Tuesday, September 30, 2003

nojobno$nojobno$nojobno$nojobno$nojobno$nojobno$

procrastination is, like, the greatest game ever.... it just takes so long to finish

Sunday, September 28, 2003

NO ON PROP 54


"SUCKERS!"
"Candy from a stranger!"
"54 Sucks!"

These were my mantric cries at today's Folsom Street Fair where millions upon millions of Californians come to play in the sun. Several years ago, while working at the political consulting firm, I came up with the idea of passing out suckers with political messages on them at outdoor festivities because people never really want to take a flyer, never pay much attention to political issues, and often don't have pockets. And when you're outdoors, who doesn't want candy? So over the years I keep doing my sucker thing when there's an issue to promote, and lo and behold, well there's the No on 54 cause. So yesterday my friends from the Asian Law Caucus, where I've been volunteering for the last couple of weeks in relation to the No on 54 campaign, met up (after we walked precincts for several hours), bought cheap suckers, made labels, and put them together. Voila! The message is out there. And everyone gets to laugh at the joke about taking candy from a stranger.

Never think that things can't get any stupider, or that the Republican party will not stoop to a new, stupid low. Let's see, credentials? Nope. Fame? Yea sorta. Well, then, we got a winner.

This story really saddened me: No one wins in this case. It is just another indication how dangerous it is for weapons to be readily available in the community. That is something that is hurting minority communities very deeply.

Friday, September 26, 2003

The stupidity of the California Recall: "I stopped doing radio interviews because I'm sick of talking about my platform," [porn actor Mary] Carey said... Then again, Carey is the kind of recall candidate who interrupts an interview by saying, apropos of nothing, "I'm really horny."

In an update on my recent diatribe on the local SF schools superintendent woes: Whew! "I am not going to have anybody run me out of this school district," said Ackerman, 56. "I don't plan to leave here until I'm ready to retire -- and I'm a relatively young woman." And the Chronicle did a nice editorial today supporting her and her work here. Now let's make sure she stays and vote these nutjobs on the Board out next year! Sorry Sparks, I know you'd like her for NYC, but we're not about to lose her.

so the new extra quarter for the MUNI (sf bus system) is driving me nuts. i never seem to have one with me, even though i try and remember to bring one. my friend Esther gave me a great idea of buying bus tokens in advance. i should look into that.

a few days ago i was searching through my bag for some change for Jessie, cuz he forgot a quarter that day. i used to carry a whole bunch of change in my upper pocket of my backpack for just this reason, but i had recently dumped it all out cuz it was getting heavy. so we're walking around powell street station and i'm walking and rummaging at the same time and my box of prozac pills falls out and spills all over the street. little prozac pills were everywhere. i woulda picked them up except that this wasn't exactly the cleanest street in the world. my drugs! my happy pills! jessie laughed and took pictures. oh well, at least maybe some homeless people will be a little happier this week. i still never found the extra quarter. gotta buy some tokens.

Saying one thing for the cameras, doing another when they're off: While Bush stated that he would commit three billion dollars a year over five years, the President only committed two billion dollars to various AIDS programs - $1 billion less than what he initially promised and far less than what is needed to fight HIV/AIDS

Thursday, September 25, 2003

Anyone of you in this audience could be declared an enemy combatant even though you are a United States citizen. You could be taken to Guantanamo and locked up in solitary confinement. You would not be able to make contact with your family or a lawyer. You would just sit there until the government decided when it wanted to release you.
Anyone of us. Anyone.

Chris: Have you ever noticed how Radiohead's Optimistic from Kid A seems to be channelling the Bangles' Eternal Flame? I noticed that tonight as my humming merged between the two songs. Do you think they meant that? Eerie.

A thought after reading two separate articles from today's Business section of the paper:

Looks like the television industry is thinking creatively in this new tech-age of ours. Too bad the music industry can't seem to do that and is instead suing its own customers-- and sometimes even suing bystanders at random. You'd like to think that the music industry could think a little creatively too. But they're too stupid for that.

every once in a long while, if i'm feeling depressed or lonely, i'll go over and lay my head in front of Amaya and let her lick my forehead. she loves doing that and is always trying to catch me asleep so she can do it because i don't let her most of the time. if it didn't hurt (her tongue is sharp) i wouldn't mind so much. anyway, she'll lick me and purr and i'll feel a little better.

People understand there is something very special about America and its liberties and its freedoms and what you see the Bush administration knitting together with John Ashcroft is a police state. Everybody was running around after 9/11 saying if we don't do that, the terrorists win. Well if we end up with a police state, the terrorists win, too.

i've been depressed and angry and sad and blah for the last 2 days since i realized i wasn't getting a job that i really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really wanted and i was perfect for. i didn't go to my spanish class last night cuz i was just too upset about it. stupid job. bleh.

unlike the homophobic boy scouts, girl scouts rule! www.girlsgotech.org

Bush's Fuzzy War Math

I know it's been a great while, but here's a new update from Leslie, that great Woman of the World, from her Kenyan Peace Corps Assignment:

"Yes I know it has been a long long time since I last wrote but you all know how it goes, you get a little side tacked, you write a mass email and just as you are about to send it (after hours of tying and waiting for your address book to open) the computer system crashes and what feels like your life's work is lost forever!! This happens a lot here and still I cry every time. so now that I have come to terms with the fact that the email i labored over a few weeks ago is gone. I have decided that its time to once again sit down and write to all you good folks out there who are dying to know what is gong on with little old me. So here you are:

"First of all part of my lengthy email procrastinating was due to the fact that I ventured back to the bay area for a whole 6 weeks!!! All those I missed seeing, pole sana "very sorry" but hey you could have trekked to see me being that I traveled halfway around the world, 24+hour on a plane is always fun.... So the purpose of my visit besides to shop, consumerism at its best was me at the Victoria Secret sale, I couldn't have picked a better shopping time to come home!! Seriously after living in a place with over priced foreign goods that really are not that well made it is amazing to shop for such a variety of things, colors, textures and prices!!! I have to say though it was overwhelming, though it was great to get some very necessary luxury items!! So besides my shopping extravaganza I was delighted to attend and be part of the wedding of Nadia and Zac!! I don't think I will ever attend another wedding like it. Who can beat a week long party in Hawaii! It was truly amazing to see everyone and celebrate such a special time with two great people. So after a week of fun in the sun I returned to the bay area to spend quality time with the fam, have a bit of wrist surgery and visit with everyone a little longer. Then it was back to Kenya and here I am in Mombasa trying again to adjust to life on the coast!! Really I am the luckiest Peace Corps Volunteer!!

"Ok so life back in Mombasa has been great!! For the last month I have been traveling all over visiting the community groups we work with in the south coast. I also traveled to Oloitoiktok, a town at the base of Kilimanjaro.(It i amazing to look up at such a beautiful mountain that seems to rise out of the flat plains) We brought the fisherman's group we work with in Diani to see the community based sanctuary and group ranches that are run by the Masai. The purpose of the visit was to have the fisherman see first hand how a community can organize itself and generating income for the community while conserving the environment. The Masai have created a sanctuary between Amboseli and Tsavo giving the parks a necessary corridor for wildlife to migrate through. The Masai in coordination with the African Safari Club have turned the sanctuary into an attractive safari destination generating income for the community. It has been great to be back at work, I am o back in the swing of things I sometimes feel that i never went away!

"Besides adjusting to being back at work, I have been readjusting to life in Mombasa. I can hardly believe how small the roads really are. After living here for a year the main drag seemed huge compared to the dirt side streets!! When i first returned I could hardly believe that I walked along such a narrow road with so many cars!! Now that i am use to the roads again they seem normal, I just keep reminding myself that things are bigger in the West. I think the best part of visiting the states was realizing that Mombasa is my home. I am glad to be back here for another year!! I hope you are all well!! I will try to write more often!!!

Take Care,
Leslie "

I know I don't often write about local San Francisco politics much on here, and that's mostly because it's so intense and stupid and fractious that I don't want to deal with it. San Francisco itself is a bit like living in a political whirlwind where we liberal Democrats are strong, but where stupid greens and the farthest left people you can imagine are also strong and are always ready to push you with their holier than thou attitude. Simply imagine this, from those you know me and read my page regularly and know how liberal and progressive I am on here, so simply imagine this: in the politics of San Francisco I am a moderate-conservative. Does that seem like a world turned upside-down or what?

Anyway, as I said, I don't write that much about local doings for many of these reasons. But today I am just so angry right now about the fact that some of the 'holier than thou' left crowd are trying to push our wonderful School Superintendant Arlene Ackerman (yes, the one who helped put the DC schools back together before coming here) out. It's all stupid politics. It's not even real issues. And it's mostly coming from the Green members of the board (yes, we in San Francisco, have Green party elected officials). And so they're never happy with anything. Ugh, I am so angry this morning about this.

Oh, and did I mention that before Ackerman came to SF the schools were terrible and falling apart and there was gross mismanagement and she's greatly fixed things and done a great job and there's an important bond proposal this November that the schools desperately need and that this chaos is ruining its chances of passage and the end result of whatever happens is our schools will be worse off. Very stupid politics indeed.

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Ladies and gentlemen, this is not Comedy Central. It's hard to tell anymore.

So the guy, Republican Congressman Darrell Issa, who funded the signature-gathering that led to the recall which is costing California upwards of $70 million, causing county election department to go through overdrive and madness, forcing an unprecedented and untimely election, making the state look stupid, providing laughs throughout the world, and driving everyone and the courts crazy, has decided that, in a most partisan way, that if it looks like the Republicans may split their vote and reelect Democrat Davis or elect Democrat Bustamante then he no longer supports the recall. This is the guy that funded the whole thing purportedly for nonpartisan aims now saying that if it doesn't result in a partisan Republican coup than it's not worthy of his time anymore. Can we sue him for the upwards of $70 million he's causing our state?


Come again, Darrell. You're responsible for putting us through this season of recall madness, and you're now saying you might vote for Davis after all? You're kidding, right? Apparently Issa's not kidding. He says he is upset there will be more than one major Republican on the ballot, and Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante may end up succeeding Davis. Or maybe the real reason Issa is so upset is that he couldn't bag the governorship for himself.

www.reeseshealth.com. i may be starting this new blog just to write about my ongoing health problems. and i swear i'm not a hypochondriac. i swear! anyway, i thought about that today because, wait a minute, ready for this, another mysterious health-related thing happened to me this week. last week i noticed a small mole growing on the inside of my leg. i'd never seen it there before. after a few days it started hurting as i would walk and my legs would move past each other. then monday it turned scabby and red. yesterday i wore a bandage over it so it wouldn't hurt. today i pulled the 'mole' off easily as it had become just a reddish scab-like monster. now there's nothing there. is my body being taken over by aliens? read about this further in reeseshealth.com.

"If Arnold Schwarzenegger can run for governor in California, then who knows? I have the muscles." --- Martina Navratilova. Hey Chris, she lives in Colorado, she's liberal, and she's openly Lesbian. Is Colorado ready?

Tuesday, September 23, 2003

NO ON PROP 54

"Cantonese, Line 1!"
"Mandarin, Line 2!"

So tonight I helped out at a phone bank urging voters in San Francisco to vote against Proposition 54. It was located at the offices of Chinese for Affirmative Action in Chinatown. We were specifically calling Chinese voters in the City. I, of course, speak no Chinese (neither Cantonese nor Mandarin) or any other language except for a little Spanish. So when we would get a caller on the line who didn't speak English we would, for those of us who didn't speak anything else, say "Cantonese? Mandarin?" and they would say one or the other. We would then yell out to this one guy in the same office who was fluent in those languages (and english-- he's trilingual, i'm so jealous) and he would run around, often up and down stairs, and pick up the calls we had on hold.

A little chaotic. A little crazy. A lot of fun. The other interesting thing I noted about myself is that if someone doesn't speak English and I'm trying to tell to them to hold, I jump into Spanish. "Un momento, por favor." Which of course makes no sense because they don't speak that language either. But I guess it made sense in my lingual mind somehow.

"Cantonese? Mandarin? Un momento, por favor."

so my rheumotologist called today, the specialist i've been seeing about my mysterious illness i've had all summer. he had gotten my message about friday night's episode and had me go over the details with him on the phone. he's determined that i suffered a serious bout with vertigo and that it isn't related to my mysterious illness. it's hard to know what's right and wrong anymore. i do know that i felt mostly fine over the weekend and since, except for some sleepiness and that involved lots of napping. i certainly don't want to experience friday night's episode again and hopefully i won't. it's all just too weird and continually mysterious to me. i do appreciate the thoughts and concerns ya'll have expressed. i think Jessie put it best by simply writing on my birthday card: 'happy birthday, don't die'. ah, sweeter words were never spoken.

Perhaps some enterprising academic will write an essay explaining how stereotype so easily overwhelms substance on this subject. Cleland, a former U.S. senator, lost three limbs to a grenade in Vietnam; yet, he was defeated by Saxby Chambliss, who labeled Cleland unpatriotic. Chambliss claims a bad knee kept him out of Vietnam.... [and] hard-right Republicans hail Junior, who never got within 5,000 miles of the enemy, as a daring flyboy. Go figure.

Thanks for all the nice birthday wishes! So sweet of ya'll. Had a great day.

Monday, September 22, 2003

it's my birthday, it's my birthday, woohoo, woohoo
it's my birthday, it's my birthday, go me, go me

Sunday, September 21, 2003

it's rather strange to see these nationally-known figures at my everyday, regular (shhh, it's Gay) coffeeshop in the castro...

Misleader.org allows you to learn more about what Bush says and the opposite reality. You can even get a daily email sent to you with many a lie.
And the Democratic National Committee have started their own blog called 'Kicking Ass'. Check it out.

Wanna sign a petition against the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)?

So my Grandma thinks I had a mild stroke like she did. The nurse on call and the dispatcher for the firefighters thought it might be a stroke or a seizure. The firefighters, when they arrived, felt it was none of those things and that I might be overheated or something that shouldn't be worried about. Whatever happened on Friday night, it certainly was weird.

Around 7pm I started to get dizzy, which is nothing strange for me throughout this summer since I've been experiencing some type of unknown virus of arthritic-type pains, exhaustions, and dizzy-spells. Around 7:30 as I was trying to head over to Jessie's, I couldn't make it down the stairs and decided to sit a while on the stairs. Everything was spinning. Suddenly I felt sick to my stomach from the spinning and ran to my apartment once again and to the toilet. Nothing. But still lots of spinning rooms. I cancelled with Jessie, laid down with some saltine crackers and gatorade, felt terrible, and eventually around 7:45 fell asleep on the couch. At 8:45 I woke up and everything was still spinning and the cat was licking my forehead. So sweet. I held onto the toilet seat to keep me balanced as I vomitted red gatorade for as long as I had stuff to do so. Everything was still spinning. Spinning, spinning, spinning.

I made it to my bed to go to sleep again, but then I thought I better call Kaiser because my rheumotologist had told me that if I experienced any changes in my condition that I should let him know. I called. The on-call nurse asked me a lot of questions, and yes, my hand was tingling, and yes, my hand was closed and hard to open, and yes, the room was spinning, and yes I suppose I could pass out, and no, I wasn't in any pain right now.... She called 911. I said that I could just go to Kaiser hospital, but she didn't want me to leave the couch. Oh, ok.

I called Jessie with my cell phone while I was on hold with her. He came over and let the firefighters in the building. (I'm glad he has my keys and is nearby.) A whole group of hunky guys came in. I put on my glasses. They took my blood pressure. It was fine. They put some sticky heart-measurer things on my chest. My heart was fine. They talked to me about how I was fine but maybe just exhausted or overheated or something. They told me if it got worse I could go to the hospital, but they thought I'd be ok. And Jessie was going to stay with me for a while.

And the spinning of the rooms was subsiding a bit. I still couldn't stand very well, but it was getting better. Eventually, Jessie left and I could stand up. I went to sleep. All was fine the next morning, mostly. What happened Friday night? I don't know. But I've left a message with the rheumotologist and we'll be going to see him again soon I gather. Stroke/seizure? I'm only turning 33 tomorrow, not 53. What is going on? Anyway, I'm fine now.... I think.

Historic! Amazing! After living in San Francisco, it kinda feels like it's not a big deal. But that's only because I'm in the 'Gay bubble' of San Francisco and it's easy to forget our lack of rights. But it really is a huge deal, huge! So, again, yay! Amazing! Wonderful! And really a national model.... So yay!

NO ON PROP 54

...matters of life and death can turn on the collection of racial data.

Saturday, September 20, 2003

a night in brief: spinning rooms, sleepy eyes, toilet bowls, red vomit, tingling sensations, numbness, kaiser, 911, sirens, america's firefighters including jessie, blood pressure, spinning rooms, spinning rooms, spinning rooms, sleep

more to come and explain soon. in the meantime, i have voters to register and 'no on 54' signs to put up. i'm going to turn 33 on monday if it kills me. and it just may. but, seriously, i'm fine now... i think.

Al Gore should have been president of the United States... Nobody can speak with more clarity as to what the Republicans are doing and the attempt to overturn legitimate elections that they lost the first time around.-- Governor Gray Davis

Friday, September 19, 2003

[The October 7th election] is continuing... It really hasn't been called off and until the final decision, voters need to keep requesting absentees, filing absentees and registering.
And the last day to register to vote for the October 7th election is Monday, this Monday, the 22nd. Don't miss out on your right to vote.

Wow. People are finally saying the words that needed to be said and maybe, just maybe, they're beginning to be heard. Read 'em and weep for our country and vow to fight this administration with all your might.

Unfortunately, the people who drove the engine to get into the war in Iraq never served in Vietnam. Not the president. Not the vice president. Not the secretary of defense. Not the deputy secretary of defense. Too bad. They could have learned some lessons.... Welcome to Vietnam, Mr. President. Sorry you didn't go when you had the chance.

Thursday, September 18, 2003

Wanna get angry? I'll just give you the headlines from today that were NOT on the front page:

"Bush says no evidence that Saddam Hussein involved in Sept. 11 attacks"
"U.S. weapons hunters find no evidence Iraq had smallpox"
This whole thing was a fraud. Are we gonna let Bush and his cronies get away with this?!

Pretty bad that cities (the main points of possible attack) still don't have any money from the federal government for domestic terrorism. Why would those Republican feds and mostly Republican governors be keeping money from the mostly Democratic mayors? One wonders.

Still no sign of Arnold in the debates, except for pop showcases like Oprah, Larry King, and Howard Stern. Fine, do those pop shows, but it's not like they're real investigative journalism. They're soft questions with a warm glow and everyone's all smiles. They're no hard questions that probe beneath the surface on real legislative issues: People are not going to make their decision on whether he brings his wife breakfast in bed.... That's not relevant in a gubernatorial race.

And the only debate he'll join in isn't even real-- it's a predetermined set of questions from the business community. That's a set up for nothing again. What a LOSER. Let's really make him a loser come election time.

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

the golden gate bridge was before a sunset of colors red and gold...
the bay was swimming with soothing blues, warm purples, and delicious aquamarines...
many a nightdream of cameras, paintings, postcards, wishes were in my sights...
breathing in the crystal-clear night-air, i sat and stared until i began to cry a rejoicing tear...
my inspired, strengthened soul sings in san francisco

The pattern is clear: Say what you want people to believe for the front page and on TV, then whisper a halfhearted correction or apology that slips under the radar.

War funding should not be a faith-based initiative. It requires tough questions and honest answers. Our soldiers in Iraq and taxpayers at home deserve both.

Funny, just the opposite happened in 2000, but they didn't seem to care then: There are a lot of Republicans who are red-hot mad that liberal judges are thwarting the will of millions of voters.

NO ON PROP 54

Yes, paying attention to race and ethnicity can be touchy. But deciding not to isn't going to eradicate racism – it's just ignoring reality.... Prop. 54 is a veiled effort to undercut government programs that target racial inequity. Vote no.-- SF Bay Guardian Editorial

Crazy, stupid profiteering off this recall mess. And, sadly, she's not the only one. More than just the candidates are wasting are money and time.
Angelyne offered, for $100, to sell me a 40-second videotape explaining her platform.

And we look stupid to other countries... This isn't a proper way of doing things, you know," said Altamiro Boscoli, a corporate lawyer from Sao Paulo, Brazil, who was following the election in snippets on his hotel TV, for laughs. "I don't think this is doing democracy any good. People are getting the impression they are being played around with. Governments should be about stability of process. There should be some way to make sure that when a fellow is democratically elected, he can't just get moved out for no reason."

And we're really wasting a lot of money.

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

NO ON PROP 54

So, as part of my ongoing effort to 'walk the walk' on my Issues of the Month, as well as since you all know how important No on Prop 54 is to me, I've started volunteering daily at the office of Asian Pacific Americans for an Informed California which is working to ensure that their community gets the message and votes No on 54. I've mostly been doing office help-- which is totally fine-- but then today they had me go into the Castro (could it be because I can talk the Gay talk?) to help the campaign.

I've done 'merchant walks' (trying to put up signs in businesses' windows) in the Castro before and it always amazes me how completely non-political the Castro businesses are. I mean, one might think that the Castro would welcome debates and marches and rallies, and it does to an extent, at least on the streets, but for the most part it's more of a party-area and the businesses only care about selling their product. I also guess that the businesses in the Castro are hit up by local campaigns all the time, and they know how divisive the community's politics can be (I mean we have two Gay political clubs that do not get along), that they simply always say no to all political involvement. But that's pretty sad. Especially when it's obvious that they do constantly put up signs in their windows to showcase the local parties, dances, club events, and so on. But that's the Castro for you.

They may be Here and they may be Queer, but don't bother them with your activism please.

...the battle over... Bush's judicial selections will continue to be shameful spectacles as long as he seeks to pack the courts with ideological extremists.

...we are a democracy in which laws -- not the benevolence of people who are in power at any given time -- guarantee our civil rights and liberties. History suggests it is a terrible mistake to allow any government to police itself.

This was a bold article on the sadness of those who seek peace who are always forgotten, laughed at, taunted, and reviled during high-flying times of war:
Once again, [the Peace Party's] cause has gone down to defeat, and its members are shaking their heads sadly, wondering why. Their anguish is not assuaged by the knowledge that ultimately many will come to see that they were right to oppose this war. Eventual vindication will avail them little.

Ok, people, I'd like a job now.... I mean, as much as I'm enjoying the time off and all, I feeling unused and unproductive and feeling as if my potential is being wasted. Plus, I can't go on monetarily much longer. A job would be a good thing.
In the meantime I've started volunteering with the No on Prop 54 campaign via the Asian Pacific Americans for an Informed California to keep me busy.

The continuing world of the upside-down: Bush is at a polluting plant to promote his 'clean air' policies.... Remember when I used to call his administration the "Burns Administration" (as in Mr. Burns from the Simpsons)? Well, it still is viable.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

Even though I'm in agreement with the message of this event and these are my fellow Democrats, I continue to find it unsavory and inappropriate to use churches as political stumps. There was a local rally today in San Francisco at a church here with the Governor which was to include a No on 54 rally (which I feel is ok since it's an issue and not a candidate) but I didn't like the candidate part of it and didn't want to attend for that reason. Mixing religion and politics helps no one and hinders our public policy.

Monday, September 15, 2003

NO ON PROP 54

Well, look at this, the No on 54 people updated their campaign website and changed the domain name to "defeat54.org." Well, now I gotta update all my links, but at least the page is looking more stylish.

And as they smartly write on their front page, the election on October 7th is still on (at least through the next 7 days) as the court gave a 7-day stay, meaning that the Supreme Court could intervene and invalidate their decision (should be very interesting reasoning in light of the decision's use of Bush v. Gore). Who knows what will happen in the next 7 days, but we must remember that the election is still on at this moment, that regardless this issue will be before the voters of California soon (October or March) and that we can't let up. Additionally, within those seven days are the final days to register to vote for the possible October 7th election, so please, for me and my birthday on next Monday, the 22nd, register to vote this week!

7 days....

Oh my...

I absolutely love that this 'liberal' court is using the arguments and language of the 'conservative' Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore throughout its decision as much of the basis for postponing the recall election as it will create an unequal standard in tallying the votes.

Sunday, September 14, 2003

In an Opinion from the Editorial Board of the New York Times entitled "Presidential Character," they rip him to shreds over everything. It's about time!

[The 2000] election was not a mandate for radical change, but that is what we got....
We went from surplus to deficit,
from job gain to job loss,
from a reduction in poverty to an increase in poverty,
from a reduction in people without health insurance to an increase of people without health insurance.
-- President Bill Clinton, the last legitimately elected president

I always HATED gym class in high school. And the thing is that having grown up now I consider the gym and exercise as part of my life and future. But gym class in high school never instilled perspective or love of sports or exercise or physical strength. It instilled fear and rejection and self-loathing. And the reason? Because gym class never really involved the individual's potential.... without some sort of comparison and competition between others. This always left me at the last of the line, the wimpiest and most pathetic student. I tried, I really did try to do some good in class. But my abilities were never as good as the other students and that didn't build me up, that made me feel worthless and less interested in working towards something better-- especially for my own self-esteem. If gym teachers and coaches would spend less time promoting the competition between students, the competitiveness of gym activities, the macho attitude of the physical then maybe I, and other nerds & future gay men & women & so forth, might have had and would have a chance at bettering our physical and emotional states. But I never found a teacher who would encourage me within that perspective. I only had intimidating tauntings and the continual losses of competitions. I had to find the gym and exercise and physical fun and endorphins on my own, years later, and it was no thanks to our school climate in this country. And the fact that exercise is incredibly important for everyone is lost to many because of the attitudes and environment of our high school gyms.

What the hell's that supposed to mean?
[Schwarzenegger] said his mother once got worried when she noticed posters of "naked oily men" on his wall when he started bodybuilding, but a psychiatrist assured her he wasn't "different" from the other boys.

Duh. When you're dealing with an enemy that has made suicide attacks its weapon of choice.... expanding the death penalty seems like a particularly counterproductive proposal.
There's a larger agenda here at work.

Keepin' on message... In the past six weeks, Bush has cited "9/11" or Sept. 11, 2001, in arguing for his energy policy and in response to questions about campaign fundraising, tax cuts, unemployment, the deficit, airport security, Afghanistan and the length, cost and death toll of the Iraq occupation.... and on and on and on

Saturday, September 13, 2003

The growing, growing, growing debt that Bush is costing us, our country, our children, and our children's children. And just read within this article about how it's taking its toll on important domestic priorities like our health care and well-being. Terrible.
When... Bush informed the nation last Sunday night that remaining in Iraq next year will cost another $87 billion, many of those who will actually pay that bill were unable to watch. They had already been put to bed by their parents.

I guess I'm kind of a nerd. While everyone else is sad about the deaths of Johnny Cash and John Ritter, I get sad about this one. I guess I'm just not into celebrity that much. And, then, of course, it hits a bit too close to home for me back when my Missouri Governor died in 2000.

I didn't realize the disgusting details of Ashcroft's use of our U.S. Attorneys throughout the country to spew propoganda for the Patriot Act. Until now.

Jessie's hometown-area (will it fly in Peoria?) isn't so happy with the war anymore....

NO ON PROP 54

The real question in my mind is... whether they'll get down to the real issue: acknowledging that a little thing called history is entirely missing from what passes for a debate about race in this country. And history has everything to do with what we think of certain people and how that gets translated into public policy and continuing inequality, generation to generation.

Remember when Bush ran in 2000 and said he would be a "uniter" and "change the tone" and all that other crap rhetoric which we knew was false but still got a lot of political play with people and such. Remember that? Well, he's done more over his term, especially in relation to September 11th and the 'war on terrorism,' to dis-unite and villify the other party and others that disagree with him and his terms than any one else we could think of today. So much for his false rhetoric. And so much for a real opportunity to bring this nation closer together.
The way the Bush administration has tried to use the tragedy for partisan gain is disgusting.

Oh, and he's pushing for even more power by now actively advocating for 'Patriot Act II.'

Friday, September 12, 2003

How refreshing:
Clark rejected suggestions he announce near his alma mater, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. ''I don't want to politicize the armed forces,'' he says. ''Should I run, my patriotism will be a function of what I've done, not wrapping myself in the military.''-- potential Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark

Thursday, September 11, 2003

NO ON PROP 54

YES! Keep on spreadin' the word.

I thought we already knew this. This is the second time recently that someone has come out and I thought they already were. It's like when you hear about someone famous dying and you thought they were already dead. So confusing.

Wednesday, September 10, 2003

Ok, so I'll tell you a little secret. You all know I watch the Simpsons and I loved Buffy. And that's all I'll fess up to watching on TV. I don't watch TV. I don't even have cable. Everything else is crap or I don't care to see it which means that it's most likely trash.

But here's the secret. It's not completely true that I don't watch other shows. You see, I have this habit of sometimes watching the shows around the daily reruns of the Simpsons on the local UPN station, especially Half and Half and sometimes even Girlfriends and I'll admit that I love watching them. Not because they're great, no, they're not, but they're not too bad and they bring in a diversity and fun perspective I miss from the regular TV world. And I relate to them and I have fun like they're my sisters. And I smile, even when it's not funny. Also, "Half and Half" is produced by the same people that did Living Single back in the day, which I loved. So it's all good.

You see, here's the second part of the secret: in another life, I was definitely a Proud African American Woman. Nuf said.

This guy is STUPID, STUPID, STUPID and it's incredibly disturbing to find that he made it through all the supposed security details we're supposed to have in place these days. It just goes to show how lax security really is. But what I find most hilarious about his stupidity is not just the shipping of himself in a crate, but that he billed the shipment to his employer. He's fired for sure.

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

NO ON PROP 54

A week ago I pulled up my old email list from my last position with the tuberculosis people. This was a list of public health workers and others in the health care field throughout the state of California. And I sent them this message:

Dear Friends,

As is well-known, we have a special gubernatorial recall election on October 7, 2003. What may not be well-known, however, is that along with the questions on the ballot about the governor and others vying for his job, there is a statewide initiative-- Proposition 54-- which is also on the October 7 ballot. This proposition is dangerous and 'bad medicine for California.'

Proposition 54 is sponsored by Ward Connerly and was named by him as the "Racial Privacy Initiative," but officially on the ballot as the "Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color, or National Origin (CRECNO) Initiative." It can also be called the "Information Ban" for it will strip us of vital information in California for our public health care and education systems and the very welfare of our people.

As many of you know who work within the health care field, demographic data provide us vital clues on the impact, trends, incidence, and future direction of various diseases and health issues. We use this information to base targeted screenings, mobilize affected communities, produce culturally sensitive materials and effective outreach, maximize our limited resources, and limit mass hysteria and epidemics. Without this critical, life-saving demographic information, our public health system is decimated.

Proposition 54 will rid of us this very resource by disallowing us the ability to collect, analyze, and utilize data on racial and ethnic variations in health within California. Proponents of 54 will argue that there is a "medical research exemption" but this exemption is woefully inadequate in the needs for true and proper health care and only specifies "medical research," not the very type of uses mentioned above that we know save lives every day.

These are the very reasons why most of the medical establishment has come out against Proposition 54: California Medical Association, California Nurses Association, Kaiser Permanente, California Public Health Association, California Primary Care Association, California Conference of Local Health Officers, among many others. (To see the full list of medical and other organizations opposed to Proposition 54, click on http://www.informedcalifornia.org/endorsers.asp)

As your friend and an interested party in the public health and welfare of my fellow citizens, I urge you to find out more about this dangerous initiative by viewing the website of the No on 54 campaign: http://www.informedcalifornia.org, and especially its section on how it will effect our health care system: http://www.informedcalifornia.org/healthcare_01.shtml.

Spread the word, get involved, and make sure everyone knows about this initiative on the well-known recall ballot on October 7. (FYI: Many public employees are not allowed to take a position or express points of view on campaign issues; however, one can still pass along information that comes to them, such as this email, to others via a simple "FYI: For Your Information" or by spreading the word about it via one's personal time and personal resources.) You can also read more about this initiative on my own personal webpage devoted to the No on 54 campaign: http://www.reesesworld.com/sep03.htm.

Thanks for your time and the great work you do everyday on behalf of our state's and our people's health care. Remember, Proposition 54 is Bad Medicine for California!

Yours,
Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
http://www.reesesworld.com

Who can you contact and help spread the word?

How 'bout we all boycott the insipid music industry and refuse to buy any more CD's until they stop suing their own customers?

I voted today. Yep, you read right. What many people forget is that the day of the election is actually the very LAST chance to vote in said election. You can absentee for up to a month beforehand, either by requesting an absentee ballot to be sent to your home, or by going to the Board of Elections in your county and voting in their office. And voting absentee for the October 7th recall started yesterday. In California, you can sign up to be a 'permanent absentee' voter which means that they'll automatically send you a ballot in the mail for every election and you just have to fill it out and send it back before the election date. How easy is that? I got mine in the mail today. For more information on absentee voting in California, go here.

"President Bush is asking Congress for $80 billion dollars to help re-build Iraq. And when you make out that check, remember there are two L's in Halliburton"-- David Letterman

Monday, September 08, 2003

The following is dedicated to my crazy friends Matt and Chris

And here's a link to the edition with the word 'masturbation' in it that some newspapers rejected that I was railing about the other day.

Our state will suffer for this. I feel that no matter whom I vote for, if someone can get enough people together, they take your choice right away. That's one of the reasons my parents left Texas. It won't matter who wins here. We will all be losers.

Yesterday was one of those beautiful, wonderful days that I love, but with an ever-growing headache that gets larger and larger no matter what I do or take. By the end of my happy day, my head was throbbing, my shoulder was aching, and the ice-packs and aspirins were of no use anymore. I went to bed. I briefly got up early this morning and called in to Larkin Street and told them I wouldn't be able to volunteer today and then went back to bed. I woke up at 1pm, lazy, hazy, and tired. My headache is gone, thankfully, but my shoulder still hurts, I'm tired, and I'm wondering where the day has gone.

Sunday, September 07, 2003

Unlike Antonio Banderas, who goes with the money and has made an embarrassing number of Hollywood turkeys, Bardem craves the actor's life of diverse, challenging parts that take him down paths of discovery.

The first one was hilarious. The second one was boring. The third? Well, there really is no need for a third. And now I'm even more convinced of that: Dimension... decided to proceed with a third "Scary Movie" without creative involvement from Keenen Ivory Wayans, who co-wrote, produced and directed the original. Isn't there a chance the sequel will lose its way? "We predict it should do better than the second one, which took in around $71 million," Greenstein says. " 'Scary Movie 3' is still very racy, but it's also going to be pretty mainstream. We're going after the 'Austin Powers' crowd out there, and we brought in some actors like Charlie Sheen and Pam Anderson." Trying to go mainstream? Sounds terrible.

Is there an island somewhere where our old friends go?

Lots of articles about the September 11th anniversary this week, expect more, and I'm sure Bush will be hawking it some too, especially during next year's anniversary. Regardless, some articles are interesting and provide good perspective. Here's some excerpts:

Do you feel any safer?

Sorrow turned into political capital.

If it was love that divided us, it was war that united us.

We might find that the ultimate lesson of these first two years of the war is that it takes a network to fight a network. If we learn to network better, we can make the case more convincingly that this war is not bin Laden's "clash of civilizations" but rather a fight for the future based on ethical and universal values adhered to by civilized countries around the globe.

[Democratic presidential hopeful Howard] Dean was asked his reaction to Schwarzenegger's contention that he would accept no money from such unions because they constitute a ''special interest" group. Dean looked at the women surrounding him at the podium, and recited their occupations: nurses' aides, food service workers, and physical therapists. "Not exactly special interests. I call them hard working Americans."

For years I've been wanting to try this cute, little Hawai'ian restaurant in the Castro, but never have. It's on a side street I never go down, hidden away in the cutest place, and whenever I would walk by it, it wouldn't be the right time, and I'd say "oh, yeah! I've been meaning to go there" and then plan on it again but forgetting again and so on.

Last night, I remembered about it just as I was hungry and just as I was in the Castro and just as I couldn't decide on what to eat. Yay. I almost got lost looking for it because, like I said, it's kinda out of the way and I couldn't remember what street, but luckily I did find it. It's the most relaxing, quiet, beautiful place. They have a giant water fountain that just exudes calm. And there's quiet Hawai'ian music in the background. And there's candles on the tables. And I sat, looking out the big windows at the giant palm-like trees out front, and for a few minutes I pictured myself in Hawai'i and it felt so wonderful. Go enjoy it one night soon. I'm going back.

Saturday, September 06, 2003

If you can't beat them, sponsor a revolt from within.

Strange and cool word from my word-a-day calendar yesterday, hendiadys, meaning:
a figure of speech in which two words connected by a conjunction are used to express a single notion that would normally be expressed by an adjective and a substantive, such as 'grace and favor' instead of 'gracious favor.'
Funny, I do that all the time, note the beginning of this post.

Friday, September 05, 2003

"Which president told the biggest whoppers?"

The psychological strategy: Bush describes the nation as being in a perpetual state of crisis and then attempts to convince the electorate that it is powerless and that he is the only one with the strength to deal with it.... Bush's opponents must combat his dark imagery with hope and restore American vigor and optimism in the coming years.

Something this basic he didn't understand? And he wants to be governor of the largest state of the union? Ugh.
[Schwarzenegger] admitted he misspoke when he originally said he wouldn't accept any contributions to his campaign. "It was my mistake," he said. "I was not articulate enough to explain then."

Had a glorious day today. The weather was perfect. I ended up at my favorite little park, Duboce Triangle Park. Four years ago, upon arriving to San Francisco, I spent many a day walking my friends' dog around that neighborhood and resting with her in the park. It's a popular dog park and it was always fun to take her and watch her and the other dogs play. And watch the blue sky. And breathe in the clean air coming in from the ocean. Having just moved her four years ago, all of these wonderful experiences seemed rich and new. Sitting there today, watching the dogs play, getting licked by one on the nose, resting while watching the blue sky and feeling the cool breeze once again, I felt a sense of connection with myself of today and myself of four years ago and myself in general. For I knew, upon moving to San Francisco, and enjoying this park and this environment, that I had found 'home' and my new life. And I still feel that way today. And I smiled.

...capitalizing on one of the darkest days in American history.

Mamas, let your boys enjoy the awesome Powerpuff Girls too!
Little boys in his store often choose the action-packed Powerpuff Girls, he says. "And their mothers will not let them buy it. They're not ready to break those barriers." Keep looking, they say.
I, myself, like the Powerpuff Girls one, but find the Kim Possible one, complete with a nifty cell-phone holder, irresistible. (Besides, Kim's best friend on the show is sooo Gay.)

I loved this article! Reminder of why taxes provide benefits to our everyday lives.
We all take for granted the public services and regulations that contribute to what we once quaintly described as "the common good." The Republican mantra -- "shrink government and lower taxes" -- is fundamentally dishonest. They would have us believe that we are heavily taxed by an oppressive government and get nothing in return.

NO ON PROP 54

Who's funding the pro-Prop. 54 campaign?

"This is a wholesale attack on American democracy," said one of the presidential hopefuls, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, as he met with seven runaway state senators at their hotel in Albuquerque, N.M. "It's happening in three or four states, and it may happen in more."

Thursday, September 04, 2003

So I get this letter in the mail addressed to "Isbell Aaron Reese" but misspellings and random orders are nothing new with my name and random mail. Anyway, it's from Spain-- "El Mundo Spanish Sweepstake Lottery" and from the desk of the Vice President of the International Promotions/Prize Award Dept in Madrid, Espana. It would seem that I've won $615,810.00 U.S. dollars because these nice people at Inorbit Securities S.A. entered my name for this drawing that the official Spanish lottery (Loterias y Apuestas del Estado, of the Ministerio De Hacienda) held in August. Lucky me! All I have to do is call a number in Spain, give over 10% of the $615,810.00 to Inorbit, provide my bank account information so they can deposit it, and fax in a "Payment Processing Form." Woohoo! That's it! I don't have to do anything. In fact, I didn't have to do anything either since I never entered any contest. But lucky for me these nice people saw fit to randomly draw my name "through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names" from all over the world as "part of our International promotions program."

Thankfully we have the internet these days. For I was quickly able to Google said groups and officials and found several links (1, 2, and 3) that spell out that this is obviously a huge scam. It does seem awful real though because the scammers use letterhead, pictures, and slogans from the real lottery of Spain. So my first google for the 'Ministerio De Hacienda' turned out to be a real site and made me further confused. But thankfully, my circumspect and doubtful nature helped me to realize the fakery at hand.

I know you know this, but:
Never trust unsolicited mail. Never send money to people you don't know. Never give out your financial information. And never believe that $615,810.00 is suddenly going to fall into your lap for doing absolutely nothing.

And now back to reality and the poorhouse I live in.

So a few weeks ago, as I mentioned on here, I started rearranging my apartment and I'm quite pleased with the results. I can't show you the full arrangement as my webcam can only reach so far, but you can see this new cozy little niche I've created next to my bed. And if you look closely, you can see Amaya's new favorite spot to sleep.

So I've been moping around the house today. Mope, mope, mope. I tried watching my favorite Disney movie, 'Beauty and the Beast', but it didn't cheer me up like normal. I guess it's just getting on another month of unemployment and I want to work again and that's all too depressing for words.
But then I realize that I've also been forgetting to take my pills for the last week. No wonder I'm mopey. So, the pills are back in my system and I'll be happier than ever soon, I'm sure.

It's the 3rd anniversary of my blog today. It may have started off somewhat lame but hopefully now it's developed a sense of style and interest to ya'll that maybe it's even a bit lamer.

P.S. As always, an extra special thanks goes out to Jessie, without whom this site would not be possible. Other less giving people would charge a person a thousand dollars or more to make this site possible, but no, not Jessie. He's full of love.

Wednesday, September 03, 2003

NO ON PROP 54

Just got an email alert that the ACLU of Northern California is hosting a speakers training on 'No on Prop 54' next Wednesday night. I would love to go! But, alas, Wednesday nights are my weekly Spanish classes, so I can't do it now. Next time.

Masturbate. Masturbate. Masturbate.
Are we still living in a world where we're afraid of our own sexuality? Sexuality is part of human nature. Masturbation is normal and healthy and good for the soul. Show me an adult who's never masturbated and I'll show you someone who needs to. As for the constant use of the word in this post: seems as if some, as in the article linked, still are afraid of the word. So, here, go out, use the word, spread the word, and do the word.... often! Masturbate.

Under the radar and under the gun. What Bush and his right-wing cronies have done to our young. These are our brothers and sisters who are now without arms, without legs, with mental illness, with major traumas, with wounds physical and mental, with scars, and sometimes without lives. Damn Bush and his cronies.

Bush just keeps on relaxing more and more rules that have for years protected us and helped us in our most desperate hours of needs. His administration just keeps making life in America worse and worse everyday. Everyday. Two examples from just today's news:

1) The emergency room may no longer be there for everyone. Now where will people go?

2) More PCB's for you and me: I can't believe they would ease the rules around one of the most persistent and dangerous chemicals known to mankind. This administration is really waging war against our health.-- Senator Barbara Boxer

These will hurt and kill American people. Everyday. And it was barely mentioned in the news today. So sad.

Overseas, George Bush has led -- and misled -- us on a course at odds with 200 years of our history. He has squandered the goodwill of the world after Sept. 11 and lost the respect and influence we need to make our country safe. And here on the home front, every investigation, every commission, every piece of evidence we have tells us that this president has failed to make us as safe as we should be.-- Democratic presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry

NO ON PROP 54

'FREEDOM FROM RACE' IS A DREAM: To be sure, we've made progress since the March on Washington, four decades ago. But, for many, many children in California, the promise of this great democracy is still only a dream.

Unfortunately for people who breathe, the federal Environmental Protection Agency eliminated last week several Clean Air Act rules, allowing power plants, refineries and other industrial operations to upgrade facilities without mitigating pollution.

It's a stealth campaign. No substance, no debating, no questions, just cock and bull, lock and load:
Schwarzenegger should realize how hollow it sounds for him to run as the "people's candidate," without giving the people any concrete answers about issues.... Schwarzenegger dismissed such concerns recently by saying "the public doesn't care about figures," a curious stance considering the state's $38 billion budget deficit is one of the primary reasons voters will consider recalling Gov. Gray Davis on Oct. 7.

Tuesday, September 02, 2003

NO ON PROP 54

Editorial in today's Chronicle: "Initiative could hurt integration efforts"

Some employers are offering more and more benefits to attack obesity in their employees. Good. Now if we can just get this attitude to spread further through the full business, government, and nonprofit sectors.

"I'm beginning to think," said comedian Bill Maher..."that Republicans will do anything to win an election -- except get the most votes."
"The reality is that most of the serious outrages lately have come from the GOP side of the aisle," [executive editor Alan] Ehrenhalt [of the 'stridently nonpartisan Governing Magazine'] wrote. "It seems to stem from visceral resentment at the opposition party having any power.... this is a year of Republicans behaving badly."

Being from Missouri and having experienced him as my Senator and Governor and much more, I am especially pleased to read these words: "Attorney General John Ashcroft says he is ruling out any future campaign for elective office." (And before you start bad-mouthing Missouri, remember that we came together in 2000 and voted for our deceased Democratic governor over Ashcroft for Senate. We'd had enough!)

Monday, September 01, 2003

What we're losing: Foreign students provide a valuable perspective in the classroom, officials say, and they are also big business. At private institutions, foreign students generally pay full tuition. At public schools, they pay nonresident tuition, often four times as much as in-state students. And their money goes beyond the university into the economy of the area.

NO ON PROP 54

New Issue of the Month is up. Check out my thoughts and other details on the subject of the month by clicking here.

September 2003:
NO on Prop 54

This October 7th
Vote No on Proposition 54

Healthcare for kids, for families, for seniors, and for our communities requires a commitment not just to individual care, but to the science that helps us track, understand, prevent and respond to disease. We use health data on race and ethnicity to understand who is most affected by certain diseases and health threats, to create prevention programs tailored to different communities and cultures, and to determine when our medical system fails to reach and treat a particular community.

Charles Bronson dies exactly six years, to the day, after Princess Diana. What could this possibly mean?