Peace

Yeah, and love and understanding!

Gay Marriage

Though it seems to be taking quite a few hits lately, no matter what, love finds a way.

Congrats ladies!

George Michael

Have faith.

Damn

It's hot. That is all.

The Right is Turning on Itself

Billmon speak. You listen.

After The Garden is Gone

Neil Young rocking with Al Gore in a not so free world.

The Internets

Though just a buncha tubes, this Internet thing might end up being something after all.

Via Kyle

More Ted Stevens

Guess he has a blog.

The Internets

How it works, by Ted Stevens, via Jon Stewart and Wired.

Apple Pie

This is as american as apple pie (parental advisory). Via Alterman.

Lieberman Must Go

Digby speak. You listen.

U.S. Economy

How's it doing? Well, as it turns out, not so great.

So Fake it's Real

DSC05063
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Habibi's (not got) Falafels

DSC05056
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Yeah, so here it is "open". Notice bright lgiht in window is actually from Film Lighting apparatus. Sigh.

Habibi's Falafel or How My Dreams of Middle Eastern Food Were Shattered

DSC05056
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Saturday, I'm on my regular constitutional through the neighborhood of Atwater Village and, lo and behold, a new middle eastern restaurant where before was a longrunning Philipino Market. I'm thrilled. THRILLED. I haven't had a good falafel since I lived in Hollywood and Me and Me at the corner of Crescent Heights and Santa Monica closed. THRILLED!

So, Wednesday night after work, I decide to walk by and maybe purchase some falafel and hummus. Well, upon close inspection, it's closed. Looks great, though. Big counter, nice floor, few tables...but wait. There are two tall stands. Could it be? Is it possible?

Next day, EatingLA shatters my dreams. It's a set for a new movie starring Tony Shaloub! Dreams of a falafel within walking distance crushed! Oh, Los Angeles!

Ann Coulter is a Liar

By that, I mean, of course, a plagiarist. Why does any news outlet use her? Your days are numbered, hack!

Happy Independence Day

Via Franklin Avenue.

National Sales Tax is a Bad Idea, Andrew

Yeah, I said it. To replace income tax with a national sales tax will put an undue burden on the middle class and poor. Many years ago, The Washington Post did a comprehensive story on tax policy and firmly agreed that a national sales tax would be extremely regressive.

What the federal government should be doing -- and won't for some time -- is restore the progressive nature of our income tax laws to where they were pre-Reagan. Over the past 30-odd years, the rich have been getting richer (more so in the past decade) and the middle class and poor have been getting poorer. If these trends continue, the country will consist of an Upper class and Lower class. Not a good model for success, n'cest pa?

Here are some solid graphs of how there is now a greater divide between the wealthy and not-so-wealthy people in this county. Basically, according to faireconomy.org,

Income for the top 1% skyrocketed 201% between 1979 and 2000.
Meanwhile, income for the middle 20% rose only 15% and income for the
bottom 20% rose only 9%.

So, if we return tax rates to pre-Reagan, we might just be able turn this trend around and begin to rebuild our infrastructure, provide equal educational opportunities to all people, restore the safety net, provde national health care and, heck, even fund our illegal and immoral wars.

And don't tell me that if the wealthy are taxed more that the economy will be sent into a tailspin, millions will lose their jobs and on and on. Save your breath.