The Hackenblog

“‘Whether he got scared by the thunderstorm and jumped the fence, we don’t know,’ he (Animal Control Officer Justin Guzman) said.

The dog was never really swept away, but managed for the most part to maintain his footing on a slender ledge in the middle of the river, the officer said.”
Los Angeles firefighter recounts daring dog rescue, by Gale Holland, LA Times, January 22, 2010

I don’t write this news, I just blog it.

(I know y’all have been waiting years for dog stories on the Hackenblog, well, here they are.)

“Phil Angelides, chairman of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (and former California Treasurer [yay!]), saw a used-car salesman at work after listening to the pugnacious, arm-waving Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs (GS.N) describe his firm’s pre-meltdown practices.

“‘I’m just going to be blunt with you,’ he told Blankfein. ‘It sounds to me a little bit like selling a car with faulty brakes, then buying an insurance policy on the buyer of those cars. It doesn’t seem to me that’s a practice that inspires confidence in the market.’

“The bankers adopted a ‘mistakes-were-made’ posture while defending their pre-crisis methods as a product of the times and promising to do better since, as they admitted, the Federal Reserve has been watching them far more closely than the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Blankfein, pressed on whether his company would own up to ‘excessive risk’ practices, raised the notion of a rare season of dangerous hurricanes.

“Angelides shot him down.

“‘Having sat on the board of the California Earthquake Authority, acts of God (are) exempt. These were acts of men and women. These were controllable,’ he said.”
Metaphors flying at Wall Street bankers hearing, by Steve Holland, Reuters, January 13, 2010

Phil Angelides: my hero.

And “…selling a car with faulty brakes, then buying an insurance policy on the buyer of those cars” really sums up the old moral hazard issue right there, don’t it?

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (Onna ga kaidan wo agaru toki) is jaw-droppingly brilliant, and how sad it’s the only Mikio Naruse film Netflix has on hand. Get more, Netflix, I know they’re out there.

Just fyi: don’t read anything about it before you watch it because all the stuff I read afterwards would have ruined some of it if I’d read it before watching the DVD. Refreshingly, Donald Ritiche’s commentary is not only insightful, but he manages not to be a jerk during it (or at least he didn’t piss me off like he usually does).

HIGHLY recommended.

Free shipping on anything at Better World Books. Factored into my usual book buying, this means better prices than you-know-who, too. And, most of all, each purchase supports global literary. So please look them over.

My one regret is that I’ve known about these good people for years and never promoted them before. I’ll try to make up for that this year. They seem to have anything I’d buy from those people in Seattle, and what I can’t find there, I dig up on AbeBooks.com. Yay!

Part cyborg, all blockhead.

Jason…I…you…um…

I love these comics. Buy them. You’ll be glad you did. The first Weapon Brown, before Blockhead’s War, has a Christmas story in it.

I have been blessed to have not seen a Disney feature animation since Jungle Book, and as far as I knew I wasn’t missing anything.

I was missing this:

I can’t believe Disney made this. It has Elvis songs in it. It’s brilliant. I can’t believe Disney made it. Why don’t they make more like it? They could change the world for the better with stuff like this.

Oh well. I’ll always have Phil Harris, Sebastian Cabot, and the king of the swingers, Louie Prima. And now I have Lilo and Stitch: Elvis, surfing and “Pudge controls the weather.” Oh Margaret! Disney, ya bastards, I can’t even hate you properly anymore.

“They’ve recycled cans, baked cookies, hawked magazines, written letters and, in one case, even sold barbecue-flavored crickets.

“‘They tasted like Cheetos but with legs,’ said Brenda Llamas, a 13-year-old trumpet player from Pacoima Middle School.

“With proposed state budget cuts threatening to strip schools of much-needed cash, music students in the San Fernando Valley have shown they’re not willing to leave anything to chance. Saturday was no exception as five middle school bands squared off in the first Battle of the Bands Family Music Festival at Sutter Middle School in Winnetka.

“Jazz bands, concert bands, rock bands and orchestras took the stage in button-up vests and bow ties for a chance to honk, strum and strike their way to victory. The prize was a big one, considering that some schools might receive as little as $200 in spending cash next year. First place would bring $2,500 (second place $750) to buy instruments, sheet music and supplies.”
Music students hold a noteworthy fundraiser in the San Fernando Valley. Youths battle it out onstage to help their cash-strapped schools, by Esmeralda Bermudez, LA Times, June 7, 2009

Ow, it’s tough you have to subsidize your own High School music education. But go, kids, go! You’re undaunted and I’m impressed!

You know you want to know, so just click on the images. No one ever has to know you did. It will be your secret.

(via Furies Publishing)

Fuck California:

“Consider this partial list of the governor’s proposed cuts to health and humans services:

· Elimination of the CalWORKs program;
· Elimination of the Healthy Families Program;
· Eliminating certain Medi-Cal state-only programs;
· Elimination of community based services programs at the Department of Aging;
· Eliminate State funding for Community Care Licensing;
· Elimination of remaining General Fund for Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health;
· Elimination of funding for community clinic programs, such as Rural Health Services and the Seasonal and Agricultural and Migratory work programs;
· Elimination of funding for drug treatment programs established by the voters through Proposition 36;
· Reducing in-home supportive services eligibility and care provider pay;
· Reducing funding for foster care rates; and
· Reducing SSI/SSP monthly payments benefiting the aged and disabled to the minimum allowed under federal law.

“All of us know someone who will be affected by these cuts. This is not just a matter of balancing the state’s books. For some Californians, it is a matter of life and death.

“A society in crisis should not throw women, children, and seniors overboard first.”
Impact of Governor’s Proposed Health and Human Services Cuts, Budget Blog, by Assemblymember Noreen Evans, May 27, 2009 (also see Noreen Explains the Budget Crisis)

I think what you mean, Assemblymember Evans, is that a civilized society in crisis should not throw women, children, and seniors-who-didn’t-buy-their-home-in-the-1950-70s overboard first. We’re talking about California, not, y’know, something civilized.

By the way, when you run for higher office, Noreen, I’m sending you some money.

“While the facts surrounding the kidnapping and rescue of the Maersk Alabama Captain Richard Phillips have been widely reported, less well-known is that ship which saved him was commanded by a black woman, Rear Admiral Michelle Howard.

“Howard received the assignment of leading the U.S. Navy’s counter-piracy task force just three days before the Maersk Alabama was attacked by Somalia pirates.”

~snip~

“Howard is the first of her 1982 U.S. Naval Academy class to reach the rank of admiral. In 1999, Howard became the first African-American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship, the USS Rushmore.”
Ship commanded by Black woman admiral rescued Maersk Alabama captain, by James Wright, AFRO Staff Writer, April 30, 2009

This is the first I’ve heard of this (via) and if this is the first you’ve heard of it, please pass it on. We should know who our real heroes are.

Furies Publishing (working title: 3 Girl Group) is just in the begin to beginning stages and trying to raise a little money. Please go over and click on their Google Ads or drop them a donation (the donation button is way down the sidebar, or here for those of you who’d just like to toss them a little long green. Their blog content is worth a look). Furies Publishing will publish translated Asian and original English comics in serial and book formats, and probably some in e-formats. Please support them.

Here’s why they go by the names they write under on the blog:

“Virgil, probably working from an Alexandrian source, recognized three: Alecto (“unceasing,” who appeared in Virgil’s Aeneid), Megaera (“grudging”), and Tisiphone (“avenging murder”).” Wikipedia

“Carson Joseph said he had struggled to find steady work since being released from prison four years ago, and when he graduated from a new job training program last week he hoped it would finally give him ‘a step up on the ladder.’

“Joseph, 29, was among 22 residents from Nickerson Gardens and other public housing developments who graduated Friday from the Sherwin-Williams Home Work Painter Training Program.

“The two-week program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is funded primarily by Sherwin-Williams, Los Angeles housing officials said. It focuses on teaching students about asbestos, mold and lead-based paint and gives them materials and real-world experience painting units in their own housing projects.

“‘There’s more to just putting paint on the brush and then putting it on the wall,’ Joseph said.

“The program has been in existence since about 2003, but the housing authority of the city of Los Angeles brought the series to Southern California last year. Housing officials said that so far 91 people had been trained during sessions at Jordan Downs, Estrada Courts, Mar Vista Gardens and Nickerson Gardens.

“The two remaining sites for this year’s programs are in Rancho San Pedro and Ramona Gardens.”

~snip~

“‘I was all for it,’ Joseph said. ‘I thought it’d be a great opportunity for me.’

“He’s not sure whether it will lead directly to employment but said he is confident that the training will help. Bob Ballew, who works for Sherwin-Williams running the training courses, said 72% of the roughly 5,000 graduates of the program across the nation have found employment.

“‘In spite of all the negative, this is something positive,’ Ballew told the graduates Friday. ‘Even though the economy is bad, we hear the doom and gloom, there is still an opportunity to find employment.’”
Public housing residents learn tools of painting trade, by Amanda Covarrubias, LA Times, April 13, 2009

You know what they say at Homeboy Industries: Nothing stops a bullet faster than a job.

Thank you Sherwin-Williams for being cool enough to have a program like this and thank you City of LA for being smart enough to bring it here. I feel hope today, that’s probably a mistake on my part, but that I feel hope today.

“DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) – The Iowa Supreme Court cleared the way for gay marriage in the state on Friday by declaring a law that limits marriage to a man and a woman unconstitutional.

“The ruling makes Iowa the third U.S. state after Connecticut and Massachusetts, and the first in the Midwest, to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry.

“Gay marriage was briefly legal in California, but voters repealed it in a November 2008 referendum, though efforts are under way to revive the issue.

“The Iowa case, Varnum v. Brien, involved six same-sex couples who sued the Polk County Recorder of Deeds Timothy Brien in 2005 for refusing to grant them marriage licenses.

“A county judge sided with the couples and the state supreme court affirmed that decision and declared the 1998 Iowa Defense of Marriage Act — which restricted marriage to one man and one woman — unconstitutional.

“The key principle at the heart of the case was the doctrine of equal protection under the law, which the court said ‘is essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike.’”
Iowa becoms third U.S. state to allow gay marriage, Reuters, April 3, 2009

Congratulations to the people of Iowa. Especially to their wedding industry and divorce lawyers. I hope our Supreme Court comes through for us like the Iowa’s did.

“WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Moving with unusual speed, the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation to recoup most of the $165 million in retention bonuses paid to American International Group Inc employees.

“Responding quickly to public outrage over the bonuses after the giant insurer received government bailouts of up to $180 billion, the House voted 328-93 to approve a 90 percent tax on bonuses for some executives at companies getting federal aid.

“The tax would apply to executives with incomes over $250,000 who worked for companies that got at least $5 billion in government aid. That could ensnare others getting federal help, such as mortgage financing company Fannie Mae.”
House votes to recoup bonuses from bailed-out firms, by Jeremy Pelofsky and Susan Cornwell, Reuters, March 19, 2009

“This is the second blog in a series in which young artists talk about the art they created on city traffic control boxes as part of our effort to beautify East Hollywood, Thai Town, and Little Armenia. LA Commons — a non-profit organization that works with communities across the city to highlight their ethnic, historic and cultural assets — enlisted the artists who are from local neighborhoods. To protect the art, the boxes have an anti-graffiti coating.”

“Message from the artist: ‘I started this project with Grace at Hollywood Youth and Family Center as a part of community service. When that service was done I kept on going because I love this project and I want to be a part of future art projects. One more thing I have to say (about the 27 fellow youth artists) … we started out strangers and ended up friends.’”
Young artists beautifying neighborhoods – RaeVaughn, Eric Garcetti blog, March 6, 2009

I’ll try to keep the links updated as they get posted, no promises though. Here’s the first artist:

Young artists beautifying neighborhoods: Eddie Cortez

I hate all billboards, really, but I really hate the electronic ones. So I really like this:

“Assemblymember Mike Feuer is introducing a statewide moratorium on electronic billboards, and I am fully supporting this effort.

“Electronic billboards are cluttering our neighborhoods and we need to stop them before they take over our communities. If passed and signed into law, the moratorium would be in place through 2011 to give the city and state the opportunity to strengthen our laws and give local communities more control over where electronic billboards are located.

“If you want to express your support for Assemblymember Feuer’s proposal, you can send him an email by clicking here.”
New state electronic billboard moratorium, by Eric Garcetti blog, January 13, 2009

You’ll have to click on the link to send Assemblymember Feuer an email, I’m too lazy to code it.

Mahabarb knows about the coolest things.

Here’s my reading from Wengu – Book of Changes.

61. 中 孚 Chung Fu / Inner Truth:

“Nine at the beginning means:
Being prepared brings good fortune.
If there are secret designs, it is disquieting.
The force of inner truth depends chiefly on inner stability and preparedness. From this state of mind springs the correct attitude toward the outer world. But if a man should try to cultivate secret relationships of a special sort, it would deprive him of his inner independence. The more reliance he places on the support of others, the more uneasy and anxious he will become as to whether these secret ties are really tenable. In this way inner peace and the force of inner truth are lost.”

“Six in the fourth place means:
The moon nearly at the full.
The team horse goes astray.
No blame.
To intensify the power of inner truth, a man must always turn to his superior, from whom he can receive enlightenment as the moon receives light form the sun. However, this requires a certain humility, like that of the moon when it is not yet quite full. At the moment when the moon becomes full and stands directly opposite the sun, it begins to wane. Just as on the one hand we must be humble and reverent when face to face with the source of enlightenment, so likewise must we on the other renounce factionalism among men. Only be pursuing one’s course like a horse that goes straight ahead without looking sidewise at its mate, can one retain the inner freedom that helps one onward.”

“Nine in the fifth place means:
He possesses truth, which links together.
No blame.
This describes the ruler who holds all elements together by the power of his personality. Only when the strength of his character is so ample that he can influence all who are subject to him, is he as he needs to be. The power of suggestion must emanate from the ruler. It will firmly knit together and unite all his adherents. Without this central force, all external unity is only deception and breaks down at the decisive moment.”

I never understand the I Ching, but this site is very cool. And I think this is a good reading to start 2009 on.

“Tim DeChristopher announced Wednesday afternoon that he would pay the U.S. Bureau of Land Management $45,000 to hold the 13 lease parcels he won in a Dec. 19 sale. His aim is to fend off drilling at least until President-elect Barack Obama takes office and new officials are in charge of the federal Interior Department and Bureau of Land Management.

“‘This would be the most effective way of ensuring we could protect the land at least until the new administration came in,’ DeChristopher said.

“The 27-year-old economics major faces possible federal felony charges after winning bids totaling about $1.8 million on 13 lease parcels that he admitted he had neither the intention nor the money to pay for.

“But since committing what he called an act of civil disobedience, DeChristopher has heard from hundreds of individuals around the country willing to chip in to keep drill rigs off the land and DeChristopher out of prison.

“So far, would-be benefactors have pledged $14,000, he said. ($14,050 now)

“DeChristopher, his lawyers and other advisers reckoned that if there were a specific reason for the fundraising, rather than just an ill-defined defense fund, enough money would roll in to allow him to write a $45,000 check to the BLM within the next couple of weeks.”
Land auction monkeywrencher has a new plan: Fundraising. DeChristopher hopes to run out the clock, by Patty Henetz, The Salt Lake Tribune, December 31, 2008

Tim DeChristopher Legal Defense and Land Paying For Fund. Totally worth it.

Disrupter of Wickedness Stupidity bushco:

“Just before Christmas, an economics student in Utah figured out a way to help the environment by messing up the mechanics of an auction. The Bush administration had Bureau of Land Management auction offer a last minute auction to sell off 150,000 acres near Arches National Park.

“Tim DeChristopher, 27, just started bidding when the government tried to auction off the land. That threw a wrench into the whole auction. He went home — after a brief visit with police — owning 22,000 acres of land and owing $1.7 million. But he also pushed the price up for oil developers. So much so that the whole auction results are now in question. The AP says buyers were given 10 days to decide if they paid too much. I don’t think that offer applies to DeChristopher himself. They may have to have a do-over for the whole auction — but that would be under the Obama administration.”

~snip~

“DeChristopher didn’t start off his day hoping to stand in the way of Bush’s last minute sale to the oil industry. Instead, he went to his scheduled final exam. …one of his exam questions was whether this very auction was fair since only the oil companies were bidding. That got him thinking.

“DeChristopher went straight from the test to the auction. He passed the protesters and went inside, wanting to do something more, but not knowing what. Then a woman asked him: ‘Are you here to bid?’ That gave him the idea.

“Patrick Shea, who is representing DeChristopher, says that when he ran the BLM under President Clinton he required bidders to show they could afford their purchases. The lack of a requirement was part of the “rush” of the Bush administration to sell the land before leaving office, Shea says. It looks like once again deregulation has not turned out to be the capitalist’s best friend.”

~snip~

“DeChristopher says the most surprising thing was that he bought some of the land at $2.25 an acre. ‘That’s shocking — that we can sacrifice our public lands for as little as $2.25 an acre.’ There is some talk of environmental groups buying DeChristopher’s land. His first payment of $45,000 was due Monday.”
The hero auction wrecker, by Carol Vinzant, WalletPop, December 30, 2008 (more on Mr. DeChristopher)

If there’s a legal defense fund for my new hero, Tim DeChristopher, I’d like to toss a few bucks his way. What a guy!

By the way, what’s the deal with no money down auctions of public land, bushco? Don’t you jerks know that even housing auctions require a $5K cashiers check to even get in the door? Serves you creeps right.

Advantage DeChristopher! Sorry about the legal problems, dude, where can I send a check?

Update 123108: “Tim DeChristopher announced Wednesday afternoon that he would pay the U.S. Bureau of Land Management $45,000 to hold the 13 lease parcels he won in a Dec. 19 sale. His aim is to fend off drilling at least until President-elect Barack Obama takes office and new officials are in charge of the federal Interior Department and Bureau of Land Management.

“‘This would be the most effective way of ensuring we could protect the land at least until the new administration came in,’ DeChristopher said.

“The 27-year-old economics major faces possible federal felony charges after winning bids totaling about $1.8 million on 13 lease parcels that he admitted he had neither the intention nor the money to pay for.

“But since committing what he called an act of civil disobedience, DeChristopher has heard from hundreds of individuals around the country willing to chip in to keep drill rigs off the land and DeChristopher out of prison.

“So far, would-be benefactors have pledged $14,000, he said. ($14,050 now)

“DeChristopher, his lawyers and other advisers reckoned that if there were a specific reason for the fundraising, rather than just an ill-defined defense fund, enough money would roll in to allow him to write a $45,000 check to the BLM within the next couple of weeks.”
Land auction monkeywrencher has a new plan
Fundraising. DeChristopher hopes to run out the clock, by Patty Henetz, The Salt Lake Tribune, December 31, 2008

Tim DeChristopher Legal Defense and Land Paying For Fund

Agency auctions off moral high ground, by J. Scott Christianson, Columbia Tribune, December 30, 2008

Another good Tim DeChristopher story, more details.

“I write today to raise an issue of the utmost significance — the Administration’s use of torture against detainees held in U.S. custody. Despite widespread condemnation from Members of Congress, policy experts, and human rights advocates, Vice President Richard Cheney stated in a recent interview with ABC News that the torture policies used against detainees were appropriate and admitted that he played a role in their authorization. In fact, when asked if any of the tactics — including waterboarding — went too far, he responded with a curt ‘I don’t.’

“I find Vice President Cheney’s response deplorable, particularly in light of a recent report released by the Senate Armed Services Committee following an eighteen-month investigation. In sum, the bipartisan report found that ’senior officials in the United States government solicited information on how to use aggressive techniques, redefined the law to create the appearance of their legality, and authorized their use against detainees.’ The report, led by Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, concluded that ‘those efforts damaged our ability to collect accurate intelligence that could save lives, strengthened the hand of our enemies, and compromised our moral authority.’ I fully support Chairman Levin’s proposal for an outside Commission with subpoena power to investigate this matter further.”
Senator Boxer Calls for Hearings on the Use of Torture, December 19, 2008

Let us hope this does not lead to last minute prophylactic pardons. Of course, bush is so insane, he probably thinks they’ll all get Nobel Peace Prizes when they leave D.C. Criminal activities? What criminal activities?

On the other hand, Senator Boxer and your Senate colleagues, where have you been keeping this demand all these years? Better late than never, I guess.

Is it January 20, 2009 yet?

“Barrack Obama has just under a month until he’s sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, and so before that he’s taking a two week vacation in Hawaii, as seen here, in pictures from CelebBuzz. Say what you will about his policies, but he is probably the only sitting President who could dance for tips if he had to, so I guess that counts for something.”
President Hunk, WWTDD, December 22, 2008

I wonder how long Obama will look like that. The Presidency takes a terrible physical toll in everyone who holds that office.

“Friends:

“As you may have heard, over the past several weeks I was in discussions with President-Elect Barack Obama concerning a possible nomination to serve as the next United States Trade Representative. After some careful consideration I have decided to continue my service as your representative in Congress. I have invested sixteen rewarding years serving you in the House of Representatives, and I am grateful for that privilege. I now see a rare opportunity to push across the goal line much of the unfinished business of America: investing in our infrastructure and our workers, universal healthcare, comprehensive immigration reform, and scrubbing a tax code that’s out of shape and behind the times.

“Working for and with incoming President Barack Obama would be an opportunity of a lifetime. I will get to experience that thrill… by working by his side in the People’s House just down the street from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

“This morning I discussed my decision with KPCC’s Larry Mantle. You can listen to an MP3 recording of the interview by clicking here.

“I deeply appreciate all the support you’ve given me over the years and I look forward to continuing to serve as your voice in Washington.

“The clock is ticking; I’m ready to go!

“Sincerely,

“XAVIER BECERRA
Member of Congress”

I was going to miss having him as my Rep, but now I won’t have to!

“The Compton Sheriff’s Station, with the assistance of the City of Compton, local community organizations, churches and businesses, will host a firearm surrender program for the holidays.

“The program will provide a unique opportunity for area residents to safely surrender any firearm, completely anonymously and without questions asked, to Sheriff’s personnel in exchange for a $100 holiday gift card ($200 for assault weapons) to Best Buy, Target, Home Depot or Ralphs Grocery. The location will be in operation on Saturday, November 29th, Sunday, November 30th Saturday December, 6th and Sunday December, 7th to facilitate the exchanges.”
LASD Press Advisory , Compton Station, November 29, 2008

Do…do other cities do this kind of thing? Or is it unique to Los Angeles? (ABC.com coverage, the comments are WTF bizarre.)

“Give without Giving This Holiday Season

“In economic downturn consumers turn to Yahoo-powered search engine and online shopping mall to both save money and generate funds for their favorite nonprofits.

“ASPCA has earned more than $22,000!

“Los Angeles, CA, December, 2008 – With the economy slipping, charities across the nation are bracing themselves for declining contributions this holiday season.

“While individuals still want to support their favorite cause, they may not have the time or the money to do so. There is a solution. More than 70,000 nonprofits have partnered with a new Yahoo-powered search engine called GoodSearch.com, and online shopping mall GoodShop.com to enable their supporters to generate donations just by doing something they do everyday – search the Internet or shop online. What makes the system so compelling is that it doesn’t cost the users a thing. It’s a form of philanthropy that works for everyone in this tough economy!”
WebFind: GoodShop.com, Notebookism, December 5, 2008

I know where I’ll be from now on: GoodSearch.com The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is on the huge, really big huge, list of charities if you needed more incentive to use this search engine. (No, I haven’t forgotten that Yahoo took Yes on 8 ads [so did Google], maybe this is their atonement for that, except this started in 2006. Who knows? It’s still a great idea.)

When this woman runs for re-election or President or anything, I’m sending her money.

Rep. Kaptur is magnificent! Is she always like this? Or is she rising to the occasion?

“The transportation of goods and children through an urban landscape is a universal need. In Copenhagen many our of citizens choose the self-propelled transport option and cycle to work, school and on errands.

“On any given day you’ll see people moving things about on their bikes. A ladder, a newly-purchased bean bag for the living room, heavy bags of groceries dangling from the handlebars. It’s what we do.

“In Copenhagen, however, we have our own version of the SUV. We call it ‘ladcyklen’ or ‘the cargo bike’. Often there are goods too large or cumbersome for convenient bicycle transport and if you have a child or two or three, they have places to go and things to do and you are the one who has to get them there.

“In Denmark the three-wheeled cargo bike is the vehicle of choice for moving things about and the cargo bike market here continues to enjoy steady growth. A cargo bike is a generic term for any bicycle that is designed to carry ’stuff,’ whether it has two wheels or three.”
Carrying Copenhagen: the wonders of the cargo bike, by Mikael Colville-Andersen, guest-blogger, LAT Bottleneck Blog, September 30, 2008

It would be nice if Los Angeles could have this kind of bike culture. The SUV drivers would have to give up their road rage at cyclists, though, so I don’t see this bicycle utopia anytime soon, alas.

I have seen bike trailers sometimes with cargo, sometimes with kids in them, but I think the last time I saw that was when I lived in Portland Oregon in 1996. I don’t think I’ve seen it in the parts of LA I hang out in. I mean, if I had kids, I would not subject them to LA traffic, so that’s probably why I haven’t seen any kid-towing bike trailers in LA.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur is my hero. Thank you, Rep. Kaptur, thank you.

“It may be hard, in the eighth year of the reign of George Bush II, for some readers to believe that the presidency has moral authority. But the history of the uses of power by Roosevelt and Lincoln and Johnson, and the fascination with the leadership potential of Barack Obama, suggest that the latent authority of the president of the United States to appeal to our best selves has not been extinguished, only anesthetized. Some may think that after eight years of Bush, Americans are fearful of presidential leadership per se. But political scientists distinguish between power and authority. Power can be brute force. Authority is earned respect. The fear of abusive presidential power is the flip side of a hunger for legitimate authority that only great leadership can restore.”
Kuttner, R. Obama’s Challenge, Chapter 2: How Transformative Presidents Lead, page 53. Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction, Vermont. ISBN 978-1-60358-079-6 Chelsea Green Publishing

After eight years of bush, I’m more fearful of a wicked gutless immoral lamebrained Congress (except Barbara Lee) who handed all our asses to a sociopath (gw bush) on September 12, 2001 and have continued to do so ever since. Y’know, it’s not like bush didn’t have help running the country and selected parts of the world into the ground, if not right into Hell. And now those of us who stayed awake all know what happens when all that stuff they made us learn in High School Civics goes wrong. Congress (except for Barbara Lee) have failed dismally as a bulwark against tyranny. Jerks (except Barbara Lee).

Well, the Kuttner book is getting better. President Obama (just keep saying it [see below]) is going to have an uphill battle and then continual resistance from the psycho-right. But I’d be more worried if the psycho-right liked him, so I guess life is full of these little trade-offs. Since morality means so many things to so many people, moral authority is a tricky concept. I’ve no idea why the Golden Rule doesn’t work for everyone, maybe it’s too simple:

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Yes, simple, but I like it. It’s practically the little black dress of philosophy, and yet we live in a world where it means almost nothing. Go figure.

President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama President Obama and so on.

But I’m not big enough to do this

(via Maru!, now there’s someone who could do this)

I wish there were more places like this.