Oh, the water
Man oh man, technology never ceases to amaze me.
It's been brought to my attention -- via the smartypants at Poynter -- that we can now "watch" the water go down in New Orleans, in any particular neighborhood, with this super-special flood map.
The map uses Google mapping technology (see, I know what I'm talking about) to allow users to check the estimated depth of New Orleans' flood waters at any location, with peak and current depth.
Why does this matter, you ask? Welllllllllllll, it's interesting to note that water near the University of New Orleans reached a maximum depth of 10.5 ft, but now stands at only 7.5. And that the tides never reached the French Quarter.
Strange and fascinating, indeed. Also potentially helpful for recovery efforts, and for helping displaced folks figure out whether their particular neighborhoods are safe to return to. More info here.