March 31, 2004
Initiatives Go Down
Most intiatives never make it to ballot. Here are the latest casualties.
1000. Limits on Class Size. Initiative Constitutional Amendment. Failed to Qualify
1001. Sexual Orientation, Status, Conduct or Relationships. Initiative Constitutional Amendment. Failed to Qualify
1002. Referendum Petition to Overturn Domestic Partner Law. Failed to Qualify
1004. Preferential Voting. Terms of Office. Redistricting. Initiative Constitutional Amendment. Failed to Qualify
1006. State Revenue and Expenditures. Initiative Statute. Failed to Qualify
March 30, 2004
Judge throws out lawsuit against J-Lo (a moment of sanity from our federal courts)
This item came across the California News Service. I haven't seen it on the Internet yet, so I apologize for not providing any link. What follows is my own summary of the newswire account -
In Los Angeles, U.S. District Court Judge Terry Hatcher threw out a lawsuit against Jennifer Lopez by a woman who claimed that Lopez needed permission to do an homage to ``Flashdance'' in a music video.
The order granting Lopez's motion to dismiss the lawsuit came on March 23.
The lawsuit was filed by a Canadian named Maureen Marder (and her attorney Robert Helfing). She says the 1983 movie "Flashdance" was based on her life and alleged that J.Lo's recent ``I'm Glad'' video featured ``elements of
characterization'' from the movie's lead character.
Marder was a construction worker and exotic dancer who aspired to formal
dance training when she met Thomas Hedley. Hedley received partial screenwriting credit for the movie.
She originally accepted $2,300 for helping to inspire the film, allegedly without realizing she would be the basis for the main character.
My only question is -
why did they have to wait for a motion to dismiss? Shouldn't have this been thrown out even earlier for "failure to state an actionable claim"? I would hope that J-Lo's lawyers at least attempted to make that motion. If they did, then shame on the judge for not granting it.
The fact that Jennifer Lopez is famous and has a lot of money doesn't mean that she should be the target for frivolous lawsuits. I only hope that she was also awarded a big fat dose of attorneys fees for this one...
If you read between the lines, it seems clear that Marder is just upset that she didn't make a bunch of money off the film in the first place and she is simply lashing out in any direction she can in order to make an extra dime.
Let's leave aside the fact that the First Amendment should trump a so-called "right of publicity" in instances like this (I assume that the lawsuit claim was based on that notion, or a similar argument invoking some bastardization of intellectual property rights), Marder doesn't even claim that Lopez's dancing is based on her - only "characterizations" in the movie which could have been the writers' own independent creations.
Dance moves should not be protected by intellectual property or any offshoot theories in any regards.
My sympathies J-Lo!
March 29, 2004
PETA parenting
I read Psychology Today about 20 years ago. I picked one up last night at the grocery store because I couldn't resist the headline "The Lighter Side of Brain Surgery." I won't be subscribing.
Check out this paragraph:
"When I was 10, I was a closeted vegetariam. I was so afraid to tell anyone," says Patrick Kwan, 22, a vegan who lives in Mew York City. At school, other kids pelted him with meat when they discovered he wouldn't touch it. "I used to run home from school crying and call PETA," Kwan says . . . .
Does Psychology Today think it's a little weird for a 10 year old to be calling PETA instead of, oh, I don't know, talking to his parents?
Apparently not. The next sentence is "Vegans are used to scorn and misunderstanding."
We are everywhere II
After the response to the conservative punk post below, I'm hesitant to point it out but take a look at The Black Republican. (hat tip: Left Coast Conservative)
March 28, 2004
We are everywhere
Check out this sample from ConservativePunk.com.
Why can't people start thinking for themselves and researching for themselves before taking the written (and spoken) word as Gospel? Why must a conservative-leaning individual feel like a second class citizen just for expresing his or her thoughts openly and showing some backbone when faced with obviously misguided leftist propaganda? Most importantly, why has the Punk community so openly and blindly embraced the left? Thank God for this website and Nick Rizzuto for bringing it to life ... letting the disenfranchised Conservative punks of the world know that they're not alone. I only wish that this site had existed back during the Reagan era (when I was growing up) but, then again, the internet had not even been fully developed yet. Great things take time and, in time, I'm sure that even a skeptic like myself will come to fully realize that the Conservatives in the Punk community are NOT such small numbers. Until then, I will do my damnedest to spread the word.
Critical Reading
What's wrong with this paragraph from TIME magazine?
But, inevitably, his religion and his politics will clash. Already, one employee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington says he has lost his job as a result of his political activities on Kerry's behalf. Ono Ekeh was a program coordinator for the conference until last month, when he says his supervisors there confronted him with what he had written—sometimes using workplace computers—on his Yahoo discussion-group website, Catholics for Kerry. What alerted them to his postings, he believes, was a mass e-mail by activist Deal Hudson, editor of a Catholic magazine, Crisis, and a close ally of the Bush White House. Ekeh, 33, had criticized the bishops' recent edicts that Catholic politicians should vote according to church teaching.
They give us Ekeh's statement -- that he was fired for political activities. Then they give us not one, but two facts that are the more likely reason. One purely work-related -- postings on work time. The other a more likely ulterior motive -- his criticism of the bishops' edict when he works for the bishops. Yet all of this is support for the topic sentence that Kerry's religiion and politics clash.
While I'm ranting, check out the part about the St. Louis bishop telling Kerry not to take communion but he's taking it anyway. Catholicsm is not one of those individualistic religions. The individual decides whether he can take communion, unless and until the bishop says otherwise. What makes Kerry think he gets to overrule the bishop? If the bishop has no authority over him in church matters, then why is he still a Catholic? Find one of umpteen religions with no such rules.
March 27, 2004
Three Strikes -- Fouling off the pitch
There's an initiative coming up to modify the Three Strikes law. No one knows as much about this topic as Patterico and he's keeping us informed.
There is a legitimate debate concerning whether the law as written makes sense, when you compare the benefits against the cost. The main benefit of the law is that you are safer. But the media doesn't want to tell you this. The media makes it sound as though we are spending scads of money for no discernible benefit whatsoever. Media types will support this argument by suggesting that offenses such as car burglaries subject you to the harsh penalties of the strike law.
The Odyssey of the Chickens
The chicken at the shelter was not one of mine. My batch of eggs, scheduled to hatch today, did not hatch. (Do you think it has anything to do with the housekeeper unplugging the incubator?) We finally found the local feed store that sells chicks. The county says you have to buy a minimum of 6. Richard took pity on me and I now have six little baby chicks. All female, four different breeds.
Six won't fit in the cage. We'll have to get a coop. Maddy will get a bunny for the cage. We will not get the bunny from these people. They don't allow bunnies outside. They also inspect your home and make sure it is childproof. They wanted a playpen in Maddy's room for the bunny. If I wanted 2-year-old child . . .
March 26, 2004
I May Have Found a Chicken
After they left me, I checked the shelter site twice a day, looking for them. Finally, I gave up. I posted my sad tale here on March 6th and bought myself some eggs. The eggs are supposed to hatch tomorrow. I'm pretty sure that this batch is failed. I was actually thinking of adopting some of those shelter chickens. So I went looking.
A chicken that looks like one of the hens wandered in on March 9th.
Here's the picture of my chickens before they left (with an odd reddish hue):
and a much earlier picture where you can see their proper color:
Now go look at the picture of the chicken in the shelter.
Then tell me I can be excited. The shelter opens at 9.
Claims of Blog Libel Continue to Spin Out of Control
(Sigh)...Another day, another claim of libel from a petty lawyer with nothing to do but send off letters to those posting opinions that happen to be justified with facts.
This latest case involves California author John Gray threatening to sue this Irish blogger for a post of his. (hat-tip to Instapundit for this story)
The lawyer's letter can be found here.
This has caused some bloggers to echo what Justene has previously suggested - the need to create a legal defense organization for bloggers.
Of course frivolous libel claims are nothing new in the blogosphere. And regretfully, even some bloggers themselves don't seem to understand either the law or the true implications of the debate.
But others seem to get the big picture, like this blogger here with a great summary of the law and how it would apply to the above blogger's case.
It's so good in fact, that it saves me the trouble from having to type it myself.
Thanks J.B.!
The Info You Need
Around the Capitol has polling data and more on every California Assembly race, in an easy-to-read chart. Check it out.
Political Games
The Senate has passed the bill to declare that a murder of a pregnant woman also is a murder of her unborn child. I watched Dianne Feinstein on the senate floor arguing that anyone who is prochoice muct vitr against the bill because it undermines Roe v. Wade. Yet here's what Reuters says on the issue:
The DeWine legislation would apply to any assault or murder covered by 68 federal offenses or the code of military justice, such as an assault on federal property. At least 29 states already have similar laws, although some cover only portions of pregnancy.
One of those states is California (Penal Code section 187 which can be located here). Doesn't Feinstein come from California? Have abortion rights been undermined one iota in this state?
I was going to tell you a long story about a law review note that someone wrote when I was Editor-in-Chief (shameless personal bragging) trying to link 187 to the outlawing of abortion but the story was way too boring.
March 24, 2004
Patterico and the Supreme Court?
Byron at Slings and Arrows has an interesting post linking a Patterico post to actual Supreme Court action.
Once I wrote a lettter to The Sporting News about Andy Van Slyke. It was published and that Saturday, Bob Costas discussed it on the baseball game of the week. I don't know if I made any real impact but I was long convinced that was why my husband married me. How many girlfriends end up being discussed on the Game of the Week?
Social Events
There is an LA Blogger get-together, hosted by Jonah at LABlogs.com. The details:
Date: Saturday, 27 March 2004
Place: Farmers Market on Third and Fairfax (next to the grove)
Time: 5:30 pm - ??
Why: To hang out and watch (or do) karaoke
What: Eat, Drink, Be Merry - Jonah is buying the first five pitchers
An update with important details like whether singing is required is here.
Another Bear Flag League lunch is planned for Sunday April 25 in the same area. Details to follow.
Good news, bad news
A public defender punched by his client was allowed to withdraw but a second public defender who refused to become the new punching bag attorney was held in contempt and jailed.
It's a Carnival
Carnival of the Vanities too big for you to get any real exposure? Carnival of the Capitalists out of your league? Join in the Carnival of the Consumers. This Carnival is designed for your product reviews. Love that new celphone? Hate that DVD player? This Carnival is your spot.
The Pledge of Alegiance (or, How The U.S. Supreme Court Will Insult Our Intelligence Again)
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow. In that case, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals proclaimed the Pledge of Alegiance to be an unconstitutional violation of the Establishment Clause.
I have long held that the Supreme Court has ceased to have any moral authority on Establishment Clause matters do to its many opinions that flatly contradict each other, and its refusal to grant cert in many cases that contradict many of its previous rulings.
For an extended (though by no means complete) discussion of my views in this matter, see here, and here (and be sure to read the comments section as well to read the full debate that was engaged in at the time).
The Newdow case will likely be an insult as well - no matter how the Supreme Court eventually rules.
Like many, I thought the notion of declaring the Pledge to be unconstitutional was extremely silly (to put it mildly).
However, unlike many others, I do not blame the 9th Circuit for their ruling. The proper blame belongs
on the Supreme Court.
In 2000, the Supreme Court stated that it was unconstitutional to hold a pray at the start of a high school football game (known as the "Santa Fe" decision).
If that is true, then clearly it is unconstitutional to say the Pledge. That's a no-brainer folks. The 9th Circuit was just following the inescapable logic of the Supreme Court.
Does this mean that I want the Pledge to be declared unconstitutional? Hell no!
It means that I want "Santa Fe" overturned.
But I guarantee you that the Supreme Court won't do that. They will likely pull their usual B.S. tricks with Establishment Clause cases and rule in favor of keeping the Pledge without overturning "Santa Fe" despite the fact that the two decisions would flatly contradict each other.
Perhaps they will simple ignore "Santa Fe" as they often do with the Lemon v. Kurtzman case which has been contradicted several times but never overruled.
If they don't ignore "Santa Fe", then they will split the finest legal hairs possible in order to "reconcile" the cases. Perhaps they will suggest that "Under God" is a general declaration that doesn't amount to an actual prayer. Perhaps they will suggest that a principal saying "Under God" has a secular effect as opposed to a priest saying it. It will be some nonsense like that which the Court will use to rationalize its decision.
Either way the contradictions will continue to multiply and we as a nation will be stuck with an Establishment Clause jurisprudence that has no rational consistency but is rather resolved on a case-by-case basis based on the personal whims and religious biases of nine people.
It is an utter travesty.
But the analysis above will only hold if the Court rules on the merits of the case. If I had to bet, I'd say they will rule that the father had no standing to sue on behalf of a daughter that he doesn't have complete custody of and whose mother says she has no problem saying the Pledge. (MSNBC seems to be making the same prediction.)
But courts have often used standing as a flexible judicial doctrine in order to decide cases that they would to weigh in on while conveniently disposing of other of hot-potato issues that they would rather ignore rather than settle.
I wouldn't think that the father has standing in this case. But then I could never understand why it is people had standing to challenge a Ten Commandments sculpture on state grounds simply because they were offended by it. It seems no different than being offended that your country sends tax money to countries that you find repulsive. And yet there is still no general "taxpayer" standing. If someone can simply be offended by a sculpture and then have standing to remove it, why can't someone simply be offended by the fact that others are being taught to say the Pledge and also have standing to sue?
Just another example of the muddled thinking of the federal courts when it comes to Establishment Clause issues.
Final note - Justice Scalia has recused himself from this case for criticizing the 9th Circuit's decision earlier. I find Scalia to be an honorable Justice, but I doubt that he would have so readily stepped down unless he was confident that the other Justices would find a way to resolve or dispose of this case without banning the Pledge.
March 21, 2004
Sen. James Abourezk - "Traitor"
U.S. Sen. James Abourezk proves himself to be a traitor to the First Amendment and the Constitution. And let's not forget U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol too....
(Bring on the lawsuit Jamesy-boy!)
Blogger Under Attack
I'm trying to resist the temptation to say here we go again. Another blogger being harassed for speech. Fritz complains about the Discovery Channel's use of neo-Nazi symbols and, lo and behold, suddenly he's being hassled by lawyers claiming trademark infringement. Xrlq does a fine job of explaining the inconsistencies in the lawyers' stories. I'm hoping my co-blogger, Justin, takes a whack too.
Time for the blogosphere to band together again. At some point, one of these foolish, speech-squelching legal threats will end in a lawsuit. At that time, we will need a defense fund and lawyers willing to donate services.
March 19, 2004
Taxing for Better Mental Health
The Insider reports on an initiative that appears to be getting signatures quickly enough to get on the ballot. It would tax those earning more than a million dollars and use it on mental health services.
On its face, it looks like a good idea, but this piecemeal "good idea" method of taxation has to go. If we can raise that much in taxes, let's figure out where it needs to go within the overall plan.
The Story of a Wrong Turn
I had a meeting at the San Fernando Mission last night. I had never been there so I got directions from Mapquest and left early. At quarter to 7, I ended the directions and drove up and down a row of industrial facilities looking for anything that looked like a mission.
Finally, I pulled into a driveway and called my voicemail with the message with the address. Argh, I had gone to San Fernando Road instead of San Fernando Mission Road. No map in the car. I haven't needed one since I started using Mapquest years ago. So I called my husband and told him to go online while I held and get new directions from mapquest. I think I could have gotten them on my cel phone but husband was quicker.
I was talking husband through the Mapquest menu when there was a tapping at my window. My first thought was that it was a bad guy. Then I turned to face a rather concerned security guard. I explained my lost state and he started to give me directions when his walkie-talkie went off and I heard the tense voice of a second guard checking on the situation.
I checked the name of the plant I was sitting in front of. A filtration plant. Uh oh. Water supply. I was the potential bad guy. I got my directions and left quickly.
Good to know they're on the ball.
Lawyerly Advice
I just finished updating a chapter of a book for the Continuing Education of the Bar and it reminded me of the worst bit of advice that I received as a young lawyer. The advice was "don't use forms." No, no, use forms. Use good forms and understand the reason behind them.
I worked on the chapter of Drafting Business Contracts relating to Dispute Resolution Procedures. If you agree to arbitrate "all disputes regarding the contract" you have agreed to a more limited scope (only contract claims) than if you agree to arbitrate disputes "arising from or relating to the contract" (contract and tort claims). With that kind of subtle distinction in the case law, why on earth would you take a risk of drafting your own original language. You cannot guarantee a client how it will be interpreted later.
I can hear some of the purists now -- don't use forms, research the cases and learn the law yourself. Spend several hours, billing the client at the rate of several hundred dollars an hour, researching that single phrase? Do the same for every other provision that matters?
Use forms.
However, let me add a caveat to clients. I can't tell you how often a client complains that they were billed for time when all we did was put boilerplate language in. It takes some time and effort to think through each of the issues and decide which boilerplate to put in. It's not unusual for my partner and I to have a 15 minute discussion about whether a particular contract would benefit from adding a discovery clause to the arbitration provision. We have to figure out the likely disputes, what information would be pertinent and who would have that information. Then we have to polish the crystal ball.
March 18, 2004
High Value Target
Usama's #2 man may be surrounded and we're a half hour away from dawn when they can start airstrikes. Glad I'm working from home today so I can keep one eye on the TV.
March 17, 2004
Another World
Today's Day by Day cartoon is about Al Franken. I don't think much of Al but I generally thought the left also considered him a lightweight. Even the talk radio show would not elevate him too high. I consider those guys entertainers.
On Saturday, after the Bear Flag brunch, I took Maddy to the Venice boardwalk. We stopped in th bookstore, run by generally left leaning folk. Imagine my surprise when the recommendation for Al Franken's book "Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them" read merely "Our Hero!"
You Know You Want It
If you were thinking of getting that Bear Flague League Gear, Cafe Press has a St. Patrick's Day Special offering $4 off orders of $40 or more. No truth to the rumor that the special was inspired by Patterico.
March 16, 2004
Chat?
I notice that Left Coast Conservative has a chat room. Why aren't we hanging out there?
Wait. Is everyone hanging out there without me?
OC Rep Party Shifts
LA Times reports that the leadership of the OC Republican Party has changed to reflect the more moderate leanings of party members. (Via California Insider). Pretty interesting from a party that just nominated the not-very-moderate Bill Jones to take on Barbara Boxer. Most ironic is that, if Jones is elected, or even makes a good showing, it'll be because of the endorsement of the very moderate Arnold.
March 15, 2004
More on Spam
Americans don't like being sold to. Instead of banning abusive spam (we can define that in another post), they want to ban all spam. Fax marketing has been regulated to the point that it is almost impossible to do legally. Telemarketing has been stopped. We know you don't want dor to door sales back. Network marketing? Just mention Amway in polite conversation. Television commercials? We're not using the fast forward button to hurry the car chase along.
Here's a question: what form(s) of marketing would you like to see? Followup question: do you think we would have the range and availability of goods that we have if we had the limits suggested?
March 14, 2004
Trikke
I took a little heat yesterday because I'm one of those people who scans the spam subject lines, reads some of them and occasionally buys from them. My defense is I really do see things in spam that I want and don't get elsewhere. Here's what came through tonight. I probably won't buy it but I'm tempted and I hadn't see this before the spam.
Blog Crisis Averted
Lately, I find I'm the clearinghouse for questions that start with "This blog is offline. What happened to . . .?" The latest MIA was Cobb. I couldn't find him either this morning. This afternoon, I decided to start the APB and voila, there he was, back again. Go visit so he stays.
Good Guys Lose in Spain
Jose Maria Anzar's party, strong auporters of the War on Terror, has lost control of the government in Spain. Terror wins a round.
Hat tip: Interocitor
Political Fundraising by Party
Kalblog explains why Republicans have a better fundraising model than Democrats.
Bear Flag League
When I originally took on co-bloggers, one of my stated reasons was so I could focus on other blog things like the Bear Flag League. Well, the transition from Pasadena to Downtown proved to be more difficult than I had imagined. Finally though, I'm getting to it. In addition to the March Madness lunches, I now have the Bear Flag League feed on the sidebar. Fresh headlines from those League members with RSS feed, updated hourly (I hope). Headlines with excerpts can be found here.
BFL members, email me if you add a syndicated feed or it's not posted on your main page.
The Carnival of the Vanities is moving through the BFL. Aaron's Rantblog hosted it this week. Patterico is up next. Get your entries in early and follow the guidelines.
Calblog a True Patriot
The Patriot Blog has emailed to say they named this site a True Patriot. I should be on that winner's list soon. Works for me!
No Survivor Sue-it
So Cal Law Blog reports that Sue Hawk will not sue for that incident in which Richard rubbed against her. Good. Call me old-fashioned, call me sexist, but I think that anyone that upset about it had some obligation to say something, anything when it happened. Even recoiling and withdrawing would have given me some clue that she was bothered.
The impressionable and generally prudish twins were watching both when the incident happened and later during the meltdown. It took a lot of explaining. Neither of them could quite catch the thread of why she was upset.
March 13, 2004
Blogger Cool
Still catching up news around the blogosphere. Do not miss this report on Patterico's Pontifications about how Patterico got the LA Times to correct its own bias.
BFL brunch
We met, we ate, we drank mimosas, management let us hang for over 3 hours. Pictures are at Master of None. General murmurings of pleasure are here, here and here.
UPDATE: The picture link now points to the pictures.
While co-blogger Joel was holding down the virtual ship with a dense analysis of worker's comp, I got to meet co-blogger Justin, who is really cool. (I'm sure Joel is cool too but I reserve such judgments for meetings.)
Spending Cap Redux?
This is a relatively complex worker's comp issue, so please bear with me, and read on if you're interested.
On Thursday, Schwarzenegger stated that he would be willing to accept a 25-30% reduction in the worker's comp system. This was after the WCIRB changed some numbers in the worker's comp system reducing the thought total cost of the system from $24.9 billion to $17.9 billion. However, it is important to realize that the WCIRB's estimate changes DID NOT change cost for the insurance market. What the WCIRB had done was misestimated costs on self-insured employers as well as the amount of employers using self-insurance. Importantly, the misestimation occurred for costs of workers comp cost both pre-SB 228 and AB 227 and post-SB 228 and AB 227. Ultimately, the new numbers mean little to employers who use SCIF or private insurers. Arnold, by coming out and stating he was willing to accept less could put Republicans in the same spot we were at with the bond. A bond, and a Spending Cap that does nothing, here we may be getting WC reform, which ends up doing little. Let's hope that real reform comes out of Sacramento, not just the papering over a major wound.
March 12, 2004
New Bearflagger
Welcome to Jeff Doolittle, blogging out of Fresno. Now seriously, folks, the next time I click on Jeff's site, I expect to see some bearflagger comments. We're a loosely-knit league but the emphasis is on league not loosely-knit.
Martha Ripples
I get interesting emails. This one deserves delivering in toto because anything I did would be derivative:
Here’s an interesting article from FoxNews.com about the conundrum of whether to keep Martha Stewart’s money. Good question.According to the article, the “Federal Election Commission records show that, through the years, the queen of clean has given big bucks to Democratic causes. Clinton's office told Fox News that they will turn over Stewart's $1,000 donation to the senator's charity now that Stewart has been convicted.”
Besides the $1,000 that went to Clinton's Senate campaign, Stewart reportedly donated $157,000 to Democrats within the past few years.
Records show that in all, $170,000 went to the party and its candidates, including $6,000 for President Clinton's two White House campaigns, $2,000 for Al Gore's presidential quest in 2000 and $75,000 -- the largest single donation -- to the Democrats' Unity campaign, $25,000 to the congressional campaign committee and $10,000 to the DNC.
Here’s the link.
March 11, 2004
UNEMPLOYMENT
Calblog Husband here. In honor of Justene now listing me as a "regular contributor", it's time for a post.
The stock market has gone down all week, purportedly due to last Friday's uninspiring unemployment report. And Kerry and "The Democratic Attack Machine" focus on jobs and unemployment continually, like it's 1932. As an aside: Has anyone actually heard Kerry say how he will create more jobs?
Anyway, first let's keep the unemployment rate in perspective. At 5.6%, it's lower than the average of the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s.
Second, the economy is fine, and expanding. The REAL REASON why jobs are not being created is the incredible productivity of American workers. We are having productivity gains which are historical--300 years from now, historians will note this as one of the most important developments of our time. In simple terms, fewer workers can get more done. And that's good for our long-term prospects, and our competitive position in the world.
Eventually, more jobs will be created, as long as we stay on the right course--of having the government let the private sector, and especially smaller businesses, have the free rein to create growth.
LA Times on Jones
Here's the LA Times in a news article, not an editorial:
Boxer has sought to portray Jones as too conservative on oil drilling, guns and abortion. In response to questions Wednesday, he tried to turn Boxer's positions on those issues — which polls suggest more closely represent the views of Californians than his — into detriments.
Feel free to decide for yourself whether it's bias. Hint: when they use words like "suggest", they have formed a conclusory opinion. When they use words like "suggest" and don't give you the backup data, be very, very suspicious.
March 10, 2004
Tabloid blogging
PEOPLE Magazine is apparently doing a story about misfortune in the blogosphere. They have interviewed Xrlq. Why Xrlq? Well, he has blogged about all the various troubles as they have floated through the system. In fact, if you want to know who's on the outs with who, he pretty much knows. Xrlq -- the blogosphere's version of Liz Smith.
March 09, 2004
Only a year and a half to go
This news, via California Insider, is sure to please the 12 1/2 year-old Calblog twins. Maddy, in particular, has complained about this for a long time.
The Insider's summary:
Some people think that the reason we have so many problems in society today is that too many adults act like adolescents, demanding instant gratification and refusing to consider the long-term consequences oftheir actions. Now a California state senator -- 71-year-old John Vasconcellos -- wants to give the vote to 14 year-olds.
Calpundit goes pro
One of my favorite blogs, Calpundit, has gotten a benefactor in the form of the Washington Monthly. It appears he won't have an editor . . . yet. (Just kidding!)
Congratulations, Kevin.
March 08, 2004
The story that will not die
For those of you still following the Infotel story, there's a new update on the original post. I have deleted some of the comments.
March 06, 2004
Liberalspeak
A funny comment over on Daily Pundit:
The liberals need to update their lexicon..."Lies" = "Policy Differences"
"Patriotism" = "Judgement"
"Racism" = "Anyone who Disagrees with Us"
"Fascism" = "We don't have a clue what it means, but we use it anyway"
"Assault Weapons" = "Any Firearm"
"Cut" = "Reduction in the rate of growth"
There's more.
Gambling Wins
The headline on this story is Bettor wins $1.3 million; Net casino won't pay. I assume we're supposed to now conclude that internet gambling is a losing proposition; even if you win, you'll lose. The real story is different. The bettor won that amount by beating a game with a house edge consistently and over a long period of time. The casino won't pay because they believe he cheated.
I daresay that any offline, brick and mortar, respectable casino would be reviewing the videotapes for cheating before cashing the chips of a player they expect is cheating.
Lunch was so yesterday
There's nothing I have to do today. I can't remember the last day like that. (Even worse, I can't quite remember why I haven't had a day like this in a long time). So I decided to wander about the blogosphere. It's kind of like returning home. What did I discover?
While I've been focussed on Bear Flag League meet-ups, the Northern Alliance is having a radio show. Ack!
Chicken update
Two weeks ago, I went off to the Religious Education Congress. Friday morning before I left, I went out to see the chikcens. The three of them had grown pretty big. The rooster had greenish-black tailfeathers. They saw me exit the house and got all excited, clucking and pacing. I got to their cage and opened the doors. No one would jump out and to the ground until I petted them. I have raised birds before and had many that were affectionate but it still surprises me.
After I cleaned their cage and laid in food and water, I went back in the house to get grapes, their favorite treat. I was, after all, leaving them for two days. Alas! There were no grapes. I spotted some sliced mushrooms that were looking like they needed to be eaten soon. I took those out.
The chickens were now in the grass where I throw their treats and the sight of me got them going again. I grabbed the first handful of mushrooms and tossed them to the ground. The rooster grabed one and took off, two hens in hot pursuit. Mind you, they've never seen mushrooms before. The rooster ran up and down the yard while the hens tried to get that mushroom. I stood there telling them how dumb they were since I had just tossed bunches of the same thing to the ground. Finally, the hens gave up and came back to me and the plethora of mushrooms. Then they stood there, scared to try them. I stood there, again explaining to them how stupid they were. I was also laughing and having a genuinely good time hanging out with my chickens.
Unfortunately, that was the last I saw of them. When I returned home, they hadn't been seen since I left. There were no signs of foul play. If a predator got them, it would have been a hawk. The other predators here seem to always leave evidence. More likely, though, they wandered off and got lost. It had starting to rain that day and that could be enough to confuse the birdbrains. We once were visited by someone else's chickens who immediately decided to just stay even though we weren't feeding them. (We found the rightful home of those chickens).
I'm surprised at how much I miss them two weeks later. However, time marches on and today, a new batch of chicken eggs goes into the incubator. Bantam chickens this time, a smaller breed. I'm also gettng new fish today, having corrected the tank condition that killed the last ones. Tomorrow,we're going to the bunny adoption day. It's spring and calblog husband doesn't really want more children.
Dollars
At the beginning of the year, I agreed to put 100 dollar coins into circulation. I'm about a third of the way there. I haven't seen any effect except that the bank tellers are thrilled to give them to me and get them out of their drawer. Valets are fun. Hand them a coin, a single coin, instead of a bill and watch the series of emotions as they first think you're really cheap and then realize you're not. (Go ahead, go try it, I'll wait).
There's an interesting article in Reader's Digest (yes I read it and like it) about a man who put $10,000 in one dollar bills into circulation and wrote on each one, asking people to write back. He got a huge number (7,400) of replies, some fascinating.
There was a website but it's disabled now. Too much traffic from the article? Or does the Bureau of Engraving want to discourage writing on bills -- which is not illegal on the edges?
Who will be the first blogger to start putting their URL into the edges of the bills they spend?
March 05, 2004
Bear Flag Update
Bear Flaggers in So Cal are having a series of get-togethers. We're testing my tolerance for social interaction. Today I met Patterico and spouse and the Boifromtroy. I enjoyed it and did not have to employ any deep breathing exercises.
What appears to be the big powwow is at the Warehouse in Marina Del Rey next Saturday at 11 am. I'm trying to coordinate via email but blog+email is more reliable. I want to call Monday and make a reservation so please email me if you're going. (I'll take late addons but the more reliable my number is, the less deep breathing, etc.).
Then Pasadena on Friday the 19th. (Lunch).
Once I get through this and finish congratulating myself on meeting so many people in person, I'll work on gatherings in other locations and including other people beyond BFL.
But, speaking of BFL, there's a new member!! Welcome, welcome, welcome to The Fladen Experience. Go now and experience some Fladen.
Martha, Martha, Martha
Interocitor thinks Martha should be pardoned. I didn't think she'd be convicted but I don't think pardoning is a good idea. The fact that Clinton did it makes it a worse idea.
I do think we'll see it overturned. Maybe by the judge but probably by an appellate court. There's got to be a First Amendment violation in this.
Life on Mars?
Now that there's evidence of water -- at least in the past -- on Mars, the British bookies won't even take bets on whether or not life will be found.
March 04, 2004
L.A. Times - Leftist Loons
We all know about the bias at the L.A. Times, but even this latest example had my jaw drop to the floor.
An opera critic describes an opera by Richard Strauss as "pro-life" (as in life affirming), yet the loony editors change the phrase to "anti-abortion", setting up a tragic comedy of errors since the opera has nothing even remotely to do with abortion!
Great going L.A. Times!
Update: Reuters has now picked up on the story and has more details about the L.A. Times' critic's "stunned" reaction.
Perhaps Reuters is tuned in to the blogosphere?