Ashley Morris: the blog

Chaos don't do daytime

Read more from an insider about why Chaos ain't gon' happen this year.

Obscenities

Shell's profit.

Using plastic bags instead of cloth. Don't tell me that we can't use laws to change behavior. I'm not talking about legislating morals, I'm talking about legislating against destruction of the earth.

No matter how bad things are, they can always get worse

An autopsy performed on fallen NOPD officer Nicola Cotton revealed she was eight weeks pregnant.

Muses postponed

In case you haven't heard, no parades roll tonight. Tomorrow night will be insane.

Thanks, Trixie.

Joseph de Maistre was right

Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle mérite.  Et nous, nous ne méritons pas Edwards.

Bonne chance, Barack.  Bonne chance.

Secession, maple syrup style

JoeJoeJoe sent me this article from Good Magazine.  It tries to rationalize how Vermont can and should peacefully secede from the US.

One of the big problems Vermont has is such a low state GDP.  This, and the author was talking about how he wanted his tax dollars to stay in the state.  I guess he doesn't want to support people that supposedly live below sea level, and produce his heating oil.

GDP is one thing area where Louisiana would not have a problem.  However, as I've said before, the US would not let us do it.  At least, not let us do it and live.

Our fate is *still* your fate

I have no idea, but I sincerely hope that there are more people like this than there are Vandenfucks in the world.

Read this excerpt.  Follow this link to read the whole post from a volunteer helping out in New Orleans.

And the need for resurrection is so great. I talk about hope, and I feel it. I see reasons for rejoicing, everywhere. But there is also such anger, still. People were forgotten—and they don’t just suspect or feel it, they know it. The national and local response has come from faith-based groups, not from government. The rebuild is being done by residents and volunteers. This city is being remade by the people who live in it, who love it, who will go through fire and flood to call it home. They need help and support—one told me, “We don’t expect it (in the sense of hand-outs)—but we need it.” Please come. Bear witness. Get your hands dirty. Come and love these people.

Thanks, Dr. Jolie, for the link, and Scout for the pic

Yes, definitely a sports blog

Thanks to JoeJoeJoe, my proposal for the Hornets to play a game or two a season in the Superdome is getting legs.  Here it is on ESPN's TrueHoop Tuesday bullets.

Maybe we could get that Zirin guy to publicize it as well...

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Update: I asked John Deshazier of the T-P what he thought, and here's what he said. Honest, but not optimistic:

My guess would be, "No." He'd have to receive permission from the Saints, I believe, which he isn't likely to receive, and it would be a nightmare if, say, only 12,000 people showed up for a facility configured to host 35,000. But that's just a guess on my part.

Dave Zirin also weighed in:

As for the Hornets, as I'm sure you know, Shinn inquired about moving the team to OKC only to be rebuffed. He is beyond sleazy. Expect anything from that guy.

Update 2: It gets even more legs.  And yes, it is gimmicky.  A gimmick that may keep the Hornets in New Orleans.

Evidently, this is now a sports blog

Peter King of Sports Illustrated posted my letter in his MMQB column:

I HATE GIVING AWAY THIS GAME. From Ashley Morris of New Orleans. "Is it not evil of the NFL to put New Orleans in the London game against the Chargers? Making them travel is one thing -- I can deal with that; but making the fans lose a home game at the Superdome? First of all, the Saints had to play nine road games in 2005, including that monstrosity in the Meadowlands. Second, the Chargers can't even sell out a playoff game, and the Saints have 30k people on the season ticket waiting list. Is this in any way fair to the New Orleans fans and season ticket holders (like you)?"

You're right. I don't like the Saints, in such a delicate time, exporting one of their most attractive home games in 2008 to England. Tampa Bay was a better candidate, especially with the Glazer family in the soccer business in England. Tom Benson needs to make some gesture to the fans of New Orleans -- through a charity to help the devastated neighborhoods, for example -- to make the loss of a valuable home game palatable to the people who will miss it.

Only correction, I originally said "sixteen road games in 2005".

My challenge to Mr Shinn

Have one game a year in the Superdome, let it count toward the average attendance benchmark, and I'll buy two season tickets.