W has picked Samuel Alito as a new nominee, to replace controversial Harriet Miers (and retiring Sandra Day O'Connor).
Alito is a conservative along the lines of Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. W is continuing to pander to his base, at the expense of the rest of the country.
Democrats seem united in their opposition to Alito this time, at least initial reports suggest. A filibuster may be possible.
Alito is not a Latino, so my worst fears of a Latino nominee taking Latino votes to the Republicans is not going to materialize right away.
I'll watch how the development unfolds. I do hope the Democrats will stand up for what is right for the country, something they've forgotten to do until now.
31 October 2005
28 October 2005
Libby Indicted
I haven't been watching this one closely, but I've just learned that Lewis Libby, one of Dick Cheney's aides, has been indicted in the Plamegate scandal. Karl Rove has not been indicted yet, but he is not free and clear either.
Plamegate was a very sickening scandal, to say the least, and I am glad to see that justice is about to be served to a number of officials, who manipulated intelligence and put many people at risk in order to take the "war on terror" further by taking it to Iraq (and curtailing civil liberties within the US).
I hope the W administration is severely damaged, if not downright destroyed, in this process, as the democratic institutions work their way. I further hope that the war on terror is brought back to the real target - al Qaeda - and that the severe limits placed on American civil liberties, such as the Patriot Act and the Real ID Act, are rescinded.
Plamegate was a very sickening scandal, to say the least, and I am glad to see that justice is about to be served to a number of officials, who manipulated intelligence and put many people at risk in order to take the "war on terror" further by taking it to Iraq (and curtailing civil liberties within the US).
I hope the W administration is severely damaged, if not downright destroyed, in this process, as the democratic institutions work their way. I further hope that the war on terror is brought back to the real target - al Qaeda - and that the severe limits placed on American civil liberties, such as the Patriot Act and the Real ID Act, are rescinded.
27 October 2005
Harriet Miers' nomination withdrawn
Just heard on the radio this morning that Harriet Miers is no longer in consideration for the Supreme Court Justice position. She withdrew her nomination after getting pummeled from both liberals and conservatives. The Christian death cultists and Clear Channel Communications seemed to like her, but they are not the lawmakers.
W has just gotten the message: personal connection and death cult loyalties are NOT enough credentials for serving on the Supreme Court. At least John Roberts had the skills, if not the ideology, that qualified him for the job.
Let's see who W's next choice would be. I hope it won't be Alberto Gonzales, who is not only another extremist, but will also ensure that Latinos will vote Republican, particularly as the Democrats fight his nomination.
W has just gotten the message: personal connection and death cult loyalties are NOT enough credentials for serving on the Supreme Court. At least John Roberts had the skills, if not the ideology, that qualified him for the job.
Let's see who W's next choice would be. I hope it won't be Alberto Gonzales, who is not only another extremist, but will also ensure that Latinos will vote Republican, particularly as the Democrats fight his nomination.
25 October 2005
Gay-friendly car companies
With my Ford sitting at home, with its registration expired due to failing emissions, I've been driving around town in my BMW. The 3-series exudes a very youthful, sporty, fun-loving, and progressive character, and is an extremely popular car here in Los Angeles.
Gaywheels.com would like me to think twice though. Given that Ford has been offering domestic partner benefits while BMW North America isn't, the site would rather have me drive the Ford (as soon as I can get it fixed, that is). GM, Toyota, and Subaru, as well as VW/Audi and Porsche also offer domestic partner benefits to US-based employees, while Hyundai/Kia doesn't.
The conclusions were more or less in line with what I've been expecting; Saab (GM owned) and Subaru have been aggressively marketing to the gay community for ages, and Ford has recently taken flak from conservative groups for offering $1,000 rebates to gay Jaguar customers, while BMW hails from primitive Bavaria (home of Pope Benedict) and Hyundai/Kia is in the grips of the conservative Korean-American community.
Gaywheels.com's methodology is extremely simple though, checking only for the presence of domestic partner benefits for US-based employees of a given car company. I will need to remember lots of other factors that determine how responsible a corporate citizen a given car company is, such as its environmental stewardship, political contributions, and general treatment of workers. The policies of the company in its home country and worldwide also need to be taken into account; BMW's labor relations back in Germany are considered the best in the industry. When all those factors are thrown in, Ford and Toyota are suddenly far less attractive.
The Gaywheels.com study reminded me that in making decisions - regarding cars or anything else - I need to consider all factors, not just a litmus test, and that blindly following the agenda of one community (in this case, the gay community) will not necessarily be in my, or the greater society's, best interest.
Gaywheels.com would like me to think twice though. Given that Ford has been offering domestic partner benefits while BMW North America isn't, the site would rather have me drive the Ford (as soon as I can get it fixed, that is). GM, Toyota, and Subaru, as well as VW/Audi and Porsche also offer domestic partner benefits to US-based employees, while Hyundai/Kia doesn't.
The conclusions were more or less in line with what I've been expecting; Saab (GM owned) and Subaru have been aggressively marketing to the gay community for ages, and Ford has recently taken flak from conservative groups for offering $1,000 rebates to gay Jaguar customers, while BMW hails from primitive Bavaria (home of Pope Benedict) and Hyundai/Kia is in the grips of the conservative Korean-American community.
Gaywheels.com's methodology is extremely simple though, checking only for the presence of domestic partner benefits for US-based employees of a given car company. I will need to remember lots of other factors that determine how responsible a corporate citizen a given car company is, such as its environmental stewardship, political contributions, and general treatment of workers. The policies of the company in its home country and worldwide also need to be taken into account; BMW's labor relations back in Germany are considered the best in the industry. When all those factors are thrown in, Ford and Toyota are suddenly far less attractive.
The Gaywheels.com study reminded me that in making decisions - regarding cars or anything else - I need to consider all factors, not just a litmus test, and that blindly following the agenda of one community (in this case, the gay community) will not necessarily be in my, or the greater society's, best interest.
2,000th American dead in Iraq
I just learned that the American troop deaths in Iraq has hit 2,000 today.
That's 2,000 lives wasted on a misadventure designed more to settle W's personal scores and make his oil buddies rich than to actually make America safer. America is less safe, less respected, and more hated now in the global community, something the Republicans don't understand and don't care about.
Cindy Sheehan has indicated that she will tie herself to the White House fence until W withdraws from Iraq. In the meantime, W is still delusional about his crusade making America safer from Islamic terrorists. I am far more concerned with the Christian terrorists within America's borders whom W is encouraging.
MSNBC Article
That's 2,000 lives wasted on a misadventure designed more to settle W's personal scores and make his oil buddies rich than to actually make America safer. America is less safe, less respected, and more hated now in the global community, something the Republicans don't understand and don't care about.
Cindy Sheehan has indicated that she will tie herself to the White House fence until W withdraws from Iraq. In the meantime, W is still delusional about his crusade making America safer from Islamic terrorists. I am far more concerned with the Christian terrorists within America's borders whom W is encouraging.
MSNBC Article
Rosa Parks dead
I was told last night that Rosa Parks, the mother of modern civil rights movement in America, died at age 92.
She did not try to be a hero by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man in 1956. She was just tired and in a foul mood. Nevertheless, her civil disobedience was enough of a spark to ignite the frustration of a century of segregation, and turn it into a massive movement that resulted in equal voting rights and the end of segregation. The civil rights movement, spearheaded by Reverend Martin Luther King, benefited not only blacks, but other nonwhites, and down the road, women and gays as well. In today's American society, no sane person will get away with the kind of blatant display of racism that used to be so common back in 1956.
America finds itself back at a time when the basic civil rights are being trampled upon, and it is worth remembering Parks' action and its impact, so that the massive voter disenfranchisement that happened in places like Florida and Ohio will not happen again. Pressure needs to continue on Congress to keep passing new civil rights bills, including the Equal Rights Amendment for women, that will further strengthen the promise of equality in the society. (It would also help to put an end to unequal hate bills like the Marriage Amendment once and for all.) And it's perhaps a good idea to put "equality" back into the Pledge of Allegiance, instead of reciting the 1950s Catholic prayer that it is now.
MSNBC Article
She did not try to be a hero by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man in 1956. She was just tired and in a foul mood. Nevertheless, her civil disobedience was enough of a spark to ignite the frustration of a century of segregation, and turn it into a massive movement that resulted in equal voting rights and the end of segregation. The civil rights movement, spearheaded by Reverend Martin Luther King, benefited not only blacks, but other nonwhites, and down the road, women and gays as well. In today's American society, no sane person will get away with the kind of blatant display of racism that used to be so common back in 1956.
America finds itself back at a time when the basic civil rights are being trampled upon, and it is worth remembering Parks' action and its impact, so that the massive voter disenfranchisement that happened in places like Florida and Ohio will not happen again. Pressure needs to continue on Congress to keep passing new civil rights bills, including the Equal Rights Amendment for women, that will further strengthen the promise of equality in the society. (It would also help to put an end to unequal hate bills like the Marriage Amendment once and for all.) And it's perhaps a good idea to put "equality" back into the Pledge of Allegiance, instead of reciting the 1950s Catholic prayer that it is now.
MSNBC Article
24 October 2005
Transgender rights in Korea
As I gear up for possible business opportunities in South Korea, I came across this article, posted on the forum over at the en(Gender) website. The legal system is struggling to come to grips with transgender issues, as more and more people come out, and go through sexual reassignment.
Whatever happens in the Korean legal system and society will have a significant impact on me, as I seek my business opportunities there.
Korea's conservative Confucian and Christian traditions are making change difficult, but it appears that the worst offenders have moved to the "God-fearing" United States over the years - making things better in Korea but worse for me.
Article from The Korea Times
Whatever happens in the Korean legal system and society will have a significant impact on me, as I seek my business opportunities there.
Korea's conservative Confucian and Christian traditions are making change difficult, but it appears that the worst offenders have moved to the "God-fearing" United States over the years - making things better in Korea but worse for me.
Article from The Korea Times
22 October 2005
Fly the big airlines - to kill unions and workers
At least that was the point of view of some right-wing asshole who wrote an editorial for MSNBC. It is such a worthless anti-worker drivel that I won't even bother linking it here. Basically, his point was that the greedy airline unions should see what Reagan did to the air traffic controllers in 1981. Well, that pretty much screwed up the entire ATC system in the US for years! I am still upset that Reagan did not die a more miserable, painful death, after all the crap he's inflicted on America and the world.
The same asshole said travelers should fly the big airlines to reward them for their comprehensive services, and to show loyalty. In other words, reward them for their failed business models. Well, I fly United (and more recently, American) to reward the front-line workers who do their best to keep me going, even in the face of pay cuts and other difficulties caused by gross mismanagement at the top. Heck, I am even writing a novel around a United flight attendant.
At least the asshole had less than kind things to say about fellow Republican-owned Southwest Airlines. That was the only silver lining there.
Again, he claimed that unions are an outdated relic in modern American capitalism. But then, modern American capitalism starves the Average Joe so much he won't be able to participate in its processes anymore. That will doom it to failure, like the communist economies of Eastern Europe. The most robust economies, with the most class mobility, are neither communist nor hypercapitalist, but somewhere in between, like Australia, Canada, and Western Europe. Japan leans more capitalist than these, but it still has plenty of class mobility, and employers are as loyal to their employees as employees are to them, a trait not found in American slave-labor capitalism.
I am so upset, that toward the end of the year, I will see to that my current prison-labor Dell computer is replaced by a product from a more conscientious company like HP or Gateway.
The same asshole said travelers should fly the big airlines to reward them for their comprehensive services, and to show loyalty. In other words, reward them for their failed business models. Well, I fly United (and more recently, American) to reward the front-line workers who do their best to keep me going, even in the face of pay cuts and other difficulties caused by gross mismanagement at the top. Heck, I am even writing a novel around a United flight attendant.
At least the asshole had less than kind things to say about fellow Republican-owned Southwest Airlines. That was the only silver lining there.
Again, he claimed that unions are an outdated relic in modern American capitalism. But then, modern American capitalism starves the Average Joe so much he won't be able to participate in its processes anymore. That will doom it to failure, like the communist economies of Eastern Europe. The most robust economies, with the most class mobility, are neither communist nor hypercapitalist, but somewhere in between, like Australia, Canada, and Western Europe. Japan leans more capitalist than these, but it still has plenty of class mobility, and employers are as loyal to their employees as employees are to them, a trait not found in American slave-labor capitalism.
I am so upset, that toward the end of the year, I will see to that my current prison-labor Dell computer is replaced by a product from a more conscientious company like HP or Gateway.
21 October 2005
More on Mann Coulter
Courtesy of Rossiann at ReBelle Nation blog, I came across a BradBlog article about Ann Coulter's hypocrisy and flip-flops. Plus, I have to say that she looks absolutely anorexic - and masculine. BradBlog, in return, linked to a conservative activist who is fed up with Coulter's rhetoric, with a site named Coulter Watch.
BradBlog article (I have comment #122)
CoulterWatch.com
BradBlog article (I have comment #122)
CoulterWatch.com
19 October 2005
Gasoline prices
I just came across an article that explains, in plain language, why gas prices, despite soaring over $3 per gallon, are still relatively cheap in the US - but at a huge cost to society.
People elsewhere pay up to $6 per gallon, mostly in taxes, but the money is re-invested in mass transit, infrastructure, and other improvements that make it easier to get around, whether by car or otherwise. Thanks to the neocon ideology, plus a detrimental short-term effect in the current car-dependent setup, the same deal will not happen in the United States.
In fact, the article points out that car ownership is a status symbol, and a symbol of freedom, in the American society, with bigger being better. (Case in point: my father, who refuses to drive anything smaller than a 13-mpg Ford Econoline.) Or more cars than one needs - I am guilty myself of having two cars for my personal use, one of them a BMW, and both with six-cylinder engines. But then, given that Southern California has awful mass transit and that at least one working car is always a necessity, my wasteful lifestyle will have to continue - for now. I do wonder, as I drive the congested Los Angeles freeways, how much more efficient - and faster - it would be, if the freeways were commuter railroads instead; they don't need the width of 8-lane freeways either.
I just read an editorial off of a BMW enthusiast newsletter where the writer was fearing the return of 55-mph national speed limits. Given the pathetic infrastructure improvements in America, the potholes and increasing traffic (which could've been diverted to rail and other mass transit otherwise) may indeed slow me down to a mandatory 55 in the near future anyway. Most car enthusiasts will blame the Democrats for their zeal for useless regulations; I will blame the Republicans for not investing enough in usable infrastructure "in the name of tax cuts." Even the rich will lose in those tax cuts after all, it seems - they can buy 155-mph Mercedes, but potholes and traffic will slow them down to the pace of the working-class Corollas.
MSNBC Article
People elsewhere pay up to $6 per gallon, mostly in taxes, but the money is re-invested in mass transit, infrastructure, and other improvements that make it easier to get around, whether by car or otherwise. Thanks to the neocon ideology, plus a detrimental short-term effect in the current car-dependent setup, the same deal will not happen in the United States.
In fact, the article points out that car ownership is a status symbol, and a symbol of freedom, in the American society, with bigger being better. (Case in point: my father, who refuses to drive anything smaller than a 13-mpg Ford Econoline.) Or more cars than one needs - I am guilty myself of having two cars for my personal use, one of them a BMW, and both with six-cylinder engines. But then, given that Southern California has awful mass transit and that at least one working car is always a necessity, my wasteful lifestyle will have to continue - for now. I do wonder, as I drive the congested Los Angeles freeways, how much more efficient - and faster - it would be, if the freeways were commuter railroads instead; they don't need the width of 8-lane freeways either.
I just read an editorial off of a BMW enthusiast newsletter where the writer was fearing the return of 55-mph national speed limits. Given the pathetic infrastructure improvements in America, the potholes and increasing traffic (which could've been diverted to rail and other mass transit otherwise) may indeed slow me down to a mandatory 55 in the near future anyway. Most car enthusiasts will blame the Democrats for their zeal for useless regulations; I will blame the Republicans for not investing enough in usable infrastructure "in the name of tax cuts." Even the rich will lose in those tax cuts after all, it seems - they can buy 155-mph Mercedes, but potholes and traffic will slow them down to the pace of the working-class Corollas.
MSNBC Article
17 October 2005
Transgender Day of Remembrance
The 7th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance will be November 20th. It will commemorate the deaths of individuals who were, or were perceived to be, transgender or gender-variant. It was started after the 1998 death of Rita Hester in San Francisco.
The sad truth is, as long as sex work continues to be the most accessible industry for transgender women, and as long as the Christian death cultists keep cranking up their brand of hate, the deaths will only escalate. I am hoping that my startup in high-tech industry - another trans-friendly industry - will keep me above the layer of discrimination, and eventually enable me to move to a country with less hatred and universal healthcare.
I will keep an eye on this year's events and see if there is any way for me to participate.
Day of Remembrance
The sad truth is, as long as sex work continues to be the most accessible industry for transgender women, and as long as the Christian death cultists keep cranking up their brand of hate, the deaths will only escalate. I am hoping that my startup in high-tech industry - another trans-friendly industry - will keep me above the layer of discrimination, and eventually enable me to move to a country with less hatred and universal healthcare.
I will keep an eye on this year's events and see if there is any way for me to participate.
Day of Remembrance
15 October 2005
Days of Awe
I may not be a Jew (and have moved away from the Judeo-Christian belief system), but I just read a Common Dreams article that rings so true in these Days of Awe (the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when God is supposed to decide whether we will live or not).
The article was submitted by my writing teacher/mentor Gayle Brandeis (in fact, I picked it up from her blog), and she wrote it from her usual compassionate, caring point of view. At a time when even Judaism has turned into a blind support of the neocon - W - Ariel Sharon agenda, this is the kind of stuff that lets me know that not all hope is lost.
Read the article on Common Dreams
The article was submitted by my writing teacher/mentor Gayle Brandeis (in fact, I picked it up from her blog), and she wrote it from her usual compassionate, caring point of view. At a time when even Judaism has turned into a blind support of the neocon - W - Ariel Sharon agenda, this is the kind of stuff that lets me know that not all hope is lost.
Read the article on Common Dreams
12 October 2005
Voting facts in America
Madame Defarge posted this on the Democracy Cell Project homepage, so this is how I got to know of this link.
The document shows how much the likes of Diebold are entrenched in counting the votes, and how vested their interests are in ensuring a Republican victory. The sources for these facts come from public records, so I take them as being authentic.
And it all started with the drive for voting machines, caused by the Florida hanging chads of 2000. These are even worse than hanging chads! And it appears that the US voting system is more broken than anyone else's at this point; the democracy has completely broken down.
One reason I shut down my Bank of America accounts at the beginning of this year, after being a loyal customer since high school, was due to the bank being a major Diebold customer. Of course, Bank of America itself gave heavily to the Republicans and to the W "inauguration."
Anyone who reads this: please share it with others, link to it on your own blog, do something. Thank you.
20 Amazing Facts About Voting in the USA
The document shows how much the likes of Diebold are entrenched in counting the votes, and how vested their interests are in ensuring a Republican victory. The sources for these facts come from public records, so I take them as being authentic.
And it all started with the drive for voting machines, caused by the Florida hanging chads of 2000. These are even worse than hanging chads! And it appears that the US voting system is more broken than anyone else's at this point; the democracy has completely broken down.
One reason I shut down my Bank of America accounts at the beginning of this year, after being a loyal customer since high school, was due to the bank being a major Diebold customer. Of course, Bank of America itself gave heavily to the Republicans and to the W "inauguration."
Anyone who reads this: please share it with others, link to it on your own blog, do something. Thank you.
20 Amazing Facts About Voting in the USA
11 October 2005
October 10th is not so giddy anymore...
I've just been told that my grandmother has passed away. I've sent my mother to the funeral.
I liked her. Even though she grew up in an era when education for upper-class women was unthinkable, and therefore never learned to read, she was nevertheless bright enough to navigate the complicated New York City subway system on her own, without understanding a word of English. She was one of the many nameless yet bright women who have graced my mother's family, and her genes have ensured that my cousins - especially females - ended up being just as bright.
I still remember trying to teach her how to read, 20 years ago. Of course, back then, I never thought that adults could be illiterate, so I didn't really do a good job, and she never got to read...
Now this leaves me without any living grandparents. Officially I am getting old...
I liked her. Even though she grew up in an era when education for upper-class women was unthinkable, and therefore never learned to read, she was nevertheless bright enough to navigate the complicated New York City subway system on her own, without understanding a word of English. She was one of the many nameless yet bright women who have graced my mother's family, and her genes have ensured that my cousins - especially females - ended up being just as bright.
I still remember trying to teach her how to read, 20 years ago. Of course, back then, I never thought that adults could be illiterate, so I didn't really do a good job, and she never got to read...
Now this leaves me without any living grandparents. Officially I am getting old...
09 October 2005
Three different personal anniversaries
I just remembered that three different significant events took place in my life, two of them 5 years ago, and one 10 years ago.
On October 6, 2000, I took my first - and so far only - trip by air as a woman, with proper female IDs. The trip took me from San Francisco via Los Angeles to Tucson, via United Airlines' now-defunct Shuttle service, for a rendezvous with a high school friend. (Since then, I moved to Tucson to join him briefly - then I moved back to California, while he moved on to Yuma and Chicago for his pharmaceutical studies.) I never thought that it would be my last air trip as a woman for a long time. I need to get my ID situation corrected as soon as it's plausible to do so.
This trip took place shortly after I had lost a job in San Francisco's Financial District working as an administrative assistant for a political junkie - of the wrong persuasion, that is. I was fed up with the Bay Area at that point (the high-tech bubble was starting to burst anyway), and was about to do anything to make a move back to Los Angeles, or on to another city, happen. To that end, I hopped into my car on the 10th (shortly after returning from Tucson), and left my apartment for Seattle. I did not return for the next two weeks, during which time I covered Yellowstone National Park, Mt. Rushmore, Grand Canyon National Park, Las Vegas, San Diego, and of course, Los Angeles. I covered every Western state except New Mexico, plus South Dakota. Although none of the cities I covered ended up being my eventual destination right away, plus it was not the most sensible use of my money, it was a good way to cap off what I now call my "honeymoon period" with the United States.
Going back five more years to 1995, October 10th turned out to be a grand opening to that "honeymoon." I was a college student in New York City at the time, and posters were popping up on campus for a pair of Korean pop groups performing at Shea Stadium. The posters were in English, targeted to non-Korean Asians (usually the ones who picked up the Korean culture through on-campus Christian groups). I snubbed them, preferring a televised Mariah Carey concert at Madison Square Garden instead, since she was a native New Yorker - and my idol at the time. (Not to mention that even in Seoul, she was more popular than the groups the posters were advertising.) I wanted to re-live the magic that I had had the previous year, when I had a brief chat with her. And I did - in grand style. The concert even included Boyz II Men, the biggest boy band of the time, for better effect. This was the first major-act concert that I had ever attended, and it was a very good experience, especially since Mariah's ego was much smaller back then! It also turned out to be my only trip ever to the Garden.
On October 6, 2000, I took my first - and so far only - trip by air as a woman, with proper female IDs. The trip took me from San Francisco via Los Angeles to Tucson, via United Airlines' now-defunct Shuttle service, for a rendezvous with a high school friend. (Since then, I moved to Tucson to join him briefly - then I moved back to California, while he moved on to Yuma and Chicago for his pharmaceutical studies.) I never thought that it would be my last air trip as a woman for a long time. I need to get my ID situation corrected as soon as it's plausible to do so.
This trip took place shortly after I had lost a job in San Francisco's Financial District working as an administrative assistant for a political junkie - of the wrong persuasion, that is. I was fed up with the Bay Area at that point (the high-tech bubble was starting to burst anyway), and was about to do anything to make a move back to Los Angeles, or on to another city, happen. To that end, I hopped into my car on the 10th (shortly after returning from Tucson), and left my apartment for Seattle. I did not return for the next two weeks, during which time I covered Yellowstone National Park, Mt. Rushmore, Grand Canyon National Park, Las Vegas, San Diego, and of course, Los Angeles. I covered every Western state except New Mexico, plus South Dakota. Although none of the cities I covered ended up being my eventual destination right away, plus it was not the most sensible use of my money, it was a good way to cap off what I now call my "honeymoon period" with the United States.
Going back five more years to 1995, October 10th turned out to be a grand opening to that "honeymoon." I was a college student in New York City at the time, and posters were popping up on campus for a pair of Korean pop groups performing at Shea Stadium. The posters were in English, targeted to non-Korean Asians (usually the ones who picked up the Korean culture through on-campus Christian groups). I snubbed them, preferring a televised Mariah Carey concert at Madison Square Garden instead, since she was a native New Yorker - and my idol at the time. (Not to mention that even in Seoul, she was more popular than the groups the posters were advertising.) I wanted to re-live the magic that I had had the previous year, when I had a brief chat with her. And I did - in grand style. The concert even included Boyz II Men, the biggest boy band of the time, for better effect. This was the first major-act concert that I had ever attended, and it was a very good experience, especially since Mariah's ego was much smaller back then! It also turned out to be my only trip ever to the Garden.
William Bennett still wants black babies aborted
A while ago, while I was in DC, William Bennett - the "morality czar" who was Reagan's education secretary - linked crime rate to blacks, and remarked that crime rate would go down if every black baby got aborted. The blogosphere was up in arms over this.
I just read a report that Bennett was in Bakersfield, in California's red red San Joaquin Valley, yesterday, refusing to apologize, and blaming the media for twisting it "out of context." White supporters cheered him on, and blacks are still incensed. As one black protester put it, there was no context to take the comments out of.
No wonder 80-90% of blacks refuse to vote Republican. The GOP is a party of whites only, and maybe a few chosen puppet minorities like the Cubans, the Koreans, and the Vietnamese, who are seen as being useful to their pro-war, anti-civil-rights agenda. Of course, when the time of usefulness is up, these minorities will go the way of blacks, as Rep. Jay C. Kim, a Korean-born Republican who used to represent my district, has learned the hard way. I hope my father, who is rejoicing at the death of all these "lazy ass niggers," is taking notice.
I just read a report that Bennett was in Bakersfield, in California's red red San Joaquin Valley, yesterday, refusing to apologize, and blaming the media for twisting it "out of context." White supporters cheered him on, and blacks are still incensed. As one black protester put it, there was no context to take the comments out of.
No wonder 80-90% of blacks refuse to vote Republican. The GOP is a party of whites only, and maybe a few chosen puppet minorities like the Cubans, the Koreans, and the Vietnamese, who are seen as being useful to their pro-war, anti-civil-rights agenda. Of course, when the time of usefulness is up, these minorities will go the way of blacks, as Rep. Jay C. Kim, a Korean-born Republican who used to represent my district, has learned the hard way. I hope my father, who is rejoicing at the death of all these "lazy ass niggers," is taking notice.
07 October 2005
BMW - Benedict's favorite car
And Benedict - BMW's favorite Pope?
Looks like it. I just learned that BMW has just given an X5 SUV to Benedict, to add to his 5-series, 7-series, and motorcycles. The official Popemobile remains a Mercedes, however.
Benedict and his backward social views represent the conservatism of Bavaria, the German state where BMW has its roots - and gets its name (Bavarian Motor Works) from. In addition, BMW owners also have a conservative reputation in German politics anyway, because of their hunger for more speed and opposition to speed limits on the Autobahn; they are akin to gun owners in America.
Here in Los Angeles, BMW's second largest market, BMW doesn't seem to have a necessarily conservative reputation though; there were plenty of BMWs with "Kerry-Edwards" bumper stickers here, and I even happened to be driving one of them, on a lease. The lease is still ongoing, and I've so far enjoyed driving my 3-series, even though progressives from other parts of the country hate me for it. I've always felt that it is every bit as fun to drive as the Republicans' Corvettes and Porsches, while being far more practical, efficient, and modest. Many car enthusiasts consider the 3-series the best sedan in existence, and I don't dispute them. And my plan has been to purchase the newest 3-series outright, when the lease is up on my current one, and I also get rid of my Ford in the process. (Yes, two cars just for my use - another Los Angeles thing.)
Nevertheless, it doesn't feel good to be sharing a penchant for BMWs with a man I can't stand, and a man who is completely opposed to my well-being - Pope Benedict. But then given that the most viable competition, Lexus, is part of Toyota - a company that benefitted handsomely from John Roberts - I don't even know if switching to another brand is even possible, short of downgrading to something like a Honda Civic. At least the Civic is available as a very efficient hybrid... But my ego (and all the other luxury cars that my acquaintances drive) will continue demanding luxury cars.
Looks like it. I just learned that BMW has just given an X5 SUV to Benedict, to add to his 5-series, 7-series, and motorcycles. The official Popemobile remains a Mercedes, however.
Benedict and his backward social views represent the conservatism of Bavaria, the German state where BMW has its roots - and gets its name (Bavarian Motor Works) from. In addition, BMW owners also have a conservative reputation in German politics anyway, because of their hunger for more speed and opposition to speed limits on the Autobahn; they are akin to gun owners in America.
Here in Los Angeles, BMW's second largest market, BMW doesn't seem to have a necessarily conservative reputation though; there were plenty of BMWs with "Kerry-Edwards" bumper stickers here, and I even happened to be driving one of them, on a lease. The lease is still ongoing, and I've so far enjoyed driving my 3-series, even though progressives from other parts of the country hate me for it. I've always felt that it is every bit as fun to drive as the Republicans' Corvettes and Porsches, while being far more practical, efficient, and modest. Many car enthusiasts consider the 3-series the best sedan in existence, and I don't dispute them. And my plan has been to purchase the newest 3-series outright, when the lease is up on my current one, and I also get rid of my Ford in the process. (Yes, two cars just for my use - another Los Angeles thing.)
Nevertheless, it doesn't feel good to be sharing a penchant for BMWs with a man I can't stand, and a man who is completely opposed to my well-being - Pope Benedict. But then given that the most viable competition, Lexus, is part of Toyota - a company that benefitted handsomely from John Roberts - I don't even know if switching to another brand is even possible, short of downgrading to something like a Honda Civic. At least the Civic is available as a very efficient hybrid... But my ego (and all the other luxury cars that my acquaintances drive) will continue demanding luxury cars.
And speaking of Ann Coulter
Coulter's gender has been the subject of a lot of talk lately. Here are some sites:
"Strap-on Veterans for Truth"
Wikipedia
Mann Coulter (from CannonFire blog)
Ann Coulter is a MAN (Sentry News Digest)
Googling "Ann Coulter transsexual" pulled up a lot of other articles that I won't even bother to list. In any case, the rumors are out there, and so are incriminating evidences. And of course, Stephanie Miller has pretty much concluded that Coulter is a "noted transsexual plagiarist."
Why a transgender woman would want to be a right-winger is beyond me, but Coulter, if she is indeed a "tranny," is far from alone, based on my own experiences. The male way of thinking that encourages Republicanism carries right over even when the person wants to be a woman - that's all I can conclude. Virtually all "women" that I know of in the Log Cabin Republican organization were formerly men. I learned some of the most vicious right-wing ideas, such as a 23% flat national sales tax (and the abolition of income tax), from transgender "women."
Coulter and the others should see the light, come out of the closet, and follow my footsteps into a more accepting world. There is only death on the Republican trail as long as you are transgender.
"Strap-on Veterans for Truth"
Wikipedia
Mann Coulter (from CannonFire blog)
Ann Coulter is a MAN (Sentry News Digest)
Googling "Ann Coulter transsexual" pulled up a lot of other articles that I won't even bother to list. In any case, the rumors are out there, and so are incriminating evidences. And of course, Stephanie Miller has pretty much concluded that Coulter is a "noted transsexual plagiarist."
Why a transgender woman would want to be a right-winger is beyond me, but Coulter, if she is indeed a "tranny," is far from alone, based on my own experiences. The male way of thinking that encourages Republicanism carries right over even when the person wants to be a woman - that's all I can conclude. Virtually all "women" that I know of in the Log Cabin Republican organization were formerly men. I learned some of the most vicious right-wing ideas, such as a 23% flat national sales tax (and the abolition of income tax), from transgender "women."
Coulter and the others should see the light, come out of the closet, and follow my footsteps into a more accepting world. There is only death on the Republican trail as long as you are transgender.
The Nation on Pat Tillman
I just ran across a post on the Democracy Cell Project blog where this article was mentioned. It is from The Nation, discussing what Pat Tillman, the football star who gave his life in Afghanistan in a friendly fire incident, thought of the Iraq conflict, according to his mother.
Looks like there is another high-profile pro-peace mother of a fallen soldier here...
Ann Coulter once praised Tillman as the ultimate American male. She (or he, I shall say) is obviously not happy.
The Nation article
Looks like there is another high-profile pro-peace mother of a fallen soldier here...
Ann Coulter once praised Tillman as the ultimate American male. She (or he, I shall say) is obviously not happy.
The Nation article
06 October 2005
Harriet Miers
The W regime has now picked a new nominee for the Sandra Day O'Connor vacancy in the Supreme Court, now that John Roberts, the original pick, was elevated to Chief Justice to replace the late William Rehnquist.
(By the way, I want to thank my Senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, for voting against that career corporate lawyer's confirmation.)
Harriet Miers seems to be a controversial pick, with her credentials basically being little more than W's personal attorney, and no experience as a judge. She did play a key role in the selection of John Roberts. However, one thing does seem clear; like W, she claims to be a born-again Christian, and follows the death cult's teachings to the letter. This has fractured the Republican Party, from the party leadership (Trent Lott, Bill Frist) who oppose her nomination on the grounds of her inexperience, to the death cult leadership (Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell) who support her wholeheartedly.
Some spineless Democrats, such as the anti-choice Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, supported the nomination of Miers. This may be a tactic to prevent a more harmful potential nominee like Alberto Gonzales, who could pull even more Latino votes toward the Republican camp. But this is no time to cave in to the W agenda, which looks more and more like the Nazi agenda I saw at the Holocaust Museum last week; the 45 Senate Democrats must unite and say a loud "NO" to any and all W appointees, even if the 55 Republicans can steamroll them over. Remember, the Republicans did not win their majority by caving in and compromising; they won it by serving their base - large corporations and Christians.
Things do not look good. Just a week and a half after the promise of the antiwar rallies, I am seeing lots of "moving to Canada" discussions on the Democracy Cell Project blog. This can't be good. I may be witnessing the birth of a fascist republic in the United States of America, as progressives vote with their feet and move overseas. In my own case, I will need to leave in about ten years in search of healthcare, but until then, I am fighting against the influence of heartless corporations - domestic and foreign (that means you, Toyota) - and the death cult churches.
(By the way, I want to thank my Senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, for voting against that career corporate lawyer's confirmation.)
Harriet Miers seems to be a controversial pick, with her credentials basically being little more than W's personal attorney, and no experience as a judge. She did play a key role in the selection of John Roberts. However, one thing does seem clear; like W, she claims to be a born-again Christian, and follows the death cult's teachings to the letter. This has fractured the Republican Party, from the party leadership (Trent Lott, Bill Frist) who oppose her nomination on the grounds of her inexperience, to the death cult leadership (Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell) who support her wholeheartedly.
Some spineless Democrats, such as the anti-choice Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, supported the nomination of Miers. This may be a tactic to prevent a more harmful potential nominee like Alberto Gonzales, who could pull even more Latino votes toward the Republican camp. But this is no time to cave in to the W agenda, which looks more and more like the Nazi agenda I saw at the Holocaust Museum last week; the 45 Senate Democrats must unite and say a loud "NO" to any and all W appointees, even if the 55 Republicans can steamroll them over. Remember, the Republicans did not win their majority by caving in and compromising; they won it by serving their base - large corporations and Christians.
Things do not look good. Just a week and a half after the promise of the antiwar rallies, I am seeing lots of "moving to Canada" discussions on the Democracy Cell Project blog. This can't be good. I may be witnessing the birth of a fascist republic in the United States of America, as progressives vote with their feet and move overseas. In my own case, I will need to leave in about ten years in search of healthcare, but until then, I am fighting against the influence of heartless corporations - domestic and foreign (that means you, Toyota) - and the death cult churches.
05 October 2005
John Roberts and Toyota
Many Toyota owners have been angry at me over my condemnation of Toyota over its links to John Roberts. Most of them claim to have never heard of such a connection. They keep happily driving away in their Priuses, Corollas, and other Toyotas, because they are fuel-efficient.
I did a quick Google search to pull up this document on Roberts, courtesy of National Organization for Women (NOW). It clearly says, at the top of his accomplishments in law practice (middle of the page), that Roberts was a counsel for Toyota in its successful attempt to weaken ADA and fire a worker whose disability was caused by on-the-job injuries.
So I rest my case. I see Toyota as an evil corporation that sells Priuses and Corollas to rake in hard-earned progressive dollars, and spend them on conservative causes. It played a key role in elevating an inexperienced judge to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Every time the high gas prices tempt me to buy a Prius, I will always think of the Roberts Supreme Court, and turn to other manufacturers. And I will take a very close look at all foreign manufacturers who build cars on US soil - usually in anti-union southern states - for any signs of anti-labor practices. (Toyota's Kentucky plant, responsible for Camrys, Solaras, Siennas, and Avalons, is notorious for labor abuses.)
Okay, okay, now you say, I drive something even more sinister - a Ford. I admit it. And it's junk. I will get rid of it when the time comes.
I did a quick Google search to pull up this document on Roberts, courtesy of National Organization for Women (NOW). It clearly says, at the top of his accomplishments in law practice (middle of the page), that Roberts was a counsel for Toyota in its successful attempt to weaken ADA and fire a worker whose disability was caused by on-the-job injuries.
So I rest my case. I see Toyota as an evil corporation that sells Priuses and Corollas to rake in hard-earned progressive dollars, and spend them on conservative causes. It played a key role in elevating an inexperienced judge to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Every time the high gas prices tempt me to buy a Prius, I will always think of the Roberts Supreme Court, and turn to other manufacturers. And I will take a very close look at all foreign manufacturers who build cars on US soil - usually in anti-union southern states - for any signs of anti-labor practices. (Toyota's Kentucky plant, responsible for Camrys, Solaras, Siennas, and Avalons, is notorious for labor abuses.)
Okay, okay, now you say, I drive something even more sinister - a Ford. I admit it. And it's junk. I will get rid of it when the time comes.
UK and Japan will withdraw from Iraq
I learned this belatedly, but the buzz among those arrested last week at the White House massive nonviolent action was that the UK will start a massive withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and that Japan will follow suit. I confirmed this with the Guardian UK. The British withdrawal starts in May.
This further shows that keeping troops in Iraq is not very productive, and that America is losing further support from its most valuable allies. Only Australia and South Korea now will have a significant contingent in Iraq - and in case of South Korea, only because W and Rove coerced it by bribing opposition parties into impeaching its president last year.
You know, if my tax dollars are going toward regime changes in Iraq and Korea, I might as well work toward regime change at home. Impeachment of W is definitely in order.
This further shows that keeping troops in Iraq is not very productive, and that America is losing further support from its most valuable allies. Only Australia and South Korea now will have a significant contingent in Iraq - and in case of South Korea, only because W and Rove coerced it by bribing opposition parties into impeaching its president last year.
You know, if my tax dollars are going toward regime changes in Iraq and Korea, I might as well work toward regime change at home. Impeachment of W is definitely in order.
Now I know which airline I won't be flying
I just picked up this article from the Democracy Cell Project blog, where a woman flying from Los Angeles to Portland via Reno, on Southwest Airlines, was asked to change her "offensive" shirt or get off the flight. The shirt was a variation on "Meet the Fockers" with various W regime officials on it. The passenger in question was offered a different flight if she changed her shirt; she decided to drive a rental car instead.
I concluded that Southwest was simply censoring a passenger's political opinions, being the most Republican major airline in the skies today. After all, it is based in W's home state.
There are plenty of other choices in the skies. I will look at those before ever considering Southwest again. JetBlue, 23% owned by George Soros, looks like a nice try. So is American, which I just flew last week, and which is known for its gay-friendly policies - despite being based in Southwest's hometown as well.
Even United, which has taken a lot of flak over its termination of employee pension benefits as well as its corrupt executives' connections to Congressman Dennis Hastert, looks like a better pick than Southwest. At least it has a somewhat Democratic PAC, according to Buy Blue; flew delegates to Democratic National Conventions of 1996 and 2000; and was also well-known for being gay-friendly. On my last flight with United a year ago, I spent time in the back galley with a flight attendant, pointing out the stupidity of many of W's policies together.
I concluded that Southwest was simply censoring a passenger's political opinions, being the most Republican major airline in the skies today. After all, it is based in W's home state.
There are plenty of other choices in the skies. I will look at those before ever considering Southwest again. JetBlue, 23% owned by George Soros, looks like a nice try. So is American, which I just flew last week, and which is known for its gay-friendly policies - despite being based in Southwest's hometown as well.
Even United, which has taken a lot of flak over its termination of employee pension benefits as well as its corrupt executives' connections to Congressman Dennis Hastert, looks like a better pick than Southwest. At least it has a somewhat Democratic PAC, according to Buy Blue; flew delegates to Democratic National Conventions of 1996 and 2000; and was also well-known for being gay-friendly. On my last flight with United a year ago, I spent time in the back galley with a flight attendant, pointing out the stupidity of many of W's policies together.
04 October 2005
Another pic from DC
Photo courtesy of Karen BradleyThis time, myself, at the Democratic Women's Leadership Forum on September 29th. (No, I couldn't cough up the $1000 required to participate, but anyway...)
02 October 2005
Some pictures from Washington, DC
Here are some pictures I took from my trip last week. Due to legal issues, I could not take any pictures from many of the museums - and I will not be publishing pictures I took from my lobbying activities at the Boxer and Feinstein offices.
I'll have a picture of myself from the Democratic Women's Leadership Forum as soon as Karen from Democracy Cell Project uploads it.
A bus from Veterans for Peace, participating in the antiwar protests. (Sep 25)
Camp Casey IV, with its crosses marking the Iraq war dead. (Sep 25)
A wire fence fragment from the Korean DMZ presented to Senator Dianne Feinstein in 2000. (Sep 26)
One of the many quotes found at the FDR Memorial. (Sep 28)
The presidential helicopter flies past Tidal Pool. (Sep 28)
Korean War Memorial.
"Our Nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met."
(Sep 28)
Vietnam War Memorial, with its list of American dead. (Sep 28)
World War II Memorial and Washington Monument. (Sep 28)
I'll have a picture of myself from the Democratic Women's Leadership Forum as soon as Karen from Democracy Cell Project uploads it.
A bus from Veterans for Peace, participating in the antiwar protests. (Sep 25)
Camp Casey IV, with its crosses marking the Iraq war dead. (Sep 25)
A wire fence fragment from the Korean DMZ presented to Senator Dianne Feinstein in 2000. (Sep 26)
One of the many quotes found at the FDR Memorial. (Sep 28)
The presidential helicopter flies past Tidal Pool. (Sep 28)
Korean War Memorial."Our Nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met."
(Sep 28)
Vietnam War Memorial, with its list of American dead. (Sep 28)
World War II Memorial and Washington Monument. (Sep 28)
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