Barrio Patrol

Heads in the Sand...

2007-09-26T22:52:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy NY Times

Simply put, the Republicans are trying to run the clock down on the Bush Presidency. The wonderful people at MoveOn.org, decided that they wanted to add their own two cents to the debate on "the Surge" by sending an add equating General David Petraeus to Benedict Arnold for delivering, the President's assessment of the progress being made in Iraq.

As tone deaf as the advertisement may have been, it certainly didn't require the Senate and House to waste time on a meaningless resolution that did nothing to address the major concerns of extricating the American military currently stuck between warring factions in the middle of a Civil War in Iraq.

Only Bill Clinton can succinctly address the issue in its proper meaning:

It's Your War, George

2007-09-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy AP

Today we heard a President that sounded more like a blind man trying to find his way in a dark room with a flashlight, then a commander in chief. In a prime time address, his 8th since the beginning of the war in Iraq; Bush again reiterated his desire to pass on this calamity of American presence in the middle of a Civil War to the next president. And while Army and Marine Corps forces are being slowly broken in a war zone far from the sources of Al Qaeda's strength in South Asia and in Saudi Arabia, a recalcitrant President continues to defy the will of the American people.

Via the Washington Post:

But the president said such progress is enough to justify the beginning of a modest pullout, starting with 5,700 troops by Christmas. "Now, because of the measure of success we are seeing in Iraq, we can begin seeing troops come home," he said from the Oval Office. "The way forward I have described tonight makes it possible, for the first time in years, for people who have been on opposite sides of this difficult debate to come together."

He coined a new slogan to describe his latest strategy, "Return on Success," meaning that further progress will enable further withdrawals. "The more successful we are, the more American troops can return home," Bush said. "And in all we do, I will ensure that our commanders on the ground have the troops and flexibility they need to defeat the enemy."

At the same time, Bush warned that substantial numbers of U.S. troops will be in Iraq for years to come. Iraqi leaders "understand that their success will require U.S. political, economic and security engagement that extends beyond my presidency," he said, although he said such a scenario "requires many fewer American troops."

It has become clear that this President does not have the knowledge and fortitude to lead America internationally in our fight against fanatical terrorists. When one is more beholden to his political keepers, donors and less concerned with the future of our military and our ability to respond quickly to a network of terrorist cells with little or no contact, we the people must act to preserve our country for future generations.

In what may be a first in Presidential politics, a candidate has issued a challenge to a sitting President.

John Edwards:

Pentagon Cat Fight....

2007-09-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

So I guess we civilians are not the only ones that are displeased with the testimony of Army General David Petraeus. Apparently, his superior, Admiral William Fallon, who leads U.S. Central Command (CentCom) thinks that Gen. Petraeus is an "ass-kissing chickenshit," according to a report by IPS. Damn, Gina!!!!!! Thems fightin' words.

Photo Courtesy of U.S. CentCom

Though Gen. Petraeus does deserve some recognition for his service to this country, it does seem that his willingness to toe-the-line has clouded his otherwise steady judgment. It seems that this report of friction between Petraeus and Fallon mirrors a pretty remarkable piece released by the Washington Post last Sunday.

Via the Washington Post:

For two hours, President Bush listened to contrasting visions of the U.S. future in Iraq. Gen. David H. Petraeus dominated the conversation by video link from Baghdad, making the case to keep as many troops as long as possible to cement any security progress. Adm. William J. Fallon, his superior, argued instead for accepting more risks in Iraq, officials said, in order to have enough forces available to confront other potential threats in the region.

The polite discussion in the White House Situation Room a week ago masked a sharper clash over the U.S. venture in Iraq, one that has been building since Fallon, chief of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees Middle East operations, sent a rear admiral to Baghdad this summer to gather information. Soon afterward, officials said, Fallon began developing plans to redefine the U.S. mission and radically draw down troops.

One of those plans, according to a Centcom officer, involved slashing U.S. combat forces in Iraq by three-quarters by 2010. In an interview, Fallon disputed that description but declined to offer details. Nonetheless, his efforts offended Petraeus's team, which saw them as unwelcome intrusion on their own long-term planning. The profoundly different views of the U.S. role in Iraq only exacerbated the schism between the two men.

"Bad relations?" said a senior civilian official with a laugh. "That's the understatement of the century. . . . If you think Armageddon was a riot, that's one way of looking at it."

What is the point of military advice if is sugar coating the situation and ignoring the gigantic political elephant in the room: the lack of political reconciliation in Iraq?

Have You Had Enough?

2007-09-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

On the 6th Anniversary of the attacks by Al Qaeda terrorists on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and innocent passenengers on american airliners, the Bush Administration decided to acknowledge the loss of thousands of innocent civilians by sending their patsies to continue the sale of the Iraq War to the Senate Foreign Relations committee.

Photo Via NY Times

Army General David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker presented their half-baked White House presentation to an extremely skeptical committee.

These two men were charged with presenting a rose colored view of the realities on the ground in Iraq and they could do little to even convince the Republicans on the committee that "staying the course" would be worth it.

Via N.Y. Times:

Senator John W. Warner, Republican of Virginia, who is one of the party’s leading voices on foreign policy, asked whether the current strategy in Iraq was “making America safer.” General Petraeus retreated to an explanation that he was doing his best “to achieve our objectives in Iraq.” But when pressed again, he said: “Sir, I don’t know, actually.”

After 6 years, all we are doing is trying not to get too many troops shot at the same time trying to maintain peace. In fact, the most critical issue, the reconciliation of sectarian parties in Iraq has not progressed according to the Government Accountability Office's report on progress in Iraq. This article by Karen De Young and Tom Ricks of the Washington Post is a must read.

So what is the explanation that we get from the administration about what we need to know about why we are still in Iraq and not fighting Al Qaeda in its base in South Asia? I think this clip from Being Bobby Brown best describes the reasons...

Revenge of the Nerds...

2007-08-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

At some point in every boy's life, there is some computer game that can take over every aspect of their life. For the original gamers it was Space Invaders. For some in my generation it was the Legend of Zelda, or later on Street Fighter and Halo. Each seems to inspire devotion from each player, bringing out their inner "gamer."

A documentary I just watched called, The King of Kong brought back a whole lot of those fond memories of nerdy adolescence. It follows the model of perpetual loser in all of us, unemployed former Boeing-employee, Steve Wiebe, in his quest to attain the highest score in the original Donkey Kong game. Even more complicated then the actual task of getting the high score are the hurdles placed before him by the devoted followers of self-proclaimed 20th Century gaming king and Yanni-impersonator, Billy Mitchell.

The shit makes you embrace your inner nerd, but it can be killer on your personal life. I have been playing much damned Command and Conquer lately. Now I am checking to see when the re-release of Blade Runner is going to come to L.A. You can't escape it.

The Dark Knight

2007-08-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

Get ready, because this is going to be good.

YouTube's Decision '08 Debate...

2007-07-23T21:45:00.000-07:00

Best video of the cycle so far? Try John Edwards long delayed response to the question of what matter's most in the elections. His $400 hair cut or the issues?

Best question asked in the YouTube debate? That would be from RedStateUpdate.com, with their question on the effect of a possible Al Gore candidacy.

Two Nations, Separated By a Common Language?

2007-07-17T19:48:00.001-07:00

I guess it was General George S. Patton who one paraphrased George Bernard Shaw when he said the English and Americans were "two great peoples separated by a common language." Perhaps we are not so different after all.

The Ever Shrinking America

2007-07-17T19:44:00.000-07:00

Apparently, we Latinos are now the source of the degradation of the American gene pool, as we are the source of the shrinking average height of Americans today.

Thomas Schaller of the American Prospect has an interesting tidbit on how the average height of Americans is steadily shrinking.

But never fear my tall nordic compatriots, Lou Dobbs and Tom Tancredo are on the case. Never fear, for the Raza will be defeated in their effort to shrink us down into oblivion.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cheney Vice Presidency

2007-06-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

Barton Gellman and Jo Becker of the Washington Post have a phenomenal expose on the Vice Presidency of Dick Cheney. In a 4-part series, they explore the destructive reach that Cheney has had in the Bush Administration, acting almost single-handedly to direct his foreign and domestic policy "vision" to the forefront of American policy in the 21st Century. Once you read it, it will give you more incentive to say what this guy did in 2005:

Students Put Bush to the Test

2007-06-26T22:40:00.000-07:00

On Monday, a group of high school students, who were designated as Presidential scholars, handed President Bush a letter. In that letter, they specifically asked the President to stop the practice of torture by military personnel against "enemy combatants."

"We do not want America to represent torture. We urge you to do all in your power to stop violations of the human rights of detainees, to cease illegal renditions, and to apply the Geneva Convention to all detainees, including those designated enemy combatants," the letter said.

The President of course responded with his usual, "no children, the United States government does not torture."

Ganas, no?

Midnight Playlist

2007-06-21T21:01:00.001-07:00

Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bootleg.

31 Flavors of Bullshit...

2007-06-21T19:57:00.001-07:00

Okay, so my parents were in town this weekend, and it gave me a great opportunity to see my family and hang out with my sister who lives out on the west side.

I have lived in the Hollywood-area for about three years now and, I have partaken of many local specialties. One however, that I have not tried, is the now ubiquitous Yogurt pimpery: Pinkberry. I live just down the street from the original and yet I have been delinquent in trying out its yogurty goodness.

Our maybe ooer, according to this report from the L.A. Times, peeps be cryin' foul, that this stuff is not actually gogurty goodness.

It was tasty, but I would take a Fosters Freeze Banana Shake 7 days out of the week and twice on Sunday.

Thank god their weren't any mice at this one, only Dylan McDermott from ABC's the Practice.

Roy Rogers Has Company

2007-06-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

Saw the news that Antonio Aguilar had passed away in Mexico. I remember my Grandmother watching movies with Antonio, singer, actor and legend, the ultimate singing cowboy in Mexico has passed.

Augutin Gurza of the LA Times wrote of an interesting anecdote about Aguilar in his obituary:

USC journalism professor Félix Gutiérrez recalled a chance airport encounter with Aguilar in the early 1970s. Gutierrez was a graduate student at Stanford University when he spotted Aguilar arriving with his wife on a commuter plane in San Jose, totally unnoticed by the general public and carrying their own bags. The only ones who recognized the famous couple were custodians and other Latino laborers who were as thrilled to spot their beloved stars as others might be to see Bob Hope.

Back from the Abyss...

2007-06-20T23:04:00.000-07:00

Back from the Abyss? Stuck in Iraq for 5 years... Staring at the shear inevitability of time taking away their collective legacy, and these two want to bring us peace in the Middle East?

(Jim Young/Reuters)

Apparently, George will miss his favorite play date so much when he leaves 10 Downing Street that has become the Cheerleader Guy, supporting Blair as a new Chief Envoy to the Middle East.

After several months on break, I am back from the abyss... With the new leadership in Congress, comes many changes, and things have been hectic of late. The Civil War in Iraq continues to be a huge issue in D.C., as hundreds of thousands of troops are sent into harms way, without hope for a plan to redeploy out troops so that they can continue to do their proper jobs, fighting Al Qaeda. If you would like a primer on Iraq War, on what not to do in fighting a war; check this book out.

Meanwhile, Comprehensive Immigration Reform is still being stalled by the Republicans, who have been hijacked by xenophobic elements of their party. They prefer all illegals, and more then likely many legals, to be booted out of their country. Fortunately for us, the better nature of our angels will eventually prevail as more Americans start to realize how benefical the immigrant community is to our society. Building our homes, picking our crops, nurturing our children and defending our nation.

I leave you with a great story from Dreams Across America, a train tour of Americans and immigrants lobbying for humane, comprehensive immigration reform.

Please do all you can to contact your member's of Congress and your Senators to inform them of the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Be back soon...

Before You Accuse Me...

2006-10-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the Republicans...

As you can see, with a flailing economy, corruption infesting the Congressional Republican leadership and finally a Bush administration admitting that it has no plan to win the peace in Iraq, they are flip flopping away into oblivion. With just under two weeks left until the 2006 mid-term elections, the Republicans' true colors have been exposed for the country to see, and it is up to us to seize this moment and vote for leadership, change and sanity! I for one will be taking vacation time to visit Philadelphia to help out on a race in the suburbs.

This election cycle has brought us to point where we can change the direction of this country at the ballot box. My question is, have you all had enough of this vitriol, corruption and greed? Have you had enough:

This ad, which has been replicated in dozens of battleground races across the country and asks the most relevant question to all of us. I for one have had enough and I am inspired about the kind of leadership that is going to be coming to Washington to cleanup the Capital. Here are a couple of examples of what good ol' meat and potatoes, people-powered progressivism can bring to America.

Jon Tester for U.S. Senate, Montana:

And what kind of candidate does the Republican Party put up as an example of leadership? Try Tom Reynolds, head of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, one of the many bozos involved in FoleyGate:

Nice try Tom, you can't clean your record protecting a child predator by surrounding yourself by a kindergarten class from Buffalo. There ain't any avoiding the inevitable, even Denny Hastert had to do a perp walk today.

The difference that lies between the Republicans and the Democrats is that they govern through fear and intimidation, they are bereft of principles and ideas. The saying by Lord Acton:

power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Democrats govern from that Jeffersonian princple that all Americans shall be born with the power to achieve: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I leave all of you with Keith Olbermann, that great orator who paraphrases Franklin Delano Roosevelt in illustrating this stark difference in princple and leadership.

Take a look at yourself and see what you can do for America.

Oakland Stroke

2006-10-10T22:08:00.000-07:00

For the first time since 1992, the Oakland Athletics, champions of the American League Western Division, are on their way to the American League Championship Series. To get a taste of their sweep of the Minnesota Twins, check this video out:

In other news, the A's, who have been playing in the Oakland Coliseum since 1966, may be moving to Fremont, California. There is talk that the A's owners, Lew Wolff and John Fisher, of GAP fame, are planning on building a proposed 38,000-seat stadium off Interstate 880. Here is a rendering of the new park:

A new stadium would do the A's some good, a place worthy of a hard working team.

The October Surprise...

2006-10-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

He had to walk around Capitol Hill telling everyone he was a pederast... That's right, no funky statement from Osama Bin Laden that Ann Coulter purports to be an endorsement of John Kerry. No dictators in Spider-holes. Just good old fashion Republican repugnant corruption, at the heart of a rotting political oligarchy.

If you haven't been sleeping in cave in Afghanistan over the past week, Florida Congressman Mark Foley, was implicated by various former congressional pages as a predatory pervert. Brought to you by Brian Ross:

As my boys from the Hotline!, Chuck Todd and John Mercurio can only lay out, the shit has hit the motherfucking fan on Capitol Hill! Are we in Bizarro Washington? Nope...

There is no escaping the fact that the Republican leadership, namely Speaker Denny Hastert and NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds were behind an effort to supress the allegations of harassment by Foley has chosen power before the public good... Bill Maher, summarizes the reality of how Republicans run this country and how much they care about protecting America.

It is time for Americans to stand up and make a stand to take back America!

And then there was Bill

2006-10-05T20:46:00.000-07:00

You know, I grew up most of my conscious life in the 1990s. In the time that has passed since 9/11, I have have felt dismayed by the state of opposition to the current Bush Administration and the way that the people have capitulated to RightWing talking points. We as progressive Americans who wish to advance the economy of this country and wish to sacrifice what is necessary to fight a War against fundamentalist terroists who pervert religion, Islam to turn the masses against us, have for far too long been silent or unmoving in our words. But no more, for our great President, William Jefferson Clinton, has reentered tv to set us straight, to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Watch these segments and sear his words in your mind. Let's take back our country...

and...

and...

Never forget what you stand for, and move forward to take back this country.!

Chutney Dance Grooves

2006-09-29T21:45:00.000-07:00

I don't know where to run for my life or pop and lock...
check this out...

Brought to you by NAFTA...

2006-09-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

Inevitably, those darn Mexicans and Canucks were going to invade and degrade our rich cultural heritage in the United States when NAFTA was passed by Congress in the mid-1990s.

As icons of popular culture in our Northern and Southern neighbors begin to pervade our own marketplace, we are now able to enjoy the fruits of American imitation of foreign cultural phenomenon, like the telenovela, and sadly... Celine Dion.

But bear with me, because it isn't all bad. Check out the newest addition to the ABC primetime slate for this upcoming season, Ugly Betty, which is an American version of a Mexican version of a Colombian telenovela, Betty La Fea.

Keep an eye out for local listings. On our northern border, things are always funny. As Canada has brought us a long tradition of hockey, comedians and ice fishing, the generousity continues as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog visits the great city of Montreal, Quebec.

Enjoy the rich benefits of unhindered trade in North America and share in the hospitality of our neighbors!

Great Moments in Presidential Speeches...

2006-09-07T22:01:00.000-07:00

I give Dave Letterman credit, I don't spend enough time watching late night television these days but thankfully, I am able to access the National Journal's Hotline every day and in that I get a chance to look at late night jokes about politicians. With the Bush Administration's recent push to bring out the War on Terror, or more aptly, Iraq as a Republican campaign issue, we can see that this man is quite the strategic thinker:

Please Lord, save me from this shitty governmental representation.

When it doubt... blame a Mexican.

2006-08-30T05:54:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard already seen on t.v. we are approaching the 1st Anniversary of the destruction of Hurricane Katrina or as MSNBC calls it, Mission Unaccomplished. Just so we you didn't forget how incompetently the Bush Administration mangled the recovery in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, good old Georgie has come back for a second helping of, "were gonna get the terro... er... hurricanes. What pisses me off to no end is that as the new Hurricane season is starting in North America, the first big one headed our way has been named Ernesto. That is just a bunch of horseshit.

You know when things get bad, the GOP always finds someone to attack when have fucked up some aspect of our country: when the economy tanked, it was the liberals, in 2004 is was the gay mafia. Last year it was public broadcasting, because of course, because Henrietta Pussycat was a pinko feminist and Daniel Striped Tiger was a closet case according to them. This year has been the year of the illegals and we can't let them take our country and bring us their hurricanes.

New rule, from now on, all major natural disasters must be named after members of the Bush administration, and must include their titles as well. Let's start with Cheney, with his quintuple bypasses and the scorchin' case of gout, he doesn't have far to go. Might as well call the Israel-Lebanon War, the Condelezza Smackdown with the way she fucked up that diplomatic effort. And save Alberto Gonzalez and Carlos Gutierrez for later, you can't get those two past me Georgie boy. As you leave Nawlins' the band is playing some dixieland as you get the hell out of Dodge.

It's Gonna be a Long, Long Time to Touchdown...

2006-08-30T05:38:00.000-07:00

As I sat in my apartment watching Comedy Central about a week ago, I came across a great piece of t.v. history as I watched the Roast of William Shatner, the great Capt. Kirk. I must say, it is the greatest interpretation of an Elton John song, that I have ever heard.

Will you be the Decider?

2006-08-23T00:06:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or have the Republicans just lost their damned minds?

Aside from all that "if you are not with us, you are for the terrorist" bullshit, aren't people getting sick and tired of having to wake up to this as the face of American leadership?

I mean crap people, you went from Chicken Salad to Chicken Shit from one president to the next and now we all have to eat this shit-sandwich for another 3 years? I am sick and tired of this... so let us all do something about this and make some change. Let there be no doubt about the need for change.

To remind us of the need to change let us look back at the words of MSNBC's great Keith Olbermann one year ago to remind us, almost a year after the horrible disaster and suffering brought on by a Hurricane and compounded by our own delusional government, that we deserve better.

Thanks Keith, and get the word out people.

The Great Civics Lesson of 2006

2006-08-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

Stephen Colbert interviews Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delegate for the District of Columbia. Enjoy peoples.

God Save the Queen...

2006-07-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

How come the British can pull off child choir in pop songs and we can't. Hello, The Wall and now Gorillaz. This was an awesome live set that still cannot be matched. Check it out.

In other news, a new show on HBO, Lucky Louie, has been captivating my attention over the past few weeks. Created by Louis C.K., former headwriter for the Chris Rock Show. I highly recommend it, and no, its not because the guy is one funny Mexican. Check it out, it is worth a month of HBO at least.

I'll be back soon with some more updates.

A glipse into Decision 2006

2006-06-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

Check out this wonderfully articulate and inclusive add by Vernon Robinson, running against Democratic Congressman Brad Miller from North Carolina. Enjoy...

All LOST in the Supermarket...

2006-05-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, so as the couple of you who read this notice, I have been away for a little bit, partially due to work, and I needed a break too. Got to plan vacation, perhaps a little trip to New Mexico or something. There has been one thing occupying my mind of late and that is the best damned program on television... LOST!

So the finale of the show premiered last week. If you aren't familiar with the show, check out the website. The jist of it is, there are a group of people that have crashed on an island in the Pacific, that no one in the outside world can see. These people are linked, as many of them have crossed paths at one point or another, making it seem like something other then chance brought them all together. On top of all of that, this island has many mysteries, and the survivors begin to realize that they are not alone.

The season has progressed as the people from the tail section of the plane reunite with the rest of the survivors and begin to explore the many hatches left on the island by the Hanso Foundation's Dharma Initiative. The big issue is whether the hatches have meaningful purposes or whether they are just tools for others that wish to observe human response. And if the latter is true... who are the others...

So the Finale came, all two hours of wonderous glory. Were the questions answered? What happens in the Swan hatch if the button is not pushed? What is Michael planning to do to Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Hurley in order to get his son back? Who are the others who captured Walt and just what do they do? And what will happen now that Desmond, the Scottish ex-soldier and primo button-pusher is back?

In the end, more questions were brought up then were answered. But the suspense was riveting. The most interesting part of the finale, may not have been the fact that we saw the Others in their full glory or that we found out that the hatch was actually important, stopping the world from being sucked into a major black hole.

What I felt was most interesting about the finale was that the hope of survival, of love was reiterated in the story line of Desmond. Desmond, of the Scottish boat racing breed, we come to find out is a former soldier who was court-martialed and jailed; for what reason, we do not know.

Desmond was released from prison, taking with him an unread book, Charles Dickens' Our Mutual Friend, which he promises to read before he dies. As he leaves prison in Britain, a limosuine is waiting for him, with a passenger asking him to get inside. Desmond refuses, with distain, but he is finally convinced inside. It turns out the man is the head of a powerful corporation, Widmore Labs; which have links to the hatches on the island. The man also is the father of Desmond's girlfriend, whom he loves desperately and has not seen or heard from; as he wrote her constantly in prison.

Widmore offers Desmond two boxes, one of his past, and for his future. The box from the past is a box containing the letters he wrote to Penny Widmore, never delivered to her. The other box is filled with money. Desmond refuses to take the bribe, and instead sets himself to the goal of winning a boat race that was run by Penny's father, in an effort to win back both his honor and his love. He set's off to America where he subsequently run's into Libby the Tail-section survivor, who by sheer luck owns a boat that she would like to give to Desmond. He also runs into Jack, the night that Penny tracks him down and confronts him.

Desmond sets off on the race, and eventually lands on the island, where he is separated from his girlfriend and his goal, atleast temporarily. Throughout this time, Desmond is tortured with the fact that he may never be able to get home. Isolated and alone in the hatch, he comes to a decision that he will kill himself, and looks into the book that he wished to read before he died. In it, Penny leaves a letter telling him that no matter where he is, she loves him, and that love will bring them together. As he finishes the note, he hears a noise, someone banging on the hatch, the survivors of the crashed Oceanic plane.

It is this hope of a tomorrow with the chance to make things right; lost love, separation, anger, desperation, greed, all can rectified, if you keep hoping for the chance. The hope of Desmond to be reunited with Penny is the same as the hope of Jack who wishes to heal a woman paralyzed in a car accident or any of the others on the island, who all seem to be looking for redemption in their troubled lives.

Throughout the series, characters have tried to come to grips with the choices they have made and the inequities in life. I think this will be the driving force as the next season approaches, and I think Lost will be the better for it. Keep an eye out for re-runs or Netflix that baby!

4 more years?!

2006-05-15T23:54:00.000-07:00

AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Ummm, Dubya... America called; you don't need to be President anymore. I mean damn, after listening to his speech about immigration reform, isn't it obvious that this man is in over his head?! With 6,000 troups being sent to the border, the pattern of immigrants trying to cross over doesn't slow. Immigrants find their way around walls and around troops, the key is to make immigrants not want to come in the first place, by improving the economies of all these sending countries.

Vanity Fair/Annie Leibovitz

And if the level of President Bush's incompetence isn't exposed enough, the June-issue of Vanity Fair has some hard hitting articles on the failure of government response in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina written by Douglas Brinkley and Anderson Cooper. Those stories are accompanied by a piece on Dick Cheney. And to think we have three more years to go with this current administration, God, please save us!

That's our 'Stilo....

2006-05-07T23:01:00.000-07:00

AFP/Getty Images

Yo homie, you got the intel on WMDs in Iraq? No dude, I thought you had that shit!

Everything is going wrong for the Republican Party these days, with issues of corruption, arrogance and prostitution adding to the failed agenda of President Bush and Congressional leadership.

With issues like immigration taking front stage in the debates leading up to midterm elections, the Democrats are moving quickly to galvanize support to bring America out of the dark ages. And even a few old faces are taking to the airwaves to get their message out:

Yes, La Chilindrina may be coming out of retirement to support efforts to throw out the Republicans. Supposedly, the Republicans are going to try to match by bringing Professor Jirafales out of retirement. It's on now bitches...

Just to illustrate how we have digressed in Presidential quality... lets follow a segment from The Late Show.

Oh lord, it makes me pine for the days of Bill fighting the good fight against Newt and Bob.

In other news, Jenni and I caught a good movie in Irvine, don't ask me why we ended up there. But I highly recommend the movie. Best work by Joseph Gordon-Levitt since 10 Things I Hate About You.

Who knew San Clemente could be such a cool place? Watch your back though, cuz you might end up not coming back.

A Day without Ryan and Rachel!

2006-05-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

Our favorite Canadians, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams marched on Wilshire on Monday in solidarity with immigrants. I heart this couple, first the Notebook and now this.

Brings a tear to my eye.

Source

We the People...

2006-05-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

Courtesy:REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

If we can take one thing away from yesterday's marches around the country, it is the fact that immigrants, illegal and legal and many American citizens want a change to the current immigration system. A sea of people from San Diego to Boston, Seattle to Miami marched in support of the opportunity for undocumented immigrants to receive legal status in this country. Eugene Robinson, who has written a serious of opinion pieces on the issue of the movement continues with another intriguing piece.

The march was huge and energetic, LA Times estimated 200k at City Hall
and 400k on Wilshire, but ask anyone who was there and they would tell
you that this was much bigger then La Gran Marcha, I would say
anywhere between 600k to 900k were walking on Wilshire Blvd. You
couldn't quite tell because people kept coming, and Wilshire is much
bigger then any of the downtown streets.

A great mix of people representing different groups: Mexican, Central
American, Irish, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, etc. were all present. The
crowds were boisterous, focused and energetic, with the exception of
the usual crazy Larouchies, some Socialists, a few religious groups
and senoras selling weenies con tocino; the smell was intoxicating
since we didn't each much yesterday.

We even ran into actor Martin Sheen, everyone was scrambling for an autograph, so I didn't say hello... pobrecito, I figure if a guy like him is going to take their time out to protest, let him do it in peace.

When we got to La Brea and Wilshire, Paquita La Del Barrio was singing and everyone from Bill Weir, to Anderson Cooper and Lourdes Garcia were reporting. It was packed to the brim with people and I think the most interesting part of it all was the fact that thousands of immigrants were streaming into Hancock Park and Larchmont, catching rides to get back home in the most upscale section of the city.

Instead of addressing the concerns of immmigrants, everybody has been fixaxted on the news that Gloria Trevi, Ivy Queen and several other D-list musicians helped make a spanish version of the Star-Spangled Banner. George Bush and Antonio Villaraigosa have come out against the anthem, and while I tend to agree with them on this issue, particularly because Gloria Trevi is trash and I am not a fan of reggaeton... Latinos were not the first to write a spanish version of the national anthem. In fact, a version was commissioned by the U.S. Bureau of Education in 1919, and the State Department has four versions that are listed on their website. Whats up with that Georgie, how come you can't get your own government to keep the anthem in english?

Contact your members of congress and keep the fight going, ask for comprehensive immigration reform.

AP Photo/Jennifer Szymaszek

In Mexico, as these groups were marching, Mexican citizens were protesting American businesses and the American government. How hypocritical is it that Mexicanos are protesting American companies of creating this broken immigration system? Make no mistake, American businesses with a thirst for cheap labor are a magnet that attract immigrants to come here, but one of the biggest factors pushing these immigrants to migrate is the economic disparity that persists in sending countries like Mexico.

If Mexicanos want to protest, they should march on Los Pinos or the Zocalo and demand that their government work to redistribute the wealth that Mexico earns on the backs of countless impoverished workers. The Mexican government under Vicente Fox continues to be a disgrace, a sham that was sold as a force for reform, but has continued to be more interested in fattening the wallets of their power brokers in Monterrey. May'be today, Kate del Castillo might be regretting her words of support.

In order for us to make a permanent change to slow the cyclical patterns of migration that lead to the disenfranchisement of power migrant groups in receiving countries, we need to equalize the economic environments of sending countries. In laymans terms, we need to make Mexico, El Salvador, etc. countries with greater average living standards.

Back to the protests... my parents marched in Fresno, CA in support of immigration reform. They said it was the largest protest that has ever taken place in the San Joaquin Valley. Check out my mom who was quoted by the Fresno Bee in their lead article.

Courtesy: Eric Zamora/Fresno Bee

Great to see people turning out in farm country to express their opinions.

Finally, I leave you with a small tidbit of a speech given by Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central's Colbert Report, at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday.

Take a look and enjoy some hard jabs directed at the President.

Stargazing, Hulkmania Style!

2006-04-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

I was driving down Sunset Blvd., on the way to visit my girlfriend and as I am driving past the 101-South on-ramp, I am slowly approaching this very large Mercedes with limo-tint. I noticed through the glass that the driver had a very large, very blond, fu manchu. Low and beyond, as my mouth drops, I realize that the driver is none other then, Hulk Hogan. I was shocked, pleasantly so as I realized that I just passed one of my heros, to the point where I broke, and almost stopped my pickup. Too bad I didn't have a camera with me, because I wanted to say high to the Hulkster.

Who knows, maybe I might run into to Rowdy Roddy Piper, Koko B.Ware or Superfly Jimmy Snuka. For all of you luchador fans, I am sure you have all followed El Santo, Azul Atomico and my personal favorite: Mil Mascaras.

Who is your favorite wrestler?!

Asleep at the Wheel

2006-04-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

AP Photo/Ron Edmonds

How bad are things going for the administration of George W. Bush? When Chinese President Hu Jintao came to Washington for an official State visit, push wouldn't let go of Hu because he needed someone to protect him from El Cucuy... the boogeymen in the press corps.

Everything seems to be going wrong for Bush. In a period of a few weeks, as immigrant rallies, indicted Republican politicians, a domestic policy adrift... Bushies are jumping ship. The first to get the boot were Chief of Staff Andy Card and Press Secretary Scott McClellan. And for those who work close with VP Dick "Sureshot" Cheney, watch your back son!

Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images

Did I mention that President Bush's approval ratings are at 32% according to CNN. Even the Los Angeles Times has written in support of President Bush firing Cheney from the post of Vice President. When was the last time a major newspaper suggested firing a Vice President? Can we say Spiro Agnew, former-Vice President under Richard Nixon, who was himself indicted.

Hello George, this is deja vu calling... do you get the picture?

So as Georgie is rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titantic... err... the Administration, all of us can push forward for some real changes, by calling everyone we know to donate to the Democratic Party! Do what you can to make a difference and fight the man.

Things are getting so bad that when I went to Unocal 76 in Hollywood to get a refill I saw some people battling it out for $3.25/gallon gasoline.

It was straight Road Warrior up in that son of a bitch, pretty soon we are going to be fighting off motorcycle gangs for the last liter of petrol if we don't get a better government in power to start the switch to hybrids. We need some motherfuckers to kick some ass and take some names, and I say we start with the heads of Exxon Mobil!

I will leave on a lighter note... my Oakland Athletics are back fighting off the wealthy masses, defying the odds and marching towards the World Series. A few of us are gonna try to catch some games, so keep in touch if you wanna come. Check out pictures of the proposed new stadium the A's may be building in Fremont:

Hopefully the new stadium will get built before I am senile. The A's need a new stadium like Dick Cheney needs Lipitor!

An Inconvenient Truth

2006-04-12T23:12:00.000-07:00

I saw a preview recently for Al Gore's new movie, An Inconvenient Truth... yes Al Gore, our would be 43rd President. Powerful stuff about how our world is changing before our eyes. Check out the trailer.

A New Civil Rights Movement

2006-04-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

Courtesy Wally Skalj/LAT

I think yesterday, more then any other day in my life, was the moment with which I saw a movement, born. With my father marching in Fresno, my mom marching in Providence, Rhode Island and millions of others marching in over 100 cities in the United States, I saw the most massive organized movement ever built in my lifetime. Perhaps as strong as the most powerful actions taken during the 1960s, it was amazing to feel the positive energy generated by the unity that was shown yesterday.

My girlfriend and I went to Placita Olvera in Downtown L.A. to protest the lack of immigration reform by congress and the President. We were there with thousands of people, young and old as you can see by the picture above. It was truly a beautiful sight, with young kids walking with signs that say "I am a human being," and "I love America," and older men walking along side them in botas and baseball caps. From every color and creed you could think of, this common cause brought together a unified people that formed a unified voice.

The most pleasant development I have seen over the past few days has been the stories that have been coming out in the press regarding the growth of this movement for immigration reform. In particular, from African-American journalists like Juan Williams and Eugene Robinson, it is important to see the similarities that this movement has taken with that of the civil rights movement. Pay particular attention to the fact that no one person has stepped up to the helm as the spokesperson for the movement, it is as if this mass of people has formed a cohesive unit to make their voices heard.

Courtesy Rob Schumacher/AP

The Los Angeles Times carried two letters written by sisters who are students at L.A.'s Roosevelt High School. Both are undocumented, and tell two different stories about there experiences, here and here.

Now that these people have flexed their political muscle, it sounds like congressional Republican leaders may be folding on the issue of classifying undocumented immigrants as felons.

Courtesy Dennis Cook/AP

Doesn't it look like Bob Menendez is gonna kick Bill Frist's ass?! All I know is that when Easter recess ends, these guys will be scrambling to get a bill to the President. Keep tuned to Lou Dobbs to see when the next blood is spilled.

And one last thing, who the fuck declared the author of a fourth-rate piece of shit book called, The Dirty Girls Social Club, as an immigration expert? Anderson Cooper had her on his show, and had to ask her to stop yelling on the program, when arguing with some bozo arguing the opposite side. Please someone at CNN, call NCLR or CHCI and save us the earaches of listening to uninformed tripe. Just because your surname is spanish does not make you an qualified authority on an issue. That's why I keep my shit to myself and friends.

We Love you Natalie...

2006-04-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

I saw V for Vendetta the other day with Jenni, my friend Celia and her little sister... it was mildly entertaining. Later on in the week, I met up with my sister for some italian food at Giovanni's in Culver City and a bottle of Chianti. At dinner my sister told me about Natalie Portman rapping on SNL. I had to post this shit...

Enjoy.

Walkout America...

2006-04-01T15:19:00.000-08:00

Courtesy: Associated Press

Okay, y'all... so I take this moment to eat a little bit of crow. As you may remember I poked fun at the HBO film, Walkout, which depicted the struggles of Chicano students who organized the largest high school protest in American history.

I thought that the film, while very informative, not the most likely to win an Emmy. I also didn't expect a great number of people to see it, even though I hoped I was wrong. Well people I was wrong...

I am sitting at my desk in my office in Echo Park and I hear yelling, cheering and police sirens. I look out my door and I see hundreds of Belmont High School students streaming down Sunset Blvd. It was crazy, in all almost 30,000 students walked out of LAUSD schools and more then 40,000 in California.

Even students from my high school protested... atleast that was what my mother told me. My dad's friend Isa called me and told me that students were protesting in a town next to my hometown, a farm community. Protests in Central California; you'd think it was the 1960s again. I am glad students expressed their points of view, but once should be enough people, school is there for you to learn and for you to educate. Spend some time reading about the issues so that you know what you are protesting and why. And don't forget to contact your federal representatives and express your opinion to them after you have educated yourself on the issues. All you need is your zip code to find out who your congressman is.

What law is under consideration in the Senate?

And one last thing, I think it is great that we Latinos have a lot of ethnic pride, but when you are marching for legal recognition and justice in the United States, you should take to waving the American Flag more often.

A Rally for the Ages

2006-03-30T17:27:00.000-08:00

Courtesy J. Emilio Flores AFP/Getty Images

From ABC News: Elsa Rodriguez, 30, a trained pilot who came to Colorado in 1999 from Mexico to look for work, said she just wants to be considered equal.

"We're like the ancestors who started this country, they came from other countries without documents, too," the Arvada resident. "They call us lazy and dirty, but we just want to come to work. If you see, we have families, too."

So if you were hiding under a rock over the past week, you may have missed perhaps the biggest rally in the history of California, and one of the biggest in recent American history. An estimated, 500,000 people marched down Broadway Ave. in Los Angeles to City Hall, protesting against the proposed, House Resolution 4437: Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005.

This wonderful piece of legislation, would make felons of all undocumented immigrants in this country as well as all those who would provide work, services or humanitarian assistance to said immigrants. How wonderfully Christian of our federal representatives wouldn't you agree? My first question to these lawmakers would be... So when were you issued your indictment?

Sit back in your seats and recount what you ate in the past couple of days? Did you eat a fresh plum recently? Or perhaps maybe a nice spinach salad? Or maybe you had a Double Double Animal Style from In-N-Out? Where might all this food have come from?

Definitely not from Never-Neverland. In fact, the backbone of the agricultural, meat, poultry and fishing industries are the hardworking hands of legal and illegal immigrants. From the grape picker in Dinuba, to the fish packer in Rhode Island, your food is cultivated by them.

Your house may have been built by them, or your hotel room cleaned by them. The official and unofficial activities of Latin American, Asian and even European immigrants has a huge impact on the American economy and shouldn't be ignored. A good way for us to educate ourselves about the true nature of immigrant impact on the American economy. Check out a sampling of research from the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute which is a run out of Claremont College in California.

Check out this interesting article on illegal Irish immigrants in America.

Today on Air America Radio, I heard a woman call into the Randi Rhodes show, saying that while she agreed with Randi on 99% of issues, she disagreed with Randi on immigration. "My single mother raised me and abided by the law... these people need to go back to their countries, no matter if that means separating familiies... their lives don't affect me." What irony it would have been for a citizen to have said the same thing to her ancestor as they entered the United States without documents?

It is true that people that are here undocumented have violated the law. What is also true is that something truly desperate and human has driven them to cross great stretches of law, and go past huge obstacles to get to the United States. That will not stop if we and our trade partners in NAFTA and CAFTA don't address the economic disparities that exist that bring these people to enter the United States.

And as the leaders of North America, or as my dad might call them, the Three Stooges meet in of all places, Cancun... home of Papas and Beer and Wet T-Shirt contests... Professor Robert Pastor of American University brings us a simple, yet radical idea for address the problems of today.

Let's hope that a few days in Cancun can do for the future of North American immigration policy. Certainly the Wet T-shirts and Pacifico hasn't bridged the North American divide.

In Honor of Buelita and Chisai

2006-03-20T21:47:00.000-08:00

We miss you buelita and Chisai, we know you are having fun in heaven. Love you.

Chicanos at the movies.

2006-03-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

That’s right putos! WALKOUT!! In a seminal moment in Chicano theatrical achievement, the makers of Selena, Mi Familia, Stand and Deliver, A Million to Juan, Zoot Suit, and every other film about Chicanos have brought you the story of the East L.A. Blowouts the largest student protests in the history of the United States.

So what else did we learn from this film, other then the fact that Edward James Olmos is in every movie about Chicanos? Well at least we know Michael Peña is a great actor, and even though he got short shifted a bit in this movie; atleast he wasn’t relegated to the terrible clichéd Cholito wallpaper of the idiotic portrayal of Los Angeles that was Crash.

The movie was a decent effort, in the fact that it did tell the story of Chicano student struggles in a prejudiced and wholly inadequate education system that was Los Angeles Unified School District. Sometimes I just wished I had seen a few fresh faces, not the same recycled Latino actors that you saw in American Family and every other Olmos project. The little pochita girl from Spy Kids did a decent job asking the people to walk out and be a true Chih-Con-Oh.

But don’t take it from me, check out the next viewing on H.B.O. All the Mechistas are waiting with baited breath for the next viewing!

In other movie news, I recently saw a trailer for the next installation of X-Men, The Last Stand, or as new Director Brett Ratner might call it; Eat Shit Bryan Singer. The preview is totally bad ass, and while it may not live to the story potential of Batman Begins, it definitely will get the goose bumps growing. Don’t take my word for it, check the trailer out here.

Until next time cabrones!

A New Hope!

2006-03-18T12:29:00.000-08:00

Have we seen the end of our favorite freak’s life in California? Say it ain’t so Jacko, no more Never-Neverland?!

I guess you can “save” children with much less media scrutiny in Bahrain living on one of them fancy artificial palm tree islands.

But fear not fellow Angelenos, for we have a new source of unfettered freakness:

Behold, for a new Theaton is spawned as we speak! Beware Xenu, for a higher OT level will be conquered soon.

Prepare for the reckoning people, for a galatic battle is soon to pass!

In honor of our favorite OT-7s, I leave with a sea shanty from our boy, L. Ron:

From Sea of Dreams
To Rainbow Gulf
He danced
A Rigadoon

From Astro Bay
To Diamond Cliff
The Mountains of
The Moon

He balleted
And curvetted
And swept
A wide
Fandango

What graceful waste
In airless
Space
His fabulous
Tarango--

From here to
There and
There to
Here

In waltzes ungravitic
He spun the whole of
Lunar space in
Gyrates troglodytic

Why why this dance
Of astral
Plane
Sans audience or
Reason

Oh Lord.

Source . Source . Source .

The Blind Leading the Blind

2006-03-16T22:16:00.000-08:00

"Right now, I wouldn't vote Democratic if Jesus Christ was running."

This comes from a Texas woman who still stands by her favorite congressman, former House Majority Leader Tom Delay. Delay is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to corruption problems with the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill. With ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham now serving 8 years behind bars and charges still in the works possibly for the likes of "Representative A" in the Abramhoff ordeal, Bob Ney, and possibly Katherine Harris, my friend Hatch could only say it so well; they done lost their minds!

What is most telling of this turn of events, how charges of corruption have mounted up against the Contractors of America, is exactly what the woman from Texas illustrated: the party matters more then the principle. These were after all the same Republicans who cried for balanced budgets during the Clinton years. How times have changed, now instead of billions in surplus, we are quickly approaching trillions in new debt if you read the latest reports from Congressional Budget Office. Tonight, the Senate passed a $2.8 Trillion budget, a budget that will not even cover all the costs we are going to incur from Iraq, Afghanistan and the damage done to Katrina.

So America, are you happy with the partner you have selected to lead your country in one of the past two elections? Apparently, your tastes have soured because the Associated Press is reporting:

A majority of Americans, 56 percent, believe Bush is "out of touch," the poll found. When asked for a one-word description of Bush, the most frequent response was "incompetent," followed by "good," "idiot" and "liar." In February 2005, the most frequent reply was "honest."

Shit, and I thought you didn't have it in you, America! Maybe y'all done watched enough episodes of Oprah talking about abuse to finally get the hint. This is how it is going to be until January 2009 when George Bush leaves office, so live with it, or do something about it. If you are not happy with the situation, get as many people as you can to register to vote and take the opportunity to vote in this year's Congressional mid-term elections. If you live in Los Angeles County, go to the Registrar website and get the forms to register as a voter. I encourage all of you to contact friends in areas with Republican members of Congress and encourage them to get out the vote and support Democrats in their quest to clean up this culture of corruption.

On a lighter note, has anyone seen this shit about Kanye wanting to make a movie about his life? What the fuck is so damned special about this idiot's life? He has two albums that cell and this guy thinks he is the second coming of Jay-Z, thinkin' oh shit, Fitty and Marshall came out out with movies about their lives, I gots to get mine. And by the way, who the fuck is a college dropout when they drop out of community college? I mean yes it is college, but like you can take like one class at a time! I took PE and trig at Fresno City College and dropped out, that don't make me some fuckin' badass. Look at this pendejo:

Are we just scrapping the bottom of the barrel here? Has 2Pac not come out with another postumous album? Has Puffy not reinvented the remix one more time? Shit, this makes me yearn for the days of Biz Markie and Whodini. I am just distraught, I mean after I saw my boy Q-Tip in Prison Song I swore off semi-autobiographic rapper movies. And shit, Mary J. played his mama in that movie... you can't go wrong with Mary J.

Is America blind to Kanye's mediocre rhymes, weak game and megalomaniac self image?!! This motherfucker has got two albums and he thinks he is fucking Black Jesus. Bring back Tupac, call that South Korean scientist to clone his ass cuz we need to be saved. Better yet, lets consult with my girlfriend Jennifer and find a new savior:

Julieta Venegas, cabrones!! And I know I speak for Jenni, Nono and Alegre by saying to Julieta: Si, quieremos andar contigo!! We need you back in Angelandia, Julieta!

Source . Source . Source .

High Tea with Diddy

2005-08-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

I don't know if any of you caught this on this morning Chisme Roundup of IMDB, but Martha Stewarts has selected Puf... I mean, P. Did... no wait, the 'Diddy' to be one of her first guests when she returns to Network television. As all of you might have heard recently when the Today show broke away from coverage of the violent pullout by Israel from the Gaza Strip... Sean Combs is now know as, just... 'Diddy'. The "P" apparently getting between the 'Diddy' and his fans, shame on you 'P'.

Here is the news from IMBD:

Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart has personally selected one of the first guests to appear on her upcoming TV show - rap mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Stewart, who recently spent time in prison after being convicted last Year of lying to federal agents about a stock sale, is excitedly preparing for the September 12 launch of Martha, which will be a how-to show sprinkled with entertainment. Since emerging from behind bars in March, Stewart went straight to one of her target guests to tell him she wanted to share air time with him. Combs says, "When she got her freedom, she contacted me and told me that they had a nickname for her - M Diddy. And it was comforting to her and she thought it was funny. (She) also (said) that she wanted me to be one of the first guests on her show."

Breakout the Hennesey and Cammoumile, and don't forget your favorite jams. I mean please people, are we that dumb that we would watch pointless bullshit as to see Diddy give tips on which vintage of Cristal would go with a light Waldorf salad and brioche? YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! I am Tivoing this shit as soon as I see the listing. I mean seriously, this may come close to topping the moment where Martha and Busta Rhymes teamed up for the MTV Music Awards. Martha don't break ya neck girl!!!!!!

My idea for a dream pair on Network TV would be... Good Morning Califas with Diane Sawyer and George Lopez. As Dianes prattles on about the daliances of Hollywood's it couples and discusses the impact of Pacific Rim foreign policy on trade in the Harbor area... George catches a glimpse of life in Los Angeles with man-on-the-street interviews.

Opening Credits

Diane: Good morning California, we have some Breaking News this morning. An American Naval Destroyer was attacked at a Port in Yemen. What effect will this attack on American forces in the Middle East have on President Bush's War on Terror? That next. But first, George will explore the new wave of Taco Trucks in American Cuisine. George.

George: "Das Rait Diane. As many of you know, the "Lonchera" or Taco Truck has been a staple in Latino neighborhoods for decades, but the Lonchera has sprung up in places like Des Moines, Iowa and Washington, D.C. as cheap and popular alternatives to comida de mierda, Taco Bell. Today we are hanging out with Agustin and Oso, who run the famous El Pecas Lonchera, right here in Boyle Heights. And Diane, we're gonna make you some Tacos con Buches, bien firmes... so we can get some brown in your pale white body. Camadradas, me das dos Buches para Diane!!!!!
--------------------------------------------

I mean if Martha and Diddy can do what they are doing, George Lopez and Diane Sawyer should be given a chance. Soon enough, you will see La Mousie and Chata partying with Lindsay and Paris at the Tropiciana. Cabanas and Mezcal, here we come!!!!!!!

Complaint of the Day

2005-01-13T11:51:00.000-08:00

Complaint of the Day:

Walmart is the devil. I said it, let it spoken across the land that I have laid down the gauntlet against the world's largest corporation, the Minions of Bentonville, Ar.

Walmart, the world's largest company and perveyors of all things marketable at rock bottom prices, is the source of many ills not only in this country, but abroad as well. While marketing itself as a family run, down home option for Middle America, Walmart denies its workers collective bargaining rights, unionization, health care in many cases, livable wages and ethnic and gender equality in pay.

After being sued by women employees for not giving equal pay to women in management level positions and being caught by the Federal Government for not only hiring undocumented workers, Walmart is going on a public relations offensive.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=509&ncid=509&e=5&u=/ap/20050113/ap_on_bi_ge/wal_mart_scott_3 ">

You see, behind all those wonderfully cheery commercials where Granddad talks about his lovely job being a Walmart Greeter and the His-panic family talks about their son following in the family tradition going to work as a third-generation Walmart employee, we have come to find out that Walmart isn't exactly what it seems.

Surprise, surprise is actually an exploitive Megacorporation that while marketing itself as a keystone in Middle America, does the bulk of it's business with, hold your breath... communists (China), and keeps its prices down by underpaying and stripping benefits from its workers.

In fact, Walmart singlehandedly costs California taxpayers in the 10s of millions of dollars each year because Walmart employees, who lack benefits must draw from Medical to cover what Walmart won't in health services. In cases throughout the country, Walmart was caught using illegal immigrants as cleaning crews in many of their stores.

These immigrants later complained that while working for their contractors and Walmart they were withheld pay, not paid for overtime, and sometimes locked in their stores at night to clean, without a way to leave.

Now comes the news of Walmarts offensive to rebuild its image in the country. Quoting the AP article: "The company took out more than 100 full-page newspaper ads Thursday, outlining the wages and benefits it pays its employees and the good the Bentonville-based company says it brings to communities."

Let's be honest here, most people are still willing to shop at Walmart, no matter what reputation they have. That repuation has been duely earned by Walmart and it's subsidiaries like Sam's Club, because its profit and success are tied to it's ruthlessly efficient business practices and its great negotiating position. I don't shop at Walmart because of these practices, I send my cash to places like Target or Ralph's even though I know they too have unethical business practices.

I just want to point out that as American's buy into this "All-American" business, they should know that Walmart's success has more to do with communist China then with Middle America. Sorry, red states, but you are commie lovers :)

Read this for more background: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45855-2004Nov12.html ">

American Injustice

2005-01-13T11:16:00.000-08:00

This is why I do not trust the Mexican Government, or Mexican Technocrats for that matter, especially those who have attended or work at Ivy League Universities, (get the hint, Nerdedillo... Salinas... Fox?!) Check this guy out, who ran an economic thinktank at Yale and doublebilled for his travel expenses.

Anyways... whats new in my life... not much. All is good with the love life. Took my chiquita home for New Year's which we enjoyed, we hung out with Celia too, went to Bubba Gump's last weekend. I was hanging out with Arnold last weekend and he sliced his finger really badly while washing dishes, trying to help him find some insurance so he can have surgery to repair a damaged tendon.

Not much else is going on in the world of politics... Iraq seems to be getting worse by the minute. The funniest or saddest thing to look at from the past week, was the display put on at the confirmation hearings for Alberto Gonzales who met with the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Gonzales as we all know, penned a memo in 2002 that countered policy protecting prisoners from torture in the Geneva Convention. This man, who wrote arguments supporting torture as just is on the fast track to being confirmed as the leading Law Enforcement Officer in this nation.

What kind of bullshit is this? If we hadn't already had a wonderful time watching John Ashcroft and his deputies stomp on the Bill of Rights, we will have an even better time watching Gonzales circumvent the quaint and obsolete Geneva Convention.

The hearing was a farce, with Lindsay Graham, (R-South Carolina) putting up a more reliable attack on Gonzales then most Democrats on the panel. I mean how can we conceivably be viewed as perveyors of Democracy when we ourselves use the tactics of our "despotic enemies." Graham put it in the most stark light when he said America was getting "cute" with its enemies.

The truth is, Gonzales is more then qualified to be Attorney General, however, he should be fundamentally rejected because his stance on these previous issues create not only a terrible image of America abroad and at home, but also could pose even greater threats to American Civil Rights then perhaps even the feared Ashcroft. But more then likely, Gonzales will be confirmed, and quite easily I am sure.

The sad truth is, Americans don't even register a bit of interest into these subjects, which have such fundamental effects on our lives.

Holiday Season

2005-01-03T16:44:00.000-08:00

So what's new in the political world? Not much, I did read an interesting editorial in the LA Times on Bush's relationship with Putin, which I think is very interesting.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-russia22dec22,1,4321056.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials

In other news, still have some shopping to do for the holidays, got some of my gifts taken care of, but still have to get stuff for my sister, my dad and a part of my gift for Jen, not sure what though yet. She and I are gonna head to Sanger on Friday morning I think.

Celia and Tito are back in town so I will prolly hang out with them at some point, gonna hang out with Nono and chill. Work is boring right now. Starting to study for GREs, may even take the LSATs for fun too, not sure yet, I never really wanted to go to Law School, but who knows. My job pays crap, but the House will be paying my loan payments for me for as long as I work for the Congressman.

All is well for the most part, want to wish everyone a happy holidays with lots of love, tamales and champurrado!

Putin' on the ritz

2005-01-03T16:42:00.001-08:00

So... How's your girl?!

2004-12-22T16:41:00.000-08:00

Okay, so i haven't posted in forever, been too damned busy with work and with the personal life to get back to blogging, plus I have a different blog that I use as well, but that is for the philosophical shit. Eiji has been making me feel guilty, every day he posts a xanga about things I been thinking about so I wanted to keep up.

Work is work, still paid like crap, but been doing more casework lately, been getting some new asylum cases which are tough been good to work on, the immigration cases are the most rewarding. Also been staffing more events as well lately, now that I am settled into my job, starting to get more responsibilities.

Life is very good, been keepin' up with the Mrs. lately, went out for her birthday, I think we may be driving to the coast for New Years to spend a little time relaxing and enjoying the perty beachs around Cayucos and Morro Bay. Taking Jenny from the Block home this week for X-Mas, her family went back to Guadalajara for the holidays. :) gonna help wellis make tamales and other assorted things when I get back.

Celia just got into LA we are gonna hang out at some point this week. So is Teta, that little slut, we are gonna catch up as well. I got to pick up some more gifts.

As for my boy Eiji, Rumsfeld will not be kicked out of the cabinet. If you can understand one thing about Bush is that he will absorb criticism rather then cave to popular opinion. We are gonna live with the neocons for next few years. My guess is that we pull out of Iraq by late Next year or early 2006, once the elections are done. By then, a Civil War will begin between Shia and Sunni.

What America Is About, Part One

2004-11-05T15:53:00.000-08:00

As I sit here thinking about the results of the November 2nd election, depressed, and out of sorts, I think about what America means to me and millions of other people are feeling so low right now. You see, we two have a dream about what America is and what it can be in the future. When we look back at the tenets that Madison, Jefferson and the other founding fathers laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, we seek to live out those tenets, to be the technicians who explore and live out this great experiment in governance and progress. Today, I feel that we have strayed from those ideals because ideology and victory mean more then goodness, unity and prosperity for all. But we shouldn't change our core character, we must only communicate better with the American people. In this time of international war, economic struggle and internal conflict we must reflect on our ideals in order to move forward.

MORALITY
It is in our own path to ideological victory that we have strayed from seeking life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness not just for ourselves, but for everyone. One half of America sees the other in partial or complete deficit of moral values, intent on bringing down the moral center, but that is an ignorant view.

We have faith in a higher power or in goodness and humanity, but we aren't necessarily open expressers of those feelings, maybe that is a fault of ours, maybe it is a strength. What we failed to do in this election was communicate a basic set of tenets and principles to the American public, we let Republicans run roughshod in not only demonize us as evil atheists but also paint us as out of touch and the enemy.

Republicans have no monopoly on values on this country, even as they proclaim so. As some like Ralph Reed, Tom Coburn and Karl Rove profess their party to be pious, supporting the good Christian life and promoting family values, their party systematically attacks the economic and social wellbeing of society by selling their souls to corporate America. Cutting the taxes of corporations and the wealthy and building debt at the expense of social services that can lend a helping hand to struggling American families does not represent family values, it reflects the worst of the sins: greed, sloth and vanity.

It is with humility that we as Americans set forth our ideals and work to better ourselves and as Democrats have hope in what John Kerry most eloquently paraphrased of Abraham Lincoln, "...that we don't pray humbly that God is on our side, but that we may be on his." We strive to do good for our fellow man, our fellow citizens because we seek what Truman described as "our common aspiration to remain free and our determined purpose to achieve for ourselves, and for our children, a more abundant life in keeping with our highest ideals." These ideals are reflected not only in text of the Bible, Torah, Koran, and every other major religious text, but also in thousands of other secular texts, seeking a higher ideal of living life.

Of those 54 million that voted for John Kerry, none made the decision for the Massachusetts Supreme Court to legalize Gay marriage. While some agreed and disagreed with that decision, we still respected that in this country a person is free to live how ever they wish as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. Many of us are pro-choice, but we struggle with the such a contentious decious. We struggle in negotiating where our faith and our democracy can coexist without infringing on the tenets of our government.

Truman was right when he stated aloud that sometimes we do not look closer at the links between our faith and the origins of our American ideals. One does not have to be religious in order to have faith; one may not need to believe in a higher power, but one can atleast believe in a higher ideal of living. This election was fought, won and lost through division and hatred. To this, I call upon all those who seek a better America, more unified by cooperation and understanding.

Democrats or moderates are not at odds with the moral center of America, rather, they care deeply for the prosperity of human life in America and the world. They believe that we as Americans must live by our own principles but that our faith and principles cannot delude us from recognizing our own fundamental diversity and freedoms of express.

We seek to be good human beings and no matter if we agree or disagree with a person's lifestyle and decisions we respect their humanity. This is reflected in Gospel according to Luke, as he explored the interaction of Christ with beggars, prostitutes and thieves. Yet these distinctions are not made by some ardent supporters of President Bush who choose hatred rather then love in interacting with their fellow man. I cannot do so, as a Catholic, heterosexual, I know I do not follow the path of my faith when I say that my best friend is gay.

While many would bring up excerpts from Genesis in stating that such a lifestyle is sinful and unclean, I only know that my friend is one of the kindest, caring and thoughtful people I have ever met. He works hard to support his friends and family, and does an unbelievable amount of goodwill in working to support immigrants who struggle to survive and provide for their children and their communities. The same can be said for my friends who are Atheist, Muslim, Protestant and Buddhist, we may believe in different faiths, but we all share a common goal for humanity.

"You know that being an American is more than a matter of where you or your parents came from. It is a belief that all men are created free and equal and that everyone deserves an even break. It is a respect for the dignity of men and women without reguard to race, creed, or color. That is our creed." - Harry S. Truman

Desperate Housewives, I am your bitch.

2004-10-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

The Fresno Fair

2004-10-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

This weekend Nicosan travels back to the breadbasket of the world, the Central Valley to visit some old ghosts, I mean haunts. I will be visiting the Fresno Fair this weekend with my girlfriend and family, a ritual that was has been a family staple since birth, but that I have not done in 6 years or so. It shall be interesting with lots of the things Fresno is known for: babies, livestock, turquoise jewelry and food. Ah, how I have been missed a good, live calf birth in the morning, warms the coquels of my heart.

In reality, the whole trip to the fair revolves around food. There are the great American classics, Corn Dogs, Frozen Bananas and Shish Kebobs oh my!! I have been dreaming about a cinnamon roll from the fair for 6 years, how I do miss that Canela goodness. My heart is palpitating as we speak. There isn't a great deal more to the fair, not much more you would like to buy or anything of that nature, but it definitely provides for people watching and good ol' fashion Fresno fun.

Oh how we love you Fresno, and you too Clovis, with your FFA members and their Bush/Cheney Hitler Youth buttons, it brings me back to the warmth of our heartland in California. But all jest aside, it is cool visiting home. As a farm kid myself, I miss nature, especially living in this bastion of urban sprawl that is LA, I miss being in the peace of things.

My girlfriend is so nervous about being good around my family, but she doesn't need to worry, they like her a lot, once we chill at the fair, everything will be right as rain. I will make sure to take pictures for you, to show all the agri-goodness that we indulge in at the Big Fresno Fair!

And the down the stretch they come

2004-10-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

We have three weeks left in this horse race that will result in the naming of the 44th President of the United States, and the same typical tactics are being used by the Bush Campaign to paint John Kerry as a tax and spend, Massachusetts liberal. Not to say that Kerry hasn't deserved some heat, I think his campaign has lacked the focus and teeth necessary to meet this unprecidented barrage of attacks by Bush.

Bush has nothing to run on except fear, you can tell that by the language of the rhetoric that they are using on the campaign trail. A nation unprotected from terror, huge tax increases, and lost morals... it is all a bunch of crap if you ask me. If anything, Kerry may be as much of a hawk as Bush, it is just that his military tactics are much different. Secondly, he won't raise taxes on the middle class, he knows better then that. But Kerry has failed to attack back, knock Bush's plan and in succinct wording describe the crux of his agenda. He can beat Bush easily if he does this, Kerry and Edwards have to tear down Bush's shallow policy. But will he do tat I don't know. I think that the campaign needs fewer voices hitting hard, no holds barred, because Bush is gonna do the same.

Rodney

2004-10-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

To paraphrase Ali G, much respeck to you!

Discipline in the Democratic world.

2004-10-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

So I just watched the Vice Presidential date the other day with my sister, who called me the night before to tell me that she had gotten tickets to a Debate Viewing Party at some Movie Studio people suare. I put on a suit, got some smellm' in ma hair and was pumped because she also told me that a famous raconteur was going to be at this event to give a peptalk to these Hollywood folks. Unfortunately, the guy flaked, and we were at the event to watch the debate and schmooze with the n0uveau-riche.

I learned a lot that night, the debate went well, I felt that while Cheney was on top of his game, as he usually is, he did leave some major openings for our man John to come in and kick some rhetorical ass. Edwards was not fantastic, but he proceeded to furiously punch holes into every policy, foreign and domestic of the Bush campaign and he succeeded to a lesser extent in clearing up some perceptions of Kerry/Edwards policy. I still think the debate was close to a draw, though I give Edwards the nod dude to his stylistic advantage. However, what I got most from the event was my distaste for many Democrats who are not disciplined about analyzing the antagonist more. Every time Edwards would make an argument, they would cheer and snicker... and while they were funny in the way they did it, it grew tiring. I felt like I was in a Pink Floyd video where everyone looks and acts the same, they just have different fashion and ego statements that all result in a conclusive, cohesive crowd.

My sister is not one of these people, she and I were talking the entire time about our likes and dislikes throughout the debate, and how both sides could help or hurt eachother. It comes from the way we grew up, the way our parents taught us to analyze situations such as these, and own natures as people... she was a debate/forensics champion in high school and one of the best I have ever seen in person, and I have met many good politicians and operatives in my day. We both have strong vested interests in helping elect Kerry and Edwards and ending the reign of the Bush/Cheney Administration.

Kerry and Edwards seek to reverse the trends of cutting taxes and spending vasts amounts of money the federal government doesn't have to fund a war that has no end in site and distracts from the focus of the war on terror and on terrible policy failures like the Medicare bill, and pork-loaded Farm and Energy Bills. We need to address all of these issues, but not at the detriment of another. As we gave seen with No Child Left Behind and Medicare, the Republicans are all talk and no play, because what matters most to them is retaining power. I think the Democrats hurt themselves by not risking things and at least standing up to some of this bullshit legislation that the Republicans sell to the public as Chicken Salad, but in reality is political Chicken shit. It may hurt us in the short term to be principled people, but better to be principled about trying to make government policy helpful to all Americans then trying to get a majority in congress. Its been 10 years since the Republican takeover, we have controlled the Senate for 1 1/2 years in that time, and the house, none. Let's face it, it is going to take us Dems to get our shit in order and come up with a philosophical underpinning that we can sell to the American people, just as the Republicans did, but it takes discipline and patience, which as we saw in that debate party, very few Dems have.

We need more exchange like the stuff my sister and I had... but it is gonna take discipline, and maybe we should look to the other side to see where our future must take us.

Y'all need to get your stuff in order.

Stories

2004-09-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

So my sister and I flew back to Sangerlandia, home of the nacos. She brought with her some episodes of this show called Wonderfalls, which is about this souvenier store clerk who begins to hear random inanimate objects speak and direct her to do things, many of which she does not want to do. The show is nuts, this girl is crazy, but somehow, each one of these directions lead up to an eventual outcome that you would not expect. You have to check this show out, it is absolutely insane, random and brilliant, unlike anything I have seen before.

Home was good, it was more about reconnecting then anything, with family. The break was needed, as was the sleep which I caught up on. Buddy and Kidito were as happy as pigs in mud with all the attention they got. That is what I love about animals so much, the fact that they can comprehend and extract the most basic emotions that exist in a situation. They are very intelligent, but more importantly, very loving. All they want is a little attention, love and food, and they will provide you with the same... Well aside from food, Buddy does not share his hamburgers with me, nor would I want him to. Kidito is a prima donna, but he also loves his attention, he is a country cat, a little more rough around the edges.

As for more important things, I have been seeing this really awesome girl in LA who have known for a little while, but I am still getting to know her. She is really interesting and funny, alive in a way that just very energetic, but not in the caffeine sort of way. We went to a couple of concerts last week and had an awesome time. I am a bit shy, but she really got me out of my shell. She is an interesting person to talk to, has a lot of interesting stories and insights on life that I can picture but yet, didn't take the time to see necessarily in every day life. She is gorgeous in many ways. I like hanging out with her, I think something might develop, but hopefully things will go slowly. As they say, patience can be a virtue.

the Republican Convention

2004-09-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

I give GOPers this, they are disciplined in their approach at all times, they are rigid to the point of stubbornness, but it works for them usually. Fitting the preverbial square peg into the round hole has been the key to the organization of this Convention, as we have seen in the case of disparate ideologies such as Rudy Guiliani and Zell Miller.

However, watching Zell Miller last night, you have to give him credit, he knows how to beat a point to death. His speech was filled with vitrole, vile anger towards what he deems a eastern-liberal conspiracy to steal his party and move it to the left. From the man I knew as perhaps the biggest fan of Bill Clinton to a man who's ideology would make Bob Barr blush, I thought he was almost too angry. His speech, while effective in galvinizing the conservative base, might have driven away a moderate to conservative undecided body that is seeking levity at this point in the race. His speechs and demeanor remind me of the ol' demogogues that I remember seeing in history videos like George Wallace or Huey Long, fiery, but not quite playing with a full deck of cards. The guy flipped, reminiscent of Strom in '48, angered by the party that has strayed from their ideology.

Following his speech, Sen. Miller appeared on an episode of Hardball, and as Chris Matthews proceeded to question the factual nature of Zell's argument with many soundbites and news quotes from the past 7 or so years that showed a Senator, not only praising of John Kerry, but also an ideological brother. It was very bizarre. Zell at one point told Matthews in no uncertain terms to shut up and wished he could challenge Matthews to an ol' fashioned pistol duel. He has lost his touch on reality.

In the beginning...

2004-09-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

there was Jesus and nothing else, and praise the lord, we have found our ammunition. Just kidding, so I am starting this Blog, I think I am done with Xanga and all that crap from now on. I couldn't really come up with a good name for a blog, I saw this on a tshirt one time, it was kiind of funny and since I do immigration work in my job, i thought it a bit appropriate. But hey, sluts can only do so much. Bouyacasha!