New Orleans, Where For Art Thou?

NYT this morning writes: “Now, as the [NOPD] department tries to fight its way back, sharp budget cuts — and a recent spike in drug-related killings in the city — are adding to fears that years of overhauls and modernization may be undone, and that New Orleans could return to its former notoriety as one of the nation’s murder capitals.

A colleague from Massachusetts writes: Every time I open Yahoo I see a new “weather update.” So…I guess I’m offering an apology from the rest of the world who seem to prefer to look past the beauty of where you live and focus on the “what ifs.” I believe this could be the best summer New Orleans has had in years – Enjoy every day and don’t read anything — they’re just jealous…:-)

Tom Waits writes:
I Wish I Was in New Orleans

Well, I wish I was in New Orleans
I can see it in my dreams
arm-in-arm down Burgundy
a bottle and my friends and me
hoist up a few tall cool ones
play some pool and listen to that
tenor saxophone calling me home
and I can hear the band begin
“When the Saints Go Marching In”
by the whiskers on my chin
New Orleans, I’ll be there

I’ll drink you under the table
be red nose go for walks
the old haunts what I wants
is red beans and rice
and wear the dress I like so well
and meet me at the old saloon
make sure there’s a Dixie moon
New Orleans, I’ll be there

and deal the cards roll the dice
if it ain’t that ole Chuck E. Weiss
and Claiborne Avenue me and you
Sam Jones and all
and I wish I was in New Orleans
I can see it in my dreams
arm-in-arm down Burgundy
a bottle and my friends and me
New Orleans, I’ll be there

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