bloggie blog

When I first heard of Carmen Trutanich, I thought he was a she. Sorry, Carmen! Years of Laverne and Shirley can only go so far in opening the eyes of my otherwise sheltered upbringing. (Okay, that guy was a Carmine. But still….)

Mr Trutanich is the city attorney. A couple of days after learning who he was, I called his office and said thanks. I even tweeted that call! The thanks was for AB 1319 and its protection against advance-fee talent scams, both egregious and subtle. Many actors only hate egregious scams, I support clamping down on the subtle ones, too. Misguided actors are complaining. Why don’t you call him up and thank him for doing some good in the world?

I will not vote for Meg Whitman because she is immoral. A front-page article in today’s LA Times (yes, I spent 75¢ on it!) deals with corporate ethics, an area wherein she doth protest too much her innocence. But what really convinced me long ago that she is in the wrong were her many many many radio ads wherein she rails against handouts to the poor — and this, in an era of unprecedented handouts to the rich, is immoral. Next candidate, please!

It’s time to get a little political. We need healthcare reform desperately, of that I am sure. If you disagree with some of the specifics that are being promoted, that is okay, I’m not convinced the current proposals are the best thing. But I am sure that the status quo must be improved, that change is necessary. If you are one of the millions of angry have’s who don’t see that … walk a mile, that’s all I’m saying. Freelance for a while, get sick just when you change jobs. You have no idea.

Time for a few videos. I decided not to embed these, just be sure to click through and watch.

First, one from The Daily Show. Fast forward to 3:13 to see a student at the University of Colorado in Boulder who complains to President Obama on behalf of all those poor private enterprises who can’t possibly compete against a public institution. Dude, you’re enrolled at a public institution! I don’t see a problem with our public-private way of education. My suggestion to the student: transfer to a private college before the irony and guilt lead you to harm yourself. My suggestion to Obama: open up cans of whoopass on douchebags like him.

Here’s another great video, from CNN. A woman says Nazi something or other in a town hall meeting in Massachusetts, and Rep. Frank rightly tells her off. Comparing the bringing of death to the Jews with the bringing of health to the needy should be insulted even more vigorously. I don’t always agree with Barney Frank, but good for him on this occasion.

There are so many other stories out there if you just listen. One guy paid for insurance for decades without using it, got an illness, lost his job and kicked out of his insurance. What is insurance for? Hello! So very, very wrong. As for the Democrats’ current plans, there are occasionally some thoughtful rebuttals out there, but not from the loudmouths on radio nor the TV pundits nor the angry townhall yellers.

One more video, from Dana Gould for Real Time with Bill Maher, whose last 30 seconds ends with the observation that the haves are pissed and angry and obsessed with Hitler, and the have-nots are well-behaved and grateful. Mandatory viewing.

Checking receipts, I realized today that sales tax in California has gone up one percent to a whopping 9.25%. An increase in what is obviously a regressive tax is not what we need!

I’m reading a book that is heavily redacted. If you’re politically aware, you already have a guess as to which book it is. I know the author made the rounds on TV a couple of years ago, including The Daily Show — I remember that episode.

I’m reading this political biography because it’s being made into a movie, and I have a chance to audition for one of the roles. That’s pretty exciting (!!!), especially given the caliber of the talent and the importance of the story. So I am doing my homework.

Guess the book.

Among the whole Academy Awards hullabaloo, there were a handful of very moving moments. I just want to write about one, even though it pertains to a movie I haven’t even seen. Major kudos to Dustin Lance Black for winning an Oscar for the screenplay of Milk — and also kudos for having the guts once upon a time to move on with his life, to move on from Mormonism to something that worked for him.

From his acceptance speech: “When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas, to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life. It gave me the hope that one day I could live my life openly as who I am and that maybe even I could fall in love and one day get married.”

Later, Sean Penn spoke of the hateful picketers outside the Oscars whose grandchildren will be ashamed of them. While I suppose this is largely true of anybody who would spend time picketing today, a lot of the people I know who are opposed to gay marriage oppose it not out of hate, but out of fear and a misguided sense of duty to God. An important distinction that their grandchildren will cling to.

Dear Mr. President,

I haven’t paid certain taxes. So … are you hiring? I sure could use a job. I’m smart, insightful and full of hope. Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Kevin Ashworth
Los Angeles, Calif.

You know about the NYT article last week that got the hefty-bonuses story started. It made me extremely upset, and somebody prominent called the year’s bonuses “shameful.”

But you know all that. What you might not know is that my brilliant friends from Massachusetts, triplet performance artists called Triiibe, went to Wall Street a few months back with this intriguing guerilla performance piece on the topic. They stand there asking for dough, in a carefully stylized performance. It’s great. Check it out!

The first negative thing I noticed about LA was the billboard blight. To be sure, I didn’t think of the word “blight” right away, but as soon as I saw it used in the title of a blog dedicated to the issue, I knew it was the right word for the problem. It is an issue I am committed to taking action on. I’ve already called my councilmember on this matter, for instance, and I never do that sort of thing.

Now it’s gotten worse, with tenants’ lives put at risk in case of fire. Emergency exits are blocked by enormous vinyl ads. These aren’t exactly billboards, but they are wrong! The LA Times has finally spoken up, with a clear, concise editorial urging the mayor to act now. Heed them, Mr. Villaraigosa. It’s a question of good and evil. It’s one important and obvious way to make this city better — and better looking.

Obama was sworn in Tuesday, but something special happened as a follow-up late Wednesday. This just came to my attention: “There’s no formal name for what President Obama and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. did last night.” Wha?! And on top of that, Obama said, “We’re going to do it very slowly.” Double wha?!?!

Is that the change we voted for? Take heart, all ye Prop 8 lamenters. Take heart.