What are New Orleanians thinking about?

In between more serious decisions - like whether to stay or go, raise their homes, how to save their businesses, will New Orleans get Category 5 protection, The Times-Picayune has a new insert, "Inside/Out" with the following stories:

• How to spot a liar.
  
• Home swapping to save on hotel costs.
  
• Photos of windows - broken, bent blinds, curtains hanging out of windows, windows still covered by plywood painted - many painted with messages.
  
• Price differences for sheetrock in other cities compared to New Orleans - a 4 x 8 1/2 inch sheetrock in Houston, $5.96; in New Orleans, $8.47; but Atlanta, $8.53 and $7.79, and Chicago, $6.35 and $7.37. The conclusion is that Houston's low price is the anomaly because there are so many sheetrock manufacturers there. Hmm ... stands to reason then that New Orleans, with strong ties to Houston, might benefit at least a little from its proximity to Houston.
  
• Choosing a contractor.
  
• Parched plants need watering now.
  
• How to save your magnolia (most were severely damaged or killed by the brackish water) .
  
• Celebrating Thanksgiving with a house full of homeless Katrina friends and family.
  
• How to save your golf clubs if they were under water (yeah, really) .
  
• How to save a water-soaked painting.
  
• Home repairs are requiring more time and money - prices are up 25 percent due to the shortage of laborers and a 15 percent increase in the cost of materials (some insurance companies are not taking this into consideration) .
  
• Roofing materials costs are going up 7 to 10 percent every two to three weeks.
  
• Real estate transfers - what might your home be worth now?