On This Sunday, We Remember The Right Stuff
As reported earlier this week in the LA Times, Kenji Nagai, age 50, was killed while on assignment in Myanmar. He was shot point blank by the Burmese junta.
There are more photos of this tragic event on This Is London.co.uk.
Mr. Nagai accepted assignments to dangerous areas. Since 1997, he traveled to Afghanistan, Cambodia, Palistine, Iraq and other Middle East nations.
Our condolences go to his family and colleagues, as we express our appreciation for his commitment to cover the story and bring news to the world.

Labels: First Amendment, Kenji Nagai, Photojournalist, Wars

 

posted by Kanani | ¶ 8:24 AM 3 Comments Links to this post

  Thank You Michelle Malkin As I sipped on my first cup of coffee this morning, I scanned my email, and was surprised to see a message from one of the biggest bloggers in the Blogosphere, Michelle Malkin. Seems she picked up on our Move Away from MoveOn post, which was reflected by a spike in traffic here. Most Saturday’s we have from 175 to 200 visitors, but today we may hit over one thousand.

Take a look at what Ms. Malkin wrote, and I encourage you to visit her blog often, as she is a prolific blogger that does not rest.

Thank you Michelle


 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 11:25 AM 3 Comments Links to this post

  Fundraiser for the National Military Family Association Click here to be taken to the fundraiser.

The PoliStew Café slices, dices, fries and flips political grub at the right, left, center, those who care, those who don't, and those who talk but don't think. Or those who think too much, but are terminally confused. Irreverent service is guaranteed to all.

This shop has retooled after being slapped with threat of litigation from a very well known political organization, herein known as "the group that shall not be named."

THANKS to all of those who understand that the First Amendment is not to be bought and sold by the rich, and that political parody in our nation dates back to the American Revolution and King George. And now, without further ado, a take off on our previously banned shirts and mugs.

DONATIONS: Until the Petraeus shirts are taken down, all profits from these items are being donated by the shopkeeper and will go directly from Cafe Press to the NATIONAL MILITARY FAMILY ASSOCIATION, which was designated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator. You can find them at nmfa.org

With exception of the $15 T-shirt, all items carry a $10.01 markup that goes to the NMFA. If you would like to give more, please do so directly at their site. Tell them you heard about them from the waitress at the PoliStew Café.

The NMFA sends kids whose parents are deployed to summer camp, helps spouses and children with issues of deployment & school transitions. It helps families with money management skills, & to understand the TriCare health system. They assist families going through very stressful times.

So many have voiced support from ALL SIDES of the political spectrum in the name of fairness and to uphold free speech.

The new shirt reads:
"This T-Shirt banned by ...a left leaning political fundraising organization. We're amused that this group, which paid $$$ for ads to demean one man is threatened by a fifteen-buck t-shirt that disagrees with their tactics. Henceforth, this organization shall be referred to as "the group that shall not be named." Sincerely, The PoliStew Cafe."

Labels: Commerce, Fairness, First Amendment, Political

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 11:44 PM 11 Comments Links to this post

  Cowgirl Sass & Savvy by Julie Carter I love it when this blog gets all the latest book scoops.

Ruidoso News Staff Writer Julie Carter
has a book out called "Cowgirl Sass & Savvy.
It's very funny and it's all about the real life on the ranch.
Click on the link to read some of Julie's stories and order her book.
Julie is a full time staff writer for the newspaper, a rancher, and lives near Lincoln, New Mexico. 

posted by Kanani | ¶ 2:16 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Alison Stromile Passing




Messages of condolences can be sent to:

Frank Cordola
3000 Via Breve
Montebello, CA. 90640

323.440.0462 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:46 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  T.G.I.F. Media News  

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 6:38 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Electronic Village: Palmdale Teen Beat by Security Guard Over Cake Crumbs What is happening in America? Jailings, shootings, lynchings, nooses in schools, unjust criminal just-us actions in the courts, Black worker arrested and charged with assault for cooking "too salty" burger, Black woman and her child gang raped in Florida, Black woman raped and tortured by an entire redneck family in West Virginia.

And the beatdown continues ... Did you see what happened in Palmdale, CA?

Palmdale Teen Beat by Security Guard Over Cake Crumbs 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 11:42 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Orchid Show Highlights Award-Winning Plants

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 10:33 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Take Back the Times: Disquieting Comments By Hiller To "Old Farts" By Ken Reich

I should say at the outset that David Hiller, the publisher of the L.A. Times, made a sincere and informative presentation yesterday to the Old Farts, the L.A. Times retired employees association, took many questions and was kind enough to invite everybody to the Times for one of the future meetings of the group.

[CUT]

Hiller does apparently recognize what he calls "the demographics" of the Los Angeles area. These population shifts are cutting into the Times' circulation base, since the Anglo proportion of the population, especially in Los Angeles County, is decreasing, and, according to Hiller's admission, the Times has not been faring well with Latino readers.

Continue to the full article by clicking on title or link below.

Disquieting Comments By Hiller To "Old Farts" 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 10:13 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Who the ZELL is this Media News  

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 7:46 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Message from Dennis FitzSimons - CEO Tribune Dear Fellow Employee:

As we approach the fourth quarter, here’s an update on news from around the company:

• Last week our TV group kicked off the fall season with the launch of “Two and a Half Men” and “Family Guy.” Ratings were solid and especially promising in New York and Chicago. This week, our 14 CW stations will premiere “Gossip Girl,” one of three new shows to receive great early reviews by TV critics and media buyers. The CW’s other preseason favorites are “Reaper” and “Aliens in America.”
• The FCC will conduct a public “field hearing” on broadcast ownership rules this Thursday in Chicago. This is the Commission’s fifth in a series of six events across the country. Tribune Company will be represented on a panel by Tom Langmyer, WGN Radio vice president/general manager, who will emphasize our commitment to local news coverage and community involvement. John Lavine, Dean of the Medill School of Journalism, will give his views on the state of local media. The proceedings, although dealing with local media ownership rules, are separate from Tribune’s FCC waiver petitions in connection with our going-private transaction.
• Our New Orleans television stations, WGNO (ABC26) and WNOL (CW38), recently opened an all-new broadcast center. WGNO’s first newscast from the facility took place exactly two years after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu delivered a tribute to WGNO on the Senate floor and we certainly share her appreciation for how Larry Delia and his team responded to the challenge of a very difficult post-storm recovery.
• Tribune Interactive’s expansion of Metromix keeps moving forward. This month, a new site launched in South Florida and existing sites in Baltimore and Chicago relaunched with a design template consistent with Metromix’s growing network. The upgrades will benefit advertising sales and enhance the user experience.
• In early October we will begin communicating about employee health benefits for 2008. A summary of health and wellness benefit plans will be mailed to eligible employees, followed by the annual “open enrollment” period on eBenefits starting October 15.

We’ll keep you informed during the weeks ahead, including updates on the going-private transaction, which is still expected to close before year end. Thanks for your continued efforts on behalf of the company.

Sincerely,
Dennis FitzSimons

SOURCE: LA Times Pressmen Forums 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 7:21 AM 2 Comments Links to this post

  Save Our Trade: Ego VS The Law By Ronnie Pineda

Most of you should have received our recent mailing highlighting our current status. I personally reviewed all current mailing information provided by the company and revised our database, so if anyone fails to receive it, it is because they do not have current information on file with the company or the union.

We do have confirmed negotiation dates beginning in November and are prepared to negotiate in good faith for our members. The committee members are aware of the contract draft contents and can dispell any rumors that may surface regarding it's contents. As stated in the letter, this can take some time, so patience and solidarity are priority number one.

Our major concern at this time is Johnny Walkers treatment of pressroom employees in Los Angeles. One of our main concerns, and probably the most serious is that it appears our African American Community in the pressroom are predominantly in his crosshairs and have been subjected to his disrepectful treatment and diciplinary targeting. This is a very disturbing fact and this fact will be further investigated by our attorneys. I am attempting to schedule a meeting with some of our members and The NAACP to get their impression of these obvious statistics and solicit their support in bringing this to managements attention.

Click on link below to continue reading Ronnie Pineda.

Save Our Trade: Ego VS The Law 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 10:46 PM 3 Comments Links to this post

  Hump Day Media News  

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:32 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  The Status of the Los Angeles Times Pressroom
 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 8:01 AM 2 Comments Links to this post

  One Killed Three Injured in Myanmar Protest "For the last 30 years, its people have been ruled by a notoriously repressive military government, the tatmadaw." -Geographia.com








Monks Face Off Against Junta
Read about it here on the front page of the L.A. times.
Learn more about Myanmar (some might remember it as Burma) here on Geographia.
Bush announces new sanctions against Myanmar, as reported in the Taipei Times.
Learn about the Nobel Peace Prize Winner in 1991, Aaung San Su Kyi . Her website is here. She has been under virtual house arrest since 1990.

In The Quiet Land
(By Daw Aung San Suu Kyi)

In the Quiet Land, no one can tell
if there's someone who's listening
for secrets they can sell.
The informers are paid in the blood of the land
and no one dares speak what the tyrants won't stand.

In the quiet land of Burma,
no one laughs and no one thinks out loud.
In the quiet land of Burma,
you can hear it in the silence of the crowd

In the Quiet Land, no one can say
when the soldiers are coming
to carry them away.
The Chinese want a road; the French want the oil;
the Thais take the timber; and SLORC takes the spoils...

In the Quiet Land....
In the Quiet Land, no one can hear
what is silenced by murder
and covered up with fear.
But, despite what is forced, freedom's a sound
that liars can't fake and no shouting can drown.

From her website: 9/7/2007 "Six labor activists were given jail sentences of up to 28 years for organizing a seminar at a U.S. Embassy center earlier this year, a defense lawyer said Saturday.
All six were found guilty of bringing "hatred or contempt" to the government, lawyer Aung Thein said.
The six had planned to discuss labor rights at the U.S. Embassy's American center in the country's biggest city Rangoon, but it was canceled after a few participants were arrested."
 

posted by Kanani | ¶ 7:57 AM 2 Comments Links to this post

  Calming Los Angeles Times Employees Down Memo from Los Angeles Times editorial hiring and development director Susan Denley.

Many of you-not everyone but a whole bunch of folks-are going through a "Mercer Audit" to prove that dependents on your insurance policies are really, legally dependents.

A lot of people have questions about this, so I'll fill in a little background:

This idea came up about a year ago, when it came to Tribune's attention that some other major companies conduct audits and have found an apparently surprising number of ineligible dependents on insurance policies. This drives up costs.

So in the Spring, Tribune hired Mercer to conduct an audit of 10% of the employees who claim dependents. I don't know what they found, but subsequently they decided to audit the other 90% of employees who claim dependents. It is that audit that is taking place now.

If you don't claim any dependents you're not affected.

If you were audited in the Spring, as I was, you're not affected. (And if you were audited, you know it because you had to pull all kinds of documentation to prove that your dependents are legit.)

If you have dependents and were not audited in the Spring, then you're being audited NOW. You should have received a letter from Mercer by now. If you didn't, or think you might have thrown it out with the junk mail, or you've been away from home on assignment and not getting mail, please let me know.

You have until Oct. 5 to file proof. Don't wait till the last minute. It's a pain, but if you don't do it, your dependents will lose coverage. It's too important to procrastinate.

SOURCE: LAObserved Kevin Roderick

(editors message) I was contacted by a colleague tonight regarding Mercer’s audit of Tribune employees, and the caller stated he mailed in his son’s birth certificate as I had instructed him, via certified mail. When his receipt arrived last week, he called Mercer and was told his paperwork had indeed arrived, and his son would be covered by the health insurance plan the company offers next year.

Today a second notice from Mercer arrived in his mail, requesting the same information a second time, what gives he asked?

Sure seems as if Tribune is attempting to remove our dependents by any means possible, to save a few dollars.

How do Tribune Employees find out if their dependents have passed the test, and will be covered with health insurance next year? Many employees are asking this question as October 5th approaches. 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 11:52 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Family Friendly Tribune Company Threatens To Leave Employees Dependents In The Cold By Mayrav Saar

The Tribune, via consultant Mercer, sent an audit to LAT employees asking them to send verification that the people listed as dependents for benefits really are dependents. If they didn't by the middle of this month, those dependents would be dropped.

The results have been a giant time-suck, not to mention insulting (and somewhat panic-inducing), as this letter from Sacto reporter Jordan Rau to his fellow staffers shows:

"I am one of the employees at the Los Angeles Times who has been told to provide Mercer with proof that the dependents who receive benefits through the company are not fictitious. Last week I faxed off the information to Mercer with a request that they confirm receipt via email, but so far I have heard nothing from them, even after sending by express mail the paperwork to them as well. "

Click here to read the entire story on Fishbowl Los Angeles 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 12:40 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Tuesday Morning Media News

September 20 FCC Hearing about media ownership - Rick Kaempfer
FCC proposes 'fake news' fine - Associated Press
Los Angeles Times is the official media sponsor of project7ten - Project 7 Ten
Oh no, Thurs Merc won't have movie listings - SF Peninsula Press Club
Telemundo reassigns mayor's girlfriend - Los Angeles Times
Excising La Cucaracha no joke for followers of strip - Houston Chronicle
Postage stamp to honor Ruben Salazar - Los Angeles Times
Gannett Planning Newspaper Size Reduction At Several Papers - Editor & Publisher
 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 10:59 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Move Away from Move On! By Edward

Move On used the First Amendment when they smeared the General's name in the NY Times. However, they cite trademark infringement when it comes to anyone using theirs to criticize them on a t-shirt. It wasn't. Trademark infringement would be if the shopkeepers were selling it as "official" moveon merchandise, which it's clear by the lack of their logo and also the message that it was a protest message.

Carrie Olson, COO of MoveOn also demanded the shopkeepers personal information, which amounts to bullying and threats. Fortunately, CafePress refused to give them that information. I guess to MoveOn, the First Amendment is only for the rich.

Buy this design here at The Poli Stew Cafe, a fundraiser for the National Military Family Association, Inc.

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 10:05 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Tribune Company Policy on Death Notifications On Wednesday August 8th, 2007 the coroner paid a visit to my home to inform my family that my son Bryan had been killed. My daughter Kristine’s screams still ring in my ears as I shake my head in disbelief to this day, I still replay her words “BRYAN’S DEAD DAD”.

The screaming from both of my daughters brought the San Dimas Sheriff’s to my home, and once they knew what terrible news we had just received, they attempted to comfort the girls before departing.

When a parent is informed of the death of their child, you really are left stunned, and in my case, I was walking in circles, not certain what steps to take next? When I came to my senses, I sent out text messages to everyone in my cell phone, emails to family and friends in my address book, created bulletins on MySpace and Facebook, and finally I blogged about Bryan’s death online.

Needless to say, our cell phones and home phone were ringing off the hook as many concerned family and friends started to call for information regarding Bryan’s death, and too verify if it was true.

As our home filled with Bryan’s siblings and family members, I remembered I had to call in to the Los Angeles Times, within two hours of the start of my shift, to inform the company I would not be coming to work. Taking many deep breaths before calling into work, I was finally able to make this most difficult call, only to reach our $40.00 per hour data entry clerk.

After informing the data entry clerk that my son was killed I was told “You have to call back Edward”, I was stunned at the lack of compassion shown and responded I would not be calling back! I was then given a barrage hate at the top of her lungs from this person, she said “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE EDWARD”, before I could answer with a F*** You I hung up the phone.

The following email was sent to Russ Newton immediately after hanging up on the data entry clerk.

Russ,

The coroner left my house an hour ago with information on the death of my son Bryan. I called the pressroom office and reached (name deleted), and told her my son had died and I needed the remainder of the work week off. She told me I had to call back! I told her I would not be calling back, and she then proceeded to let me have a verbal barrage, to which I hung up on her.

I would like to file a complaint with human resources over her behavior, and with the union if I get no where with the company. This woman has given us all SHIT for years and needs to be reported.

Thank you,
Ed

When I returned to work Greg Malcolm told me Human Resources ran an investigation, and their findings were it’s your word against hers. So remember, the next time you are called into the pressroom office, take a witness along with you because it’s your word against theirs.

Denise Kolm told me this was not an isolated event, when she called in that her uncle had passed away, she too was met with the same you have to call back.

Is this a Tribune Company policy, or just a policy for the Los Angeles Times Pressroom because the union was voted in? Whatever the case, this policy needs to be changed today, not tomorrow, but today. And the person or persons responsible for this heartless policy regarding death notifications need to leave the company as soon as possible. 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 11:12 AM 6 Comments Links to this post

  Monday Media Links

'F*** Bush' Editorial in College Paper Draws Complaints - The Coloradoan

Got a Camera? You, Too, Can Be A Network Reporter - Washington Post

BBC to integrate news operation - Guardian

New York Times Says It Violated Policies Over MoveOn Ad - Washington Post

Jena 6 makes it into the mainstream media - Darleeneisms

Q & A with investigative journalist Seymour Hersh - Jewish Journal

Too many properties are competing for a now-global audience - Market Watch

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:34 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  NYT Gives Special Rate to MoveOn.org

MOVEON.ORG AD RECEIVED SPECIAL DISCOUNT NOT ENTITLED TO

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 11:42 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Take Back the Times: NYT Admits It Gave MoveOn.org Special Price In what is one of the clearest examples of the New York Times admitting a left wing bias, members of the newspaper's staff are quoted this morning by the paper's "public editor," or ombudsman, Clark Hoyt, as confessiing that they gave the far left, antiwar MoveOn.org group a special price for a Sept. 10 full-page ad smearing Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, as "General Betray-Us."

The ad, which ran the morning before Petraeus was to testify to Congress on the status of the U.S. effort in the Iraq war, has been roundly denounced, even by the antiwar U.S. senator John Kerry, as "over the top," and was condemned, by a vote of 72 to 25, in the whole Senate. This condemnation was supported by more than 20 Democrats. President Bush, for his part, publicly called the ad "disgusting,"

Now, it turns out, according to Hoyt's article, quoting a company spokesman, that the Times charged MoveOn.org only $64.585 for the ad, when it should have charged it $142,063.

(Sunday, after Hoyt's article appeared, MoveOn.org announced it would wire the difference to The Times Monday. This was seen as an attempt to reduce its embarrassment over authoring such a sleazy ad. Between the Hoyt article and the MoveOn.org agreement to pay more, these were precedent-setting occurrences at the New York Times).

In addition, Hoyt writes, "The ad appears to fly in the face of an internal advertising acceptability manual that says, 'We do not accept opinion advertisements that are attacks of a personal nature."

Continue reading Ken Reich by clicking on link below.

NYT Admits It Gave MoveOn.org Special Price

Statement by Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org Political Action Executive Director, Resolving the New York Times Ad Rate Issue 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:49 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  " "
Marcel Marceau dies. 

posted by Kanani | ¶ 12:05 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  At Last..... Bravo!
"Sunday, September 23
MoveOn.org's demeaning attack
Gen. David Petraeus didn't deserve MoveOn.org's smear.

The overzealous liberal group MoveOn.org proved once again that one organization can make a difference — a bad one.

MoveOn.org's ill-considered, outrageous New York Times newspaper ad calling Gen. David Petraeus, the commander in Iraq, "General Betray Us" not only slimed a well-respected general, it distorted a very real and very serious debate about the course of the war. Instead of the U.S. Congress making progress on troop withdrawal, as some expected this month, the Senate wasted time debating and voting on a measure to condemn the ad.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said he walked away from the vote because it was an unnecessary waste of time. He has that right. It was also an unnecessary waste of ink.

Why can't we, as a country, disagree about policy without undertaking childish ad hominem attacks on a general who is doing his best to represent the military in a very unpopular war?

This editorial page believes strongly it is time for the American troops to start coming home in an orderly fashion.

But we listened carefully to Petraeus' testimony out of respect for his knowledge and understanding of a complicated region.

MoveOn.org embarrassed itself and its position on the war with an over-the-top and unnecessary attack on the general.

The war is bad enough. Nobody needs MoveOn.org's stupid advertising campaign."

***********

Skepticism and parody has always been something thrown into the political arena and culture. But there was something about this ad that didn't hit me as right.
It's bad enough that Dems and Reps voted for the war. It was bad enough that only one Democrat, and a self described "Army Brat" --Congresswoman Barbara Lee had the cojones to vote no to give the President free hand and resources to wage this war back in 2001. She was roundly described as unpatriotic by her own Democratic peers.

Fast forward to 2007: The troops serving have had their tours extended more times than they wish to count. They've done so without question, even if they really truly hate being there. And in case you've forgotten, we're also stuck with the ghost of how shamefully the Vietnam vets were treated when they came home from the war.
So the Petraeus ad seemed like a slap at all of them.
I'm not the only one who hated it, so did a lot of others on Ben Smith's blog.
The ad has led to posturing by Dems and Repubs ever since. Had the Dems just come out against the ad immediately after it happened, (rather than cowering in the corner afraid of their largest financial contributor )and showed some cojones, this Senate floor condemnation vote might never have taken place. But overall, I'd have to say that most Dems haven't. Very few, even on blogs have decried the ad.
Fine. Whatevah. You've shot yourselves in the foot already, M____-O_.
Anyway, back to the "tardy in line" responses by the Dems.
John Edwards sends his wife to decry the ad. But still....John doesn't. Just in case you missed it, here's what Elizabeth Edwards said, though I feel it would have had a more heartfelt punch had she said it the day the ad came out:

“Someone who’s spent their life in the military doesn’t deserve ‘General Betray Us,’” said Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.

Now, this upsets me greatly. It's sort of like when my kids or husband ask me, "Where's the this or that," and I'm expected to know. Like I have radar. Same thing here with Elizabeth. John just kind of sent her out to look for "this or that."
Tom Harkin did come out against it. But only made it worse. "I would have said, "Petraeus Mistaken Again." Yeah, shoot the messenger before he's spoken, right?
Obama was a disappointment as well. It's too late for him to come out against the ad now. He missed a real opportunity to stand out. Now, he's made it worse by refusing to vote. Sometimes a President will have to eat s**t, and if he wants that job, he'd better learn to do it. Then there's Hillary. What can I say about a woman who has played politics even in her personal life? She was smart enough to have run for office back when she graduated from Yale. But no, she threw her power behind her philandering husband. A gutsy woman would've dumped him long ago.
And by the way, here's the official vote of who voted against the condemnation of the ad..
Damage done --but more to the Democratic party than to the General himself.
Screw it, I'm done being a Dem --was done years ago. Yet, I'm not ready to hop on the Repub bandwagon either. I guess that leaves me as ....Bloggertarian, or voting for whomever I hate least. 

posted by Kanani | ¶ 7:07 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Sunday Morning Media News  

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 7:05 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  San Francisco Peninsula Press Club: Farley celebration set for Monday The Chron invites the public to "Camp Farley" to celebrate the life and legacy of cartoonist Phil Frank on Monday, Sept. 24, noon to 1 p.m. at Washington Square Park in San Francisco. Participants are encouraged to come as their favorite Farley character and join a parade around the park, featuring Phil's friends from throughout the Bay Area, including representatives from the Chron, the National Park Service, the San Francisco Police Department and other local groups.

The parade will be followed by entertainment by Beach Blanket Babylon, Tried & True Gospel Singers, Bob Schultz and the Frisco Jazz Band, SFPD Parking Enforcement "Precision Scooter Team," National Park Service Mounted Color Guard & Patrol, and others. Featured speakers will include Editor Phil Bronstein and former Mayor Willie Brown.

Farley celebration set for Monday 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 5:11 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Take Back the Times: Vital Human Rights At Stake in Jena, La., Rangoon The L.A. Times has an admirable editorial this morning on the troubles in the small town of Jena, La., where thousands of demonstrators marched yesterday to protest unequal justice for blacks compared to whites, and where there was a further incident this morning with nooses being found in a pickup truck driven by whites.

The L.A. Times was also correct this morning when it published the news story out of Jena on Page 1, while the national edition of the New York Times stuck it impropoerly way back in its Section one.

The fact is, the march of thousands of people from throughout the country in a civil rights protest in a Southern town, and the march, also yesterday, of 1,300 Buddhist monks through Rangoon, Burma, against one of the world's most horrific dictatorships, is news that is vital to humanity. Both marches deserve the most intensive coverage.

The LAT editorial tells us why. Describing in detail events of the last year which began when black high school students sat under a tree that had long been a gathering place for whites only. The next day, three nooses, a symbol of the lynchings that once outrageously marked Southern life, were found hanging from the same tree. This was the start of a series of incidents, including fights, between blacks and whites in the town of 3,000, with the authorities prosecuting black instigators, especially six young black men (the "Jena six") far more seriously than white instigators. Particularly egregious is the case of a 17-year-old black youth wrongfully charged as an adult, imprisoned for a long term, and kept there, despite a Louisiana appellate court ruling he should be freed. The incidents, thanks to bloggers and other new techniques of spreading the news, have become a cause celebre, leading to yesterday's protests by civil rights supporters from far and wide.

Continue reading Ken Reich by clicking on link below.

Vital Human Rights At Stake in Jena, La., Rangoon 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 3:05 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  No Bail for 'Jena Six' Teen Seems the only thing left is 'Divine Intervention.' 

posted by Nubia | ¶ 2:03 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  In A Disaster: Knowledge is Power

During National Preparedness Month, the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department ask you to...

Visit these websites:

• Allstate Foundation & LAFD: You Can Prepare!
• American Red Cross - Get Prepared
• California - Be Ready!
• CDC - Emergency Preparedness and Response
• CERT - Community Emergency Response Teams
• CERT - LA
• Citizen Guide To Disaster Preparedness
• City of Los Angeles - Emergency Preparedness Department
• Dare To Prepare
• DisasterHelp.gov
• Earthquake Country
• Emergency Preparedness for People With Disabilities
• FEMA For Kids
• L.A. County Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program
• LAFD - Emergency Preparedness Booklet
• Preparedness Today - What You Need To Do!
• Ready.gov
• ReadyLA.org
• ReallyReady.org
  
  During a disaster, internet and telephone access may be disrupted. Now is the time to print important information and place a copy with your disaster supplies.
  
  Do you have a favorite non-commercial disaster preparedness site we missed? Please include yours in our comments, and we'll seek to share them!
  
  In A Disaster: Knowledge Is Power!
  
  Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
  Los Angeles Fire Department
  
  In A Disaster: Knowledge is Power

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 10:47 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Pop Up Ads? Today I got a complaint from a reader in Scotland.
They said the number of pop up ads from my blog was making their browser go crazy.
I'm a bit perplexed, because I have never opted into AdSense (after Edward's experience).
The only affiliate program I have is Amazon, which I've now taken down.
The only widget ad I have is for my store
And when I got to my site, I don't have issues with pop up ads.

Note, I do have my pop up blocker on. I use Firefox, which is really great at filtering all of them out. But still, even without it on, I don't get ads.
So do me a favor. Go by my site. Tell me here if your browser goes wonkers due to pop up ads. Or does my reader in Scotland just need to turn on his pop up blocker?
Easy-Writer
Thank you. 

posted by Kanani | ¶ 10:38 AM 2 Comments Links to this post

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