Panda's Postings

Yes on Prop 8 deciphering

2008-11-14T12:50:00.000-08:00

The argument I keep hearing from Prop 8 supporters: If gay marriage is socially and legally accepted, churches will be forced to marry gay couples or risk losing their tax-exempt status.

Such an outcome seems contrary to current U.S. constitutional law, but the Yes people I know keep expressing their fear about a recent court case in which a Methodist church lost its tax exempt status because they refused to marry a gay couple.

It took a bit of searching to find this because someone told me the church was in Massachusetts, but here is the New Jersey court case in question, and Misty of the More Musings on Christianity, Homosexuality and the Bible blog does an excellent job of distilling the actual facts and findings of the case. Read it!

Turns out, the decision was about whether the property in question (a pavillion on a boardwalk) was a public facility, subject to anti-discrimination laws, or a religious organization.

"The investigation will need to determine whether Respondent is a religious organization, whether the OGCMA's overall use of the boardwalk pavilion constitutes religious activity and whether its pavilion rental is a religious activity."

The court decided that based on the use of the facility, the large amount of public funding the pavillion has received over the years, and other factors, that it was not a religious organization. So the facility (not a church) lost its tax-exempt status because it was determined that it was not functioning as a religious entity, NOT because they refused to marry a gay couple.

Sheesh.

I knew my gut was right, but it feels even better to know the facts!

The Morman and Catholic churches can marry whomever they want, but they shouldn't be deciding who other churches want to marry, or who the state marries. And this civil union business isn't the solution. Doesn't anyone remember the lessons of "separate but equal?"

And now this word from one of my favorite commentators of our time:

Twitter Vote Report

2008-11-04T05:54:00.000-08:00

...is neat! Check it out. Tweet your vote. Follow me and I'll follow you!

UPDATE: Not endorsing Topicana, but the Freshly Squeezed Tweets are pretty cool too!

Oxymoron

2008-09-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

I was just checking out the website of the new Marketside stores opening up in Arizona and I came across this great line:

"Marketside is a small community grocery store owned by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc."

I like that: owned by Wal-Mart. Not Wal-Mart, just owned by them. We're just a li'l community grocery store fillin' in where we already put out of business all the truly small community grocery stores on our path to become the largest food retailer in the world.

CNN

2008-09-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

I know better than to watch CNN and take it seriously, but every time I tune in, I am amazed by how ridiculous it really is.

A few days ago I turned on CNN just in time to see John King talking about the Magic Map and how McCain's campaign was hoping to target Wal-Mart Moms and Hockey Moms.

"Wal-Mart moms make less than $60,000 a year. Hockey moms are more affluent, suburban women."

You'd think it was John King who thought up the 2008 version of the stereotypical 1996 demographic descriptor--he seemed so pleased by the "cleverness" of his terminology. (As in '96, both terms can be traced to the GOP). But perhaps he was just excited by the map.

Even more annoying than the Palinization of Soccer Moms, was the use of a company name in a news broadcast that is not about that company. Did Wal-Mart pay CNN, Business Week or the McCain campaign to use the name? Not directly, I assume, but in this day and age, who knows.

According to a recent article in Business Week:

"Just who are Wal-Mart Women? They're not as well-off as average Americans: Some 41% of frequent Wal-Mart shoppers have incomes below $35,000, vs. 25% of the population at large. They're less educated than their neighbors: 31% of U.S. voters have a high school education or less, vs. 39% for Wal-Mart Women. Those characteristics set them apart from the firmly middle-class Soccer Moms so closely tracked in past elections."

CNN didn't even get their numbers right. Magic map and everything, the out of touch news personalities apparently think $59,000 a year makes someone low-income. Wouldn't all the people who work at Wal-Mart love to make that much money!

Looney Lunatics

2008-06-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

I attended the National Conference on Media Reform over the weekend and had a great time. Hopefully, if I can get through the mounds of work that have piled up in my absence, I will get a chance to blog about it. But in the meantime, I just thought I would share this video with my friends so that they could understand where I was:

The whole thing is so ridiculous. O'Reilly taunted the NCMR on his show on Friday, and then his camera crew goaded conference attendees to make sure there was footage to manipulate for Monday's episode. I'm familiar with Fox's nickname Faux News, but it really hits home when you are at an event that receives such distorted coverage.

NCMR is uploading lots of footage from the conference over the next few days. Check out the videos...there's some really good stuff!

And since I don't have time to counter the Fox coverage, here are some great responses from Josh Silver of Free Press and Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times.

Obama

2008-06-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to say I witnessed in person yesterday's historic announcement. Of course, my pictures are all far away and silly, but I thought I'd share anyway. Whatever political pessimism has kept me from being more active since the GW reelection has now officially faded--I'm looking forward to this campaign season.

This was the view from our original seats...

But then we wised up and moved here.

Yay, Barack!

Check out all the thousands of people...I've never heard a stadium cheer so loudly.

When he made the big announcement, everyone stood up....
Except for this woman.

:)

(Click to enlarge if you can't read her shirt)

Half a kudo to NRDC

2008-04-04T23:26:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, I gave money to the United Farm Workers and I signed a petition from the ACLU. Now I get at daily requests for money and/or signatures from a myriad of cause-driven organizations.

Anyone who has made the bleeding heart mailing list as I have, knows that most organizations can't seemed to figure out how to create a petition that fits into the return envelope in a reasonable manner. I usually end up sending in a document folded 6 times that might as well be a crumpled little ball.

But today, for the first time ever, I received a petition from NRDC that actually fits inside the return envelope. I'm tempted to send a donation with my signature this time--especially if I could guarantee the money would go to the competent person who figured out how to measure.

So kudos to NRDC. But only half a kudo, because they still send me way to much junk mail to be "environmental." (And yes, I've been trying to contact all the interest groups who send me mail to ask to be taken off their list, but a reduction in mail has yet to become a reality.)

Media Justice

2008-04-02T15:55:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I participated in a Common Cause conference that asked the question, "Is the Media Undermining our Democracy." I loved Brad Friedman's response below.

In general, the conference covered many of the issues I care about and have thought about before, but as I prepared for my session on Using Web 2.0 to Get Your Message Out, I was reminded of some sobering facts:

On Broadband Speed

Median real-time download speed in the U.S.: 1.9 megabits per second (mbps)
Average download speeds in Japan:61 mbps
Average download speeds in South Korea: 45 mbps
Average download speeds in France: 17 mbps
Average download speeds in Canada: 7 mbps.
More info: http://www.speedmatters.org/

On Access to Broadband

22 out of 100 of Americans have broadband subscriptions, ranking the U.S. at 15th among industrialized nations
America ranks 5th among industrialized nations for the most expensive broadband
More info: OECD Broadband Portal

On What Americans do on the Internet

Check out these statistics. Sure, 75% of Americans use the internet everyday, but only 16% use it to access information about politics, just 9% log in to the very social network sites I talked about in my session, and only 7% read blogs.

So does the concept of Web 2.0 have value? Absolutely. But is it truly cutting through the b.s. put out by mainstream news sources? Not for the majority of the population.

We have a long way to go. In the meantime, let's do what we can to advocate for net neutrality, because if we don't stay on top of that, it won't matter who has access.

14 hours at Disneyland

2008-03-03T18:43:00.000-08:00

Maybe it’s hypocritical to like Disneyland, given the problems I have with the Disney corporation, but I prefer to think of it as a shades-of-gray issue. The craftsmanship and imagination that went into the old attractions (and a couple of the newish ones) is well beyond your average theme park. I spent 14 hours at the “happiest place on earth” yesterday, and it was a very happy day indeed.

15+ Attractions that I loved. Among the best: Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Tiki Room, Mark Twain, Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, Indiana Jones, A Bug’s Life, Storybook Land.

1 very low score on in the Astro Blasters ride. Jessica is a far more talented blaster. See pic.

2 Attractions that I did not enjoy: Star Tours and Soarin’ Over California (I feel sick just thinking about it).

5 food stops: Bengal BBQ (pictures coming soon), Pineapple Whip from the Tiki Room, French Onion soup and Monte Cristo sandwich "in" New Orleans, steamed milk around 10:30 (recharge!) and a peanut and caramel apple to go.

2 gift shop purchases: 1955 commemorative mugs for me and Jessica, and a Shag print of New Orleans Square.

1 Tinker Bell pin that the operator of Sleeping Beauty gave me as part of Disneyland's Year of a Million Dreams.

1 annoying conversation with a cheerleader mom about how I should pray for her daughter's team to win the junior national cheerleading competition that was being held at California Adventure that day. At the time, I just smiled and nodded. But I thought about it later and realized that, at the risk of offending this woman, I didn't stand up for my beliefs. I let her talk to me about God, and I didn't have the guts to tell her how I felt about cheerleading.

I'm still not sure what I would say if I could do it over again, but it was one of those moments where I realized that there is a difference between being polite (I could have expressed my disagreement politely) and being complicit. We saw girls from that squad and others in the park throughout the day and were just amazed at how grown up, and well, for lack of a better term, hot, they looked. Middle school! On that note, I've heard this film is good. Going to see if I can rustle up a copy somehow...

Yes We Can

2008-02-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

Unlike the masses, I don't really understand the appeal of the Yes We Can Obama video. Don't get me wrong...I voted for Obama, but the video just didn't move me.
The video below is a spoof of Yes We Can...but not a funny spoof. I've heard my friends say, "McCain's not that bad," and found myself nodding in cautious agreement. Clearly he's at least more articulate and intelligent than our current leader, and he seems better than some of the other Republican candidates...This video reminded me why voting for McCain is just not an option.

Je Te Donne

2008-02-11T18:19:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, I went rollerskating at Skateland in the Valley. If you need a throw back experience, that is it. Check out their award winning history. Fun times!

Speaking of throwbacks, I never owned an N*Sync or New Kids CD, but ten years ago I did fall for one boy band. Turns out Worlds Apart is having some kind of reunion, and I found this old video that cracks me up. Check out how they change colors!

But then I discovered that Worlds Apart didn't even write the song that made me love them. (I guess that's no big surprise.) Of course there is a video of the original, that is just as awesome in its own 10-years-earlier kind of way.

This Tuesday is Super!

2008-02-05T17:07:00.001-08:00

I haven't been this happy about an election day in years. I'm looking forward to spending an evening at home, unpacking and watching the results come in.

Check out Jill Sobule's Ode to Super Tuesday. She's so funny!

Voting on Super Tuesday

2008-02-05T09:59:00.000-08:00

Repost from Peter Dreier:

Californians - Vote Today!

There's more excitement about this year's presidential election than we've seen in decades. The California primary tomorrow will play a big role in which candidate gets nominated. On the Democratic side, the Los Angeles Times said today that the contest between Clinton and Obama is too close to call, according to the latest poll. Political observers are expecting a very high turnout -- similar to what we've seen in other primary states. Turnout is particularly high among first-time votes and young people.

In addition to helping to nominate Presidential candidates, there are several important ballot measures to consider. Statewide, there is Proposition 91 (transportation funding), Proposition 92 (funding for community colleges), Proposition 93 (term limits), and Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97 (Indian gaming compacts). In Los Angeles, there is Proposition S (telephone users tax).

LA City Beat has published a voter guide with its own recommendations.

The Southern California chapter of Americans for Democratic Action has also provided its recommendations.

The LA Times is endorsing presidential candidates this year for the first time since 1972. Here is a list of the paper's endorsements, in the upper right corner of the page.

I strongly disagree with the Times' position on the Indian gaming compacts. I wrote a report about the four propositions to expand Indian gaming, indicating that the deal cut by the Governor and legislature with the four large tribes to expand slot machines was a bad deal for taxpayers, adjacent communities, employees of the casinos, and more than 98% of California's native Americans, who won't benefit from the expanded casinos, while a handful of wealthy native Americans will make a huge windfall. My report -- which was done on my own, without any pay from either side -- is available here.

The LA Weekly has published a voter's guide, but has not made any endorsements.

I’m feeling old...(er)

2008-02-03T22:28:00.000-08:00

Last week, I was told I am unrecognizable from my college graduation picture. This weekend, my grandma told me I looked “older and bigger.” (Considering I haven’t grown in height since the end of 8^th grade, “bigger” can’t be a good thing.) At the past six bars/restaurants/liquor stores/airplanes where I’ve ordered a drink, I have not been carded—even when the friend I am with has been asked to show ID. Today, I found myself asking my grandmother for my astrological natal chart—a sure sign that I am freaking out about my newfound oldness. (As she started to explain the chart to me she mentioned that she hadn’t been interested in astrology until “much later in life.”)

Over the past couple of days, I attended a phenomenal conference about how non-profits can hook into new (and old) media to advance their agenda. After one of the sessions, I joined Twitter—not because I actually thought anyone I know over the age of 15 would be on it, but because I have a fascination with Web 2.0 tools and I want to “keep up with the young kids.” After joining, I put it on my MySpace page. So the question is, am I uber up on the latest tech, or uber in denial about my age? Apparently, there is a Facebook group called “Women Who Tech.” If I join a Facebook group that uses the word “technology” as a verb, I am the former…right?

It’s not that I think being older is bad. I certainly appreciate the freedom, the decrease in self-consciousness, the perspective, the experience--I’m definitely glad I no longer live in those previously mentioned college photo days. But being 27 is just not where I imagined it. By the time my grandmother was 27 she had kids and was living in Africa! I don’t idealize her life, but I do wish I felt a greater sense of purpose and certainty about what the future holds. I’ve heard things get better in your thirties. Three more years to go…Tweet!

Superbowl and Bliss

2008-02-03T22:19:00.000-08:00

I’m flying on an airplane on Superbowl Sunday.

Everyone who knows me, knows how I feel about football. The flight left late because three people were still in the airport bar, hoping to see the last 2 minutes of the games (which I’ve heard were pretty exciting). I’m oddly not annoyed. I still dislike football, but I get a kick out of the fact that people were so excited about something that they almost missed their flight…and that the flight attendants understood the excitement to the point that one of them went to the bar to find the straggling passengers. Imagine if people were that captivated by an election?!

That leads me to my newest favorite book, “The Geography of Bliss.” I just finished reading about “boring” Switzerland, a very happy place where people vote 5-7 times a year. I’ve only read the first couple of chapters, but Eric Weiner's brooding sarcasm and philosophical references are pretty entertaining. I’ll let you know what I think when I’ve gotten to the chapter on the United States (it’s last).

Geography of Bliss is part of the Twelve series, which I’m thinking will be a pretty awesome collection of books to check out.

FYI...During the Superbowl is a great time to fly. The plane was almost empty!

Do you love Mountains?

2008-02-01T09:48:00.000-08:00

I do. Check out this great tool to find out how you may be contributing to mountaintop removal and what you can do about it:

Pin this badge on your site.

What Makes Turnips Good...

2008-01-27T20:59:00.000-08:00

...Bacon. Okay, so is there really anything that bacon doesn't make better?

I get a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box from Tierra Miguel Farm in Northern San Diego County and the winter veggies are not among my usual produce purchases...daikon, turnips, beets, cabbage...you get the idea. I had some delicious cabbage, turnip greens and carrots last week, but I have to admit I was a bit mystified about what to do with the turnips. A quick google search brought up several recipes suggesting a little crumbled bacon mashed into boiled turnips. Needless to say, I just ate four large turnips for dinner and wished there had been more.

Bacon is magical.

Now what to do with the daikon?

Boyfriends--what to get for your girlfriends on Valentines Day

2008-01-26T17:41:00.001-08:00

Just a silly post about what you can get your loved one for V-Day if you are someone who has a girlfriend who hopes you'll do something, but you have no idea what that's going to be.

Under $20

I love my girlfriend: her beauty touches everything
by Louis Cannizzaro

I've read this book more than once at Vroma n's and at Skylight Books, and each time I end up ducking into the stacks to wipe my eyes. It's so incredibly sweet, and it's only $15.95! (Available online and at many independent bookstores.)

Mid-Range

Support Blue Platypus! What girl does not love a cute shirt? My good friends at Blue Platypus have a great sale going on right now. All their clothes are 100% made in the USA. Check it out.

For the big spender

Be a Gold, Gold Doubloons, or Platinum sponsor of Jill Sobule's next record and get your significant other's name into a song! (This of course requires that you S.O. likes Jill Sobule, but who doesn't?!) I'm a just a Polished Rock sponsor myself...

Not the only one who cares about sexual exploitation

2008-01-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

I received an email from the Marijuana Policy Project the other day inviting me to an upcoming fund raiser at the Playboy Mansion. I wrote them an email saying that while I support their work to decriminalize marijuana, I was leaving their mailing list and would no longer be supporting their organization because of the affiliation with Playboy.

I got a reply email from a woman who works at the MPP saying that she understood that Playboy wasn't "everyone's cup of tea" but that important leaders like Martin Luther King and Jimmy Carter had sat for interviews with Playboy...and MPP had a lot of success raising money at the event in past years. Wow. I found it fascinating that she would assume that telling me MLK did an interview for the magazine was going to make me feel better about the event. And if that wasn't her intent, why say it at all? Why not just stick with the dismissive "cup of tea?"

I forwarded the response to a like-minded friend who said, "Sometimes I think we are the only two people in the entire world who think that sexual exploitation is wrong."

That comment has stuck with me--I know it's not true, but I feel that way a lot myself. I work at a non-profit. I have friends who are against war, racism, injustice and yet I feel like when it comes to issues of sexual exploitation/degradation/assault, there isn't the same level of outrage. I hear excuses and acceptance far more than I would expect to among my friends and acquaintances. I know sometimes people's silence comes from being uncomfortable with the topic, but I think it's more than that...

Anyway, I'm on a mission now, to find the people who, as Jackson Katz would put it, want to stop men's violence against women.

Below is a music video from my first find. Thank you Mr. J. Medeiros.

"It’s not illegal to use raping as a cash crop / As long as it says she’s 18 on your laptop.” (See all lyrics here)

I am Constance

MLK fought for justice and equality for everyone

2008-01-21T14:29:00.000-08:00

And we need to keep fighting.

As many of you know, I have done research about the unequal distribution of supermarkets in Los Angeles and other U.S. cities. Recently, the biggest news in LA on this front concerns the UK supermarket giant, Tesco. Tesco has promised to build in under-served communities and was welcomed with open arms by elected officials and communities who hoped that perhaps a non-American company could overcome a history of redlining.

But the new Fresh & Easy markets have started to open...in all the same neighborhoods that other major retailers have opened before. The company is now saying the South LA store is 3-5 years out. The company is opening hundreds of new stores, perhaps more than a thousand by the time 3-5 years have passed, and they might have that one store open by then?

So I've been asked, "Isn't it better to get a store in 3-5 years than to not get one at all?" It's one of those questions that requires me to take a deep breath and pause for a minute to keep from answering emotionally. Even now, it's hard for me to articulate why I find that question so offensive. But it seems a fitting think to think about on MLK Day. Where are we as a country that we still think that a group of people who have been systematically discriminated against for decades should sit by and wait patiently for crumbs?

See Her Tears

2008-01-09T16:41:00.000-08:00

Seriously? If the media keeps covering the election like this I might start to look past Hillary Clinton's arrogance and think that maybe I should vote for her. Geez.

***************
Update:

I should have known Jon Stewart would have an opinion about this. See it on the Huffington Post. The part with Guiliani is the best.

Willie Nelson

2008-01-09T15:27:00.000-08:00

I just checked out Willie Nelson's forthcoming album, Moment of Forever, and the preview clips on Amazon made me a little teary. I'm sad that he's getting older, but still inspired that he continues to write and adapt songs so beautifully. (Video of his cover of Gravedigger here)

I grew up listening to Willie Nelson's music (No road trip went by without my parents playing every single Willie tape they had) and have come to love and appreciate it more than I ever thought I would. And even beyond his music, I respect him as an advocate for family farms and a peace activist.

This latest album is no Countryman, which was fun, if a bit nostalgic for youth (check it out if you haven't...reggae versions of classic country songs...seriously). Instead, it seems like an album put together by someone who has lived a remarkable life and is making his peace with it all.

In a review of the new album, a SF Gate reporter asks 73 year old Willie if he works to improve his craft, and per usual, his response made me smile:

"No," he says, thinking over the question. "I don't think so. I work on my health and that reflects on my craft. That's not the only reason I work on my craft, I do it for my health also. That's selfish and staying alive at the same time. At the same time, I'm also healthy enough to do 250 days a year, which is not bad. So is Paul over there, and he's older than I am."

Iowa

2008-01-04T22:18:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy that Edwards and Obama took the top spots in Iowa! I was really hoping Edwards would pull it out, but I could support Obama if it looks like that is the way the wind is blowing...

It's like "The Birds"

2007-11-20T23:57:00.001-08:00

But with trash...

Fresh & Sleazy

2007-11-10T12:28:00.000-08:00

I expected to love the new Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market that opened nearby, and to feel conflicted about shopping there because I know there are a lot of concerns about the company's environmental and labor practices throughout their supply chain.

But what I found on opening day was almost depressing: think beige version of Food 4 Less with a combination of brand name crappy food (mini corn dogs, chips ahoy) and own-brand yuppy food (organic yogurt, gourmet-looking prepared foods). The produce is all shrink-wrapped because the self-checkout stands aren't conducive to weighing veggies, and I was disappointed by the poor selection of enviro-friendly household products. I don't think Trader Joe's should be too worried about competition.

I was at the press conference depicted below, but missed the "conversation" with the head of security you see at the end. Not a smart move, Tesco!

FYI, the people at the "private event" were reporters, elected officials, real estate developers, important rich people, etc., who were invited to preview the store before the masses the next morning. Interestingly, U.K. press were NOT invited to the private soirée, though they were outside covering the press conference, and doing a much better job of it than did the U.S. press.

UPDATE - November 12, 2007

Just found this blog entry by Jon Plummer who also thinks the company is Fresh & Sleazy...but he went even further and made a cool graphic. Nice!

(Image is licensed as Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License by Jon Plummer)