thisland

Hollyweird and District of Dunces travelled to New Orleans for their holiday vacation.

What they saw was often heartwarming and sad. Many of the intellectuals and locals are back, albeit wearied from months of couch hopping and gutting houses. FEMA's tents lined the empty WallMart on the outskirts of town and Military hummers still partol the city.

The French Quarter was a ghost town until New Years Day, when Bourbon Street became flooded with drunk tourists wearing Mardi Gras beads.

The locals were more than willing to share their take on the aftermath of Kartina. Rumors swirled about what was being done in the city. I was told by one resident of the French Quarter that New Orleanians love a good story and that truth doesn' t always make a good yarn. Everyone it seemed had a sad tale to tell with a smile on their face.

Hollyweird left her heart in New Orleans and hopes she can come back soon, to a city rebuilt with a strong, sound levee system and a goverment infastructure that will prevent the human mistakes that allowed this grand old city to almost disappear under water.

HOWEVER. This will do just fine:

Senate Rejects Reauthorization of Patriot Act

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Santa.

I know I've been a naughty girl this year. I truly appreciate your compassion.

Love,
Hollyweird

P.S. And even more promising:

"If a compromise is not reached, the 16 Patriot Act provisions expire on Dec. 31."

While my New Year's resolution will be to quit smoking (working on that whole naughty thing), may I suggest that the Senate quit the Patriot Act for good? If I can do it, Congress, I know you can do it too.

Oh and okay, Santa, I know you aren't God, but can the Bush Administration please cut it out with the Orwellian everyday-is-opposite-day use of the English language? I used to value words like liberty, freedom, and patriotism.

Let's bring 'em back in 2006, yo!

*found on the streets of Hollywood Blvd. by Hollyweird's roommate, Laura

My daughter is 17 months old. I am starting to investigate schooling options. The situation in the District is a disgrace.

This is the capitol of the richest country on earth. There are only 3 public schools that teach at grade level. More money is spent per child than any other city in the country, and the facilities are in a shambles, the schools are unsafe and our kids graduate uneducated.

In response we have one of the most successful public charter school programs. 52 charter schools and 24% of the students attend them. But still, only 2 are teaching at Grade Level.

So what are the options? A parent can spend $20,000 a year plus and send there kid to a private school. But not everyone, me included, has that kind of money and to especially spend it on preschool for a 3 year old. Or we can move.

I have opted to work on an effort to start another Charter School. A Chinese immersion IB program in DC. The group lost the funding last year. But I am working on this years effort. The more I dig in the more disgusted, devasted and depressed I am.

I can't believe that here in the Washington, DC we cannot provide our kids with a decent, let-alone good education.