a very happy (alas belated) birthday wish to Sofia...

Yesterday was Sofia's birthday and while I made a mental note to wish her Happy Birthday, I got a bit busy working on stuff and never got around to wishing her the best... and so, Sofia... today, I wish you a very Happy Birthday, and may your life be filled with much happiness and may you always be surrounded by love!

and another rig bites the dust...

Somehow it's not surprising that another rig has caught fire in the Gulf. Thankfully, this was not nearly as devastating as the BP rig several months back... no lives lost in the fire and subsequent evacuation.

It does, however, point out a flaw in offshore drilling... eventually things do go wrong, and when they do, there is a greater possibility for catastrophic environmental damage. Most Americans do not realize how many oil rigs currently exist in the Gulf. Some websites put the number of rigs at nearly 7,000, although this figure includes rigs that still operate, as well as those that no longer operate, or were damaged, or destroyed when Hurricane Katrina plowed through..

We should all remember that oil is a finite energy resource. If the United States wants to maintain energy independence, now is the time to begin working on alternative plans, rather than wait for this finite source to cease. I wonder why this is such a difficult concept to grasp!

the station fire... one year later

On August 26th, 2010, Los Angeles celebrated the first anniversary as 160,557 acres or 251 square miles were destroyed by perhaps one individual dropping flammable materials near mile marker 29 in the Angeles Crest Forest.

Unfortunately no one has been brought to justice for this horrific destruction which cost the state millions of dollars, had a huge impact on the environment and will have an ongoing impact on the health of the forest and surrounding areas. At one point, the fires burned so hot, the earth was scorched, making it prone to water runoff during heavy winter rains. In the springtime, the scorched area refused to allow plant growth and even now, one year later, there are still enormous brown areas where nothing currently grows.

One lesson we should take away from this. The areas surrounding Los Angeles (and, many cities in the Southwest) are extremely sensitive and need to be treated accordingly. When one person can wreck such havoc on our environment, we all lose... not just our health, but the health of those areas which should be protected because ultimately, they protect us.

The photo was taken from Atwater Village the day the burn began.

it's all about the fish...

The failure of BP on the gulf may have far-reaching implications...

If we’ve learned nothing else, we should perhaps treat news coming from Washington and those BP folks with a certain amount of skepticism. When we’re told it’s fine to begin eating shellfish coming from the Gulf, perhaps we should hit the pause button.

Why?

Perhaps because there’s little evidence to support our government’s position of “safe to consume” when talking about the spill and its long-term effect on fish and shrimp for consumption.

In fact, there is far more evidence to support constraint in the fishing industry for a very long time.

Let us revisit for a moment, the failure of the Japanese government in response to the release of methylmercury into the waters near Minamata beginning in the 1930s until late '68 where neither the government of Japan nor the industrial giant, Chisso Corporation took responsibility for the enormous destruction to the environment and the huge toll on human and animal life. In fact, in 2001 there were over 2,000 deaths attributed directly to this lack of regulation of methylmercury.

As you ponder the photo, you should ask yourself if this is the scenario you want to be a part of in the years to come... or better yet, would you want your children to become nothing more than a statistic in BP's abuse to our environment...

In 1959 a report on the disease stated...
“Minamata disease is a poisoning disease that affects mainly the central nervous system and is caused by the consumption of large quantities of fish and shellfish living in Minamata Bay and its surroundings, the major causative agent being some sort of organic mercury compound.” 

In 2010, Chisso Corporation set aside a compensation fund for as-yet uncertified victims.

On a personal note:
Years ago I read a book on the effects of methylmercury in the small fishing village of Minamata and recall being horrified by photos of children (like the one pictured) grotesquely crippled and unable to care for themselves, caught in a forever child-like existence. Frankly, after seeing the photos, I would not wish this on anyone. 

welcome to arizona... now go back to wherever you came from

Once again the vestige of racism rears its ugly head... and brown people are again in the crosshairs.

Dare I suggest this change in Arizona law is about racism? After all, this country addressed the idea of racism in the ’60s... right?

Sadly, not true. The players may change, but racism by any other name, is still racism. Granted, the white bedsheets with holes cut out for eyes have been tucked neatly away in the closet, but now “color of authority” has become the new and improved KKK.

Let me just say, we who have been in this country for longer than, say 50 years and happen to be white never have to face the reality that not everyone in this country enjoys the same sense of privilege. That being said, this attempt to inflict Arizona’s concept of immigration might well backfire, as have all other attempts over the history of this nation.

Slavery... gone... well perhaps not completely, but most living in America (and around the world) frown on the ownership of another human being. Moving along... immigrants coming from Italy, Germany, Ireland and China had to fight for acceptance in their adopted country. How ironic that here in Los Angeles, bones discovered during the construction of the downtown subway and identified as Chinese were reinterred at Evergreen Cemetery, the same cemetery that originally barred them from burial among the “white” population as late as the 1920s.

During WWII, American citizens of Japanese descent living in this country had their lives and property stolen and their freedom snatched as they were forced into internment camps. There has never been adequate compensation for the years lived in tents far away from lives they once enjoyed.

But, if we go back to the founding of the new country, it’s easy to understand how the sense of privilege overrode the reality... that those who laid claim to this nation had no right to do so... and it was greatly destructive to once great populations of Native Americans who originally inhabited much of the country.

There is a moral here. If we do not understand the lessons, we will surely relive them for as long as it takes. As we continue to move forward through time, we must evaluate how we would like to be remembered... and whether or not compassion will become just another word lost along the way.

every picture tells a story...

The picture, as they say, is looking quite grim. It’s beginning to look more and more like we’re losing the battle to staunch the spewing flow in the gulf which does not bode well for any wildlife caught in the vicinity... and by that I mean anywhere in the gulf, or up or down the east coast.

It’s simply a matter of time before this BP disaster creates a domino effect that will be felt ‘round the world.

I wish I had better news to report.

mum's the word...

The giant question these days is... will the relief wells rushing toward completion in the gulf solve the spewing oil situation created by BP?

The answer is, perhaps... then again, perhaps not.

In June, then CEO head, Tony Hayward commented that the gulf oil reservoir is believed to hold about 2.1 billion gallons of oil. Now wrap that around your head for awhile. It all begins to make sense why it's better to let the oil flow... to kill off the gulf and make it a dead zone for all living things (oh, and that does include mankind since we too happen to live in the general vicinity of their oil reservoir). After all, “greed is good,” especially when major corporations are in charge.

So, perhaps all that oil gushing into the gulf is a good thing... certainly for BP.

Does this make you crazy yet? It should.

AP photo of oil-drenched waves threatening the Alabama coastline from the Huffington Post.

the senator from west virginia...

We’re talking about the death of Robert C. Byrd.

And this is important, why?

Robert C. Byrd was, what I would consider, one of the interesting individuals to represent the United States both as a congressman (beginning his career in 1953) and senator, elected in 1959 from the state of West Virginia. Near the end of his political career, he spoke forcefully against the gathering clouds of war in Iraq, contrary to the position he had taken during the war in Vietnam.

He commented (after failing to sway other senators to adopt a similar position opposing the Bush administration’s “preemptive war”) “Today I weep for my country.” He further noted, “I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed.” He made these remarks on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, and ironically I was in Australia, witnessing massive anti-war demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister, John Howard, similar to the Vietnam era anti-war demonstrations. I too, wept, knowing what would happen once war became the mantra of the state...

Whether or not one agreed with Byrd, he was capable of acknowledging past mistakes, and equally, was willing to change positions. It must be noted that early on, Robert C. Byrd was a member of the KKK. However, he later sought to distance himself from the virulent anti-black organization, embracing parity and equal opportunity for all Americans.

As an elder statesman, Byrd remained in Washington during eleven administrations; Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush (1), Clinton, Bush (2) and finally, Obama.  Perhaps it was the longevity that shaped, and reshaped his views.

May this country take its cue from one man’s life and reevaluate its direction.

goal... or not...

This morning, England was defeated on the field by arch-enemy, Germany. (Final score Germany 4, England 1)

It should have been a great game, but the game was marred by another really awful call, this time the sideline judge failed to see the goal scored by the English team which had the potential of changing the direction of the game by tying the score 2-2. (For those who missed the game, it really was a beautiful goal!)

But frankly, I don’t know how he missed it.

I've been a proponent for some time of including electronics in the game. Why? Objectivity.

There might be bad calls by field refs, or missed calls, but when electronics becomes part of the equation, those missed/bad calls will become a thing of the past. Clearly, all calls are subjective when called by an individual. Referees might miss something because they’re thinking about what they did, or didn’t consume at the dinner table... They might carry a grudge against a team from the last match they refereed. Who knows?

Electronics could change the game, make it cleaner and better. All those who advocate for continuation of the sport sans electronics are advocating for the possibility of payola or a continuation of the really bad calls that seem to have pervaded this 2010 World Cup.

By the way, there was another game this morning. Mexico vs. Argentina (final score Argentina 3, Mexico 1). And guess what... there was another controversy. As Argentina thundered down the field, they kicked hard toward the goal. However, one of the Argentinian players (Carlos Tevez) was clearly offsides and again, the line ref missed the call. Angry Mexican players immediately surrounded referee, Roberto Rosetti who then went into conference with the line judge. As he came back on the field, he let the goal stand.

In my estimation, a grave injustice was done in two games back to back.   

Tragically, FIFA doesn’t even address some of these failures when they post the results. According to reports, FIFA said in a statement that it “will not make any comments on decisions of the referee on the field of play.” Perhaps they should reconsider their decision because millions of people around the world are watching these games and would like to see their game well-played and equally – well-judged.

Instead, what we’re currently seeing are fights breaking out off-field because of the failure to control the on-field game, and the level of refereeing (or lack of...) is partially to blame.

Photo of the disputed goal  by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

hey kids... it’s time to watch the cup

The world cup, that is.

For all of you out there who don't understand what all the brouhaha is about, it’s really quite simple.

Take the ball (using only your feet...), run down an enormous (gigantic) 110 yard-long field and put the small ball into the large net. It looks really easy on t.v. doesn’t it? Trust me, it’s not. Once you get the hang of moving a ball using only your feet, do this for 90 minutes at a full clip with your opponent hanging all over you. Starting to get a little harder perhaps? Keep in mind as you run toward the goal, that player coming out to challenge you... the goalie, well, he’s the one who’s gonna attempt to prevent you from scoring on him (not to mention all the other players who’ve just showed up to the party in front of the goal post).

Now, bring on a referee who either A) doesn’t want to make any calls, or B) makes some really bad calls, and I do mean bad calls! Take, for example, the game played between the Americans and Slovenians. The third goal scored in the 86th minute by the American team was called back. Why? Well, no one really seems to know... unlike other sports where each call is viewed and reviewed from every conceivable angle if there is an on-field dispute.

In soccer, there are no instant replays, the field referee is the last word. Sadly, the last word got it completely wrong on this one crucial play. There should have been multiple penalties called,  unfortunately none were (watching the play again, it was clear the referee was in no position to make any call), and adding insult to injury the goal was called back. Hopefully, this will be the last time we see Koman Coulibaly as a referee on the field. By the way, Coulibaly was the official who assessed Egypt a controversial time-stoppage penalty during its final 2006 World Cup qualifier against Cameroon. Nevertheless, Egypt prevailed after Cameroon's missed kick. At that time, his controversial call should have disqualified him from further participation. This time, his judgment (American vs. Slovenia) was criminal.  

However, tomorrow (as they say in the movies...) is another day, and another game. This will be the decisive game for the American team... they’ll either advance to the next round, or go home and work on their game for the next World Cup. I would love to see them advance. It’s a long time between these tournaments and the world is their stage (at least for the moment).

In related news, France went home in disgrace. The players decided they didn’t want to play nice.