If you’re like me, you’ve spent most of your work week looking at Saints shit on the internet. I’ll try to run down some of the highlights for me.

Barack Obama loses my vote. The “experts” at ESPN pick the Saints to win unanimously, except for the stupid accuscore computer. The “experts” at CBS Sports aren’t as smart, but Pete Prisco (who is 7-1 for postseason picks) chooses the Saints. Just plain ridiculous: Chicago Sun-Times tries to sound knowledgable about how voodoo is on our side. Also from Sun-Times, Bobby Hebert vows to dress in drag if Saints win.

Now, on to YouTube. This guy is my all-time favorite Saints lunatic. From what I can gather, he lives in Atlanta and currently has 234 videos online, mostly about how the Saints are awesome. See this, this, and this, this for some prime examples. Then there are some corny heartfelt tributes like this and this one. There are more crazy fans. It goes on and on like this.

Well, I’d like to add more links but it’s starting to detract from my ability to do nothing but read about the Saints.

As it goes with stories, they develop, so I am shuffling the installments. Today, the Melpomene Culvert problem was on the agenda at the City Council Meeting. Appearing in front of City Council were; Tony Faciane, City Attorney’s Office. Elliot Perkins, of the HDLC commenting on the historic nature of the damaged buildings. Johnny Odom from Safety & Permits as well as Wesely Taylor from the Health Dept, Donna Addkisons and a man I did not recognize. The Council demanded that immediate action begin regarding the two properties which are in danger of collapse, the first step in making the street passable. At a hearing that happened separately, the owners of the properties have been given just a couple days to get an engineer to tell them what would have to be done to stabilize them if they are to be saved. In the event that the owners do not do this, it seems demolition procedures will be put into motion. A cool thing that happened was that my photos were used in the Council’s slide presentation today. Oliver Thomas had his Saints jersey on today, he has his own initials on the back.
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The plans for Endymion have been batted back and forth so many times since fall, I just felt I should inform people that Endymion is, much to the ire of most, parading on the Uptown route this year. The citizens fought hard to bring it back to Mid City but in the end time ran out and Endymion had to start making plans before the fight was over. So it will be another parade-less year in Mid City, but the neighborhood is planning a possible party on the Orleans neutral ground that day just for the hell of it. Hopefully that takes place.

Today the city council passed a unanimous resolution that will bring Endymion back to Mid City in 2008 and in years following. We hope they make good on this, I’m already looking forward to next Mardi Gras.

I’m walking to Coop’s to grab a burger before the game- or should I say the replay of the game on the NFL Network. I like Coop’s burgers, nice and juicy, but I really go for the fries. I think they are the homemade kind.

If you haven’t been down to that end of Decatur lately, you’re missing out. Your missing out on some of the most foul smelling people on the face of the earth. All they do all day long is hang on the sidewalks, stinking up the block, begging for change and driving away the few tourists that the businesses in that area need.

As I’m heading into the joint to get my burger, it’s like a Royal wedding or something. People lined up on both sides of the sidewalk. Except their hands are not in the air like a wedding line. They are sticking out towards the middle of the sidewalk, basically begging for change.

Me, I don’t care if you choose to be homeless and a beggar. Life is about choices and if that is the choice you make, then so be it. Just don’t expect me to hand over my loose change after working my ass off all day to make a dollar.
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Perhaps you remember a time when Magazine St. was a major thoroughfare you could use as a Downtown/Uptown traversal. Perhaps you occasionally forgot it was closed and ended up at the Thalia St. “Road Closed Blockade”, only to do the frustrating detour around the Abstract Bookshop, trying to take care of your business, not looking at the state of things on Magazine closely, even for a second.

This closure has been due to the Melpomene Box Culvert Project which was begun by the Public Works Dept. in order to replace drainage and sewerage pipes on Melopmene St. under Contract No. 1462. The Melpomene St. end of the project took far too long but it is done and it’s nice. Perhaps, like me, you took this common route for granted until one day, recently, you realized . . . it’s been closed for . . . . {gasp} three years. Three years and three million dollars later, our charming Magazine St. remains closed. Melpomene St. is overgrown with weeds between Camp and Magazine St., to the extent that it is hard to believe it was once a street.
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Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s true: Brangelina is upon us for good. Or evil. Take your pick.

And FYI, I do not read US Weekly, except when stuck on line at Sav-A-Center behind customers–generally women of a certain age–who insist on writing checks. One of whom sent me the link. So there.

YARMOUTH — Pauline Whitney Buck died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007.
She was born in Farmington, Sept. 10, 1946. Her parents, Reginald and Phyllis (Winship) Whitney of Farmington, predecease her.
Pauline attended high school at Farmington where she was active in the music program. She played the violin and was concertmaster of the high school orchestra. After high school she attended Washington State College in Machias, and majored in Business Education. She received her Bachelors degree in 1968, and taught business subjects at Scarborough High School for nine years. During this time she earned a Master degree in Teaching.
In 1972, she married John T. Buck and moved to Yarmouth. Later, Pauline ended her teaching career to become a full time mother raising two children. During this time she became involved in her two lifelong passions: quilting and gardening. Over the years she made many quilts and wall-hangings, some of which received awards for their fine workmanship. Her perennial gardens were extensive and provided her with many hours of enjoyment.
Polly was active in the community. She was secretary of the Yarmouth Garden Club and was active in Calico Quilters, the local chapter of the Pine Tree Quilters Guild. She volunteered at the Rowe School in Yarmouth assisting students in various projects. She also was active in the Girl Scouts working on their annual cookie sales.
Pauline was dedicated to her family. When her children were born she became a full time mother, when her husband started a business she supported him, when her mother became ill with Alzheimer’s she cared for her full time. Amid all of the complexities of her work it all appeared effortless. Being a mother and wife was her great accomplishment.
In 1986, she and her husband John purchased Andy’s Handy Store in Yarmouth. As co-owner she was involved in many of the aspects of running a small business.
In 2002, she developed Alzheimer’s disease. She has been a resident of Coastal Manor for two years.
She leaves behind her husband John of Yarmouth, her daughters, Sarah of Concord, N.H., and Heather of New Orleans, La.; her brother Charles of Fairfield; and her sister-in-law, Joy Rice of Winthrop.
The Buck Family has created a memorial of Polly’s life. It is available at www.mem.com. Please visit Polly’s Memorial and share your condolences, memories and wishes with the Buck Family.
There will be a memorial service for Polly on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 10 a.m., at First Parish Congregational Church, 116 Main Street, Yarmouth, with the Rev. Carra Bradt officiating. Burial will be on Friday, Jan. 19, at 10 a.m., in Decker’s Cemetery, Route 238, Southport, with Al Roberts officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Polly’s memory to: Alzheimer’s Association
Maine Chapter
163 Lancaster Street Suite 160B
Portland, Maine 04101-2406
Pauline Polly Buck
Lindquist Funeral Home
Funeral Home & Cremation Service

So, what do you glean from this?

The Police Department – Gambit Weekly interviews Police Chief Riley

GW: What is your plan to lead New Orleans out of the current crime wave, and how will you make the city safer in 2007?

RILEY: We have reformatted the New Orleans Police Department in the aftermath of Katrina. We have put some very serious plans in place that unfortunately have been diminished because of our attrition rate. Today our department has 1,401 officers, which includes 41 recruits. We have 107 officers that are out sick. We’re operating a department with about 1,200-and-something officers. And that has hurt us.

The DA’s Office – WWLTV.com: Algiers community outraged over dropped robbery case
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Just for fun, I look around on Craig’s List every now and then – pretty often really. I have an unhealthy relationship with the “Missed Connections” section. I eagerly scan through the posts hoping some hot chick saw me out and its been on her mind enough to post a shot in the dark in an attempt to contact me. Eh, never happens but I keep looking. It’s a perpetual cycle of disappointment. But on the other hand, if you’ve ever looked though the Women Seeking Men posts, they’re all a bunch of bots posting trying to get desperate guys to their porn sites….its just sad. Of course, having now posted this, I’ll assume any missed connection posts related to me are from Paul or Craig trying to be funny. Ya bastards.
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Thank you Deuce McAllister, Jahri Evans, John Stinchcomb, Jamaal Brown, Jeff Faine, Jamar Nesbit, Mark Campbell and Mike Karney.