Facebook vs blog

Well, my blogging has definitely gone by the wayside, but I've increased my Facebook posts...so I'm wondering now...what is the better way to get/keep/distribute information?  Meaning...why do a blog?  Is it for me or for others?  Why post on your own page on Facebook?  Again...is it for yourself, or for others, or both??  If all one is consumed with is thoughts of effects of the oil spill, or what is going on now in Haiti, as there's next to no coverage of that, is that what one should post about?  Or, perhaps, should you put up photos and information from your trip to West Virginia to see some long lost family members? Anyway, these are things I've been thinking about, in trying to decide whether or not to continue with the blog or Facebook.  I have a tendency to stay on my computer for long stretches....to me it's like a library with a television all rolled up into one, and I can spend hours with each of those things.  No iPhone for me...I'd never get anything done. 
So, what I'm thinking, is that Facebook is a good thing to have for getting back into/keeping in touch, and it's an interesting voyeristic vehicle of sorts as well.  I don't spend hours on it, like I do with some other sites on the computer, so it's not taking up an inordinate amout of my time or effort.  Neither, of course, is this blog.  BUT - I would like to put some happier, more pleasing information on the blog so as to use it more like an album of memories...memories that I don't mind anyone else being able to access at anytime, of course.  Memories that aren't so all consuming with the oil spill, or Haiti, at least for now.  To that end...

Here's one of my favorite bridges on the drive to/from New Orleans from other Southern locales.  It's either in MS or AL, I can't remember which. 

Alright, goddamn it.

Here's a freakin' nice and purty rainbow after the strong storm today...jeez...

Oh my god. I don't even know where to begin on this oil spill....

This is one of the saddest things I've ever seen. I feel so helpless, so sad. I went down to Venice a day before the president's fist visit, in early May, (he's been down here 3 times so far) and the lack of local authorities involvement in getting ready for the inevitable oil coming ashore was breathtaking. Why don't people in this region know by now that you can NOT rely on the governemt, or, least of all, on LARGE FUCKING OIL CONGLOMERATES to do the right thing! Please please please get this, people! There needs to be an organized, concerted effort of the CITIZENS in the affected area to document the ongoing situation! Take photographs. Take water samples. Take plant samples. Separate, fan out, document, repeat. That's the only way to even have a chance to get renumeration for your pain and suffering. For what you've lost.

These photographs are all AP photographs.  Unbelievable.

So sad, so helpless, so doomed.

There was a 'gulf oil spill teach in' here on Thursday night that I went to. http://na.oceana.org/en/blog/2010/06/new-orleans-residents-find-solidarity-at-oil-spill-teach-in

I have somse good documents on chemical dispersants, oil in a marsh environement, and lot of websites on where to get information and good articles so far.  http://www.btnep.org/default.asp?id=213  OK, here you go, they posted them there.  The thing is that oil spills in the marsh have been happening ever since oil, and oil pipes, have been laid and cut into the marshes here.  At least since the 1930's, if not earlier.  Nothing of this size, of course.  But they know how the extremely toxic chemicals in crude affect the wildlife.  For instance, oysters can't metabolize the chemicals at all.  They just stay shut, quit eating, and wither away, and die. 

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/assignment-35/?hp  This is a well written blog on the effect of these photographs, I just broke down in wracking, body shivering tears seeing these photographs, as the blog stated would be easy to do.  I'm going to get in my car and go down there this weekend again. 

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/caught_in_the_oil.html

There is a 'Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office'...but....

It has only a few sentences on this incident, and was last updated on 4.30.10.  See below.

Good God.

http://www.losco.state.la.us/admin/newsflash.asp?newsid=284

Go for it boys....we love you....

Happy Easter!

Y'all!!!  I took an amazing trip on the Creole Nature Trail this weekend with the dogs.  It's late and my internet connection is acting funny so I won't post pics tonight, just had to post this one from today since it IS Easter and all....

Super Sunday 2010

And it was...a SUPER Super Sunday. A gorgeous day, with a home cooked breakfast eaten on the patio after some coffee and cigarettes. Went by bicycle to see the festivities where all the Indian Tribes meet. Normally it's done on St. Joseph's day, but the Indian chiefs postponed it for a week this year for some reason, not sure why. It's been a lovely, lovely March that certainly did 'come in' and 'go out' as two different entities, but it's been an almost rhapsodic spring so far, temperature wise. Some more loveliness follows....

The father of one of John's students in full regalia.

Everyone gettin' in on the music, marching away.

A very serious look from a very seriously talented suit-maker.  All these Indians make these suits themselves, it takes all year and a lot of money for each of these amazings.  Les Blank is a documentarian who has done all kinds of films on creole, cajun, and New Orleans culture. His first film on New Orleans Mardi Gras, which includes the Indians, was done in 1978, but I've found there isn't a real knowledge of this culture, even in this town, as it's a very secretive element.

The crowd getting them all hyped up.

It seems this tradition is still going on strong, the young men look transfixed...

After school classes

It turns out that I am taking two classes this month, the OSHA 30 hour safety course for work, then Sonji and I are also taking a cooking class at a community college here in town.  New Orleans-style, Spanish and French style cooking.  This week we cooked chicken and sausage gumbo, fried green tomatoes, BBQ shrimp and bread pudding. It's a 3 hour class that goes by very quickly, then we get to sit down and eat it when we're done!  It's a blast, actually, which I didn't really expect, but it's good to connect with a friend who's a co-worker occasionally to get away from always talking about the madness that is Katrina Recovery.  Her aunt, who is an amazing cook, showed some of us gals how to cook gumbo 2 weeks ago before she left to go back hom to Cali.  This gumbo was similiar, but it had a few differences in the cooking method, although both their roux's looked the same, like crunchy peanut butter, see......

Sonji didn't quite get through the entire recipe before she started cooking so there was still a 1/2 stick of butter left that should have been in this pan.  Shore wuz good tho'!

The below shot is the Gumbo pot from Auntie's recipe.

and Courtney diggin' all up in the Auntie's gumbo.