Brian Williams broadcasting live tonight from the lower ninth ward

[BOSSHOG]

in New Orleans for NBC News. Check out the "progress" which has been made.

[400Years]

1. Do you know anybody there?

I'm wondering what the reality is versus what Brian Williams will present. Are they letting residents back in yet?

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Reality is that there is no way to hide

the devastation. Nothing has been done and the 9th ward is basically uninhabitable. They've only recently reopened the area for residents to 'look and go'.

[400Years]

3. Very sad

Thanks for the info, though.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Wonderful neighborhood

I think "charming" is appropriate. I used to work across the St Claude Avenue bridge from the ward and its on the way to St Bernard Parish and a meandering trip to the northshore (Slidell.) A lot of its residence worked in the Navy complex I was assigned to. BX people. I think Williams has done a fairly good job of covering New Orleans in the past three months, comparatively speaking.

If you hear someone say, pictures or TV imagery does not do the destruction and misery justice; they are right. You have to be there, see for yourself, smell for yourself.

[400Years]

8. When I was there about a decade ago

It seemed like such a wonderful and freindly place.

Thanks for the info BOSS.

[BOSSHOG]

5. Wonderful neighborhood

I think "charming" is appropriate. I used to work across the St Claude Avenue bridge from the ward and its on the way to St Bernard Parish and a meandering trip to the northshore (Slidell.) A lot of its residence worked in the Navy complex I was assigned to. BX people. I think Williams has done a fairly good job of covering New Orleans in the past three months, comparatively speaking.

If you hear someone say, pictures or TV imagery does not do the destruction and misery justice; they are right. You have to be there, see for yourself, smell for yourself.

[jilln]

9. A friend of mine just got back from there a couple days ago

She and I both went in October to help out and I saw some pretty bad areas, but not the lower 9th.

She went there to work in a free clinic run by - no kidding - anarchist kids from all over the country - and she says NOTHING has changed, except for the worse. They still have no water or power, there are only people in every 50th house or so, all the grass is dead and animals are dead because there's nothing for them to eat - no people generating trash or feeding them and a barren landscape. And you guessed it, FEMA has never been to some areas still!

By the way, only 2 hospitals are open and they are actually sending people to the anarchist free clinic to get prescriptions filled because they STILL don't have all the medicines they need. I knew this was true in October because I was at the clinic one day and saw it with my own eyes, people coming by for medicine and donated food and for Internet access.

[ginnyinWI]

6. Kudos must go to NBC for not letting New Orleans be forgotten. n/t

[CottonBear]

7. I heard that NOLA has free WiFi now and it 's soon to be city-wide!

What a great idea! Of course, one of the morning network news show hosts was slamming the idea today. :grr: They (Today Show?) didn't think it was a good idea and thought it was a waste of money. What fucking asses to say such a thing. :grr:

[AnnInLa]

10. I read that Brian Williams promised himself and New Orleans

that he would not allow the U.S. to forget what happened in New Orleans. He does a story on New Orleans almost every night. He said the experience affected him profoundly, and he is the only newscaster that "has put his money where his mouth is." I admire him greatly for this and send him emails regularly thru his blog, praising him and thanking him. If anyone out there gets a chance to communicate with him or with NBC, please express support for his stories on New Orleans.