New Orleans

I'm really distressed that a city in which I spent some amazing years is currently facing down a disaster-level category 5 hurricane.

New Orleans is one of a kind, with some of the best people, food, music, and architecture I've yet to come across.

Best hopes and prayers to anyone who might be in this monster's path.

new orleans is one of the most fascinating cities in the US and is almost a separate country it's so unique. it's also one of our country's most historic cities. there's nothing like hanging out in the french quarter listening to jazz--especially at preservation hall. the best jazz i've ever heard was a three-piece which set up outside and just started playing--a woman with a great, booming voice, a trumpet player and a drummer. i'm not a great fan of jazz, but you can't help but fall in love with it in new orleans.

the main problem facing new orleans is that the majority of it lies underwater, much like parts of holland, and it is protected by levees. with the expected 25-foot storm surge, who knows what's going to be left of the city. let's hope for the best.

I'm hoping it will turn right and take out Florida instead.

twist wrote: I'm hoping it will turn right and take out Florida instead.

what have you got against those people way up there in the panhandle?

There's really no good place for a hurricane to strike...except France. Watch them try to surrender to that :p

(waits for overwhelming French backlash)

Okay then, back to topic: I've always wanted to see Mardi Gras up close and personal, so New Orleans is high on my priorities. They say Katrina is supposed to be getting stronger as it approaches, so hopefully there aren't a lot of idiots trying to "ride out the storm".

Taboo # 7 wrote: Okay then, back to topic: I've always wanted to see Mardi Gras up close and personal, so New Orleans is high on my priorities.

Picked up a truckload of beads, did we?

Quite sobering to see the "worst case scenario" results of this event, such as the city being immersed in a bowl of toxic water filled with chemicals, coffins from the funerals, etc. Can't imagine what it'd be like in the SuperDome, now an evacuation center, after the power and air-conditioning go out. Good luck to all of those who'll be directly affected by this tonight and in the coming days.

Let me clarify, avoid the panhandle but head straight to the southern part and roll over Cuba on the way out.

Turning on the news this morning, on CNN, it looks like a fairly sizable bit of the Superdome's roof, estimated by the reporter about 1/12 of the total area, had been leaking and is now blown clear off. No panic inside from his report, but that's gotta be alarming.

I guess the Tragically Hip were right "New Orleans is sinking and I don't wanna swim"

twist wrote: Let me clarify, avoid the panhandle but head straight to the southern part and roll over Cuba on the way out.

good thing i don't live in south florida. what do you have against those poor people who live way down there?

The irony, of course, is that if the hurricane were to hit Cuba, the Cuban people would be better taken care of by their government than Floridians would be if the hurricane were to hit Florida.

Anyone else think there's something fishy about all these hurricanes hitting Florida? I mean, is this another Bush conspiracy to take money out of the hands of the government for "rebuilding" a state run by his brother?

Maybe I'm just being paranoid...

THIS LOOKS LIKE A JOB FOR NEW ORDER!!!

AgentWood wrote:

twist wrote: Let me clarify, avoid the panhandle but head straight to the southern part and roll over Cuba on the way out.

good thing i don't live in south florida. what do you have against those poor people who live way down there?

Would've been nice if it'd washed out that lousy video music awards show on eMpTV Sunday night, tuned in briefly from a respite from the hurricane coverage to see R. Kelley onstage.

no but seriously i hope that new orleans get through this.

For all you considering giving donations, make sure you do a checkup on the organizations that you plan to give $$$ to. There's a lot of shady people in the world.

Use the better business bureau to check the organizations rating. Red Cross may be the best bet.

the following is a good site:

charitynavigator.org

it gives a breakdown of what percentage of funds different organizations actually spend on relief.

Looks like things are going from bad to worse down there. Avoid the full impact of the hurricane only to be submerged by the lake And Mississippi a complete disaster as well, we're still waiting to hear from some family friends in the central part who weren't doing to well in the storm.

I'm worried about the long-term effects of this on the city. They're talking that whole neighbourhoods will have to be demolished and rebuilt, but with what? New Orleans isn't the richest city, and many of these people who've been washed out are very poor themselves. Federal funding will only go so far. Some of those areas were in desperate need of renewal, but I hope the city doesn't decide to put up more of those God-awful projects in place of historic neighbourhoods where families have lived for generations.

I gave some money to the Red Cross as well, put my credit card debt to good use for a change!

Those pictures on the TV are horrific..It looks like a third world country there,I hope the emergencey services can cope.Is this USA's biggest single natural disaster? Its terrible,people are losing everthing down there,looting has begun,Mayor says thousands could be dead,many more are cut off....

know new orleans are expecting thousands of deaths. It getting worse.

They are saying its the worse natural disaster in united states' short history. I havent even bother to get in touch with friends in that area. I know i wont reach them.

I love 1987 wrote:

It just makes you stop and think about all the things we take for granted. Running out to the store and picking up a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk, water, and then paying for it with your credit card or debit card. The communications systems are so screwed up that some of the stores can only accept cash. Personally, I'd be in all sorts of trouble, since I don't normally keep cash on me.

I reckon it's time for me to go visit the red cross website and donate a wee bit of cash.

Very good point there Jeff, I'm sure there are a lot of people down there being forced to do things they wouldn't normally think of doing (i.e. looting a supermarket for food) just to survive. If I was in the same situation, I can't say that I wouldn't do the same.

I hear many people condemn the looters. I know a lot them have went crazy like a cop got shot, but if i was in the same position i would be taking what i needed to survive.Fookin wal-mart can deal with it.

I would definitly do the same..with 3 hungry kids to feed it would be all about survival..Good luck to, and god bless everyone of them..People gotta eat,and it looks like this crisis is deepening...

My father always tried to poud into my head the difference between "what I want" and "what I need." People need food for survival; I doubt if flat screen TVs are "needed" for survival. I guess it all depends on what they're taking, doesn't it?

I think its safe to say this one is about survival

bLuE oRdEr wrote: My father always tried to poud into my head the difference between "what I want" and "what I need." People need food for survival; I doubt if flat screen TVs are "needed" for survival. I guess it all depends on what they're taking, doesn't it?

Yes, I meant to add that point to my post. Where in the hell are they gonna take a freakin' flat screen TV to if they're gonna evacuate everyone out of NO, I don't think the authorities are gonna let everyone pack something like that along with them.