Looters in New Orleans Options

[z28barnett]

I voted for Bush, at the moment I feel pretty silly. War on terror and gun ownership are about the only things left that I agree with republicans on.

That is not enough to continue voting for them, unless something changes radically in the next two years I will vote democratic if for no reason other than protest.

I feel that the economy is in much worse shape than people think and vital issues that really mean something are being lost in the rush to hot button issues, like abortion. I am supposed to pay taxes to raise kids that their own mothers don't want? How does that make sense?

I used to make a living as a Engineer, now I would need to go to china to get my job back. Thanks Bush, give the Chinese more american dollars so when they attack it will be a true world war.

NOLA really got hit, and Bush has us stretched so thin that we can't rescue people in our own country.

The upside of this is that I am now the proud owner of a 30-30 Marlin 336 lever action with a 3x9 scope and weaver look thru rings. I won it for the price of a $5.00 raffle ticket. Gotta love small town's, bought the ticket about an hour before the raffle drawing.

If I need it I have a self defense gun.

I don't have the answer, but change appears to be over due. How can you make things worse? I say throw the bums out and get some new blood in the white house.

Please not John Dean, but I will consider anyone else. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

[Crazy Canuck]

im hoping maybe hes just no longer frequenting this board.

I wish that was the case.
He used to be a regular here and in other boards.
Has't shown sign of life in any boards (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
I just hope it's not what I'm thinking... wanna think positive.

[Formula WS6]

oh well yeah that's definetly not a good sign. yeah im holding out for good news too.

[rpoz-29]

Hopefully it's a matter of priorities, and he just can't find the time, a computer, etc.

[robz71lm7]

http://frrax.com/rrforum/index.php?act=ST&f=6&t=5830

[00 Trans Ram]

BTW, Mathew Patterson (00 Trans AM) lives in New Orleans ....

last post was Aug 26 (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
hope he is fine.

has anyone heard from Mat ?
he hasn't come online since (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
Hope he's ok.

Sorry, guys - don't want you to worry. I'm fine, as is the family, cars, and house. I live in Harahan (small suburb of New Orleans, in Jefferson Parish). My neighborhood had no flood water, so we're OK.

But, I'm still not at home, as the hot water heater let go a few days after the storm. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif) At least it wasn't DIRTY water! Anyway, I'm living about an hour north of New Orleans now, with my parents. I've had to get a new job, since the Ritz-Carlton (old job) is not going to reopen for a year or so. But, I was looking to get out of there, anyway.

As to all the stuff about the looting and what not . . . I agree with the "shoot 'em" people. Not only the civilians, but the cops too. Did you guys hear about the Cadillac cops? Some NOPD officers broke into a downtown Cadillac dealership (Sewell) to "commandeer" cars, since theirs were underwater. Well, it's been 6 weeks since the storm passed, and some of them STILL haven't returned the cars. Some guy is still driving around a C6 Z51!! Let's me get this straight . . . it's a flood, and you decide that a CORVETTE is the best car???? Shoot 'em.

Here's some stuff to think about (sorry if it's a repost - I didn't read the whole thing). I went to clean out my grandmother-in-laws house. She had 6-7 feet of water. The place was about 1 million times worse than what you see on the news. The mold was everywhere. Try this link Flood pictures to see if you can view the album of pictures we took. Basically, the furniture was everywhere (it floated up, shuffled around, then settled). Mud covered everything. And there were about 60 different colors and types of mold on the walls, ceiling, floor, beds, chairs, cups, drawers, etc. Anyway, we left all the stuff in there because we figured there was no reason to remove any of the furniture. The house will have to be leveled. And, there are thousands upon thousands of houses just like this. Then, there are another few ten-thousand homes that were torn to shreds out in New Orleans East. Some people are complaining of marsh grass growing in their bedroom, dead sharks in their bathrooms, and/or radioactive waste in their yard. When the people come back, they are looking at their houses, and turning back around and leaving.

New Orleans may never recover. II know that this isn't a "politically desireable" thing to say, but it is a definite probability. I mean, if there aren't houses for a half million people, who is going to come back. Now, sure, Jefferson Parish (Metairie, Harahan, Kenner, etc.) is fine for the most part. And, we were predominantly residential. So, that's something. But, Jefferson is mostly middle class. The lower classes lived in the areas hardest hit. Speaking from a PURELY ECONOMIC point of view, I really wouldn't mind if a lot of the evacuees never returned. I know it sounds mean, but we had 3 housing projects within 10 blocks of downtown. Everyone knew not to walk around there after dark (except for Bourbon street). If we can get those out of there, then businesses may decide to give us a try.

There are just so many things to think about with all of this. It's impossible to compare this is an event like 9/11. One was an intentional, human action - the other was Mother Nature. One demolished a few buildings (big buildings, but still only a few) - the other rendered half a modern city uninhabitable. One took up headlines for months, and launched 2 wars - the other has already been replaced in headlines. I'm serious when I say that they don't compare. One is not worse than the other. It's like trying to figure out which is more dangerous, a grizzly bear or a shark - are you in the woods or the water?

I guess where I'm going is that no one down here has any clue what's going on - at least in the big picture. We've got St. Bernard Parish going bankrupt. When was the last time in American history that a government has threatened bankruptcy? It's just all too much to grasp. It's like trying to pinpoint your place in space when contemplating the vastness of the universe. You simply can't grasp it all. So, we fix up our own life (get a new job, get the house back together, move back) and hope that if everyone fixes their own little piece, that the whole thing will get fixed.

Oh, one last thing. I may have to sell the car and lay off racing for a while. It fuggin' sucks, and I don't want to. But, the new job requires a nicer car (I'm a Physician Recruiter, and will be showing doctors around town to get them to move here) with better gas mileage. I'm going to try to keep it and get another car, but not sure if the wife will let me (and after all she has done during this ordeal, I owe her a lot).

Anyway, thanks all you guys for thinking of me. It's nice to be missed. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Talk to you later!!

[00 Trans Ram]

Oh, one other thing that pisses me off. Have ya'll watched the new Discovery channel show "SOS: Coast Guard Rescues"? It's first show was about rescuing Katrina people off of N.O. roofs. When you watch it, you notice that many of the houses/apartments are nice places (there's one pink house that is 2 stories, and about 5000 square feet). Now, you know these people had a car. They lived in neighborhoods, not near any work centers! So, they simply chose to stay behind and wait for the flood. Then, we have to waste God-knows how much money rescuing them. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

[Absolut Speed]

Glad to hear you're okay, with the added bonus that you and your things came out in good shape.

[Teutonic Speedra...]

Good to hear you are sorting things out, bummer about selling the car.

[rpoz-29]

Glad you made it through. Some hellish pictures of the damage.

[Crazy Canuck]

Glad you kicking and breathing.
There is a lot of good news for you considering everything.
1. Alive
2. Not injured
3. Family is Ok
4. able to get new job
5. your property is intact
6. your car in intact

only possible bad news:
sell the f-body.

In the BIG picture, I'm very happy (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[firehawkclone]

Glad to hear that you and your family is well.

Bummer about the bird! I wish i could look after it for ya (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[00 Trans Ram]

Glad you kicking and breathing.
There is a lot of good news for you considering everything.
1. Alive
2. Not injured
3. Family is Ok
4. able to get new job
5. your property is intact
6. your car in intact

only possible bad news:
sell the f-body.

In the BIG picture, I'm very happy (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

I'm telling you, we got REAL lucky. When you look at the pics of my grandmonther-in-law's house, keep in mind that we were only able to salvage a few dozen pictures, and her jewelry. It would all fit into 3 shoeboxes.

[CMC #37]

I am glad you are ok; really sorry for your grandma-in-law...my mom cried for a week after the '71 quake in LA- not much of her family herloom china survived. My sisters and she made a couple pots from the pieces of the broken china, they are very treasured! Be kind to her.....

[Formula WS6]

this is good news. glad to know you made it out.