Obligatory Topical Post

Here's my take on the "Jena 6." At first I was thinking, hey, what's the big deal? While charging them with attempted second degree murder is excessive (although not without precedent), it's not like any of them should be let loose. C'mon, it was a 6-on-1 beatdown, and the one defendant to go to trial had prior violent offenses on his record...certainly no angel. Moreover, while putting nooses in the "White Tree" is reprehensible, it's not *really* a crime, other than leading one to the conclusion that the tortfeasors morally deserved an ass-kicking.


However, upon learning that his 6 member all-white (but then, with a rural parish with 15% minority population, that's not shocking, or trial court error) petit jury had as members "the mother of one of the prosecution witnesses, and a good friend of [the victim's] mother," I had to throw the penalty flag.


Bad, bad district court judge. No! Try again. The court of appeal was correct to overturn the conviction because he shouldn't have been tried as an adult (due to procedural trickery on the part of the DA), and because of the aforesaid jury composition. It's a no brainer that the jury was unfairly composed. No amount of argument could justify either of those two members.


If you really want to examine inequity in sentencing, look at the difference in the federal guidelines for crack vs. powder cocaine.



VS.





And there's my expert opinion.

Ctrl-V

Short post, again.

The wiring project on the house is nearing completion. I think I've got one or two full days left and I'm done with what I'm doing. Hooray! There's still a good bit of work left before walls can go up, but we're getting there slowly but surely.

Here's a fascinating blog post about political corruption. Kinda makes you want to run for Congress.

I'm sick again, so the Middle Tennessee game is going to be a bit rough. Hopefully it will be a blowout early and we can get back on the road to NO early.

The plain truth.

Why dogs are better than cats.

Thanks to the old man for passing that along.

I know, I know.

Bad blogger. Anyway, football season has already begun taking a toll on my productivity on this thing. I do promise to address more stupid questions or assumptions. I tend to get rather aggitated when thinking about them, so I need plenty of time between to cool down and not punch something/someone.

Going to the LSU game tomorrow, and I am quite excited. It's not great that the game doesn't start until 8:15, but what can you do? We're in the same seats we've been in for the last couple years, so I guess we'll get to see some familiar faces. Tailgating at the usual spot for the band's passing!

Also, we're a small part of an article in the usual spot this week.

Snappy answers to stupid questions, Part the First

I frequently make the mistake of reading the comments on newspaper articles featuring New Orleans. They never fail to get me unbelievably pissed off. So, I endeavor to compile a list of the stupid statements and the concomitant rational responses. I know, I know, spitting in the wind.

1) New Orleans is a bowl below sea level, thus it is "stupid" to rebuild in such a location.

First, New Orleans is not a bowl, but as I've seen described recently, is instead a cafeteria tray with different compartments.

The neighborhood in which we leave, Broadmoor, was created in the late 1910's by the draining of "Redfish Pond." People building houses in this new development knew this, and thus they built their homes fairly well elevated, or as raised basements with the living space on the second story. Our house, built in 1925, had never flooded, even during the previous benchmark 1995 flood.

Further, there is often a conflation of "flood plain" and "sea level" by the dipshits who are fond of conclusory statements. The White House is built on a flood plain. Much of the midwest lies in flood plains. The only difference is the amount of time the water stays in the house once it floods, not if it will flood. The residents of Coffeyville, KS, found this out the hard way.

Moreover, Manhattan is an island, much of which is not far above sea level and thus not out of danger of severe storm surge should that COASTAL city be hit by a hurricane. Just search here for "11 Wall Street." Why would anyone build the NYSE there?!

Still not OK

It seems to be the fashion amongst New Orleans bloggers to put this image on their updates for today. I am nothing if not trendy, so here it is.

Not much else to contribute today, really. While it is somewhat interesting to see all the "coverage" on the national networks, I know it's all fleeting, and will increasingly become more so. Hell, the Today show didn't get to us until 17 minutes in, after the daily Republican-senator-anonymous-gay-sex story.

Kayla wanted me to thank everyone who has helped us out in some way over the last two years. Really, if not for the kindness of friends, family, and strangers (and The Beeb), I'm not sure how we would have made it this "far." We certainly have it better than many in that we didn't lose anyone close to us and don't HAVE to live in the FEMA trailer (yet).

I fully intend to start writing some episodes of the last two years, perhaps even soon. I still haven't seen any books or articles about the daily experiences of "regular" people. All I've seen are books by experts and insiders about their take on big official things. I haven't seen anything about having to rush from work to grab some Popeyes with all the contractors, FEMA employees, and national guard before 6pm because that's all there is, and how when the cable goes out in your unintentionally extended stay hotel you're stuck watching the hotel/tourist channel that blathers on about fancy hats because that's the only thing you can pick up with the rabbit ears you bought for your hotel TV and the guy Kayla met at the ice machine who has a totally vacant look in his eyes as he, sua sponte, tells you about his 14 year old son that drowned in the flood because his mother didn't want him evacuating with his father, and then the shame when you realize you automaticaly assumed he was telling you this because he wanted something, but then realize that no, it really happened, and he was just telling you just to tell you because otherwise he's drinking alone in his hotel room. I can tell you I feel a closer bond to the poorer, (as Wolf Blitzer would say) Blacker, flooded, residents of this city than those whiny white bitches uptown.

Perhaps this is why I get homicidal when people start talking shit about those of us who still live here. It's an odd feeling. On the one hand, we're greatful to people like the PT department at Creighton in Nebraska (Go Huskers!) who gave K $500 and a Creighton sweatshirt. On the other, FUCK YOU AMERICA. Perhaps that why I was screaming (to the point of making a scene) at the typical religious nuts who came down for Mardi Gras 2006 holding the sign that intimated the flood was our fault. I guess Katrina just exposed the extremes of humanity...the altruistic good of the Houston-based lawyer who donated our demand water heater to us, and the abject inhuman evil of contractors and insurance companies. I can honestly say that I have positively no respect for anyone who works in insurance, and little for a contractor (Charlie and David excluded... to a degree. :) ).

Wow, this went on a bit longer than I thought it would. Back to work!

I am SO glad the Tigers play tomorrow.