Olivia, if the town of New Orleans was moved to another location, it would be a one-time expense. If we rebuild, it will be an expense every time we have another hurricane. I do not believe every inch of land in LA is claimed and built on. I do believe the Mississippi River runs the length of the state. Surely there could be shipping considerations. Additionally, I suggest that the current population of New Orleans is less than it was prior to Katrina. Maybe it isn't a question of relocating the town; maybe it is a question of relocating the rest of the citizens.

My family goes back to the French pirates who were some of the original settlers of New Orleans. The romance of this town has always been a myth. Leaving Bourbon Street and wandering into the backstreets is a little like leaving the Las Vegas strip and wandering into the backstreets. It is all smoke and mirrors.

Concerned Citizen--Thanks for the informative, thought-provoking response. Sometimes I wish I could "slip into profound indifference" regarding what happened to New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Region, but I find myself unable to.

It was interesing to read how the town of Valdez, Alaska had to be moved after the 1964 earthquake. So I figure you're suggesting something like this for New Orleans. I've often seen well-meaning people suggest that she be rebuilt on higher ground and/or farther inland. That sounds like a good idea, except that I've several questions as to how "doable" that would be: How easy would it be to find a new location for New Orleans where she can have her current functions as a port, etc.? How would the land for a new New Orleans be obtained? What happens to the historical buildings and the French Quarter and other tourist areas? (Perhaps they could be preserved as a tourist draw, but you'd still need close, affordable housing for the people who work there. Rents in New Orleans are currently high.) And last but not least, how much would such a massive undertaking cost and where would the money come from? The cost of moving New Orleans elsewhere would make the cost of rebuilding the devastated areas of New Orleans in their current location look relatively economical.

Olivia, I know we have had this conversation; however, there are many people who have "Katrina Fatigue" who do not hate New Orleans. Many of us (even who have a vested interest in the Gulf Coast) simply have slipped into profound indifference about the subject. I spent many formative years in N.O. and a very close friend owned the Mrs. Fields Cookie Shop on Bourbon Street. Even this is not enough to get me interested.

In 1964, an earthquake hit Alaska. Valdez, a major port, was decimated. Most likely you have seen the films by the fisherman who held onto the mast and rode his boat to the bottom as the water rushed out of the bay. When it rushed back in, it destroyed everything in its path. When I visited there the following year, the town of Valdez had been abandoned and rebuilt higher up on the side of a near mountain. There were still ships laying on their sides in the middle of what used to be the town.

I suggest that New Orleans could learn a lesson from this.

Ali--I'm not from New Orleans, but have travelled there and love both that city and Louisiana. So you can imagine how sad seeing the devastation of that city makes me feel and how saddened I am by her slow recovery and by Bush Administration neglect. I also agree that there should be more coverage not only out of the over-Great Britain-sized area damaged by Katrina but also out of those parts of Texas and Louisiana that are now recovering from Rita, or "the forgotten storm."

To Ali and Bill Hoden: Please keep in mind that fluorescents were not the only new type of bulb mentioned. LEDs or OLEDs I think are even better, longer lasting, and far cheaper to make. From what I know, they do not contain mercury, which I'd agree is a concern.

I think Olivia is doing a great job trying to maintain focus on the NO disaster! Did anyone see that extreme engineering program on the science channel that showed normal looking three level homes from Holland that actually float? They are tethered to a phone pole like anchor so that as the water rises they just float right on up.

Now we know how water boarding works. Mohammed would say he killed Lincoln and Kennedy. McCain and Cheney now showed Americans how torture really works as a person will say anything. Look we believe that Tillman was killed by the enemy as we were told. It's just the words used in the confusion are not really ones used by the Middle East to much American in it, but we are to believe it's the truth.
We have no Justice System as honest lawyers are fired. Next Gonzales will replace honest Judges with corrupt ones who follow the Bush policy. Many are in jail now for lying under oath but Gonzales can lie with on problem. Can anyone in the current Administration tell the truth? Now that the injured troops problems have moved to the back page the military will stay the course and do nothing until a Journalist starts asking questions again. What happen to our country in the pass 6 years it has changed as it seems Democracy is no longer the Law.

Olivia, Are you from New Orleans? I lived there for 5 years, as I have said in the past. It is sad what has happened there, most definitely. I still have friends there. But I do not think it needs to populate the news nightly. I do think the general "gulf coast" would be a more compelling story. Other areas were hit as well.

As far as the light bulbs, I did use them in my home in Seattle. And at our office there. The softer light is actually better for those of us that suffer from migraines. I am all for saving the environment (I am appalled my apt complex here in LA does not recycle), but I cannot deal with the headaches those energy saver lightbulbs give me.

Campbell--I am making an appeal to your conscience. Tuesday, Martin Savidge blogged on the dire medical situation in New Orleans about 19 months after Katrina. NBC Nightly--a newscast that about a week ago aired a moving piece on a young Iraqi girl who needed to be operated on by US Army medics because Iraq's health care system is in a shambles--has aired nothing lately on the fact that New Orleans' health care system is also in a shambles.

Then, last night, NBC Nightly made no mention of the news that New Orleans got defective flood pumps from a company with ties to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. This is far more serious than and should have been covered instead of the relatively trivial story that did make Nightly's cut, about the "better light bulb." Reason being, the defective pumps, had a hurricane or tropical storm hit, could have put people's lives in danger. I imagine that NBC Nightly has been bending over backwards to avoid covering this and other hard news out of New Orleans. This is censorship, pure and simple, and is morally wrong.

On reading many of the negative entries under Martin Savidge's Tuesday post, I have to wonder where all the hate for New Orleans and Louisiana, from the bloggers, who complain that they're sick of hearing about New Orleans, is coming from. And I have to wonder about the motivations of these bloggers themselves. How do we know they didn't BEFORE Katrina hate New Orleans, with her diverse culture, and now see in her life-threatening devastation an opportunity to extinguish her light and commit genocide against her people? By not airing news out of New Orleans, NBC Nightly is showing that it has knuckled under to these hate-filled, mean-spirited, repulsive people.

I understand that you are originally from New Orleans. Think about your family and friends back home. If none are still in that city, then think about people you knew when you were living there. At any rate, imagine how they must now feel about NBC Nightly's neglecting to cover New Orleans in spite of the fact that her people are still in a world of hurt and that their troubles are a long way from over.

Then, take a moment to picture a woman in a cramped FEMA trailer with her family who must live there as she struggles to rebuild her home. Couldn't she be your mother, your daughter, your sister, a friend? Couldn't she even be....you? Visualize such a woman and then decide--do you want NBC Nightly to continue doing what hate-filled, prejudiced people who say they don't want to hear any more about New Orleans want? Or, do you want to listen to your conscience and have NBC Nightly pay attention to the folks back home and what they must endure 24/7?

You need to stick up for New Orleans and your fellow citizens there. You need to stand up, speak out, and talk back to those who would have news out of New Orleans censored. The people of New Orleans, who are valiantly struggling to put their homes and their lives back together, deserve better than NBC Nightly's current news blackout. You need to demand that NBC Nightly return to full coverage of stories out of New Orleans.

On Ambien: If a "rare occurence" is true with
this, then I am one of them. I took it for
about 6 weeks and was doing everything from walking
around the house to making love to my wonderful
husband (not funny folks!)---without so much as
an inkling of memory. I thank God that I did not
walk out to the garage and get in my car---!

I intend to also write similar comments to Katie's CBS Evening News. Tonite you both presented very similar news reports, each using a senior reporter + featuring a spokesperson from a special interest group (CBS used Alliance To Save Energy), on energy savings via use of the fluorescent light bulb. There is no argument here that all positive aspects presented in the reports are factual. What concerns me is there was no mention in either report of negative aspects connected with future, increasing use of these bulbs. I see two: (1) Most troublesome item is identified somewhere on their packaging which is "LAMP CONTAINS MERCURY". The GE package i'm observing next adds "MANAGE IN ACCORD WITH DISPOSAL LAWS". Good luck believing the average person will carry failed bulbs to municipal hazardous waste disposal sites. I note one particular comment included in the CBS report made by a Walmart spokesperson," Our goal is to sell 100 million, etc." What will happen five years hence when this 100 million fail and more, other multi-millions fail in succeding years? One best believe the majority will go in the household trash can. Is anybody thinking now about perhaps mercury toxic sites looming in the decades ahead? (2) An economically troublesome matter also appears on packaging: MADE IN CHINA. Likely item (1) above prohibits MADE IN USA because of EPA and/or other regulations. On day there may be very dire consequences for the USA by continuing China trade deficits at hundreds of billion dollars annually.

The $5 light bulb. I change light bulbs at work. They blow just as often as incandescent bulbs.

You are working the the principle of average life of the bulb. For every one that blows at 100 hours there is another that lasts twice the average life.

Still the savings if the bulb does last 10 years.

Way to go Campbell, fantastic job, nice to see a smiling face at nite from one who really get's into it, loves what she does and makes everyone smile in today's hectic fast pace, for all to slow down and enjoy themself. Your closing monday nite was great, as you said good nite, lowered your head, we knew your were smiling ear to ear, as you pulled off one of the best shows yet. Hope to see you more, also enjoy Saturday,Sunday Today show, you sure keep your
counter part on his toes, as you liven things up, people like that.

Byron Johnson
Weston, Mass 02493

Aw yes… the dreaded environmentalists. Ask you to pay $5.00 more for a bulb that will help you save 55 over its life and the environment to boot. How mischievous!

Don’t think I didn’t take notice to GE’s lack of support. Here they are trying to portray themselves as so eco-friendly (eco-imagination) and low and behold when it conflicts with their bottom line its all of a sudden a no go.

Hello Dear Campbell,
First, you have been doing excellent work. The NBC, Brian, and we are really very lucky to have you. Second, the Bush administration has been the best administration in terms of fabrication of facts and information for accomplishing more profits for the oil corporations and the military complex. The administration has always brought individuals supporting its ideological line of thinking. To get the necessary support for the war in Iraq, the administration brought all data that were consistent with the administration’s decision to go to war. To support the recent idea of troop surge, the President had fired some of the generals and appointed new ones that support his surge idea. Similarly, to get rid of attorneys that may disagree with the administration about its encroachment upon our liberty, Mr. Gonzales cleared the road by firing individuals that may disagree with the new restrictions and regulations imposed on our freedom. The Bush administration must understand that the fundamental problem with crony capitalism is that when it is deviated forcefully from its regular path by a powerful government, it will create corruption and fascism. Our best choice must not be directed to cook the book for short run benefits: We must protect our freedom from global oil intruders. Best Wishes.

Good Evening Campbell, You are doing a great job this week. If one is going to take sleeping pills I should hope that they are not going to drive a car right after. I realize that your schedules sometimes make it hard to get a good nights sleep, but it is not healthy to rely on these pills. I am a loyal viewer and would not want anyone to risk not getting enough sleep in order that a story is aired. You all do a wonderful job, but always keep yourselves healthy. Take care everyone!

Campbell,

Like everyone else has echoed here, I love seeing you in the Anchor chair. But make sure you tell your sound guy to turn your mic off during commercial breaks!

Keep Rockin' and Rollin'!

Yes, Annie, there are other stories of interest besides war and a corrupt White House (which really isn't news after all this time). I like hearing about environmental issues (light bulbs), especially when it looks like there is something I can actually do that will make a positive difference. And given the highway deaths due to people "sleep driving" because of the pills, it's a public safety issue we all need to know about. Thanks for keeping us informed, NBC! And Ms. Brown, love to see you in that anchor chair this week! Great work!

Light bulbs and marine life instead of Iraq, military/veterans healthcare, White House impeachable offenses and Congressional hearings?

Methinks the producers REALLY need to get off the sleep aids and WAKE UP!