Thursday, June 25
Give the People what they want...
**13 Reasons why Brad Pitt should be the next Mayor of New Orleans**
by Dr. Thomas Bayer
New Orleans will elect a new mayor on April 22, 2010, and the Brad Pitt for Mayor Campaign Steering Committee is asking you to vote for Brad Pitt. After extensive polling, focus group discussions and soul searching, the steering committee, headed by Tulane's Dr. Thomas M. Bayer, decided upon thirteen reasons why the Crescent City would be best served with Brad Pitt as Mayor.
Reason #1 - He's Qualified
Rather than having to make vague and unpersuasive connections between clearly unrelated qualifications such as, say, franchise executive and governing abilities, the qualifications of our candidate are plainly obvious: as the worldwide audience of Homer’s Troy can attest, Mr. Brad Pitt clearly has the stomach for the job, not to mention the shoulders to carry the burden of governance.
Reason #2 - NOLA ♥'s Brad Pitt
By bestowing the great office of Mayor of our city upon Mr. Pitt, we, the citizens, are afforded the opportunity to say thanks for the many wonderful things this gentleman has already done for us. What better way to show our heart-felt appreciation than to present to him the mayoral office, the patronage trough, the cornucopia of our great city, that which we hold so dear and is ours to bequeath?
Reason #3 - Lagniappe
If we elect Brad Pitt mayor, Angelina Jolie would be the First Lady of New Orleans.
Reason #4 - Technology and Gastronomy
Instead of technology executives vying for malfunctioning anti-crime camera installation contracts and lap dances, movie moguls from everywhere will lobby the mayor to get a table on Galatoire’s ground floor for the Friday before Mardi Gras all-afternoon lunch.
Reason #5 - Publicity
Publicity and photo opportunities will chase our Mayor, instead of the Mayor chasing publicity and photo opportunities.
Reason #6 - Urban Planning
We will not have to rename a street to honor his name, as Pitt Street already exists.
Reason #7 - City Council Relations
Stacy Head will be nice to the new Mayor.
Reason #8 - Economics
Instead of executive travel expenses depleting our budget, the city’s coffers will be filled through generous personal appearance fees earned by Mr. Pitt as our elected leader and ambassador.
Reason #9 - Convention Business
New Orleans will become the magnet for conventions of professional women’s organizations worldwide. The warm glow of pink Cadillacs will illuminate our Southern nights. This mass of sensually charged femininity will attract male visitors eager to contribute their economic stimulus.
Reason #10 - Jazz Fest
Instead of being greeted by the ubiquitous presence of Shell (God bless them!), visitors to Jazz Fest will be welcomed at the main entrance by our Mayor enthroned on the King of Rex Float, officiated by his Secretary of Music, Quint Davis.
Reason #11 - Rebuilding
Rather than relying on Aussie eloquence and narrative creativity or malfunctioning federal and state agencies, Mr. Pitt, as our chief executive will, instead, lead us, the local Pittwomen and Pittmen, in the fight against blight, crime, poverty and lack of humor. Dressed in period costumes and assisted by experienced producers, set builders, make-up artists, and camera operators, this cast of thousands will launch our Renaissance epic in weekly reality sequels.
Reason #12 - Transparency
Instead of having to sue for the release of public records, or to attempt to restore accidentally deleted emails, we can learn everything about our first executive from the pages of the National Enquirer and People Magazine.
Reason #13 - Integrity
Rather than governing our city to achieve fortune, fame and a book deal, our candidate already has achieved fortune, fame and MOVIE deals.
by Dr. Thomas Bayer
New Orleans will elect a new mayor on April 22, 2010, and the Brad Pitt for Mayor Campaign Steering Committee is asking you to vote for Brad Pitt. After extensive polling, focus group discussions and soul searching, the steering committee, headed by Tulane's Dr. Thomas M. Bayer, decided upon thirteen reasons why the Crescent City would be best served with Brad Pitt as Mayor.
Reason #1 - He's Qualified
Rather than having to make vague and unpersuasive connections between clearly unrelated qualifications such as, say, franchise executive and governing abilities, the qualifications of our candidate are plainly obvious: as the worldwide audience of Homer’s Troy can attest, Mr. Brad Pitt clearly has the stomach for the job, not to mention the shoulders to carry the burden of governance.
Reason #2 - NOLA ♥'s Brad Pitt
By bestowing the great office of Mayor of our city upon Mr. Pitt, we, the citizens, are afforded the opportunity to say thanks for the many wonderful things this gentleman has already done for us. What better way to show our heart-felt appreciation than to present to him the mayoral office, the patronage trough, the cornucopia of our great city, that which we hold so dear and is ours to bequeath?
Reason #3 - Lagniappe
If we elect Brad Pitt mayor, Angelina Jolie would be the First Lady of New Orleans.
Reason #4 - Technology and Gastronomy
Instead of technology executives vying for malfunctioning anti-crime camera installation contracts and lap dances, movie moguls from everywhere will lobby the mayor to get a table on Galatoire’s ground floor for the Friday before Mardi Gras all-afternoon lunch.
Reason #5 - Publicity
Publicity and photo opportunities will chase our Mayor, instead of the Mayor chasing publicity and photo opportunities.
Reason #6 - Urban Planning
We will not have to rename a street to honor his name, as Pitt Street already exists.
Reason #7 - City Council Relations
Stacy Head will be nice to the new Mayor.
Reason #8 - Economics
Instead of executive travel expenses depleting our budget, the city’s coffers will be filled through generous personal appearance fees earned by Mr. Pitt as our elected leader and ambassador.
Reason #9 - Convention Business
New Orleans will become the magnet for conventions of professional women’s organizations worldwide. The warm glow of pink Cadillacs will illuminate our Southern nights. This mass of sensually charged femininity will attract male visitors eager to contribute their economic stimulus.
Reason #10 - Jazz Fest
Instead of being greeted by the ubiquitous presence of Shell (God bless them!), visitors to Jazz Fest will be welcomed at the main entrance by our Mayor enthroned on the King of Rex Float, officiated by his Secretary of Music, Quint Davis.
Reason #11 - Rebuilding
Rather than relying on Aussie eloquence and narrative creativity or malfunctioning federal and state agencies, Mr. Pitt, as our chief executive will, instead, lead us, the local Pittwomen and Pittmen, in the fight against blight, crime, poverty and lack of humor. Dressed in period costumes and assisted by experienced producers, set builders, make-up artists, and camera operators, this cast of thousands will launch our Renaissance epic in weekly reality sequels.
Reason #12 - Transparency
Instead of having to sue for the release of public records, or to attempt to restore accidentally deleted emails, we can learn everything about our first executive from the pages of the National Enquirer and People Magazine.
Reason #13 - Integrity
Rather than governing our city to achieve fortune, fame and a book deal, our candidate already has achieved fortune, fame and MOVIE deals.
Tuesday, June 23
My car read 101°F today driving home at 5 pm.
Tomorrow's Forecast: 96°F / Feels Like 108°F
It's ONLY JUNE PEOPLE...what will August be like!?!
**** UPDATE ****
Mercury hits 104 in New Orleans,
hottest day ever
Wednesday was as hot a day as New Orleans has ever experienced, with temperatures at Audubon Park setting the all-time record of 104 degrees there before thunderstorms provided some relief in the late afternoon.Docenting
Some of you may know...many of you may not, but on my free Saturdays I volunteer at the Hermann-Grima / Gallier Historic Houses as a Docent.
In 1857, esteemed New Orleans architect, James Gallier, Jr., put his considerable talent to work designing a residence of his own. GALLIER HOUSE is an outstanding example of accurate and comprehensive historic restoration of one of New Orleans' loveliest and time-honored landmarks. 
In the mid-19th century, Gallier was one of New Orleans' most prominent architects. His design work found an enthusiastic audience of civic leaders, businessmen, and affluent families. Enjoy a stroll through Gallier's elegant Victorian home, authentically restored to reflect the taste and lifestyle of a successful urban designer in post-Civil War New Orleans.
Since it's summertime, the parlor is now in full "Summer housekeeping" mode. This was a common standard people staying in the cities had to do to adapt to living in their non-air conditioned homes. Women and children were lucky - most left the city to escape to homes nearer the coast and most would leave May - September. Yup, nice long vacations. 
If you come by to see the house now - the parlor has a VERY different feel to it and I rather enjoy it. Tatami matting instead of heavy carpets, no gasaliers or nice furniture fabric showing, expensive silk draperies are taken down and replaced with soft white muslin or thin fabrics - all creating a "cooler" surrounding. Thus ends your history lesson for the day! ;)
In the mid-19th century, Gallier was one of New Orleans' most prominent architects. His design work found an enthusiastic audience of civic leaders, businessmen, and affluent families. Enjoy a stroll through Gallier's elegant Victorian home, authentically restored to reflect the taste and lifestyle of a successful urban designer in post-Civil War New Orleans.Since it's summertime, the parlor is now in full "Summer housekeeping" mode. This was a common standard people staying in the cities had to do to adapt to living in their non-air conditioned homes. Women and children were lucky - most left the city to escape to homes nearer the coast and most would leave May - September. Yup, nice long vacations. If you come by to see the house now - the parlor has a VERY different feel to it and I rather enjoy it. Tatami matting instead of heavy carpets, no gasaliers or nice furniture fabric showing, expensive silk draperies are taken down and replaced with soft white muslin or thin fabrics - all creating a "cooler" surrounding. Thus ends your history lesson for the day! ;)Sunday, June 21
In 12 days...
I'll be flying up northeast to visit Siobhan in Boston.
She's on the opposite coast now from when we last meet up in January 2008. ;)
These were taken back in Okinawa - Japan, Spring 2007
Saturday, June 20
HEAT WAVE
There’s no doubt that when you step outside these days, it’s hot!
Especially here in NOLA where todays forecast is
94°F (Feels Like 104°F ). Yes, that's right - FEELS LIKE 104°. There might be days this month and all summer long when you swear you’re moving to Michigan or New England, somewhere cool and sensible, somewhere without 90-plus percent humidity, daily thunderstorms and the threat of hurricanes all summer long. And then one night you’ll catch a whiff of night-blooming jasmine on the thick air or walk right into an impromptu trumpet solo or devour a chocolate-cream snowball under a sweet, gooey layer of condensed milk. And you’ll know that no matter how hot it gets, no matter that the air conditioning will be running until Thanksgiving, you’re not going anywhere.
Especially here in NOLA where todays forecast is94°F (Feels Like 104°F ). Yes, that's right - FEELS LIKE 104°. There might be days this month and all summer long when you swear you’re moving to Michigan or New England, somewhere cool and sensible, somewhere without 90-plus percent humidity, daily thunderstorms and the threat of hurricanes all summer long. And then one night you’ll catch a whiff of night-blooming jasmine on the thick air or walk right into an impromptu trumpet solo or devour a chocolate-cream snowball under a sweet, gooey layer of condensed milk. And you’ll know that no matter how hot it gets, no matter that the air conditioning will be running until Thanksgiving, you’re not going anywhere.Saturday, June 13
A Trifecta of Louisiana Culture
What's going on this weekend??? 
The French Market's Creole Tomato Festival; the Louisiana Cajun Zydeco Festival, sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation; and the Louisiana Seafood Festival, sponsored by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. 
All held along the French Market, the festivals will feature two stages of Cajun-zydeco music, cooking demonstrations of Creole tomato dishes, 11 seafood vendors, costumed characters and more. - Whoo! Hoo! And, boy, today was HOT HOT HOT - 94 degrees of pure sun with no clouds!!! Now I'm off to make a BLT with my creole tomatoes.
All held along the French Market, the festivals will feature two stages of Cajun-zydeco music, cooking demonstrations of Creole tomato dishes, 11 seafood vendors, costumed characters and more. - Whoo! Hoo! And, boy, today was HOT HOT HOT - 94 degrees of pure sun with no clouds!!! Now I'm off to make a BLT with my creole tomatoes.Thursday, June 11
Breakfast of Champions Book Club
So - my Book Club met again to discuss the ending half of The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway this last Tuesday. Overall, I didn't really enjoy any of the characters and if you've read the book you'll hopefully find it quite difficult to as well. But the funny thing is: the picture above of young'ish Hemingway is practially the theme of book. Excessive drinking and exotic travels (ie. Paris/Spain), yet sadness about life & commitment problems hidden behind a facade of happy comfort.
I did enjoy Hemingway's writing style and would be interested in checking out some of his other stories. Even though the story was written in the 1920's, it had a VERY modern feel to it. You could almost see Brett, Jake, and Cohn in many people today. Our hole-in-the-wall bar for Hemingway was THE KINGPIN off Prytania. The drink of choice of the night was Abita's Satsuma Harvest Wit, which is a LA summertime brew. Yum!
-----------------
Next BOOK up for reading is John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces, published in 1980.
Which is supposedly a true CLASSIC of New Orleans and a must-read.
It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981.
12 years AFTER the author committed suicide.
The story is set in New Orleans in the early 1960s. The central character is Ignatius J. (Jacques) Reilly, an educated but slothful man still living with his mother at age 30 in the city's Uptown neighborhood, who, because of family circumstances, must set out to get a job. In his quest for employment he has various adventures with colorful French Quarter characters.
Next meeting in two weeks... Monday, June 8
Friday, June 5
Plans for the Weekend
For once, I have nothing major planned this weekend and will devote one full day to staying in my PJ's!
Witch Bottles & Ritual Artifacts
What is a Witch Bottle?
The witch bottle is a very old spell device. Its purpose is to draw in and trap evil and negative energy directed at its owner. Folk magic contends that the witch bottle protects against evil spirits and magical attack, and counteracts spells cast by witches. Witch bottles are usually stoneware or glass bottles or jugs, filled with urine, heart shapes cut from felt, bent pins and nail clippings. These were buried beneath the hearth or near entrances to buildings.
The reason for this post:
A 17th century Witch Bottle was unearthed in Southeast London in 2004 and has been recently analyzed for its contents! (Read about it here)
As a History lover, this got me thinking about the significance of ritual artifacts. There are no known contemporary documents that describe these bizarre custom, but many old houses and other buildings may contain concealed ritual objects placed there as protection against witches and evil spirits. 
These objects have been found in the UK, Continental Europe, Australia and even North America. The majority of such objects are found in buildings constructed before 1800 but they have been discovered in buildings dating from as late as the early 20th century.
Shoes are the most common objects discovered. These are typically well-worn and in most cases only a single shoe will be found. The chimney breast, roof cavity or sub floor area are typical locations for concealed shoes.
And if urine filled bottles aren't gross enough for your taste, dried cats may also be found in various locations within a building. 
In the UK they may be found in roof thatching. In Australia they have been discovered in voids near the foundations of the building or in roof cavities. Cats were believed to have an association with witches and it may have been thought that they would serve to decoy evil spirits away from the people of a house. It may also have been thought that they would destroy spiritual vermin in the other world thus they were posed in scary hunting positions.
A variety of domestic artifacts may be found concealed within the structure of old houses as well. These may include clothing, clay pipes, dolls, utensils, books, toys and other common household objects. Thus ends your history lesson of bizarre practices!
These objects have been found in the UK, Continental Europe, Australia and even North America. The majority of such objects are found in buildings constructed before 1800 but they have been discovered in buildings dating from as late as the early 20th century.
Shoes are the most common objects discovered. These are typically well-worn and in most cases only a single shoe will be found. The chimney breast, roof cavity or sub floor area are typical locations for concealed shoes.
And if urine filled bottles aren't gross enough for your taste, dried cats may also be found in various locations within a building. 
In the UK they may be found in roof thatching. In Australia they have been discovered in voids near the foundations of the building or in roof cavities. Cats were believed to have an association with witches and it may have been thought that they would serve to decoy evil spirits away from the people of a house. It may also have been thought that they would destroy spiritual vermin in the other world thus they were posed in scary hunting positions.
A variety of domestic artifacts may be found concealed within the structure of old houses as well. These may include clothing, clay pipes, dolls, utensils, books, toys and other common household objects. Thus ends your history lesson of bizarre practices!
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