Former Iraq Commander is Speaking Out in Protest.

Major General John Baptiste is speaking out in protest and virtually calling Bush a liar. Check out this thirty second video at the link below at the Huffington Post. It is pretty powerful. Is Congress listening?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/05/09/former-commanding-general_n_48028.html

I remember...part 2

I remember. I used to take the train from Rutherford to Jersey City every day, to go to St. Peter’s Prep. Every day, I would sit in the front car with some friends of mine, and we would joke, laugh and make a general nuisance of ourselves. The, it was on to the PATH, at Hoboken, which would take us to Exchange Place, where we would walk the six blocks to school. Life started to change for me when I went to Prep. New Jersey began to expand, and include cities, not just little towns like Rutherford.

Jersey City was so different and exciting. The Hoboken terminal was like a world unto itself, full of history, the smell of diesel, coffee, and the constant motion of commuters running, walking, pausing, then moving again. Before the big sign moved to digital, all of the incoming trains and times would flip, and I loved that sound of whirring times. A train would come in, and everyone would jostle to be the first through the opening gate. People were so excited to get home, that you hardly had to move; the crowd would carry you.

When I got to Exchange Place in Jersey City, the first thing I would see every morning was the Colgate clock, down the river from where I stood. It was like some sentinel, marking time. Leaving the station, the Citibank building would loom up at me everyday, green glass reflecting the Hudson and Manhattan across the grey expanse of the river.

I was growing up, and the world was opening up like a door. I started to step through.

Does my vote count?

Last night I voted. I voted in Hoboken's city council elections. It was the first time ever I voted and felt the sting of the carelessness of our system. I am an election lover. It is like Christmas Day to me...or the World Series, take your pick. Now, city council elections in Hoboken do not quite stir my blood as kicking out the Republican majority in November, 2006, but the act of voting I still believe is beautiful. For the past two election cycles I worked as an election monitor to stop the Republican machine of voter fraud and the suppression of the black vote.

Yesterday, however was altogether new for me. My partner and I were late, voting at 7 pm before the polls close at 8pm. We had a friend in town to have dinner, hurrying to our favorite restaurant, La Isla. But, we had to vote. From the moment we walked in we were treated as if we were a hindrance to the folks behind the tables. "Name!?" "Not at this table." The next table, I give my name: response "I don't need your name. I need your address." All five tables this occurred. At one table I was accosted by an ornery, elderly woman who told me: "You probably don't vote here." I said: "I have voted here the last seven election cycles." Her response was not, well let me check the book again, it was: "How could you? You are not in the book!" My partner, was also accosted with the same behavior, "well I don't remember you." I got the attention of the room by saying: "I have been to every table now, what do you want me to do?" My partner almost on the verge of walking out.

A Latina woman who was clearly in charge grabbed us...and slowed down the process and we were finally able to vote, not before, however my partner declared: "I am ready to walk out and not vote." It occurred to me as it has before, the carelessness by which we treat our fragile democracy. It is entrusted with those who have to work the polls. Elderly women, living on the scraps of social security, single moms home with kids jumping at the chance to make $50 per day. In November, 2006 I worked the polls for fourteen hours as did the elderly women from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. These workers did not receive food until 5:00 pm. No wonder people are cranky.

Why would we treat our democracy so carelessly? We should treat it as the absolute privilege it is to vote in a clean, smooth transition of power without bloodshed. We should make sure that poll workers are trained and well paid to ensure that our elections are fair. We should encourage all of us to get active in the process and maybe someday like in the French Presidential election we will have 85% of the citizens actually voting instead of 1/2 the voting populace as we do in America. Because without a fair vote we do not have a democracy.

By the way, it is lucky my partner and I did not walk out. Our candidate won by two votes. There will be a run-off on June 12th. I hope they remember us.

Got to http://www.fairvote.org/ for more on our fragile democracy.

ring, ring... your new cell phone is calling!

i just read in E magazine that the average north american gets a new cell phone every 18 to 24 months... ouch... think of the insane amount of e-waste that adds up to! i thought about my own cell phone history, and it made me shudder. i needed a new one after a car accident destroyed it, i needed a new one when the battery died (cheap ass phones!), then i "needed" to upgrade to a treo because technology was zooming past me and i had 2 old gadgets. now i have one super new-ish model... well, i always made sure to return the old phone to the recycling center through cingular, but do they really recycle it?

according to E magazine, "As of July 1, 2006, electronics retailers doing business there [in california] must have a cellphone recycling system in place in order to legally sell their products, whether online or in-store. Other U.S. states considering similar legislation include Illinois, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Virginia, while the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are likely to jump on the mandatory cell phone recycling bandwagon soon." http://www.emagazine.com/view/?3727

wonderful... but until this becomes reality, think twice about your old gadgets & rechargeable batteries, recycle them and spread the word.

here are three good resources: Call2Recycle; CollectiveGood; ReCellular

I remember...

When it started to get dark in the summer, I never wanted to come inside, stop playing basketball, throwing a football around. The shadows crept in, but I would ignore them. I was thirteen, and I never really thought about much beyond that particular twilight. Except how it came and went just too damn quick.

We used to have dirt for a basketball court, and all these guys from the neighborhood and beyond, they used to come and play, until my mom got pissed and told them to leave, because one of them almost ripped down the rim. They were kinda crazy, but it was cool. I was thirteen.

One day, when we were playing street football, this kid john, older than me, went out for a pass, a Hail Mary, and didn’t see the telephone pole. He went face first into it and dropped like a rock. He got up – somehow.

I still remember those days in Jersey.

A New Day For Parental Rights in New Jersey?

I spent the day at the New Jersey Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 2nd. The Court heard arguments in deciding three cases effecting the rights of mainly low-income parents. The first case involved the right of a litigant to effective assistance of counsel and whether the sixth amendment and the due process clauses apply to civil proceedings in which a parent is represented by an attorney. Outside of capital cases or life imprisonment there is no other liberty so ingrained as to the right to raise your child and the question so sacrosanct that an ineffective assistance claim is self-evident. Only because the vast majority of these parents represented by mainly the public defender are both poor (93-97%) and persons of color would this be a question. The number that are persons of color varies, but is roughly the same of persons of color in the prison population in New Jersey - a whopping 81%, one of the highest in the nation. This question seems highly likely to go in our favor.

The other two cases are vastly important as well (placing blame on one parent for the actions of another and allowing lax procedures and hearsay in DYFS cases) and it seems the New Jersey Supreme Court is sending a message to DYFS that terminating the parental rights of parents may not be so easy in the future. This is our hope anyway. We will see very soon. But, make no mistake these cases involve the rights of citizens in our state that affect predominantly, the make-up of the black family. Once upon a time Native Americans in 1978 passed the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) that changed the way Anglo mainstream society decided how they broke up Indian families. Is a black child welfare act needed? While ICWA is not perfect, at the very least it ensures Native Americans decide who raises their children when abuse and neglect occurs.

When we combine the statistics above with prisons in New Jersey (63% black), unemployment for black men (some stats at 30%), the infant mortality rates, the poverty of our inner cities, etc. there is a need for us as a society to address these problems once and for all and realize that it is not just the Imus' and O'Reilly's of the world who are the racists. It is all of us who are complicit and do not speak out against the injustices raged on in our cities and mainly against black families and persons of color.

Who is Killing New Orleans?

The title of this post is the title of an article in The Nation written by the urban theorist and sociologist Mike Davis, and in it, the radical writer of Planet of Slums exposes the current reality of a "rebuilding" New Orleans. In it, he writes, "In greater New Orleans about 125,000 homes remain damaged and unoccupied, a vast ghost city that rots in darkness while les bon temps return to a guilty strip of unflooded and mostly affluent neighborhoods near the river. Such a large portion of the black population is gone that some radio stations are now switching their formats from funk and rap to soft rock."

What has happened? It seems that, as usual, a predominantly black city has been left to rot by a Republican administration, and subcontractors and investors have swooped into salvage and exploit the disaster. Davis' expose is a tough pill to swallow. Take a few minutes to read about what is happening in a national treasure.

http://www.nation.com/doc/20060410/davis

The Iraq Bloodshed Continues

In Iraq at least 95 Iraqis were found dead or killed while twelve U.S. Soliders were also killed. According to the Iraq Coalition Casualties Count 3,376 soldiers have now been killed and already 25 soldiers this month.

Check out this young boy. He stands next to a wall with bullet holes after an air strike in Baghdad's Sadr City today. This is the face of war.

MLB Notes: The Rich Get Richer, the Complicity of Major League Baseball and the Question of Race

Roger Clemens is a Yankee, what a surprise. The bottomless pockets of George Steinbrenner will pay Mr. Clemens a daunting prorated salary of $28 million ($4.5 million a month) which comes out to roughly about $1 million per start. Let me first state my bias - I am a Red Sox fan and despise Clemens for a whole host of reasons. I understand the corporate turn the Red Sox have taken, but they and no other team comes close to the payroll Steinbrenner pays every year.

Here is my real point. This morning on Outside the Lines Bob Lee asked the question regarding race and Bonds' Home Run chase. The questions were skewed to show a division among the races (Latinos not included as usual). Evidently, Black Americans seem to think the scrutiny is more about race than steroids. I questioned this reality...until today. I think it is about both and here is why.

Bonds undobtedly used steroids and that is clearly undisputed to me...but it was undisputed at the time McGwire was using "some substance" while he chased Maris and no one cared then either. But, does Major League Baseball care about Clemens? Here is a guy turning 45 in August whose assault on the record books with 348 wins and 4,600 strikeouts is occurring at the same time Bonds chases Aaron. He was implicated in Canseco's book (he has been right about everything so far) and was mentioned in an affidavit by Jason Grimsley last year that he used steroids and HGH of which he never denied using. Only Pettitte completely denied the allegations.

So, where are the questions? Where is the scrutiny? Is he the golden boy? He, throughout his career has been just as surly as Bonds, equally as selfish and his career immediately after leaving the Sox skyrocketted winning four more Cy Youngs and putting up his best numbers in years especially the last two years. Just as 43 year old sluggers do not continue to improve and put on 60 lbs. of muscle, 44 year old pitchers do not continue to assault the record books without a little help. Is it about race? The question is a little more complicated this afternoon for me.

Update: Josh Hamilton is hitting .306 8 HR 17 RBI and slugging .650. Ridiculous. He is the story of the year. He has rookie of the year wrapped up if he continues. And Griffey, Jr. who to me is the loser in all the steroid hype has 567 HR and is batting .317. I will celebrate when he hits #600.

Questioning Activism

Howard Zinn spoke at New Haven this past week and his "talk" was dedicated to activism. Why activism is needed and what exactly is activism. I often read Howard Zinn in the Progressive and his book "A People's History of the United States" (he recently updated the book for youth) is on my list of ten books that have to be read.

It got me to thinking as we in Hoboken are coming upon another useless city council election on May 8th. The same people saying the same things election after election.

I have attended every anti-war rally since the talk of war began to spread. The first huge rally occurred in October of 2002 in which I hobbled on a cane to attend...two days after Paul Wellstone was killed, the inspiring Senator from Minnesota. What we are doing isn't working. Going to rallies is important to make our voice heard, but it isn't working. The same people continue to run our country, whether the Democrats or as my friend likes to call them the Rethuglicans. But, they are virtually the same, one far less dangerous admittedly, but let us first understand that globalism became popular under Clinton, he ended welfare, he coalesced the media in the hands of the few, was less than supportive of unions, etc. I could go on for a while.

We need people in government who know the struggles of everyday life, of all races and both genders, not a system that encourages blue blood hackery, corruption and party boss behavior...most people in our country feel that universal health care is needed, that the rich should pay their fair share of taxes and that we should be out of this ghastly war. Yet, none of it occurs and none of it will occur until we stand up as people, as a community and as a nation. It will not be done for us, we must do it ourselves. What are you going to do?

More Space Needed

I like to read, when I can, http://www.dailykos.com. This is an immenently erudite political blog, and the news it presents is seldom heard anywhere else. Today, when I was checking it out, a posting caught my eye, entitled, "Wall of the Fallen." Instead of trying to paraphrase its main idea, here it is verbatim:

"
In a grim sign of the times, the "Wall of the Fallen," set up by House Republican leaders in June, is almost full. The mounting death toll from Iraq has forced U.S. House staffers to study how to reconfigure the display in the lobby of the Rayburn Building - the largest office building for members of Congress - to squeeze in more names.
...New names are added to the display every few months, but none have been added since November. [...]
In the current format, there is space for about 130 more names, but 506 Americans have died since mid-November.

Fear and Consumption

I have always been impressed when I see interviews with Marilyn Manson. I don't particularly like his music, nor do I dislike it. But, he is different and says what is on his mind...which are mostly insightful comments about our culture and how we live. Who can forget in Bowling For Columbine when he boiled down the age we live in to "Fear and Consumption" one of the most powerful moments in a powerful film.

See this interview (both parts) with Henry Rollins on IFC. It is worth it whether you like him or not...he defines our age like no other artist. He makes me think: what I am doing? Is it contributing to society? How can I make a difference? Am I really standing up? How can I do better? There are not many folks today who can inspire me so, but he does it every single time I see him on screen. Henry Rollins is also very good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StuMJcw01T4&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzVMJVdJIIk&mode=related&search=

This used to be a sea?

Earlier this morning, I bought one of the local newspapers of Bauru, the city I live in in Brazil. On the back page was an editorial about the Aral Sea. Before reading it, I knew almost nothing about this once-mighty body of water, situated between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. What I learned was downright scary. Since 1960, this gigantic salt-water lake, a mecca for tourists, fishermen, and shippers from all over the former USSR, has lost 90% of its water. That is correct. What remains of this sea is a fading memory and a stark reminder of the destructive power of man. The pictures I have included shed some light on the sad reality of today's Aral Sea.

When the hordes of international leaders leave Bangkok, after trying to find the magic key to stop global warming, maybe they should take a quick trip to the Aral Sea. Then they could head down to Patagonia and check out the shrinking glaciers. Maybe they could jet over to Macchu Picchu, and take a look at another endangered wonder. sometimes you really need to get up close to something that is dying to feel its breath and to truly sense the urgency.

Have These Ten Middle Aged White Men Lost Their Minds?

The Candidates endorsed Bush's War and mentioned Reagan 16 times.

Some highlights of the scary Republican party debate. It was like an ode to Reagan, the draconian President who started us down endless war, tax breaks for the rich and a new fascism of corporatocracy and a strengthened "Military Industrial Complex."
Three candidates don't believe in Evolution? McCain and Romney are going after Bin Laden? Where have you been for five and half years? Brownback says: "Banning Roe v Wade would be a glorious day." And Romney thinks Fitzgerald was outrageous for going after Scooter Libby for what Mitt, Treason? For more go to the Huffington Post. FUCKING SCARY.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Republican Party Incompetence or Competent Fascism?

In case we forgot here are two of the scarier events the Republican Party oversaw. Iraq and fascism and Katrina and global warming of which the consequences will be felt for decades if not centuries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-llbs9JYDY&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9hF3GCaXA&mode=related&search=

Who Says Nothing is for Free?

this saturday, may 5th, get something for free... comic books! and not just the kid ones, some alternative publishers released free comics as well. just go to the link below, put in your zip code and you'll find the nearest store. in the hoboken area (where independent bookstores are sadly missing), check out traders of babylon at 259 first street -- a small selection but worth the trip.

http://www.freecomicbookday.com/

for more up to date comics news, here is a wonderful site, FLOG!: The Fantagraphics Blog

Don't You...Forget About Me

Ah, yes, the timeless words of the only great Simple Minds tune. Not only that, though, since these words are also some advice for our current administration. President Bush has sent hundreds of thousands of American citizens to Iraq in the name of his "war on terror." Meanwhile, Iraq has become a hotbed of terror, and almost 3,500 Americans have died since 2003. And yet, the poster-boy for terror, Osama Bin Laden, remains at large, and we don't hear much at all about him from our fearless dictator, I mean president. Why is that? Has George forgotten about the man who organized the attack on September 11, 2001. Is our president suffering from Alzheimer's Disease? I don't think so. I am of the humble opinion that Mr. Bin Laden was never the point, since he never had his own country with huge oil reserves. And, by the way, how can you fight a war if you have already disposed of the enemy. Wars need the other side, don't they? that is a story I would love to hear in the press: why have we all forgotten about Osama?

Barry Bonds...Then and Now

Barry Bonds started his career on the Pittsburgh Pirates, and I remember that Barry. He was slim, sleek and a slasher. He could hit for power, and he hit plenty of homers, but he was no monster. Then something changed, and around 1999, he started to hit everything out of the park. And he began to get huge, out of the blue. Accordingly, his home run totals skyrocketed, and he began to approach Henry (Hank) Aaron's all-time home run record of 755. Then, things started to fall apart for Barry. His personal trainer got arrested. Barry had to testify with regards to whether this buddy of his had been supplying steroids to numerous MLB players, including Barry. The world, which had known for a while that Barry was surly and supernaturally-strong, came down on him. But he kept playing, and this season he has Hank in his sights, with 742 homers as of yesterday. Henry Aaron has not called the once-slender Barry, and this hurts the slugger's feelings. He has complained about the lack of encouragement from the record-holder.

I am not crying for Barry, but I am saddened that Hank Aaron will most likely have his record broken by a steroid user. If you do not believe Mr. Bonds used anabolics, check out the attached photos. You decide.

Say What?

um·brage, function: noun 1 : SHADE, SHADOW 2 : shady branches : FOLIAGE 3a : an indistinct indication : vague suggestion : HINT 3b : a reason for doubt : SUSPICION 4 : a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult
i think of this word often because i like its sound & the different meanings. but mostly i like this word because of what it symbolizes in my short lived career as a public interest lawyer. during my clinical work in elder law at CUNY law school at my first time in court, i presented a guardianship case to a judge for a client with whom i spent much time learning about her life & circumstances. after answering his questions & then re-emphasizing my decision for who could best serve as the client's guardian, he sharply uttered (something to this effect), "i take umbrage with your insistence on my decision... ." but i certainly wasn't surprised at his tone or word choice. he initially referred to me not as co-counsel to my male classmate presenting the case with me, but as my classmate's assistant. don't you just love the legal profession?

Wolfowitz Shouldn't Resign, He Should Be Fired.

Paul Wolfowitz is alleging he is the victim of a "trumped up smear campaign." Though, he has already admitted to giving his girlfriend, Shaha Riza a generous pay package and is under investigation for other ethics questions. As rawstory reported yesterday: "A committee, drawn from the full board of 24 representatives of the World Bank, is examining not just Riza's pay deal, but also Wolfowitz's hiring of former White House aides to influential, and highly paid, jobs in his inner circle."

It seems this really is the underlying theme of the Bush administration, how to enhance your friends while not giving one damn about the people the government is supposed to serve. This is just an extension (the World Bank) of this mentality. See below for a parody of Wolfowitz that is both hilarious and chilling. And of course the parody is done with THE best show on television: The Office.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UlhLLiQo2Y