MARDI GRAS

[Pumpkin_Man]

That really did make all the difference in the world, Murf. The people of Nashville had the right idea. They pulled together and worked as a team. The people of New Orleans, or I shoud say some of them, expected the government to do it all for them, and yet others didn't want law and order to return, because they were making a killing by luting, so they shot at helicopters who were trying to help them, as Chang pointed out.

Mike

[Li H'Sen Chang]

The looter in New Orleans was not just the black people but also the police were discovered to be looters and unlawful in that crises.

[Pumpkin_Man]

It's been said that a major crises can bring out the best and the worst in us all. That seems to be the case in New Orleans during the huricane.

Mike

[Spookymufu]

It's been said that a major crises can bring out the best and the worst in us all. That seems to be the case in New Orleans during the huricane.

Mike

didnt see too much "best" but there was a lot of "worst". A lot of them moved here to Houston after wards and our local crime went up about 20%, there were stories on the news all the time about the "transplants" causing problems in the schools and so on...

By contrast, when the fires happened out in So Cal there was a lot of news stories about neighbors helping neighbors and coming together for a common goal.....

[NeverMore]

By contrast, when the fires happened out in So Cal there was a lot of news stories about neighbors helping neighbors and coming together for a common goal.....

Yep. When we had the fires here the stadium became the gathering place for families that had been displaced. Not only did the community come together to help those people, a lot of them who were staying there took it upon themselves to help the others. I was quite proud of my city.

[Murfreesboro]

I have cousins in southern CA. So far they haven't lost their homes to fires, but I think about them every time something like that happens.

We had some New Orleans refugees up here in the Nashville area, too. A new student entered my daughter's class because of it. However, I never heard about any problems caused by these people. I know the little boy who moved to Murfreesboro brought an authentic King Cake to class one year for Mardi Gras.

[Pumpkin_Man]

My home town, Dwight Illinois was hit by a horible tornado in June of 2010. It ripped through one of the trailor parks, and several people were killed, many were injured. The power was out for over 23 hours. It was AMAZING how that town pulled together. People were letting strangers stay in their homes, the churches all seet up food kitchens, there was an improvised shelter at the local fire house, and everyone baked deserts, and prepared other food to help those victims. Even without power, the sense of "cumminity" was more alive and stronger then I have ever experienced in my life.

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

Even though the tornado was a tragedy for your community, the story of community support that came out of it is wonderful.

Trailer parks always suffer the most in tornadoes, it seems. That's the main reason I would never want to live in one. Those homes just get ripped off their foundations too easily.

ETA: I meant "for your community," not "for our community."

[Pumpkin_Man]

Trailors are also more volunerable to fire. And I agree. In fact, during another crises we even made a fun time of it. This happened back in 08. The power went out. It was a freezing cold, below zero day, and it was about 3 weeks before Christmas. The power was out for about 6 or 7 hours, and I had to light a fire in my fire place just to keep my pipes from freezing up. It actualy got pretty warm in the living room, but the rest of the house hovered at a chilly 50 degrees.

Anyway, there's an elderly couple living across the street from me, and they didn't have a fire place. Without power, even a gas furnace won't work because of the electric circulation fans and pilotless ignitions. No stores were opened because of the power outage, so we couldn't go out and buy anything either.

Anyway, this couple came over to see if I was okay, if you could believe it, so I invited them in. They loved my fire place, so I asked them to stay until the power was back on. They had no fireplace, so no heat. Anyway, the husband went back to the house and brought a package of Best Kosher hot dogs, and we had a weenie roast in the fire place. I had a battery operated stereo system so I played some of my CDs for them. As it got dark, I lit come candles. We decided on another round of fire place roasted hot dogs, and I lit the Advent Wreath.

It was a rather plesant time. Around 8pm, the power came back on, and they went back to their own home to make sure their pipes didn't freeze up. Lucily they didn.t

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

That actually sounds like you all made a rather pleasant time out of a worrisome occasion.

[jadewik]

I know the little boy who moved to Murfreesboro brought an authentic King Cake to class one year for Mardi Gras.

... who got the Jesus in the King Cake? And why haven't they thrown the next party yet? =D

Also, is this a good or bad time to mention that I was *just* in New Orleans the week between Christmas and New Years? They're already setting up for Mardi Gras.... I've never celebrated Mardi Gras anyway, but I've heard some interesting stories about Burbon Street that make me cringe.

[Li H'Sen Chang]

Drunk people puke in the street, sexual aggressive behavior, and property damages with no remorse. That do not sound like any fun at all.

[Pumpkin_Man]

I hate to say it, but we had a simualr situation with the St Patrick's Day Parade in my old Chicago neighborhood. IT was exculsevly a South Side tradition, and enjoyed for years. Then the drunks came along. Not only did they barf where ever they stood, but they did various other "business" there as well, and the place would stink abomidably. There was property damage, fights, car accidents, pick pockets, and just about every other petty crime you can think of. The last time I went to that parade, a few drunen idiots tried to pick a fight with me because they THOUGHT I was a teacher at Brother Rice high school. That was the last time I ever went. About 3 years later, they did away with that tradition entirely.

I've never been to Mardi Gras, but I can imagine that there is a lot of drunken revelry, like you get any time huge crows of people gather together and liquor is served. And very often, the drunks will ruin it for everyone else. I allways wanted to go to Mardi Gras, because I love Dixiland Jazz, but I never would, because of all the drinking that goes on. I'm almost 52 years old. I'm as slow as a Summer Time Hound Dog, and I don't know if I could fight off 5 or 6 20 something old hoodlums evenif they are drunk.

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

I know the little boy who moved to Murfreesboro brought an authentic King Cake to class one year for Mardi Gras.

... who got the Jesus in the King Cake? And why haven't they thrown the next party yet? =D

Also, is this a good or bad time to mention that I was *just* in New Orleans the week between Christmas and New Years? They're already setting up for Mardi Gras.... I've never celebrated Mardi Gras anyway, but I've heard some interesting stories about Burbon Street that make me cringe.

I don't remember who got the baby Jesus, LOL.

They were setting up for Mardi Gras over Christmas because the carnival season actually starts on Twelfth Night (January 6th), when they have the "King Cakes." January 6 until Ash Weds, whenever that falls. I think it is fairly late this year.

I suppose that means that New Orleans is partying in one form or another maybe from Halloween up until Lent. No wonder they call it "The Big Easy."

[jadewik]

Drunk people puke in the street, sexual aggressive behavior, and property damages with no remorse. That do not sound like any fun at all.

Errr... the drunk and disorderly behaviour is mostly only on Burbon Street. I walked a whole block down Burbon and that was enough for me... I hopped a block riverside to Royal, which is much, much nicer with all the antique shops. If you avoid that area, you'll avoid most of that reprehensible behaviour. I never saw anyone puking on the street-- but I did see a guy peeing in a doorway...

I had a wonderful time in NewOrleans, and I didn't get drunk once. (I don't drink alcohol.)... but I surely wouldn't suggest visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras if you don't condone that sort of behaviour-- I've heard some really not-so-nice (X-Rated) things go down in the streets during Fat Tuesday celebrations.