Reuters: US Hurricane Outlook Draws Betting Surge
The intensity of the last two Atlantic hurricane seasons has triggered a mini-frenzy this year of storm-related bets online, where gamblers can make so-called “proposition wagers” on anything ranging from “will life be found on Mars?” to “who will win the next presidential election?”
If you want to win big money … you should bet on the United States escaping a major hurricane strike over the next six months after two ferocious seasons that saw eight hurricanes lash Florida and Hurricane Katrina devastate New Orleans and kill 1,300 people.
One will never lose money underestimating the taste of the American public.
This versus yesterday’s wagers on how many New Orleans bloggers Machelle, Amanda and I would run across at the Freret Street Festival. As the magnet who normally attracts half the people I know in this city, I met and talked with George “Loki” Williams, Alexis and Dudley, Editor B and Xy, Alan Gutierrez and Becky Houtman, Ashley Morris and Hannah, the fearless and ebullient Katarina (age 4, as announced by the girl herself), wild Annabel and dormant Rey, Jack Ware, Craig Giesecke and the beautiful Kim, and a number of fellow CRAPpers.
Round Sidewalk Talks; The Next Generation Of Morrises
Rumors that dangerblond was on the loose were sadly unverifiable. The resulting dismay was drowned in an incredible plate of Dunbar’s Red Beans & Rice, after which several of us indulged in retail therapy at Bloomin’ Deals and danced to New Birth to close out our evening.
Geek Moment(s): Loki, Lex, Machelle and I discovered our mutual love for Dr. Who, Babylon 5 and B … errr … Z-movies, and have decided to host a movie festival including Manos: The Hands Of Fate, Plan 9 From Outer Space, other works of blistering agony and Ed Wood. Dates TBA. Update: Further review of my DVD collection offers Legend of the Chupacabra and Cannibal! The Musical.
Music: John Boutte, Charmaine Neville and the booty-shaking sounds of the New Birth Brass Band, to name a few. Every city in the world needs its own brass band. We have all of them.
I was so disappointed when I landed in St. Jo, MO Friday a week ago that there was no SciFi channel, meaning no new Dr. WHO. My Xmas present last year was a CD set of a Tom Baker season, and now my son is hooked as well.
I’m not on your blogroll, but count me as another NOLA blogger at the Freret Street festival. I just stopped for lunch at Dunbar’s and a strawberry lemonade. Catching a little Washboard Chaz and Hot 8 was a lucky bonus.
I haven’t thought of, or seen, Dr. Who in years. I used to be so obsessed with that show in high school. One summer, a sat through an all-day Dr. Who marathon at the comic book store.
I’m thinking maybe they should change the name to Freret Street Blogfest.
Love the pictures, which confirmed the fact that Dr. and I would have melted in the heat.
I’m also a bad film buff but it’s hard to imagine watching any non-Mystery Science 3K version of “Manos.” That’s one of their best episodes.
Funny you should say that because my friend, Machelle, and I made the command decision that it will be the MST3K version. Machelle would start groaning and yelling and I would fall asleep on the showing of the original.
I’m glad to hear that. The original is B-O-R-I-N-G. Croow is needed to make it work.
Manos, the hands of fate?
Yes, Manos: The Hands Of Fate
– Arguably the worst movie ever made.
– Sent up by the boys of Mystery Science Theatre 3000.
– Makes Machelle want to cry.
AND IF I WERE IN THE CORRECT STATE I COULD OFFER TO JOIN YOU WITH MY (MST) COPY.
And bring MST3K: The Movie (This Island Earth), Prince of Space (yay Japan!), Teenagers from Outer Space, The Creeping Terror, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (with a very young Pia Zadora)…
(Julie: for all your MST3K needs)
Ashley, you’ve never heard of Manos? You’ve led a sheltered life…
Dammit, I was going through all my MST3K sites, and I couldn’t find a single reference to this bizarre neural pattern that keeps firing again: “Manos, the hands of fate?” “Manos. The hands of fate!”
Hey, I propose you do the movie fest when I’m in town… I can contribute plenty of awful material since I never fail to snap up any lousy-looking free DVD from work.
See here for some of the horrible crap I’ve not only watched but reviewed on IMDB.
Apologies if this appears twice. It didn’t seem to work the first time, so to be safe…
I propose you do the movie fest when I’m in town… I can contribute plenty of awful material since I never fail to snap up any lousy-looking free DVD from work.
See here for some of the horrible crap I’ve not only watched but reviewed on IMDB.
Fuck a bunch of movie talk. Where can I get in on some of that tasteless hurricane action? Just kidding. I love bad movies. Anyone want to go see The New and Improved Omen with me? : ) Maitri, I am so sorry I missed you at the Ferret Fest! We have to get together for a drinky.
Anyone want to go see The New and Improved Omen with me?
You mean the Only Thing Original About It Is The Release Date movie?
I must admit Pete Postlethwaite looked great in the trailer.
Don’t forget Zombie! vs. Mardi Gras, one of the best Z Movies around. I will happily provide DVDs should anyone want to arrange a Dr. Who-a-thon. I have all the new ones including a full season not yet available in the States.
Sorry I missed Kim and Craig, haven’t seen them in awhile. Also sorry to have missed the many (Dangerblonde, etc.) I have yet to meet. PErhaps a NOLABlogger SF Fest might be in order? A gathering where we quit talking about all the Post K garbage we blog about and just be social (demented and sad are optional)
I am so upset that I missed meeting all of you guys at the Freret Street Festival. Unfortunately I was out of town.
I would be so down for B movie festival. I have loved Dr. Who since I was in 8th grade and discovered it on LPB.
>>A gathering where we quit talking about all the Post K garbage we blog about and just be social (demented and sad are optional)