The Gambit hasn't updated their site yet (update, 5:45 PM: oh, goody! They got around to it), but I caught this little quote in the cover article by David Winkler-Schmit about Endymion's move back to their Mid-City route (thank GOD and the City Council and the po-lice!).:

Mardi Gras historian Arthur Hardy notes that the second Saturday of the parade season puts a lot of stress on NOPD in terms of logistics. Parades that day include NOMTOC, a large and popular Algiers parade that rolls in the morning, followed by Iris and Tucks on the Uptown route - and finishing with Endymion's Mid-City trek.

"The fact that the NOPD has the manpower to do that speaks volumes about where we are in the recovery," Hardy says. "To me it's a win, win, win, win. Mid-City wins, Endymion wins, Uptown wins, and, most of all, NOPD is strong enough, even if it's not 100 percent. I never want to sound like I have rose-colored glasses...but this is certainly more than a baby step back."

Arthur, man, your glasses may not be rosy, but you probably should get your prescription checked. Go visit the police as they monitor the parades standing in the same places for twelve-hour shifts, with short short breaks for eating and maybe the bathroom, and see how well you see after that. For the NOPD to be "winners" in your scenario, they have to be standing their feet off and watching out for more than the average carnival mischief, all on piddling salaries.

So, folks, be kind to the po-lice. They are keeping your Mardi Gras season a fun one, as they have for many, many years. Pass 'em a handwarmer out there if'n it's cold. Let 'em head for a Hubig's Pie if they so please. And, if the absolute elation of our pal who was on the beat Saturday is any kind of indication, the float riders need to be tossing these to every cop along the route:

Yes, that's treating our law enforcement right here in New Orleans...

I cannot tell you how jealous my husband was.

Oh, and I nominate our illustrious oaf of a prez for Rampart Monkey of the Century. There is little to no confidence in any ability he might have to address the true state of the nation head-on. The man will most likely be laying one huge egg with his speechifying tonight, as mythical Rampart monkeys are wont to do, apparently. Maybe somebody can supply Dubya with several gross of Super Viagra beads to toss to everybody in the Capital to soften the blow a tad. Update, 5:49 PM - Amorphous Funk details the bone Dubya will be throwing this region later tonight. What do you think - should they all stay in the Superdome?

Update, 2:43 PM: And this is treating our law enforcement wrong:

In a 11:45 a.m. press conference, Police Chief Warren Riley said a rape suspect, who the officer was attempting to handcuff, resisted and struggled with the 24-year-old officer. After a tussle lasting about seven minutes, the suspect grabbed the officer's weapon and shot her multiple times...

The officer was patroling alone, without a partner. Riley said many officers patrol by themselves.

Arthur Hardy's not the only one who needs to get his glasses prescription checked. Officers patrolling alone. That's really great. Just what we all need.

via Prytania Waterline