Blogs - NOLA.com

IN YOUR COMMUNITY: Jobs [http://www.nola.com/jobs/] Find a Job - New Orleans Find a Job - Baton Rouge Job Seeker Tools Employer Tools Post a Job Autos New Orleans Autos Baton Rouge Autos Used Cars Sell Your Car Find a Dealership Weekly Newspaper Ads Real Estate Real Estate Home Homes New Homes Rent Foreclosures Commercial Place An Ad More » Rentals Rentals Home Apartments & Communities Commercial Leases Place An Ad More » Classifieds Classifieds Home Pets Garage Sales For Sale Celebrations Autos Jobs Real Estate Rentals Place an Ad Obituaries Obituaries Home FIND&SAVE FIND&SAVE Home Local Coupons Print Coupons Special Sections Weekly Circulars Local Grocery Ads More Local Businesses Find A Business Food & Dining Retail Shopping Health & Medicine Personal Care Entertainment Real Estate Automotive Claim Your Business More » SUBSCRIBE 5-day | Hurricane Center Greater New Orleans Twitter Facebook RSS Sign in | Join NOLA.com Baton Rouge Greater N.O. 5-day | Hurricane Center Search NOLA.com Sign in News News Follow us: Twitter Facebook RSS Loading headlines... News Home Featured Loading headlines... News Home | News Forums More ... Crime and Courts Top Photos Politics, Elections Top Videos Education Northshore Opinions U.S., World News Traffic, Fires Weather Environment Hurricane Center Religion Military Business Business Follow us: Twitter Facebook RSS Loading headlines... Business Home » Featured Loading headlines... Find Area Businesses | Business Forum » More ... Real Estate Transactions TP Store Entrepreneurs Contact Us Hollywood South Connect Science and Tech Newsletters Jefferson Parish Journal Sports Sports Follow us: Twitter Facebook RSS Loading headlines... Sports Home Featured Loading headlines... Sports Site Map | All Sports Forums More ... Saints Talk Saints! LSU Sports photos SEC sports Video reports, interviews Pelicans Running Tulane Outdoors Zephyrs Scoreboards Golf Recruiting NCAA H.S. Sports High School Sports Follow us: Twitter Facebook RSS Loading headlines... H.S. Sports Home Featured Loading headlines... H.S. Sports Forums Be a reporter/Sign in More ... Football Find a school Recruiting Find a team Boys Basketball Find a player Girls Basketball Photos Baseball Videos Softball Entertainment Entertainment Follow us: Twitter Facebook RSS Loading headlines... Entertainment Home Featured Loading headlines... Submit an Event | Entertainment Forums More ... Music Webcams, Live! Eat, Drink, Cook Mardi Gras Festivals The Arts Movies Entertainment Photos TV Today, Calendar Treme Celebrities Living Living Follow us: Twitter Facebook RSS Loading headlines... Living Home Featured Loading headlines... More ways to Interact | Local Interest Forums More ... Eat, Drink, Cook Webcams, Live! Health, Fitness Puzzles, Games Home, Garden Comics Kingdom Fashion/WISH Photo Contests Weddings Your Photos Lottery Your Videos Travel Social Scene Pets and Animals Parties Horoscopes Family Contests Sign in to NOLA.com Username Password Remember me Forgot your username or password ? Don’t have an account? Register now for free , or sign in with any of these services: Customize Your Weather Set Your Location (Enter City and State or Zip Code) Congratulations! Your weather is set to . You can change the location at any time. Want to set your local edition? Select an edition for more focused local news coverage when you visit NOLA.com. Baton Rouge Greater N.O. Don't worry. You can change this setting at any time to another local edition. BLOGS News, Opinions, Lifestyles and more from the NOLA.com community RSS Wise Up By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com August 25, 2014, 6:38AM When a mother giraffe gives birth, she will do so while standing up. So her calf's first act is to fall six feet to the ground, crash landing on his face. Then, as if such an arrival wasn't harsh enough, the youngling's mother will continually knock him down when he attempts to stand. Only when completely exhausted will she allow... Full story » + Monday, August 25, 2014, 6:39 AM Reflexive Spirituality By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com August 21, 2014, 6:47AM Five hundred years ago there was a group of Christians living in Europe known as the Anabaptists. These are not to be confused with today's Baptists, though the groups do share points of common history. The name Anabaptist was not so much a description as it was a condemnation. The Anabaptists were "anti-baptizers," scorning infant baptism and a heap... Full story » + Thursday, August 21, 2014, 6:49 AM "The Preacher" By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com August 18, 2014, 7:38AM I grew up with a lot of religious rules. To violate these rules was to subject oneself to the judgment of God. If you had a fundamentalist upbringing, you may be familiar with some of these restrictions. No drinking, no smoking, no dancing, no playing cards or going to the movies, no mixed-bathing (a prospect that intrigued my teenage... Full story » + Monday, August 18, 2014, 7:39 AM Freedom from Fear By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com August 14, 2014, 8:36AM In the town of Madison, Florida, you can find the Colin P. Kelly memorial, a striking sculpture of four angels, their wings unfurled in the wind. The memorial was dedicated in 1943 to the name and heroics of a B-17 pilot whose plane was shot down just days after Pearl Harbor. Pilot Kelly did not survive the crash, but... Full story » + Thursday, August 14, 2014, 8:38 AM Advertisement: The Man Behind the Curtain By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com August 11, 2014, 7:03AM What do Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, have in common? Besides the fact that they are both splendid, waterfront communities, probably not much. Except this: Seventy-five years ago this week, these towns were the first public release points for one of the greatest films ever. "The Wizard of Oz." Few movies have had such a prolonged, impactful history.... Full story » + Monday, August 11, 2014, 7:05 AM Help With The Missing Pieces By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com August 07, 2014, 7:30AM I love puzzles. Crosswords, brainteasers, and search-a-words to be sure, but nothing beats an old fashioned jigsaw puzzle with about gazillion pieces spilling out of the box. Right now there is a monster-sized puzzle strewn across our family's dining room table. I have been persistently working on it for so long that I can't remember the last evening we... Full story » + Thursday, August 07, 2014, 7:33 AM What a Wonderful World By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com August 04, 2014, 7:25AM This coming week marks the birthday of a man who Bing Crosby called, "the beginning and the end of music in America." Born in the sweltering heat of a New Orleans' August, the grandson of former slaves, and suffering abject poverty, that man was Louis Armstrong. It was starvation that drove young Louis to the streets where he learned to... Full story » + Monday, August 04, 2014, 7:26 AM When Enough is Enough By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com July 31, 2014, 7:12AM More than a century ago Leo Tolstoy wrote about a greedy farmer in his tale, "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" This farmer was discontent with his life because he never seemed to have enough. He moved town to town looking for greener pastures and greater opportunity. On his journeys he heard rumors of a far-away place where... Full story » + Thursday, July 31, 2014, 7:15 AM Let Go... Or Be Dragged By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com July 28, 2014, 6:34AM A friend who has some experience with rodeo horses sent me a most picturesque proverb: "Let go or be dragged." Whether this phrase was first spoken by a Zen master who had achieved enlightenment on the mountainside, or by a battered cowboy nursing his shattered bones and pulling cacti from his backside makes no difference. It is the unmistakable... Full story » + Monday, July 28, 2014, 6:36 AM Love Shines... But Not Always Succeeds By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com July 24, 2014, 7:54AM Love others as much as you love yourself," Jesus told his followers. These words are considerably more than a sugary Sunday School story. For those who take these words to heart, "love others" has profound, life-altering implications, not all of which are warm and fuzzy. Consider the life of Bernard Lichtenberg, arrested seven decades ago. His crime: He loved. Lichtenberg... Full story » + Thursday, July 24, 2014, 7:56 AM Hitting the Road By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com July 21, 2014, 8:59AM Here we are, deep in the dog days of another summer. School is out, vacation days are being cashed in, and picnic baskets are being packed. Barbecues are firing, pools are splashing, and ice cream trucks are rolling. Meanwhile, thousands, yea millions, are taking to the great American highway. Seventy percent of the U.S. population will hit the road... Full story » + Monday, July 21, 2014, 9:00 AM The Path of Least Resentment By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com July 17, 2014, 6:25AM Near Mpumalanga, South Africa, are the marvelous and mysterious Echo Caves. Rediscovered in the last century and turned into a tourist site, these caverns are home to a truly remarkable ecosystem. One of the more amazing species found there, is its famous and unique wild fig trees. As far as plant life goes, these fig trees appear to be... Full story » + Thursday, July 17, 2014, 6:28 AM Fight Like a Butterfly By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com July 14, 2014, 7:51AM Decades ago, while speaking of an upcoming championship bout, Muhammad Ali constructed a poetic couplet of epic proportions. With glitzy words corresponding to his style both in and out of the ring, "The Greatest" claimed he would "Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee," because his opponent's "hands can't hit what his eyes can't see." Few athletes, maybe... Full story » + Monday, July 14, 2014, 7:55 AM Gelassenheit: You Will Be Blessed By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com July 10, 2014, 7:48AM I've made a habit lately of studying the Amish. I use the word "study" loosely as this is not a simple curiosity of mine or some kind of theological experiment. My exploration flows out of a deep respect and admiration for their faith and spirituality. We English (that's what the Amish call us outside their communities) recognize them because... Full story » + Monday, July 14, 2014, 7:51 AM A Garden in the Wilderness By Ronnie McBrayer NOLA.com July 07, 2014, 6:49AM More than a decade ago, former Chief Justice Roy Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court installed a massive granite monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments in the rotunda of the Alabama State Judicial Building. Two years later it was removed by court order as a violation of the separation of church and state. Shortly thereafter, Justice Moore was also removed... Full story » + Monday, July 07, 2014, 6:50 AM Next page » 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 FEATURED BLOGS C'est la NOLA Hot topics, slices of life and New Orleans whimsey • You Are Welcome! I have heard some Mennonites use the term "non-violent evangelism." It is a way of sharing faith that does not harm those with whom they share. It is built on mutual respect, love for others, and a commitment to the other person's freedom. People are treated as seekers, not potential converts, without pressure, arm-twisting or coercion; and no manipulation... Read the latest posts » Subscribe to this blog » Check it out! Cool internet stuff our pals passed along • Drew Brees scheduled for 'Leno' appearance Wednesday; will host change feature to '12@12'? Drew Brees is scheduled to do the "Ten@Ten" feature of "The Jay Leno Show" on Wednesday (December 9), scheduled to air at 9 p.m. on WDSU-Channel 6. Read the latest posts » Subscribe to this blog » ADVERTISEMENT LOCAL BLOGGERS • Ernie the Attorney • Krewe Char de Guerre • Looka! • Metroblogging New Orleans • New Orleans Live Journal • Soldiers' Angels Louisiana • Sturtle • YatPundit All blogs on NOLA.com » All writers A-Z » Metro news Valerie Faciane Non-profits, online news Steve Kelley Editorial cartoonist Chris Kirkham St. Bernard Parish C.J. Lin Gretna Bruce Nolan Religion Katy Reckdahl New Orleans housing Victoria St. Martin St. John the Baptist Parish Matt Scallan St. Charles Parish Mary Sparacello Kenner Mark Waller East Jefferson neighborhoods Bob Warren St. Bernard Parish Business Stephanie Bruno Real estate and a range of other business issues Jen DeGregorio New Orleans ports and banking reporter John Gin Metairie financial advisor, has written a weekly finance column for The Times-Picayune for more than 20 years Sheryl Kennedy Covers a range of business topics for the Money section Ronette King Personal finance reporter and columnist Rebecca Mowbray Insurance and Entergy Corp. reporter Kim Quillen Times-Picayune business editor Mario Villafuerte Based in Bossier City and covers central and northern Louisiana Jaquetta White New Orleans tourism, gaming and small business reporter Columnists Jarvis DeBerry Columnist, opinions, editorials Stephanie Grace Columnist, opinions, editorials John Maginnis Columnist, opinions, editorials James Gill Columnist, opinions, editorials Crime and Courts Ramon Antonio-Vargas New Orleans crime and courts, online news Gwen Filosa New Orleans criminal courts Michelle Hunter East Jefferson crime Laura Maggi New Orleans crime and courts Brendan McCarthy New Orleans crime and courts Danny Monteverde New Orleans crime Allen Powell II West Jefferson crime Paul Purpura Jefferson Parish courts Leslie Williams New Orleans criminal courts, New Orleans crime Education Sandra Barbier St. Charles and St. John K-12 schools Barri Bronston Jefferson Parish K-12 schools Sarah Carr New Orleans K-12 schools Kia Hall Hayes St. Tammany K-12 schools Jenny Hurwitz Jefferson Parish K-12 schools John Pope Colleges and universities Brian Thevenot New Orleans K-12 schools North Shore | St. Tammany Jeff Adelson St. Tammany law enforcement and fire departments, city of Covington, town of Pearl River Benjamin Alexander-Bloch St.Tammany courts, town of Abita Springs Karen Baker Community news editor for Covington, Abita Springs and Folsom areas Andy Canulette Community news editor for Mandeville, Lacombe and Madisonville areas Cindy Chang City of Mandeville, Causeway Commission, town of Madisonville Christine Harvey St. Tammany Parish government, politics Kia Hall Hayes City of Slidell, St. Tammany education Sharon Sharpe Assistant community news editor for Slidell, Lacombe and Pearl River areas Carol Wolfram Community news editor for Slidell, Lacombe and Pearl River areas Weather | Hurricanes Shelia Grisset Levee protection Chris Kirkham Coastal erosion, fisheries Bob Marshall Coastal erosion, levee protection, fisheries Mark Schleifstein Hurricane news, tracking and updates, levee protectoin, coastal erosion Photographers Kathy Anderson Times-Picayune staff photographer Danny Bourque Times-Picayune staff photographer G. Andrew Boyd Times-Picayune staff photographer Chuck Cook Times-Picayune staff photographer Rusty Costanza Times-Picayune staff photographer Michael DeMocker Times-Picayune staff photographer Brett Duke Times-Picayune staff photographer Daniel Erath Times-Picayune staff photographer Chris Granger Times-Picayune staff photographer David Grunfeld Times-Picayune staff photographer Matthew Hinton Times-Picayune staff photographer Ted Jackson Times-Picayune staff photographer Eliot Kamenitz Times-Picayune staff photographer Ellis Lucia Times-Picayune staff photographer John McCusker Times-Picayune staff photographer Doug Parker Times-Picayune staff photographer Susan Poag Times-Picayune staff photographer Dinah Rogers Times-Picayune staff photographer Scott Threlkeld Times-Picayune staff photographer Jennifer Zdon Times-Picayune staff photographer Politics and Government Bruce Alpert National politics, Louisiana congressional delegation Ed Anderson Louisiana state government Bill Barrow Louisiana state government, health care Frank Donze New Orleans politics and government Bruce Eggler New Orleans politics and government David Hammer New Orleans politics and government Michelle Krupa New Orleans politics and government Jan Moller Louisiana state government Rich Rainey Jefferson Parish politics and government Paul Rioux Jefferson Parish politics and government Robert Scott Louisiana state government Jonathan Tilove National politics, Louisiana congressional delegation Entertainment | Living Brett Anderson New Orleans restaurant news, weekly dining reviews Jill Anding Antiques and collectibles Marcelle Bienvenu Cooking Creole and food features Paul Broussard New Orleans theater Stephanie Bruno New Orleans neighborhoods, Homes and Gardens features Chris Bynum New Orleans pet news, general features Mary Ann Cook Calendar event listings Marigny Dupuy Children's book columnist Doug Elfman Video game news, reviews, releases Alison Fensterstock New Orleans music, general features Dan Gill Louisiana gardening Stephanie Hepburn Wish contributor, cosmetics and home décor Kadee Krieger Wish contributor, My Favorite Things Susan Langenhennig Fashion editor, Wish editor Susan Larson Book editor, general features Mark Lorando Features editor Molly Kimball Nutrition and fitness features Michael Kleinschrodt DVD releases, news and reviews Doug MacCash Arts writer, general features Theodore Mahne New Orleans opera, theater Ann Maloney Entertainment features, New Orleans arts and culture, Lagniappe editor Jerry McLeod New Orleans pet news, Louisiana travel, celebrities Maria Montoya Features online coordinator, general features Nell Nolan New Orleans society Diana Pinckley Mysteries columnist Glenn Pinera New Orleans theater calendar Todd Price New Orleans Drinks, New Orleans restaurant news Molly Reid Homes and Gardens, general features Chris Rose Columnist, general features Mike Scott Movie writer, Hollywood South updates Keith Spera New Orleans Music writer Stephanie Stokes Homes and Gardens Suzanne Stouse Big Easy , New Orleans Party Photos Sheila Stroup Columnist, New Orleans pet news, general features Karen Taylor-Gist Homes and Gardens, InsideOut editor Chris Waddington New Orleans classical music, theater, general features Dave Walker New Orleans Television, celebrities Judy Walker Food editor, New Orleans cooking, New Orleans recipes, general features Sports Brian Alee-Walsh New Orleans Saints beat reporter Marcus Carmouche Times-Picayune Deputy Sports Editor John DeShazier New Orleans sports columnist; host of Sports Week Jeff Duncan New Orleans Saints beat columnist Peter Finney New Orleans sports columnist Jennifer Evans Times-Picayune Online Content Producer Bob Fortus Fair Grounds/Horse racing reporter; New Orleans Zephyrs beat reporter Trey Iles Times-Picayune Assistant Sports Editor, High Schools Nakia Hogan New Orleans sports reporter Larry Holder Tulane, UNO and prep sports Pierce Huff Soccer reporter; high school sports reporter Jim Kleinpeter LSU beat reporter Ted Lewis College sports reporter/Sugar Bowl/New Orleans Bowl reporter; high school sports reporter Lori Lyons High school sports reporter Bob Marshall Louisiana fishing, hunting and outdoors Tammy Nunez Tulane beat reporter, high schools sports reporter John Reid New Orleans Hornets beat reporter Jimmy Smith New Orleans Hornets beat reporter Kevin Spain Times-Picayune Online Sports Editor Mike Strom High school sports reporter Doug Tatum Times-Picayune Sports Editor Mike Triplett New Orleans Saints beat reporter Billy Turner Golf writer; high school sports reporter James Varney LSU beat reporter NOLA.com Dave Gladow Producer, Sports, High School sports Ray Koenig Producer Keith I. Maszalek Senior Producer James O'Byrne Director of Content Gary Scheets Senior Producer D. Weaver Producer Lauren Wilbert-List Community Producer About Us About NOLA.com About NOLA Media Group Community Rules Content Partners Advertise with us Contact Us Connect with the Newsroom Blog for Us Submit a Correction The Times-Picayune Subscribe TP electronic edition eNewsletters Breaking news text alerts Report a wet or missing paper Make a payment, manage your account RSS Times-Picayune Store NOLA.com Sections News Business Sports High School Sports Entertainment Living Opinion Obituaries Jobs Autos Real Estate Rentals Classifieds Local Deals Local Businesses Your Regional News Pages New Orleans St. Bernard East Jefferson West Bank Northshore/St. Tammany Plaquemines River Parishes Baton Rouge Mobile Mobile Apps | Mobile FAQ More on NOLA.com MardiGras.com Forums Your Photos Your Video Weather Post a job Post a free classified ad Sell your car Sell/Rent your home Apartments and Rentals Site Map Webcams/Live! Follow Us Twitter | Facebook | Google+ Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy © 2014 NOLA Media Group. All rights reserved ( About Us ). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of NOLA Media Group. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Contact interactivity management. Ad Choices