67. Discussion of Elizabeth Custer's Memoir, Part 1.

67. Part 1 of our discussion of Tenting on the Plains by Elizabeth Custer, the widow of General George Armstrong Custer. The Custers spent some time in Louisiana immediately after the end of the Civil War, and we discuss the portion of the book that covers their adventures in the Pelican State.

1. This week in Louisiana history. August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina makes landfall in the New Orleans/Biloxi area causing an est. $25 billion dollars worth of damage and displacing over 1 million residents.
2. This week in New Orleans history. The Causeway Opens
   August 30, 1956 The original Causeway was a two-lane span (now the southbound span), measuring 23.86 miles in length which opened on this date in 1956 at a cost of $30.7 million. A parallel two-lane span, 1/100th of a mile longer than the original, opened on May 10, 1969 at a cost of $26 million. Each span was the longest over-water bridge in the world when completed.
3. This week in Louisiana. Creole Renaissance Festival The annual fete honors the Creole language, food, community, dance and music. Admission: $5-$15. Yambilee Fairgrounds, 1939 W. Landry St., Opelousas.
4. Battle of New Orleans  September 4, 1814.  NO. V. 
   Letter from Mr. Laffite to Mr. Blanque Barataria.
   4th September, 1814.
   Sir,
   Though proscribed by my adoptive country, I will never let slip any occasion of serving her, or of proving that she has never ceased to be dear to me. . . . I may have evaded the payment of duties to the custom house; but I have never ceased to be a good citizen; and all the offence I have committed, I was forced to by certain vices in our laws. In short, sir, I make you the depository of the secret on which perhaps depends the tranquillity of our country; please to make such use of it as your judgment may direct. I might expatiate on this proof of patriotism, but I let the fact speak for itself. I presume, however, to hope that such proceedings may obtain amelioration of the situation of my unhappy brother, with which view I recommend him particularly to your influence. It is in the bosom of a just man, of a true American, endowed with all other qualities that are honoured in society, that I think I am depositing the interests of our common country, and what particularly concerns myself.  I have the honour to salute you,  J. Laffite.

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66. Interview with Jason France (Crazy Crawfish), Part 2.

66.   Interview with Jason France (Crazy Crawfish), Part 2.  August 23,  2014.  We interview Jason France, the creator of the Crazy Crawfish education blog.  Jason is a former Louisiana Department of Education Employee and nationally recognized privacy and public education activist.  Jason is also running for a seat on the BESE board. You can also read some of his blog posts at the Louisiana Anthology.

1. This week in Louisiana history.  August 26, 1895 'Uncle' Earl Kemp Long born
2. This week in New Orleans history.  August 24, 1973.  John Schwegmann was in hot water for fighting a "milk war" between his grocery stores and the "orderly milk marketing law" also known as a price-fixing law. Schwegmann promised his customers rebates if the law was enacted.  The First Circuit Court of Appeals ordered him to cease what it interpreted as illegal acts.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.  August 29-30.  Cane River Zydeco Festival and Poker Run Zydeco music, motorcycle events, dance contests and more.
   Downtown Natchitoches
   318.471.9960 or 318.652.0079.
4. Battle of New Orleans. August 26, 1814.  NO. XII.  Head-quarters, Pensacola, August 26, 1814. Order of the day for the first colonial battalion of the royal corps of marines.
   You are called upon to discharge a duty of the utmost danger, of the utmost peril. You will have to perform long and tedious marches through wildernesses, swamps and water-courses; your enemy from long habit inured to the climate, will have great advantages over you. But remember the twenty-one years of toil and glory of your country, and resolve to follow the example of your glorious companions, who have fought and spilt their blood in her service. Be equally faithful and strict in your moral discipline, and this, the last and most perfidious of your enemies, will not long maintain himself before you. A cause so sacred as that which has led you to draw your swords in Europe, will make you unsheath them in America, and I trust you will use them with equal credit and advantage. In Europe, your arms were not employed in defence of your country only, but of all those who groaned in the chains of oppression, and in America they are to have the same direction. The people whom you are now to aid and assist have suffered robberies and murders committed on them by the Americans. 

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65. Interview with Jason France, Writer of the Crazy Crawfish Blog

65.   We interview Jason France, the creator of the Crazy Crawfish education blog.  Jason is a former Louisiana Department of Education Employee and nationally recognized privacy and public education activist.  Jason is also running for a seat on the BESE board. You can also read some of his blog posts at the Louisiana Anthology.

1. This week in Louisiana history.  August 16, 1814 US gunboats attack Barataria, destroying all ships and pirate contraban. A few months later, they would be allies in the Battle of New Orleans.
   
2. This week in New Orleans history.  Mayor Mitchell Joseph "Mitch" Landrieu born August 16, 1960 is the former Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.  August 21-22  Fete Rouge A celebration of food and wine hosted by Baton Rouge Epicurean Society. Thursday's 7-course award dinner (paired with wines) features live entertainment, and Friday's Food and Wine Fete includes over 200 wines to taste plus a chef's competition, raffles and live entertainment. Admission: $200 Thursday; $50 Friday.
   Crowne Plaza Hotel
   4278 Constitution Ave.,
   Baton Rouge,  LA
   225.773.4889.
4. August 15 No. I.  Copy of a letter from vice-admiral Cochrane to Mr. Monroe
   August 19 No. III.  By lieutenant-colonel Edward Nicholls, commanding his Britannic majesty's forces in the Floridas.
   Natives of Louisiana! on you the first call is made to assist in liberating from a faithless, imbecile government, your paternal soil: Spaniards, Frenchmen, Italians, and British, whether settled or residing for a time, in Louisiana, on you, also, I call to aid me in this just cause: the American usurpation in this country must be abolished, and the lawful owners of the soil put in possession. 

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64. Interview with Carolyn Files, Niece of Writer Maude Files Zimmer

64.  We interview Carolyn Files, the niece of Maude Files Zimmer.  Maude wrote a series of books focused on her early life in Oak Ridge, Louisiana, a small town a few miles outside of Bastrop.  The books are collections of articles that were first written for newspapers.  These stories catch the flavor of the small-town America of yesterday; somewhere between Tom Sawyer and Mayberry.  Files wrote the following books:

• A Time to Remember
• A Village so Small
• Door Without a Lock
• Writer's Harvest  

These books are out of print but still available from vendors like Amazon.  In addition to discussing her books with Carolyn, we also talk about Maude's adventurous life, living and working in far-flung places far away from Oak Ridge, Louisiana.

1. This week in Louisiana history.  August 11, 1856 A hurricane kills more than 200 people vacationing at Isle Derniere (Last Island).  Hearn's Chita is based on that hurricane.
   
2. This week in New Orleans history.  Lee Harvey Oswald contacted the FBI on August 9, 1963 after he was arrested in New Orleans for disturbing the peace, asking to speak with an FBI agent.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.  August 14-16.   Le Cajun Awards and Music Festival Cajun music, dancing, food, arts and crafts. Events Thursday (Aug. 14) will take place at La Poussiere Cajun Dancehall, 1301 Grand Point Ave., Breaux Bridge. Admission: Free Thursday, $5 Friday, and $10 Saturday.
   Rayne Civic Center
   210 Frog Festival Drive
   Rayne, LA
   337.344.2494
4. August 15  Extract of a letter from general Jackson to governor Claiborne.  No. IX. 
   
   Extract of a letter from major-general Jackson to governor Claiborne, dated fort Jackson, August 15th, 1815.
   Information this moment received by express from Alabama Heights, bringing me a letter from Pensacola, added to the intelligence received by captain Gordon, who was the bearer of a letter from me to the governor of Pensacola, makes it necessary, that all the forces allotted for the 7th military district, should be held in a state of preparation to march to any point required at a moment's warning.

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63. Interview with author Elise Blackwell

63.  We interview Elise Blackwell, author of The Unnatural History of Cypress Parish. "Set in southern Louisiana in the weeks preceding the great flood of 1927, this novel depicts a place and way of life about to be forever changed. On the verge of manhood and a stone’s throw of the rising Mississippi River, Louis Proby is pulled between his love of the natural world and the glittering temptations of New Orleans, between the beautiful Nanette Lançon and a father who no longer seems larger-than-life, between the simplicity of childhood and the complicated decisions of adulthood." The Louisiana Anthology has posted an excerpt from her novel and one of our short stories.

1. This week in Louisiana history.  August 4, 1901 Allen Greene school opens in town of Grambling, will later become Grambling State Univ.
2. This week in New Orleans history.  Natchez VIII was launched August 2, 1879 by the Cincinnati Marine Ways.
   
3. This week in Louisiana. August 4-9.  National Farmers Market Week The French Market celebrates National Farmers Market Week with cooking demonstrations, live music, and more.
   French Market
   1 French Market Place,
   New Orleans.
4. Battle of New Orleans:
   
1. August 6 Militia general orders (American) No. VIII.
   
2. August 8 Anonymous letter written from the Havanna (British) No. II.

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62. Interview with spoken word poet Gian Smith, Part II

62. Part two of our interview with spoken word poet Gian Smith. He is also the creator of the YouTube series "Open Mike,"  as well as a founding member of the Melanated Writers Collective.

1. This week in Louisiana history.  July 26, 1810 Rebellion of West Florida Parishes
2. This week in New Orleans history.   Francisco Luis Hector, barón de Carondelet, governor of Louisiana and West Florida. Born, Cambrai, France, July 29, 1747
   
3. This week in Louisiana.  July 31-August 3.  Satchmo SummerFest The 13th annual festival dedicated to the life, legacy and music of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong features live jazz, brass bands, and more, plus seminars, a children's area, crafts, dance lessons,food vendors, a jazz Mass and second line parade.
   Admission: Free.
   Old U.S. Mint
   400 Esplanade Ave.
   New Orleans, LA
   504.522.5730. 

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61. Interview with spoken word poet Gian Smith

61. Part one of our interview with spoken word poet Gian Smith. He is also the creator of the YouTube series "Open Mike,"  as well as a founding member of the Melanated Writers Collective.

1. This week in Louisiana history.  July 21, 1920 First Airmail delivery in South, Shreveport to Homer
2. This week in New Orleans history.  July 19, 1963: Lee Harvey Oswald is fired from the Reily Coffee Company "...because his work was not satisfactory and because he spent too much time loitering in Adrian Alba's garage next door (at 618 Magazine Street), where he read rifle and hunting magazines."
3. This week in Louisiana.  July 24-26.  Grand Isle International Tarpon Rodeo The oldest fishing tournament in the United States with children's activities and music. The pavilion opens each day at 11 a.m. with food, merchandise and educational exhibits, and music in the evening. Children's crab races take place at 2:00.
   Tarpon Rodeo Pavilion
   Grand Isle 504.615.0099

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