glad you got out Nolageek. where did you live in NOLA? most of my friends live in the bywater and their places are definitely 10ft under water. most of my friends are homeless and posessionless now and some are just looking for work in NYC now because their jobs are most likely gone as well. everyone i know is safe though, so i feel lucky.

the situation down there in insane... this is what i typed up elsewhere...

"
the areas we are seeing a lot of footage of in NOLA, the 8th and 9th wards which are the worst hit, are some of the poorest areas in the city. i've spent a good bit of time there and was even there last week, and i've taught in the south bronx for 3 years, and the south bronx doesn't come close to touching new orleans for poverty. there's a bumper sticker in new orleans "New Orleans: Third World and Proud." it's basically true.

there's also an insane amount of racial tension, largely due to all the economic inequality, and that's what is exploding right now and leading to the armed mobs of looters taking everything and shooting at police AND rescue/relief workers. they've been breaking into individuals apartments and taking personal posessions, not just items from stores. michele's brother used to own a building in the french quarter that i was doing renovation on while i lived in town. his friend bought one of the condos. that friend went back today and all of his valuable stuff was gone.

it's insane. there is no lighting in the city and people are not going to be allowed in for probably a month or so. the situation is going to get worse most likely"

<a href="http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL083105lawless.1242410b.html">the state of chaos and anarchy that is now developing is pretty terrifying</a>