JohnA lifeBlog

So, you might have wondered why I’ve not posted recently. Aside from the fact that I live a boring life that doesn’t warrant daily blogs, I’ve also decided to start a totally new idea.

Film & JohnA

As you can read on the new blog, I plan on reviewing every single movie I rent from NetFlix. I have a kick-ass home theater that includes a true HDTV projector, a professional grade HD-DVD player, and (sadly) a mediocre decoder / receiver, which I plan on upgrading after my next UltraCart bonus.

Along with my rentals, I plan on reviewing current in-theater productions. My beta testers have requested that I review My Super Ex-Girlfriend. I didn’t plan on seeing it, but I now have tickets for tomorrow’s show after work.

What is the bottom line? I feel that most of us cannot always catch the latest and greatest in the multiplex. So I want to use my insane Netflix subscription as a way to help my friends and families make expert choices.

And I start with this… HD-DVD will win over Blu-Ray. If you are looking for a next generation player, don’t be fooled by Sony. HD-DVD has the advantage that it can be produced on current DVD production lines.

Anyway, that’s my soapbox. Stay tuned… once I get this current unplayable crop back to Netflix, we’ll continue where we left off.

As much fun as my last posting was, I feel that I owe it to my readers to proceed to share the story I discovered in the lower 9th ward while visiting New Orleans.

This picure shows the levee break. Aside from our visit, my friend and I had decided to demonstrate what was left from the levee break that occurred over 1 year ago.

I told him this picture along the absolute break in the levee would come true. I’ve not emblished, nor have I tried to find another alternative to the truth.

Friends, I wish this picture had been taken a year after Katrina hit New Orleans. It’s insane, but the truth is that, had I taken this picture a week prior to Katrina, I’d see literally dozens of homes on both sides of the road.

Today, nothing. The only things left of the basic foundation pylons. There has been NO progress in improving the lower ninth ward. All there seems to be is pain and loss. The only life you’ll see is the occasional stray cat or dog.

A friend, who after she had seen these pictures, offered this suggestion. She said, “That is a war zone. Something our troops have nightmares about. Get out”

I wish I had a more optimistic approach, but I don’t. I don’t know what the future holds, but I am so thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to share the reality of the situation.

For those not familiar with this post’s title, here’s a refresher. In the early 90’s, Martin Handford released as series of illustrated books seeking the elusive Waldo.

Tonight, I was talking to one of my friends about how this kind of entertainment has gone to the wayside, and how unfortunate that was.

Anyway, you should pick one up for old time’s sake. Lots o’ fun.

My previous post not withstanding, I feel like I should further elaborate on my experiences in the lower ninth ward in New Orleans.

I must begin by mentioning that my original plan was to simply take pictures of the wind damage on the west bank. There was plenty of that, but under rare circumstances did it require a tenant to change their lives. It was only when my father suggested we visit the true areas effected by Katrina did I fully understand the horror.

I’ve posted a link to the pictures previous, but over the next several blog postings, I would like to share my individual thoughts, seperate of events subsequent of Katrina.

The first thing I want to discuss are the markings on Katrina homes. Here is a perfect example:

I saw more “DOA” markings than I would care to admit, but I’ve chosen not to post them here. The truth is that seeing those markings have made me scared. The DOA markings basically told the authorities how many dead citizens were found in the house. For reasons I will not explain here, I refuse to show those markings.

Friends, the world changed for these citizens. We simply participate. Where we go next is up to us.

I know, I failed on the promise offered in my prior blog post. I’d offer a dozen or more excuses, but the truth is that after almost 24 hours of flight delays, my desire to blog was drawn to the wayside.

I have a number of things I’d love to discuss, but let’s focus on my previous blog entry.

The first thing I must say is that none of my family lived in the lower 9th ward. My family was affected by the storm in Algiers as well as the flooding in Harvey. But the pictures and commentary I share did not directly affect me or my family. That being said, there is so much more to the pictures.

Prior to Katrina, New Orleans was an “Equal Opportunity” city… it didn’t matter where you were from, as long as you had the enterprenual sprirt. In fact, I had the pleasure to date another French Market merchant for several months. We’d still be dating had she not decided to move to Texas.

The point is that everyone played on a level playing field prior to Katrina. Afterwards? Nothing even close. People played politics, and would do nothing to help their fellow man. I hate that most of all.

Anyway, I don’t want this to be a totally depressed posting. More than one of you have replied to my previous conversations saying that I did not have a handle on how the current mainstream media is portraying the situation. And you know, they may be right.

But, the truth is, I saw the situation with my own eyes. Can any of the sideline quarterbacks say that? Obviously not.

There is something that cannot be translated into a photo. That is what I experienced. If you cannot connect via my photo gallery, then I hope you will connect in person, because there is no other way to express the change and concern.

JohnA

As all of you know, I’ve been on vacation for a couple of weeks now, and as one would expect, I’ve blogged about the entire experience. Yeah, lots of laughs, and great photo opportunities.

But now, I feel that I need to step back a bit and talk about something much more serious. Yes, I know, me blog about something serious? In this case, yes.

Most of you know that I grew up in New Orleans, and even today, much of my family still lives there. On August 28, 2005, a mandatory evacuation of the New Orleans area was issued in anticipation of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina. That same day, I wrote a blog entry detailing my concerns. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the worst came to pass.

My entire family, indeed, my entire childhood, was disrupted. The aftermath of this event has been chronicled all over the web.

But, truth be told, if one were to rely on the mainstream media, one would believe that everything told, it was a “Happily Ever After” story. Everyone went home to brand new homes, people were back to normal, and there was no need for people to dwell further on the long-forgotten hurricane.

This is the first posting in a series of postings that will examine the fact that there is so much of New Orleans that has been swept under the rug.

For those who are impatient, you can visit my photo gallery. But, if you would prefer a more intimate tour, please stay tuned to this blog. I am travelling tomorrow during the day, but I’ll post part two of this series as soon as I get home from the airport.

JohnA, Someone who loves and misses New Orleans.