Say A Little Prayer

Anyone who reads Citizen K. regularly knows that he took an eye-opening trip to New Orleans last spring, and that ever since then he become obnoxiously assertive about the importance of New Orleans, its greatness, and the extent to which the federal government failed it in the wake of the manmade catastrophe initiated by Hurricane Katrina. And remember: Disasters can happen anywhere, and it would be nice to know that we can all count on an effective government response.

Citizen K.'s New Year's Resolution is to do his small part to help by putting a link to at least one article or photo about New Orleans every day. Luckily, there are great resources like the New Orleans Ladder, the New Orleans Daily Photo, Offbeat, and WWOZ. (In addition, these sites help me keep the NOLA Happenings sidebar current.) So:

BeauSoleil performs live in the WWOZ studios today at 3 p.m. CST...

When it comes to FEMA, Congress has its work cut out for it. But there are some things it can do: 

Real recovery will require action by Congress, especially when it comes to post-disaster housing. Of the many tragic failures of FEMA in the last seven years, those related to housing were among the most conspicuous. And they were caused in part by Congressional blunders.

Going green in New Orleans:

Amidst the challenges is a remarkable vitality, a life force as artful as the oak trees lining St. Charles Avenue. Live music and Second Lines reflect a city that honors its heritage, while new additions, like the Prospect.1 biennial, embrace the future. It makes sense that this city of rebirth is a locus for sustainable design, green non-profit groups, and art projects that are both innovative and eco-aware.

Friday's Choice: Aretha Franklin -- the incomparable Queen of Soul -- says a little prayer for all of us: