It's my Cake Day, Trying to do some good.

Jan 23, 2026 3:46 PM

hfctom

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16939

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A few nights ago a guy decided to light a bunch of fires in the Bywater area of New Orleans. One of those fires was the front balcony of some friends of mine. Ben and Todd have been trying to renovate Clifford the Big Red House for almost two decades now.

They did catch the guy: https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/crime/bywater-arson-suspect-arrested-less-than-48-hours-after-fires/289-ecb7b717-0f37-4ed9-a972-929e36b8ff90

Hurricane Ida tore the roof off of their house and did major damage to the interior. Todd wrote a book about their adventures after Hurricane Ida.
https://www.amazon.com/Hurricane-Ida-Aftermath-Todd-Perley/dp/B09NHD9B78/ref=sr_1_1

There is a go fund me for them as well as their friends to replace their burned car. It's almost reached its goal. https://gofund.me/939fbe627

And since even Todd will admit he's bad at self promotion here's a link to his Patreon if you like stories about New Orleans or listen to him play ragtime piano. https://www.patreon.com/toddperley

And if you happen to be in the New Orleans area he'll be hosting his "occasional" "Mad Men Inspired" cocktail party at Redux.

Their neighbor's car

The Bywater Bakery delivery van was also one of the cars torched. https://www.bywaterbakery.com/

cake

cake_day

cakeday

fire

patreon

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

There is no amount of work the arsonist could do to make up for what he did.

2 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

A Go Fund Me account? Can't they just sell the arsonist's organs for the money?

2 months ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Or, your know, insurance

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The local hospital -is- number one in liver transplants....

2 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

That sounds pretty threatening.

2 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I donated what I could. I'm terribly sorry for your friends loss, that's heart-wrenching. I'm glad that they're okay, though.

What a crappy day to wish you a, hopefully, happy cake day on

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Since I've been lax in sharing music anyway, here's Todd playing "The Executioner's Rag" https://youtu.be/M3BUAffHfR0?si=AqgQPRO6zAZZThr-

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You haven't been lax — day-to-day life is much more important than sharing some music on the internet 🙂 I hope all is well with you, man.

Your friend Todd's very talented! It takes a lot of finger dexterity to play something like that. I hope everything works out for them. If you talk to them, tell them some guy on the internet sends his sincere condolences and wishes them all the best.

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0