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October 31, 2003
why can't we put these fires out?
I've received a lot of phone calls...family, friends and such asking if I'm safe from the fires. Just more proof that East coast folks think the Apocalypse will begin with California.
We're going to fall into the ocean, you know.
That's the price people pay for temperate weather, a stable economy that relies on brainpower, creativity and ingenuity rather than a meaningless degree symbolized by the letters M,B and A or J, D. That's right, SoCal is afterall the center of all that is wrong with the world. Nevermind anyone try to find vegetables in their grocery stores during January without us. Or go to the movies or turn on the teevee.
Been here about 10 years, lived in San Francisco and it didn't fall into the ocean -- but friends of mine had their houses washed away by a hurricane, in the Hamptons. Twice. FEMA rebuilt them.
Weathered many a mild earthquake, and still get the phone calls. When there is the annual ice storm I don't bother my friends in Washington DC, I assume they know not to drive or try to wear their manolo blahniks to dinner parties at the white house.
Over all, things here are good more than bad. Every dozen years things happen. But it's predictable. We've had drought for FOUR years. We've been aware of the bark beetle problem for at least four years, which multiplies the typical fire danger.
But what I wonder is, why we can send a man to the moon -- we can predict solar flares or find some seedy terrorist who was planning on nuking a city but we can't fight something well understood and known to man since the beginning of time.
Fire.
What is wrong here is that Gray Davis, a tree hugging environmental Democrat didn't do anything about the bark beetle, a known recycler of plants suffering from drought conditions. Not before he ran down our budget surplus, that is.
That's right, after he ran our state into the ground he applied for FEMA aid in April of this year, April!
"In an April 16 letter to FEMA officials, Davis said, "Supplementary federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public health, and foster safety."
Wouldn't have done much even had it been approved immediately, California has had four years of drought (have I stressed enough the length of time the Davis mis-administration had to deal with this and request aid?):
"State Sen. Jim Brulte, a Republican whose district includes big parts of the fire-ravaged area, said that it was not fair for Davis to suggest the federal government has not been doing enough.'The Davis administration twice rejected San Bernardino's request for a state of emergency to be declared and we had to beat up on them to finally get it,' he said. '
Sure the chaparral is dry, but what has made this fire horrible is that no one has done anything about a damn native beetle that destroys our trees and fuels the natural fires.
And I thought that Republicans were supposed to be destroying our environment.
the camera repair fund drive continues, so far I have 41 dollars. The estimate is 175. While that makes me shirk, it's far cheaper than buying a new 4 megapixel camera. I'm only asking for a buck.
UPDATE: I'm up to 126 bucks and planning on throwing in the balance. Thank you to everyone (I'll be sending personal emails out this weekend) for being so generous! Will pack up the G2 and ship it back to Canon on Monday. Again, your help is so very appreciated...can't wait to get the dang camera working again!
Posted by Moxie at 1:00 AM | Comments (16)
October 29, 2003
a late scare for an early halloween
I was searching for something in my archives and realized today (yesterday for some) was my 3rd year blog anniversary.
Three long years at this. If that doesn't frighten most of you, then nothing will.
Started blogging almost a year before 9-11, for no good reason and still people who have had blogspot blogs for two seconds have more recognition and traffic than I ever will. And I'm okay with that. I accept and embrace my mediocrity. Afterall, being a Republican pretty much requires being unpopular -- it's a part of carrying the GOP voting card.
Some good things about the past three years:
-> I made some wonderful friends ( I can't possibly link everyone -- but they know who they are)
-> Had my tripe, I mean writing published in print (for real money) more than once
-> Writing for the public is therapeutic when you have things to say and don't want to burden the "real life" folks.
-> Figured out that several active and intelligent readers were far more satisfying than a huge volume of silent readers.
-> You are no one until someone hates you, or at least trolls your site. If you didn't matter they wouldn't waste their time.
-> Writing most every day is better than not writing at all. Even if you aren't good at it. Practice, practice, practice.
-> My self professed blog children, in no particular order: Ken, Ginger and Lynn
Bad things I've learned and observed:
-> Who cares about social commentary blogs?
-> Everyone is a critic insomuch as if they dislike you, everything about you sucks. Even if you met in real life, you'd probably be friends, or at the very least treat each other with more respect than is shown with the cowardly anonymous face of the interneck.
-> No one who reads you has any clue about how good or bad your life is at any given moment (unless they fall into the first bullet point of the prior category.)
-> Sucking up for traffic is pathetic.
-> No matter how plain you are, people will still tell you that you are ugly because you have blonde hair and an ivy league degree.
Goals for my 4th year:
-> To stop feeling like a loser for *having* a blog.
-> Once the above is achieved to give up this damn blog once and for all...
-> just kidding.
-> Read my lips, no new blog goals.
Posted by Moxie at 10:35 PM | Comments (28)
southern california fires
My Dad sends this daytime photo from San Diego -- incidentally where I was supposed to be this week. Looks like the conditions are far worse there than here in LA.
Aside from some ashy "snow" a few days ago, the itchy eyes and throat, sneezing-allergy-type symptoms things could be much worse in this heavily populated areas of Los Angeles.
visit: the primary main objective. If you've been living under a rock Kevin is back from the undisclosed middle eastern country and holed up in San Diego.
Posted by Moxie at 7:40 PM | Comments (9)
enough with the metrosexualism
If there is anything this country loves it's a buzz word.
Howard Dean is no different, as he jumped on the gay-straight-man trend:
"Dean declared himself a "metrosexual," the buzz phrase for straight men in touch with their feminine sides, as he touted his accomplishments in "equal justice" for gay and lesbian couples."
Fantastic except moments later he admitted,
"I'm a square," Dean declared, after professing his metrosexuality to a Boulder breakfast audience...I don't even get to watch television. I've heard the term (metrosexual), but I don't know what it means"
Personally, I'm tired of the metrosexual craze -- it's popped up everywhere and in many cases it's used by people like Dean in a vain attempt to convince others of how tragically hip they are -- on the inside.
For this girl, the heyday is over. Until a suitable word or phrase replaces it, I'll return to describing those men the old fashioned way -- as "pretty boys"
If a dorky presidential hopeful is using this buzz word in his campaign -- clearly the term is past its prime.
elsewhere: weisblott who is not a metrosexual
Posted by Moxie at 9:13 AM | Comments (24)
October 26, 2003
sunday morning
Posted by Moxie at 8:52 PM | Comments (10)
much of southern California erupting in flames
Thankfully that did not affect Cathy Seipp's Halloween bash at the well appointed, delightfully colorful and most importantly, welcoming Seipp/du Bois home.
Cecile mentioned that she had to tell one of her friends that blogging during the party was a social faux pas. I adore that girl -- wise beyond her years.
After making friends with the resident critters, the investigative reporter dog Linda and a a very sweet photographic memorizer cat, Felice who is incidentally older than Miss Cecile -- Sara and I settled amidst Cathy's lush English garden. We had a great talk about life and whatnot with David Rensin and his precocious son, who knows more about the world than most Al Gore's I know.
Speaking of which, sadly I didn't get to see Mickey Kaus in his Ah-nold Groping Al Gore mask, as well as Nancy Rommelmann, whom I've exchanged emails with and am eager to meet before she does in fact depart Lost Angeles. Even though Luke Ford (costumed as an Orthodox Jewish man of Australian and Christian heritage) reports that both Mickey and Nancy departed shortly before Sara and I did for Eric Almendral's housewarming by the pool in the very balmy North Hollywood, we didn't cross paths at either party.
Thanks to Eric and Brill, as well as Cathy and Cecile for hosting great parties!
Posted by Moxie at 6:06 AM | Comments (5)
October 23, 2003
the nba view from over here
Watching these exhibition games is often like watching a group of 6 year olds learn how to play basketball. There was a moment in the first half of the Lakers/Clippers game where it was played with at least two from each team rolling on the ground batting blindly at the ball simultaneously.
The advantage of watching these games is that you get to see all -- the starters and the rookies and bench warming players who aren’t played during the regular season.
At first I was unhappy with some of the changes on the part of the Lakers…Horry, Walker, Shaw (or who’s NOT there for you non Los Angeles folks) and the “old guys” they took on – Malone and Payton. No more.
Those “old guys” are good. Very good.
Malone and Payton played well with Kobe and Shaq despite having never played together before. It wasn’t a glory game, but the team really seemed to be coming together better than they did last year after getting lazy over their threepeat. Last year and perhaps even the year prior the Lakers got cocky and didn’t take pre-season games seriously. It’s clear this year they have the burning desire to prove that they are a team who is of championship quality.
As always, I comment on the fashion:
Derek Fisher was with out the signature headband
Ely and Dooling from the Clippers must have stolen it.
To pick up the slack, Grant donned sunglasses, because of his D Fish concussion.
Kobe sported a tattoo so his lovely wife (there wearing pink) could have a remembrance of his infidelity in case she left her multi-million dollar pink rock (or was that J Lo) at home. And no, I don't give a rats ass if he did "it" or not, as long as he puts the ball in the bucket I'm fine with him.
My Laker’s (yes MY laker’s, this serves as the annual reminder, I’ve been a laker’s fan since the age of 4) lost to the Clipper’s but the promise they showed was worth it. Any way you look at it, LA has two great teams.
Posted by Moxie at 11:42 PM | Comments (16)
October 22, 2003
my blog tried to kill me
I woke up this morning and my blog had both of its grubby little hands around my throat.
This damn thing is strong and I could hardly breathe. I gasped and whispered that it would not be neglected today. Eventually, it let go and I knew I'd better get moving on the update.
There were times for me when having a place to write everyday was motivating but I have to admit lately I'm like that little cartoon blob in the zoloft commercial who doesn't care about things s/he used to be interested in. See I'm too lazy to rework that sentence so it doesn't end badly.
Sure, it's still self expression, a creative outlet but how creative can you be when you aren't writing to please yourself, you are writing to satisfy what people want to read?
Most of the people I've been friends with forever don't have blogs and I tell them how cool it is that people come here everyday to see what's been posted. Sometimes I wake up and think it's incredible that ANYONE at all cares what I think or finds my scribblings remotely interesting.
And sometimes the posts aren't interesting, like this one. And some people don't care and that's fine by me. I'm not for everyone.
My liberal metrosexual friend looked at my blog the other day and said, "this web log stuff is weird."
And I suppose he's right. The thing is, the more you get involved in real life, the less the blog seems to matter. There are tons and tons of people out there who have never even looked at a blog. And on some level I envy them.
Because afterall, I don't have anything to say that 3,000 other bloggers haven't already written. I guess I'm having an existential blog crisis.
Please stand by.
And an extra big thank you to JL for the Warren Zevon CD! You didn't include an email address so I could thank you properly.
Posted by Moxie at 11:33 AM | Comments (35)
October 18, 2003
let's try this again?
NBC will produce a U.S. version of "The Office", the critically acclaimed, fake documentary-style workplace comedy.
This of course comes on the heels of a hearty yank of the poorly rated Americanized version of the BBC hit Coupling, whose ultimate status has yet to be decided.
MSNBC promises that this series will be "adapted" from the existing scripts and characters.
One would think there aren't any comedy writers in the States...
Though from what I hear, the good ideas are mostly discarded for boilerplate, allegedly "proven" formulaic situation comedies.
Worth noting is that many British shows -- Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, The Weakest Link and Dog Eat Dog -- have been successfully adapted for the American audiences. Popular, at least for a time.
With many American homes enjoying the luxury of hundreds of channels thanks to cable and satellite, you'd think NBC would notice that these more recent BBC shows are already available to us.
Posted by Moxie at 11:42 AM | Comments (18)
October 15, 2003
no need to get testy
Despite the recent gubernatorial victory for the liberal Republican action hero -- it’s still not easy being a Republican in Los Angeles.
What people don’t realize is that people here DO talk about things other than when Barney’s is having its next sale, who took a meeting with whom and where Bennifer was spotted sticking his tongue in some stripper’s nether region.
Regrettably, everyone I encounter likes to talk politics. And not always well. Or sanely.
Of course I’m not referring to any of my liberal or conservative LA area journo or blogger friends in this post. But 99.8% of non-writer folks I know are bleeding heart liberals. Not libertarians, who I can see eye-to-eye with at times but outright partisan-voting Democrats.
When I say that Ah-nold’s enthusiasm about his new job is exactly what we need right now I get the eye roll and an accusation of being a *gasp* Republican. That’s right a full fledged card carrying member of the vast right wing conspiracy.
I agree wholeheartedly, at least about the conservative part and people start looking for the check, glancing at their watches and respond, “how can you be conservative – look at Bush, that guy’s a fuck up. What about Reaganomics? Are you nuts?”
Yes, I am. But not when it comes to politics.
As if their half baked "he's a fuck up" comment is a such a pervasive statement that I’ll immediately go and register as a dem. Many of these people are graduates of top tier colleges, are eloquent speakers in any other situation and highly successful and decorated in their given fields.
Yet still people’s brows begin throbbing at my very existence as a conservative. In Los Angeles, no less. I chuckle as they throw such “logic” at me, like;
“Fiscally conservative my ass – look at all the money he’s spending on {air quotes}homeland security{/air quotes}”
Right, totally unnecessary.
and
“We destroyed a whole country. Iraq, a country that was better off under the rule of Saddam Hussein.”
Yep, an evil dictator who murdered his own people is hiding scared at his Mommy's house in Tikrit while the country is rebuilt to allow a more humane existence.
and
“Who are you? An Ann Coulter clone? ”
No, unlike YOU I am not partisan ideological. I don't care for Ann nor Rush but I don't expect you to think for yourself either. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
and my favorite
“Why should we impose our values on others? How can you be a creative person AND a Republican?”
This is where my upbringing comes into play. Dad taught me you can’t reason with the unreasonable. Sometimes in severe cases he’d say, “you can’t reason with the insane.”
Even if you are right and have proof. This is why I tend not to want to debate.
It's not like providing proof will change their minds. People are stubborn, myself included.
elsewhere: joy rides without maps
Posted by Moxie at 1:25 AM | Comments (54)
October 13, 2003
in honor of rush
There's so much to write about and yet I have little urge to do so. Might have something to do with popping an oxycontin in Rush's honor this past weekend.
I was torn about what to do to honor the big sweaty guy, as my liberal metrosexual friend likes to point out -- you are a Republican, you are supposed to like guys like him.
Gaining weight and going bald are so 1999. And I always have a foot firmly planted in my mouth. Oxycontin sounded more like a stain remover than a narcotic, but I felt it was the right thing to do while the big guy is in detox.
After choking on the pill because I hadn't yet cracked open a beer, I heard a loud thump outside my front door. It was my housekeeper Uta, dropping off the 50 lbs of pills I asked her to buy down in south central.
I felt badly because I had just called her on the cell phone and yelled at her for folding my towels in half instead of in thirds and for leaving the pool boy here unsupervised.
Last time Uta left him alone he raided the wine cellar and I found him asleep on the raft with a Bulgarian albino midget drinking a 100 dollar bottle of wine....from the bottle.
To be honest I blame her for everything from soap scum to the economic climate. But what can I expect? The Wilson's recommended her.
After they fired her she worked briefly for Moshe Kleinberg but was promptly dismissed because she served him pork. On the dairy plates.
Uta sought therapy and took residence with a local psychic and clairvoyant Carmelita who required that her socks and unmentionables be ironed. But that too soured after Carmelita predicted that Uta's uterus would soon drop between her legs.
It did.
She wandered around Los Angeles and lived out of Owen's storage space.
He had to get rid of her to make room for a credenza he picked up at a tag sale and thus she came to live here.
I've digressed.
Oh right, so I'm not terribly motivated to write today. But there's a pretty picture up top.
elsewhere: the newly blonde Kate Sullivan!
Posted by Moxie at 7:28 PM | Comments (20)
October 10, 2003
still blooming
elsewhere: it is vicky's blogoversary! congrats!
Posted by Moxie at 1:05 AM | Comments (1)
October 9, 2003
back to the grind & purple hair
I had quite a few phone calls today and they were all from Ah-nold. Actually from friends doing their best imitations of the Governor-elect.
But I realized, while the circus is over the fun is just beginning. Everyone is working on their Austrian accents, though personally, I've perfected the Ariana Huffington accent down to the smallest nuance. I'm taking bets on how long the laughs last.
Haven't had time to respond to email in a few days and it's piling up. This is bad, of course. However, I thought I'd answer a few of the more common questions/comments here.
I'm jealous of of the exciting life you lead (in regards to the victory party)
Trust me, my life is about as exciting as my neighborhood transients. In other words -- it's not exciting at all.
Los Angeles is exciting.
That's why I love being here. All the benefits of the big city along with the pleasures of suburbia. Cool, strange and/or interesting stuff happens in California all the time. And we never have to shovel snow.
People can scoff and say "thank jeebus" they don't live here, but what they don't know is, we feel the same way about them not being here. We'd like to keep this great place to ourselves. The rest is just sour grapes.
and your last pic. you? rolling around in the balloons? blurry as it is, the
glee is unmistakable.
Yes, that was me lying on the stage in a mess of balloons and confetti. Due to nefarious activities with previously posted photos and my inability to go anywhere without someone recognizing me I'm not planning on posting new clear photos. I get the shitty lack of anonymity with out all the spoils (money) of actual fame.
But yes, that was glee. It was great to see all the various people present who were so gawd d*mn happy to see the end of Davis' *ahem* illustrious career. (And to the lawyer who recognized me, please email...I've forgotten your name and website)
There was such a great vibe in the house and aside from the young single Republican men working the, "hey how you doin'" thing on the plethora of young Republican women, it was a wonderful group of people who look forward to, if nothing else the termination of the 300% hike on the car tax.
I love your blog, the photos are great!
Thanks, does that mean I don't have to write anymore? That would require a lot less work!
And last but not least:
Your new hair looks really cool
Thanks and while that doesn't really require a response, I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell a quick anecdote. Had to meet a certain hottie in Los Feliz tonight. Took a shower, since being clean is always good. Washed my hair with a brand of shampoo I've used off and on for over 15 years. It has a purple tint to it -- for you men -- that keeps the white blonde hair from turning gold or brassy.
Was running late, got out of the shower, dried off and in my robe I began blow-drying my hair. It was a few minutes before the mirror started to un-fog and much to my shock and dismay, my newly very blonde pieces of hair were purple.
I'm not talking orchid.
Or even lavender.
These strands were punk rock purple. Oh yeah and very visible.
I had no choice but to get back into the shower and rewash. I did, twice. Got back out cleared a spot on the mirror and saw that my hair was now elderly woman blue. Had I had a pair of support hose and a hand knitted shaw I would have passed for the senior citizen discount. Either that or a tragically textbook case study of a Silver Lake hipster on her way to an early Halloween party.
What else could I do but get in and shampoo three more times?
All turned out well and blonde again. But I've got a large, brand new bottle of shampoo here, free for the asking.
does NOT have purple hair: jargonese
Posted by Moxie at 3:00 AM | Comments (23)
October 8, 2003
That's the terminator
I have to admit it was deja vu -- a few weeks short of a year ago I was also at the Century Plaza Hotel for a victory party. Not as a supporter but as mole.
Back then, it was Gray Davis giving his victory speech and I was the only one not cheering. Tonight was so very different, in many ways. No ice sculptures, for one. The second difference was the required wrist band to get into the ballroom.
When Gray hosted his victory party in the same venue, it was anyone and his uncle in the ballroom. And the ballroom wasn't even close to packed. No one cared.
Tonight, I had to work it and finagled a bracelet, actually ended up with three of varying importance but just before the fire marshall closed the escalators down to the ballroom 30 minutes before the victory speech. God himself would have no chance of proceeding to the action.
I sat outside and witnessed unhappy people who were refused access -- the MSNBC guy who's forehead veins looked to be busting a move toward the point of bursting, as well as press members who spoke only Japanese, camera guys who wore turbans and the local access channels who were interviewing any guy who had a "Join Arnold" sign.
The "Join Arnold" signs were about as available as left breast gropings. No where in sight. Lots of us were looking for them.
Was feeling like a complete loser for letting my readers down when I was in line for the finally-open escalator to the ballroom -- Jill? JILL? It's Moxie? Oh my gosh, hi. I couldn't get down there in time either.
And suddenly the magnitude of this thing hit me. Jill Stewart got fire marshalled too.
But my time upstairs was not wasted. I dragged a friend over to this Orthodox Jewish man and we struck up some conversation.
We asked him, are you here as a supporter, just as a lone loser walked across the overpass carrying a Nazi sign and shouting slurs. We looked to the Orthodox man who turned and laughed. He said, I'm glad that's just one man and not a crowd, I don't believe that. Arnold isn't a Nazi, and I've been interviewed by teevee folks about that at least five times tonight. My Yamaka gave me away.
He lives in my hood and we chatted about which deli had the best stuffed cabbage, about a local school and suddenly Arnold made sense to me. Folks who wouldn't ordinarily talk were chatting like friends. We agreed that this recall had woken people out of their slumber.
Whether the Governator succeeds or not, at the very least this recall has reminded the peep-hole of Kalifornia that voting is important. Early stats show that voters came out in record numbers. And as they should have.
Buh-bye Davis. Oh and don't forget to remove the A and S keys from your office keyboards.
Posted by Moxie at 3:35 AM | Comments (7)
governate THIS
Posted by Moxie at 2:31 AM
October 7, 2003
gray's lost cause prayers
This just made me chuckle. I'm sitting here watching early coverage and clicking around to various news sources.
Emphasis is mine, but from the Washington Post:
By late afternoon with the polls still open and Davis making calls at get-out-the-vote rallies, several of his aides appeared shell-shocked as if bracing for bad news.Asked if he thought he would lose the recall section of the ballot, Davis told reporters he was not in the mood to discuss that but added, "There is plenty of time for post-mortems tomorrow."
He went to afternoon mass and told reporters afterward he offered a prayer to St. Jude, who is the patron saint of lost causes.
The map to watch, which is allegedly going to be updated approximately every 10 minutes starting at 8 p.m. PT on October 7th.
This link will show which candidate leads in the second part of the ballot. In other words who will replace Davis when, I mean if the recall is passed.
UPDATE: I'm off to the victory party, if I can find parking that is. The venue reports a full house but I have my ways ;)
Hope to have photos and such tomorrow.
Posted by Moxie at 5:55 PM | Comments (4)
October 6, 2003
gray and i atone
It was Yom Kippur and never liking to be left out, Gray Davis and I hung out.
Not being up on the proper traditions, we spent many hours atoning for our sins by drinking heavily, groping each other and then pushing each other’s faces into the toilet bowl. We called the Los Angeles Times to report what was going on but the LAT said they weren’t seeking any mud on Davis.
And they told this to Davis who was reporting himself. Seems he feels a bit bamboozled and wants a piece of the action, so to speak.
Gray: I love Hitler!! Write about me, me ME!
LAT: I’m sorry Governor Davis, we have no interest in writing about your transgressions.
Gray: I just groped this young Angeleno and she slapped me. This is a story ma’am.
LAT: Gray, if we printed this it would be bad for you, we both know we don’t want bad things printed. Fair and balanced is for Fox.
Gray: I’m irresponsibly drunk and silly! In the last hour I've humilated at least 2 women. One was FELINE!
LAT: No, you are disciplining an unruly employee and had just ONE drink, sir
Gray: Are you sure?
LAT: Yes Governor Davis, I’m quite sure your take of the events are way off base.
Gray asked me when I was going to stop talking shit about him and get back to writing more social commentary and LA Stories. I grabbed his ass and said, “this IS an LA story, but I’ll stop talking shit once you’re out of office, bucko.”
He grabbed my left breast and I slapped him while giving yet another minute by minute account to the nice desk jockey at the LA Times. The young gal still insisted they didn’t have space for the Gray Davis smear. So I asked Gray to hit me back and boy does that guy have a left hook – like a small child. A toddler. LAT? Still not taking notes.
After being hung up on the last time, we laughed until tears were streaming down our faces and the Gray-master begged me. Whatever you do Moxie, don’t link this story.
Because if shit’s gonna be written about him, he prefers it be his friends at the local tabloid not a real journalist who can write about both candidates.
After I got ole Gray good and drunk I asked him, “what do you want me to write about?”
He fell asleep trying to get the cap off another beer. That guy never could party.
don't miss: leaving los angeles
Posted by Moxie at 11:59 PM | Comments (15)
October 4, 2003
breaking news: what you won't read in the NYT
Had to break from the smallish crowd and even bigger ruckus downstairs to report...
General Wesley Clark has admitted that he and Arnold Schwarzenegger have engaged in highly controversial bi-partisan time travel. Digital films viewed only by the VLWC show that Arnold groped and humiliated Hitler several times during their jaunt back to WWII era Europe.
The left is asserting that the fact Arnold dared grope a historical dictator must imply intense disrespect and hatred for the Nazi's. A claim the Schwarzenegger camp has affirmed and refuses to apologize for. And then apologized for, because he doesn't want to offend anyone.
Hitler never filed any charges of course and asked that Clark not reveal his name. It was confirmed through a copy-editor that columnist Robert Novak's article to be published tomorrow will reveal the identity of the gropee much to the chagrin of Maria Shriver, a top secret spy for the CIA. Or so says some unnamed White House Correspondent, Geraldo Rivera.
Arnold is calling for a recall of the film and Gray Davis is raising funds so he can travel back in time and regain his bristly brown hair of yesteryears.
until monday
Posted by Moxie at 12:14 AM | Comments (9)
October 2, 2003
Vast Left Wing Conspiracy
Anyone else feel the three big right wing political issues should be entered into the Coincidences-that-probably-aren't-coincidences Hall of Shame? [UPDATE: also via Kaus, Bill Bradley smells something funny]
Rush Limbaugh: As a lifelong Republican even I can admit the guy puts his foot in his big mouth more often than some people blink but the guy has said more offensive things. Why this, why now?
Last I checked, yep just did again, his statement seemed to be more of an accusation that the media was being racist. Sports coverage has never been gentle and is consistently filled with opinions and speculation.
Lots of public figures get more coverage if they are viewed as an "underdog" for whatever reason because most (sadly, not all) of human nature would like to see equality.
And that's not a bad thing necessarily. So the black quarterback is doing a good job and the media spins it. Not a first.
Think of blind or deaf musicians, handicapped athletes, even the best actress oscar that went to Halle Berry. She surely wasn't the first black actress to deserve one, but we loved that winner and it did get more coverage because it was a first. It was a sign that the proverbial playing field seemed to be leveling a little bit. I could rant on this for hours, how many black actors are there, why do we still identify people by skin color, race or disability, etc. I'll spare you.
(You're welcome)
The fact that this has become such a big deal is completely absurd. There are lots of blatantly racist comments made everyday, this wasn't one of them.
Ah-nold: Moving on to the "recent" womanizing revelations -- to be frank -- they make me chuckle more than anything else. These Democrats "who were not involved in the LA Times piece" are the very same Democrats who argued that Clinton's historical womanizing and playing rousing games of "hide the cigar" with an intern had nothing to do with a) lying under oath and b) his ability to complete his term as President. Why is Ah-nold's naughtily expressed love of women supposed to be an issue now?
Because he's a Republican, of course.
To use the left's own defense, whatever the 4 nameless women (who never filed ANY charges) say he did, doesn't affect his ability to balance a budget and trim the fat, so to speak in Sacramento.
Ah-nold on Hitler: Of course, this isn't 'new' news as Mickey Kaus points out. And after clicking on the link Kaus provided I found this interesting:
There is also the allegation of Arnold's having said on-camera, during the filming of "Pumping Iron" (1977) by director George Butler, that he "admired" Hitler. This last allegation was included in a 1991 Schwarzenegger biography by Wendy Leigh, who quoted Mr. Butler as her main source. In the summer of 1992 Mr. Schwarzeneger won a libel suit against Ms. Leigh, not regarding her book but a 1988 article she helped write for the British tabloid News of the World that included other allegations. Part of that settlement was an apology from Ms. Leigh, which read, "Mr. Schwarzenegger has never espoused Nazi or anti-Semitic views, has never been an admirer of Hitler's evil regime, and he did not admire or approve of his father's alleged conduct."
This jury is still out on this last item, only time will tell.
[Another UPDATE: text added below. Not surprising.]
In the portion of the interview read over the phone and later distributed by the campaign, Mr. Schwarzenegger said: "In many ways I admired people — It depends for what. I admired Hitler for instance because he came from being a little man with almost no formal education, up to power. And I admire him for being such a good public speaker and for his way of getting to the people and so on. But I didn't admire him for what he did with it. It is very hard to say who I admired and who are my heroes. And I admired basically people who are powerful people, like Kennedy. Who people listen to and just wait until he comes out with telling them what to do. People like that I admire a lot."Mr. Butler said the book proposal had erroneously dropped a few words from a quotation attributed to Mr. Schwarzenegger. According to Mr. Butler's reading of the transcript, Mr. Schwarzenegger followed his comments about Hitler's public speaking by adding, "But I didn't admire him for what he did with it." He did not say, "I admire him for being such a good public speaker and for what he did with it," as he was quoted in the book proposal and in early editions of The Times.
Mr. Butler said he could not explain the inaccuracy. "I am amazed that something like that escaped me."
Mr. Butler also read other sentences of the transcript, spoken in Mr. Schwarzenegger's then-imperfect English, that related to the subject. "Yes, in Germany they used power and authority but it was used in the wrong way," Mr. Schwarzenegger said, according to Mr. Butler. "But it was misused on the power. First, it started having, I mean, getting Germany out of the great recession and having everybody jobs and so on and then it was just misused. And they said, let's take this country, and so on." Mr. Schwarzenegger concluded: "That's bad."
But there is one thing I know -- this is more drama than an entire night of Jerry Springer. I can hardly wait to see what brand new mud-slinging tomorrow will bring....
inappropriate link: tony since he hates my right-wing views but hangs out with me anyway
Posted by Moxie at 8:09 PM | Comments (28)
sadly, more on the governator
"Have you ever had a man slide his tongue in your {backside}?"
Matt Welch read this story and thought -- this is our next governor and found irony in his choice of Twisted Sister for campaign theme song.
Me? I read it and wondered if this sort of treatment has been extended to and enjoyed by Kennedy offspring, Maria Shriver.
There is no emoticon for a shudder, with mental imagery of that one I may not be able to sleep without nightmares for many nights.
elsewhere: merde in france
Posted by Moxie at 1:33 AM | Comments (18)
October 1, 2003
not on the bandwagon
Recently I was forced to procure a cell phone.
Don’t get me wrong, the 9 months I spent without one were at times “inconvenient,” it required me to be where I was supposed to be at the time previously agreed upon. Before I left for a new location I had to print out directions and be responsible. I was unreachable if I left the confines of Casa Mox. I was an Angeleno of mystery and intrigue -- who is this woman that doesn’t have a cell phone in Los Angeles?
I didn’t.
And it was divine.
Talk about a return to so-called responsibility. Cell phones allow people to change plans at the last minute, disturb the peace during a movie, ask inane questions at inappropriate times and yes I’ve even spent time with people who engaged in 20 minute cell phone conversations with clients during dinner on a Saturday night. For me, the peace and quiet and lack of an “OH, was that my cell phone ringing” moment was priceless. Cell phone etiquette in every day life is non-existent. I hate cell phones.
Granted they can also be lifesavers. You can let someone know you broke down in the fast lane of the 405 or got snarled in accident-related traffic and will be late but the necessity of a cell phone and the convenience of having one for me didn’t balance.
Regardless, I was forced into the possession of a new cell phone. The guy was pushing a camera model cell phone and I laughed at him. Why? I like to take photographs.
Primarily, because I always carry a camera -- I have a big bulky one and also a tiny model that fits in my pocket. But that isn’t why I hate the camera model phone, it’s sneaky and I’m not the only one who finds it offensive.
When I take pictures of people, it’s important that they know it.
I’m not talking about candid street shots where some people appear inadvertently. I’m talking about people who snap secret portraits. A picture of an unsuspecting person can be distributed to the internet before the guy or gal even leaves the venue. Admittedly, I don't know much about the law in that area but I'm interested to know more.
Over the last few months I’ve had my photo snapped by some wankers at bars who appeared to be checking voicemail on a flip camera-phone. After asking him to delete it, I got a hearty “f*ck you.”
Being cursed with the not-terribly-photogenic gene, unless I know and trust someone I don’t like having my picture taken. And even then it’s been brutal at times.
Sure his phone made some sounds, but they were barely audible over the bar noise. Is this different from regular photography? In a sense, yes of course but I’m just one small woman who refuses to jump on the bandwagon.
For now.
check out: wizbang
Posted by Moxie at 2:42 PM | Comments (27)
