Our company decided to have its annual management meeting in New Orleans this past December to help support the city (we had about 800 people in attendance). For the first full day in New Orleans, we spent the day picking up trash in the Ninth Ward. Unless you see it with your own eyes, it's hard to believe the mess that part of the city is in.

Culturally, Nawlins is a wonderful city. But, the character of the city has drastically changed. Although pronouncing it "dead" may be premature, I think it's pretty safe to say that its character has been permanently altered. The city that existed 18 months ago, will probably never be the same.