9/11

Sept. 8, 1966: Star Trek begins its journey...

Who's Gonna Be at the 2010 Brooklyn Book Festival?

Yehonathan - Nifradnu Kach (Music Video) New Version!

Glenn Beck rally at Lincoln Memorial on anniversary of MLK's 'Dream' speech

THIS MAN IS SICK. THIS IS DISGUSTING.

Glenn Beck rally at Lincoln Memorial on anniversary of MLK's 'Dream' speech irks and inspires readers

If had a sailor's vocabulary, I couldn't describe what an egomaniacal, evil bastard he would be to do this. Does Beck want someone to come after him so he can become a martyr in his own twisted mind?

What does punishment of French collaborators have to do with Ken Mehlman?

What does the treatment of women collaborators after Liberation have to do with Ken Mehlman? As initial anger gives way to introspection, I recall how it took nearly a half century for much of France (those that are not clinging to denial still) to truly examine as a nation the varying degrees of accommodation, co-operation and appeasement that millions of French found themselves committing out of sheer necessity or as a result of real or perceived danger.

It was easy to single out a particular scapegoat --the women who consorted with the Germans under the Occupation-- without admitting that it was they who ate the few scraps of extra food that "voluntary" association with the enemy provided. The French courts still get cases involving the French culpability in the Holocaust, much less those that chose to profit from it.

Washington politics, public and private lives intersect at angles as odd as the avenues that dissect the city's landscape. Many times, those enraged by individual or group acts against LGBT people, people with HIV, minorities --the list goes on ad nauseam-- have named names or threatened to of those guilty of participation, and have been applauded or derided for doing so.

The current spate of anti-gay Republican actions in Washington began when Ken Mehlman was studying for his bar mitzvah*, much less the bar. Yes, there were out gay law students and organizations when he was at Harvard. We probably couldn't arrive at how he chose to be a closeted, possibly self-hating, possibly ambitious self-serving SOB. Enough people have stepped forward to show their support for him at what every gay person knows is a difficult and frightening decision to come out publicly that Mehlman couldn't possibly be a 100% pure evil bastard. Yet, he did remain silent during, orchestrated and promoted an anti-gay agenda as he reached the highest echelons of power that have consequences to this day for millions of gay men and women. Life is complicated.

If black South Africans, some of whom it was my privilege to meet and talk with, could look Afrikaaners in the eye after the end of white rule and say, "I forgive you," then I am aware that now the onus is as much on us as it is him.

As one black South African woman said, "forgive, yes; forget, never." What penance and reparation should Ken Mehlman pay? I am not his judge (formally). I, and millions of others, must give him the opportunity to make amends such as will satisfy the victims. As with the proposed community center at 51 Park Place, there is no one course of action which will provide satisfaction to all the parties concerned.

Every gay person alive knows a single disparaging voice in our heads from decades earlier can color the most seemingly unrelated acts in our future, a voice that all the therapy, good deeds and best wishes might not dislodge. Bearing that particular unique Hell may be greater punishment than any of us could dish out.

It might do Mehlman good to hear the shears --or at least know they're in abeyance-- but hold off on putting them to his head. Whether or not he has been acknowledged for making the effort to take responsibility for his past, we are responsible for our own reactions.

Oh, I'm still angry, alright. But I've got laundry and a bowl of Greek yogurt with honey waiting for me, so I'm about to log off and work on keeping all things Mehlman out of my head for a bit. That is, at least I'll try.

*assuming he had one. Not knowing the man personally, I haven't a clue if he's even ashamed even of being Jewish, much less being gay.

t

Dublin 2010 UNESCO City of Literature

Buenos Aires, World Book Capital 2011

Libreria El Ateneo, Buenos Aires, in a 1929 theatre

"Jive Bomber: A Sentimental Journey" by Bruce Kaji

A Million MInutes for Peace PSA - English

Thomas Allen's pop-up pulp art (EKF)

Patricia Neal 1926 - 2010

Hiroshima marks 65th anniversary of American atomic bombing - NHK 100806

Star Island by Carl Hiaasen (book trailer)

Chapel Of Love / Kiss My Brass 15

Dawn "Amanecer"

Wahid's Mobile Bookstore - India

From the Typewriter to the Bookstore: A Publishing Story

The Graduate "One Word: Plastics"

The Four Freedoms - Franklin D. Roosevelt

'Jersey Shore' Cast Rings NYSE Opening Bell

Terminal Island Fishing Village (East San Pedro)

Shinto shrine and Tuna Street shops

Not a trace remains of the village on Terminal Island that was once home to several thousand fisherman and cannery workers and their families. Homes, churches, stores, were all bulldozed away after the community was taken away during WW II.

Brazilian Day in New York 2010

BEYROUTH CAPITALE MONDIALE DU LIVRE 2010. France 3, Avril 2010

Shirley Sherrod: the FULL video

Shirley Sherrod, American Hero

::Aisee Taisee :: X33 a.la. Mandeep Sethi :: 2010 :: Directed by Manmeet...

I made my first acai bowl at home last night

There are lots of variations I found on google, and a recipe on the back of the sambazon acai pulp as well. Needless to say, whatever you want to put in it is up to you. What I do kno, is that a four-package bag of acai pulp at Whole Foods was $3 cheaper than a single acai bowl at a certain LA restaurant that I won't name. I still want to try some of the various versions in cafes around LA, but for what it's worth, here's my version:

two teaspoons honey

4 oz of acai pulp

1/2 cup of low-fat yogurt

1/2 of a banana, sliced

1/2 cup granola

America's Top 20 Gayest Cities

America's Top 20 Gayest Cities

OF COURSE we're having a Heat Wave... it's July in LA!

You Belong With Me - Same-sex crush version

Google Maps Mania: The World's Tourist Hot Spots

Google Maps Mania: The World's Tourist Hot Spots

Casablanca 1942 Movie Clip I came for the waters

Dança da copa do mundo de 2010

Akon & Keri Hilson part. AlfaTrês & Eliana Jardim - Oh Africa / É campeão

Pepsi World Cup Song. Hoo Haa India Aaya India

*NEW* Pepsi Ad | World Cup 2010 | Oh Africa - Akon | Messi Henry Kaka La...

Akon - Oh Africa

K'naan feat. David Bisbal - Wavin' Flag (Official FIFA World Cup 2010 Song)

So long, Dr. Demento

So long, Dr. Demento.

I can't believe your song is gone so soon.

I barely learned the tune

so soon

So soon.

I'll remember Dr. Demento.

All of the nights we'd harmonize 'till dawn.

I never laughed so long

So long

So long.

Disc jockeys may come and

Disc jockeys may go and

Never change your point of view.

When I run dry

I stop awhile and think of you.

So long, Dr. Demento

All of the nights we'd harmonize 'till dawn.

I never laughed so long

So long

So long.

Summer's here, and the time is right....

The Tonga Room

The proposed demolition of the 1961 addition to the Fairmont, a survivor of the 1906 earthquake, will mean an end to the iconic Tonga Room with its one-of-a-kind "rain shower."

Here's your "smaller government"

Photo from the Guardian

Tom Campbell, Carly Fiorina, Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman are all running for office in California calling for smaller government with less business regulations. Between the recent mining tragedy in West Virginia and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill (with the loss of human and animal life), you can see where their "smaller government" will take us.

Maybe the Republicans just don't care if there are any birds in the sky or fish in the sea.

Don't be fooled by the "Yes on Prop 16" campaign!

If there was an award for the most misleading ad... They win the cake. This group wants to to obscure the fact that the people own the public utilities!

I guess they aren't stealing from us, if they convince us to give away the store of our own free will ...by hook or by crook.

Earth Hour 2010

Vindaloo Against Violence Day

Eat a vindaloo (or whatever your favorite South Asian dish may be) today for a good cause!

2010 Literary Orange will be at UC Irvine on Saturday, April 10

Century-old slur erased from Santa Monica Mountains maps

Century-old slur erased from Santa Monica Mountains maps

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Executive Order 9066, Feb. 19, 1942

Manzanar Relocation Camp
Photo by Ansel Adams

Vanessa Libertad Garcia's "The Voting Booth"

My friend Vanessa Garcia's book is now available in a brick-and-mortar or online store! Click on the header above to go directly to her website.

We Can Build an Orphanage

Build homes for AIDS orphans in Haiti -- "brick by brick."

Happy birthday to the First Lady

Earthquake jolts Haiti - JamaicaObserver.com

Earthquake jolts Haiti - JamaicaObserver.com

Aid for Haitian Earthquake Victims

These are but a few of the many relief organizations --most of whom already had people onsite in Haiti prior to the earthquake:

American Jewish World Service http://www.ajws.org/ 212-792-2900

Doctors Without Borders https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Haitian Education Project haitianeducationproject@saintleo.edu 1-800-334-5532 or 352-588-8331

Hope for Haiti http://www.hopeforhaiti.com/ 239-434-7183

Mercy Corps POB 2669 Portland, OR 97208 http://www.mercycorps.org/ 1-888-256-1900

Operation Helping Hands http://www.iwant2help.org/

Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) http://www.panamericanrelief.org/

Project Medishare http://www.projectmedishare.org/

International Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/ or text the word HAITI to 90999 to make a $10 donation

Salvation Army http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/ 1-800-SAL-ARMY

UNICEF http://www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake or call 1-800-UNICEF

Racial Profiling: Which of these people looks like a terrorist?

Who should get profiled? To listen to the jingoism on the news last night: "Muslim," "Muslim," "Muslim" ...yet look at each of these faces and think which of them would be flagged as suspicious.

After the "Invictus" Screening...

The "Invictus" screening at the Pacific Design Center was filled with the South African expat community as well as the usual mix of industry types and members of the various NGOs that were being honored for their work in Africa. I was fortunate in that I was able to meet Adhir Kalyan, the South African-born actor who starred in the short-lived television show "Aliens in America."

He's an unrecognized hero in the greater scene of Hollywood; an actor of Indian descent who portrayed a Pakistani --and went to great lengths to assure a respectful and true-to-life portrayal of a Muslim youth from Pakistan although he himself is neither. Given the tense relations between Pakistan and India the past year since the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, his participation in bridging the the two countries may be little more than a butterfly's wing on the other side of the planet, yet it counts for something far more than most in Hollywood could possibly be aware of.

There are actors (and behind the cameras folk as well) in this town that really do care about what goes on in the world outside their rarified bubble, and do what they can to make a difference. Those making the real difference are so seldom recognized or acknowledged for their efforts, sadly.

Invictus

Happy Black Friday (Vendredi Noir)

Berlin Wall 1961 - 1989

Greek Color: click here to be transported away...

My newest link: Greek Color. I've enjoyed the images --everything from urban to seascapes; modern and ancient, for so long, it was about time I shared it!

Sounio Sunset

(Warm up your oohs and ahhs first before you click)

November 7 is National Bookstore Day

An extraordinary day - Santa Cruz Sentinel

An extraordinary day - Santa Cruz Sentinel

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Good news and sad news...

By now probably everyone in the LA literary community is aware that Vroman's Booksore is purchasing Book Soup; both independent bookstores and literary landmarks.

The sad news is the passing of prolific mystery author Stuart Kaminsky, Sept. 29, 1934 - Oct. 9, 2009.

American Samoa Earthquake & Tsunami Relief

The mainland Samoan community is collecting donations of non-perishable foods (preferrably canned), clothing and tents to assist those affected by the Tuesday morning disaster.

Photo by Jolly for the Honolulu Advertiser

Donations may be dropped off at 1249 E. Carson St., Carson.

Call 310-365-6707.

California has the largest number of Samoans in the continental US, so many other relief efforts are sure to be announced over the next few days. The Samoa Red Cross will be coordinating with the National Red Cross for those outside of Southern California who wish to contribute.

Black Kitschtory Month

Image from the Museumofuncutfunk.com

Woman Carries Cardboard Cutout Of Military Boyfriend | Firstcoastnews.com | Local News

Woman Carries Cardboard Cutout Of Military Boyfriend | Firstcoastnews.com | Local News

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San Francisco Visitor and Convention Bureau can't find Japantown!

San Francisco Visitor and Convention Bureau can't find Japantown!

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Republican Rep. Joe Wilson's heckling of Obama sparks fundraising flood to his Democratic opponent

Republican Rep. Joe Wilson's heckling of Obama sparks fundraising flood to his Democratic opponent

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The NY Times Launches "I Love My Librarian" nominations

PCRM should be eating crow

The controversy about the posters in Washington DC's Metro has reverberated from the beltway to Miami and back. Dr. Barnard, speaking on behalf of the group, forgot to somehow mention that healthy school lunches was one ofthe first issues for the Obama administration early in 2009, even before the children were enrolled in school.

The group doesn't mention that the girl in the poster dosn't exactly come from an economically deprived family. Then it occured to me, she is from Miami. Miami taxpayers could be very well be paying invoices for coq au vin, and be serving roadkill from Alligator Alley (I'm not saying they are, but hey, in Miami anything is possible).

And to greenlight this ad would be woefully ignorant of the subtextual inference in the poster as it relates to the history of American media exploitative use of the portrayals of African Americans, as well as the class issues invoked . If Dr. Barnard can't see the inherent racism suggested by the ad, how good of a doctor is he? Or maybe he did...

He sure doesn't sound like a doctor who cares about kids.

Racial talk swirls with Gates arrest - The Boston Globe

Racial talk swirls with Gates arrest - The Boston Globe

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Facebook | Mark Haile

Facebook Mark Haile: "(07-17) 19:00 PDT HOUSTON, TEXAS -- Walter Cronkite's voice provided the backdrop for many of America's best, brightest, saddest and most trying moments, and the bonds of trust he forged across three decades with millions of CBS News viewers remain the gold standard of the profession."

"What you talkin' about, Willis?"

It was born the Sears Tower. It will always be the Sears Tower. No matter who pays how much for "naming rights." End of story.

September 21, 2009 International Day of Peace

VolunteerMatch

President Obama, being pretty damn presidential

I doubt that the Oklahoman or Fox News will cover President Obama's historic address in Cairo as will the rest of the world's media, but that's their free choice to be left behind on the forgotten dustheaps of history.