Tropical Storm Isaac

[sledgemeister]

Oh, and they can't help it,.....there is looting....but at least they are being arrested.

http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/NOPD-continues-to-arrest-looters/-/9853400/16429596/-/5w6p67/-/index.html

Gee am I being racist?

Guessing the looter wasnt a white australian on holiday looking for a pub, by the looks of that "bling"   

[BBJohnnyT]

I mean absolutely no offense to all the folks who live down there, but New Orleans has to be the most idiotic place for a major city.  Instead of constantly pumping billions of dollars into keeping it dry, that money should be spent to do a one-time buyout of all property, and to relocate everyone.  Then let it sink and become a National Monument to man's stupidity.  Damn the historical value of the city, it's just not worth it.

Almost 30 years ago, John McPhee wrote The Control Of Nature, which is three essays on man's attempt to stem the tide of natural occurring events.  One of the essays was on our government's herculean effort at tremendous cost to control the flow of the mighty Mississippi. At best it's a never ending battle, but IMO, the river will eventually win.  While it has a bit of a tree-hugging slant, the essay does of very good, and even prophetic, job of outlining the challenges with the levee system and dangers New Orleans faces.  The full essay is here and is a good read, especially if you live in the area.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1987/02/23/1987_02_23_039_TNY_CARDS_000347146

[tombogan03884]

I read his book on Alaska years ago, it seemed pretty informative although all the information is likely out of date now.
The problem with letting the river do as it pleases is that for 200 years now its barges and shipping have been a major economic pillar of the central US.
You will note, however, that it's the newer sections of New Orleans that get flooded, even the French were smart enough to build on the highest parts of the swamp.

[BBJohnnyT]

You're right that it's a major economic area for our nation.  And that's the tragedy, because the problem with the eroding coastlines and subsiding parishes caused by the levees is only compounding the threats to New Orleans.  Just watch, in the next 10 to 50 years, this area is going to turn into the largest money pit the world has ever seen.  Just to keep it viable and dry and it's already happening now.  So should America bite the bullet now, or pump trillions of dollars over the next decades to maintain the status quo? 

Of course they're not going to abandon it, but it seems like such a massive waste of national resources caused by underestimating the river and poor planning in the past.

[jaybet]

Sort of like,....Venice?  (Italy)

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

You're right that it's a major economic area for our nation.  And that's the tragedy, because the problem with the eroding coastlines and subsiding parishes caused by the levees is only compounding the threats to New Orleans.  Just watch, in the next 10 to 50 years, this area is going to turn into the largest money pit the world has ever seen.  Just to keep it viable and dry and it's already happening now.  So should America bite the bullet now, or pump trillions of dollars over the next decades to maintain the status quo? 

Of course they're not going to abandon it, but it seems like such a massive waste of national resources caused by underestimating the river and poor planning in the past.

Oh, I'm not defending NO, just talking about keeping the river navigable.
My suggestion, which will definitely not happen, is the next hurricane to flood it tell them tough sh!t, go build ABOVE water level.

[BBJohnnyT]

My suggestion, which will definitely not happen, is the next hurricane to flood it tell them tough sh!t, go build ABOVE water level.

+1
For those folks who have never been to New Orleans, it's a strange feeling to be sitting at Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter enjoying some chicory coffee and beignets while viewing the levee.  And then realizing that the Mississippi River is on the other side and 20 feet above your head.

[Timothy]

+1
For those folks who have never been to New Orleans, it's a strange feeling to be sitting at Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter enjoying some chicory coffee and beignets while viewing the levee.  And then realizing that the Mississippi River is on the other side and 20 feet above your head.

Pretty creepy ain't it?

I worked for a time at a nuclear plant near Kilona in St Charles Parish.  Directly across the road was the 30 or 40 foot levee that was holding back the Might Miss!  It was really quite unsettling for this northern boy!

[Solus]

+1
For those folks who have never been to New Orleans, it's a strange feeling to be sitting at Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter enjoying some chicory coffee and beignets while viewing the levee.  And then realizing that the Mississippi River is on the other side and 20 feet above your head.

Creepy started flying into the airport and seeing that all the graves were mausoleums above ground and realizing it was water under a few inches of dirt.

Flying  into there my first trip, my first impression was that it was sunken...it just looks below sea level from the air.

Of course much of Holland is below sea level and they manage it seems.
 

[tombogan03884]

+1
For those folks who have never been to New Orleans, it's a strange feeling to be sitting at Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter enjoying some chicory coffee and beignets while viewing the levee.  And then realizing that the Mississippi River is on the other side and 20 feet above your head.

And Tennessee William's street car and Jackson park on the other side