Long Time Gone

Shows up in San Francisco, openly opposes "civil unions," yet tries to evade responsibility for it by "leaving the matter up to the states." If you're going to be a bigot, have the guts to stand behind your beliefs and let us know what you think. If your opinion is correct, you should have nothing to fear. Homophobes, come out of the closet so we can see who you are. The half-assed notion of "civil unions" is akin to the equally fallacious "separate but equal" rule from segregation days in the South. Include me in the back of the bus, please; I don't believe in discrimination. As Daniel Pearl's dad, on the anniversary of his murder, said so eloquently, and I paraphrase, "we can judge humanity by how the Jews are treated."

Funny how it's the anti-gay party that keeps experiencing gay sex scandals...

San Francisco Chronicle Fred J. Martin, Jr 10/31/07 Will the crisis of the 1960s precipitated by the closing of California's state mental hospitals be perpetuated in San Francisco? Will the city continue attempting to sweep homeless from the streets and parks without a strategy for treatment of these mostly chronically mentally ill individuals? The San Francisco Department of Public Health has proposed to eliminate 22 inpatient psychiatric beds at San Francisco General Hospital as of January 2008. Next week, the Board of Supervisors will consider a supplementary appropriation to reverse this action. If left to stand, however, this city would eliminate 22 out of 87 SFGH locked ward beds and shift the funding to an acute diversion unit and a voluntary urgent care program...[continued]

Car towed. Parking citation. Biopsych midterm. Long day. Police lock-down in Castro. The anti-Halloween.

An exploitative, voyeuristic show with pseudo-advice for needy people that does more harm than good. Phil abuses his authority as show host and as underqualified "therapist." Isn't his degree in industrial psych or something like that?

Colbert and his newly-minted run for the presidential nod; in South Carolina, at least, where he may run as both a Republican and a Democrat--a "Republicrat"?

An hour-long interview with Richard Armitage by Charlie Rose is probably too much information, but he's an interesting guy. Fluent in Vietnamese, apparently, among other languages. First caught my eye in "No End in Sight," and has been implicated in the Valerie Plame leak.

I haven't watched the whole thing, so I can't vouch for it, but overall I think Al Jazeera does a fine job with their documentaries.

Political Scientists Discover New Form Of Government WASHINGTON, DC—Political scientists at the Cato Institute announced Monday that they have inadvertently synthesized a previously theoretical...

I'd go to the Middle East...Morocco, Cairo, Beirut, to teach English or volunteer...travel, travel, travel; learn languages, meet people...figure it all out.

A cute, unselfconscious interview with Dwight, Jim, Pam, and "the temp" before "The Office" became a hit.

France's president Nicolas Sarkozy walks out of an interview with CBS news. Pretty funny. I like him--he's a bit of a prima donna.

The trailer for the Iraq war documentary "No End in Sight," by Magnolia pictures. It's a little self-promotive, of course, but this film, in its entirety, is the best documentary I have yet seen on Iraq.

One of Will Ferrell's lines from the film "Anchorman." It comes to mind because of the talk of arson behind the Southern California fires.

France struggles to address its underemployment issues, and its 35-hour per week, government-mandated work schedule.

Here is Blackwater's CEO Erik Prince on "The Charlie Rose Show" to respond to the firestorm of controversy surrounding the murder of Iraqi civilians by Blackwater contractors. He's a really interesting guy; I enjoyed his testimony before Congress as well, but had a hard time choosing a specific segment from C-SPAN's coverage to include here. Prince did not seem at all pleased to be testifying before Congress; he seemed almost contemptuous and while his body language showed impatience and quasi-condescension, his words were polite and efficient. He's very intelligent and thinks tactically--in terms of details and concrete planning. His SEAL training is evident as well, in his effort to answer each question as completely as possible and posture of respect and pride.

enough time to maintain this blog :-) the chance to use my writing skills meet people from all walks of life travel and see the world to feel useful and engaged to be respected in my field learn several languages earn good money be a "professional" of some kind and be well-connected, whatever that means be involved with/in current events on an international scale

Why is finding a job so difficult? I feel like I'm barking up the wrong tree.

This is "bonus footage" from Robert Greenwald's acclaimed documentary, "Iraq For Sale." It's overtly anti-Blackwater, but has some interesting things to say. I'm really intrigued by the whole Blackwater fiasco and will try to provide several sides of the situation here. This guy is the editor of "The Nation," a very respected publication, and the author of the bestselling book about Blackwater. However, he's never been to Iraq to see Blackwater in action. They have invited him several times. I would feel better about his criticism of Blackwater if he'd actually been there to see exactly what they do. In the midst of this Blackwater coverage, I really recommend Robert Young Pelton's "Licensed to Kill," a book not just about Blackwater but competing companies and the history behind the whole phenomenon of private contractors. By far the least biased source I've yet encountered on the whole thing.

[Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting] An excellent piece on the effect the new US policy of "peacekeeping" in Anbar province in Iraq is having on Sunni and Shi'a neighbors. I subscribe to the Pulitzer Center's channel on youtube, and really recommend it for top-quality reporting.

English language Al Jazeera has great coverage of worldwide events that don't get much mention in the US media. This one is about the ongoing problem of racism and poverty in the slums surrounding Paris.

Halloween is in full swing [no pun intended] here in the Castro, well before the 31st. There were so many drag queens that as a biological woman, I felt outnumbered. If I were dressing up, I'd go as the Grim Reaper, Dick Cheney. Or, I'd go as one of those Brazilian Carnaval girls w/the huge feathery headdress, etc. I wish I had friends to celebrate Halloween with... I bet someone will dress up as Larry Craig, or some variation thereof...

This guy was working security for American diplomats in Pakistan and spoke with Pearl right before Pearl met with his kidnappers-to-be.

It's pretty simple arithmetic, actually, SFPD. I almost received two parking tickets in the space of four hours (yes, I was in minor violation both times) on Friday. However, on the average day in SF, I see probably 20-30 different homeless people. In fact, I should start counting (note to self)! Now, which is more important--issuing parking tickets to people like me, who was literally in the wrong meter section on the street for five minutes before a butch meter maid came along--or helping homeless people? Perhaps rearranging resources would be a good idea--move some of those ticketing officers over to the "let's help the homeless in a meaningful way" department. Agreed?

A staged news conference, FEMA? Really? Way to restore the nation's faith in your agency!

Apple Unveils New Product-Unveiling Product SAN FRANCISCO—Apple claims the iLaunch can garner the same amount of press attention as a major scientific discovery, high court ruling, celebrity meltdown, or natural disaster at 200 times the speed of a traditional media-fostered launch.

Moving on, getting older, growing up.

It can't have been a bad day if the worst I can say about it is that my dinner omelet turned out disappointingly. A little flat. I wonder if I used too much milk.

Irony intended. More sanctions are not the answer.

One of my all-time favorite segments of his show, where he "entraps" various US Representatives into loopholes and semantic mazes so complex there is no escape!

"The Daily Show's" John Oliver informs the viewer of the typical sentence for crimes against humanity in Iraq--and it involves getting Lou Gehrig's disease.

The Iraqi government wants Blackwater to leave Iraq. Since Iraq is a sovereign state, the United States should support this decision. It is hypocritical of the administration to go on about "freedom" in Iraq and then contradict the decisions of its government. Iraq needs our support, not the imposition of our self-serving will. If they want Blackwater out, we should assist in that effort.

Myanmar's current government is illegitimate because it was not brought to power by its citizens. It engages in widespread oppression and mistreatment of political opposition and suppresses freedom of speech. Knock it off, Myanmar.

As Borat would say, "Whaaaaaat?"

Scientists Theorize What Would Happen If They Touched A Cloud CHICAGO—A group of scientists from the University of Chicago raised new questions during an international nephology conference held there...

Wow. She and her husband are still very angry about her cover being blown as a secret CIA operative. Katie Couric interviewed her for "60 Minutes."

It doesn't take more than a glance at the largely fossilized cast of CBS' "60 Minutes" to realize why network TV is on the way out. However, I do give them show kudos for interviewing the remarkably beautiful Valerie Plame tonight. Not to mention the facts that most of the commercials are for incontinence, bone loss, and knee replacements!

When it becomes character-driven, rather than episode-by-episode, ensemble-acted, situationally-driven. I think "Friends" started to head downhill when Monica and Chandler became involved, for example, and I have similar concerns for the Pam and Jim storyline this season on "The Office."

Not Fidel. The Castro district in San Francisco, where today the "Bourne" trilogy of films is running at the magnificent Castro theater. Fabulous!

Sam I am not. Hasta la vista, GOP candidate numero tres.

Brilliant chess champion, Russian exilee, and outspoken leader of the anti-Putin movement, Gary Kasparov, may run for president of Russia. Fab! He was a guest on Colbert's 10/18/07 show.

The cutie host of his own CNN show was Stephen Colbert's host last night on the "Report." It was easily one of Colbert's most hilarious shows in awhile, from the opening line to the closing segment. Cooper was discussing his "Planet in Peril" special, the premise of which Colbert argued against.

or just most of them? I had a satisfactorily flirtatious exchange with Mauro, the hot Brazilian plumber. I miss feeling desirable.

It Only Tuesday WASHINGTON, DC—Tuesday's arrival stunned a nation still recovering from Monday's nightmarish slog, leaving some to wonder if the week was ever going to end.

Guinness is one of the feistiest kitties I've ever met (so named because she's colored like the beer). When I come home at night, she runs toward the door with one of the loudest meows I've ever heard. I feel like a shamed schoolgirl for being gone all day once she's done meowing! Sometimes at night she'll caterwaul at an even louder volume. I tried to "sequester" her in the front room once, but she got out. I've never met such an opinionated cat. She'll stare at me and meow loudly and I have no idea what she's talking about. The other kitty for whom I'm housesitting, Darla, is a deaf sweetheart who sleeps for a living. She loves to cuddle and has a "purr-fest" each night before bed. Both cats are quite elderly, between 14 and 16 years old. Guinness has a lot of energy for her vintage; she zooms around the house at least once a day with a toy or two.

I wonder whether Turkey is threatening to invade Iraq, all of a sudden, in order to get Congress to back down on the Armenian genocide bill...stay tuned for more poultry-esque politics.

There is no way that Erik Prince, founder and CEO of Blackwater USA, is pleased with the increasing pressure on Blackwater to leave Iraq and abandon its multi-million dollar contracts. He's a cutie, to be sure--if a disgruntled one. [AFP]

Man Sentenced To 3 Months Probation For 17th-Degree Murder ST. LOUIS—Jury members in the murder case against real estate agent David Steffen said that the angry message Steffen left on victim Ron...

And so can you! Props to my boy Stephen Colbert and his new book. I have yet to decide where I will buy my copy (an executive decision!). Dennis the Menace Kucinich (whom Colbert would have us believe is a leprechaun) humored us all by coming on Colbert's show and emptying his pockets of everything from a pocket-sized Magna Carta to a full tea set to his real membership card in the AFL-CIO. That's quite a leprechaun! Where can I find a pocket-sized one? If only voters had the courage to vote for someone like him en masse. He has such heart.

Study: 38 Percent Of People Not Actually Entitled To Their Opinion CHICAGO—In a surprising refutation of the conventional wisdom on opinion entitlement, a study conducted by the University of Chicago's...

This new college graduate cannot wait for a full-time job so she can start paying full price for her clothes again! While I pride myself on rarely paying full price for anything and frequenting the sales rack like a retail ghost, it's high time to be buying outfits that match. Enough of college shoestring budgets! Where would we be without Yiddish, really?

Diana Valerie Galbraith, Rishna Becerra Gracie, Catherine Anne Guzzi, Johanna Helene Paillet, Jennifer Lee Anne Rootes, Mary Elizabeth Taloff, Alexandra Catherine Widmann Phi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society was founded in 1920 at the University of Texas for the purpose of bringing together students and faculty interested in the study of government and politics. Today there are over 600 chapters throughout the country. Mills College is home to the Phi Eta chapter. Hoo-wa!

If it's not American bodies being dragged through the streets, it's Africans'.

"A License to Kill," by Robert Young Pelton. Anyone uninformed about Blackwater should probably give this book a second glance, at the very least. Of course I don't advocate shooting civilians, but the story is much more complicated than the nightly news would have us believe. Oh, and weren't those mercenaries who helped us win the Revolutionary War? And aren't private contractors the ones who sometimes come to the rescue of US troops when there aren't enough of them to save their own comrades?

The first GOP candidate to drop out of the race is Tommy Thompson. Who knew he was running? I kept confusing him with Tommy Tune. One down, the rest to go!

Courtesy Stephen Colbert, to Jon Stewart, in a "toss" from The Daily Show.

It's a beautiful day here in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco, made all the more so by the contrast to the dreariness of yesterday's frigid rainstorm. I just checked out a local market and found it to be expensive and of sub-par quality. I think I'll head out to explore a bit more and go to a local coffee house that gets good reviews, to do some studying, which I resent...but oh well. Maybe I'll apply to the Books Inc here...I applied for some more jobs online last night... I'm continually frustrated that I can't wake up earlier to make the most of the day, but I'll just appreciate feeling rested. I ran into Jenny's friend Heather, who is very nice. I also checked out the "Diesel" store, but of course it caters just to men! Their flagship store downtown has women's stuff, I think. Honestly, the Tenderloin was such a turnoff that I'd rather not return there anytime soon. There are some great-looking restaurants in the area,...

I'm enjoying a warm, just-out-of-the-oven corn muffin with butter as I watch "The Office," which is making a nice rebound from its dubious season premiere of last week. Much of the delicious awkwardness has returned, with boss Michael singing annoying songs and making insipid announcement to the employees. The feline post mortem tension between Dwight and Angela continues apace. And here's a Christmas-themed commercial on NBC. I don't know if Santa was a socialist, but I don't think he was this much of a capitalist. Dwight is such an intense character that in another context he'd be frightening. Darla the kitty is glaring at me from the arm of the gray-green armchair that matches her eyes. Probably because we're not cuddling on the bed the way she loves. Today was somewhat disappointing, with too much walking on a windy day while dodging smelly, filthy homeless people most of the way. Tomorrow is my interview with "The Onion." I have no...

"Stephen Colbert Announces as a Candidate for President -- Seeks Nod of Both Parties!" By E&P Staff Published: October 11, 2007 10:05 PM ET NEW YORK Appearing on Larry King's CNN show Thursday night, Stephen Colbert was accused by the host of using the publication of his new book as a platform to run for president. Colbert happily confirmed this, saying that he would seek the nomination from both parties. [Editor and Publisher]

Is the teenage American boy.

An hour-long documentary by a Dutch filmmaker brings us into the unbelievable world of the North Korean cult of personality that is Kim Jong Il. Not the happiest place on earth, by any stretch.

Colbert "nails" the humorless Bill O'Reilly on O'Reilly's own show.

Well, not quite. Eating like one might be more accurate. Tonight's feast/famine: A two-egg omelet without milk, Three corn muffins from a mix made with water, Some Asian noodles with a storebought sauce (all I could find in nearly-barren cupboard)

I have arrived, near the corner of Market and Castro. I had a good walkabout today, well, more than I wanted--public transit here is a little confusing and inconvenient. Down to South Van Ness, back to 17th Street, somehow down to the Embarcadero, then BART to 16th and Mission, and a stroll back to base. Not bad for a first day. I think I like the Mission, and it is fun to walk down Market (well, parts of it) to see what is where. The homelessness is out of control, however. Earth to somebody (Gavin Newsom?): Do something about it! It is unacceptable, both to us and to them.

How does one reconcile vetoing healthcare for children with "No Child Left Behind"?

Mike Huckabee's smile looks just as forced and insincere to me as Richard Nixon's does.

Shares of Google hit $600 for the first time today, and don't I feel like Maria Bartiromo saying so?

I think not, Ms. Winfrey. Oprah has chosen her next book-of-the-month club book, and it's Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "Love in the Time of Cholera." That's fine, but it turns out that the movie version of that novel is coming out next month, too. Coincidence, or collusion w/the movie studio for some extra press for the film and cash for Oprah? You scratch my back; I'll scratch yours.

I saw the first Christmas commercial a couple of weeks ago, in SEPTEMBER. I doubt Mr. Claus would approve of the hypercommercialized nature of our "holiday season" that seems to begin earlier each year. Lewis Black has a great rant on this, by the way, that is posted elsewhere in this blog.

Lone saxophone players in subway stations, particularly at night. The three tones that sound right before an announcement is made in European train stations. The sound of an orchestra tuning up before the curtain rises. Freshly-made crepes with lemon and powdered sugar. Observing happy people. The sound of snowflakes falling. When Dr. W grins. Being winked at. Chocolate and hazelnut.