Fruitvale Station

I dreaded watching this movie.  I already knew the ending, since it happened in real life on New Years Eve 2008.

The man and I stepped out of our comfort zone that year. We bought tickets to see Zappa Plays Zappa and Primus at the War Memorial Opera House in the city, and booked a hotel room nearby at The Whitcomb. After a great Vietnamese dinner at Tu Lan, we walked to the concert.  It was a really fun night-we were feeling quite celebratory. Our guy had just won the election, and that felt pretty damn good being on the right side of history. It still does, despite any disappointments these last five years. Still something that I will feel proud to tell my grand kids about, some day. If my children choose to be parents, that is. So far, that is not the case and I can't say that I blame them.

After the concert, we scurried across Market Street to our room, where we proceeded to relax, enjoy some Roederer champagne, and ring in 2009. Then we made the mistake of turning on the  television.

Every local station had coverage of the murder of Oscar Grant.Talk about a buzz kill. We were disgusted. I once worked with a former BART police officer. My main recollection of him is his propensity to tell racist jokes. He was creepy. If you read here, you know that I have zero tolerance for small-minded bigotry. And it doesn't matter if that's how you were raised! You can always adapt your mindset. But you have to want to...

Anyway, the life went out of our after-party pretty quick. We went to sleep and awoke to non-stop coverage of the story the next day. As more facts were revealed, it was clear that a trigger-happy rookie had killed a 22 year old kid. The ride home to Mendo was quiet.

That rookie did 11 months of his two-year sentence. I have little doubt that he's had plastic surgery, and his current whereabouts will remain top secret for the rest of his life.

This film tells the story in a poignant, tasteful manner. Which is not to say it didn't leave me feeling sad. And angry. It's just too easy for many to chock it up to racist generalities. "He was a thug." How do you know that? Because he was a black man from Oakland? So they're all thugs? Wrong. Why do we fear and wrongly judge what we know nothing about? 

I know I don't have to care about this. I'm a white woman, and could easily dismiss it. But I've never been that person and hope I never am. My heart will always go out to Oscar Grant's family. He was somebody's baby.

Once More, With Feeling

I posted this before he WON. It's back again because I like it. And him. So, anyone out there that is angry over the mere possibility of health care for all citizens can bite my substantial ass. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, buzz killers. That is all.

Inca Roads - Frank Zappa

Sadism

"Why? Because, at bottom, there is a deep streak of sadism running through people. It runs through me, too! I can tell you, I have imagined torturing people who are egregious criminals--such as Hitler, or Saddam Hussien, or Charles Manson, or some smart aleck who pulls in front of me on the freeway--but in a country living under rule of law, we must not give into those urges ever." Eric Bergeson

Econ 420

"However, others in the field believe that the government's $10.5 billion figure is absurdly low. Dan Hamburg, a former congressman from Northern California's sinsemilla belt, says the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors estimates bud production in that county alone at between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, worth far more than timber and grapes. " Steven Wishnia, AlterNet

Keep in mind that Mendocino County is a very small California county, with a 2007 population of 86,273. (By comparison, San Francisco county's population is 764,976.)

So, tell me again that taxation/legalization of cannabis is not a viable option. Oh, but wait! The children! It's a drug, and drugs are bad. Nothing like the ones my doctor tells me I need. Besides, kids should stick to booze. It's so much more... normal. I say let's utilize this obviously lucrative cash crop. Let it grow.

If anything at all is going to change, then we have got to go about life in very different ways than we have been lately. That would be my definition of evolution.

Let It Grow - Eric Clapton

How Long?

Okay. So. He's in, despite the fact that the Chief Justice of the United States flubbed the words to something he should have maybe taken the time to practice. Even once. (Heckuva job, 'Robby.')

How's this, naysayers... what say you allow things to run their course naturally? Is that too much to ask, after what we've endured for the last almost-decade? You certainly gave George plenty of slack.

Millions of Americans and people around the world are genuinely happy that Obama is the President. Would you mind terribly just letting us enjoy it for a few days? You know, since we 'let' your guy fuck up the planet almost to the point of no return and all of that.
Thanks.

Point of Know Return - Kansas

No One Wins

War Of Man - Neil Young

Call Me (Senator) Al

The man and I saw him live in 2003. Another high point in my life...after the gig we went up to say thanks and shake his hand. He smiled a lovely smile and thanked us. At that time, he was blogging and just starting his Air America radio show, which evolved into television. I was watching that very show when Bush 'won' in 2004, and will never forget how horribly sad Al looked when the outcome was all-too-clear. And now this Comedian/Deadhead/Limbaugh persecutor extraordinaire is almost certainly Senator Al Franken.

With all the evil shit taking place in the world right this very minute, I'm glad there's a teeny bright spot now and then.

I will be writing about the New Year's Eve adventure soon. Spare time is tough to come by lately.

You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon & David Byrne

I'm A Stranger In A Strange Land

AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka on Obama and racism. Listen to his obvious ire. I can relate. I didn't want to believe there were that many people who wouldn't vote for Obama based on his race, but this election has opened my eyes to some really disturbing facts.

Pardon me if I don't feel proud of a land that holds onto it's hatred for black people, even though slavery was abolished in 1865. How can 'we' say we're the greatest country in the world if 'we' haven't worked out the whole separate but equal thing yet? There's nothing great about hatred based on tight-minded, archaic opinions.

if my thought-dreams could be seen

Watercolor By My Son's Girlfriend

Circuit overload. That's what it feels like. The wiring is slowly smoldering, shorting out my world- weary synapses.

People are really going to vote for someone that resembles that church lady you don't answer the door for? The one that sees church in your future? Now I have really seen everything. But wait, there's more! As a special bonus, you get a mean old man too.

Financial collapse is always a great sign. My man and I have little left to lose in that regard.Still-it can't be good.

I've been realizing even more how divided 'we' Americans are. Now. Everyone is shouting at once and we don't hear each other. It's pathetic. Thanks, Mr. 'Uniter'.

Parents are aging rapidly. It's that time, I suppose. I can't say I am ready for it, but life can be funny like that. I have noted recently that death is a somewhat comfier concept after hitting 50. I spent most of the first half of my life in bliss-ninny denial about mortality. Especially after losing my mother when I was 24. She's been in my thoughts, since her birthday is the first day of autumn.

I fear for my children.The rules have changed, and nothing is certain. Was it ever? They are brave and smart. Good thing.

Blogging is futile, but I can't seem to quit. I started it to be able to vent. I love to vent. However, I hold back more than I want to, like a good recovering catholic girl would. I'm working on that.

MillionDoorsForPeace.org

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'Palinguage'

I received the following today---from my love's seventy-four year old father...

The Conservative Palinguage Guide Vols. 1 and 2

September 5th, 2008 | Posted in Talkback |

Vol. 1

If you’re a minority and you’re selected for a job over more qualified candidates you’re a “token hire.”

If you’re a conservative and you’re selected for a job over more qualified candidates you’re a “game changer.”

If you live in an Urban area and you get a girl pregnant you’re a “baby daddy.”

If you’re the same in Alaska you’re a “teen father.” (Actually, according to your own MySpace page you’re an F’n redneck that don’t want any kids, but that’s too long a phrase for the evil liberal media to take out of context and flog morning noon and night).

Black teen pregnancies? A “crisis” in black America.

White teen pregnancies? A “blessed event.”

If you grow up in Hawaii you’re “exotic.”

Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you’re the quintessential “American story.”

Similarly, if you name you kid Barack you’re “unpatriotic.”

Name your kid Track, you’re “colorful.”

If you’re a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fulling vetting the individual you’re “reckless.”

A Republican who doesn’t fully vet is a “maverick.”

If you say that for the “first time in my adult lifetime I’m really proud of my country” it makes you “unfit” to be First Lady.

If you are a registered member of a fringe political group that advocates secession that makes you “First Dude.”

A DUI from twenty years ago is “old news.”

A speech given without proper citation from twenty years ago is “relevant information.”

And, finally, if you’re a man and you decide to run for office despite your wife’s reoccurrence of cancer you’re a “questionable spouse.”

If you’re a woman and you decide to run for office despite having five kids including a newborn with Downs Syndrome… Well, we don’t know what that is ‘cause THAT’S NOT A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK!

Vol. 2

If you get 18 million people to vote for you in a national presidential primary, you’re a “phoney.”

Get 100,000+ people to vote you governor of the 47th most populous state in the Union, you’re “well loved.”

SoyAA says: If you are biracial and born in a state not connected to the lower 48, America needs darn near 2 years and 3 major speeches to “get to know you.”

If you’re white and from a state not connected to the lower 48, America needs 36 minutes and 38 seconds worth of an acceptance speech to know you’re “one of us.”

If you give your wife a dap on stage, it’s actually a “terrorist fist jab.”

If your daughter licks her palm so that she can slick down your youngest child’s hair on national TV it’s an “adorable moment.” (Seriously, forget about abstinence only, teach these folks some grooming skills).

DTD SAYS: If your pastor rails against inequality in the United States of America, you’re an “extremist.”

If your pastor welcomes a sermon by a member of Jews for Jesus who preaches that the killing of Jews by terrorists is a lesson to Jews that they must convert to Christianity, you’re a “fundamentalist.”

If you’re a black man and you use a scholarship to get into college, then work your way up to being the president of the Harvard Law Review, you’re “uppity.”

If you’re a conservative and your parents pay your way to Hawaii Pacific University . . . you only have four more schools to attend over the next five years before you somehow manage to graduate (it might be five more school over the next five years. No one has yet verified whether or not Palin was actually ever registered at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. But, you know how shady people are who ever attended any kind of school in Hawaii).

SeanOcali says: If you’re 18, white, and get a 16 year old girl pregnant “life happens.”

If you’re 18, black, and impregnate a 16 year old girl, you’re a “registered sex offender.”

If you spend 18 months building a campaign around the theme of “Change,” it’s just “empty rhetoric.”

If one week before your party’s national convention you SUDDENLY make your candidacy about “Change,” that’s “red meat.”

And your last lesson for the day:

If you are a Democrat, an Independent, or even a moderate Republican, if you’re female, male, white, black, Asian, Hispanic, bi-racial, multi-ethnic, or GLBT, if you’re a Jew, Gentile, Muslim, agnostic or atheist - “Yes, we can!”

If you’re a pitbull with lipstick from Alaska, “Yup, yup!”

This Is The End

So... just viewing some of the republican convention. Wow. The crowd (and I use that term loosely) is not exactly diverse. If they are there to represent, yikes! It's a train wreck and I'm a-gawking. The contrast to last week's convention is palpable.

There aren't many wide shots, since there are a lot of empty seats. Like the whole upper section! Our first lady stayed true to her catatonic roots. Fred Thompson said 'my friends' almost as often as his candidate does. Sweet.

The Ronald Reagan promo piece reminded us all of those grand times, when he was president. (With "mommy's" help) I couldn't even watch LIEberman. And it's only Tuesday!

A really good week for gardening, I think.

I Won't. Back. Down.

Bear in mind that the last two elections were stolen.

Say Goodbye To The Fourth Ammendment

Weeping Woman
Pablo Picasso

SENATE GIVES IMMUNITY TO TELECOMS THAT HELPED SPY ON AMERICANS

“

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

”

Time Loves A Hero

Several elections ago, this was my quest. I was living, working and raising my children in La Selva Beach. I decided it would be a splendid idea to volunteer my precious time in support of the above ticket.It was exciting.I was 35.What did I know.

I found my old precinct laminate whilst packing up and clearing out our crap, and scanned it for your enjoyment. Or disgust, whichever the case may be.

A couple of those names make me wretch nowadays. That's something. I was once proud to support each and every one of them. My, how things do change.

John McBomb

Caption, anyone?

This Is The End

Back to our regularly featured McCain image...
Begs a clever caption, right? Have at it.

Dick Cavett has some thoughts about the General Petraeus/Ambassador Crocker debacle of last week.

Think !

Before you slip back into apathy (if applicable) consider this photograph.
Please.

Here's a Mark Fiore Funny.

Baghdad 1959

Next, HERE'S a great column on "that speech by that guy" by Jon Carroll.

Lastly, I found THIS great poem by Paul Hipp on Huff Po this fine day.


and a pinch of salt-n-pepa

Stormy Weather

"Wave"
By Gustave Courbet

It is unlikely that things are going to simmer down among democratic voters before the primary. With that in mind, I am going to try and rant about different things until then. This is not to say that political stuff will disappear here. I can't help it! Only that it feels futile, bickering about two democrats. Neither is perfect, but one is vastly superior to the other.That's how I feel. My mind is set. And so is yours.

Besides, there is still plenty to rant about. Like pharmaceuticals in the drinking water supply across the country. (Viva Viagra!)

Or the Governor of New York buying pricey sex. (A democrat this time, just to mix it up.)

Another suicide bomber killed 5 American soldiers today. (But things are better all the time, really.)

Gasoline is over $4.00 a gallon in parts of my home state. Including my town. (And yet, motor homes abound. Why?)

In Santa Clara County, a sheriff crossed over the yellow line and hit 3 bicyclists head-on yesterday, killing 2 of them. He was placed on paid administrative leave? Paid? Why was he not given a breathalyser test on-the-spot? (Oh right. Different rules.)

We may be moving to a larger shack. Maybe. The mere thought of moving is daunting. However, the bigger shack is very cool. Craftsman style, with virgin redwood vaulted ceiling in the living room, and lots of virgin redwood paneling too. And lots more room. For the massive party we will have in November!