Iced Coffee and a Bagel

Daily Show

2011-04-08T14:19:00.000-07:00

This is hilarious.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/thu-april-7-2011-jamie-oliver

Letter to the Editor

2011-01-25T14:45:00.000-08:00

The nola.com comment board is malfunctioning on one of their stories, so I'll utilize this woefully maintained blog to do what it is meant to do: spout my personal opinion which likely matters to no one but me and is perhaps read by even fewer people if I don't come back and review it myself.

This letter was written to the editor in today's paper:

LSU grad rate isn't great, either: A letter

Published: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 4:59 AM

By Letters to the Editor
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The recent bashing of two of our local universities for their low graduate rates, the University of New Orleans at 22 percent and Southern University at New Orleans at 5 percent, is like shooting fish in a barrel. It unfortunately deflects from the larger public higher education morass we find our state in.

Sure, UNO's rate is low -- but so is LSU's, our flagship university, which gets the best resources our state has to offer. According to Kiplinger's magazine, February 2011, LSU's four-year graduation rate is 28 percent. In Kiplinger's list of 100 other public universities, only eight have a lower graduation rate. Contrast LSU's four-year rate with other state flagship universities: University of Virginia, 85 percent; University of Florida, 58 percent; University of Texas, 52 percent; University of Georgia 51 percent; University of Alabama, 38 percent; University of Arkansas, 32 percent, and University of Tennessee, 31 percent.

Is it any wonder that our children leave the state for jobs, and businesses are hesitant to locate here? Of course UNO has to improve, but so does LSU and all of our public education. It seems that we Louisianians haven't yet figured out that a really excellent educational system is the best long-term economic engine for our state.

No surprise there. Only 28 percent of us can graduate from our flagship in four years.

Malcolm Villarrubia Jr.
Metairie

My response:

While the 4 year graduation rate for LSU was 26% in 2004 (the most recent date for which UNO also supplied numbers), the 6 year graduation rate at LSU was 60% that year. Compare that to UNO's 2004 six year graduation rate: 20%. This is not to berate UNO as an institution, I am against the merger and I believe UNO performs an invaluable service to the city's residents, but I was also taken aback by the misleading statistics you are using in your letter concerning LSU's effectiveness as an institution of higher learning.
Unsupported by statistics is my other contention: if you were take the students who return to LSU for their sophomore year (83%), the graduation rate for 4 years would be appreciably higher, as I'm sure UNO's (66% returning for sophomore year pre-Katrina) numbers would likewise be higher.

Citations are from self-reporting of LSU and UNO respectively:

http://irdm.uno.edu/outcomes/
http://www.bgtplan.lsu.edu/TREND/students/enrollment/acttracking.pdf

Who Dat lawsuit

2010-11-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

All you need to know, from the article below:

The counterclaim states that the phrase "Who Dat" has been "applied to many sporting contests...for many decades before 1983" and that Who Dat Inc. "has abandoned any trademark rights it may have ever had in WHO DAT? By non-use and non-exclusive use for a significant period of time."

http://www.louisianarecord.com/news/230837-defendants-counsel-pile-up-in-who-dat-lawsuit

Basically, they let it sit for too damned long without defending their right to it and only asserted that right in 2009, when it was far expired. It has since entered into the public domain in a big way.

Looking out for the Little Guy (who is a fortune 500 bank)

2010-06-08T22:58:00.000-07:00

So these people:

are running this ad, warning us about how big government wants to take away the power of banks to charge retailers exorbitant credit card fees and how that's the government going into your wallet:

Really.

The Striking Poboy

2010-04-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

I haven't written a post in many months, and for that I apologize. I plan on writing a series of posts reviewing varying New Orleans restaurants which I've been to, in no particular order, but considering the number I've been to in the past four years, I should never run out of topics to write about. Also, in order of events I've missed, WHODAT, Throw me somethin' Mister, and Happy Jazz Fest to y'all!

Concerning the post title, "The Striking Poboy", it is common knowledge in New Orleans that the poboy was invented as a cheap sandwich to feed striking streetcar conductors. What was lesser known is that the two brothers who invented the poboy and fed it to the striking workers were former union members themselves of the conductor's union, the Martin boys. I just ran across a Salon.com article with a copy of the original letter in support written by the Martins to the striking workers and thought I should also share.

Vive la po'boy!

#LawyerUp

2010-01-29T09:22:00.000-08:00

Amid all the fury surrounding who owns Who Dat, which for the record I think the NFL does not (for various reasons, a 1983 court decision declaring who dat had entered the public domain, the case of Sun Banks of Florida v. Sun Federal Saving & Loan Assn, 651 F.2d 311 (C.A. Florida, 1981), which held that where there was EXTENSIVE third party use of a term to such a degree to where there would be no likelihood of confusion, there is no protection, and the large number of business and events in town who use the phrase without any licensing and have so for years, even those not even remotely associated with football. As far as extensive third party use goes, look at this yellowbook listing: http://www.yellowpages.com/name/New-Orleans-LA/who-dat ) I decided I should provide my own Tshirt answer, the brain child of @curlilox, for all to use. For the record, I am entering it into commerce as a merchantible item and no one else has done so (as a tshirt, there is one book out there of the same name with an exclamation point), which grants me intellectual property rights with or without filing. You do not need to ever pay me to use it though, feel *free*.

For sale here.

End of an Era

2010-01-05T22:14:00.000-08:00

Saúl Litvinoff passed away early Tuesday morning. Besides teaching almost every lawyer who graduated from LSU Law Center from 1965 to last year, he was the secretary for revisions to the Louisiana civil code, fluent in a half a dozen languages and a great mentor to many who passed through those halls, including me.

This was my favorite exchange during one of his classes:

Litvinoff: "If you swear, will you go to jail?"

Student: "No, I don't believe so, sir."

Litvinoff: "Yes, you won't go to jail, you'll go to hell, but not jail."

He will truly be missed.

Saúl Litvinoff, 1925-2010.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T19:33:00.000-08:00

Gift Buying Guide

2009-12-03T08:43:00.001-08:00

For all of you who find it tortuous to choose gifts for people, a gift for you, a boon, the Ivory Woodpecker you've been searching for (it's Elvis for birdwatchers, trust me), behold: The New York Times gift buying guide. It is the most complete and satisfying guide to buying gifts for someone you will ever encounter outside a personal shopper with ESP.

Merry Christmas and Happy Chanuka!

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

2009-11-20T14:24:00.000-08:00

On top of being set in and shot mostly on location in New Orleans, the chief reason why you should see this movie, according to the description of Nicolas Cage's performance by the New York Times Film Review:

"Sometimes his loose-limbed shuffle and sibilant drawl suggest Jimmy Stewart as a crackhead."

3rd Annual Po Boy Preservation Festival

2009-11-11T08:03:00.001-08:00

Is coming up this month, on Sunday, November 22 from 11 AM to 6 PM on Oak St between Carrollton and the river. I personally have a framed and numbered print of the image above hanging in my dining room, suffice to say, I respect the mighty po-boy.

The New York Times just covered the upcoming festival and the cause celebre which it supports, preservation of the culture behind the poboy's origins in depression-era New Orleans. Read up on a good if slightly stilted story (Mahoney's, really? How about Parkway or Mother's?), and be sure to get yourself to the festival, it promises to be a fantastic time.

What the Kids are Reading

2009-10-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

The lazyman's post, just a nicely diverse list of hyperlinks of interesting stories/reviews/news.

Interview with John Cleese.

Interview with Willem Dafoe.

Review of Willem Dafoe's new movie, "Antichrist".

Physicians have less respect for people who make obviously poor health decisions.

The Weather Channel will now have a movie night.

"The Dog Whisperer" to become a scripted show starring Fez from "That Seventies Show".

Ray Nagin loves China and Cuba for how they handle crisis events, such as cracking down immediately with the military.

Vitter refuses to criticize Tangipahoa racist justice of the peace.

But Vitter still leads in early polling in Louisiana.

The funniest animated comedy on the air.

New Sponsor

2009-09-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

PJ's Coffee is a new sponsor of the New Orleans' Saints. I like the creative advertising.

Bad Element

2009-09-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

The horror.

New Orleans: An Update

2009-08-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

The New York Times look back to four years ago, and looks to today in New Orleans.

Update:

Anderson Cooper reporting from New Orleans this week.

People magazine does a photo spread, New Orleans then and now.

Huffington Post Editorial on New Orleans' children today.

USA Today Editorial, New Orleans four years later.

NPR coverage of New Orleans four years later.

CNN article on celebrities helping to keep the spotlight on New Orleans four years later.

Associated Press article on the realities of New Orleans today versus political rhetoric.

London Guardian article on the persisting rumors and lies about Katrina.

Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana editorial on the four year anniversary of Katrina.

Believable Excuse

2009-08-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

City of New Orleans' crime camera which supposedly captured image of suspect . . . did not actually capture image of suspect.

From the article:

Following a media inquiry, the NOPD sent out a revised news release Wednesday. This version still included Paden and Richardson's photo but it didn't describe the photo's origins. The image was now "caught on camera, " not "caught on the city's crime camera."

A department news release Wednesday evening acknowledged that the photo it circulated a day earlier was from the private surveillance camera. However, NOPD spokeswoman Shereese Harper said a city crime camera at the corner of Esplanade Avenue and North Rampart Street -- roughly five blocks away from the private surveillance camera -- also captured video footage of the suspect. Police included the private camera photo because the video file from the city camera was too large to send out by e-mail, she said.

Fox News: The Transformation

2009-08-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Fox News: The New Liberals

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Healthcare Protests

Coffee the Wonder Drug

2009-08-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

In what should come as no surprise to anyone who has read this blog or met me, coffee is really, really great for your health.

From the article:

Turns out caffeine, a naturally occurring, flavorless chemical that stimulates the central nervous system, does more than wake us up. Medical researchers and nutritionists long have touted the health benefits of black coffee, antioxidant-packed teas and dark chocolate. In moderation, these natural sources of caffeine are associated with weight loss, the treatment of asthma and headaches and a reduced risk of Parkinson's disease. Coffee, in particular, is associated with a decreased risk of depression, colon cancer and type two diabetes, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies.

The Bumper Sticker May Need to Change

2009-08-04T22:23:00.000-07:00

Mayor Nagin's last day might be sooner than we expected.

Feds seize Nagin emails.

You say addiction, I say delicious

2009-07-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

As seen in the Times Picayune on Sunday.

This would have been good in 2006

2009-07-17T16:40:00.001-07:00

I guess City Hall just has a mild case of dyslexia and is confusing their sixes and nines.

Nagin announces blighted area renewal program to funnel tax dollars to blighted areas which otherwise would not be revitalized.

Seriously, why did it take almost 5 years to implement this?

I don't normally comment on financial stories

2009-07-11T06:42:00.000-07:00

But this one has a great line. From the New York Times, quoting a small bank owner:

“The credit pendulum is stuck at ‘stupid,’” said Lou S. Barnes, an owner of Boulder West Financial Services, a Colorado mortgage bank. “I am turning down loans every day that my grandfather in his Ponca City, Okla., savings and loan in 1935 would have been happy to make. And he was tough.”

What's Nagin Hiding?

2009-07-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

Nagin's email was erased professionally, well after it was requested by the Times Picayune and his excuse was "they ran out of space to store it."

Hurricane Season

2009-06-26T11:38:00.001-07:00

There is a tropical wave in the Caribbean which stands a chance of moving into the Gulf of Mexico and becoming the first named storm of the year, Ana. It would have little to no chance of hitting the United States, but the first storm is the first storm. Keep an eye on things, people!

This Weather is Obscene

2009-06-23T16:33:00.001-07:00

Driving home today. 38 degrees celsius for my European reader(s).

Let Me Just Say One Thing

2009-06-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

This stuff is delicious.

Alternative Medicines Don't Work

2009-06-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

The US government spent $2.5 billion dollars over ten years testing the effectiveness of "alternative medicines" and has come to the conclusion that the majority do nothing or are less effective or just as effective as dummy pills.

Conclusion: if it's called alternative medicine, it's not been proven and likely does not work. If it did work, it could apply for patent status and make the companies who make it a lot more money. All those companies are trying to make money, why would they turn down MORE money? The answer is that they would not if they could, their "medicines" simply don't work.

Nagin Quarantined in China

2009-06-07T22:14:00.000-07:00

Mayor Ray Nagin quarantined in Shanghai, China. The officials are claiming it's because someone on his flight had a confirmed case of H1N1 swine flu, but I have my doubts. I personally think it's a goodwill gesture by the Chinese government to the citizens of New Orleans.

So from me to you, China, THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Utility Lens

2009-05-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am an amateur/hobbyist level photographer with a fairly nice camera, but I am always drooling over lenses. I currently shoot with a Canon xsi, 12.2 megapixel with the kit 18-55 mm Image Stabilized lens and a telephoto 55-250 mm Image Stabilized zoom lens, which is a fairly recent acquisition (only having had the camera itself since October of last year). Years ago I had a lot of interaction with professional level cameras and my parents have owned a film SLR (single lens reflex) longer than I've been alive, recently making the crossover to digital SLR themselves as well.

All that said, and with some very nice results to speak of through using the camera with the current lenses, I was reading a photography magazine the other day and foolishly read about the "best in value" kit lens that comes with the Canon 5D Mark II, a 21.1 megapixel, full frame sensor monster, a 24-105 mm Image Stabilized zoom lens with USM (ultra sonic motor) for ridiculously fast auto-focusing so you don't miss a picture. It led me to the thought: what a great utility lens you would almost never need to change out. My kit lens is great, but limited, due to the 55 mm range, and my telephoto obviously is not getting a group shot inside a room any smaller than an auditorium, starting at 55 mm. All of this is idle desire aside, I have to wait quite a while before I spend any more money to make my hobby easier, but a guy can dream:

(1) 24-105 mm IS, USM;

(2) 28-105 mm, without image stabilization, much cheaper version of the above lens, still neat;

(3) 17-85 mm IS;

(4) 50 mm, 1.4-22 f-stop (VERY low light shooting possible without flash); and just for fun, not utility at all

(5) 45 mm tilt shift (for very narrow depth of focus pictures).

Just The Facts

2009-05-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

Seen going down Poydras and stopping and putting on the emergency flashers in front of the DA's office. Not making any guesses as to why, just saying what I saw.

Berlin

2009-04-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

Bound for Foreign Shores

2009-04-20T21:03:00.001-07:00

I've hardly been posting lately, but now I finally have an excuse. See everyone in a few weeks.

New Journalism

2009-04-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

This is really a story, in a real newspaper, it is not April Fool's. It is both hilarious and an awful state of the industry of journalism; the substance of the story is good, the theme is utterly ridiculous.

From the article:

"Nearly a third of all women admit that their muffin top is the part of their body that they would most like to change."

Email 2.0

2009-04-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

Just pick a subject and gmail writes it for you! It's a revolution in email!

Also, Squeezable bacon! Why has this never been thought of before?! From your friends at thinkgeek.

Coffee for Runners

2009-03-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

Drink coffee and run faster and longer! Seriously!

From the article:

"Now, Dr. Tarnopolsky and others report that caffeine increases the power output of muscles by releasing calcium that is stored in muscle. The effect can enable athletes to keep going longer or to go faster in the same length of time. Caffeine also affects the brain’s sensation of exhaustion, that feeling that it’s time to stop, you can’t go on any more. That may be one way it improves endurance, Dr. Tarnopolsky said."

Read This Case For One Line

2009-03-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

Kucinich v. Texas Democratic Party.

"Kucinich, Kucinich for President, Inc., and Willie Nelson immediately filed

suit in the district court seeking to temporarily and permanently enjoin TDP

from enforcing the oath on the grounds that the oath violated their First and

Fourteenth Amendment rights."

You know you're interested now.

Abita Strawberry

2009-03-21T18:38:00.001-07:00

Abita Strawberry is in stores. They're not even bothering to punch the freshness date on the back of the bottle (see left), it's selling like hot cakes!

Get some before it runs out!

More Vitter

2009-03-11T14:17:00.001-07:00

I was actually getting ready to write something good about Vitter after last week's story about how he did his part to get spending bill money for Louisiana, but then he went ahead and did this and this.

The most egregious was the pay raise vote. If he had voted with Reid instead of against him, he would have guaranteed passage of the exact same language as his bill. Instead, he voted no. The reason? Reid's was a stand-alone bill, and his was part of the spending bill, and by including his approved bill in the spending bill, he would have torpedoed the entire bill, which he is against, but had no actual probability of defeating. So instead, he gets to stand on his principled high horse and say they voted against the bill to take away Congress's automatic raise, but he did too, and had he voted yes for Reid's bill, he would have actually abolished the automatic pay raise. Instead, it was more important to him, to his principles, that it be included with the spending bill than the law actually passing. Once again, hypocrite.

Governor Brad

2009-03-06T08:05:00.000-08:00

Brad Pitt is in Washington D.C. lobbying for New Orleans. He is unpaid, he spends inordinate amounts of his own time and his own money and asks his friends to help with the cause that is rebuilding New Orleans.

Meanwhile our elected governor is busy representing the Republican Party, critisizing funds for other states that go towards preventing natural disasters as "wasteful" and turning down federal funding for UNEMPLOYMENT.

Just pointing out some facts.

Pressing Legislation

2009-02-24T19:53:00.001-08:00

In the face of the most serious threat to the United States and the state of Louisiana EVER, David Vitter is finally jumping into action to act on his constituents' behalf. The economy, you think? No, much more important - rampant monkey attacks. Yes, not just a single incident in Connecticut, which according to statistics has the deadly chance of happening once every 10 years . . . no 20 years . . . no?, well ONCE, anyway, Vitter has finally been persuaded to pass an important bill through the senate.

For the record, he hasn't done shit about the housing, taxes, or jobs, excluding whatever hookers he's stimulating his own economy with, except to vote against that legislation and otherwise make a jack-ass of himself. As you'll recall, he's too busy with the vital interests of today: flag burning and illegal immigrants. At least he has an interesting opponent in his next race.

Bon Mardi Gras

2009-02-24T19:18:00.000-08:00

I had a great time Fat Tuesday, here's hoping you all did, too. Hey Mardi Gras!

Happy Mardi Gras!

2009-02-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

Endymion's Horn

2009-02-22T14:43:00.000-08:00

Rapunzel

2009-02-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

Blue Print

2009-02-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

Dry Your Wings

2009-02-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

Mark The Fallen

2009-02-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

An Older View

2009-02-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Pictures of New Orleans

2009-02-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

For the next week or so I'm going to just try out a photo theme. The unifying concept is that they're all of New Orleans. I'm pre-editing and am going to have the blog posts as time-delayed, but all will be written today. I hope they go over well. If you click on any of the pictures it will open up MUCH larger in a new window.

p.s. Happy Valentine's Day!

Some Sense about Katrina

2009-02-12T08:12:00.000-08:00

The Obama administration is finally doing something more than talk, unlike the last administration, about hurricane recovery, an editorial in the New York Times says.

It's about time.

Red Light Cameras Increase Accidents

2009-02-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Red light cameras increase traffic accidents. So says 11 studies conducted from Canada, to the U.S. to Australia, all by at least double digit numbers. There are no studies which state otherwise, there is no controversy. Red light cameras are about one thing: revenue.

Excerpt from one of the studies:

"Police in one community concluded that
nearly 90% of infractions at a trial camera were splitsecond
violations visible only to the camera lens,
which would not result in a ticket from an officer
(theNewspaper.com, 2006)."

Print with Coffee

2009-02-02T15:30:00.001-08:00

A green design competition has produced one company's idea for an "Eco-Friendly" printer which uses your old coffee grounds to make ink. TOO COOL. If this ever comes out commercially, I would be very interested.

New Orleans in the Public Eye

2009-01-27T19:58:00.000-08:00

How the rest of the United States is viewing New Orleans right now:

A New York Times blogger finds a hip vintage clothes shop on Magazine street, retroactive.

New Orleans is going "green" after Katrina, according to the Associated Press.

USA Today tells you how to do Mardi Gras in New Orleans on a budget, because it's a recession not a funeral!

MSNBC covers the opening of Mardi Gras season in New Orleans.

David Vitter is a Jack-Ass

2009-01-26T15:32:00.000-08:00

David Vitter was one of the two votes against the confirmation of Hillary Clinton and cited Bill Clinton's "ethical concerns" over donations to his charity. The Clinton foundation's single largest beneficiary? The state of Louisiana, to the tune of $130.6 million. In case you're wondering, that's significantly more than Vitter has ever done for his state, and right now he's hard at work trying to make sure the $350 billion in recovery money for the country doesn't get released, which would include infrastructure money for Louisiana. He's too busy writing bills to crack down on illegal immigrants and flag burning. Because apparently all the illegal immigrants helping to rebuild New Orleans is really cramping his style.

Jack-ass.

Glad you're concerned about ethical concerns David, I hope that whole paying for whores while you're married thing works out for you.

What's good for Beer is good for the Country

2009-01-25T15:24:00.000-08:00

I'll drink to that!

New York Times Op-ed of the same title.

"Strengths & Weakness" = "Intelligent Design" = "Creationism"

2009-01-22T09:10:00.001-08:00

Just a little PSA for everyone. There is no difference between the three.

The New York TImes has a story about the debate in Texas this year.

Strength & Weakness = Intelligent Design = Creationism = The earth is 6,000 years old. There is no difference between these terms as used in the evolution "debate".

Yes, evolution is a theory. But so is gravity. A theory is the highest classification of scientific statement.

Jesus was real, but he didn't ride a velociraptor. And no, that's not something the critics of creationism came up with as a joke, it's a real belief by a big chunk of people that dinosaurs were around in biblical times. Sadly.

New Orleans: The Guide

2009-01-17T10:52:00.000-08:00

[pictured, New Orleans' City Park]

Southern Accents did a spotlight on New Orleans and recommended dozens of places to eat, shop, drink and visit. I can't disagree with any of their selections (although calling Cochon authentic cajun is a hell of a stretch). John Besh is one of the contributers, and he's extremely generous with his suggestions for New Orleans eateries and other establishments which aren't his own.

If you're thinking of visiting or have friends or family coming this way, you should check it out! Includes hyperlinks to the websites of most establishments, with addresses, phone numbers and hours of operation. I especially encourage going to Parkway Bakery, Angelo Brocato's and W.I.N.O., all in the guide.

[subscribe to Southern Accents]

Rewriting History

2009-01-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

The new Republican National Party (Fox News) talking point, i.e., the new Swift Boat Attack (read patently false), for the next four years is that just like Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal failed, so must Obama's. Huh, you ask?

"Huh" is right. The New Deal, credited by most historians as being the catalyst that removed us from the depression YEARS BEFORE WE GEARED UP FOR WORLD WAR II, is being called failed by the Republican National Party (not real Republicans, who are the reason the Republicans failed these last two elections, because they let down their real constituents). It goes against their policy of deregulation, even in the face of the worst economic meltdown SINCE the Great Depression, and caused directly BY deregulation. I don't need to spend much time dissecting their argument, because it is just false. It's made up. It's not true. A lie.

They can harp on it all they want, it's not something that will hold up over time as real news organizations are given time to review the stance and study it for truth.

From the Editorial:

"Congressional Republicans say Mr. Obama’s stimulus will cost too much, and that over time the economy will cure itself. When critics raised the same objections to F.D.R.’s programs, his relief administrator, Harry Hopkins, had a ready answer: 'People don’t eat in the long run. They eat every day.' "

Alternative Medicine

2009-01-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

"Once any treatment is shown beyond doubt to be effective, it ceases to be 'alternative' and becomes just like any other part of medical knowledge. That means that 'alternative medicine' must consist entirely of unproven treatments."

If you see this:

"These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. (The FDA only evaluates foods and drugs, not dietary supplements like this product.) This product is not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease;"

then it is alternative medicine or a chapstick.

How Cool is That

2009-01-07T08:04:00.000-08:00

As seen on my blog:

As Seen Overhead

2009-01-06T21:54:00.001-08:00

I love a New Orleans intersection.

Best Response

2009-01-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

This is the best response to a stupid interview question ever:

CNN: What is the biggest thing you sacrifice when you're a successful band?

Lightbody: Bison. That's quite big.

If I don't get another chance later . . .

2008-12-23T22:53:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

Foggy Day

2008-12-17T21:02:00.001-08:00

You don't see that too often

2008-12-14T21:43:00.000-08:00

'Tis the Season

2008-12-10T17:54:00.001-08:00

To try some holiday themed beers! I have not been slacking in this regard, and in fact was able to start trying out the Christmas brews back in October when they first hit the market. Besides only being available around the holidays, they're usually delicious because the companies consider it an opportunity to promote their overall brand with catchy names and interesting flavors and get a customer to stick around for the rest of the year. Without further ado, here is what I know tastes good this year:

(1) Abita Christmas Ale.

This is usually a very hoppy and very bitter beer, which is not unexpected of a winter ale. This year they really toned down the bitters however, and even added what I would consider a little sweetness. It's a great beer to drink around an open fire!

(2) Shiner Bock Christmas Lager.

From the little brewery in Shiner, Texas, this is a really neat beer. Similar to the Abita pecan ale, they add roasted pecans and roasted peaches to the final stage of the brewing process of this dark wheat ale (Dunkelweizen! Ja!), it is a luxurious beer that has just the right amount of sweetness, but definitely not overwhelming.

(3) Anchor Steam Christmas Ale.

I just had this one last week and it is a keeper. On top of wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year right on the bottle, it tastes as though it has just the slightest amount of juniper in it to give it that Christmas flavor while preserving a relatively dry ale's hoppiness. They've done one every year since 1975, and the recipe changes every year, so try one out while the getting's good!

(4) Rogue Santa's Private Reserve.

I am actually having this beer right now, and it is GREAT. I usually get, and therefore usually expect, all my Rogue beers to be on the hoppy and bitter side, not this beer. It has enough of a bitters taste to remain edgy - it's definitely no Budweiser, but they really mellowed out the taste on the back end somehow. I'm only having my first one now, I haven't figured out all the nuances yet, but it's a great, non-gimmicky beer I could get used to. Too bad it's only available during the Winter!

Those are the only Christmas Ales I've personally tried this year, but if you click on the link below, you'll find the treasure trove! Definitely let me know if you try anything good this winter season!

Christmas Beers!

Tops in the United States

2008-12-05T12:04:00.000-08:00

Ben Franklin has been ranked 16th best high school in the United States. The funny thing is that this is actually a drop in rankings from last year. Last year Ben Franklin was rated "elite", and it was deemed unfair to the regular high schools in the country to rank it among the "best schools", and so it resided among 25 "elite schools" which were held above the "best high schools".

Go Falcons!

Schism Widening

2008-12-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

The conservative Episcopal parishes in the United States, who object to homosexual leadership, union, among many other things, are formally petitioning the world Anglican Communion to be recognized as their own church. The proposed name is the Anglican Church in North America.

I don't believe a religion should exist that defines itself solely by who it doesn't tolerate.

Karma's a bitch

2008-12-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Convicted polluter's heirs sue the federal government for exposure to cancer-causing pollution. The karma continues: get randomly assigned to the same federal judge who convicted him of his second pollution conviction, which was also a violation of his active probation from his first conviction. The widow yelled at the judge following the trial "you've just signed his death sentence."

AWWWWWKWAAAAAAARD.

Cyber Monday

2008-12-01T06:22:00.000-08:00

The name just seems wrong.

Looking For Something to Read

2008-11-27T10:05:00.001-08:00

For everyone with free time over these holidays and the next looking for something both new and good to read, the New York Times published a list of the 100 best books of 2008 with short synopsis of each and with hyperlinked links to full reviews. As a person who has purchased more than their fair share of duds, this list seems like a great gift of time so as to not waste time on the next book that begins "It was a dark and stormy night."

VA Hospital Approved

2008-11-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

The VA/Charity hospital in New Orleans downtown/midcity has been approved apparently. The footprint below. Everything inside the footprint is going, including Deutsches Haus. Businesses/houses which are on the fringe are still up in the air.

Different Markets

2008-11-24T06:36:00.000-08:00

While the economic outlook is bleak for lawyers finding employment in the US right now, it is apparently on the uptick in Asia and the Middle East, in hot spots like Hong Kong, Tokyo and Abu Dhabi. Attorneys are establishing branch offices and enlarging offices they already have.

Magritte

2008-11-21T12:58:00.000-08:00

I just noticed that my blog art really resembles the work by Magritte, the Belgian painter. It was neither inspired by nor modeled on, but it is a little uncanny. I actually took a picture of a little plastic figurine who was our official mascot during bar review and played with the pictures in photoshop.

In homage however, on a day where google is apparently paying homage to him as well, find below Magritte's art as well as art inspired by his work.

Magritte, and those inspired by him.

Alma Mater

2008-11-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

Ben Franklin High School in New Orleans has been ranked the number one high school in the state of Louisiana, as ranked by the Louisiana Department of Education.

Congrats Franklin!

Perking for Coffee

2008-11-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

For brewing coffee, I currently own one broken combination coffee pot/espresso machine. The coffee pot portion works fine, the espresso portion is broken, but the "working" coffee pot has always brewed just "ok" coffee. Luckily for me, I also own a Toddy Iced Coffee brewer and a large french press, and I almost always drink cold drip iced coffee, anyway.

But I want a new coffee machine. For me, it's kind of like a 10 year old wanting a new toy . . . it is almost exactly like a ten year old wanting a new toy.

Below are reality followed by fantasy coffee machines:

Reality

(1) 12 cup dispensing coffee machine;

(2) 10 cup thermal carafe/dispensing machine; and

(3) DeLonghi Pump Driven Espresso Maker.

Fantasy

(1) Essenza Espresso Machine By Nespresso;

(2) Espressione "Cafe Retro" Espresso Machine;

(3) Achille Gaggia Brushed Stainless Steel Manual Espresso Machine;

(4) La Pavoni;

(5) FrancisFrancis 206003 X6 Trio espresso maker;

(6) Breville BES820XL Espresso Maker; and

(7) Capresso Coffee Team Thermal Coffeemaker with Burr Grinder.

New Template

2008-11-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

Trying things out. Let me know what you think.

Tough Game

2008-11-08T21:50:00.000-08:00

LSU 21, Alabama 27.

The Tigers had plenty of opportunities to win that game, even not counting the awful officiating. If we had hit the missed field goal, it would have been a "W" for LSU after blocking Alabama's last second field goal. If Jarrett Lee hadn't thrown a pick 6 or the other 2 picks. If Lee had just fallen over after he had run the 3 yards for the 1st down instead of throwing the ball out of bounds when he couldn't find a receiver.

Tough loss, still a very good game.

Clear the Air

2008-11-05T14:50:00.001-08:00

Here's an idea: don't believe anonymous chain emails sent the day before the election containing "electrifying suppressed information!" Really. Here are some truths:

Tax plans.

Stance on the issues.

Effect on the stock market.

What was actually said in the now infamous 2001 interview about "redistribution of wealth."

Election Day

2008-11-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Vote!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T07:29:00.000-07:00

As seen in my neighbor's yard!

Things that are awkward

2008-10-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

Ted Stevens.

McCain and Palin asking Stevens to step down.

The ex-mayor of Detroit is in a prison being run by one of the candidates to replace him.

The main state newspaper in Alaska supporting Obama.

Alaskan women against Palin.

Spending $150,000 on clothes.

Democrats easing out the most senior democratic Politician in the nation from his committee chair.

The first Republican governor of Louisiana since Reconstruction endorsing the Democrat in the senate race.

Republicans already admitting defeat and looking forward to 2012. (Awkward for McCain/Palin)

The current Republican governor's lukewarm support of the Republican in the senate race.

Nagin proposing a tax hike during the worst period of financial instability since at least the 1970's.

Massachussetts state senator stuffing bribe money into her bra on camera.

Palin ruining the joke on SNL.

Microsoft quietly ditching Vista.

The New York Times covering the "largest exhibit of contemporary art on American soil" in New Orleans, but New Orleans' own paper dropping the ball. Maybe they'll write a story after it happens. EDIT: The Times-Picayune is indeed covering it. Good on them.

The IRS is the new hot place to work.

This

2008-10-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

New Orleans is more than the Quarter.

The San Francisco Chronicle just published an article which succinctly and accurately states that saying you visited New Orleans and only going to the Quarter is like saying you visited California and only going to Disneyland. There's a little bit more here.

Read it!

D.A. Runoff

2008-10-05T06:22:00.001-07:00

Between Cannizzaro and Capitelli, for New Orleans District Attorney. I can't remember the last time an election runoff in New Orleans was between two competent individuals. I'm looking forward to the next DA bringing in some good ideas and a scrub brush to the office.

"Because somebody hurt their feelings, they decided to punish the country."

2008-09-29T15:53:00.001-07:00

From the story:

"Republicans blamed Pelosi's scathing speech near the close of the debate — which attacked Bush's economic policies and a 'right-wing ideology of anything goes, no supervision, no discipline, no regulation' of financial markets — for the vote's failure.
'We could have gotten there today had it not been for the partisan speech that the speaker gave on the floor of the House,' Minority Leader John Boehner said. Pelosi's words, the Ohio Republican said, 'poisoned our conference, caused a number of members that we thought we could get, to go south.'

Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., the whip, estimated that Pelosi's speech changed the minds of a dozen Republicans who might otherwise have supported the plan.

Frank said that was a remarkable accusation by Republicans against Republicans: 'Because somebody hurt their feelings, they decided to punish the country.' "

More than a repudiation of Democrats, Frank said, Republicans' refusal to vote for the bailout was a rejection of their own president.

Eugenics

2008-09-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

Louisiana State Representative John LaBruzzo (R-Metairie), has advocated for tying the tubes of impoverished women to "slow the growth of welfare rolls" because he "worries that people receiving government aid such as food stamps and publicly subsidized housing are reproducing at a faster rate than more affluent, better-educated people who presumably pay more tax revenue to the government." He also advocated paying college-educated people to have more children.

Here's one of the nineteen-billion reasons this thing is wrong: there is a recognized and oft-utilized feature of the law called "disparate impact" in employment discrimination. It is the concept that regardless of WHAT the regulation, policy or practice STATES it is doing, if it predominately effects only ONE protected class of people, gender, ethnicity, national origin, disabled, then it has a DISPARATE IMPACT on that class of people and is ILLEGAL. This is much, much worse. This program would only effect "impoverished women" in Louisiana. Well who are they? Here's a map of the population with children in poverty, and here's a map with the percentage of population who are African-American. Look similar? And it's not as though it comes as a surprise to anyone, especially a Republican State Rep who's holding David Duke's former seat. It's eugenics, it's genocide, it's an attempt to breed out the problem, and it's wrong.

I can see no upside to his proposal, which I can tell from hearing him on WWL this morning, he was quite serious about it, and I can sense Jonathan Swift rolling in his grave at yet another person failing to pick up on the sarcasm.

Irony

2008-09-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

The RIAA is suing a defense lawyer for being "vexatious" by posting his motions he files in the matter online on his blog, because it "embarrasses" the RIAA. They should be embarrassed for filing baseless lawsuits and suing children and dead people, but that's just one person's opinion.

Pot, Kettle, Kettle, Pot

2008-09-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

"Karl Rove ... believes White House candidates John McCain and Barack Obama have gone too far in their attacks on each other."

No, really, he REALLY said that. But, BONUS quote at the end of the interview for the article:

'Rove said he believed that Obama's "lipstick on a pig" comment was a "deliberate slap at Governor Palin," saying it came too soon after the Alaska governor's pitbull comment not to be.'

He ATTACKS Obama in the same interview he says there are too many attacks, and attacks him on a criticism of McCain's ECONOMIC POLICY which Obama had been saying before Palin was even picked to be McCain's VP. It's like it's a nervous tic for Rove, even when he's saying to stop doing it he can't help himself! He should go see his parole officer and work that through.

Medical Residency Whistleblowing

2008-09-11T14:57:00.000-07:00

There is a rule that medical residents cannot be worked over 80 hours a week, which is most likely violated by every medical program in the country. The reason it is violated with impunity is because in order to report it, you have to first alert the medical director of your program and THEN and only then can you report "anonymously" to the national agency, meaning your medical director knows exactly who you are. THEN, and this is the best part, IF you are successful at reporting the violations of your program, it will likely lose accreditation. This means the reporting doctor would have to scramble to find another program to train at, effectively shooting themselves in the foot. The way the rule is promulgated guarantees the failure of any enforcement or use, which is not accidental.

Next Hurricane?

2008-09-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

The maps aren't good for this one, but also not terrible this far out, so we'll see.

Gustav as it Happens - Update

2008-08-31T21:28:00.000-07:00

I'm evacuated to the North Shore, mandatory evacuation called, not unexpectedly, for my neighborhood. Watch the storm from a New Orleans television station, Fox 8, and Bob Breck, a local, very colorful, and often enlightening weatherman. They've promised to broadcast continuously throughout the storm and after:

http://www.fox8live.com/www/Video/Stream.asp

Update:

Hurricane Central, by the way: www.nola.com They have reporters everywhere giving constant updates.

Very windy here, but we obviously still have power and internet. New Orleans looks to be doing well, better than expected so far with every levee holding. There are reports of two small vessels and a barge loosing in the industrial canal, but the coast guard is out there right now roping them in before they can do any damage. Some minor overtopping of the industrial canal, but they reinforced the back with concrete. Power might be about to go out, more later.

Hurricane Gustav

2008-08-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

Be prepared to evacuate as early as Saturday: governor's warning.

First learn how to write, then run for DA

2008-08-18T10:18:00.001-07:00

Jason Williams is running for DA and has put up his biography as testament to his preparedness for the job. Allow me to suggest he is not yet prepared.

Grammatical, not typographical, errors (and one false claim) in order from the first sentence:

(1) "there neighborhoods" - their, not there;

(2) "neighborhoods either on foot" - missing comma between neighborhoods and either;

(3) "although out of their sight" - pronoun reference error, who is out of who's sight?;

(4) "walking on freshman year" - possessive problem, "his" freshman year;

(5) "for first two years" - missing article or possessive, either "the" first two years or "his" first two years;

(6) "He actually began practicing law while still a student" - A factually untrue statement, law students do not practice law in law clinics, they work under the law license of the professor sponsoring the clinic, they are prohibited from practicing law until they pass the bar exam;

(7) "through the law schools nationally reknown law clinic program" - Possessive problem, missing apostrophe;

(8) "as Criminal District Court Judge for the Parish of Orleans" - There is more than one Criminal District Judge in Orleans Parish, should be "a", or another article;

(9) "His Saint Charles Street office" - St. Charles is an Avenue, as in "his St. Charles AVENUE office." Also, the accepted spelling for the avenue is St. rather than Saint, although no points deducted for alternate use.

Happy Ending in New Orleans

2008-08-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

A New England high school salutatorian who was doing her senior year as an exchange student in Spain was rejected admission to every college she applied to, including Tufts, except for a general education spot at NYU which wouldn't have let her pick her classes for two years. She was devastated and confused, as she had top grades, good test scores and and an activity list so long that you could unfurl it and use it as a beach towel.

She had resigned herself to sitting out a year and taking community college courses and trying again the following year. After she gave her salutatory address at her commencement, a substitute teacher whose alma mater is Tulane University thought that maybe he could help. He called Tulane and got a waiver for her to send in a late application, and, as angels sang overhead (as far as she was concerned, I'm sure), she was accepted for the Fall semester.

She's just as excited to be accepted to a top university as she is for the volunteering opportunities which abound in New Orleans, and I couldn't be happier to have someone of that caliber and giving spirit coming to town. It's a heartwarming story to read, and even more so that she can have this happy ending in New Orleans.

Impermissible Politics

2008-07-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

This makes for fascinating reading on the illegal political hirings done by Goodling and the White House. My favorite part so far, discussing the only Immigration Judge they decided against hiring:

Part of Williams’s efforts to fulfill her pledge involved finding IJ positions for these “priority candidates.” An e-mail chain involving Williams and the White House dated May 26, 2005, show various attempts to find candidates for IJ positions who have been “helpful to the President.”

For example, the White House reached out to a Republican Congressman, and on June 7, 2005, the Congressman’s staff sent an email to the White House recommending a candidate, described as a “great Republican,” for an IJ position in New York. On June 15, 2005, the White House forwarded that e-mail to Williams, adding that the candidate was a “long time donor to the local GOP,” and that local Republican Party officials would vouch for him. Williams forwarded the candidate’s name to EOIR.

EOIR resisted this candidate proposed by the OAG. This was the only time we found that EOIR resisted any OAG candidate. In an e-mail dated December 7, 2005, Ohlson advised Williams that the candidate’s conduct during his EOIR interview “causes us to question whether he possesses the appropriate judicial temperament and demeanor to serve as an immigration judge.” Ohlson related that the candidate used profanity during the interview, acted abrasively, and when asked what his greatest weakness was, responded “Blondes.” Ohlson offered Williams an alternate candidate who was supported by ODAG staff. The OAG did not insist on the White House’s candidate, and the alternative candidate was selected.

COOLinary New Orleans

2008-07-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

A number of very good New Orleans restaurants, and also Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., are taking part in a summer promotion called "COOLinary New Orleans" which offers lunch and dinner menus that offer three course lunches for $20 and three course dinners for $30/person. It is officially the doldrums for restaurants, it's averaged about 97 degrees on my car thermometer for the past two weeks, and it is DIFFICULT to get tourists to come down to a sub-tropical climate during the hot season. The coolinary promotion has the desired purpose of luring tourists to the heat with great deals, and getting locals to show up as well.

We reserved a table at Muriel's, on Jackson Square in the Quarter, for the COOLinary deal on Saturday night to no avail. The wife had had her eye on the lost bread (pain perdu) bread pudding, but I am guessing on account of the Arena Bowl Championship that was being played the next day, the NOPD had closed off Decatur street, on both sides of the Quarter, which conveniently is the only way to get to one of the two parking garages that validated parking. The other parking garage was full as we passed through, and the one hour and fifteen minutes we spent driving what should have taken 15 minutes, it was amply demonstrated to us by the crawling traffic that we were not going to find a parking spot within 2 miles of the restaurant. After debating just going home because of disgust at the 2 miles per hour driving speed for an hour (we watched gaggles of tourists passing us on foot as we waited in gridlock), we ended up going to Cafe Degas, not a participating member in the coolinary promotion, but had a great meal, and not including the bottle of Bordeaux (chateau doyac, a claret, it was ok, definitely not for the price I just saw it online!), it was only $7 more than if we had done the coolinary menu, and included two appetizers, entrees, a side of pommes frites and a shared dessert crème brûlée. I've eaten there a number of times for brunch before, but that was my first dinner at Cafe Degas, and it was very nice with no reservations late on a Saturday night. For those in the know, we had the table next to the pecan tree.

Dolly

2008-07-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

Keep an eye on Hurricane Dolly. It's hitting the Texas/Mexico coast right now, and the bands are dumping rain on New Orleans and the rest of the Texas/Louisiana coast.

Bonne Bastille!

2008-07-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Bastille Day by overthrowing your local monarchy and then reforming governments for another 169 years until you find one you like!

Also, put the prison warden's head on a spike and parade it through the streets and then write a jaunty, playful tune about blood running in the gutters. Odd juxtaposition of tone/theme, but it seems to work!

PSA

2008-07-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

This phone number was very hard to discover, and letting it go to waste sitting on my desk would be a loss.

If you need to call the City of New Orleans because of a Red Light Camera ticket (whether that be for the speeding or running the light), the number is 1-800-790-4111 (private company, not the city of new orleans). They ask you to have your ticket number available, but they can also check to see whether you have a ticket with your name or the license plate of your car. I thought the camera thought I was speeding last week, I did not, but it flashed as I going through a green light on Carrollton. After calling, turns out I was not mistaken, they have no record of me. But to save yourselves an hour of trouble (the amount of time it took me to find that number) and not to mention the eternally busy number at city hall (what the HELL is up with that), 1-800-790-4111.

Also, the traffic enforcement division of city hall is: 504-658-8250, but they'll just refer you to the one eight hundred number above.

Sparkling City

2008-07-01T20:47:00.000-07:00

I received word about this a while ago, apparently being on the New Orleans "blogger circuit," but just received pictures today.

From the press release:

New Orleans to be named ‘America’s Most Sparkling City’ during one-of-a-kind event. A national survey selected 10 nominees and then online voters were asked to choose the most animated, brilliant, lively and vivacious city in the United States. The clear-cut winner proved to be the home of Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street, and jazz fest—as well as a rich volume of American history.

Jacquelyn B. Clarkson, city council member at large, plans to accept the inaugural honor on behalf of the city. Renowned travel guide author and expert, Pauline Frommer, along with a [yellow tail] wines representative, will be on site to present the award: an engraved ice bucket trophy, complete with a sparkler-topped bottle of [yellow tail] Sparkling White Wine.

Yellow Tail wines first narrowed the award to ten cities in the United States and then put the poll online for voting, and New Orleans came out on top for "America's Most Sparkling City." As Yellow Tail defines it, we are "the most animated, brilliant, lively and vivacious city in the United States."

Thanks!

Just for the award, I shall put away my inner wine snob and give Australia and Yellow Tail wines the benefit of the doubt and remember, in the back of my head, that once California was the newcomer in the world of wine. Thank y'all very much for showering New Orleans with the needed attention, we welcome and appreciate all of it.

Prost!