Are you ready for some.......Football!!!

[fordsho90]

All due respect, but a 30-minute recap, if that, on a pregame show, is not "reliving" it. You'd have to have "lived" it in the first place, and yeah, 4 years later, huge areas of NOLA are still wastelands with no water or power, and huge areas on the Mississippi Gulf Coast are still completely unrecognizable to those of us who grew up there. Seeing THAT everyday
is reliving it.

Just drink a couple extra beers and you'll be okay, bro!

I have followed this saga VERY close since it started four and a half years ago and what happend to N.O residents right after Katrina was a travesty and NEVER should of happened in this country like it did. My heart went out to the people whom became displaced due to the flooding (I live outside of Houston on the Tx. Gulf Coast) as our area "inherated" a large influx of people from NO. My parents live in Pensacola Fl. and my x and kids live in Tampa so I travel the I-10 corridor quite freaquently and have seen the before during and after affects of Katrina first hand. lerxstcat your right that the face of the landscape in Ms. has changed due to the storm but the MAJOR differeance between MS. GC and NO is that the people of your state have decided to move on and rebuild and it is coming back rather nicely with new houses and new businesses new infrastructures and what not. I like to drive down 90 along the coast cause it is one of the nicer drives in the area and over the last four and a half years what went from a disaster area to what it has become now has been very encouraging w/the stuff that has come back.


Now that being said lets turn our attention back to NO. like I stated my heart went out to the people but what I have seen over the last four years has erroded my compassion for them, especially the last time I was there back in July of 09' and I REFUSE to drive thru again I take 12 now instead of dropping down on 10. Last time we were there the progress was not much better then it was two years ago it still looks like shit. BUT the major difference this time was what we saw...

We were just exiting the downtown area and were heading out towards the lake and I was in the right lane doing 60 checking out the areas off the highway at what hadnt been fixed yet and the few things that had and cars are flying past us and my wife says to me "Do you notice something different this time?" I said to her "yeah everyone is driving new cars". She says "Yep and not POS's we saw the last five times we were here". Well we kept driving and what we had seen kept going on new car after new car and not your Toyota Camary but high end cars BMW'S CADDY'S and what not. Well it got me to thinking and so jumped off the highway and started heading into the areas that I knew had been flooded and saw the truth. House after house after house that had been flooded and unlivable ALL had new rides in the driveway in some cases two of them but yet the house's hadnt been repaired one bit and you could smell the mold I was like WTF??? Now from what I have seen w/my own two eyes is that they took the insurance money or Govt. payout or whatever compensation they got and instead of at least trying to fix up their shit and make it liveable they instead went out and bought new rides and threw some serious bling on them. But yet there were living in the same house that got flooded w/out even repairing it!! Now I am not saying that it is everybody cause I am sure its not but from what I saw it sure isnt just a few bad apples and that is where my sympathy ends for NO. you reap what you sow I am sick and tired of the entitlement attitude that NO. people have no one owes you jack anymore and I dont want to hear it anymore.

Now if you build a city that is surrounded by water and that is below sea level what do you expect to happen? Oh one more thing about this, there is a billboard on I-55 as you are coming out of Jackson heading towards La. and it reads "People of NO. we helped you in your time of need but the city of NO. needs YOU now; please return home"....Truer words could not have been spoken...Ok sorry bout the rant

Tom Benson is an asshole and a cheap ass and he personally doesnt deserve a superbowl trophy for the way he has handled the Saints since he owned them; but Saints fans do but it isnt because of Katrina but for 42 years of being a shitty run franchise.

[lerxstcat]

Well, you make some good points, and in fact here in Mississippi our outlook has been that WE got the hurricane, they basically got broken levees and all the national attention. For them water rose up from the breaches, for us, we got a 35-foot storm surge with in some places 20 foot waves on top. More like a tsunami than what NOLA got. And we were much more left to our own devices than NOLA too.

Now one thing I'll say in defense of those people with nice cars but living in the unrepaired homes. The insurance industry is obscenely fucking everyone in this area - except that auto insurance generally paid. So if you DID get a big government payout, why sink it into a house that you still can't insure? Might as well sink it into a vehicle that you can drive away in next time a big storm approaches.

The last storm similar to Katrina, but not as bad, was Camille, in 1969. 36 years between events, but the insurance companies are now charging rates as though it's gonna happen every year. Many won't reup homeowner policies unless the owners agree to put their auto insurance with them as well. Allstate and State Farm requested 45% and 65% rate increases, respectively, and may pull out of the state since they were denied.

The insurance industry is legalized organized crime IMO, after seeing what it's done down here. Just wait til SoCal gets their big quake and the insurance industry tries to fuck a wealthy and powerful region the way they have our weak and poor region. Then you'll see insurance reform toot suite.

Anyway, sorry to threadjack, and yeah, there ARE issues that are NOLA's own fault, but I wouldn't sink $100K into fixing a house that I couldn't insure either. Would you?

[Jayster]

Chan Freakin' Gailey?
Brings in Giff Smith ... http://www.examiner.com/x-2155-Georg...ley-in-Buffalo
Exciting off season coming up, rumor is Jim Kelly is trying to buy the franchise and has great interest in Tebow.


*side note - colts win

[atomic charvel guy]

I'm an AFC guy, but I'm rooting for the Saints because they've never won it before.
The Colts are going to win this one though, I think they're better defensively, and in the end that's what will be the difference, obviously both teams can score points, but if it comes down to who can get a stop I have to say the Colts are better equipped to do it.

[Shawn Lutz]

Go Colts!

[fordsho90]

Well, you make some good points, and in fact here in Mississippi our outlook has been that WE got the hurricane, they basically got broken levees and all the national attention. For them water rose up from the breaches, for us, we got a 35-foot storm surge with in some places 20 foot waves on top. More like a tsunami than what NOLA got. And we were much more left to our own devices than NOLA too.

Now one thing I'll say in defense of those people with nice cars but living in the unrepaired homes. The insurance industry is obscenely fucking everyone in this area - except that auto insurance generally paid. So if you DID get a big government payout, why sink it into a house that you still can't insure? Might as well sink it into a vehicle that you can drive away in next time a big storm approaches.

The last storm similar to Katrina, but not as bad, was Camille, in 1969. 36 years between events, but the insurance companies are now charging rates as though it's gonna happen every year. Many won't reup homeowner policies unless the owners agree to put their auto insurance with them as well. Allstate and State Farm requested 45% and 65% rate increases, respectively, and may pull out of the state since they were denied.

The insurance industry is legalized organized crime IMO, after seeing what it's done down here. Just wait til SoCal gets their big quake and the insurance industry tries to fuck a wealthy and powerful region the way they have our weak and poor region. Then you'll see insurance reform toot suite.

Anyway, sorry to threadjack, and yeah, there ARE issues that are NOLA's own fault, but I wouldn't sink $100K into fixing a house that I couldn't insure either. Would you?

The insurance industry is legal theft, after Ike hit our area they now require us to carry wind damage on top of my regular homeowners insurance which btw they use to cover on the homeowners policy and it pretty much doubled my yearly output for insurance costs crooks. What the insurance carriers are pulling down in your neck of the woods they tried pulling that crap down in Florida after Andrew and dropping people all together.

Now bout NO. first and formost I wouldnt live in a city that is mostly at or below sea level, if I had to live in that area I would live in Slidell and make the commute; at least it isnt surrounded by water on all sides and below sea level. And I know the insurance companies are screwing people there as they have here and by you, but you dont get the kind of money for an auto claim to be able to go out and by a 60-70 thousand dollar ride or two and throw another 10g's in bling in it like I said it wasnt just a few it was quite alot so auto claim is ruled out. And as far as the why sink money into a house you cant insure anyway claim; thats all well and good, I get that. BUT to spend the money on some phat-ass ride instead is just a fucking joke, and to live in a home that has been completley flooded??? Come on now, what are they just gonna sit around in their mold infested nightmare and wait for the next payday?? at OUR expense? Sorry dude that shit dont fly in my book, had it been me I would have taken the 100g's bought a good vehicle (if one was needed) for my family and picked up the family and moved to another state and started over and never looked back.....

I think the Colts will win cause they are just a better team

[guitarsjb]

I think the Saints will win it. I'm just hopin for a game, and not a blow out by either side.

[lerxstcat]

The insurance industry is legal theft, after Ike hit our area they now require us to carry wind damage on top of my regular homeowners insurance which btw they use to cover on the homeowners policy and it pretty much doubled my yearly output for insurance costs crooks. What the insurance carriers are pulling down in your neck of the woods they tried pulling that crap down in Florida after Andrew and dropping people all together.

Now bout NO. first and formost I wouldnt live in a city that is mostly at or below sea level, if I had to live in that area I would live in Slidell and make the commute; at least it isnt surrounded by water on all sides and below sea level. And I know the insurance companies are screwing people there as they have here and by you, but you dont get the kind of money for an auto claim to be able to go out and by a 60-70 thousand dollar ride or two and throw another 10g's in bling in it like I said it wasnt just a few it was quite alot so auto claim is ruled out. And as far as the why sink money into a house you cant insure anyway claim; thats all well and good, I get that. BUT to spend the money on some phat-ass ride instead is just a fucking joke, and to live in a home that has been completley flooded??? Come on now, what are they just gonna sit around in their mold infested nightmare and wait for the next payday?? at OUR expense? Sorry dude that shit dont fly in my book, had it been me I would have taken the 100g's bought a good vehicle (if one was needed) for my family and picked up the family and moved to another state and started over and never looked back.....

I think the Colts will win cause they are just a better team

Well, a lot of people who didn't have insurance did get grants, which yes is our tax dollars - but let me ask you this. did you stop and go INSIDE any of those houses? Because you know, you can gut the interior, clean the mold and re-drywall it without redoing the EXTERIOR. Seen it all the time in the repair plumbing business. You could drive by houses that have been made livable on the inside and would still look like shit on the outside - which, if I were poor, and doing thr triage of getting my family back into the house, is what I would do.

So again, if you didn't go inside any of those homes, you don't know what they've spent money on, you are just assuming based on pre-existing assumptions, otherwise called prejudices.

I think the Saints will win because it's their time and God is bigger and badder than even Peyton Manning! I think it's gonna be a good game though, probably a shootout because the Saints' best shot is to keep scoring and scoring, try to stay ahead. We shall see soon enough....

[fordsho90]

Well, a lot of people who didn't have insurance did get grants, which yes is our tax dollars - but let me ask you this. did you stop and go INSIDE any of those houses? Because you know, you can gut the interior, clean the mold and re-drywall it without redoing the EXTERIOR. Seen it all the time in the repair plumbing business. You could drive by houses that have been made livable on the inside and would still look like shit on the outside - which, if I were poor, and doing thr triage of getting my family back into the house, is what I would do.

So again, if you didn't go inside any of those homes, you don't know what they've spent money on, you are just assuming based on pre-existing assumptions, otherwise called prejudices.

I think the Saints will win because it's their time and God is bigger and badder than even Peyton Manning! I think it's gonna be a good game though, probably a shootout because the Saints' best shot is to keep scoring and scoring, try to stay ahead. We shall see soon enough....

How do you figure? and how did you come to the conclusion that I have based my opinion on pre-existing assumtions? Like I told you in previous posts we spent a shit load of time in the city and not just on the highway but in many different neibourhoods. We have driven through the SAME areas, down the SAME streets, past the SAME houses at least a dozen times in close to 4 years. And it wasnt a quick get off get right back on the highway tour, we spent at least 4 hours driving the streets every time we drove through so my opinion isnt based on just a casual observation. Nor is it based on a certain type of neibourhood, from low class to upper class and all in between we seen them all. Nor is it base on a certain race of people or on income level. And no I never stepped foot in someones house, I am an electrcian and have been doing it for over 15 years now and I have worked on all types of structures from Industrial all the way down to multi-family and everything in between. When you drive the same areas you can see whom has done what and who hasnt, regardless if its exterior or interior you know if something has been done, and you being in the trades should know that.


Now back to the money issue, I dont care where the money came from if it was grants, insurance claims, payoffs, bribes, settlements whatever. Bottom line is that WE as taxpayers and homeowners are paying for this through our taxes and through our premiums. My premiums have almost tripled in the last 10 years and I NEVER filed a claim. *sigh* Bottom line is that the people and the city had a chance to do it the right way and start over and make it a better city but thats not happening; and we will revist this again soon. The money they received could have been spent better, and yes it does piss me off because there seems to be a I dont give a shit attitude like everyone owes them cause of Katrina. Like I told you already what I would have done w/the money but thats just me.

I guess I dont expect you to understand where im coming from cause it is obvious to me that you havent visited the area or you would see with your own eyes what I am talking about. I am glad that your state has picked themselves up off the turf and have moved forward and havent rolled over. I am done jacking the thread guys and I am sorry I did to begin with. lerxstcat if you wanna continue our little debate just pm me or we can start our own Battle royal thread

[guitarsjb]

Uhm..guys..this is a FOOTBALL thread. Start your Katrina one somewhere else please.

[lerxstcat]

How do you figure? and how did you come to the conclusion that I have based my opinion on pre-existing assumtions? Like I told you in previous posts we spent a shit load of time in the city and not just on the highway but in many different neibourhoods. We have driven through the SAME areas, down the SAME streets, past the SAME houses at least a dozen times in close to 4 years. And it wasnt a quick get off get right back on the highway tour, we spent at least 4 hours driving the streets every time we drove through so my opinion isnt based on just a casual observation. Nor is it based on a certain type of neibourhood, from low class to upper class and all in between we seen them all. Nor is it base on a certain race of people or on income level. And no I never stepped foot in someones house, I am an electrcian and have been doing it for over 15 years now and I have worked on all types of structures from Industrial all the way down to multi-family and everything in between. When you drive the same areas you can see whom has done what and who hasnt, regardless if its exterior or interior you know if something has been done, and you being in the trades should know that.


Now back to the money issue, I dont care where the money came from if it was grants, insurance claims, payoffs, bribes, settlements whatever. Bottom line is that WE as taxpayers and homeowners are paying for this through our taxes and through our premiums. My premiums have almost tripled in the last 10 years and I NEVER filed a claim. *sigh* Bottom line is that the people and the city had a chance to do it the right way and start over and make it a better city but thats not happening; and we will revist this again soon. The money they received could have been spent better, and yes it does piss me off because there seems to be a I dont give a shit attitude like everyone owes them cause of Katrina. Like I told you already what I would have done w/the money but thats just me.

I guess I dont expect you to understand where im coming from cause it is obvious to me that you havent visited the area or you would see with your own eyes what I am talking about. I am glad that your state has picked themselves up off the turf and have moved forward and havent rolled over. I am done jacking the thread guys and I am sorry I did to begin with. lerxstcat if you wanna continue our little debate just pm me or we can start our own Battle royal thread

Dude, I live in Gulfport, about 60 miles east of New Orleans, and yes, I have been there since Katrina. I SO also know that interior work can be done without you seeing signs outside, so again, unless you went inside those houses - and you just said you hadn't - then you don't know what the interior looks like. A lot of those old woodframe houses, like a friend of mine's in Biloxi, with no insulation. Rip out the sheetrock, spray for mold, put in new sheetrock or drywall and you're good. My buddy, my old bassist, lives 2 blocks from the shore. His house took 7 feet of water and when the door blew open he watched his gear float out the door and into the Gulf of Mexico. But after the storm, it wasn't that costly at all for him to get the house habitable again.

So no, by your admission you didn't go into those places, so you do NOT know what was done and not done in the houses after the storm. Neither do I, for that matter, in NOLA. I've driven around to lok around, but my actual destinations have been the Quarter and Gretna for Gretnafest.

BTW, with electrical, as you probably know, if it gets wet and you just let it dry out long enough, a lot of times you won't have to replace anything right away. So you might not have seen signs of electrical work, but again, you can't see from the outside whether they've replaced the floors and the drywall inside or not. Not sure why you'd even try to say that, but come on. They could even still have tarps on the roofs but still have gutted the walls to kill the mold.

As for all kinds of neighborhoods being like that, that ought to tell you something. Not that everybody in NOLA are pieces of shit, as you and your wife concluded from a series of drive-bys, but that the screwing the insurance companies have put on everybody makes it untenable to fully rebuild if you can't get a full settlement and if your insurance rates have either gone sky-high or become completely unavailable.

And frankly, if the rest of the country wants to sit and judge us, then yeah, we'll take your tax dollars and feel good about it. When it happens to you and you and everyone you know gets fucked too, then we'll talk about it again. Actually, I don't wish that on you, except that then you would get it.

Anyway, no point in arguing, but I do live down here, don't just pass through. Unless you were hit by this storm and lived through it, you really have no clue about the experience, and I hope that you never have to experience anything like it either.

[lerxstcat]

Uhm..guys..this is a FOOTBALL thread. Start your Katrina one somewhere else please.

No offense, Jeri, but my cousin - who first got me into the guitar - died about an hour ago, then I come here still in shock to see this guy still telling me how it is about something I lived through and he did not, so sorry if it jacks the football thread, but I'm not letting it go unresponded to.

NOW I am done, but really, this fucking Super Bowl is so insignificant compared to having lived through that shit that I don't give a FUCK if someone's annoyed that it jacked the thread. No offense, but there ya go.

And I didn't bring Katrina into the thread, I just replied, for the record.

[fordsho90]

No offense, Jeri, but my cousin - who first got me into the guitar - died about an hour ago, then I come here still in shock to see this guy still telling me how it is about something I lived through and he did not, so sorry if it jacks the football thread, but I'm not letting it go unresponded to.

NOW I am done, but really, this fucking Super Bowl is so insignificant compared to having lived through that shit that I don't give a FUCK if someone's annoyed that it jacked the thread. No offense, but there ya go.

And I didn't bring Katrina into the thread, I just replied, for the record.

Pm sent

[cvansickle]

I just got back from a business trip to New Orleans. The way the locals are carrying on down there, you would think they already won the Superbowl!

[atomic charvel guy]

up to the minute line- Colts minus 5.5 and the over/under at a sick level of 56