Fred Seibert's Blog

It’s great news that New Orleans didn’t have a Katrina rerun. But the Gulf Coast’s still hurting bad, will be for a long time. Try not to slack off, and donate if you can.

The New Orleans 100

Since August 2005, I’ve put up nine posts about the problems our country’s faced since the horrors that nature and man have reaped. Unfortunately, I assume there will be many more. As many on the ground have observed, it’s going to be at least a decade before we begin to repair at least the surface damage.

I’ve suggest, and you’ve followed up on, a number of ways to help the devasted area, whether it’s a straight donation or buying records or posters who funnel your payments to help centers. And you should continue to do do: CNN’s set up a special page that can help you figure out the best place for you to participate.

There’s really a dilemma. Things are terrible, and things are improving. The New Orleans 100 was set up by All Day Buffet to highlight the good works that are making New Orleans and the area better, with links to lots of the organizaitons you can help. Take a look, maybe something will strike your fancy.

Americans deserve better than we’ve done for them so far. Please help.

(via Twink Fly Me To…)

If you love modern American popular music, you probably know it wouldn’t exist as we know it without New Orleans.

I’ve written quite a bit since 2005 about the tragedy that befell the United States while Hurricane Katrina hit and our government bungled the chance to save a great American region.

And I posted once about the graphic art that’s been created to help donate funds to help the rebuidling, but I’ve only glanced upon the personal part of me that resonates with New Orleans, and that’s the musical culture.

Briefly: Tipitina’s was set up by some music fans to provide a place for piano legend Professor Longhair to perform in his later years. Bad business met good intentions and the place almost went under until a good samartian resurrected the joint in the mid-90s. Katrina almost put it down for the count with the rest of the area but our samaritan instead set up Tipitina’s Foundation to help the city’s most important asset, it’s musicians. You can read more in detail about the foundation’s work here.

The point? Please donate to Tipitina’s Foundation. The tragedy is not over by a long shot –it won’t be for most of our lifetimes– and any help you can give will help. If you love music, this should be an easy check to write.