Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Officials slam Senator Reid's stupid Katrina comments ~Jordan Bloom, Advocate

Ninth Ward residents, others blast U.S. Senate Majority Leader

Lycée charter school parents ask state education chief to investigate school’s board ~Rebecca Catalanello, The Lens

La. children's mental health program to cease 

Today in Military History: Jan. 8, 1815, The Battle of New Orleans

198th Eucharistic Celebration of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Over the past 198 years, many miracles have been attributed to Our Lady of Prompt Succor (Notre Dame de Bon Secours). The miracle that secured for Our Lady the title of “patroness of the state of Louisiana, the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and the city of New Orleans,” is one that announced to the world that the USA was no longer a fledgling collection of small colonies, but a nation that was here to stay. It arrived on the cold, damp morning of January 8, 1815.
General Andrew Jackson was leading an army of some 6,000 troops comprised of a few trained soldiers, farmers, tavern owners, shopkeepers, and pirates promised amnesty for past crimes if they fought. The Battle of New Orleans was fought on the swampy plains of nearby Chalmette on the cold, dreary night of January 7, 1815. Not only was the city of New Orleans at stake, but the entire Mississippi River Valley stood as the prize.
The enemy was a highly trained army of 15,000 well-armed British troops, considered the finest army in the world.
Throughout the night and into the morning of January 8, Ursuline nuns were joined at their chapel in the French Quarter by another army: lay people. They prayed to the Blessed Mother to save the city of New Orleans. The prioress of the Ursuline Convent, Mother Ste. Marie Olivier de Vezin, made a vow to have a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated annually should the American forces win the battle.
Against all odds and logic, General Jackson’s troops prevailed against the British. The city of New Orleans was saved, and for the past 198 years, the Archbishop of New Orleans has celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Shrine on January 8.

Saturday: The French Quarter needs your elbow grease! ~Lunanola, NOLAFemmes

Maurepa's Swamp’s boundaries grow by 10% 
Safer chemicals studied for oil spill cleanup

What happens if the water in Lake Michigan keeps disappearing?

A Quick Drink: Champagne Cocktail ~Blackened Out

That Sounds Good ~WWOZ

Sunday, January 6, 2013

VIDEO: 60 Minutes on cutbacks at The Times-Picayune ~Kevin Allman, Gambit
 Not so stupid Republican tricks ~Library Chronicles 

Such a long long long long time before the dawn ~moosedenied
~Welcome to 2013, bitches. Hope you weren't expecting this here soap opera to suddenly come to an end when the clock struck midnight Tuesday morning. Turns out it was just the beginning of the next episode, and it looks like this one's gonna be just as packed with incessant plot twists, intrigue and reality tee vee show drama as the last one. And you know what? I think I'm just fine with that. I've grown accustomed to it. And as frustrating and downright bizarre as it can be sometimes, it's sure to be a hell of a lot more entertaining than staring at a test pattern until August (or April, whichever comes first.)
When it comes to Saints football, all I really want is to be entertained. Winning football is entertaining, of course. Kicking the asses of chumps and sticking it to jerks and whatnot. Championships, also big BIG fun. (High five!)
But I have to agree with our friend "Angry Who Dat" that while 2012 was for the most part brutally shitty and at times just excruciating to witness, in true modern Saints fashion, it was never ever boring. Even the stuff that made me want to shove a screwdriver up my nose was (in a way) riveting, edge-of-your-seat entertainment.

Slabbed welcomes Edwin Edwards crony Carey S Goss to the Trout Point Lodge Party

Rampage revisited ~Danny Montverde

Phunny Phorty Phellows announce 2013 Carnival Season

Eye on Carnival - parade schedule, history and more