culturekitchen

Los Angeles Eats, Sites and Events, 2009 Edition

liza@culturekitchen.com (Liza Sabater and crew) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:47:07 PDT

My family just got back from our annual vacation in Los Angeles where I have both family and friends...and every other year (including 2009) a conference at UCLA. This year traveling was marginally better because we flew into Burbank airport, which is considerably better than LAX. And flying Jet Blue meant there were no stopovers. In general I have not found Jet Blue's prices competitive, but this year they were, so we tried them out. This time we rented a Nissan Altima hybrid. It got us about 32 mpg in the city...not as good as we once got in a Prius, but a tad better than we once got in a...

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Campaign of Terror unleashed on Nigeria’s ‘Witch Children’

liza@culturekitchen.com (Liza Sabater and crew) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:52:58 PDT

Campaign of Terror unleashed on Nigeria’s ‘Witch Children’ Coalition of civil society organisations and churches condemn the recent violence against children and local NGO staff members A coalition of Nigerian and International civil society organisations and churches have strongly condemned the recent campaign of terror that has been inflicted upon the so-called ‘child witches’ at the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network Centre (CRARN) in Eket, Akwa Ibom State by Lagos-based police officers. The work of CRARN, and the children they care for, was shown on Channel 4’s...

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TO PRESIDENT OBAMA AS HE VISITS AFRICA

liza@culturekitchen.com (Liza Sabater and crew) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:31:59 PDT

Dear President Obama Speak out Against Witch Hunt, Ritual Killing and other Superstition based Atrocities As you embark on your first visit to Africa, I urge you to use the opportunity to speak out against witch hunt, human sacrifice and other superstition based atrocities on the continent. Superstition is killing Africa and hampering its development, enlightenment and progress. The irrational belief in witchcraft, ritual sacrifice and magic is holding the African mind hostage. Throughout the continent, the dark and destructive effects of superstition- poverty, ignorance, misery,...

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I agree with Josh on Palin but on the crazy talk

liza@culturekitchen.com (Liza Sabater and crew) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:52:07 PDT

From Beware Post-Dated Resignations? :: TPM: Palin did this totally out of the blue. But given the thundering derision that has greeted her decision and exposure as a quitter of gargantuan proportions, is it possible she'll reconsider? After all, if she's resigning, why doesn't she just resign? Why wait until the end of July? Again, I don't think it's likely. And I can't fathom a scenario in which it was planned all along. But remember we're dealing with a deeply erratic and probably mentally unstable person who does lots of completely whacked things at the drop of a hat. Even though I...

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Is there something to investigate about Sarah Palin?

liza@culturekitchen.com (Liza Sabater and crew) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:17:25 PDT

Gee, these threats from Sarah Palin's lawyers makes me speculate that there is something to investigate about whether Palin embezzled funds in the construction of the Wasilla sports arena: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/24521.html#ixzz0KMqAULUQ&C The Shakespearean phrase "Methinks thou doest protest too much" comes to mind when people like Palin feel they have to threaten people about investigating her. Generally, innocent people are much more open about things. Conversely, such posturing and overreacting to speculation that we are seeing from Palin's lawyers does tend to...

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BRINGING EVANGELIST HELEN UKPABIO TO JUSTICE/CAMPAIGN UPDATE

liza@culturekitchen.com (Liza Sabater and crew) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:32:53 PDT

On Friday July 3 2009 some officers from the Nigeria Police went to the Child's Right and Rehabilitation Network center,www.crarn.org, in Eket Akwa Ibom State where children alleged to be witches are kept and are being catered for to arrest Sam Ituama and others in charge of the Center. It took several hours to establish who actually sent these officers and why .After several phone calls to Abuja, Lagos and Uyo, it was confirmed that the officers came from Ikoyi in Lagos to arrest Sam and others following a petition from the Calabar based evangelist and head of the Liberty Gospel Church,...

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My children are so WTF

liza@culturekitchen.com (Liza Sabater and crew) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:02:38 PDT

Thing2 - Mommy, why do you look nice today? me - Why do you ask?? Do i have to look shit all the time? Thing 1 and Thing 2 (in unison while laughing) YES! me - Fuck you. Thing1 - ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Good one, mom. Thing2 - ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! No, really, why do you look so nice today?

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The Science of Negative Results

liza@culturekitchen.com (Liza Sabater and crew) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:50:39 PDT

While on vacation in California, I was having a discussion with my wife (an atmospheric scientist), and a friend (an archaeologist). I am a Developmental Geneticist. So we were three scientists from three very disparate fields. I have been a scientist for 20 years. My wife for much shorter time and my friend for much, much longer. So we come at it from different chronological perspectives. And one thing we each have encountered is the huge lack in science of the reporting of negative results. There is a perception in science that one must prove your hypothesis correct or it is not worth...

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Stephen Colbert declares Jeff Goldblum dead

liza@culturekitchen.com (Liza Sabater and crew) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:53:58 PDT

The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Jeff Goldblum Will Be Missed www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Jeff Goldblum Last week a huckster from Australia declared Jeff Goldblum had died in New Zealand and media all around the world proceed to repeat the hoax. I actually saw on @Twitter that, contrary to the reports, the man was in New York City filming a tv show. Well, Stephen Colbert milked it for all what it was worth. Watch how they play up the "if it was on @Twitter, it must be true" meme. And witness what true comedic talent...

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Minnesota Supreme Court Opinions : Call him SENATOR Al Franken

liza@culturekitchen.com (Liza Sabater and crew) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:52:38 PDT

About time Coleman v. Franken (PDF of case A09-697)was decided and in this case, unanimously: 1. Appellants did not establish that, by requiring proof that statutory absentee voting standards were satisfied before counting a rejected absentee ballot, the trial court's decision constituted a post-election change in standards that violates substantive due process. 2. Appellants did not prove that either the trial court or local election officials violated the constitutional guarantee of equal protection. 3. The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it excluded additional...

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