Topic: New Orleans

John Guider’s “The River Inside” /Out

By Kitty Madden | November 22, 2008 |

“The River Inside — Narrative and Photography” is the intriguing title of John Guider’s new book, which is sure to be deemed a masterpiece by all who dive into its many-nuanced depths.  Even those of us who encounter his work in serendipitous samples can, in my experience, be profoundly affected by the universal aspects of Guider’s views of the world.

I was first introduced to this Renaissance man’s extraordinary journey from near the Narrows of the Harpeth to New Orleans – in a canoe – while I was “killing time” in the Nashville airport.  Reading Joe Nolan’s feature of Guider in Nashville Arts Magazine revitalized my long-held preference to make time rather than kill it.  I remain so impressed with that article from October 2006, that it’s held a prominent place in my room and I’ve re-read it several times for inspiration!

Again, on November 19, I was “killing time” waiting for my fellow “local enthusiast” to meet me at the Tennessee State Museum.  It felt utterly serendipitous when I gazed up at a glorious shot of a canoe and sunburst clouds reflecting on the Mississippi River with this exciting announcement:  The River Inside: John Guilder’s Amazing Journey: October 3 through November 30.

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Presidential debate: All the action was outside the town hall meeting…

By Christine Anne Piesyk | October 9, 2008 |

SDS: "Youth are not Cannon fodder"

As a global audience tuned in on the second presidential debate, held at Belmont University in Nashville, all the action was happening on the streets surrounding the campus. Political commentators and pundits agreed that the town hall debate format simply didn’t work, that the hoped for verbal battles failed to detonate any real excitement. Outside, it was another story.

I opted out of specific local debate coverage, and with CO writer Debbie Boen instead headed to Nashville to make our own voices heard. Debbie, founder of the FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties, and I (a devout member) headed for 21st and Blakemore, two blocks from the Debate Hall, center of the Nashville Peace Coalition et al rally and press conference. The Coalition the night before sponsored “an alternative debate” featuring the other candidates in the running for the US presidency. The ones without the political machine and the super-sized budgets.

Nearing Nashville on I-24 we were greeted with traffic signs directing debate trackers to the proper exits, so naturally, we made a wrong turn, got slightly misdirected and ended up exactly where we needed to be. Serendipity can be wonderful. «Read the rest of this article»

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Should anyone claim to know G_d’s Mind in this presidential election campaign?

By Turner McCullough Jr. | September 21, 2008 |

This is an authorized posting of a Sept. 2, 2008 This article is reprinted with authorization from by its author, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, our guest commentator. With all the political clamor of late about knowing G_d’s plan, and executing his tasks, a moment of reflection just might be beneficial to all of us.

“G-d’s Thoughts on the Presidential Election”

It’s time to play that fun, all-American game, Who is G-d punishing now? Three years ago, when Katrina devastated New Orleans, some on the religious right suggested that the city with the infamous French Quarter was being destroyed for its debauchery and licentiousness. G-d poured fire and brimstone on Sodom in ancient times, and He rained down lightning and broken levies on New Sodom in modern times.

Fast forward three years and here we go again, only this time G-d is punishing innocent men and women in Louisiana for the Republican Convention in Minnesota. According to filmmaker Michael Moore “Gustav is proof that there is a God in heaven. To just have it planned at the same time, that it would actually be on its way to New Orleans for Day One of the Republican convention, up in the Twin Cities, at the top of the Mississippi River.” The theme was echoed by Don Fowler, the South Carolina Democratic Party chairman, who joked that the hurricane was God’s favor to Democrats. But Mr. Fowler will have to forgive some of the residents of New Orleans, both Democrat and Republican alike, if they don’t get the joke. «Read the rest of this article»

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Gustav builds slowly; New Orleans and Louisiana coast in its path

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 29, 2008 |

While most journalistic eyes are fixed on politics and Election 2008, there’s a storm brewing to our South and a pre-emptive protective plan underway to save lives and hopefully prevent a repeat performance of the Katrina disaster. A memorial service was being held at 9:38  a.m. today, the time the first levee was breached in the Katrina hurricane that claimed 1800 lives.

National Hurricane Center map shows the projected path of Gustav, which is expected to be a Cat 3 or higher storm when it makes landfall. In its path, New orleans, which is already preparing to evacuate parts of the city.

Last week hurricane-savvy Floridians learned the kind of devastation a tropical storm, albeit a persistent one, can do. Fay ambled leisurely across the state with three landfalls and rain measured by the foot. Now tropical storm Gustav, currently cruising the shores of Cuba, is poised to hit the warm Gulf of Mexico waters and exploded into a Category 3, possible a Cat 4, storm before it rocks the coastline of east Texas or Louisiana. «Read the rest of this article»

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New Orleans: Big Easy to Big Empty

By Bill Larson | October 29, 2006 |

August 29th, 2006 marked the one year anniversary of the devastation in New Orleans caused by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This Special Report brings you exclusive footage and the stories you won’t hear on the other networks–the hidden political agendas and the suppressed eyewitness reports. Includes on-the-spot reporting from independent journalist Greg Palast. «Read the rest of this article»

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