Sorry, Jon Stewart; I’ve got a new Daily Show.

I’ve become addicted to Lee Zurik’s reports on WWL’s 10 p.m. news about the ongoing NOAH saga. Tonight’s episode was typically excellent.

Clancy is hip-deep in hip waders in a beautiful Montana stream with his son, catching fish and thinking about better things, but this latest installment of As the NOAH Turns made me wonder just what the legal ramifications could be (hypothetically speaking, of course) about any or all of what Zurik was reporting.

…Clancy? You in range of a WiFi signal up there? Care to opine?

Also of note, to me, was the way Mike Hoss closed the report:

In addition, on July 29, Eyewitness News filed a public records request with the city, to view all of the invoices paid to contractors for the NOAH home remediation program. State law allows the city three days to hand over or provide access to those documents. The city attorney’s office has not said when WWL-TV can view those requested materials.

This all seems relevant to last weekend’s discussion of whether the Times-Pic should throw down in court over the public documents law. It also seems like a warning shot across the City Hall bow.

Interesting. In the meantime, at 10 p.m., I’ll be tuning in for The Daily Show With Lee Zurik.

Considering everything else that’s made in China, it’s only fitting that it’s making history with the upcoming Olympiad.

Filmmakers Ashley Sabin and David Redmon traced Mardi Gras to China. Or rather to a Chinese factory. Their film Mardi Gras: Made in China chronicled that economic link. It’s available on DVD as of this week.

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Crazy conspiracy theories aside, isn’t it a little odd that, a weekend after having practice shortened by bad weather for just the second time in the Sean Payton era, that the New Orleans Saints signed a defensive tackle that last played for a team called “the Storm.” All the while, tropical storm Edouard threatens the Louisiana coastline? Is it also odd that the Saints are also looking at a wide receiver from the Storm, and that said Arena League team plays same city as the Saints Week 1 opponent?

Or maybe I’m reading way too much into things.

It looks like the end of a long and very winding road for Peristyle.

Chef/owner Tom Wolfe issued a news release today announcing that the French Quarter restaurant will serve its last meal this Friday, Aug. 9. The dinner service has been dubbed the “last supper” for Peristyle, but it looks as though at least the building will be resurrected once more as a restaurant.

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Cairo As Seen By Chahine

5:15 p.m. Fri., Aug. 8

Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center

1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 827-5858; http://nolamideastfilmfest.blogspot.com

The New Orleans Middle East Film Festival, currently running through August 10, presents a screening of the documentary in memoriam of the Egyptian filmmaker, who died in his home last week at age 82. From the festival:

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Pretty cool: the Virginia Quarterly Review is sponsoring a contest for book reviewers and critics under the age of 30. Check out this prize:

The prize for the winning entry is $1,000, publication in our Winter 2009 issue, and a publishing contract for three additional reviews worth up to $3,000. Finalists (up to five) will receive a complimentary one-year student or associate membership in the National Book Critics Circle, a one-year subscription to VQR, and may also be offered paid publication in VQR (in print or online).

There’s no fee and a few very specific rules. Details here. Good luck!

We’re gonna cover a lot of things today (thanks to the offense vs defense scrimmage and yesterday’s day off). Some people are working to see who the most important Saint this year is, others are simply going crasy until the football season starts, while others still need some time in a confessional booth. But the big question might be whether the 2006 season was a government conspiracy. Seemingly, fears and insecurities abound at this time in training camp as people look to make up for lost seasons and get comfortable with their new teammates. There is much hope, though, as players “shined” in the scrimmage and a few “gems” are being found. The Saints bandwagon has officially started in Vegas. And just in case you need some inspiration, though, check out this video.

- Morgan Freeman injured in “very serious” car crash in Mississippi, along with that favorite personage of the tabloid press, the Unidentified Female Companion. The Los Angeles Times has more:

Even though he’s a hot property in Hollywood, Freeman still calls Mississippi home.

He and his wife, Myrna, live near Charleston, Miss., on a 126-acre ranch with a main house, peach trees and horse stables.

Freeman built the ranch on the same land his grandparents worked, which is where he spent much of his childhood.

- Some couple from the Lower Quarter had twins, photographs of which fetched $14 million from People magazine. (Yes, the money goes to charity, and no, our national priorities are not out of whack, not a bit.) For those who are interested:

- USA Today is the latest to profile Dr. John and his new CD City That Care Forgot. It’s an OK piece, but the last quote is worth repeating:

“That’s because you have loving people here. People will feed you, clothe you, put you up. Sharing is as much a part of the culture as music. And we’re proud of our culture, as wacked as it may be.“

(The following is by Gambit guest blogger and New Orleans East resident Clifton Harris, who maintains his own blog, Cliff’s Crib. You can read more of his writing there.)

In my first two posts to this blog I was doing a bunch of complaining. People that are new to me might be asking themselves why I am living here if I am that upset. Well, I complain because I care. I guess everyone in the city has asked themselves the “Why am I here?” question a time or two. New Orleans is a place that doesn’t always return the love you have for it. You have to remind yourself of the small things that will give you a good feeling to get past the politics, crime, school system and slow recovery. These are just a few of mine. Please feel free to add your own.

Jim Henderson Doing Saints Games on the Radio – I don’t remember the last time I listened to a Saint’s game with the TV sound up. I was listening to Jim when we had our first winning season when I was 12. I was listening to him when Hakim dropped the ball and we won our first playoff game. I was listening when we beat the Eagles and went to the NFC Championship. Last year, I wanted to share a beer with him after the Tampa game and the infamous reverse play. When he retires my football seasons won’t be the same. I am getting sad just thinking about it.

Patton’s Hot Sausage – This is a serious thing. I am not joking about this. There are people who have relocated after the storm that plan monthly trips into the city just to buy hot sausage. My aunt’s backyard in the Lower Ninth Ward was right behind Patton’s Hot Sausage plant. There was always a wonderful smell at her house….

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