirth in the bywater. Both of these projects have come to me... so I get to say a few words here and there, and show my art.

I look forward to this anniversary with a smile, and a bittersweet memory of what went down. What a horrific moment in time, immortalized by television krewes more interested in the story, than helping the people. A government that went on vacation, and then made promises never kept. All that insurance money spent by homeowners over the years, to be pocketed by the very "insurer" who broke their promise of giving a damn, then raising the rates. Fema screwing over the elderly, red cross trucks feeding people that didn't necessarily need them, overlooking the "hoods" of new orleans because they were afraid. the salvation army showing no fear, and responding. Church groups from all over the country providing water and necessities, and still the government and corporate news media getting it wrong.

the famous words, "get your asses to new orleans", "good job brownie", and W delivering an empty speech to the world, about how he cared, and then walking away, turning of the electricity, and turning his back. That man? proved to me that he only cares about his wallet, and his false security he can't offer. hundreds upon thousands of fema trailers bought and paid for rotting in mississippi, with dick cheney smiling, his fists full of cash.

well, despite all that? I'm moving ahead, like all of us have. You can't depend on anyone but yourself, and each person here in new orleans, that was there that day? has more than proved that fact.

I think we all deserve a standing ovation for the courage, and optimism that makes this place, the wonderful place it is...

come hell or high water, I'm a nola daughter...

funeral for big chief al morris the third, the northside skull and bones gang

I've always been attracted to the bone gangs of new orleans, and never really got to experience that tradition. I know they get out there on mardi gras day, I know they're scary, I know that kids run and hide from them, I know they carry bones, and they have stark skeletal outfits with huge paper mache heads.

then there's the skeleton krewe that rolls with krewe d'etat.

then there's 6t'9 social aid and pleasure club, masking in skeleton makeup and costumes, giving out candy during halloween, so kids don't have to trick or treat in blighted neighborhoods.

but the recent funeral of the first storm king of 6t'9? Big Chief Al Morris III? was an experience that was very intimate, and on a hot hot day in the treme. Led by second chief Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes, and the Treme Brass Band, the small secondline weaved through the treme, and began with "We are the north side, skull and bone gang"....

my summer / the hi ho lounge.

I've been having a blast. John and Lori at the hi ho lounge, have finally provided me with a work environment that I can embrace, and participate in.

Saturday nights, live music
Sunday nights soon to be SAINTS SUNDAYS followed by the mardi gras indians rehearsing for mardi gras... right now? True Blood, and the season is kickin in very eloquently and bloody...
Monday nights is Bluegrass, always a really fun evening filled with newbies learning, and the regulars... love monday nights, with dollah plates of red beans and rice.
tuesdays with trivia, a really fun fun night, testing your local and international and drama skills... you can win booze and pizza and more!

Wed nights are piano\
thursday nights are brass, and friday also live.

If your hungry? there's pizza. damn fine pizza.

and don't forget my birthday party either on the 25th of august. then the anniversary of katrina with the indians on the 29th.

stop in and say hi. I work saturdays through tuesdays...
and thanks lori and john.

I came out swinging, against carpetbloggers/baggers

I recently responded to a blog that Loki wrote on Humidcity.com. I wasn't exactly sure what he was referring to, but it brought up my anger regarding people who defend new orleans, or I should say "pretend" to defend new orleans...

http://humidcity.com/2010/07/30/nola-cred-my-ass/

I came out swinging, and they in return, "THEY" carpetblogged it.