BEST, WORST, FIRST, LAST, HIGHEST, LOWEST

Target Parking Lot, Baton Rouge LA 2009 from Lands' End

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A lot statistics get reported about how good, bad, best, worst, highest or lowest Baton Rouge and New Orleans rank as big cities in the U.S.. The latest puts Baton Rouge 8^th out of the 100 largest cities in income growth over the last 25 years!

Surprisingly, New Orleans , boosted by post hurricane rebuilding is the biggest growing city! Provo, Utah was ranked worst for income growth in any U.S. city.

More: www.bizjournals.com/specials/pages/261.html#l

There is no u in me!

Rectangle of Orange Tape, Baton Rouge LA 2009 from Lands' End

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NUCLEAR NUMBERS

Red Construction Crane, Baton Rouge LA 2009

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Lake Charles La. saw the biggest jump in building permits issued during the first six months of the year out of any other community in the country! Lake Charles is still rebuilding after Hurricane Rita (2005) and Ike, last year. Building permits were up 123% from the same period the previous year and apartment permits were up 870%. However, it was also boosted by the construction of a new nuclear power fabrication facility.

I guess building a nuclear plant would help any communities' construction numbers?

ISLAND LOST

Parking Lot Island, Baton Rouge LA 2008 from Lands' End

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After 170 years , the Isle de Jean Charles Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indian tribe are abandoning the island they have inhabited, hunted and fished! Repeated flooding by hurricanes and storms, has driven the tribe off the Terrebonne Parish island, and onto higher ground behind the levees!

The move symbolizes one of the most visible defeats in South Louisiana’s long battle to preserve land mass and fight coastal erosion.

TALE OF TWO CITIES

OWNTOWN AUTO SOUND, New Orleans LA 2002 from Fallen Paradise

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Baton Rouge , according to an Oxfam America report* , is the best and worst city in Louisiana!

North Baton Rouge and downtown are considered the worst because on average , life expectancy is shorter , education levels lower and quality of life inferior to East or South Baton Rouge.

*BR rated best, worst in La. By The Associated Press 9-18-09

PLEASE GET BACK TO ME

FISH GUTS, Venice LA 2006

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PLEASE GET BACK TO ME

Dear friend,
I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter,

but it was borne out of desperation and current development.

Please bear with me. My name is DR HAGHY MUOSA

auditor of BOA Bank (B.O.A) I discovered existing

dormant account for 5years. I seek your consent to present

yourself as the next of kin of the deceased. As an auditor in the bank

I will use my position in the bank to help you stand as the next of kin

to the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account valued at

$15million dollars
can be transferred to you, this is the story in a nutshell.

Now I want an account over seas where the bank will transfer this fund.

Now my questions are:-

1. Can you handle this project?.......

2. Can I give you this trust?.......

If yes, send to me your personal information as below:
Your name
Your address
Your occupation
Your age Telephone number
I expect you're urgent response if you can handle this project,
Thanks
MR HAGHY MUOSA.

IGNORING SIGNS

Fallen Signage, Baton Rouge LA 2007 from Baton Rouge Blues

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported yesterday that the world’s oceans warmed to about 62.5 degrees over the summer. This doesn’t seem warm, but it set records for August and the summer overall.

It is another sign that global warming is for real!

NO JACKASS FLIES ABOVE THE FRAY

Colorado from Above, 2009

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It was reported that President Obama called Kayne West a “jackass” in an off the cuff comment, referring to the singers recent outburst on TV. I want my (our) President to stay above the peripheral fray which swirls in contemporary culture.

Our President needs to focus on the real and serious issues facing our nation and not the childish antics of popular cultural figures.

Please Mr. President, fly above that fray.

2fer

Tree Trunk, Baton Rouge LA 2009 from Lands' End

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Yesterday, the news was that Baton Rouge has some of the worst traffic in America, per capita!

Today, the news was we have some of the worst violent crime!

A twofer.

The Age of Terrible

Hand Painted Sign, Baton Rouge LA 2009

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My father annoyed me when he would declare, "that is terrible behavior", but the phrase comes to my mind often now.

A U.S. Congressman yells out at the President of the United States, during a speech to Congress, "Liar"!

Serena Williams, during a major match, tells an official- " I'd like to stick this F...g ball down your F...g throat!"

Kayne West bursts onto the stage at the MTV VMA awards, during Taylor Swifts' acceptance speech, ranting that Beyounce should have won.

The older I get, the more sensitive I become to the notion that rude words and impulsive acts hurt! So, let's all take a deep breath and think first before we say something "terrible".

Thank you

GET SHORTY!

NEON CAMERAS, Hollywood CA 1999 from L.A. 1999

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In yet another incident involving a New Orleans Police officer, it was reported that rookie officer Desmond Shorty resigned from the department and was later arrested under suspicion of theft.

Officer Shorty had recently investigated an incident at a New Orleans residence, and during his investigation , an expensive watch disappeared from the home.

A week later, the homeowners spotted Officer Shorty at a local casino , wearing the missing watch! The couple took a cell phone photo of the officer wearing the watch in the casino.

I SMELL A RAT

CAT SNIFFING THE GROUND, Greyton Beach FL 2009

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Photographer Alex Brandon has been subpoenaed by a Federal Grand jury , looking into the death of Henry Glover. The story goes, that Glover was driven to an elementary school in New Orleans a few days after hurricane Katrina.

Glover had been shot and the men in the vehicle were trying to get help from New Orleans Police officers who had taken over the school as a temporary headquarters. A police officer took the car and drove away with Glover still in the back seat. A few days later, the car was found burned , with Glover dead in the trunk.

Brandon was at the school making photographs, at the time the incident occurred.

More info.:

Photographer subpoenaed in probe , by Michael Kunzelman Associated Press 9/9/09

PICTURING PEOPLE - Alec Soth

Alec Soth , Baton Rouge LA 2009

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Alec Soth - Artist/Photographer, Educator and friend.

CAR CRAZY

RED CAR, Gonzales LA 2005 from the series Automatic

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Davis says state agencies have too many cars

Gov. Bobby Jindal's top budget officer says state agencies have too many cars. Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis says she's put a freeze on buying more. Davis told a government streamlining panel today that state agencies have more than 12,700 vehicles. She says that's out of line with other states. Davis says she's put a moratorium on buying new vehicles—except for public safety vehicles like police cars.

The Baton Rouge Business Report 9/2/09