For some ten or more years, I've been promising my wife that I would do whatever it takes for us to be able to live as close to New Orleans as possible. Clinton, Mississippi, Natchez, whatever.
It breaks my heart to see the devastation in NO. It also makes me realize that I might not be able to deliver my promise.
Things have changed in the French Quarter since we first visited it on our honeymoon in 1977. Bourbon Street became a place for twenty-something's to learn how to drink--and throw up on the street.
Nonetheless, we have so many favorite haunts in other parts of the vieux carre that it doesn't matter. I just hope that those places weren't destroyed forever.
As for people driving stupid (or doing other stupid things): just about every last phrase from a stupid guy is either, "don't worry, it's not loaded," or, "hey guys, watch this!"