Wm C. Cayle House 1862

It's been a while since I've blogged. I've been too busy with a paying job, painting houses.  A few 14 hour days amongst the past sixty plus days of no days off. I've been surprised with the size and status of some of the work Pride Improvements has been getting. I thinks it's that Jersey work ethic we brought down with us. No offense to the locals, they just have a different approach to work. "Good enough when we get around to it." Back in Jersey contractors had a lot of competition, others always willing to do it for less money, so you have to always do it better. 

Here are some photos from  the Wm C. Cayle house that we have been   working on for the fast few weeks.

Back in Jersey we were use to the burden of restrictive building codes, permits, inspections, bribes,    pay-offs and the occasional union workers slashing tires of non union workers. I won't say what work my boss managed to step in, but was surprised that it didn't go to a local good ol boy. Again, I think it has to do with standards. Most of the new work comes from referrals.

About six months ago I was doing some work for a man. One morning I asked what was on that day's agenda. "This morning you're putting  a new roof on the garage." 
"New roof on the garage? This morning? By myself? That's kind of a big job for one person, besides, I really don't have any roofing experiance..."
" NO you goddamn moron! I bought a new blue tarp at Walmart for the roof."

Oh yea, the blue tarp, the Louisiana state flag. Covering the remains of a garage were about five layers of blue tarps, each one in a worse case of decomposition than the one on top of it. Seeing this I came to the conclusion that it was one more example of the Gulf Coast residents being neglected and pushed aside.

I inquired "What  happened, didn't the insurance company pay for a new roof after the storm?"
"Sure they did. I spent the money on a new lap top so I could watch porn in the privacy of my room.  I just have to buy a new tarp every year.  Now don't be doing something stupid like falling through the remains of the roof while you're stringin it up, I don't want my insurance to go up if you get hurt." 
"Aren't you going to give me a hand? It's getting kind of windy."
 "Hell no, I'm going inside to look at a new web site I found,  justturned18titties.com. When you're  done installing the new roof, I want you to rewire the living room electric. The new extension cord  is  in the Walmart bag."

As the screen door slammed behind him,  I said to myself "Welcome  to Louisiana."

On a dark note...

A friend who I worked with doing background just posted from the ER. Apparently she got mugged and roughed up pretty bad.  The thugs took all of the money she had earned working the past 24 hours. As she laid on the ground dazed and bleeding, herds of revelers just stepped over her. Another girl from Tulane was shot tonight.

I'm sure tomorrow the news will be filled with gruesome stories of shootings, robberies and rapes. The lesser crimes will be so numerous that they probably won't even make police reports. One of the reason I don't mind staying in from the festivities that so many travel here to partake in. This city can turn vicious at the drop of a jester hat. Halloween night an Iraq war veteran was walking down Bourbon with his wife when a group of guys made a comment to her. The Marine of course defended his wife's honor. He was stabbed to death.

Thanksgiving day a popular bartender in the French Quarter had just finished a long grueling shift. While leaving the Quarter he had an altercation with a group of teens and was shot to death. As much as I praise the city I will not deny the ugly, vicious dark side of NOLA. For hundreds of years cutthroats, thieves and scum have roamed these streets in search of victims.



My friend who was cruelly attacked tonight was sober but tired after working for so many hours. She was lucky to have escape with her precious life. Many victims tonight can blame only themselves for not knowing the area and being an easy drunk mark. Tourists and money are like chum in these shark filled streets. 

CP3

Calliope Projects, third ward, New Orleans.

I write a lot about the French Quarter and the culture in NOLA. It's a city of great diversity and adversity. Here is a local hero, C Murder.

How'd Halloween weekend go?

It was a madhouse. Locals said it was as insane as Mardi Gras. Between the holiday and the Steelers getting their asses kicked the adrenaline was making the streets slippery. As much as I praise this city, make no mistake, it's hardcore gangster land.  The touristy French Quarter draws in predators like a beach filled with Sea Lions attracts sharks.

Shortly before 7 p.m., two men, both visitors from Arizona, were slashed on St. Peter Street near the Mississippi River in the French Quarter. The pair became embroiled in an argument with a group consisting of two men and two women. One suspect cut one victim on the arm with an unknown object. The second victim was hit in the eye with a brick, according to police.


Two men were wounded by gunfire in Mid-City on Saturday night. The shooting occurred shortly before 9 in the 3000 block of Bienville Street. The men, both 24, were sitting in front of a house when gunshots rang out. One man was shot in the foot; the other received a graze wound to the left arm. They were later listed in stable condition.


A 23-year-old Marine who lived in Metairie was fatally stabbed following an argument with a man who defamed the Marine's wife. The suspect yelled derogatory comments at Ryan Lekosky's wife as the couple walked about 3:30 a.m. near the intersection of Dauphine and Iberville streets in the French Quarter, police said. Lekosky tried to intervene in the altercation between his wife and the suspect. The suspect turned on Lekosky, stabbing him several times. The suspect then returned to his vehicle and drove away on Dauphine Street, toward Canal Street. Lekosky died from his wounds.


Shortly after 1 a.m. Monday, a 20-year-old man was shot in the 100 block of Bourbon Street. New Orleans police Monday night identified a teenager who they believe was involved in the shooting. A warrant for attempted second-degree murder has been issued for 19-year-old Latrell Coleman. Eighth District officers were in the 100 block of Bourbon Street breaking up a fight when they heard shots fired within the block. Officers then located the victim lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the head.


Brendan McCarthy, The Times-Picayune 

Saints beat the Steelers 20 - 10.

Take a walk, we'll tax your feet

Craigslist Responce

I posted my blog ATTENTION TRENTON on Craigslist Central NJ "Rants & Raves" to see what kind of a response it would get.

It is not a personal savings account that you can tap into when you hit hard times. It is not YOUR money. It is basically a tax....Get used to it. I pay THOUSANDS of dollars in taxes to everyone and I dont get anything back. You paid for years into a system that will give you NOTHING back in return. Thats why we all hate democrats. 

First off: With the tax came a promise that it would be used on Unemployment benefits, NOT building roads and bridges that are over priced because of kick backs. Just like the Feds did with social security tax. Taking it under the premise that it would be there when we need it. Now we hear "Opps, we spent it." 

Second: GET USE TO IT? This reply must've been written by a State Government employee. Perhaps you could replace the state motto on your license plate from "The Garden State" to "GET USED TO IT." He evidently is just a hack bitch who willingly gives it up in taxes, then expects nothing promised in return.

Third: Let's blame the Dems?  Are you so naive to trust either party any more? It's good cop / bad cop and we fall for it every election. Our choice is what we deem the lesser of two evils.


This was my favorite response on Craiglist Rant and Rave:

Your taxes implied you would receive services if needed????
- Dont you think your tax dollars go to ANYTHING whereby you benefit? That is a shame your state taxes done benefit you in any way shape or form. I guess you run to put out fires that could burn down your community, heaven forbid. I guess you run out there and direct traffic when the traffic lights go out. I guess you drive up and down shoveling all the roads so you can make it to work. I guess you empty your own garbage at the dump yourself....Negro, please.....be for real. 


No, those things were supposed to be paid for by the other taxes, property tax, income tax, sales tax and dog licenses. Every time they introduce a new tax it was to address a particular deficit, or to fund new programs. Do we ever see the direct result from that tax? No, it goes into a spitoon of spending. I did not want my social security money funding the cold war either.  (he called me a negro)

I ain't no Mark Levine, but I wanted to get that off of my chest.

The other La

There are more major film productions this year in Louisiana than anywhere else in the country. Why? This state offers excellent tax refunds to film investors.  A THIRTY PERCENT tax incentive is given to those who film in Louisiana. The next Batman film will be shot here next summer. To put it in perspective, if the budget is $200 million, the state will give $60 million in tax credit back. Imagine, a state offering tax breaks to encourage business. Would New Jersey do that?

No, a $200 million dollar film anywhere else would cost $250 million in NJ. Between political kick backs, mob shake downs and the unions with their hands out, no producer in the country would want to go there.  Three union electricians to plug in one extension cord, Teamsters sitting around doing nothing but laughing at how much they get paid to do nothing. Louisiana is a right to work state, a few unions get involved but not to the point of choking to death the employer.

So with the rest of the country floundering in economic chaos, LA has a steady industry keeping us employed. Oh I forgot,  you are all so proud of "Jersey Shore" Wait, aren't they filming that someplace else this season?

LSU Medical Center

About five or six weeks ago a medical condition made itself known to me. Over the course of one week, I grew a third butt cheek. I'll spare you the vile details, but I had a boil on my ass the size of a golf ball. Like all medical problems I chose to ignore it and deal with the excruciating pain. I haven't been to a doctor since '04 and I wasn't going to break that streak. The sitting sideways on one cheek for the month of August threw out my back, leaving me shaped like a question mark.

My roommates noticed my irritability and sleeping about 16 hours a day. Fearing blood poisoning and the red tape of a death in the house, I was dragged from bed yesterday. Out numbered, my infected and putrid ass was forced to go to the hospital for antibiotics. I applied for and received a Louisiana Medical Assistance card two months ago. At my age, internal organs can start to go like a squeaky water pump on an old car. It's best to ready if it does.  I despise medical treatment. Survival of the fittest I say.  The flu, infections, injuries, if you can't heal it yourself than perhaps you should just croak and leave resources for the healthy.

Bum rushed out of the door to the Emergency Room of LSU Medical center I had little time to compose. Being told I should expect to be there a while, I underestimated the warning. I rolled enough cigarettes for 5 or 6 hours, swigged enough coffee for two. My landlady kept trying to give me a bag with sodas and candy bars. No, I can handle a few hours without a Snickers. It can't be that bad, it's not like we have socialized medicine. Long, inhumane waits and suffering indignities of a third world medical system as found in Great Britain and Canada. I've gone through the old New Jersey DMV, Inspection stations and municipal courts, I know how to wait.

I entered the Emergency room about 10:00 am, I did not leave until 10:00 pm. Twelve hours in a waiting room. I thought 3 maybe 4, 5 hours tops. By 3 pm, I was out of nicotine and my caffeine level was dangerously low.  Prisoners from various correctional facilities were ushered in ahead of everyone else. Most everyone in the waiting room took the hours in stride. I guess for people used to waiting on rooftops for rescue helicopters, twelve hours is nothing. I vowed to myself that I would choose death over this experience ever again.

I finally got in to see a doctor about 7:30 pm. Terrific lady who had the misfortune of having to look at my ass. Luckily for her the cyst had broken almost a week ago, sparing her the gruesome task of draining it.  I started to believe it might have been my mutant twin brother who had been stuck in my ass from the moment of conception. After nearly 50 years he decided to make himself known. I mean this thing was big and ugly.

The staff was great, professional and pleasant. I was returned to the waiting room by 8 pm where I sat watching a Saint's game until my prescription came out at 10 pm. The only way I will ever return to the hospital is unconscious and unable to resist.

The TOP TEN REASONS why I prefer living in New Orleans instead of New Jersey

10 Free highways - You can travel from one end of the state to the other without having to throw a handful of change out the window every 20 miles.

9 Food - You can dine on food that doesn't contain tomatoes, garlic or pasta. Some of the best fried chicken I've eaten has come from a local gas station chain.

8 People - You can go up to a total stranger and say hello with out them responding "Wadda fuck do you want?"

7 Music - Every type of music you could want, played well. Not just Springsteen wannabes playing his covers.

6 Weather - Yea the summers are very hot, but they last 8 months instead of 3.

5 Cost of Living. - When I left Jersey I was paying $175 a week to share a house with 2 other guys. My rent down here is $75 a week. Can't pay it this week? Just mow the lawn and take out the trash and we'll call it even.

4 Public Drinking - You can walk anyplace in the city with an open container. If you step out of  bar to make a phone call, bring your drink with you. When I left Belmar NJ, summons were being issued for drinking a beer on your front porch in public view. Did I mention the bars down here are open 24 / 7?

3 Lenient Marijuana Laws - During a parade you could walk up with a joint in hand and ask a cop for a light.

2  Parades - Any excuse to celebrate life, to have a party and be with fun people. It's not done for corporate sponsors, it's tradition.

And the number one reason I prefer to live in New Orleans instead of New Jersey...

1 NO GUIDOES!

Huey P Long

Southern Decadence Weekend

Southern Decadence Weekend in New Orleans. The French Quarter exactly. The difference between the Quarter and Greenwich Village is that the Quarter is a little less expensive and a lot less pretentious. The music is better down here too, my main gripe about hanging out with gay dudes up North is that they start to sing those damn show tunes when they get loaded.

 

In New Orleans, it's tough to offend people. Every life style, quirk, fetish, choice and hairstyle is tolerated here. The oldest city in America was settled by 'Pirates, Whores and Thieves', being just Gay doesn't even register on the double take meter. This weekend, a few hundred thousand gay men have come into town to party. The gay guys don't bother me, it's those nerds that are here the rest of the year who think that they're Vampires that I don't trust.

A few blocks on Bourbon Street has been openly gay for decades, long before it was as acceptable as it is today. "The Bourbon Pub is New Orleans’ largest gay nightclub. Operating continuously since 1974, it is the epicenter of the New Orleans gay and lesbian community, and is located at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets."

While drawing the above cartoon I was thinking about the gay and lesbian community. It takes a lot of balls for a person to come out of the closet and be openly gay. Despite changes in thinking, odds are most family members will reject you, neighbors will gossip and co-workers will snicker. In some areas of this nation, being openly homosexual is just asking for an ass kicking. Insecure heterosexual men find a false masculinity in abusing men secure in their sexuality.

So hats off to Southern Decadence for courage, style and great dance moves.

www.southerndecadence.net

What that woman she been doin' to me...

About 6 years ago in New Jersey I had a friend who had come down to New Orleans on a drinking binge with her friends. Upon her return she told me what a great city it was and that I should visit it someday. I doubt she ever ventured much farther than Bourbon Street. During the weeks following Katrina, like the rest of the nation I had a dull sickness in my gut. Sick from the idea that a city in the most developed nation of the world would be reduced to what we were watching on TV. Sickness from the fact that I never would get a chance to visit the same great place I had heard about.

Last summer in NJ my buddy Waffle kept telling me of this great city inhabited by artists of all sorts. People who were friendly and likable. An atmosphere of generosity and optimism. Being from NJ, I doubted any place like that was real, let alone the one from the news footage. "New Orleans? Is that still there?"  It was as if he was speaking of the lost city of Atlantis. "Fuck it, I have to get out of Jersey or I'll start to go Travis Bickle on my passengers."  From the moment I rolled into town, I have been welcomed, inspired and filled with hope.

Everyone here has a story worthy of a novel. Some who didn't leave or returned soon after to help rebuild are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress. Entire neighborhoods are still scarred and damaged, but most are thriving. One of my first jobs down here was as a laborer at a strip mall being rebuilt in St. Bernard Parish. As far as the eye could see, abandoned housing with a few large boats still just sitting in vacant lots where they had been deposited.

One of the first places I stayed was in the Broadmoor section. About head level a water line was still visible on the outside of the structure. The door still had an X spray painted on it. The X was a sign that it had been searched for bodies in the days after the storm. One could state that it's not the infrastructure that makes up a city, it's the residents. New Orleans then would be one of the strongest and most resilient cities in the world. It's strength is not in it's levees, but the hearts.

I’m gonna buy me a ticket as far as I can,
I ain't never comin' back
I’m gonna take me that south-bound,
All the way to Georgia now,
‘Till the train it run out of track
Can't you see, oh, can't you see,
What that woman, she been doin' to me

Don't always fear losing a job you don't like anyhow

 At this time last year, I was driving a cab at night on the Jersey Shore. Yea, like the TV show. I even have had those guys in my taxi. I drove three or four of the gombas from D-Jaise on Ocean Ave in Belmar NJ to the Headliner in Neptune. The one with the hair and ink gets in the front seat and the first words out of his mouth "J'ever ear uv a shoe culled da jerzey shor?"  I reply "Nope. I hope I never do."
Lousy tippers. 

Dealing with that crowd in mass, being beat out of fares. At two am having to clean puke up off of the backseat before I can use the car again to make money. Every silhouette that sat behind me could be holding a razor knife to my throat at any minute. Cops with hard-ons for cabbies because his ex banged one once.

NJ is the forth most expensive state to live in. Mostly due to corruption between the politicians, unions and the mob. Bureaucrats and contractors sucking the Jersey Girl's tits dry. The economy got so bad, people just weren't blowing money at the bars as much. The money dried up for us in the winter and every week I fell further behind. F Jersey, I'm moving to New Orleans, if I got to be poor, let it be someplace cheaper.

My complaint this morning at work was that the stunt people get bacon with breakfast and we don't.  Walking by all sorts of cool gizmos and craters. It's like getting caught in the middle of MYTHBUSTERS. F*ckin cool. Cars are rigged to blow up, much like Taxi cabs that do when in need maintenance.

The only thing I miss about New Jersey is my kid. I can't wait to bring her down here for a visit, let her know that life is better outside of the Garden State.

The other "LA"

NOLA's only real booming economy down here is the film industry. The state and city won over Hollywood years ago with nice tax deals to motion picture producers to move operations to New Orleans. My buddy Steve was telling me today on the ride in to work this morning. An ex cop pushing a Lincoln over the bridge at 4:00 am in the morning. Feeling safe, but at the same time feeling like I'm commuting into a video game.

With little traffic and a beautiful night time skyline, we're signing into wardrobe 10 minutes later. A decent breakfast with co-workers that I like. I don't even look at the carnage anymore. This morning we passed a half a dozen car wrecks, school buses and gasoline tankers involved. Large sets built to get demolished. The black night sky is blotted out by the artificial rented light.

As a former sign crane operator, I can tell you the cost and scale of this operation is equal to a bridge build. Cranes the size of dinosaurs that probably had been on call 24 hours a day for months, safely dangled a monstrous metal framed scrim diffuser over my head. Think of it as an artificial cloud. The day before we lost time waiting for cloud cover. We stood in the direct sun with a 110 heat index for 20 minutes. When some god who directs the wind does smile upon us with healing shade, we have to run at full speed towards a camera.

I am so impressed by the production people. I have never seen so many hard working people pushing together to complete a great project. Professionals with sincere love of the art doing their best, then in come the background extras. Upon seeing a jack knifed gasoline tanker I commented to myself, "Looks like an interesting day at the office today." Asked about my day I spoke into my phone, "Ahh, nuthin new, same ol. Yea, still getting chased by monsters. Dude, stunt chicks have the hottest bodies, yea."

CRUDE

Here it is. Much thanks to my friend Russell for the many hours invested in this project. In the middle of production, he received a call to help out on the special effects for a low budget ghost movie. That gig payed, Binge didn't. Russell still managed to work on both projects.

So here is the first real animated BiNGE project. It was a learning experience for the both of us.

Sneek Peek

Here are some elements from the in progress animation of BiNGE in "CRUDE."

I had to make just one Taratino reference, this is the opening shot.
(with a twist)

Our version of background extras.

These guys provided security during the filming.

Exotic locations and vehicles.

OOPS

I underestimated the power of satire. Evidently my latest blog about being a background extra as an oil clean up worker was taken seriously. I apologize to anyone who may have forwarded the posting as a true account of an actual event. It was not. I was drawing from my experience as a film background actor and recent reports from the Gulf Coast where staged news clean ups are taking place. It was not my intent to mislead anyone or any news agency into believing that the incident was real. It was written in a satirical vein.

In the future I will post disclaimers to prevent a humorous posting from being taken seriously.

"The Pony and Balloon Show"

Today I started at six in the morning on a background extra job. Several of us were in wardrobe being fitted into white Tyvek suits with brand new hard hats. The director held up a metal garden rake with the price tag still on it from Home Depot. "Who knows what this is?" After several seconds of silence I responded "A rake?" "You got the part." The other two background extras were issued a black trash bag and a roll of paper towels.

Loaded into a van and driven down to the gulf coast where we sat in the extras holding area until about 10:30. A production assistant barged in and announced the camera crew had arrived and the principal would be there shortly. We were ushered out onto an oil covered beach to take position behind a stand in. Carefully arranged by the director to our needed places. "Don't get any oil on the suites, we need to re-use them tomorrow." He pointed to me "Same thing for the rake, keep it clean so we can return it to the store."

Seeking direction I asked if he wanted me to actually rake the tar balls on the sand. "Hell no, that will leave a bare spot and show how bad the rest of the beach actually is." The director scanned the shore and went flew a fit of rage. "HOW THE HELL DID THAT GET INTO MY SHOT?" A dead water fowl was bobbing in the surf. A skittish grip replied it must have washed up in the past few minutes. "Well, get rid of it, it defeats the purpose of us being here."

Soon after the TV news cameras took position a shiny heavy SUV pulled up. Dozens of official looking men secured the area as President Obama took the place of where the stand in had stood. A half a dozen handlers milled around him. "Where is it?" Obama asked. "Too windy to use the teleprompter sir, just stick to the key words, you'll do fine." "Mannerisms?" "Thumbs up when you mention the Federal Government, angry fist when you speak of BP. Point to the beach to show concern and resolve."

Ten minutes later cut was yelled and the president and camera crews had left. The background extras crammed into the van. "Hurry up, Governor Jindal is holding a press conference in the next parish at three o'clock, we need you to stand behind him. Remember, don't get your suites dirty."




I should have clarified that was a satirical blog. Reports from the coast
are that oil clean up crews are only around when TV new teams are. As
soon as the cameras leave, so do the clean up crews. Many of the news reports have a "staged" look. Guys in pristine white suites with rolls of Bounty paper towels wiping down blades of oily grass. Numerous members of clean up crews have been sent to the hospital because BP refuses to allow them to wear respirators. If the workers wear the masks, then it would be an admission by BP that the oil slick is in fact toxic. So if an individual tries to wear any respiratory protection he is fired from the clean up work. Remember what happened to the 911 clean up crews?

Treme

I finally got to see episode one of HBO's TREME. My friend was a background extra in a few scenes. He also was back in New Orleans soon after Katrina. He said that the show really nails the tragedy. What happened, what it looked like, and how residents felt. The shock, the depression and anger. The producer of the show has lived in the city for 20 years and has done justice in the show.

To hear the survivors speak of the months after Katrina is akin to listening to those who pulled themselves from the rubble of a war. In fact during the show my buddy commented on the helicopter sound effects in the background. Day in and day out. Choppers, diesel trucks and the National Guard gave New Orleans the feel of an occupied city. Stench of mold, rotting food, the corpses of pets and destruction remained long after the TV news cameras left.

This is my fourth month in New Orleans, I can't imagine ever leaving it. What you see in Treme is close to what you will find here. The music, the food the people. My friend's favorite line from the first episode "Don't know how not to Mardi Gras." It's the spirit of the city.

Jersey can help the Gulf Area

I believe New Jersey can help with the oil clean up in the Gulf. Every year New Jersey must clean it's beaches after the Guidoes leave an oil slick on the shore. It consists not of crude oil but a vile combination of baby oil, olive oil and hair gel. The tar balls that wash up in Belmar NJ are actually oily balls of hair from the underarms of girls named Maria. If Jersey can return it's beaches to a nearly pristine state after a summer of a hundred thousand guys named Antony lying on it, there is hope.