Nix Bits

I can barely breathe at work lately. But I’ve really needed to read some good stuff lately.

I like Matri’s take on the Andres Duany article in Businessweek comparing New Orleans to cities in the Carribean.

Steve Majors came to New Orleans as a cameraman working for NBC Nightly News after Katrina. It was supposed to be a temporary gig but he quit his job and he and his family are staying. Welcome home Steve! (H/T: World Class)
Lastly, You can watch all of American Experience: New Orleans online. Chapter 10 is the bit on Mardi Gras. I’m posting this quote again:

Krewe Member 6: Well, everybody’s been making fun of the whole thing, because that’s the only way you keep your sanity. We can’t give this up, this is what we’re made of.

Ari Kelman, Historian: There’s something to be said for the fact that when New Orleans faces adversity, when it’s dealing with tragedy, when it’s down on its luck, New Orleans’ answer always is to pop the corks and have a good meal and then go dancing.

Tom Piazza, Writer: One of the main things that you learn from New Orleans is how to participate in life as it unfolds. You learn to embrace the fact that you can’t control everything in advance. We have just a little while to stay here, and if we are lucky enough to make it to the table again for one more meal, then that fact needs to be celebrated and fully experienced and lived to the hilt.