Let me just say re Katrina and NOLA: Anderson Cooper "gets it".

[Brotherjohn]

Okay, he's still having problems properly pronouncing New Orleans ("Norlens"). Hey, at least he hasn't tried the ever-touristy "N'Awlins" or uttered the dreaded "New Or-LEEENZ".

But in all the coverage I've seen him do from N.O., especially during Mardi Gras, he's been head and shoulders above the rest. Yeah, he was broadcasting from a balcony on Bourbon St. last night. But he's been there a while. He deserves a break, too! The night before, he and his team were broadcasting live from St. Bernard Parish, under portable power, at the sight of a stranded shrimp boat in the middle of a demolished neighborhood. He's always taking pains to show that New Orleans is FAR from "back to normal" and many people are still hurting, and will be for a long time.

Not only has he not asked the ludicrous question: "How can they be having Mardi Gras at a time like this", but he has ANSWERED it, and properly: How could they NOT! They need the break, AND the money, more than ever! He has also pointed out that Mardi Gras, to most locals, is a family affair... not the "Girls Gone Wild" debauchery the media usually shows the nation.

Yeah, AC can be a bit sensationalist. His hurricane bug started when he caught, on tape, the large metal Ramada Inn sign falling in Hurricane Dennis only a half mile from my house (we jokingly call the new, lower profile, sign the "Anderson Cooper Memorial Ramada Inn Sign").

Yeah, he can milk the emotional angle, too (which John Stewart teased him about on Larry King last night: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/cnn/is_anderson_crying_again_33108.asp). On that note, he had the perfect response to Jon's asking him about the FEMA trailers ("We're in St. Bernard parish where there are tens of thousands of people who would very much like to have some trailers").

But it seems his experiences during and after Katrina have registered.

So props from a New Orleans native to Anderson Cooper. He "gets it".

[BOSSHOG]

1. Mardi Gras

is totally a family affair for the locals. BBQ and parades and dressing the kids up and enjoying life for a few hours. And after six months of hell, I say fuck you to anyone not wanting those who want to enjoy their family time at parades. If the misinformed think that all that is happening is partying in New Orleans now and will choose not to assist then fine, fuck them too.

The girls gone wild are all girls from outta town. Iowa and Nebraska and Utah. Girls who can't go wild back home. I truly love all those girls going wild and that's why such activity is restricted to the french quarter; in geographic terms, an extremely teeny tiny part of the Gulf Coast which celebrates Fat Tuesday. Make no mistake, bosshog truly and dearly loves the french quarter.

Thanks for the post. And yes I think AC did a very fine job.

[Withywindle]

2. I'm not a NOLAn, but...

...I'm still flabbergasted at all the people around here who want to tell New Orleanians how to behave. I can't imagine what it must be like to be there, and after six months of struggling, if some jagoff on a message board had the nerve to tell me I should "tone down" my long-awaited chance at celebrating life defiantly in a "decorous" way so as to not give some kind of wrong impression...I just...

I just...

:wtf:


:nuke:


All blessings to the good people of the Gulf Coast.

[BOSSHOG]

3. We are far enough North

of the coast that damage to our home was minimal but I clearly remember the first week after the hurricane. It was like living on another planet, a very bad planet. No electricity, no gas, no water, no stores open, trees all over the highways, the occasional looter, and it was very, very hot. And we were incredibly lucky compared to those just a little ways south of us. So I'd rather not have any moralizing about carrying on an event which is 150 years old. And, the lowball estimate is 150 million bucks dumped into the state treasury because of this years Mardi Gras. I'm glad that those who wanted to let the good times roll, did!

Thanks for your post.

[Avalon Sparks]

4. You're right about Cooper...

He's one of the good guys.