New Orleans...

[AGELESS]

Don’t stop until you finish reading all of this …

Note: I didn't check the math on this one but I assume it is correct.



A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into perspective in one of its releases.

1. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

2. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

3. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

4. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

5. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes .... at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in your mind, let's take a look at New Orleans - It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division. Louisiana Governor, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the Congress of the United States for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans.

Interesting number; what does it mean?

Well, there were 484,674 permanent residents of New Orleans prior to Katrina. That number, above, includes every man, woman, and child living in New Orleans.

If you were one of those 484,674 inhabitants, that $250 billion would provide $516,528.00 to each of you.

For a family of four, that would be a very nice $2,066,112.00 of our tax dollars.

Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans, your household gets $1,329,787.00

Dear Congress........................... Are all your frigging calculators broken???

 

[Rodja]

If they only gave enough to adequately house the residents of NO, then there would not be any money left for them to embezzle.

Sadly, this probably not that far from the truth.

 

[FitnFirm]

Hell ya !!!!!! You tell em ageless!!!!!!

 

[AGELESS]

Nice avatar...."DARLIN" you look PERFECT...WOW..How is that front comin along?:jaw:

 

[FitnFirm]

Nice avatar...."DARLIN" you look PERFECT...WOW..How is that front comin along?:jaw:

FnF is blushing I just finished bulking when that pic was taken on the 10th of sept. Here are my latest pics below. Im 15 days into cutting right now, wow its hard work!


http://anabolicminds.com/forum/621442-post24.html

 

[AGELESS]

Damn..."DARLIN" I just looked at your pictures...I got goose bumps and chest pains... damn Im gettin old:jaw:

 

[tsc]

Does the bill you reference actually state all of the $ is for rebuilding NEW ORLEANS? Most references to the bills that have passed or may soon all deal with louisiana at a whole. Many people focus too much on New Orleans and forget between Katrina and Rita pretty much the entire coastline suffered massive damage.

It makes for a nice show to divide the money up by the number of people and all, but where are the calculations for infrastructure, rebuilding schools, hospitals, and every other thing across the coast that has nothing to do with people's homes?

That said, there will be a huge amount of misused $. Anytime you get large amounts of federal $, and people involved scams will be done. Yes, much will be wasted, but this is unfortunately true anywhere in the US. In addition, the cost to rebuild anything in LA now is more expensive than it used to be due to the increased demand for construction etc but not enough people to do it. ie, prices go way up. In the first few months after the hurricanes, I knew construction workers and electricians etc that could easy charge 3X as much as before, and still have more business lined up than ever before.

Living in LA myself, I still think the amount of money going into New Orleans is way too much, as it trying to make it as big as before is useless. What happened can still easily happen again. A much smaller New Orleans makes more since, but too many people don't want to hear that.

TSC

 

[jmh80]

TSC,
I'm also in LA.

I can only say the people running this state are some of the stupidest people period.

Don't give LA any money until we can PROVE that we can elect people that think with some form of logic and aren't corrupt.

I'm all for razzing the parts of NO that are below sea level and building it up above sea level.
As it stands now - in a few years, the city will be the same. And another big hurricane will come rumbling through and viola - deja vu.

I can't take the stupidity in this state much longer...

 

[tsc]

TSC,
I'm also in LA.

I can only say the people running this state are some of the stupidest people period.

Don't give LA any money until we can PROVE that we can elect people that think with some form of logic and aren't corrupt.

I'm all for razzing the parts of NO that are below sea level and building it up above sea level.
As it stands now - in a few years, the city will be the same. And another big hurricane will come rumbling through and viola - deja vu.

I can't take the stupidity in this state much longer...

as for the bolded part above, if that is the case... we'll be broke forever!! LA politicians are beyond unbelievable, and even worse is the fact that they get re-elected often!

I think it would be better to leave the low areas alone. There is the notion that once all of this is done, everyone will return. Why? Most people I know that moved out aren't moving back as they are established in their new cities/homes. Given our track record, I do imagine all of the trash that were looting and attacking rescuers will be given amnesty if they move back to the city (with some cash to do it too).

JMH80, your are in BR correct?

TSC

 

[jmh80]

Yeah.

 

[tsc]

Yeah.

in that case you are a good 10 or 15 minutes away from me. SG, the jewel of LA :icon_lol:

TSC

 

[julius kelp]

how much did florida get in their last disaster?

 

[jmh80]

Probably not nearly as much - they are merely run by idiots who won't allow offshore oil drilling.

Not complete retards as in LA.

I'm not sure what SG is - I'll have to think on that (no need to reveal....).

 

[tsc]

Probably not nearly as much - they are merely run by idiots who won't allow offshore oil drilling.

Not complete retards as in LA.

I'm not sure what SG is - I'll have to think on that (no need to reveal....).

easy hint, head south on nicholson.

TSC

 

[anabolicrhino]

I am no mathematician but,... 1 billion seconds or 60 x 60 x 23.95 x 364.325 = ~31.83(31+301days) years. Today 2006years,265 days - 31.301 days = ~1975 (around the time of the thrilla in manilla)

1 billion minutes would be 31.83years x 60(seconds in a minute) = ~1909. 8 years
2006-1909 = ~97 A.D. I am no theologian but, if its the same jesus I have read about I think he left around 33 A. D.

Just can't trust those advertizing companies, always count your loose change!!!

 

[jmh80]

Ahhhh.

Yeah - not far at all.
Unless I wanted to get shot or something...

(Got a manager at one of our contractors that lives in University Club right before the city - that's as far down as I've been.)

 

[bulls**t]

I spent a month volunteering in Buras LA this summer, and Ive got to agree with some of you guys, the amount of corruption and squandering is inconceivable.

And it goes farther than that. The government is essentially kissing southern Plaquemines Parish goodbye and not doing a damn thing down there. Not even running water and electricity.

Im from Jersey, so I cant compare NO now to what it used to be, but it seemed like everything was doing all right when I was in town, especially relative to 2 hours south.

 

[tsc]

Ahhhh.

Yeah - not far at all.
Unless I wanted to get shot or something...

(Got a manager at one of our contractors that lives in University Club right before the city - that's as far down as I've been.)

you wouldn't get shot here, much greater chance in the big city... however, whoever shoots you in BR will be housed in one of our two jails. :icon_lol: The club is about 3 or 4 miles from me.

Bull@#$,

I hadn't been down to buras or further to Venice since the hurricane but heard it was pretty horrible. I had a bunch of aerial photos from plaquemines parish that I got from a friend at the school of the coast and envir. at lsu. There were some pretty unbelievable scenes.

TSC

 

[ralph4u2c]

money is getting "lost" and squandered no doubt. MANY of the people doing that arent just from new orleans area, they are from every part of the map. why? fema was giving any construction/demolition crew a contract and paying retarded amounts for them. its not just "us" squandering. i believe they were SO overwhelmed they began giving away way to much "free money." we were offered thousands on end every little thing, anyone would jump on that chance, specially if you didnt have much to come home too. its sad what has happened to many, i dont live in NO anymore but visit often as i have two homes there and things are very slowly getting better. granted no hurricanes come - in 10 years NO will be a very nice place. only thing pissing me off is these illegal immigrants coming in looking for work, which is fine, but they are committing way to many crimes. just last week my bestfriend's girlfriend got raped @ the hotel she worked at because there were no more rooms for a crew of illegal mexicants.

we all have to pay our taxes, all our money goes to the same place, and believe me - things are easier said than done so just keep paying your taxes and working

its sad it had to happen to us but you throw a hurricane into L.A. or NYC or any major city for that matter and the EXACT same thing will happen w/o a doubt.

o btw guys, im living in lafayette now - hands down the best city in louisiana. tons of millionaires, beautiful homes, oil fields, job opportunities, bars, and restaurants. i love it out here. enjoy it more than BR & NO.

 

[anabolicrhino]

money is getting "lost" and squandered no doubt. MANY of the people doing that arent just from new orleans area, they are from every part of the map. why? fema was giving any construction/demolition crew a contract and paying retarded amounts for them. its not just "us" squandering. i believe they were SO overwhelmed they began giving away way to much "free money." we were offered thousands on end every little thing, anyone would jump on that chance, specially if you didnt have much to come home too. its sad what has happened to many, i dont live in NO anymore but visit often as i have two homes there and things are very slowly getting better. granted no hurricanes come - in 10 years NO will be a very nice place. only thing pissing me off is these illegal immigrants coming in looking for work, which is fine, but they are committing way to many crimes. just last week my bestfriend's girlfriend got raped @ the hotel she worked at because there were no more rooms for a crew of illegal mexicants.

we all have to pay our taxes, all our money goes to the same place, and believe me - things are easier said than done so just keep paying your taxes and working

its sad it had to happen to us but you throw a hurricane into L.A. or NYC or any major city for that matter and the EXACT same thing will happen w/o a doubt.

o btw guys, im living in lafayette now - hands down the best city in louisiana. tons of millionaires, beautiful homes, oil fields, job opportunities, bars, and restaurants. i love it out here. enjoy it more than BR & NO.

There wasn't a hurricane but there was some big thing that happened in NYC about 5 years ago. There was some looting but that kind of took care of itself as there were more people volunteering to protect the city than there were looters. Oddly enough FEMA was there too. They got there a day early if I remember correctly. Which is really unusual because there wasn't much advanced notice of this event, where as in New Orleans there about a weeks notice and FEMA was still late!

I think now that Halliburton and Wackenhut have gotten the advanced contracts on the N.O. rebuild it won't be long....until they get paid(that is)... as far as the rebuild it will have to wait until they decide who gets, what money, when!

I have been to New Orleans many times('94,'97,'98.2000) and really enjoyed the local flavor, it reminded me of NYC without the "edge". Although late night grove(Superdome area) walks were a little scary.

It is suspiciousy convienent that the lowest third of the city was levelled and 100,000 or so of the lowest economic factor of citizens were displaced.

When lower Manhattan(juciest real estate in the world) was damaged it took about 6 months to get it back up to speed.

I think because of the "advanced" planning

Good Luck Nawlins..I miss you!

 

[shyguy1]

Well maybe another look at this situation. I would really have to see what her break down would be for the 250million. But ageless was breaking down that money in a way that would seem to go to each household, but that's not the case.
Let's say every thing is legit.(which I'll be the first to say that it's not,but for sake of arguement)
-The business infrastructure needs rebuilding. So business need breaks and money to survive and rebuild. If there is no business where do we work and earn money?How do we finish the rebuilding on our own after the basics are accounted for?
-The school system needed to be brought up to par. Even before the storm this was a issue, but this is the perfect time to force the issue. I'm from New Orleans and my main issue is where my daughter would be attending school and when.
-Tourism and Beautification. No matter what no one says, New orleans was a city of soul and a feel all it's own with a very special place in america. No one could sit here and tell me that if a earthquake leveled Los Angeles. That no one care to get it back to it's old standing.
-Housing. Since Katrina housing in new orleans has doubled and in some areas trippled. This is preposterous. To me this is second behind the schools how can we start anything if before you left your rent was 500 a month and now it's 1250 a month.
Pretty much a conspiracy theory to keep the poor black urban community away. Easily they could set up workshops that put you to work and as long as your working or in school help with the rent increase or put caps on rents and kickback owners to compensate, something to put people in homes.

Me being from new orleans I know better than most about the corruption and politics. But a fair amount of money is needed.250 Billion? maybe not. But I know if any of you who have not lost everything at once may not understand. But all you want to do is go home.

I'm educated,African American, and a new orleanian. I don't have a gun, I don't fight everybody. But due to media issue i'm superthug or some dumb ****. Woe is life. But when you get a New Orleans tag all you want to go home because no wants you in there city.You know they had a public meeting with politicians to send anyone from new orleans back. That's the kind of bull **** I'm speaking of.

 

[Iron Warrior]

Nice way to break it down Ageless :thumbsup:

BTW, it's been 11 years and 4 months since the 49ers last won a Super Bowl

 

[jmh80]

Yeah - but we got Frank Gore, IW!!!
Maybe things are looking up?

 

[klugman]

Just to be annoying...Mary Landrieu is a Senator and the governor is the incredibly incompetant kathleen blanco

 

[Iron Warrior]

Yeah - but we got Frank Gore, IW!!!
Maybe things are looking up?

Hell yeah he ain't bad, he just needs to come up big against the Raiders and I'll forgive him for the fumbleitis

 

[BioHazzard]

Just to be annoying...Mary Landrieu is a Senator and the governor is the incredibly incompetant kathleen blanco

She looks like those fat wives of the Soviet Communist party bosses of the good ol days... She even gets the wave right.... :lol:

 

[jmh80]

She's an idiot. I have no clue how she was elected.
I wasn't here for the election though so I don't know any background on it....

 

[klugman]

She's an idiot. I have no clue how she was elected.
I wasn't here for the election though so I don't know any background on it....

what are you talking about??? She has such nuanced, cultured positions on the issues...a great example of a governor with dare I say gravitas.

:blink:

 

[Bigballa]

Just to be annoying...Mary Landrieu is a Senator and the governor is the incredibly incompetant kathleen blanco

I, too, don't see how the hell this lady got elected. People in LA just couldn't stand electing Bobby Jindal because he was an indian guy so they settled for this dumb broad.

As for rebuilding New Orleans. The businesses should get some financial help to get re-established. The housing is a different story. I have mixed feelings about this. The government gave them a couple months, if I'm not mistaken, of free hotel rent and/or mobile trailers to stay in. Also, some moved away to other cities because there was no room left to stay.

Rather than trying to find work and rebuilding their lives some of these people did nothing but milk the government for everything they could and tear up the motels and trailers they were living in. Remeber CNN news story where the motels were kicking people out because they were writing on the walls and destroying rooms. So shyguy I think this is why a lot of people don't want New Orleans people in their city.

There was some much money FEMA money wasted. People that I know had engineering internships were getting paid $20-$30 hr to lay tarps on roofs and gut houses that had water damage. All this was financed by FEMA contracts. Also, a lot of those moblie trailers they built aren't even being used. I live in BR but my parents live in Lafayette and in both cities I know of at least 100-200 trailers that aren't being used and some have never been lived in.

Oh well enough of my rambling. Didn't know they had this many people from LA on this board. Thought I was the only one :head:

 

[jmh80]

Yeah - there are a bunch of trailers on River Road that appear to me to be 90% empty.


BTW - I don't celebrate that I live in LA. I've grown tired of it - I'm not sure how much longer I can live here.

 

[Big Matt]

So much finger pointing and blame revolving around New Orleans and Katrina.....
.....no one calls out the people who are truly at fault for the whole disaster: The people and politicians of New Orleans themselves.

The Orleans Levee District -- responsible for most flood control in the city and armed with a $40 million annual budget and nearly 300 employees -- had branched out over the years to build parks, marinas, an airport and a dock it leased to a casino gambling boat. Critics and some former board members say the board had lost sight of its original mission. TO PROTECT THE CITY FROM DISASTER!

With backing from the Legislature, the Orleans board branched out into areas only tangentially related to flood control. "We never talked about levees," recalls Peggy Wilson, who served on the Orleans levee board in 2001 and 2002.

During the year before Katrina, the Orleans board spent considerable time discussing the commuter airport it owns, modifying its lease with a floating casino and reviving a proposal to build a $280 million man-made island and fishing piers in Lake Pontchartrain. Anything but levees.

Meanwhile, the Army Corps repeatedly warned local officials over the past two years that long stretches in the 350-mile levee system were sinking into the region's soft soil. In some cases, they were already as much as 3 feet lower than when they were originally built. The Corps said the levees urgently needed to be "lifted" but that it had no money to perform the work. Because New Orleans spent the money on subsidizing casino's and gambling to gain tax revenue and thus gambled with the lives of the citizens of New Orleans......and LOST!

For all of Bush's faults he declared a state of emergency more than 2 days prior to Katrina's landfall........I don't care how poor or bad-off someone is.....if it were me I'd grab what I could carry and beat feet for higher ground!......the Govenor of Louisiana did not put the national guard into action until after the fact despite the requests of the Bush administration......(the federal governement can't activate the "state" guard)......Ray Nagan had access to dozens of school buses that could have been used to evacuate thousands of residents but did not act........and so many many people died.

...there were so many things that were squarly on the shoulders of New Orleans herself and the state of Louisiana as far as all the lives lost and the damage done.....

Sorry.....as much as I can fault Bush for in the current times....the Katrina disaster is not one of them.....

 

[tsc]

I would agree up to the point that there are many people and organizations that deserve blame. To leave out the Bush administration is insane. The scenario in New Orleans has been predicted for decades. It was well known that this would be one of the worst natural disasters the country would ever see. It would be impossible for local government (city and state) to handle such a disaster on their own. This was known. The federal government made several mistakes, both in preparing for this (again, this was no freak occurance, it was just a matter of when it would happen) and dealing with things as they happened. The same for the state, the same for the city. It is a text book case for the failures of government at every level. Despite other shortcomings, I will say this for governor Blanco: She was the only person that publicly accepted any blame for what happened.

on a side, the corps of engineers built the levee system, and at the time knew it wouldn't withstand such a scenario as what happened. Faulting another group for not making up for somebody else's flawed engineering isn't quite fair. That is of course for that one particular issue. If it involves LA politics and any group or organization within... there are bound to be major #$%@ups and "misplaced money" etc. etc. etc.

There are so many examples of things that went wrong. These come from every level of government. No one person or group deserves the entire blame, but all involved should face up to their part and work on preventing these failures from every happening again. To exclude someone from criticism when they deserve it is to quarantee they will do the same in the future.

TSC

 

[anabolicrhino]

So much finger pointing and blame revolving around New Orleans and Katrina.....
.....no one calls out the people who are truly at fault for the whole disaster: The people and politicians of New Orleans themselves.

For all of Bush's faults he declared a state of emergency more than 2 days prior to Katrina's landfall........I don't care how poor or bad-off someone is.....if it were me I'd grab what I could carry and beat feet for higher ground!

Sorry.....as much as I can fault Bush for in the current times....the Katrina disaster is not one of them.....

I agree that self preservation begins with yourself. Personal responcibility and accountability are what make a great society and historically Lousiana has been a "role model" for political corruption.( I am fron NJ I know how it feels)

However, if you can fault Bush for the "current times" you should be able to fault his administration for Katrina.

Bush promotes himself as the " great decider ", making us a safer nation. I would think this "safety" would include natural disasters.

The Bush appointed federal emergency management association (FEMA) was incompetent in its execution of any plans for both evacuation and rescue of Katrina victims. Mostly because its top level of experienced managment were either recruited for the new Homeland Security Department or were deployed as reservists to address the Iraqi conflict. Bush created Homeland security and he was at least "somewhat involved" in the decision to invade Iraq. Do you really think he should get a "free pass" on Katrina? He did correctly declare the Katrina area a "disaster area" in an appropriate time frame, but then it was like he said "okay, I did my part, now I'm out, good luck y'all"

 

[Big Matt]

I agree that self preservation begins with yourself. Personal responcibility and accountability are what make a great society and historically Lousiana has been a "role model" for political corruption.( I am fron NJ I know how it feels)

However, if you can fault Bush for the "current times" you should be able to fault his administration for Katrina.

Bush promotes himself as the " great decider ", making us a safer nation. I would think this "safety" would include natural disasters.

The Bush appointed federal emergency management association (FEMA) was incompetent in its execution of any plans for both evacuation and rescue of Katrina victims. Mostly because its top level of experienced managment were either recruited for the new Homeland Security Department or were deployed as reservists to address the Iraqi conflict. Bush created Homeland security and he was at least "somewhat involved" in the decision to invade Iraq. Do you really think he should get a "free pass" on Katrina? He did correctly declare the Katrina area a "disaster area" in an appropriate time frame, but then it was like he said "okay, I did my part, now I'm out, good luck y'all"

Not giving Bush a free pass at all.....just saying there are others more responsible before Bush should get his fair share of blame.......everyone knew of this impending disaster for DECADES!! They just dodged the hurricaine bullet for so long it became a kind of status quo.....so no one did anything....for DECADES!