Wurd.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

With GWB, some were hoping for pardons for Ted Stevens (barf) and Roger Clemens (poor baby). Others were hoping for massive pardons of everyone involved in torture (such shame). Where these hopers are disappointed, I am elated. Never a fan of the extent to which presidents can pardon, I am quite glad indeed. Thanks, Bush 43! I disagreed with most everything you did, but on this account, I thank you!

Garrett Epps writes an article that has a cogent, liberal summary of weaknesses in the Constitution vis-à-vis the presidency. I recommend the article to you. At the end, he makes a couple of recommendations for change along the lines of what you’ve learned — and a couple recommendations completely out of left field!

From nowhere, he suggests a Cabinet – Vice President – Midterm Election shuffle. Wha?! Maybe this is a good idea, maybe not. But your other good ideas are connected in some way to the previous paragraphs in your article, Mr Epps. Did The Atlantic trim your writing, or did your political ideas trump your writing skills?

Same with your suggestion to vote for President and Attorney General. Not a worthless idea, no sirree. But you threw another curveball there, buddy! Please provide additional history and background on this one, too.

Our economic woes were on my mind and particularly the greed and gains of many key players. I swear, most of the people who are to blame got rich in the process. And don’t forget their employees who figuratively push them around in their wheelchairs, watching silently as they steal an uncle’s and nephew’s life.

Though I’ve seen It’s a Wonderful Life many times, I noticed something for the first time yesterday. In the montage where we learn about brother Harry’s war heroism and George’s homefront duties, we see George spit at somebody. From Stewart’s reaction, it’s clear he only spat on himself. What a contrast between the plight of a good soul, and the life of Potter, George Bush, bad mortgage pushers, and so many other people on this planet whose shit don’t stink. Good people spit and they spit on themselves. They wisely abstain from buying that house, they don’t get bailed out by the government but end up bailing out the foolish and the evil. Or, back to the movie, they lose a few thousand dollars and they’re bound for jail, but not so the stealer of those thousands. He’s miserable, but there’s no further ramifications — how much more black can Potter get? None more black. A good way to avoid jail on this planet is to lose/bilk millions or billions, not thousands. Be bad through and through, don’t be a good person who makes a mistake. Same with murder. Kill one person or a handful, go to jail. Be responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people, and you’ll never even see a trial. I’m talking to you, Rumsfeld. And McNamara. And so many others.

I stepped out during the time where George goes to throw himself off a bridge. I couldn’t watch the whole thing — which has happened before because it felt too corny, too dated, too hackneyed or some completely different reason. Sure, I know that for me there are no George Baileys, no idyllic towns like Bedford Falls, no guardian angels. But there are plenty of Potters out there, and their wheelchair pushers. And tramps like Vi.

Enough! It’s the holidays, and I’m not letting these things get me down — now that I’ve gotten it off my chest. Thanks for listening. Back to joy, snow, family, food, and many other good things in this life of ours, this life that’s … you know … what’s the word? Exactly.