Barbra

Don't get me wrong, I love Barbra Streisand. I mean, LOVE BARBRA STREISAND. It's like a sickness, really. But, the fact is, when she's at the top of her game, ain't nobody got the pipes that she does. She really can belt it out and emote. Every single song she recorded in the 60s was a materpiece. Her Broadway album is really spectacular. Her last "farewell" tour was amazing and I cannot wait for her upcoming "farewell" tour.

That said, the broad can be oh-so-cheesy.

Here she is performing a duet with Burt Bacharach from his 1971 CBS special. The only thing greater than her voice is her cheese...and that this clip is out of sync makes it all the better.

Enjoy!

My Face

You might just see it in the first five or so seconds here and it looks like I'm a deer caught in the headlights. Hysterical!

Once the ad ends and the interviews begin, keep your finger near pause.

When I Grow Up

Watch!

Stephen Colbert

A perfect description of what exactly he managed to do.

Immigration Rally and Boycott

The drive to and from work on Monday was relatively cake, the images of marches, rallies and protests were inspirational, and tonight at Trader Joes, they seemed to be missing many food items.

All in all, a success (backlash be damned)!

Stephen Colbert

Not only did he do a fine job at the event in Washington, he inhabited the ghosts of great satirists like H.L. Menken and Oscar Wilde. He should be applauded and lionized. Nothing less.

Photos

The three photos below are from the LA Times coverage.

Immigrant Rally

laprotest
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Wilshire boulevard never looked so grand.

More Immigrant Rally

laprotest2
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Si se puede, honey. Si se puede.

Pro-Immigrants Rights

laprotest_broadway
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

As a grandchild of immigrants and a student of American history, I am filled with awe at the events of the day. During this time of corruption, I embrace any group stepping forward and making their voice heard.

I love the Internets

Reason 17,568.

Look Familiar

For those who know me, you might be able to see me in action behind Ryan.

An L.A. Weekend

So, Friday night, after work, Carl and I are to have dinner with my mother, father, stepmother, sister, her new husband and her husband's Israeli father and stepmother. Ah, yeah. So, I pick up my mother, get to Choclat (formerly Moustache Cafe, but with, strangely, almost the exact same menu as before -- though, the inside has been gussied up) and head directly to the bar for fortifications. Jennifer (sis) and Joel (brother-in-law) arrive next (having traveled down from SF) and we hug and make awkward small talk.

Joel's parents arrive followed by Carl, who gulps from my wine glass, also needing fortification. He suggests he should have brought a xanax for us both to split. A good idea to remember for next time.

We move to sit and 3 table squashed together near the kitchen door. Taking a page out of my mom's playbook, I insist they move us over at least one table away from the swinging kitchen door. They accommodate and I request another fortification.

Dinner is fine, company is nice and we all go our separate merry ways, happy to have accomplished another gathering without all-out warfare.

Saturday morning, I drag myself up and out to visit my mom's mom, Nana Dorothy. She's in an assisted living house in Moorpark, about 40 miles north of my home. I stop and pick up a few cand bars and a bag of lifesavers -- as they're almost the only thing she lives for. I arrive and she tells me that she wants to die. Ok.

I don't blame her. She's in a lot of pain and doesn't have much to live for. I tell her that I hope she gets out of pain soon and finds peace. We talk for a few minutes, reminisce a tad and then I'm off to my Great Uncle Jack's birthday in Westlake, being held at some Italian restaurant hidden around a fake lake, next to a boat club and mall. I find the location, but not the restaurant, so I convince myself that I'm in the wrong location and drive around Westlake for 30 minutes til my sister finally calls me and gives me directions. I had called several people, but no one saw fit to answer their phones.

I arrive amid speeches and toasts and the such. I request fortification. And then the barber shop quartet singing begins. It's sweet, a nice throwback, and we all sing TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME (my Uncle Jack has had season tix to the Dodgers since they moved to LA). Oh, and some wellspoken yet seemingly pompous State Senator spoke and offer Uncle Jack a proclamation from the state. A very nice afternoon was had.

After the celebration, I came home and soundly napped. Next, it was off to a rooftop fundraiser in West Hollywood for a friend of a friend who's riding in the AIDS Ride. Steve and I chatted amiably with new-found 40-year old lesbian screenwriter and her friend, a nurse. And, then for entertainment, 6 traditional mexican dancers took the stage (or the roof, i guess) and danced a series of traditional mexican dances, culminating with the famous "hat dance."

It was fun and kitschy and little weird. Downtown glittered behind us and the Century City towers glittered behind the dancers.

From strangely formed families previously thought inconceivable to nanas with a deathwish to barber shop quartets and state proclamations to traditional mexican dancers at rooftop AIDS fundraiser parties, I gotta say: I love LA.

This afternoon, I'm off to the one year anniversary of Fuel. But first, I'm desperate for a constitional and a large coffee. I'm pooped.

Net Neutrality

Here's why you should care. Tell a friend. Hell, tell everyone.

Lemons

Demon lemons are nothing to sneeze at.

Happy 225th Birthday L.A.

Via Franklin Ave, City Nerd is putting together a list of 225 things to do to celebrate the birthday our our City of Angels! Unlike the fiasco of the Millenium party when the Hollywood sign was lit by the equivalent of a few flashlights, maybe they're on to something.

Oh, and I guess LAist is compiling a list too.

Five more things I would do:

1. Go to your neighborhood council meeting.
2. Visit your local library.
3. Go to a reading at Skylight Books or A Different Light Boookstore.
4. Hike Runyon Canyon.
5. Go to the West Hollywood or Long Beach Gay Pride parade.

Perhaps more to come...

What Would Jesus Do

This, and during Holy Week. Oh, the blasphemy. Sweet blasphemy.

Impeach Bush

Via atrios, it seem Neil Young has a new album and, well, he isn't pulling any punches.

One commenter reminds us:

One man, with a dream at leisure
Can go out to conquer a crown,
But three, with a new song's measure
Can crumble an Empire down.

From "Ode" by Arthur O'Shaunessy (d. 1889)

Cynthia McKinney vs. Tom Delay

Another excerpt fron the Rude one:

But you wanna know where the racism and sexism is here? It ain't with the Capitol cops (in this case), who are in a crappy position under the stress of terrorism neurosis that pervades everything. It's with the media, who act with deference towards a white male thrice-admonished alleged felon who has intimate connections with convicted felons and who feel free to attack the black woman who has yet to be charged with anything.

Oh, and that's not to mention that McKinney's a Democrat and DeLay's a Republican.

Read the whole thing.

Cheney's a lying sack of shit

Yeah, I said it. Well, actually, I repeated it. The Rude Pundit said it first. Well, if not first, at least before me. I suspect many people have said it many times, many places.

Anyway, the latest Libby/Cheney/Bush Leakapolooza seems to be missing something and I think the Rude Guy may be right.

See if you agree.

Reason 10,817 Why I love the Web

Cabspotting.

And, yeah, I like Gridskipper, so sue me. Also love Curbed L.A.

Baseball Can Be a Drag

Well, yeah, but it also can put a lot of drag queens out of business. Apparently, the new Washington Nationals are planning to build a new stadium over the footprint of some of the oldest gay bars in DC.

Can't they build it over the Capitol or The White House or are the Cess Pools too deep for cleaning?

Rats on a Plane

While this may be a horrific story -- I'm sure I would not have come close to maintaining this guy's composure, but rather would have screamed like a terrified catholic schoolgirl -- the comment about the cigarette-smoking rat in the restaurant takes the cake.

The Republicans

Or as some like to call them, the Repuglicans. Under their "leadership", this is where this country's headin'.

Good times (or is it End Times?).

On a sidenote, it's great to see Billmon posting regularly again. Hope he continues. He's sorely needed.

Delay

Victory can no longer be delayed. He's out of the race and America should do the Snoopy Dance.

Agonizing Back Pain

So, I threw out my back on Wednesday night. Went to a new chirpractor who took an xray first and, lo and behold, I have scoliosis. I should be 5 inches taller he told me (can he make me 5 years younger too?) and that much of any discomfort in my daily life can be attributed to this.

Fine, he adjusts me for my initial reason for coming (I'll go back to start the other stuff to make me taller and less bloated, I guess) and sent me on my way.

And I was better. Cut to a day and a half later -- today -- and I feel a little twingey, but still think I can pick up a small table at a friend's house (thanks Brian!). I did and immediately, I'm in agonizing pain. It's like somebody is punching me in my lower back and hip repeatedly (you know, just where the chiropractor adjusted me).

I finally make it home and Carl goes out for the requisite heating pad, muscle relaxant, muscle spray, anything...mostly probably to get away from my Baby Jane self.

And, so, I'm left in my sickbed, and the only thing the puppy wants to do is jump up and down on my in-agony body or lick me in the face...and there was no way for me to summon the strength to push him away. I love the puppy, but come on, already, catch a bird, play with the other dog, dig a plant. Finally, he just plops down at my feet, then my head, then my feet. Fine, just please God, no jumping on the the family jewels, legs, chest, face, anywhere and quit the licking. Thank you.

Now, I'm on wine and muscle relaxants and the puppy's asleep. So, I guess it didn't end as poorly as I might have feared. I'm off to watch the rest of Liza with a Z because I can't sit any longer (yes, I watch standing up like I'm at a cocktail party because sitting is too painful -- I found a relatively less painful way to sit at this computer, hence this missive).

Soon, another muscle relaxant and back to bed. In six months, I may be 5 inches taller.

Conservative Publishing

By way of the Washington Monthly, this may just be how conservatives come up with their compelling book concepts.

Downtown Protest March

According to the LA Times, more than 500,000 people turned up downtown to protest US Immigration policies. It's among the largest protests ever to happen in LA. Who says we don't care...

Here's a blog with a description and pics.

It's just another sign that the tide is turning and the people who have been fucked over for so long in this country are finally taking a stand.

If I was a republican, I would be feeling less and less comfortable about now.

As they said today, si, se puede.

Snakes Talk

Or what you might hear in the new snake movie, courtesy of Kyle and Slow Clap.

Why Do the Dixie Chicks Hate America

Ok, really. They don't. They have no regrets. They made their bed and they sleep like the baby.

Listen to the song and hear why I like 'em more and more.

Iraq: The Start of Year 4

How the hell did we get here? Here's a handy timeline.

Though, it's important to put the blame for this idiocy where it lies -- with Bush and his henchmen -- what really gnaws at me is how the hell will we get out of there now?

oy.

El Coyote

This makes me want to go there on Thursdays...not just in the middle of the annual AIDS walk...as we normally do.

Family Reserach Council

The admin actually does something right and grants the Gay Games (happening in Chicago this summer) with a federal designation so athletes who have hiv/aids from around the world can enter the US (sounds dirty already) to play in the games (ahem, water sports, included).

Well, the ironically named Family Research Council is appalled.

Best Summation of Stupid War

Atrios.

White House Access for Sale

More evidence that this is...

the
most
corrupt
administration
since
richard
nixon.

My thought, of course, is that this one makes Nixon look like the patron saint of honesty and sensitivity...but that's just logical ol me...

South Dakota Abortions

Well, I guess it's official. If you're a woman in South Dakota, you're a second class citizen.

Hopefully, it's the old two steps forward, one giant leap back adage, but we've had quite a bit of backward leaping over the past few years. So, who knows.

Anyway, here's the state's new logo.

Something for Andrew

Crouching Dallas.

Watch

It's Priceless.

Bright Idea

DSC_0393
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

I guess I wasn't the only person who thought it would be a good day to take in the views.

Unfortunately, I had not at all planned on hiking. I thought I'd just go up to the Observatory, shoot a few from the base and head home. But, being that the Observatory is being expanded, it was completely fenced off. My only choice was to walk up the trails. And once I started, I figured that I had to go all the way to the top -- Dante's Peak.

Every turn was a more beautiful view. Once I headed back down, though, I took a wrong turn and ended up on an old fire road. I eventually -- thru the help of the actor who played Michael J. Fox's father in FAMILY TIES (Michael Gross, thank imdb) -- found my way back to the main road and my car.

Drove back down, stopped at new cafe at bottom that's inside the park and that has gotten rave reviews. Unfortunately, they only took cash. So, I settled for solid diner food at Astro Family Restaurant along with an alternative paper and some strong coffee.

It was a great start to the afternoon.

Aha

DSC_0416
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Two more reasons to love L.A. -- and that's not even counting the beautiful vistas from the park after a storm.

Post-storm clouds and plane

DSC_0433
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Los Angeles After a Storm

DSC_0376
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Fierce

Fierce
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Sabrina & Cooper

Sabrina & Cooper
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

At play

At play
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Sabrina gives chase.

Carl and Cooper

Carl and Cooper
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

A moment of peace. Just a moment.

At play

At play
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Sabrina and Cooper go at it...but, more importantly, how does anyone sit in that chair on the left?

Sabrina

Sabrina
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Cheney Shoots 3 Presidents

Well, Steve Martin thinks it could happen.

WTF

Oil companies made record profits last year and continue to make billions of dollars in profit this year and what does the government intend to do? Give them a tax break to drill for oil and gass on federal land so that they can make even higher profits?

Enough is fucking enough.

I miss the snow

This from the NY Times...

For many indoors, it was a day to relax by a window, perhaps with a glass of wine and soft jazz on the radio, and take in the unreal loveliness of winter — the panes frosted like glass from Murano, the sills drifted with flourishes of lacework, and, out in the storm, dreamscapes of snow blowing down a street, curtains of snow falling in great sweeps, snow settling like peace in the parks and skeletal woodlands.

I wish I could be there or in Boston to experience it.

Shoe bombs

I hate terrorism, but is anybody -- anybody! -- amused at the concept of shoebombs? I mean, come on, already. Shoebombs! It's like we've finally caught up to Get Smart.

Max: Do you have a shoebomb in a wingtip, size 9?

Atrios has little more.

Looking for a Photographer

Try Fin. Check out his new site.

I Love Puns

Because there is no pun that I cannot get, ahem, behind, please see, ahem, #2 on this list from Curbed L.A.

Say Goodbye to Gay Tolerance and Hello to the American Taliban

The Department of Health and Human Services has completely (well, not completely, as nothing this government does is done without a litany of errors) removed a portion of its website which expressed "toleration" of gays.

Of course, we expect more than just "toleration" anyway, but, nonetheless, it was something. And, who do you think might have requested this removal? Why, I'm glad you asked. The good ol' Family Research Council takes credit.

The Rude Pundit has complete details including links to a google cache version of the old site and links to the newly whitewashed site.

Sure makes you wonder what side of the "War on Terror" (tm) they're really on, doesn't it?

Jack Abramoff

Yes, he is an admitted felon, idealogue and conspirator, but is there more to his story. Who else was involved. What other issues? Why do Native Americans play such an important role in all this? Is one of Jack's larger goals being lost amid the sound and fury of the plea bargain?

Perhaps. Read this accounting.

the State of the Union

Yikes. Just looking at the man makes me cringe. I still cannot tell if he's pure, undoctored evil or just a soulless puppet. Either way, we're probaby fucked.

The Rude Pundit has the best take on the so-called speech. Here's a brief excerpt:

So there it was. Bush barely bothering to say anything worthwhile. Commissions to study shit. Vague monetary promises. The vow to keep spyin' because otherwise, apparently, America will become bombapalooza. The entire evening was like Bush had gone to the doctor to have his prostate examined: "Here, sir, bend over this podium and it'll be over before you know it and you don't have to it again for another year."

The only thing significant in the entire evening was the treatment of two mothers who lost children in the Iraq War. Bush recognized the parents and widow of Sergeant Dan Clay, killed in Fallujah last month (didn't we secure Fallujah by leveling it?), who stood to applause and cheers from the slavering politicians. Meanwhile, Cindy Sheehan was arrested and led out of the gallery for revealing a t-shirt that read, "2245 Dead. How many more?" She didn't even get to hear Bush promise to kill more soldiers like Dan and Casey, as well as more Iraqi civilians, in order to honor them. He may as well have dug up their corpses and made them dance, dance, grotesquely, horribly, in celebration.

Read it all.

Alito

Though the democrats couldn't muster up enough courage among its members to really oppose this ideological right-winger, at least as Bill in Portland, Maine on the Kos declares, we still should celebrate those on the High Court who will defend our rights.

An excerpt...

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOHN... PAUL... STEVENS!!!!

[Wild...I mean frickin' WILD applause. A million Bic lighters suddenly come to life as the most massive fireworks display you've ever seen explodes overhead! Molly Ivins, E.J. Dionne and Paul Krugman throw candy to the crowd.]



SUPREME COURT JUSTICE DAVID... SOUTER!!!!

[Women wriggle their panties off and throw them on-stage. WILD applause as the Blue Angels roar overhead and a thousand children holding flashlights form a human `scales of justice.']



SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RUTH... BADER... GINSBURG!!!!

[Okay, this is getting insane. A team of Chippendales dancers hoists Ginsburg on a solid gold throne as a million voices sing in unison: We will, we will ROCK YOU!! Kenny G descends from the rafters to play a solo, but is carried off by security, thank god.]



SUPREME COURT JUSTICE STEPHEN... BREYER!!!!

[Shit! No...way! The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Green Day, Busta Rhymes, the Dixie Chicks and Kanye West team up for an insane performance of Street Fighting Man while a MASSIVE American flag unfurls. The roar of the crowd is heard in 6 states.]



SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANTHONY... KENNEDY!!!!

Clap...C'clap. Clap. C'clap. Clap.

[Good lord. Sparklers. Speedo. Oh no...we told him three times: no clogging!]

The State of the Union

Well, a mockery of it, but so close to reality, I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.

Laugh, I guess.

Cujos

DSC03446
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Well,in honor of Bob Loblaw's Blog, I've decided to continue pursuing a dog blog. With that in mind, here are Sabrina and Cooper expressing their open-mouth, fang-baring love for each other. And they said it wouldn't happen.

Brokeback Mountain

Well, not really, but maybe one of the best parodies thereof.

Cooper Redux

Cooper
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Sideways Cooper. Yes, we now have 3 mini-coopers in the family.

Cooper

Cooper
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Introducing Cooper. Many many more pictures to come...

Nasty Bathrooms

What's the nastiest bathroom you've ever seen? Document it!

Save a Life

Read and pass along.

sabrina2

sabrina2
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

teeny tiny sabrina

Photo Blogigng and Links

Miracle of miracles, I actually took an hour to figure this shit out. And, to think, this is supposed to be my business. Go figure. Anyhoo, look for more pics and links in days, weeks and/or months to come.

DSC01656

DSC01656
Originally uploaded by miles10001.

Sabrina Awaits a new and old pal.

Blatant Homophobia in the Daily Comics

from a friend...

Hello friends,Have you seen the L.A. Times comics the past few days? They're publishing a week of homophobic "Mallard Fillmore" strips by Bruce Tinsley. In it, a character proudly announces he realized he's homophobic, after being really grossed out by Brokeback Mountain. As is the strip's norm, this is presented without a shred of irony, humor or commentary, but rather plainly as the strip's own point of view. The third person narrator of the strip remains neutrally uncritical. (If you know the strip, you know Tinsley uses it not to create characters or situations, but to nakedly voice his personal opinions.) The emphasis is on his "coming out" as homophobic.

I sure doubt they'd publish a strip about proudly claiming one's racism and being disgusted by black folks. But today in Los Angeles, still a double standard.A friend at the Times assures me they do listen to criticism, especially when more people write to them. So PLEASE take a second now to jot a note saying what you think about their choice to publish this week's homophobic "Mallard Fillmore" strips.

Personally, I find it inexcusably offensive and disgusting.You can do any or all of the following:

1. Email a note to the LA Times Readers' Representative Office at: readers.rep@latimes.com (or call 877-554-4000; it can be as simple as one sentence)

2. Use the online form to drop a note to the LA Times Calendar Section Comments, at this link: http://www.latimes.com/services/site/la-comment-calendar,0,262413.htmlstory (click the top choice: "Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times newspaper")

3. Email a short letter to the Editor, at: letters@latimes.com (include your full name, address and phone number so they can contact you to verify you wrote it; of course it's kept confidential)

The Katrina Missing

More than 6,000 people are still unaccounted for.

Is Your Friend Gay or Not?

Here's how to determine for sure.

New Media

Wow, we're really there. Best article I've read about where we are and where we're going is here.

New Year

Let's hope it's a happier, healthier and more peaceful new year.

It couldn't be worse than what just passed, right?

As we say in yoga (and which translates to everthing, cornily, in my life): namaste.

I honor the light within you.

Peace be with you.

Some Sites I Liked Today

Dick Cheney playing poker -- an oldie but a goodie.

Ricky Gervais podcasts -- funny, dry, funny, in that order.

Reason why I love the internets part 7,008.

Cabbage Based Stink Bomb

Could this possibly be worse than a group of hungry people sitting behind you at the Hollywood Bowl opening their homemade kimchi?

Every day since this incident, I thank God Almighty that the Hollywood Bowl is not enclosed.

Every. Day.

Reason #217 Why I Love the Internets

Perez Hilton and her photoshop contests. I dare say Star Jones will never be the same.

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanza, Celebratory Solistice, Wonderful Winter, etc.

I'm planning on having a nice day with loved ones, family and friends. Later this week, my sister's getting married, then the new year follows and we begin again.

Here's to new days.

A Great Book Blog

If you love reading about books, head over to Jen's for a great assessment of what she's reading and recommending!

Blogger/Gay Porn Star Koo Koo Roo

When I reads posts like this one, I'm reminded why I love the internets.

I Spy...

a dictator...and so does the Rude Pundit.

Herr Presidente admitted to breaking the law to spy on his own citizens inside our own country? What more can this country withstand? If the terrorists don't do us in, these criminals "governing" our country will.

New York Times

Now, I love the Times as much as the next guy, but the fact that they took this crooked administration's word for it and delayed reporting on this most recent spying scandal for over a year is... well, it's inexcusable.

Perez Hilton

God, sometimes I just love photoshop.

Ford Does Right

Amen.

Take a moment.

Well, really, more like a Pinter Pause, by way of RudePundit.

Email Ford

Tell them what you think.

Other Ford Owned Companies to Boycott

Lincoln
Mercury
Mazda
Volvo
Jaguar
Land Rover
Astor Martin

If you buy the Mazda from the previous post, no money will be given to the Mazda company. It's a private transaction. ;-)

Ford Motor Co. is Homophobic

Under pressure from the american taliban -- The American Family Association -- Ford is pulling all advertising from gay publications. Go here to find out who at Ford you can share your thoughts with.

I had a Mustang until this January. It was a so-so car which got terrible terrible gas mileage. It was a lease and the leasing company was Wells Fargo, who, by the way, were complete and total assholes about the return of the car. So, overall, the Mustang experience was not a very positive one.

And now, I'll never consider buying or leasing a Ford again.

I do, however, suggest a lovely mini-cooper or a Miata...

Atwater Village

While doing something so vain as looking up "atwater village" on google to see if and when this wee blog would show, I stumbled across this helpful guide to the origins of southern california city and area names. For instance, Atwater Village was for early resident Harriet Atwater Paramore.

Who knew?

WTF

The White House has added coding to the white house site which prevents search engines, archiving and cacheing sites from keeping old versions of the site available.

Save Tookie

I think I'm in agreement with this.

Chuck Norris

And you thought you knew the guy.

Disgusted and Angry

Is now the time when most americans will rise up and say "enough"? The angry, partisan debate in the House last night and the response from pundits that called it out for what it was -- a cheap political opera intended to smear the opposition -- seems to indicate a monumental shift in the political winds. Is an era of accountability nearly upon us? Frankly, it couldn't happen soon enough.

Evolution

Hey, maybe Darwin was on to something. The NYTimes thinks so.

HABEAS CORPUS

In Brown v. Vasquez, 952 F.2d 1164, 1166 (9th Cir. 1991), cert. denied, 112 S.Ct. 1778 (1992), the court observed that the Supreme Court has "recognized the fact that`[t]he writ of habeas corpus is the fundamental instrument for safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary and lawless state action.'

Republicans in the senate are trying to deny this most important right to the prisoners being unlawfully held at Gitmo.

Kevin Drum reveals one of the many reasons this is bringing ever more shame to this country.

I'm Not a Religious Man...

but I'll say a prayer for Helen.

Fallen Fruit

LA is rich with vegetation and a lot of it is fruit-bearing trees in public spaces. These trees can be picked and FallenFruit.org has the community and maps that will guide you to that ripe Avocado tree (ripe now!).

Melting the skin of children

A good point worthy of a read.

The Election

Looks like things are looking up...for some of us, at least.

Pig Fuckers

Maybe that doesn't even best describe them. The Republican lead House voted to approve $35billion in cuts to mostly poor people to offset (by only half) the $70billion tax cut directed at mostly rich people.

Two democats -- Landieu of LA and Nelson -- voted with the Republicans.

Have our leaders no shame?

You're either a man of your word or you're just a fuckin' liar

Yeah, that's it. I think Rude Pundit says it best.