This Sunday up just past the chicken corner....

Peter Shire and Robert Berryman will host a holiday open house this sunday, December 10, from noon to 5 p.m., at Echo Park Pottery, 1850 Echo Park Avenue. At 4:30 p.m., there will be a live acoustic set featuring (drum roll please)

Vicki Randle and Robert Berryman

Vicki will be performing music from her new CD, "Sleep City."

Just when I was about to blare my Halloween special effects CD to blot out all those Christmas Carols from popstars I'd never heard of... some music I want to listen to! You will, too.

Refreshments will be offered up, alongside the works of some 20-odd local artists for sale. It's the perfect antidote for anyone who in the last few weeks had to stumble out of the mall to get away from the fake snow while gasping for a breath of fresh air...

Even if you missed "Buy a Friend a Book Week" it's not too late to get a signed a copy as a holiday gift

Eduardo Santiago will read from his novel, Tomorrow They Will Kiss, on December 10th at 6 p.m. at 8853 Santa Monica Blvd.

If you have the good fortune to be in Miami for Art Basel/Miami, click on Critical Miami to the left for a great overview guide and links to the goings on all over da Beach.

Yes, good things DO happen

We celebrated Mara's birthday a day early feasting on delicious homemade lemon cake with cream cheese frosting. I gave her a package of maple vanilla tea and a picture book of Nantucket.

It seems to be so rare that we have the opportunity to celebrate our mentors. I have a hard time thinking of Mara as being about the same age as my Mom. I can't even imagine what it must be like to retire from one career, move across a continent, and pursue your dream at long last.

Good things have happened to a number of people around me. If nothing else, what a great feeling it is to see dreams come true for good people who worked for them.

Ceci n'est pas une avocado (This is not an avocado)

Poor Claire Regan. The Kraft Foods vice president of corporate affairs had to explain with a straight face that their guacamole has no avocado.

Kraft Foods is being sued by Brenda Lifsey, who told reporters, "It just didn't taste avocadoey. I looked at the ingredients and found there was almost no avocado in it."

"We think customers understand that it isn't made from avocado," Regan responded, presumably with a straight face.

With all the stuff in the news, at first this made me smile. Then I got to thinking; I had to go read the labels of the food in the fridge (I'm known for being a compulsive label reader in the market as it is, anyway). Who needs horror movies when all you have to do is see what's in your kitchen? Or, in this case, what isn't.

And people still wonder why "they" hate America. They tasted the dip.

A few new links

There are several new links to the left I ought to tell you about:

Beantown Cuban is the blog of Johnny Diaz, journalist and author.

Ego the magazine is an online publication of arts and news of the South Asian and people of color communities.

Espresso Mi Cultura has found a new home at 1166 Whitter Blvd., Unit A, at First Street in Montebello.

Open Bod is the site of Matt's writings and electronic greeting cards for those who don't think Hallmark.

Vidur Kapur is a man of many talents, among them, he is one heck of a comic.

Bebe Moore Campbell

Novelist Bebe Moore Campbell died November 27 at her home in Los Angeles of complications from brain cancer. She was 56.

She won many awards for her books covering a wide range of subjects. I can tell you that the first time I met her, she carried herself with a sense of grace and dignity.

Emilio Ildefonso Velasquez Ruiz

The weather is much nicer than we had been lead to believe it would be for the holiday.

The town of San Luis Obispo was caught up in "Black Friday" frenzy; so I only took a brief walk downtown today.

There is still a kind of disconnect I feel between my consciousness and the world around me.

I found out online a only few hours ago that Emilio Velasquez Ruiz passed away on September 29, in Mexico. I had read somewhere that he had late stage cancer, but I couldn't get ahold of him or get any sort of confirmation from anyone who knew him as to how he was doing. There as yet has been no obituary in any American publication; I found only a few mentions online from Mexican websites.

Emilio swept me off to Mexico when I was but 23 years old, and had been a significant part of my life from that point on. I was with Emilio when I saw the newspaper headline that Harvey Milk and George Moscone had been assassinated. The City was still reeling from Jonestown, then that shocking event was followed by another...

When I get home, I'll dig through my boxes in storage for a suitable photograph that I can try to post. I have one of him marching in CSW from around twenty years ago, as handsome as ever; others from the San Diego AIDS Walk sometime in the 90s; and somewhere, two albums full of photographs of Cafe Emilio's along with a broken cassette tape of his incredible voice that I had refused to throw away.

Emilio was responsible for translating "Hair" into Spanish. As he showed me his notes for the translation, he recalled dryly how the government had shut them down by their third performance. This was not long after the police massacres in Tlatelolco.

He was the reluctant lawyer who wanted to perform, never thinking that one day his skill as a lawyer would come in handy when he became an activist. In 1986, he came to LA as a presenter at the International People of Color conference at the Ambassador Hotel.

There are more organizations that he founded or helped to start than I could possibly name; I hope the link at the top of the post is still working. What comes to mind is that there are countless people who had no one else to turn to but Emilio; that there is an enormous empty space unfilled with his passing.

That summer, there was an ice cream truck that would play the introduction to "Souvenirs" on an endless loop as it wound its way through the dusty streets far below us as we sunbathed on the roof. I can hear his voice in my mind as if it were but yesterday, sitting on a stool with a guitar in the darkened cafe after closing, singing to me when everyone had left for the evening. When he sang Billy Joel's "I Love You Just The Way You Are" in Spanish it sent a tingle down my spine.

If you get one or two great loves in your life that lift you above the clouds and suspend time and make everything magical it's a wonderful thing.

I think I'm going to lose it and I want to concentrate on all the good memories I will take with me for the rest of my life --and that's all I have of him. Precious moments, far less than I would have liked, that are too big to be filed away and forgotten... I want to play with my nieces and nephews and embrace the life and laughter in them here in the present and that's all I can write now because I'm already sniffing away the tears... and when the it's the right time I will be able to let them just flow when they will, but not now...

Just another quiet Thanksgiving at home with the family...

Just wait 'til that tryptophan kicks in....

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

"They say I did it, nobody caught me, y'all got to prove it on me..."

Rupert Murdoch can say that he's sorry until the cows come home; but who --who?-- in their right mind, okay'd the publication of that travesty in the first place? How many people up and down the chain of command have to answer for the decision to publish that book, much less air that interview? I'd love to hear what j-school profs across America are saying about this as it unfolds. I've already got a pretty good idea what the business schools are saying.

And they fined CBS for a "wardrobe malfunction?" And don't even get me started on all the homophobic, racist, xenophobic crap to come out of American media. My cousins in Hanna's town, Pennsylvania grew up with stocks in front of their house (my Uncle Walter was the caretaker for the colonial village). If it were put to a vote, probably more people would want to see someone pilloried for this than voted for Bush in 2004.

Frankly, when they grind those books up into pulp, I wonder what will grow atop where they dump it...

If you want to know why there are those in the world who hate America, look no further.

As if I wasn't already in a good mood

image from Towleroad

West Chester, Pennsylvania has named a new high school for Bayard Rustin, the architect of the March on Washington. This makes for one more addition to the very short list of monuments to gay people -especially gays of color.

It's just too friggin' beautiful outside to describe... too bad you're not here! I feel for you, I really do. The people at Fox, not so much. Even though they came down off their crack high long enough to realize what a stupid thing they did with that OJ interview, and cancelled it.

So, you see, we do have to put up with some crazy ass shit as a price for being in paradise...

It sucks not being in California, doesn't it?

At least it's dry heat... here.

The weirdest thing about the heat today is that I actually agreed with Bill O'Reilly on something (the OJ book). Is somebody passing a crack pipe around at Fox? Of course, I still haven't forgiven them for tearing down the Welton Beckett building in Century City (amongst their many other crimes against humanity). I have to side with Jay Leno in his suggestion last week that everyone boycott any and all advertisers for the interview... and I'll expand that to the network as a whole --oh, yeah, I forgot: I don't even watch Fox. It frightens the horses when I yell at the television.

Happy birthday to me!

I recently discovered that I share my birthday with the date of the opening of the original Shakespeare & Company by Sylvia Beach in 1919. When I went to Paris for my 21st birthday, alas, the original Cafe L'Abbaye was no longer in existence. The present-day Shakespeare & Company, of course bears scant resemblance to the original. I did walk down the street where James Baldwin stayed his first nights in Paris, however.

I began my birthday celebration at the "Ansel Adams at Manzanar" exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum, as I previously mentioned. A cool chill sifted through the air of the museum; it provided a perfectly controlled climate for the artifacts within. So different from the relentless cold wind and dust and searing heat at Manzanar...

Manzanar covered some 5,700 acres. Over 60 acres were 36 blocks of 16 barracks with three to five apartments measuring about 20' by 25' in each. Schools, lavatories, parks, warehouses, canteens, mess halls, service buildings; 860 buildings in all, made up the virtual town of 10,000 internees. Mt. Williamson, at 14,8 feet, is 10 miles due west, with a 'seven mile shadow.'

Manzanar is one of those places where you can hear the stillness of the air, the heat, the desolation. Every history, American government and civics teacher ought to go there (with their students, hopefully). The next Day of Remembrance to mark the anniversary of Executive Order 9066 will take place on February 19, 2007. Admission to the Manzanar National Historic site is free, however, and one may visit year 'round. Most tourists driving to Reno or Mammoth pass by without even knowing it is there...

This morning at Nick's Cafe, I had a short stack and sausage, and enjoyed the goings on around me at one of the last of the little hole-in-the-wall diners in LA. The couple to my right ordered their usual, but the cook already had their order up before the waitress brought it to him. They were with an artist friend just back from Paris. Everyone lamented the rising cost of rents in the Artists' District. The framed LIFE magazine cover from April 12, 1948 was missing. So were all the railroad caps, leaving the rack looking empty and forlorn. A film crew had re-arranged everything when shooting a commercial, and nothing got put back where it was before.

Two cops in suits dove into their regular breakfasts to my left. Their super-neat haircuts were the one give-away as to what kind of civil servants they were --that, and their sidearms.

The skies are blue (if a little smoggy) and the weatherman is actually apologizing that the temperatures will remain above normal at about 78 degrees throughout the weekend. The tourists don't seem to mind, though. It is snowing somewhere, as I recall...

For my birthday so far I've scored a gift card from Barnes and Nobles (but I'll spend my money at my favorite independents), some Atkins protein bars, a T shirt from radio station 106.7 fm in Santa Maria ("La Preciosa"), and dog tags to honor Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev and Gilad Shalit, the three young Israeli soldiers who were kidnapped this summer and hose fate remains unknown. It was their kidnapping that in theory sparked the war that ripped apart Beirut and Lebanon. It isn't a contradiction for me to be angry at the Israeli government and Hezbollah and Hamas, too. Today, though, I want to enjoy the beautiful day, and hope that all those in the Middle East will soon be able to also. Someone already asked me about the dogtags, so they're doing their part to spark discussion and keep them in the public eye.

If I'd wanted a perfect day for my birthday, I think this is it. Nothing like listening to the tourists gush about their once-in-a-lifetime vacation in fabulous, sunny Southern California to remind you how lucky you are.

My November 17th birthday horoscope:

November 17 birthday:


Your momentum is strong. This year you are too bighearted to be easily offended and way too busy to get knocked off course by minor distractions. The final weeks of the year bring you new opportunity for love and connection. A trip in February amps up your earning potential. Give yourself time off in March. Gemini and Libra people adore you. Your lucky numbers are 9, 36, 2, 19 and 50.

LA Times Horoscope

I'm gonna start my birthday with breakfast at Nick's Cafe

Photo by Maxwell M

I don't know if there's something customarily done for a special birthday (no, I'm not going to say what year... yet; I'm still trying to get over the shock myself), but I do plan to start with a real breakfast of comfort food at Nick's Cafe, across from the Cornfields. When the state park eventually does get built, this place will be mobbed by everybody and their cousin --it's unfortunately already been written up too many times as it is. So I'm going to enjoy it while it languishes in its final days of near obscurity...

Ansel Adams at Manzanar

My birthday plans have yet to be finalized, but one thing I want to be sure to visit is the new "Ansel Adams at Manzanar" exhibition at the Japanese National History Museum in Little Tokyo. Most Americans have never been to Manzanar ...I can tell you it is one of the most powerful sights and experiences one could have in the whole of the entire United States. If you ever get the chance to go, do.

Eduardo Santiago reads from "Tomorrow They Will Kiss" on December 10th.

If you can't get to the International Book Fair in Miami (the Mecca for booklovers, but of course, you know that already), Eduardo Santiago will be reading from his novel, Tomorrow They Will Kiss at A Different Light on Sunday, December 10 at 6 p.m.




Photos: Skylight Bookstore

Losses on both coasts....

From New York comes word that the latest incarnation of the Stonewall has closed. There is always hope, in a more perfect world, that the space becomes a National Historic Site with interpretation of the Stonewall's contribution of to GLBT history.

From Long Beach, I just found out that the Equal Writes Bookstore will soon be closing, despite the best efforts of owner Dan Wall. Too often those who leave a mark for the better through their service to the community go unthanked. I hope Dan realizes what a difference he has made in the lives of countless people.

Photo by Sylvar

Before Kristallnacht, there was another "Night of the long knives"

This is the lynch mob posing in front of my great-grandfather's newspaper after they'd burned it to the ground on November 10, 1898. Accounts vary from 30 to 300 as to the number of people killed by roving mobs. Many people fled the city to hide in the woods, with only the clothes on their backs. Fortunately, my great-grandfather escaped, making his way to Washington, D.C., or I probably wouldn't be here now.

Kristallnacht

Tomorrow is Kristallnacht.The only LA observance I know of at the moment will be at Loyola Marymount University, but I'm certain there will be others. Click on the header for more information.

"Wait! Wait! It's not REALLY free..."

After years of renovation, the Griffith Park Observatory has reopened --at a cost of $93 million. That buys a lotta bells and whistles, but they couldn't be bothered to install any new bicycle racks (according to the LA County Bicycle Coalition, there are only two old racks located behind the bathrooms... for a city of three million people).

Officially, admission is free, but depending on which news source you listen to, no walk-in visitors will be allowed, and visitors must ride the $8 shuttle to alleviate overcrowding. Since the Observatory reopened Friday, there is currently a two month waiting list for the shuttle. At least that's what the Observatory spokesperson said on the KCRW news. The LACBC site reports that visitors arriving by bicycle or foot may make reservations 48 hours ahead --yet cyclists and hikers are only allowed entrance until 3:50 p.m.

One thing the $93 million renovation couldn't fix is the smog and light pollution, which has obscured the view of the night sky a heck of a lot more than when the observatory first opened in 1935.

Apparently the restricted access for pedestrians or bicyclists is in violation of city law, and the existing bike racks are not up to code.

No one seems to know if or when mass transit will be restored to the Observatory. In my 20's, I was able to jog up to the Observatory, but that was a long time ago, and I wasn't aware of the rattlesnake factor. I guess when the oil companies got their revenge on Californians for Prop 87, they didn't pussy-foot around.

Arizona goes "English Only;" it will now be the state of "the place of the small spring"

In Tuesday's election, Arizona voters approved Proposition 103 by 74%, making English the official language of the state. There is some dispute among historians as to the origin of the word Arizona, from the Pima Indian language. It is generally referred to as "the place of the small spring" or "small spring."

The Hohokam indians that have lived in Arizona for tens of thousands of years could not be reached for comment.

I just wanna know how he budgets!

According to the antigraft watchdog Global Witness, the son of Equatorial Guinea's dictator for life, Teodoro Nguema Obiang, has purchased a $35 million beach house in Malibu on his official salary of $60,000 per year.

There was no word in the New York Times if he has cleared this purchase with Mel Gibson, who claimed after his recent arrest, the he "owns" Malibu.

Isn't South Florida the preferred vacation home of choice for the families of dictators? The climate there, after all, would be comparable to their homeland.

Seriously, didn't we see this coming when Bush said Rumsfeld was 'doing a heck of a job?'

Maybe we can work out a deal to turn Rumsfeld to the Iraqis for their next trial for mass murder and the insurgents will leave our boys alone...

I'm already running behind, but I'm still in the game...

November is National Novel Writing Month, if you didn't know. Click on the header above for the basic info. I'm trying not to get too bogged down in one of my favorite sidetracks, research. And I've got a lot yet to read to help put get it all together. And I didn't have my espresso this morning, either (it was way too hot, and I had to go vote).


Enough with the excuses, though. I'm going to forego the endless repetitive election night blather on television tonight, and see what I can do about getting caught up...

Vote!

If enough of us go out to vote today, it will make it that much more difficult for them to steal the election.... and since the conservatives in power seem Hell-bent on stealing as much of the election as possible, I'm all for making them really sweat while doing it. Why should I just hand over what little say I have in society?

Take a look around you at what ever you hold near and dear; it's only a matter of time before they'll eventually come for that, too. Universal suffrage? Free schools? Privatized beaches from Malibu to Palm Beach? A repeal of the Thirteenth amendment? I wouldn't put any of it past them. I, for one, am not going to be forced into the fields to pick their cotton. And if you want a say in anything that concerns you tomorrow, better start today by getting off your ass and going to vote.

The Cat in the Hat couldn't have removed all trace of last night's Halloween carnival any better...

All that was left to show for a two hour trip to the Boulevard and another two hours to get home was a little pink feather from a boa...

Boo. Now gimme chocolate.

The universe is giving me some not-so-subtle signs that I might want to consider forgoing Halloween on the Boulevard and head for home while the getting is good.

The fun part about West Hollywood's Halloween celebration is the topical costumes (I presume there will be a number of Korean dictators, Foley's Follies and "running with scissors" themed characters). The downside is fitting X number of people into X minus Y amount of space. That, and it is already clear that the MTA isn't adhering to the detour schedule that they've been telling people ...like that's news.

Give Peace a chance...

I didn't even know that today was "Make A Difference Day." I guess I'll have to read USA Today more often. I do know that there's a peace march about to begin in Hollywood, so I'll go over and take a stroll for peace. Ironically, it's starting at the same part of Hollywood where the hooligans tend to act up (or out) around Halloween, which is why, in part, West Hollywood's Halloween celebration became so huge.

It's become very chic in WeHo to sniff, "Oh I don't go anywhere near the boulevard on Halloween!" I say, put some drag queens at the entrance and have 'em give all the straight boys a big wet kiss. Then we'll get our celebration back to ourselves, tout suite. Especially if you kiss 'em in front of their friends ('cuz living in the Historic Drag Queen Prostitute District, I can attest that plenty of those straight boys wouldn't mind it if their buddies and girlfriends weren't around to see 'em...

Methinks they doth protest too much

Photo: J. Santy, Provincetown Tourism Office

Heterosexuals in Provincetown are complaining that they have been unfairly singled out as bigots after their signatures on an anti-gay petition have appeared on the website http://www.knowthyneighbor.org.

Here in California, the LA Times did an interesting piece on the "experts" who have appeared in commercials against various ballot measures. What really concerns me is that the head of the California NAACP has taken blood money from Big Tobacco, claiming that taxes on cigarettes would unfairly hurt lower income and minority smokers. Yeah, like disproportionate tobacco-related illnesses and deaths is preferable.

Gerry Studds, 1937 - 2006

It's probably old news to everyone by now, but Gerry E. Studds, the first openly gay member of Congress died on October 14. To honor his passion for protecting the marine environment, Congress named the 842 square-mile Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary after him in 1996, possibly the first national landmark to be named after an openly gay man. The sanctuary is located off the coast of Cape Cod. Its protection and preservation is probably a far more fitting monument than any statue. Click on the header above for a link.

That's some fancy doubletalk, considering he isn't a Republican politician

"Fuck them. I have never bashed any gays before, and if I bashed gays, I bashed them 16 years ago. There's no tolerance from [the gay community]. I'm not a gay-basher. I'm not a homophobe."

(italics mine)

Syndicated columnist Rex Wockner reprinted this quote from Buju Banton to Billboard magazine September 29.

Mr. Banton has repeatedly attempted to explain to the press why his lyrics including suggestions to shoot gays dead, peel their skin and burn them is not homophobic. The House of Blues in San Diego is the latest venue to come under fire for booking a concert with the Jamaican dancehall singer. His supporters and those who profess to disagree with the aforementioned homophobia yet insist on their right to profit from promoting and booking his performances have whined that the gay community is just too sensitive, and artistic freedom has precedence. Yeah, right; and Hezbollah should be able to hold concerts in Tel Aviv.

Okay; chill, Mark. There's another Santa Ana blowing through town, and shortening my fuse.

Last rant for this Santa Ana, I promise (but we're due for another next week)

Before I knew the program was starting, much less change the channel, one of ABC's "news" programs last night started right off with a film clip of someone jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Not even a warning that there was going to be an image that some viewers might find disturbing. What about the children that might have been watching television? I was going to change the channel anyway to watch something else, but I had to see that few seconds of footage before I even knew that the program was starting. That was pretty goddamn shitty.

They owe me at least about ten pounds of chocolate and a month's worth of therapy appointments for that. What they owe the friends and loved ones of the person concerned is incalculable. They should be made to pay ten times whatever the fine for that "wardrobe malfunction."

As we head into the final stretch of election season, the political ads in California are really beginning to get my goat. I presume that the scripting and filming of political commercials in LA are mitigating the runaway productions. This is a town that had sold its soul more times than people have received spam from Nigeria; yet I have to really work to find compassion for those involved in some of the disgusting ads on television and radio. I know a number of them are probably just decent people trying to pay their bills, who couldn't dare turn down a paying gig, and in all likelihood don't even know what the issues are.

That said, I have no sympathy for Big Tobacco in their fight against Proposition 86. Were it left to me, assets of the tobacco industry and their executives would be seized and turned over to pay to the families of those who have lost loved ones to lung cancer and to compensate for the cost of tobacco-related health. Then we could take those same executives and hog tie them to the front of Humvees in Baghdad. If we taxed Big Tobacco out of business entirely, it may not stop global warming, but I suspect the crud making money off of death will have no problem switching over to another field of work.

Hey, when those Santa Anas blow, I'm not the only one who gets a little testy. I might as well enjoy the last bit of this warm desert breeze and go down to the shore. At least then I can get right-minded and centered and caught up on my reading...

T. R. Knight

It was reported last night on KABC news that actor T. R. Knight came out in an interview with People magazine. Allegedly, there was a brawl on the set between Isaiah Washington and Patrick Dempsey where Washington called Knight (who was not involved in the fisticuffs) a 'faggot.'

When Grey's Anatomy first aired, I did a search of Knight, and found a most impressive list of credits. He is, as I'm sure all the actors on the show must be, a consummate professional. The wording of his coming out was certainly a class act all the way (it isn't as if there is much precedence to compare it to). He certainly deserves to hear from the community as a result. T. R. Knight may be contacted c/o

The Gersh Agency
232 North Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Now, as far as Washington's alleged use of the slur (I haven't seen any actual corroboration as of yet), if it did occur, he better damn well have a better spin doctor than Mel Gibson. And he better get going on doing damage control immediately, if he hasn't already done so.

Frankly, I was already sick of the "McDreamy vs. McSteamy" crap every week. Life's too short as it is to be wasted on such nonsense. Not that I don't have my own list of guilty pleasures... one could hardly watch much network programming for the well-acted and well-written programs alone.

The Santa Anas prompt yet another rant...

Have the corporate suits behind "Lost" sold their soul to American Express? I can't remember a time when television went to such lengths to tie in an advertiser with 'exclusive' online outtakes and special scenes.

I guess as far as they're concerned, minors and anyone without an American Express card can just shove it...




Rule Number One: Never interrupt the flow of the narrative. American Express ads are not exempt. Their commercials stood out like pigs feet at Passover. Bad enough all the networks are hurting so badly that they flood their successful programs with ads for their other programs (or their damn themepark in Anaheim).

Rule Number Two: Mediocre commercials thrown into a fast-paced, high quality program do not elevate the quality of the commercial. Or make us want the drek that they're hawking. It might even make them seem more shoddy and two dimensional than they actually are -- if that's possible.

Plus, I might throw my television at the cats howling on the fence, and I'll miss the whole rest of the season. It isn't like I don't have enough books to read that I might just give up on network television altogether.

If this is how the networks respond to losing viewers, then it serves them right if people find other things to do do with their televisions than to watch their programming. I guess while I feel sorry for all the employees getting the boot this week at NBC/Universal, don't tell me that they didn't have some idea of what kind of jerks they'd be working for.

I'm beginning to wonder if the networks are in charge of Bush's "stay the course" Iraq policies...

Last night, as always, I got sick to my stomach watching the tribute to fallen members of the American military in Iraq aired at the end of The Lehrer Report on PBS. Most of them are just so damn young. It's sick. And no one is posting the names and photographs of the dead Iraqi civilians...


...and can you believe that I didn't even have my cafe cubano this morning? Imagine what missive I would have sent off to the network presidents if I was on caffeine...

What's wrong with this picture?

Red Wind --Raymond Chandler

It was one of those hot, dry, Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that, every booze party ends in a fight. Meek, little housewives feel the edge of the carving knives and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen.

A puzzle for you

From an actual story in the October 5, 2006 Malibu Times by Jonathan Friedman:

"The items were taken from a locked toolbox inside the home, which had no doors or windows, according to the Sherrif's deputy's report."




Explanation:

"Grand theft at construction site"

An owner of of a home under construction said that more than $2,000 worth of tools were stolen from the construction site. The items were taken from a locked toolbox inside the home, which has no door or windows, according to the Sheriff's deputy's report. The lock on the box was cut off, according to the report.

I'm just not up to speed with this darn computer...

Due to problems I can't figure out, I have not been able to post the last four or five entries. So it isn't that I've been ignoring posting... my hair's too short for me to pull out of my head with frustration, to boot...

Heating costs are up - along with sales of McGreevey's book... a coincidence?

How many copies of McGreevey's book in the furnace would it take to get a typical New Jersey family through the winter?

The paths not taken...

I can't help but wonder if American interests --along with the rest of the world, for that matter-- might not be better served if the blockade of Cuba were to be lifted and imposed on North Korea.

I'm not one for hurting the innocent civilians of a despotic regime, but not one grain of rice should be rewarded for bad behavior. I'd think Kim Jong-Il might be rendered sweetly reasonable a lot sooner than Castro.

Well, I guess we know what Kim Jong-Il's favorite new television show is...

Omnes habitare in civitati Sancti Franisci volunt

The Brewery Fall Artwalk is this weekend, as is Tar Fest and the Grand Avenue Festival. There's so much to do, and so little time!

Photo: Kip Fulbeck

On Sunday, during the citywide MuseumsLA events, I took in LACMA's "In Violence We Forget Who We Are," followed by "part asian-100% hapa" at the Japanese-American National Museum, finishing up at the California African American Museum all-day event celebrating the life and legacy of Celia Cruz, accompanying the Smithsonian-curated exhibition currently on display.

The entire construction of who we are as human beings --not to mention Americans in the 21st century-- was thrown open to re-examination. The exhibition ought to be seen by everyone from kindergarten school-age child to adults who think their ideas about race and nationality are already irreversibly fixed.

If ever you have the chance to see Kip Fulbeck's exhibition, or any of his other works on identity, don't pass it up, especially if you think it doesn't apply to you. If you're on this planet, you should examine his work. As the United States population approaches the 300 million mark, it is imperative we get a more accurate appraisal of who we are as a people, even if we didn't have such an onerous cloud hanging over us in the eyes of the rest of the world.

For more information on Kip Fulbeck's work, there are two sites you can go to: http://www.discovernikkei.org/ or http://www.seaweedproductions.com.

A California sunrise

Photo from the National Park Service

The local news had cried wolf so many times this past week that I was honestly surprised to wake up and find that it had indeed showered last night, leaving the air with that wonderful fresh, damp leafy smell...

Until today, I've been none too pleased that the calendar read Autumn already; I'm still counting on it returning to a typical Southern California Summer That Lasts Through Christmas. I may not live closer than a four or five hour drive from the actual redwoods, but this photo is was the sunrise felt like this morning. If you've ever listened to the instrumental version of Enya's Storm's in Africa, then maybe you might get an idea of what I'm saying. But don't all of you that aren't already here come out at the same time. Please be nice and take turns, okay?