The story’s all in the title, but here’s the links:

People if I get 200-anynumber of followers by the end of the week i will donate 5k to the lovely people of Haiti so follow me and RT this

Confirmed that it’s a totally fake account. Retractions and apologies.

Did you watch the debate live on WDSU-TV? If not, you can catch an online replay here. 12 of the 13 qualified candidates showed up at Xavier University for the hourlong event, including all the “major” ones, and the sheer number of them combined with the time constraints kept things hopping from the moment moderator Norman Robinson said go.

• The debate was split into five parts: candidates’ discussing their top issue; addressing blight; talking about economic development; a Who Wants to Be a Mayor-naire?-style quiz about basic city information (the home audience saw the answers on their TV screens as the candidates struggled), and brief closing statements.

• It’s probably best to watch the video if you didn’t see it, because nearly all the candidates had the same messages: Crime is bad and must be reduced. We need a new police chief. We need to invest in our kids. We need to get hold of the blight situation. Legalize weed. (Well, that last one was the pet project of Jerry Jacobs.)

• Given the size of the field, there wasn’t much new revealed, nor were there any punches thrown. Instead, much of the debate turned into a platform for the fringe less well-known candidates, like Jerry Jacobs, who kept bringing the conversation back to marijuana legalization. Two comedians are in the race: Jonah Bascle and Manny “Chevrolet” Bruno, but it was only Bruno who cracked wise to any great extent. Bascle, who uses a wheelchair, brought up the very real issue of disabled accessibility in New Orleans, but managed to get a few crowd-pleasing laughs along the way (“This city itself is handicapped”).

• The only thing approaching drama came about 60 seconds before the debate went live on the air, when an elderly man with a cane approached the dais and began yelling about something. No one was sure if it was part of the program at first (or what it was), but once Xavier vice-president Warren Bell approached the guy, the lid came off. “I’m the Messiah!” he screamed. “And I was talking to Mitch Landrieu upstairs; he knows me!” Security was called and the faux-Messiah was bumrushed out the door just before the telecast began. Norman Robinson, smoothie that he is, didn’t miss a beat and things began peacefully.

• As far as production went, the evening was an A. The debate itself? Probably a C; no real news or dramatic positions were staked out. The more well-known candidates seemed content to deliver their core messages; the lesser-known basked in the attention of a local TV audience.

• Twitter, that much-maligned social media form, was en fuego during the debate, with people in the hall and home viewers recording their impressions with the hashtag #nolamayor (read the reactions at the link). Candidates and/or their handlers were taking to Twitter immediately after the debate to record their impressions as well. And anyone who thinks Twitter is just an indulgence and not a potential game-changer in local politics better take a second look.

• One last note: Based on body language, it’s safe to say Rob Couhig doesn’t find Manny “Chevrolet” Bruno funny. At all.

See you at the next mayoral circus.

Anyone monitoring the official Jefferson Parish Emergency Management Twitter account (now defunct!) at 1 a.m. on Monday must’ve been up for a surprise … a surprise that had nothing to do with hurricane watches, tornado warnings or Black Friday at Clearview Shopping Center.

We’ll let the official JP press release explain what happened:

This morning at approximately 1:00 a.m. an employee of the Jefferson Parish Emergency Management Department was at home e‐mailing a friend on a privately owned computer device. The two were discussing an old girlfriend using some explicit language. In the midst of their e‐mail conversation the employee accidentally sent a reply to the parish’s emergency management twitter account. The employee immediately realized his mistake and removed the content from the twitter site.

We sincerely apologize for this incident and for offending anyone who may have received this message.

The parish is removing the twitter account from the site until such time as more safe guards can be put in place to prevent this from happening again.

We must strike a balance between giving our emergency management staff the ability to send emergency information to our citizens on 24/7 basis from any location in an effort to protect lives and property with the need to prevent accidents and abuses from occurring on these social media sites.

Due to the fact that these messages were sent out on privately owned devices on a non‐parish owned network we do not have any access to the e‐mails or messages.

Fortunately, we do. Courtesy of Gambit reader Champ Superstar, the unexpurgated offending Tweet:

@JPEmergncyMgmt: frm behind. She love DP too. And loved 2 watch me be onside another woman

Reminder, kids: Don’t drink and Tweet!

Do you want to know what your friends are reading? What about your friends’ friends? With Huffington Post’s new HuffPost Social News, you’ll get your chance. The new feature is a partnership with Facebook that tracks what HuffPost articles you’re looking at and what all your Facebook friends are perusing. In a recent article, “Huffington Post + Facebook= the Future of Journalism,” for Slate’s The Big Money, Chadwick Matlin, explains how the two Web sites are providing the service:

Connect basically serves as a conduit between Facebook and another Web site, allowing data to be sent between the two. Facebook sends profile information. In return, the site sends details on what the user is doing. Web sites, of course, have always tracked what pages their users visit. Now HuffPost is broadcasting that information to all of your friends. It has become a loudmouthed Big Brother.”

Not too surprising, the success of the venture could guarantee quite a cash windfall for both Facebook and HuffPost. Matlin isn’t a huge fan of HuffPost, but as he concludes, “it’s not important. Trust me. Huffington Post has taught me that lesson all too well.”

• Stormy Daniels was arrested over the weekend on a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence.

• The former head of the Louisiana Film Commission is headed to the pokey after pleading guilty to accepting bribes.

• Democrats are outraising Republicans in Congressional swing districts. Notes Real Clear Politics:

Perhaps the most obvious Republican district on Democrats’ wish list is in New Orleans, where Joseph Cao gave the GOP one of its few bright spots of 2008 by defeating the ethically-challenged Bill Jefferson in a heavily Democratic district. Cao has raised more than $500,000 this year, however, and has proven his independence on the House floor.

• A new production of A Streetcar Named Desire has opened in London, featuring Rachel Weisz as Blanche DuBois. Mixed reviews, but mostly positive.

• Thirsty? Poppy Z. Brite offers up a recipe for “The Sadist’s Sazerac.”

• Satan’s Botoxed Handmaiden makes another high-profile hire for the Huffington Post. Notes Gawker:

The Huffington Post just hired another VIP’s child, this one the son of White House senior adviser David Axelrod. Funny how a website famous for not paying bloggers finds room on the payroll for an undistinguished corps of rich kids.

• The New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau has been cited for its innovative use of Twitter.

• And speaking of Twitter: we got into a vigorous discussion last night about the merits (or lack thereof) of the White House press corps with ABC News’ Jake Tapper.

This is where we’re supposed to pat ourselves on the back about the awards we won at Saturday night’s Press Club of New Orleans dinner (and, okay, we can do that after the jump), but first a totally subjective recap, filtered through far too much free white wine:

• CNN’s Kyra Phillips is actually very funny when she’s not on the anchor desk, and she got the crowd roaring when she started cursing from the podium.

• Can WWL’s Rob Nelson just be the permanent MC? He had the crowd choking with the kind of jokes that would inspire apoplexy on the WWL Morning News. His previously unspoken gay relationship with Gov. Bobby Jindal, his cracks about Eric Paulsen’s hair color … Nelson was the unholy spawn of Bill Maher and Kathy Griffin.

• Quote from unnamed TV personality: “Yeah, we’re the Jew table tonight. Jews in the house!”

• Quote from extremely funny, sardonic bartender at Harrah’s when a guest turned down another drink: “Lightweight.”

• The tributes to retiring local legends Walt Philbin of The Times-Picayune and Dan Milham of WDSU-TV were genuinely touching and reminded us why we were there, and to what we could all aspire.

• Also heartening to see so many staffers from the Loyola Maroon, who are the future of whatever is going to become of journalism. (Note from us old folks, though: Come after our jobs and we’ll cut you.)

• When we got on Twitter and started filing joke reports about fistfights over the trophies and a Mackel brothers knife fight, some people actually took them seriously. Sorry, but … come on.

• Gambit’s editorial cartoonist, Greg Peters, accepted his 6th first-place award for his comic Suspect Device. That’s worthy of above-the-fold mention.

• Serious note: Unlike the Washington Press Club Correspondents’ Dinner, we don’t mix it up with the people on whom we’re reporting. The minute that local politicos are invited to this little dog-and-pony show is the minute we pull out of the event. This is just a chance for us to get together, engage in some mutual back-slapping, and have a dram (or two) of cooking sherry.

And now, below the fold — the list of Gambit winners, placers and show-ers, as well as some awful iPhone photos from the ad hoc afterparty at Cafe Adelaide:

Read the rest of this entry »

Gambit is cosponsoring “Twitter 101″ day with our friends at Naked Pizza — a quick two-hour seminar to show the practical (and fun) side of the social-messaging service. It’s free, there’ll be free pizza and refreshments, and part of the session will be presented by the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness, showing everyone how useful Twitter can be in the case of something like a hurricane evacuation. Bring a laptop or smartphone if you like; they’re not required.

Other cosponsors include WDSU-TV, the Trumpet Group, and the New Digital Media Group.

It should be an interesting and educational time, whether you know jacksquat about Twitter or whether you’re an old Twitter hand. Here’s the 411 from Naked Pizza:

On July 18 (Saturday) there will be a FREE Twitter seminar for the general public. Heard about Twitter but not sure what all the fuss is about - then join us. Learn the basics of Twitter 101 in a fun and fast paced presentation with Twitter experts from the community. With hurricane season upon us, Twitter can be a powerful tool for getting information. Get connected. Learn also how you can use Twitter for your small business. Real results. Keep your ear to the ground.

Location
Nunemaker Auditorium at Loyola University (Uptown). Starts at 11:00 AM, ends at 1:00 PM. Free pizza lunch and refreshments provided by NAKEDpizza. Nunemaker Auditorium is located on the third floor of Bobet Hall on Loyola’s campus (labeled BO on the campus map).

Click here to RSVP for this FREE event (you must be on the list to attend). RSVP now! Large group expected! Save your space.

Hope to see you tomorrow at Loyola for free pizza this informative collaboration.

We’re hooking up with our buddies at Naked Pizza, as well as WDSU-TV and a few others, for free pizza (well, there will be free pizza, but it’s not the focus of the event) a Twitter Day next Saturday at Loyola. It’s free and you’re invited. (Did we mention: free pizza?)

On July 18 (Saturday) there will be a FREE Twitter seminar for the general public. Heard about Twitter but not sure what all the fuss is about - then join us. Learn the basics of Twitter 101 in a fun and fast paced presentation with Twitter experts from the community. With hurricane season upon us, Twitter can be a powerful tool for getting information. Get connected. Learn also how you can use Twitter for your small business. Real results. Keep your ear to the ground.

Location:
Nunemaker Auditorium at Loyola University (Uptown). Starts at 11:00 AM, ends at 1:00 PM. Free pizza lunch and refreshments provided by NAKEDpizza.

Click here to RSVP for this FREE event (you must be on the list to attend). We will be sending out additional information over the following days. RSVP now! Large group expected! Save your space.

Twitter People to follow:
@wdsu @tiffanystarnes @robbievitrano @nakedpizza

(I know, I know … a good number of you can’t stand Twitter, and an equal amount just don’t see the point. But we’ll be discussing the uses for Twitter in a natural disaster, or a situation like a hurricane evacuation, where Twitter can be as useful — if not more so — than the radio. Plus: free pizza.)

So you succumbed to Twitter. Now who to follow? (Us, for one.)

A good place to start: New Orleans musicians. Here’s a few we follow, and I know we’re missing plenty. Go ahead and leave any other suggestions in the comments.

• Wynton Marsalis
• Terence Blanchard
• Jeremy Davenport
• MyNameisJohnMichael
• Ballzack
• Zydepunks
• New Orleans Bingo! Show
• DJ Beverly Skillz
• DJ Soul Sister
• Beausoleil
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band
• Dirty Dozen Brass Band
• Rebirth Brass Band

Next time: New Orleans food folk.