AnimaMundi

Happy Mardi Gras!

Today's NYT has an article about Fats Domino's thoughts about his home town and a new album, his first since 1993. (Via World Class New Orleans)

Poppy Z. Brite talks to the Village Voice about the vibe at this year's Mardi Gras.

Who Are Those People On TV?

When middle America watch Mardi Gras on TV, they see a lot of young drunk people, some of whom show their tits for beads thrown from wrought iron balconies. Most of these people are NOT from New Orleans. They are from your hometown. Middle America also sees Mardi Gras as a divide between the wealthy white power elite and poor black people of the city. Chris Rose of the Times-Picayune writes that "They don't get Mardi Gras and they never will."

Blondined Broadcasters

Here's the rewritten script for mass media's coverage of Mardi Gras.

Another Mardi Gras, After the Deluge by Andrei Codrescu, author of "New Orleans, Mon Amour: Twenty Years of Writing from the City"

Long but vital post on the Mardi Gras Indians from Offbeat, Injuns Here Dey Come.

Sybille Bedford

Sybille Bedford RIP (1911-2006)

The Spirit of Place

Colleen Mondor's excellent review of "My New Orleans: Ballads to the Big Easy by Her Sons, Daughters and Lovers" in the Voices of New Orleans blog.

And a memorable Last Mardi post in the Wet Bank Guide. Actually cross posted from his other blog. All eyes are on New Orleans and I know they'll show out big and bright.

The Soul of Mardi Gras

Big Chief Monk Boudreauz is sewing his new suit for Mardi Gras.

Check out some very good old Mardi Gras vibes at Home of the Groove.

If Ever I Cease To Redux

Mostly everyday, I look at the referring addresses and what people are searching for on my weblog stats. It is Carnival time. So, it should come as no surprise that the post entitled "If Ever I Cease To Love" has received the most hits to date on my little blog. I know that some people are disappointed because they are looking for the lyrics or the relationship of the song to Carnival and Mardi Gras. I'll try to round out this post with a link to the lyrics and some other thoughts, quotes and rants about Mardi Gras.

American Routes  radio (Feb 22-28) has an audio link to Mardi Gras. There's  a history behind Krewe of Rex theme, "If I Ever Cease To Love" and a tribute to Allison "Tootie" Montana, the Chief of chiefs who passed away in June 2005.

New Orleans' Mardi Gras

Brian Thevenot of the Times-Picayune and author, Poppy Z. Brite whose novel Liquor I'm now reading with great pleasure, give you their thoughts on their Mardi Gras. It's NOT what the media has been telling the world. But then again, what would they know? Most have never been, seen, heard, eaten, drank, talked to some of the warmest people on the planet: in short never been seduced by the Crescent City?

Airplane

We are not part of America or how to get in first class without asking. Amen.

El Watusi

Ray Barretto (RIP 1929-2006)

All Music Guide Bio

St. James Infirmary Con't

From Rob Walker at Letters from New Orleans blog, another fascinating sliver of the mythology connected to "St. James Infirmary". 

Meme For a Day

I've been tagged by someone I respect and read so...

Four Jobs I've Had: Caddy, DJ, Wine Salesman, Music Critic

Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over: Night at the Opera, Midnite Cowboy, Any Cheech and Chong, Return of the Pink Panther

Four Places I've Lived: Westerly, RI, Albany, NY, Providence, RI, Miami Beach

Four TV Shows I Love: Seinfeld, Taxi, The Man Show, Tom Green

Four Places I've Vacationed: Sicily, Spain, Ireland, Mombasa

Four of My Favorites Dishes: Homemade Pizza, Pasta with Clams &Tomato, Grilled Ribeye with Thrill of Grill spice rub, Fish Fillets with Tomato, Olives, Capers and Wine

Four Sites I Visit Daily: Maud Newton, Lux Lotus, Nola, Dispatches From Tanganyika

Four Bloggers I'm Tagging:

Lauren

Jason

Chuck

Slimbolala   

"Ideas have a life of their own."

Jazzfest

The 2006 New Orleans Jazzfest lineup has been announced. If undecided, go. You may never leave. New Orleans needs people to believe in the spirit of place.

Mo' complete lineup here.

Buy Us Back Chirac

Clancy Dubos of the Gambit Weekly in New Orleans gives some insight into Carnival and Mardi Gras. He says that covering Mardi Gras will give the national media the same opportunity that Katrina provides New Orleans: the opportunity for reinvention. 

What Took So Long?

NBC Nightly News' lead tonight was the line "What Took So Long?" Now, one would think this lead meant the pitiful federal response to Katrina. After all, just today a Senate panel, ahead of a Congressional report to be released in a few days, clobbered Shrub's miserable response to and handling of the Katrina disaster. But, no the lead story was "Duck! It's Dick (Cheney)!". Why did it take so long for the incident to be reported to the White House? This is news. It happened last Friday. Then the old coot wasp he shot had a heart attack to boot. How do ya' go for that?

C'est Levee

There's going to be more than satire at this year's Mardi Gras. The politicians deserve every last drop of it. The Crew du Vieux presents Le Monde de Merde. C'est Levee. This year's King is Walter Williams, the creator of Mr. Bill.

Oh, We Knew About the Levees But...

Look anywhere and one can see it and hear it. The news ain't what it's supposed to be, never is never was. They lie right to your face. Federal, State and Local people are not immune. I think the people of the great State of Louisiana have to take matters into their own hands. The Fed's are not going to rebuild New Orleans. They may throw a few billion into the pot (double counted of course, that's the way they make statistics work for them), but ultimately the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast have to rebuild and revive on their own. There are more important things occupying the Federal telescope right now. I believe that some type of people's insurrection, or whatever you want to call it, is direly needed. (NSA are you listening?) People have had it period. State and local politicians can't agree. Time is awasting. Get to it, people. This is easy for me to say. I don't live in the area, but I offer this an exhortation to rebirth and claiming the land as your own. It is your birthright. Take it back. It's yours. That's what makes New Orleans New Orleans. There's no other place like it. Make it whole again. Make it yours again. How else can that ole cooking music be made anew? Many people are with you. Keep that in mind, heart and soul.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Always known for her good sign offs and riffs on myriad matters, Maud offers this Prince video for the weekend.

Picadou the Pug

My friend, Lauren Cerand, sent me this yesterday. It's a pug's eye view of the historic Coyoacan district of Mexico City. Very funny, entertaining and yet sad too. C.M. Mayo has lots of talent. Her perceptive eye catches the many colors and textures of an historic part of the city. My favorite line in the essay: "...I do believe there is great good in simply, with an open heart, paying attention". This is what makes her essay so appealing: the attention she pays to her ancient surroundings.

Washington Independent Writers Award for Best Essay, 2005

Lowell Thomas Award for Travel Journalism, Best Personal Comment, 2005

Her "Miraculous Air" has been called "perhaps the best new book about Mexico in years". (LA Times) Coincidentally, I was looking at these pictures when the mail came.

NOW not later

NOW President Kim Gandy had this to say about the Gulf Coast Renewal Plan.

Foreign Aid

Shrub's proposed budget is only $440 gazillion for 2007. So why is the Mayor of New Orleans asking for this? (Via Katrenema)

Katrina and the Missing Administration: Shrub should have wiretapped FEMA and Chertoff.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

LSD may do the neocons in the Pentagon and the Islamic fundamentalists some good.

African Art Now

African Art Now: Masterpieces From the Jean Pigozzi Collection is an extraordinary collection of African artists in various media with accompanying bios.

A Small Price To Pay For?

Shrub is requesting $439.3 billion for defense in 2007. This does not include spending for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which will total $120 billion this year. Eat your heart out Gulf Coast people with no home, no fucking insurance, no job, no nothing. You can only be kept down so long.

Benign Neglect

Since Shrub and Washington's whole gang of holes are not the least bit interested in what it really takes to re-new New Orleans, you may hear and see more things like this in the near future.

Unfortunately, these are the people that the present administration and the media are manipulating. Or is that too dumb (and dumber) of a word?

Shrub's State of the Union

How can the President of the United States of America make a state of the union speech without mentioning this and this?

He also choked. But what do you expect from someone who has bb's for brains?