YatBazaar

"Sangria Wine"

So, knowing I was going to be in the general vicinity of San Antonio this week (I'm teaching a class in San Marcos, TX), I looked up a twitter-friend of mine and begged her to have dinner with me. (I'm not beneath begging when the gal is cute, mind you.) @CalamityJen had pity on me and chose a pretty cool place for dinner, The Gristmill, in Greune, TX. Appearantly, there's a music venue next door, Gruene Hall.

I tried taking a pic of Jen with the phone-cam at the table, but the lighting was just horrid, so I stopped her under a light on the walkway back to the street. The place in the background is Greune Hall. From the club, we heard what I thought was a really good cover of "Sangria Wine," by Jerry Jeff Walker.

Turns out, it WAS JJW, and we walked right past him!

Oh well, it was fun to meet a twitter-bud, f'sure, and that's what really matters.

In Jefferson Parish, interim President Steve Theriot feels he's been defamed.

He feels so strongly about it that he's decided to sue those he believes said bad things about him. But it appears that his outrage doesn't extend to using his own money to protect what he considers his good name and reputation. In the midst of a scandal of epic proportions in parish government, the man brought in to restore order is filing frivolous lawsuits on the taxpayer's dime.

Some of the remarks from the NOLA.com comment sewer that they've published seem pretty tame, particularly by the very-high standard of defaming a public official:

"Theriot, just another Jefferson Parish politician thug mobster trained by his mentor John Alario, dressed up in a facade of respectability by a corrupt Louisiana Legislature," stated a Jan. 27 comment under the user name "viewfromhell."

Now, Theriot can't tell me that this mortally offended him to the point of wanting satisfaction in the courts, particularly after a career as a legislator on the West Bank of Jefferson.

So, what we've got here is the guy hired to clean up the parish executive tossing out plump legal gigs to one of the city's largest legal firms. How much different is that from some of Broussard's shenanigans?

Then there's the lawsuit itself. Theriot is being a crybaby over comments made by people using 11 screen names at NOLA.com. Da Paper doesn't require "real" information or an extended profile when registering there, so sock puppetry abounds. While the actual defendants of the suit are the people behind those accounts, the defense here is being mounted by Da Paper. Theriot wants to compel NOLA.com to reveal the names behind the user accounts. Da Paper is going to fight that in a big way, they don't want to be in the position of revealing sources at any level, particularly in a political dispute. This makes me wonder, why does Steve Theriot have the red-ass for Da Paper? By the time he gets any information about the people he believes have defamed him, the lawyers for NOLA.com will have applied the laugh test against the actual defamation charge. An identified defendant will most likely obtain a summary dismissal at that point.

It's interesting to note that the suit mentions a blog, "Slabbed," which is written/maintained by a guy in Mississippi. The suit "references" this site, but they're not named as a defendant. The only defendants are anonymous NOLA.com commenters. Theriot isn't making somebody from MS who doesn't like him spend money on lawyers; Theriot is just making Da Paper spend money.

Someone really should ask him why he doesn't like Da Paper.

Even if Da Paper does give over the account information, there's still no guarantee it's real. I don't know if Theriot and his Phelps Dunbar lawyers realize this; some lawyers aren't very savvy in the ways of online communication. In any case, it's billable time to the firm, paid for by the taxpayers of Jeff Parish, courtesy Steve Theriot.

Halfway through the first season of HBO's "Treme" and the show still does not disappoint. This week's ep was written by Lolis Eric Elie, a columnist for Da Paper, and he done good.

So far, Big Chief Lambreaux is still the character I enjoy the most on the show. Clearly he's the Voice of the Black Diaspora in terms of the show's plotline.

(click "Read More" to continue, so as I don't spoil anyone's show-watching)

Editor's note: I'm posting this press release without comment, so others can link to the content without appearing to endorse my opinions.  Feel free to add your own thoughts below.

For Release
Wednesday, May 5, 2010

District Attorney Opposes the Passage of House Bill 664

(New Orleans, LA) – District Attorney Leon A. Cannizzaro, Jr. will send a representative from his office to Baton Rouge to oppose House Bill 664. The bill, authored by Representative Walt Leger of New Orleans, is scheduled to be heard before the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee on Thursday, May 6th.

House Bill 664 repeals Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 334.3. Representative Neil Abramson authored Article 334.3 in 2008 to address the problem of violent criminals and drug dealers missing court without consequence. Pursuant to the terms of Article 334.3, a violent criminal or drug dealer, who is released on bail but refuses to appear in court, will not be allowed back on bail if he is arrested by a law enforcement agency.

Article 334.3 stops the revolving door of individuals missing court appearances and being re-released on bail without any consequence. Not only do individuals such as this constitute a threat to public safety, but also they impede the efficient administration of criminal justice. If House Bill 664 is adopted by the legislature, then the revolving door would once again be opened.

Regarding House Bill 664, Assistant District Attorney Christopher Bowman says, “The only people who benefit from House Bill 664 are violent criminals and drug dealers who refuse to appear in court pursuant to the conditions of their bail. If I was a legislator, that is not a constituency whose support I would be seeking to garner.”

District Attorney Leon A. Cannizzaro, Jr. said of House Bill 664, “This bill represents a regression to the old methods of administering criminal justice. It was those methods that got us to where we are today. If we want to continue reforming our criminal justice system to protect the citizens of New Orleans from violent criminals, then there must be a consequence when individuals such as those covered by Article 334.3 refuse to appear in court.”

The Louisiana District Attorneys Association as well as local good government groups oppose House Bill 664 as well.

###

CHRISTOPHER S. BOWMAN
Communications Director
Orleans Parish District Attorney
619 South White Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70119
Telephone: (504)827-6029
Telecopier: (504)571-2902

I have a wide variety of interests, and I write about many of them, as well as discussing them on-line.  Between that and very high volume of messages in my primary Twitter account, @yatpundit, I've set up multiple accounts, so that if folks want to avoid the volume or political remarks in @yatpundit, they can follow one of the others to keep up with me on the subjects that interest them. 

So, here's the run-down:

@YatPundit - my primary home on Da Twittah.  It's expensive to follow this stream, but it's how I do things in the 140-character world.  @YatPundit makes it clear that I'm very liberal in my political and social views, and I make no bones about that (but I do try to warn off those who aren't interested).  Entries from YatBaazar.com (which is also www.yatpundit.com), as well as re-tweets from the other blogs come from here.

@YatCuisine - food tweets, NOLA stuff, and general conversation.  It's hard to separate New Orleans and food, so there's crossover between @YatPundit and @YatCuisine on local subjects.  No politics here, though, unless it's somehow directly related to food (like the laws proposed to lower salt content in food, etc.)  Entries from my YatCuisine blog (food.yatpundit.com) get tweeted from here.

@YatTravel - My work as a computer trainer and consultant has taken me literally all around the world.  I'm a "platinum" frequent flier with Delta Air Lines, so I'm on planes and in airports and hotels a lot.  I write about the "road warrior" experience, as well as post photos from sightseeing excursions in other cities.  Entries from my YatTravel blog (travel.yatpundit.com) get tweeted from here.

@CanalStreetCar - Streetcars, history, New Orleans stuff (non-political), transit issues, preservation, and related topics.  Entries from CanalStreetCar (dot com) and New Orleans Street Railway Association (NOSRA) get tweeted from here.

@EdwardBranley - I took ownership of my name on Da Twittah some time ago, but have never really done anything with it.  I've decided to move my computer/professional tweets and discussions here.  I've long wrestled with trying to keep work and personal/politics stuff separate.  We are so apolitical in the Storage Area Networking industry, mainly because SAN customers run the gamut from big corporations to mid-range and small nonprofits.  The technology rarely intersects with politics-when it does, however, I consider it fair game.  I've just never been uncomfortable doing three or four politically-charged tweets on @YatPundit, then turning around and re-tweeting one of the bloggers from Hitachi Data Systems, or another storage/computer vendor.  This account is my solution; entries from Seashell-Software.com and Linux-Blog.com will get tweeted from here.  I'm also going to re-tweet SAN and other uber-tech stuff from here. 

@Yatmedia - this is a team account for our social media consulting firm. Both myself and Greta Perry (@kissmygumbo) tweet from here, and articles from Yatmedia.com are tweeted from here.

So, that's how things will break down.  Feel free to follow/unfollow these accounts as you will.  I take no offense if someone drops @YatPundit because of the volume or the content.  Please consider one of the "subsets" if that part of my multiple personality existence interests you. 

Dear Edward,

We have just 72 short hours left until voters go to the polls to elect the next Representative in District 93 and we need your help on election day.

Making calls, walking neighborhoods, waving signs - all things that we could use your help with.

If you can give us just one hour on election day you will make a difference in a race where turnout will be incredibly low due to Jazzfest and other factors.

Please RSVP to this email if you can help at our Election Day Headquarters:

3500 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70119

After the polls close I hope you'll join us to watch returns come in at our Election Night Party:

The Precinct (Across from the Saulet)
1377 Annunciation St.
New Orleans, LA 70119

If you are unable to give your time I hope you'll consider donating $25, $50 or $100 to help us fund our election day efforts.

Only 72 hours to go.  Don't let up now!

Thank you,

James Perry

DISCLAIMER: James did not pay me to put this on my blog; I'm just a supporter.

Yes, Davis McAlary says he's going to take Janette Desautel to "Feelings in the Marigny." I made the mistake of following the #treme hashtag on Da Twittah during the episode's first run last night. I say this was a mistake because it reminded me of just how misguided some of the local NOLA blogosphere are.

Perhaps I'm being too polite when I say misguided. Bloody feckin ignorant is more like it. More than one local blogger attempted what I'm sure was believed to be snarky comments about Davis saying "in the Marigny," as if he was doing so just for the viewers at home. Perhaps these people thought the "Treme" writers were pandering to the non-local audience too much, hence their attempts at inside jokes.

As usual with many folks, the joke's on them.

New Orleanians regularly add superfluous geographic references when naming people and places. "Cooter Brown's" becomes "Cooter Brown's up in Riverbend," and "Mandina's" becomes "Mandina's on Canal Street." Is there a "Mandina's on St. Charles" that you have to distinguish one from the other? No, but people still add a neighborhood or street or intersection to the name. Sometimes this is an important geographic distinction, such as "Liuzza's on Bienville," as opposed to "Liuzza's at the Track," but most of the time, it's unnecessary speech. I suspect the practice has European roots and has continued on to this day.

This is one of those things that people who really don't understand the city like to mock, when what they're really doing is demonstrating their insular upbringing, or worse yet, the fact that they're just carpetbaggers.

(image shamelessly nicked from the Feeling's Cafe and Bar website)

Wow, this is turning out to be some really, really good television. Here are my thoughts on ep 3 (click "Read More" to continue)

from the campaign

It has been an honor representing and working on behalf of the citizens of district 93 as their representative for almost a decade.

In order to be a successful champion for a district as unique and as diverse ours, you must have the ability to build coalitions and bring people together behind your vision.

From the endorsements of the Times Picayune, the Gambit, Louisiana Weekly, the Alliance for Good Government, the Orleans Parish Democratic Party, the New Orleans Coalition, the Black Organization for Leadership and Development, Service Employees, the New Orleans Fire Fighters, Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers, IDEA and business and neighborhood leaders all across the district, it has become abundantly clear to me that James Perry has done exactly that.  James Perry will be a great partner in the state legislature so we can move this district, this city and this state forward. 

James has what it takes to defend a health care and higher education that is under attack from budget cuts and to deliver for district 93. 

That’s why I’m proud to stand here today with other leaders of this district and this city to endorse James Perry for house district 93.

We all know the problems that exist in our community and we often hear rhetoric regarding the solutions to those problems.  However, in James Perry, you have had actions to match the words! He has been a champion for fighting blight and rebuilding our neighborhoods since Katrina. 

He exemplifies what every grandparent and parent wants for their child…. for them to go to school, work hard, and become successful and live up to their God given potential and talents.  Well James has done that and more.  He is the role model in government that we need for our young people….with violence at an all time high….it’s important for young people to see honest, hard working people in leadership positions that they can be proud of.

Many suggested that I sit on the sidelines and not endorse in this race.  Well, I am a voter in district 93 as well as a public servant.  Leadership isn’t always easy and often times requires tough decisions.  James earned the endorsement of all of the organizations I listed.  My endorsement just re-affirms the decision made by all of those diverse organizations and media outlets that James is the consensus candidate that can best represent this district.

Once again, I am proud to recommend James Perry to the voters of this great district.

But James can’t win with just endorsements.  He needs the financial resources to compete in this final week before voters got to the polls this Saturday, May 1st.

Donating $25, $50 and $100 right now can and will make a difference in his campaign.

Sincerely,

State Senator Karen Carter Peterson

Delta Air Lines MD88, pushing back from D4 at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

xposted to YatPundit and YatTravel

MSY rated very poorly in a JD Power survey taken over the winter, ranking something like 31st out of 32 or 33 among small-sized airports.  I was surprised at this, mainly because I fly Delta so much and hide in the SkyClub (which is where I shot the above photo) that I don't really experience MSY as the average passenger does.  New Orleans is a "terminal" or "spoke" airport; we're a destination rather than a hub.  A couple of recent trips out of MSY have put me into the more "typical" passenger mode, however.  We went to DisneyWorld to see kiddo perform with his high school's band, so we took Southwest to Orlando for that trip.  On my last trip Helsinki, I went MSY-DTW-AMS-HEL, and the first leg to Detroit left from "C" concourse rather than Delta's home on "D," because they're doing a lot of construction on "D."  These trips gave me some insight into what sorts of complaints fliers have about MSY.

Here are some thoughts on improvements:

1.  Improve the atmosphere on "C" concourse
The "C" concourse, at the center of the airport, is the original set of gates from LANOIA's opening in the 1950s.  It's got a great high ceiling and windows set into the top of the high walls on either side of the main hallway.  In the daytime, this improves things a bit, but on a cloudy day or in the evenings, "C" is gloomy and foreboding.  Maybe it's because American and United depart from "C" that makes for so many unhappy people, but the overall appearance of the concourse could be improved with some bright colors, and a bit more New Orleans-style customization.  Maybe some purple/green/gold, or a local-themed mural or two would do the trick.  There's already a small history exhibit by the food court on "C," photographs of famous jazz musicians and bands from the early 1900s.  It's interesting, but stark and black-and-white.  While all of the airport could use a few more splashes of color, "C" is in serious need.

2.  Boost the Wi-Fi
Free wi-fi isn't a new concept for small airports.  It's been a factor in drawing people away from the bigger ones for a few years now.  With New Orleans expanding our presence in the cruise line industry, free wi-fi at the airport is one of those things that makes a visitor's experience all the nicer.  They've been out on the ship for days, where contact to the outside world is an extra charge (if available at all), so being able to check in with the online world on the way out is helpful. 

The problem is, the wi-fi signal on "C" is horrid.  It's not too bad over on the Southwest concourse (B), but it's just awful in the middle of the airport.  This is easily fixed with a few more access points. 

3.  Re-think the location of some of the security checkpoints
Most of the food and services at MSY are outside security, and that's problematic in the current airport security model.  The structure of the front of the airport is still pre-9/11 in many ways, when it was much easier to go in-and-out.  Once you've cleared security, you're at the mercy of Pampy Barre's godawful food, where there's a lot of good stuff, even for an airport!  I suspect that the low JD Power rating includes a great deal of dissatisfaction at the crappy food on the concourses.  Outside security, there's a decent restaurant, Popeyes, Sonic, and a PJ's Coffee. 

It would take some re-thinking and re-structuring of people flow, but it wouldn't be too difficult to push the security checkpoint on "D" out to include the now-closed restaurant location there behind security.  Same for the food places between "A" and "B" - make a single checkpoint for those two on that side.

4.  Bring back live music!
At Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, the busiest airport in North America, there's often a live piano player out on the international concourse (E).  You'd be amazed at how much of an improvement that music is to the airport experience.  LANOIA used to have a brass band walk through the airport, but dropped them because of cost-that combo cost them $1000 a day. 

Perhaps a compromise can be worked out on music.  Admittedly, $365K is a lot of money, but perhaps bands could be booked for peak days, like around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other high-traffic, high-stress days.  Music well and truly does sooth the savage flier, and would be well worth the price to settle down folks.

5.  Set up more "kid-friendly" areas.
I'm not sure if this would be the responsibility of the various airlines or of LANOIA, but some kid-friendly areas would be helpful.  Kids trapped at an airport gatehouse get restless and miserable fast; get them busy and keep them occupied and everyone's stress levels drop.