We have a clear philosophy when it comes to print and online publishing: They enhance each other. This doesn't come from any high-minded artistic concept; it's much more about money — online publishing is a lot cheaper than print and allows us to extend our discussions without breaking the bank (see Kuhaku and cannedcoffee.com, for example).

But this choice is also about the medium — books seep into the culture over time, taking years to bubble up in some cases; blogs hit instantaneously and often dissipate quickly. And that's why we've just launched our Voices of New Orleans blog to complement our upcoming book, Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans.

The book is weeks away from America's store shelves. We hope that Voices adds some spice to the battle for New Orleans. And we also hope that the book creeps into the public sphere, reminding everyone of what is at stake in the Big Easy. Cause it's a lot more than conventions and crawfish, y'all.