This is the latest from C. B. Forgotston:

The New Orleans Police Department, while being unable to address the ever-rising murder rate in New Orleans, periodically offers public statements to assure the citizens that they are not really in any danger.

That was then

This summer, after a murder of a 54-year old engineer who was returning from work to his home in New Orleans, NOPD spokesman Sgt. Joe Narcisse said: “I think people can take some comfort in knowing that it was a random act of violence….”

This is now

On Christmas night at one location in the city, 6 individuals were shot and two died at the scene. The NOPD made the following statement, apparently in an effort to offer comfort to the public:

[T]he shooting “is not believed to be a random act of violence,” meaning at least one of the victims was targeted. Times Picayune, December 27, 2007.

What does it mean?

I’m confused, but then I’m no expert on policespeak.

The fact that a murder was a random of act of violence is supposed to be comforting.

The fact that a murder was not a random act of violence apparently is supposed to be comforting.

So, random and non-random murders are comforting. What type of murders should make the citizens uncomfortable?

Clancy’s Answer: The kind of murder that should make us all feel uncomfortable is one that does not keep the New Orleans brand out there. Mayor Ray Nagin will let us know when such a murder occurs.

On January 26th, This Old House, a popular home improvement PBS show will begin featuring the rebuilding of a historic New Orleans home in a ten episode series.

The show will chronicle the rebuilding of 4th generation homeowner Rashida Ferdinand’s house and will also explore Connicks and Marsalis’s Musicians Village project.

By logging on now to thisoldhouse.com, show fans can currently observe webcams showing various angles of the rebuilding of Ferdinands’ traditional 1892 Creole shotgun style home located in the Ninth Ward and read Ferdinand’s blog.

Nothing gets in the way of our fast and efficient justice system — except football. An insurance company’s lawyer (not even Allstate) secured a trial date postponement because he has tickets to the BCS championship game.

Apparently precedent was set by a case delayed due to the Saints/Bears game earlier this year.

If nothing else, you have to admire the attorney for criticizing the Buckeyes’ speed (”Slowhio”) in his request. And just so the legal system doesn’t appear biased, he gamely mentioned that the plaintiff’s attorneys also have tickets to the game. There was no word on whether the presiding judge would attend the game.

To My Readers:

First, I have to apologize for being “one poor correspondent” when it comes to blogging. I’m 53 years old, so my late entry into the Blogosphere can easily be chalked up to not getting it. Having said that, one of my New Year’s Resolutions is to blog regularly in this space — and I welcome your questions, comments, criticisms, etc. It’s all about the Marketplace of Ideas.

Recent issues of Gambit Weekly have advertised an “Ask Clancy” forum. That ad is intended to prime the pump, and I promise I will try to answer all serious inquiries. But I won’t put all the burden on you; I plan to post often on topics that I come up with on my own. I do love answering questions, though, because they give me a sense of what people are talking about in terms of issues, much like talk radio. Read the rest of this entry »