b.rox

Yesterday evening, I made my presentation, “The Role of Blogs in the Rebuilding of New Orleans,” to a special interest group of the AERA. I related five prominent stories that have emerged in, around, through or about the local blogosphere since the flooding of the city in 2005. Even though the presentation is over, I’m [...]

I guess I’m in a very small minority with this opinion, but I actually support our Louisiana state legislature’s efforts to give themselves a huge salary increase. It’s not because I think they deserve a reward them for a job well done. It’s not because I like big government or higher taxes. It’s because when [...]

A neighbor alerted me to a recycling survey, from the city’s Dept. of Sanitation, on the department’s website (halfway down the page). www.cityofno.com/Portals/Sanitation/portal.aspx It has to be printed and mailed, so I wouldn’t call it an online survey. (A print version, for mailing in, was “prominently” placed in yesterday’s Times-Picayune, on the next-to-last page of [...]

We took our first stroll around the block yesterday. Many of the sidewalks are impassable, so we had to push the stroller in the street. On Iberville I saw a renovation underway; they were sanding, with clouds of lead-based paint dust going everywhere. (I’ll be placing a call to the city’s Department of Environmental Health [...]

I salute the people of Louisiana who made it to the polls Saturday. Obama beat Clinton by a big margin; Huckabee beat McCain. Locally, a few friends and fellow bloggers were in the running for some Democratic executive committee seats. Karen and Danger won, Michael and Oyster did not. I was also glad to see [...]

I went to the local wine shop Friday evening. The woman behind me in the checkout line offered to sleep with me if I paid for her wine. When I mentioned that I was married, she said she’d include my wife: “You know, like a threesome.” But when she learned Xy’s not blond, she retracted [...]

We got our “gold letter” from the Road Home today. The letter states that we did not qualify for any compensation. Or, as they so cleverly phrase it, “your compensation grant was zero.” This is because they estimate our damage at $34,050.53. Our insurance company paid us $82,294.03. Both these figures are stated in the [...]

A year ago I gave a speech. Sadly enough, I could give that speech again today. Not much has changed. I would have to strike the reference to District Attorney Eddie Jordan — he’s gone. I would lose the line calling for more cops. But other than that, I stand by what I said a [...]

It’s not all drudgery. We’ve taken some very pleasant breaks from working on the house to visit friends. Today we went to Li’l Red’s wedding in Madisonville. Li’l Red is one of Xy’s co-workers, a young Teach NOLA recruit slugging it out through her first year as a teacher in our public schools. I’d never [...]

I wish I could take comfort in the unity of our City Council today, as they closed ranks and voted for the redevelopment of our public housing projects. I wish I could believe that the planned redevelopment will truly lead to a more just and humane society, with greater opportunity for all. But I can’t. [...]

For most of the year a rumor has circulated in our neighborhood regarding the Lindy Boggs Medical Center. That’s the hospital at Jeff Davis and Bienville which old-timers still call Mercy. It’s the same hospital that was knocked out of commission by flooding. Most recently it was in the news when Tenet Health Care sold [...]

Old Roy came over to borrow a shovel today. He owns the house across the street, which he’s still repairing from flood damage lo these many months. Roy just turned 90 last week. I don’t know what I’ll be doing in fifty years, but borrowing a shovel at his age is pretty impressive. What’s not [...]

The pundits have been remarking on how nice and polite the race for City Council At-Large has been, but yesterday the attack ads hit the radio. We also got a mailer from the “City Council Integrity Committee.” (Looks like Varg got it too.) It’s allegedly humorous theme is “Mission: Impossible.” The facts are attributed to [...]

We’re voting again Saturday. In the fifth precinct of the fourth ward we’ll have three items on the ballot: Attorney General, Judge, and City Council At-Large. Attorney General It’s a Republican named Royal versus a Democrat named Buddy. I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried. I’m really note sure who I’ll support, but [...]

Yesterday I referred to Bobby Jindal as a “right-wing nutjob.” I regret that, as I prefer not to call names. I got carried away. I should have said that he seems like a right-wing nutjob. A friend of mine says Jindal acts like that to get the so-called “Bubba vote.” He says Jindal has to [...]

My voting philosophy is pretty simple. Here are my general rules: Vote against the incumbent, if there is one. Don’t vote for a candidate of either of the two major entrenched parties. These are not rigid by any means. I’ll make an exception if I believe in a particular candidate or if some other calculus [...]

A friend of mine voted early and sends the following report. Since you gave me some advice, I’ll tell you how I voted. Just a little FYI. When it’s relevant, I’ll tell you why I made the choice I did. Generally, I don’t vote for Republicans. Also, when I’m trying to make a decision on [...]

Remember the guerrilla art installation I wrote about in November? On the Jeff Davis neutral ground, a pitcher of water was suspended over a map of Louisiana drawn in sand. Over the months the sand image of Louisiana became formless and then dissolved into the grass. The pitcher of water disappeared recently, and I considered [...]

This one is for my friends and readers who don’t live here in South Louisiana. Do me a favor. Please. First, when you’ve got a few minutes to spare, take a look at this interactive multimedia presentation. It requires Flash and you’ll want to have your speakers turned on. (For extra credit, you can read [...]

Spotted this morning on the way to work on the Jeff Davis neutral ground: It’s a pitcher full of water suspended above a map of Louisiana made of sand. A strange, elegant, and disturbing metaphor for our current situation. I have no idea who’s behind this. Could it be the same person (or people) who [...]