The hurricane-charged winds and rain stopped almost as suddenly as they attacked.
All that could be heard now were cypress planks creaking under the strain of the
surviving sails and waves crashing against the La Souer Che’rie’s bow. Standing
hunchbacked and peering over the sea with a devilish set of crossed eyes, Pierre
Lafitte cursed his youngerbrother under his breath. Not only had his ship and the
Barataria crew weathered a storm of considerable consequence, but the Spanish
vessel they had been chasing for weeks was still foolishly running.
If he had his druthers, Pierre would burn her, sink her and take her prize. Yet that
was not the way of his brother Jean, who was likely swaying with the breeze in his
red hammock in Grand Terre, reviewing orders for the booty to come. The Lafitte
brothers had distinguished themselves from other privateers by allowing their
captured to live. It was good public relations for the band of corsairs and sent a
strong message that they always got what they desired.
The chase went on for a few more days. Life at sea was always preferable to the
restrictions of land, but to the joy of the bandits from Barataria, the gap was closing.
As they finally got into range, Pierre cried out the order and a bar shot was sent
roaring across the water into the rigging of their foe. They were close enough to
hear the horror in Spanish tongue: All hands down! All hands down! Another blast
followed, trailed by one more. Pierre laughed as splinters of wood dimpled the
waters and sails blanketed the deck of the Spanish ship. With no power to drive
them, the Spaniards had little choice but to capitulate to the privateers from south
Louisiana.
To read more, click here.
All that could be heard now were cypress planks creaking under the strain of the
surviving sails and waves crashing against the La Souer Che’rie’s bow. Standing
hunchbacked and peering over the sea with a devilish set of crossed eyes, Pierre
Lafitte cursed his youngerbrother under his breath. Not only had his ship and the
Barataria crew weathered a storm of considerable consequence, but the Spanish
vessel they had been chasing for weeks was still foolishly running.
If he had his druthers, Pierre would burn her, sink her and take her prize. Yet that
was not the way of his brother Jean, who was likely swaying with the breeze in his
red hammock in Grand Terre, reviewing orders for the booty to come. The Lafitte
brothers had distinguished themselves from other privateers by allowing their
captured to live. It was good public relations for the band of corsairs and sent a
strong message that they always got what they desired.
The chase went on for a few more days. Life at sea was always preferable to the
restrictions of land, but to the joy of the bandits from Barataria, the gap was closing.
As they finally got into range, Pierre cried out the order and a bar shot was sent
roaring across the water into the rigging of their foe. They were close enough to
hear the horror in Spanish tongue: All hands down! All hands down! Another blast
followed, trailed by one more. Pierre laughed as splinters of wood dimpled the
waters and sails blanketed the deck of the Spanish ship. With no power to drive
them, the Spaniards had little choice but to capitulate to the privateers from south
Louisiana.
To read more, click here.
| Sean Reilly leans back on a conference table and straightens his tie. He watches people file into the meeting room at Baton Rouge Community College, then crosses his arms and stares at nothing in particular. Although he has been asked this question numerous times, the words are being cautiously selected. Who can blame him? Anything with regards to ICF International and Road Home these days is controversial. “Their performance has just been miserable,” says Reilly, waiting for the May meeting of the Louisiana Recovery Authority to begin. “They have totally dropped the ball and are not performing as originally agreed. But most of our discussions on the board have not been about getting out of the contract. It has been about placing stiffer teeth into it.” To read more, click here. |
| By Jeremy Alford Published: May 22, 2007 B.R. BUSINESS REPORT |
For the first time in more than a year, Baton
Rouge's own caucus of elected legislators sat
down and brainstormed over breakfast together
during this year’s regular session. Then the
group, now known as the Capital Region
Legislative Delegation, did something
uncharacteristic. They met again, once a week,
until the session ended in late June.
For regional lawmakers, it was an opportunity to
connect and strategize. What were once individual
pet projects were being vetted by the entire
delegation for support, like LSU’s AVATAR
initiative for the digital media industry, which
announced a partnership with video-game giant
Electronic Arts earlier this month. But smaller
issues also peppered the agendas, like the impact
Denham Springs’ traffic problems are having on
Baton Rouge or how a new chemical plant in
Iberville Parish could help residents of Pointe
Coupee.
To read more, click here.
Rouge's own caucus of elected legislators sat
down and brainstormed over breakfast together
during this year’s regular session. Then the
group, now known as the Capital Region
Legislative Delegation, did something
uncharacteristic. They met again, once a week,
until the session ended in late June.
For regional lawmakers, it was an opportunity to
connect and strategize. What were once individual
pet projects were being vetted by the entire
delegation for support, like LSU’s AVATAR
initiative for the digital media industry, which
announced a partnership with video-game giant
Electronic Arts earlier this month. But smaller
issues also peppered the agendas, like the impact
Denham Springs’ traffic problems are having on
Baton Rouge or how a new chemical plant in
Iberville Parish could help residents of Pointe
Coupee.
To read more, click here.
ICF's Mess
Making the Pieces Fit
By Jeremy Alford
Published: Sept. 8, 2008
B.R. BUSINESS REPORT
Published: Sept. 8, 2008
B.R. BUSINESS REPORT
Outlaws by Choice:
From the brothers Lafitte to
modern pirates wired with
technology, the Gulf of Mexico
has long been a salty refuge for
smugglers and bandits.
By JEREMY ALFORD
From the brothers Lafitte to
modern pirates wired with
technology, the Gulf of Mexico
has long been a salty refuge for
smugglers and bandits.
By JEREMY ALFORD
Make no mistake — this is a casino town where shows and conventions dictate ebb and flow. In fact, we
arrived in Biloxi the same day as opera star Placido Domingo, who was performing at the Mississippi
Coast Coliseum. It made it near impossible to find adequate accommodations, but the local visitors
bureau somehow worked its magic. Tip number one: schedule your trip well in advance. There’s no
telling when a famous tenor might cause hotel reservations and traffic to stack up.
arrived in Biloxi the same day as opera star Placido Domingo, who was performing at the Mississippi
Coast Coliseum. It made it near impossible to find adequate accommodations, but the local visitors
bureau somehow worked its magic. Tip number one: schedule your trip well in advance. There’s no
telling when a famous tenor might cause hotel reservations and traffic to stack up.
Card Sharks, Body Rubs and Redfish
How to spend two days gambling and fishing in Biloxi -- without
ruining your marriage.
By Jeremy Alford
Published: May 1, 2005
GAMBIT WEEKLY OF NEW ORLEANS
How to spend two days gambling and fishing in Biloxi -- without
ruining your marriage.
By Jeremy Alford
Published: May 1, 2005
GAMBIT WEEKLY OF NEW ORLEANS
Professor Longhair was crackling in my ear as we turned onto Beach Boulevard,
a sandy, salty strip that serves as Biloxi’s lifeline for seafood enthusiasts and
casino dreamers. Huge billboards towered over us, touting unbeatable odds on
craps and promoting upcoming acts like George Carlin. The Gulf Coast has come
to resemble a mini-Vegas over the past decade, shedding its quaint beach
resort skin for a sleeker look with bright lights. Old schooners cutting through
the bay’s waters, however, serve as a constant reminder of what Biloxi once
was and what it still has to offer, aside from dice and cards.
a sandy, salty strip that serves as Biloxi’s lifeline for seafood enthusiasts and
casino dreamers. Huge billboards towered over us, touting unbeatable odds on
craps and promoting upcoming acts like George Carlin. The Gulf Coast has come
to resemble a mini-Vegas over the past decade, shedding its quaint beach
resort skin for a sleeker look with bright lights. Old schooners cutting through
the bay’s waters, however, serve as a constant reminder of what Biloxi once
was and what it still has to offer, aside from dice and cards.
Thankfully, my wife and I were not interested in hearing anything performed above baritone from Jules Massent's “Le cid.” Instead, we
were in Biloxi to fish and gamble. Correction: I was in Biloxi to fish and gamble. Karron, my wife, was brought here under the ruse that
luxurious spas, fine dining and various shopping destinations would help her fill the void during the times I would be wasting our money
on poker and having more fun with live bait than I would with my in-laws.
It was the kind of blueprint any couple could follow to construct a weekend vacation
balanced by testosterone activities and estrogen getaways.
To read more, click here.
were in Biloxi to fish and gamble. Correction: I was in Biloxi to fish and gamble. Karron, my wife, was brought here under the ruse that
luxurious spas, fine dining and various shopping destinations would help her fill the void during the times I would be wasting our money
on poker and having more fun with live bait than I would with my in-laws.
It was the kind of blueprint any couple could follow to construct a weekend vacation
balanced by testosterone activities and estrogen getaways.
To read more, click here.
JEREMY ALFORD four samples
