history, again and again and again...

Conventional wisdom suggests those unable to learn the lessons of history are forced to repeat them...

Somehow, this seems the case as we witness the brutality of police, bent on making points with the very corporations that will eventually eliminate their jobs and pensions because they, like the rest of us, are expendable. The recent protests at UC Davis seemingly gave police authorities carte blanche to utilize military grade pepper spray on students quietly sitting on the lawn... if interested in seeing the complete callous display (there are two videos to watch and they're very disturbing)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHQqvDsbxwA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmJmmnMkuEM

When was the last time we were privy to this type of crude and disgusting behavior from public officials?

During the Vietnam war when the likes of Kent State occurred (a very sad day for America), or the Democratic Convention in 1968 when Chicago mayor, Richard Daley unleashed the police hounds of hell on war protesters in "his" city.

This type of deviant behavior will continue to take place until we as a society decide otherwise. The "thugs" who decided to act in this grotesque and unlawful manner should not get "administrative leave," but rather, "prison time" and only then will the rule of order be acknowledged and respected.

judicial... inaction

Today is my first day of jury duty. (kinda reminds me of the old saying "today is the first day of the rest of your life...")

I arrived at the Burbank courthouse only to discover the courthouse was not open (even though we were required to be there at 8 am sharp...) Like many in the same situation, I stood around waiting for the magic to happen... then (along with new security requirements) had to pass through the same machines currently in use at airports across the states.

As I stood waiting for the line to thin, I began to wonder if all the enhanced security actually made us safer, or just led us to believe we were safer when in fact, it was merely a placebo...

Like everything in life, we will not know for sure if this is the case until the winds of time move beyond us...

But, back to jury duty... We were required to watch a short video where "former jurors" waxed nostalgic about their service and how it made them feel better about themselves and the (justice) system. Several times I found myself laughing because truth be known, we all know by now that justice belongs to the side with the deepest pockets. Don't believe me? Where are those individuals residing that crashed the largest economic system in the world? Comfortably in their multi-million dollar homes, counting their multi-million dollar bailouts, thanks in great part to the shills we placed in congress.

But hey, the system works for all of us... right? Not really. Attempt to destroy an economy at the same levels as recently occurred and see what happens... Wham, bam, behind bars quickly and permanently...

Yeah, the system works for us... or is that against us?

6:32 pm
And more on the system...  after sitting for a few hours at the Burbank courthouse, it was announced to the jury pool that our presence was required at the Glendale courthouse... we were given ample time to get over to Glendale, and then the waiting game began once more. We sat for over an hour, then were told to go downstairs where we again stood around for about 20 minutes, waiting for the bailiff to escort us into the courtroom after determining we were all present and accounted for... we then listened to the charges, were introduced to the major players and 18 potential jurors were seated. Then came the fun part... questions were asked, responses were given and it was gradually determined that seating a pool was going to be very hard, for many reasons. My turn in the question/answer game will either  come tomorrow or the next day, and quite frankly, I am not a happy camper. If I am excused or when the trial concludes, I will state my reasons for my unhappiness. Until then, stay tuned.

griffith (the park)

If you happen to live anywhere in the proximity of Griffith Park, consider yourself lucky. This is a magnificent ode to one man's dream...

Shall we start with the vistas? From every imaginable angle, there are views of the city, or the hills off in the distance, or even Glendale (our neighbor to the immediate east). Below is a view looking east of downtown LA...

Sometimes the best view is the park itself... like watching hikers crossing a bridge to get to the other side, or catching a glimpse of the sun setting off in the west...

And sometimes, even the destruction wrought by the last fire can create a beautiful monument to nature's enduring flexibility... and multitudes of trails crisscross throughout the over 4,000 acres of rugged parkland.

Even as the LA budget continues to shrink, Griffith Park continues to captivate. Next time you're in the area, check it out. Whichever way you decide to walk, you will not regret your choice! Trust me!

giving thanks

 This past Thanksgiving was bittersweet... we spent the day (actually days) in preparation of giving thanks for our friends and the health of friends near and far. It was also the last Thanksgiving we will be spending with our friend Barb who has decided to move back home in order to be closer to her aging parents.

What gave me pause was the reality that Barbara and I have weathered many jobs together and many experiences... not always good, but certainly interesting. She has seen me through my various relationships, and I, her. And now she will be back in Iowa, far from my life and far from the fair weather in Los Angeles.

Last Sunday, we went for our last birthday celebration together... and as we departed the restaurant, I realized just how deeply I will miss her (even though she is but a phone call removed). And as we move toward the holidays, she will perhaps be celebrating by digging out from the latest snowfall, while we on the west coast will be enjoying the sunshine... ah, LA weather.

Even tho this is goodbye for now, it is not forever.

occupy...

There is a movement beginning to take shape and while there are some who have no clear understanding of what this movement entails, our country will lose unless we all work to preserve it for the coming generations. To quote one of the signs... time to "wake up"... America!

If one picture is worth a thousand words, then my work here is done.

Photos: thanks to Getty and the Huffington Post.

celebrating birthdays...

Dora's birthday was last week and since she was out of town the evening of her birthday, we decided to celebrate this stupendous event tonight at one fab Japanese restaurant in Toluca Lake.

Happy birthday Dora, and may we all celebrate many more together!

Pictured: myself, Barb, Dora, Suzette and Jadja.

on this day... september 29

On September 29, 1780, the British spy John André was court-martialed, found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. An accomplice of Benedict Arnold, he had been captured six days earlier by American forces; arrested after the discovery of incriminating papers stashed in his boots. The exposure of these papers forced Benedict Arnold to flee to England aboard the British warship Vulture where he joined the British in their fight against the American revolutionaries.

After being sentenced to death, André requested that he be executed by firing squad because death by firing squad was considered a more "gentlemanly" death than by hanging. On October 2, 1780, General Washington wrote in his "general order" of the day, "That Major Andre General to the British Army ought to be considered as a spy from the Enemy and that agreeable to the law and usage of nations it is their opinion he ought to suffer death. "The Commander-in-Chief directs the execution of the above sentence in the usual way this afternoon at five o'clock precisely." John André was executed by hanging in Tappan, New York. He was 31 years old.

Fast forward to the year 2005

On September 29, 2005, NY Times reporter Judith Miller was released from federal detention in Alexandria, Virginia after agreeing to name sources in the "outing" of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame.

A little background...

In 1982, federal legislation was passed which made it illegal to reveal information about a covert agent to anyone not authorized to receive such classified information.

Ultimately Miller's source turned out to be none other than Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Eventually Libby was convicted of obstruction of justice, perjury and making false statements to federal investigators in the Plame investigation. Before he was incarcerated, President George W. Bush commuted Libby's prison term on July 2, 2007.

The bottom line... no one has ever gone to prison... no one (other than Libby) has been charged with a crime in this sorry episode quite possibly reaching in to the highest federal office. The criminal behavior remains intact.

Troy Davis is dead... long live the debate

Last night Troy Davis was executed... and the debate will go on as to whether or not an innocent man was put to death.

This meaningless death points out the absolute cruelty and enormous waste of money when the death penalty sentence is applied... yet in this country, we continue to view this barbaric exercise as "justice."

If we observe the issue from an alternate perspective, the death penalty serves no purpose... it's been proven time and again that it deters no one from taking another's life. The real victims are those who go to the death chamber declaring their innocence, as did Troy Davis. Even to the end, when asked whether he wanted to make a statement, Troy insisted the wrong individual was being executed, creating a cloud of lingering doubt over whether the state executed the wrong man. Even if the individual actually responsible for the slaying at last steps forward, no one in this state-sanctioned murder will be held responsible... and few will really care because in this country many still believe in the "old testament" form of justice... an eye for an eye.

After Davis was executed, his attorney Jason Ewart remarked "I had the unfortunate opportunity tonight to witness a tragedy, to witness Georgia execute an innocent man. The innocent have no enemy but time, and Troy's time slipped away tonight."

Today, those individuals who supported a commutation in Troy's sentence will mourn his death, and the deaths of others in similar circumstances who face the ultimate "sentence" with little recourse to alter the outcome.

Related to this... as I watched the recap, one thing struck me... the cavalier attitude of some reporters covering the event making statements like "the 'cop killer' was at last executed." I wondered how these remarks could have been made as there was no hard evidence presented at the trial to [without a doubt] convict Troy Davis... no weapon was found... the testimony presented was based solely on eyewitness accounts and jailhouse "snitches," potentially tainted by police intimidation.

The wife and parents of the slain officer remarked that the right man was executed for the crime. I wonder if they can really live with the fact that there is a tremendous amount of doubt surrounding this sad, shameful Georgia episode.

And I wonder if justice was truly served... If there is a God, may he have mercy on our collective "soul" as we continue to perpetuate this cruelty on our fellow humans.

the new debtor prison system in amerika

During a conversation with an acquaintance, I happened to mention the return of "Debtors' Prisons" to the American landscape, which a friend immediately dismissed as an idiotic notion.

According to Wikipedia, Debtors' Prisons were established for those unable to pay a debt and have been noted throughout history, but particularly in Great Britain and the United Kingdom during the 18th century.

Although some inmates were more fortunate than others [dependent on the amount of money they had], inmates were forced to pay for their keep [and if an individual incurred the wrath of their jailor, they could be forced into manacles, dungeons, unjust demands or worse...]

The explanation went on to state that in despair, many were driven to suicide.

Although the Debtor's Act of 1869 in Great Britain abolished imprisonment for debt, some debt-ridden individuals were still incarcerated for up to six weeks before being released.

In 1833, the United States also abolished this practice on a federal level, as did most states in America. Prior to the passing of this legislation, approximately 2,000 New Yorkers annually suffered imprisonment for debt. When the total NY population of the time was less than 100,000, this is a stunning figure.

That was then... this is now.

On April 5, 2009, an article ran in The New York Times concerning a woman in Michigan who had been ordered to reimburse the juvenile detention center for fees incurred for incarcerating her 16-year-old son. When she explained her inability to pay before the courts, she too was incarcerated. The article went on to report she spent 28 days behind bars before the ACLU was able to have her released.

28 days?  Yep!

What are we coming to as a country?

I also discovered that there are many For Profit prisons popping up all over the country. These privately-owned prisons operate under a different set of rules than state-run prisons, which is (in my opinion) a huge glaring problem which most Americans fail to realize.

If there is no real oversight, then prison authorities will never do the "right" thing, whatever that may be...

what do you want?

Jobs!

When do you want them?

Now!

If the House of Representatives was paying attention... jobs would (at long last) be in the pipeline...

However, the list of Republican nominees has given us nothing but platitudes... Mitt Romney suggested he would be releasing a plan soon to address the growing problem but so far, nothing forthcoming.

I can't wait to see what his plan will reveal for those sans income.

Still waiting...

Meanwhile, Obama is still being trashed by the very politicians and pundits responsible for this infernal mess!

Meanwhile, back to Romney's plan...

Still waiting...

racing to the bottom

Very quickly another election season will be upon us.

Much is at stake, and on my daily drive home, important items are ticked off ad naseum... health care (and who will have access in the coming years), the state of education in this country (dreadful), the endless wars fought on foreign soil and perhaps more importantly, jobs for those who want to work.

If one listens to the legislative branch in this country discuss the issues affecting most Americans, the one item least discussed is JOBS.  It's just not on their radar, yet most of the new crop in Congress was elected to address just that... jobs, jobs and jobs.

Somehow, the message has gotten lost, sadly for those trying to make their lives work in an environment  more concerned with privatizing everything in this country, while at the same time outsourcing jobs to other countries (willing to underpay workers). Michele Bachmann is even suggesting that we drop the minimum federal wage in order to compete with China.

I like the deep thinkng on her part... what a great idea... let's race to the bottom so we can "compete" with China.

the slow, steady drum beat toward the upcoming election

While there will be no shoe-ins during this upcoming election cycle, we've all been watching the sometimes humorous, always entertaining field of would-be Republican candidates trip all over one another in their sprint toward the nomination.

At the first "real" straw poll, Michele Bachmann garnered first place in the Iowa unofficial count, followed closely by self-proclaimed Libertarian, Ron Paul. However, most Americans (including myself) were unaware of what exactly this poll entailed. I was surprised to discover Bachmann purchased approximately 4,000 tickets at $30 per to insure her capture of the top prize? She then followed this "win" by going on many Sunday-morning political talk shows to tout her win.

It seems the one with the most money takes top prize...

As the dust settled, or, even as the dust was settling, Texas Gov. Rick Perry leaped smack dab into the fray.

Ah, Rick Perry...

As he was campaigning in New Hampshire, Perry told his audience there was no such thing as man-made global warming... blaming scientists for scaring "ordinary" folks.

Several weeks [and one hurricane later], we can reevaluate his words as we've watched Irene sweep up the eastern coast, leaving a wide path of destruction in it's wake. The state of Vermont [still under water in some parts] will take weeks to return to a sense of normalcy.

According to Perry, there is no such thing as "global warming"... and even worse, he has no idea just how old the planet really is. [for those who really want the answer, the accepted age is approximately 4.55 billion years, give or take a few...]

But, back to global warming...
 
According to online Wikipedia: Global warming is the continuing rise in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans. Global warming is caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, resulting from human activities such as deforestation and burning of fossil fuels. This finding is recognized by the national science academies of all the major industrialized countries and is not disputed by any scientific body of national or international standing.

For those who don't understand what this means; basically scientists are suggesting (strongly) that "global warming" will lead to greater negative weather patterns across the globe, which is not a good thing for humanity (or other living creatures).

Given his utter lack of knowledge, is Rick Perry really the best nominee available to lead the Republican party to a successful campaign season in 2012?

I sure wonder...

God save us from the morons...

realities

Tonight as I drove home, listening to the news, I heard the Syrian ambassador to the UN [H.E Bashar Ja'afari] likening the unrest in Britain to the multiple government-endorsed murders taking place in Syria.

He dismissed the role his president [Bashar al-Assad] and government have taken against their own and yet, al-Assad may ultimately arrive in the Hague to face charges for crimes against mankind [like so many other despots ].

Granted, there is enormous unrest currently occurring in Britain, mainly because the economic situation is frighteningly grim if you happen to be poor, black, or both.

However, to suggest there is any correlation between the two countries is preposterous. While British police are out in force, dealing with this crisis brought on by social inequality, the Syrian military is taking careful aim at the civilian population, targeting anyone foolish enough to live in certain townships, or anyone attempting to go about their daily business. Now, don't misunderstand what I'm attempting to convey. Everyone should be allowed to go about their business, without fear of retribution, yet, this is not the case in many states [countries]. And to allow the Syrian ambassador to suggest otherwise is downright disgusting. The unrest in Syria is occurring because forty years of rule has turned this country into a dictatorship, and Syrians would finally like some say in their lives...

But let's talk about the current situation in Britain...

While I disagree that "hooliganism" is ok, I understand the motivation behind these individuals out in the streets, destroying what they will never own. I live in Los Angeles and remember the enormous destruction that occurred after the Rodney King incident. After centuries of feeling a lack of inclusion in society, it was very easy for some to revert to violence and mayhem, although if you lived in the vicinity of the violence, it was difficult to condone. Some of those who live in the immediate area refrained from violence and theft, but many living in the area affected by the brutality reverted to the same, not realizing or understanding they were affecting the area where they lived, shopped and worked. After the smoke cleared, many of the businesses closed shop, many mom & pop stores shut their doors, and the poor were made poorer.

I fear this will become a similar situation in Great Britain...

the game changer and the changed...

CUT... CAP... BALANCE!

Does anyone really understand what the Republicans mean with this STUPID banner?

Sadly, probably not.

I noticed the tea party (under the guise of the Republicans) has decided once again to reject the possibility of raising the debt ceiling.

Remember... Republicans (during the Reagan administration) raised the debt ceiling 18 times. During the Bush I administration, the ceiling was raised seven times.

Suddenly now, the Republican party is the party of economic "conservatives."

Hmmmm…. interesting, and haven't we been here before?

Could the fact that a "black" president have anything to do with the current economic impasse in Washington? Perhaps.

I could, but won't speculate, although it seems... rather suspicious.

Now, for those uninitiated who think the Republican party has their best interests in mind as they pass "important" legislation... ask yourself... where the heck are those jobs they've been promising.

Nowhere?

Bingo!

Now, I have to say in the interest of full disclosure, I've been disappointed in the Obama administration so far. There are many things that need fixing, and there is a real lackluster movement in the direction the country has been moving (in other words, it feels rudderless).

Even as I say this, I really don't think a McCain administration would have been any better. In fact, it would have been an economic disaster, similar to the previous Bush administration.

As I hear people laud the Reagan administration for the thirty years of economic growth, I must inquire... if this is true, please explain why we are in such a fix?

This is one of those historic junctures, and if we guess wrong, this country is going to be in a world of hurt for quite a long time. Do we have the brain (and the will) to make the important choices? I truly hope so.

truisms or self-evident, obvious truths

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

If you don't believe me, look at the events currently surrounding Rupert Murdoch and the potential for his BSkyB takeover.

Hopefully, this is the end of the discussion.

withdrawals...

Today President Obama stood before the American people and outlined his vision for bringing troops home from Afghanistan. As I listened, I was transported back to the days when Vietnam was front and center, and realized we've learned nothing from the lessons of history. I trust no one was excited to learn we're pulling approximately 33,000 troops out by 2012 (which was the original number sent over in the surge to disarm the Taliban).

For those who don't quite understand... Afghanistan is the country that over the course of history has successfully brought other nations to their knees. In ancient times Afghanistan was successfully invaded by Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan. In the modern era, Great Britain spent a fortune occupying Afghanistan, but ultimately, achieving nothing. This landlocked country connecting the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent was also responsible for ultimately destroying the economy of the former Soviet Union.

Why is it we think we'll succeed where othe nations have failed miserably? Might is meaningless in  Afghanistan.

In the Middle East, we've propped up one corrupt regime after another (the Shah in Iran, Saddam Hussein in Iraq), and the latest (Hamid Karzai) is steeped in corruption, making him just another ugly American "puppet."

Unless we're willing to seriously contemplate our existing foreign policy and acknowledge this policy needs a clear realignment, we will fail in Afghanistan, as well as future foreign enterprises. However, we may just run our economy further into the ground before we figure it out.

photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Via Bloomberg / June 23, 2011

memorials

My brother, long passed from this earthly plane is deservedly remembered, being one of a number of young men and women honored on a memorial in Washington, DC.

I remember the day I heard that my brother Steve was dying... even now, it is as though it was yesterday. I was told little, only that he'd been transported to a hospital in San Francisco and wasn't expected to live long... and didn't.

I know my parents rushed out from the east coast, but he'd already died. There was nothing left to do but make arrangements to ship him home... in a box.

I remember the funeral... driving with my family to the grave site at the National Cemetery and thinking, how appropriate that it's raining (as it was...)

I remember the bickering between my parents when they thought no one was listening. The angry voices raised because Steve failed to indicate his religious persuasion (Catholic) on his induction papers. But I understood his hesitation to divulge this information... religion is a very personal thing... besides, he had no intention of dying. He was far too young, and had an entire life to live. Sometimes the best-made plans...

But in writing about my brother, I realize there is an even broader issue -- Vietnam... and perhaps more importantly -- war... in terms of war's effect on humanity.

The ugliness known as Vietnam

Those who came through this skirmish definitely came out a bit worse for wear. Many Vietnam-era vets are living on the streets... in fact, according to statistics, nearly half of all homeless vets served during the Vietnam War.

There are probably a number of reasons why this is the case...

Vietnam was a really ugly war. We Americans lost nearly 58,000 soldiers in the conflict, and at the same time, decimated a country as we dropped "Agent Orange" (Operation Ranch Hand) over wide expanses. Over 20,000,000 gallons fell from the skies in Vietnam, between the years, 1962-1971 in an effort to force Viet Cong from the heavily-forested countryside. This defoliant was later found to contain a highly toxic compound, responsible for multiple deformities found in in-vitro children born in Vietnam and the United States. Drugs smuggled into the United States by vets returning from Vietnam were contaminated by these same defoliants, contaminating even more Americans.

This undeclared "war" created a war within this country, a war in which we refuse to acknowledge the much broader consequences of our actions.

Moving toward Afghanistan

Granted, we're already there. but we can always move next door, into Pakistan... and from there, where next?

Currently we're taking potshots (from drones flying far above the landscape) at vehicles travelling within Pakistani borders... Why do we think this is a legal action? At some point we run the risk of appearing before a tribunal at the Hague to face charges of war crimes.

War solves no problems... never has, never will. Even as the Allies were ridding the world of the warmongering Nazis, a monster known as Joseph Stalln was being created by the very allies attempting to stop Hitler.

Stalin. The name continues to live on in infamy.

What does happen during incursions into other countries is that some contractors make huge fortunes. HUGE!

Halliburton (and former vice-president, Dick Cheney) come to mind as our role in Iraq continues to unfold, both for the theft of money earmarked for rebuilding that country (destroyed by the United States) as well as for the enormous lie told in order to embroil us in Iraq. I know President Obama has taken a position of "hands off" in going after some of the more egregious thieves, but if we choose to ignore this issue, the issue will continue to plague our president, our country, and ourselves.

The real problem: there are still many Americans who continue to believe Saddam Hussain was somehow responsible for the events of 9.11, even though his role was discredited by none other than George W. Bush.

a resort for the rank and file...

Here in the great city of Los Angeles, there is an ongoing battle between those who feel the only way to preserve parks is to open them to developers and activists who believe in park preservation without conditions.

When Griffith J. Griffith deeded property to the City of Los Angeles in December, 1896, he inserted certain provisions... that entry to the park be free and open to all citizens of Los Angeles, or as Griffith put it... "it must be made a place of rest and relaxation for the masses, a resort for the rank and file, for the plain people.”

While the park has grown substantially over the years from the approximately 3,000 acres in the original grant, to the nearly 4,500 acres today, the need to protect this urban wilderness has not abated. If anything, the need for protection is much greater today than it was years ago. Forest Lawn Cemetery's attempt to occupy even more land and the potentially-destructive Universal Evolution Project will greatly impact the park. On the northeast side, there is a potential for even more development as the Zoo and Autry Museum attempt to further expand.

According to Wikipedia, Griffith Park is the tenth largest municipal park in the United States, and the second largest in California. It's home to a variety of different species of animals including horned lizards, a variety of squirrels, deer, skunks, small fox, the occasional bobcat, rattlesnakes... as well as a variety of different fauna (some of which can be found nowhere else in the area, including the threatened manzanita and berberis plants). It's home to the Griffith Observatory and Greek Theater (both were dreams of Col. Griffith and were completed after his death). Even though the park is surrounded by various municipalities, it's remarkable that this island of wildlife continues to exist fairly peacefully with its neighbors.

As I write, there is an effort to inject billboards and cell towers into this park (as well as other area parks). This topic will be discussed in another posting, but should we add to the pile of garbage now in the park?

Anyone utilizing the park for any length of time will witness firsthand the debris left by various city entities (as well as park users). The LADWP is renowned for using (and discarding) the enormous water tanks scattered throughout the park... although the Rec & Parks department has done little if anything to force them to remove these remanents of the past.

I say it's time to take a stand, force those city entities to clean up after themselves and make this a better park... and stave off those who would like to privatize this and other parks where "the masses" relax and enjoy a respite from the city.


Kayaker on the Los Angeles River near the Los Feliz Bridge in Atwater, 2009.
This area of the river is just east of Griffith Park.
He came just at the end of the yearly river cleanup in Los Feliz.

show me the nutcases...

So to speak...
Apparently there was a glitch with Google which meant I could not post for a few days.

I felt like someone took my computer away... it was just awful.

However, I'm finally back on (yea!) and while away, did some research into the partying that occurred just after the announcement of Osama Bin Laden's demise.

In an earlier post (May 1st), I pondered the rule of law... and whether it counted for anything in this "land of laws"...

I went to Huffington Post and came across some of the so-called "Christians" partying in front of the White House shortly after the announcement was made by President Obama.

Several things struck me as I looked at the photos... some of these images represent students attending Catholic University, some were from Georgetown (a predominately Catholic campus) and some were just "yahoos" out for a good party. Some carried the flag with the  "Don't Tread on Me"... which has been embraced by the current Tea Party membership.

I wondered if any of them thought back to the killing of four contractors in Iraq (September, 2005) and how horrible it was to witness celebrations of the killings in the aftermath.

As I recall, many in this country were outraged... yet where is the difference?


Photos from Huffington Post.

sunday at the dance

Sunday afternoon was spent downtown at the Dorothy Chandler watching the Mark Morris Dance Group perform and for those interested parties, this was a spectacular event... one I will remember with great pleasure.

My friend, Ines and I went to the pre-performance talk... and although I'd heard of Morris, I'd never attended any of the performances, much to my dismay (after the last on-stage bow).

What makes this troupe so unique is the melding of dance/live orchestra/operatic music to create a rich, flawless multi-layered effect... a spectacular, not to be missed sensory event.

Before the show, the (pre-performance) speakers talked about how people would sit in the audience and think, "I could do that... what's the big deal?" Well, I sat there and thought "These dancers are beautiful, strong, and even though they make it look easy, I wouldn't (in a million years) be able to do that..." There were moments during the performance where it looked like chaos... exquisitely controlled chaos... and that was when I remembered why I so loved to watch (modern) dance... that feeling of joyful abandon where gravity was the only reason they couldn't fly... although one sensed that if they could, they would lose themselves to the rafters (or even higher).

So, to those who hear that the Morris Dance Group will be performing anywhere in their area, run (don't walk) to the nearest ticket office and stand in line for the privilege of seeing these performers live! Trust me, you will not regret your decision.


Website info for the performance...

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Mark Morris Dance Group performs L'ALLEGRO, IL PENSEROSO ED IL MODERATO, which features 24 dancers, the LA Opera Orchestra and Chorus as well as a quartet of world-class singers: sopranos Hei-Kyung Hong and Sarah Coburn, tenor Barry Banks and bass-baritone John Relyea.
With Handel's pastoral ode as the musical landscape, and set to the poetry of John Milton*, along with sets inspired by William Blake's later watercolors, L'ALLEGRO is a true artistic feat sure to captivate Music Center audiences. Morris' landmark work is presented as part of the first-ever collaboration between the Music Center and LA Opera.

Pictured: June Omura and Bradon McDonald. Photo by Nan Melville

tuesday

A great deal of speculation is flying around the city, the country, around the world regarding the demise of Osama Bin Laden... some of it strange, some not so much.

It's now being reported that when shot to death by special forces, he wasn't armed... he did not have a weapon in his hands. But, he resisted arrest, so I guess it's ok that he was killed?

Frankly, I have issues with the whole sordid mess, and the more I hear, the less I like what just transpired.

As I queried in an earlier post... are we not a land with values, and laws?

Am I the only one who thinks the polite thing to do would be to get permission from the country we entered (illegally?), looking for Bin Laden?

Worse, we Americans were extremely offended when after the destruction of the twin towers in New York, people were dancing in the streets in areas of the Middle East. But when it was announced that Bin Laden was dead, what exactly happened in areas of this country? Is anyone offended? I am.

Far too many questions... even worse, far too few answers.

More later.

dead or alive...

Tonight, after President Obama announced the death of Osama Bin Laden, Andrew Card (former member of the Bush staff) commented that George W. Bush wanted very badly to announce the killing of bogeyman/mass murderer, Bin Laden during his presidency.

That's kinda funny... when Bush was hosting a party not so many years back (while still occupying the White House), he thought it very amusing to look behind and under various pieces of furniture and comment... nope, he's (Bin Laden) not here, or here, or here... making a very serious situation, very unserious.)

When I heard his flippant remarks, I had the distinct feeling Bush didn't really care if Bid Laden was captured.

But what I really want to know is, could we have captured this man? Or was it in our best interest to kill him, rather than put him on trial for the murder of Americans on 9.11.2001...  God knows, he might have had some tales to tell...

And, by the way, now that we've decimated Iraq looking for the "killers," will we now extend a blanket apology to those living under our thumb? Or will it be business as usual for the corporations now stealing Iraq's resources?

This evening, as the news broke, parties erupted (spontaneously) around the country leading me to wonder, are we really celebrating the killing of this man, or is this just an excuse to party? Either way, what a pity.

What has happened to the rule of law in this country?

time to get real...

One would think we have nothing on the agenda, other than to worry about the real/imagined birth certificate belonging to the president of the United States.

The reality is... there are serious issues in this country that we refuse to speak to... the economy, the lack of jobs for many Americans, the state of the educational system, the crumbling infrastructure, minority rights... the list is vast, and endless.

However, none of this is on the table.

It's become more important to debate whether or not Barack Obama is the legitimate president of these dis-functional United States.

Frankly, I think it's time to grow up, and once and for all, begin to address REAL issues.

glued to the set...

Ok, I admit, I was not one of those who woke up at some ungodly hour to catch a glimpse of William and Catherine tie the knot.

Nor do I know of anyone else who did... although I'm very sure they exist.

I did catch the performance of the "kiss"... a repeat of the kiss Charles bestowed on his bride in 1981, Princess Diana.

But, on to another, more disheartening story...

This is the story about the willingness of the Republican/Tea Party to continue its policy of discrimination against a group of individuals based solely on the concept that they should not be awarded the same rights as every other American.

The real tragedy... gays and lesbians pay the same taxes, raise the same families, face the same difficulties as everyone else, and then some.

Today, Ken Cuccinelli (Attorney General in Virginia) decided to terminate the state's contract with the law firm, King & Spalding because said law firm decided against continuation of a lawsuit by the U.S. House of Representatives in connection with DOMA (the infamous Defense of Marriage Act).

It's bad enough that discriminatory policies continue in this country... we never really seem to get it right... but the continuation of this particular policy (in the face of growing awareness by most Americans regarding gays) is truly disgusting.

Speaking of discrimination... I know racism is quietly (or perhaps not so quietly) moving back into our consciousness, thanks to the likes of Donald Trump questioning the validity of President Obama's educational record at Harvard. (Trump couldn't get any traction on the birther bs, so this is a not-so-subtle attempt to denigrate the successes of a "black" man...)

What I don't really understand is how anyone can take Donald Trump seriously... this is the same guy who rankled a great many when after the rape of a white female jogger in the late 80s, called for the death penalty for those individuals arrested and brought to trial. In case you didn't realize, those accused were young black men... later exonerated.

Trump has a true history of discriminatory practice. In the 70s, his real estate firm was charged with quoting different prices to blacks and whites attempting to rent apartments in New York.

He countersued, accusing the government of harassment, but ultimately settled and promised to end his firm's policy of discrimination against blacks and minority groups.

Sadly, the policy continued for some time and the human rights commission regularly dispatched investigators to check into discriminatory rental practices by the Trump firm.

Is Donald Trump really presidential material (as viewed by some Republicans) or is he, in fact, a true buffoon as others would believe?

Only time will tell...

phoebe snow died today

Sixty years young... beautiful phrasing... damn.

mining for uranium...

Virginia is my home state... just as California is the state I've adopted.

Several days ago, as I was driving home and listening to the news, there was a story about a new mining operation that wanted to overturn the moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia.

Uranium in Virginia?

I must admit, I'd never heard about it... I did know (having grown up and spent a great many hours running around the woods...)
Virginia is named for the Virgin Queen... Elizabeth I.
Virginia was one of the original thirteen colonies.
The state motto, “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” Latin for “Thus Always to Tyrants” was the phrase John Wilkes Booth shouted as he assassinated Abraham Lincoln.
During the Civil War, some of the bloodiest military battles took place in areas around Northern Virginia.
The state flower and tree are the same... the American dogwood (Cornus florida).
Virginia’s state bird is the Cardinal.
George Washington (the first president of the fledgling United States) was born here, as was Thomas Jefferson. Other presidents also called the “Old Dominion” home, including James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor and Woodrow Wilson.
Virginia is the 12th most populous state in the Union, inhabiting over 42,000 square miles.

I did not know that Virginia also contains (possibly) the largest untapped deposit of uranium in the world.

In the 1970s, a proposal was put forth to develop a mine in an area down in Pittsylvania, close to the border of North Carolina, which resulted in a statewide moratorium on uranium mining.

As more information has surfaced regarding the negative impact of uranium, more and more individuals are speaking out quite loudly against the onslaught by mining lobbyists at the legislative level.

Why is it so important to maintain this moritorium?

If uranium is released into the moist climate of Virginia, the result will be catastrophic on human/animal health as well as the environment. Radiation resulting from the mining operation will spread into surrounding areas, contaminating groundwater, and cancer rates in the affected area will skyrocket.

We’ve just experienced the greatest nuclear catastrophe to date... in Japan. (You notice, I said “to date” because radiation fallout is still occurring in Japan, although judging from news reports you would think it’s all behind us instead of just beginning...)

We know that uranium serves only one purpose. It's the mineral used for the production of plutonium and plutonium is used to fuel nuclear energy plants (oh... and nuclear bombs).

So the question is... do we really need to open another Pandora’s box? Does allowing mine development in this area serve the greater good? Or does it continue to line the pockets at the expense of the population?

You be the judge...

let's all go boom!

Looking toward the compounded disaster in Japan, I can't help but think back to the first time I heard about nuclear energy and the very real possibilities of long term destruction.

At the time I was living in Santa Cruz and there were many protests occurring in the California community around this issue. It was the early 1970s and at the time the Three Mile Island meltdown had not yet occurred (1979), nor had the Chernobyl disaster (1986). But early on, there were many who felt the possibility for man-made or natural accidents was very real, and frankly, this fear has been borne out in Japan.

The unraveling situation in Fukushima should give us all pause... is nuclear power really the best possible solution for supplying our energy needs? Especially when the potential for catastrophic nuclear meltdown is always part of the equation.

As of today, the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) is reporting the current situation at the disabled plant as “very serious.” While precautions are underway to prevent contamination of water and food sources, radiation leaking from the damaged storage tanks has escaped into the sea and soil surrounding the plant. But I want to know exactly what “very serious” means in the scheme of life... I guess I want some reassurance that the residents living in the area affected by this situation will ultimately go home without having to worry about cancer down the road. Rather presumptuous of me...

I read the news today...

I'll never forget the face of the girl who swept across the screen in National Velvet... stunning even as a young girl nearly into her teens...

In addition to two Academy Awards... one for Butterfield 8, one for her role as Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, she was nominated for her roles in Raintree County, Cat on a Hot tin Roof and Suddenly, Last Summer.

May she rest in peace.

let it rain, let it rain, let it rain... marathon 2011

It was certainly a different marathon this year than last year's foray onto the streets.

Rain, rain everywhere... made for a brutal run. We went over to Yuca's on Hollywood to watch the runners go through Hollywood and watched the rains come and go, and come and go... making a crazy run for wheelchair racers and runners alike.

First came the clouds, then the wheelchair racers dashed by followed closely by the first female runners. About 10 minutes later, the first male runners came through... a huge lull ensued and then came the runners... lots of runners. Then came the rains to drench the party.

Some runners decided the rains and accompanying winds were too much, and dropped out (it was pretty dismal on the course).

One very soaked bike rider stopped by the restaurant to warm up (he was accompanying his wife somewhere in the pack). He ate, attempted to get warm, and finally decided to go out and brave the rains again... I hope he made it without freezing along the route.

The thousands dwindled down to a few dozen, then one or two runners out on the course.






























At last the trucks came by, cleaning up the detritus left by runners...

Workers leaped over torrential rivers to take down barriers and clean up garbage... by the time the trucks got there, most of the trash had been swept away by volumes of water rushing along the curbs.

Quick synopsis... the first male runner finished in just over 2 hours, the first female runner finished in just under 2 1/2 hours...

The heaviest (at 400 lbs.) marathoner completed the race in nine hours, 48 minutes and 52 seconds, shaving 2 hours off his previous marathon.

[If interested in the posting from last year's marathon, go to shades of gray... 4.4.2010]

wishing for a new day...

Have you been following the news lately?

I know, silly question.

Japan... wow... just when you thought it couldn't get any worse. The sky opened and radiation poured out...

Nuclear power... the Pandora's Box of our century...

The real problem with nuclear plants is... just about everything. There is no 100% safe method for creation of nuclear energy, or for storage of spent fuel rods.

So, really, it's simply a matter of... look for safer methods of energy creation. Very simple!... just say no!

I know there are many (especially in the current congress) who believe nuclear power is as safe as... Mom's apple pie. They probably don't live downwind from a plant, and they've been reassured by the nuclear industry that it's really safe. Even as those reassurances are forthcoming, Japan is melting down.

Literally...

And, if there's truth to the rumor that nuclear power is safe... then someone... please explain Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.

Let's talk briefly about the disaster of Chernobyl because it seems a similar situation is occurring in Japan as officials attempt to downplay problems rather than acknowledge to their and world communities that this impending meltdown is an issue of grave concern.

In 1986 when the Chernobyl reactor blew up/melted down, nearly 120,000 people living in close proximity were evacuated and dozens of small townships vanished from Soviet Union maps. Even as residents in areas closest to the explosion were told that health threats were "minimal," authorities knew this was far from true... those residents were being exposed to levels of over 500 roentgens, which is ultimately fatal. And residents who rushed out to watch the explosion are no longer counted among the living...

Today, the #4 reactor at Chernobyl rests in a giant sarcophagus, perhaps forever.

In 1978 America experienced a near meltdown... ok, a partial meltdown at Three Mile Island. Officials at that time couldn't decide what, if any information to release to the media, and communities closest to the plant.

The true impact of the situation became clear only after an investigation by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and a presidential commission was convened. Whether or not the incident has had long term effects on cancer rates is up for debate. The bottom line is, does anyone really feel safe living next to, or near a nuclear plant? I would have to emphatically say NO.

I happen to live in Los Angeles, fairly close to the nuclear plant at San Onofre... just up the coast we have a nuclear plant at Diablo Canyon. Both plants reside very close to the major fault lines that crisscross the state and Pacific Ocean. In the event of a similar situation occurring here as just occurred in Japan, the loss of life would be staggeringly high, and the impact on food sources would be devastating.

As Congress continues to grapple with whether or not to build more nuclear plants, I think more Americans should weigh in and decide whether they want to expose themselves, and their children to the possibility of a nuclear wasteland in this country. Perhaps we should look back to the level of destruction at Nagasaki and Hiroshima near the end of WWII.

Then we should ask... Is this what we want for our country, and our people?