Satan's Luau

Thank you to all those who paid the ultimate price in the primes of their lives so I can do what I do and enjoy freedoms -- thank you

As a second thank you:
As I have been editing and cleaning up my blog, I just wanted to thank everyone who has participated and made it fun for me -- except the Godsmack fans -- hahaha, kidding peace peace ... sheesh, you guys are hardcore -- but yeah, thanks to all who read and contribute to the Internet Dark Carnival of Idiocy, we appreciate it

PART I:
I have decided to do some hard drive clean-up work on my iBook, and clean up the content here at the Luau. Yes, I am looking for slightly mindless things to do because I am brain dead 13 ...

I also will post some of the stuff I've been working on this week during the post lag, as if you were dying wanting it ... HA

Oh and by the way,
As if anyone was holding their breath over it, I've decided to upgrade my grade on Linkin Park's Meteora last year ago to B- -- It did grow on me somewhat, but I still do not think that it is better overall than their debut, so I have adjusted that March 2003 review a bit with some perspective of a year later

Cool Video Here -- The Legend
New Bob Marley Movie Clip

Posted by at 8:34 AM | Permalink

I spent a nice chunk of the day working with Tamiya acrylics and changing the color of the case of my X-box. It was quite humbling, I suck at laying out paints evenly, so it was paint, sand, paint, sand -- ok, you get the picture

Oh yeah, if you paint your X-box, your warranty is voided -- for what reason, I don't know -- oh yeah, it's a Gates of Hell company -- that's right

And the thing that pissed me off today -- do they not want big people to see -- here's what I mean, all the frames are getting tinier and tinier -- that's all nice and good if you have the head of a six year old

Ok, so if you have a full grown head, you go -- shit, nothing fits me without customization that will cost an additional chunk of money -- umm, I don't see people getting smaller -- whose fucking shrunken heads are these going on anyways?!?!?!?!?! STUPIT!!!

P.S.
Don't waste your money on the absolute SUCKFEST that is: The Day After Tomorrow -- NO MORE WORDS -- F!!!

Posted by at 11:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Well, I missed V3 again on Sunday -- this is turning into a trend

I guess it may just be that I will just buy the DVDs when they come out in 2013 ... ha

Work was pretty slow today -- I was desperately trying to find things to do to keep from getting totally bored out of my mind

Other observations:
Why is VH releasing a 2CD best of package -- this does absolutely nothing for a long time fan like me (ADDS NADA TO THE EQUATION) -- wow, 3 tracks for 25+ bucks, what a bargain for me ... NOTT -- new single this Wed on the radio (oh stop the anticipation before it puts me further to sleep ...ZZZZZZZZZZ)

Why do bands decide to call it a reunion and then exclude members -- like KISS, which is 2 of 4 -- and Black Sabbath which will tour this summer without Bill on drums -- I don't get it

Oh yeah, and I found in my emailbox a note from KISS about instant concerts -- apparently they seem to want to pull a Metallica and sell shows to the fans -- it's all about the money with KI-- these days

And check here for a humorous cartoon about the revolving door fronting VH
Nice Guy

And if you go to Melodic Rock, you can listen to some new VH ... well about 90 secs worth ... Yes, we did wait this long for that

Posted by at 11:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Ok, so it's another Sunday -- and although I'm not dreading going back to work -- I can't wait for the 3-day weekend next week

Late last night I decided to use SD's idea in the Super-X project and use nail polish to paint my clear acrylic jewel with for the case -- actually it has turned out pretty darn good -- I fuzzed it abit to look more like a pen and ink drawing -- kinda rough looking, but cool

More to come

Posted by at 10:10 AM | Permalink

It seems SD's G4 laptop has the infamous logic board problems -- and though it is frustrating as hell to figure out what it is -- it is quite spectacular to visually look at, because it ghosts the display, pixelates the screen into many pretty colors, and then draws a series of thick black, parallel 1/16th inch lines up and down on the display -- she wouldn't find this funny, I do find it a somewhat humorous display of tech meltdown -- well, it's still on warranty so let's see what the RedFruitStore can do with it

Earlier in the day we went over to the Western Union Filipino Fiesta -- you know, I'd expect something bigger in terms of the displays and food -- it was very crowded -- that was pretty cool to walk around and see, even if it was kind of limited

We didn't eat over there because we both had eaten at Marian's Catering/Dot's, Golden Coin, and L&L before -- as you can see, the food choices were kind of disappointing -- which leads us to my single WORST experience at Chili's ever

That was the slowest service I have ever had at Chili's -- the waitress warned us that the kitchen was backed up and slow around 45 mins after we ordered -- We ended up having a 1:45 minute lunch at Kahala Chili's -- and please note, that yes it was a weekend, and yes it was a bit within the lunch hour range actually 1 PM. but the place was about 1/2 full at best -- so what gives?

My second whine of the day circles around men's eyeglass frames -- ok, everyone reads about how glasses are in -- and this and that -- ok, well, a ton of people prefer to wear contacts instead, that has become eminently clear to me -- and then after going to the major frame stores here -- there's such a limited quantity of styles that I'm like SURE, GLASSES ARE IN -- many of the styles are just derivatives and copycats of each other -- let's just say for men, there are about 10-15 substantially different styles -- and that 12 of them were once worn on 1970s cop dramas and by older Korean women (KIDDING) -- I don't understand

Posted by at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

SD and I went to go see Shrek 2 tonight -- and although it kind of didn't suck me in immediately from the onset -- in other words, they threw alot of cool stuff on the screen but it didn't really catch you immediately like the original, I will now refer to that as the G.Lucas problem (too much cool shit, not much cool story)

Eventually when they hit their stride with the storytelling, they suck you in -- it's amazing the emotions they get out of the renderings -- and again, they do some stuff that breaks the line between film and imaging -- in other words, they do imaging that hits on "film-like shots", they pose things and cut in and out like film, and of course it helps to have talented voice actors and a meaningful story -- all of which are present in generous amounts here for everyone to enjoy

It still has a lot of charming and funny elements -- it seemed like some of the jokes were totally targetted at an older audience, which makes me question who is the audience?

Especially in light of viewing the second trailer for THE INCREDIBLES, the new Pixar movie, it was all adult type humor in it -- I guess the animation/rendering movie genre has grown up in the United States by leaps and bounds -- hopefully it can avoid some of the pitfalls of the FF movie, the Osiris short on the Animatrix, etc.

Anyways, Shrek 2 comes recommended, as a grade, it is probably a B+/A- type movie-- so it's worth your money, but it's not really on the same level as the first one

Lastly, the other Big Green ended its run in the state baseball playoffs as the runner-up --- (I need to fact check this but I believe in the past 15 years that makes 4 championships and 5 runner-ups, that's amazing!), a bit of a tough break for the Owls -- but our hats are off to the former Oahu College which broke its 15 year high school baseball title drought -- Congratulations to both teams, and Coach Dunn and the boys for another really great MPI baseball season

Posted by at 11:16 PM | Permalink

It's quite funny, the things you never really expect kind of flow together in ways that you never knew would, could, should -- well, anyways, I never think that some things will turn out the way that they do -- but they do, and it seems like there is some kind of grand design at work

As an example, one of my old work friends helped me to find the job I'm at currently -- now we are advocating for two other people to come on as well to fill needed positions because in my opinion we are understaffed some places and a bit underskilled in others

Well, it turns out that one more thing will come to pass -- I had been turned on to a blog ring by my pal the janitor and one of those ringers will be coming on where I work, talk about a small world

The thing that I am proud of is that today I finally got my second mod project up and going -- glad to see that Linux kicking in -- now I gotta decide on some other preliminary measures for project Super-X -- I have no life, yes, really

Posted by at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

For me to see the dream is oooovvvvverrrrrr
...
Girl I'm gonna miss you, if you get my meaning

Now what will Hawaii do with itself mid-week, ha

Posted by at 3:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

More disturbing news about approved memos regarding aggressive interrogation -- and what seems to be an obvious skirting of the intent of the Geneva Convention, which the US is a signatory of -- and for the longest time actually tried to abide by -- so who's fault is it? Certainly there are two people that should at least take responsibility -- I wouldn't hold my breath

(Courtesy MoveOn)

President Bush approved a policy that the Geneva Convention wouldn't
apply to suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters held in Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba. When the war in Iraq started to go badly, Rumsfeld extended
these aggressive interrogation policies to Iraqi prisons. According
to the current issue of Newsweek,

� "It was an approach that they adopted to sidestep the historical
� safeguards of the Geneva Conventions, which protect the rights of
� detainees and prisoners of war.� In doing so, they overrode the
� objections of Secretary of State Colin Powell and America's top
� military lawyers - and they left underlings to sweat the details of
� what actually happened to prisoners in these lawless places.� While
� no one deliberately authorized outright torture, these techniques
� entailed a systematic softening up of prisoners through isolation,
� privations, insults, threats and humiliation - methods that the Red
� Cross concluded were �tantamount to torture.�"

High-level officials in the Pentagon were sent from Guantanamo Bay to
Iraq to implement the more aggressive policies, and it appears that
command of the prison was placed in the hands of military intelligence
officers.� Techniques that had been approved only for suspected al-Qaeda
terrorists were suddenly applied to Iraqi prisoners (up to 90% of whom
were mistakenly detained, according to the Red Cross).

Despite the eagerness of the Bush administration to blame the torture
at Abu Ghraib on a few rogue soldiers, it is now clear that real
responsibility lies at the top of the chain of command.�

As the Commander-in-Chief, it's President Bush�s job to decide who runs
the Pentagon.� If he won't take the steps that are needed to restore
American credibility around the world, Congress needs to use its power
to convince the president to do the right thing - whether it issues a
clear public call for the Secretary's resignation or whether it uses
other leverage to force the Administration�s hand.

Posted by at 6:56 PM | Permalink

Anyways, I have come to a moment of clarity -- now that I have emerged from my cold medicine haze

I have figured out what bothers me about my job -- and its not the people, the office, the perks -- It is that we are understaffed and it tends to make our lives an eternal crisis while at work

High pace is one thing, but people will fall away -- the choices we make nowadays to make profits -- human labor really has become expendable in this day and age

Pay you up to use you up -- I hate it

Posted by at 6:58 PM | Permalink

Well, I missed it -- yeah V3, damn

Ok, so it's not too fun walking around on days after downpours -- in the park -- when it's humid as hell -- and you can't really breathe that well -- Kapiolani Park almost killed me today, then again dying on grass is not a bad way to go, I suppose

I was pleased to know that last week, they decided to release some official Invader Zim DVDs -- now I can collect that, why don't they just do a boxset -- it's not like there were many many seasons?!?!?!?

On another note, when are we the peeps going to get Batman the Animated Series boxsets -- screw these 4 ep DVDs -- that was cool stuff back in the early 90s -- very underrated but very cool

Posted by at 7:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Well, I'm still sick

Actually I was at Ala Moana Zippys planning to walk to my doctor's appointment and letting SD have the car and meet up later

While walking there I got downpoured on, and just felt feverish and crappy after that

Anyways, later that night, we went to go see the Lion Dance competition, and it was hella cool -- what these dudes can do 10 feet above the ground on little footholds is damn awesome

What was totally not awesome is how they planned the program -- whoever picked the emcees should be shot -- they sucked and didn't know when to shut up

Ok, tell me if I'm being unreasonable -- five hours of program is too long -- with a total of 90 mins of lion dancing -- you figure out what the rest consisted off -- and you'll understand why I was so pissed

Posted by at 7:20 PM | Permalink

Do you know how it is to work with semi-disorganized nerdy intellectuals -- well being one myself, it can be somewhat frustrating and disorienting

I got an assignment yesterday that was due this afternoon -- I was told to do one thing

Early this afternoon, someone told me to do something else entirely

And then the two people who told me to do it disagreed with each other on what was going to be turned in, thereby causing further confusion and delay

These are really nice people, it's just that all of us have got to get on the same page

Posted by at 7:10 PM | Permalink

You know, I went into to work today expecting to sign papers and come back on Monday

WRONG!!!!

Baptism of fire -- my head was spinning -- from overstimulation and just being sick with a head cold

Anyways, I was pleased with the shocking outcome of the Lake show game ... woot, 3-2 ... hopefully they will take care of business on Saturday -- because you never know about Game 7s

Posted by at 7:04 PM | Permalink

I guess if you are going to LA
You can wear flowers in your hair too
Apparently brings luck if you get my meaning
I am stunned

Posted by at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

It always frightens me greatly when our goverment and political pundits wish to dampen the discussion and discourse of ideas, no matter how controversial.

Case in point, the upcoming movie The Day After Tomorrow (supposedly based somewhat on a book by Art Bell and Whitley Strieber on climactic change and superstorms) -- well, get that PR machine rolling because certain members of our society do not want to discuss, plan for, or take into account environmentally sustainable approaches to our future.

(Courtesy MoveOn)

Maybe you've already seen the trailer for "The Day After Tomorrow": tornadoes whip through Los Angeles and Manhattan is frozen over as global warming triggers an Ice Age across North America.

Nearly 20 million Americans are expected to see this movie, with as many as 7 or 8 million over Memorial Day weekend alone. Because the movie capitalizes on our real-life concerns over climate change, audiences are likely to walk out of the theater asking themselves: "Could it really happen?"

The neo-cons have already cranked up its PR machine to discredit the movie as "fright flick" propaganda cooked up by climate change conspiracy theorists. Never mind that they're relying on stone-age science, or that they're light-years behind the curve on the public's acceptance of global warming as a real environmental threat.

We can't afford to wait until the day after tomorrow to address the climate crisis.

Posted by at 12:45 PM | Permalink

I just had one of those days where I know I did a lot of stuff -- but none of it was particularly memorable.

It sucks because right now I have a low grade cold -- I think my nose and throat got raw from inhaling carpet cleaner fumes from cleaning my car upholstery -- anyways, I'm just sick enough to be bothered by it, crap.

Slowly but surely I am deciding on a place to work -- now we have to iron out the small details about this that and the other thing -- mainly paperwork -- AGGH I don't want to work -- oh the shame of my weakness -- HA.

Circuit City was a massive waste of time today -- I bought something I didn't need, and didn't get what I went there for.

I saw SD for lunch today -- she may now hold the record for longest marathon hair session at 4 1/2 hours yesterday evening -- yes, that's right, that's no misprint -- well, it does look really good though

Well back to the River Walk at 2-2 ... Can't wait til Thursday, hopefully the Lake Show can pull one out -- have a feeling this one is going 7 (and of course, someone is gonna have hurt feelings -- me that's who)

Posted by at 11:36 PM | Permalink

This Sunday

Need I say more?

Posted by at 1:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Happy Mother's Day to all the special people who gave us life and made our lives a bit more special for all of us.

Well, all in all today was a good day (as is any day you can get free iTunes).

Actually woke up this morning and watched the Lake Show dismantle the hated Spurs -- this is what I mean by inconsistency -- today the Lake Show played with fire, a bit more creativity/freestyle in the offense (read as: PICK N ROLL Basketball ... there is a reason this play has existed since the earliest origins of the game) -- I still have a feeling that they're gonna hurt my feelings, but such is the life of a Laker fan.

On a different unexpected note, the pregame show featured a segment on the Mailman -- now as a lifetime Laker fan, I've always respected him as a great player but never embraced him since he played for the hated Jazz -- today's segment on his recently departed mother and how she influenced his life was real deep and helped me to understand him a great deal -- that was really cool, I am now fully a Mailman fan

I was in a cleaning mood, so I foamed the upholstery of my car and did the the whole detailing bit -- I think I'm still high from all the fumes, but at least the interior of my car is as clean as it has been since maybe the beginning of the year.

After cleaning the car, I decided to watch some of the UH-Rice baseball game -- it must be me -- I must be bad luck -- everytime I watch UH baseball this year they lose, that's it I'm going under BACHI quarantine for the rest of the season

Well, as part of the Cubenovation project 04 -- I have broke down and decided to get that Big Black Cat OS (at my education discount of course, must remain true to the school of Ahu, I mean, Manju) -- and now things seem to work better with each other -- and in some ways, I wonder to myself why I didn't get into Panther a bit earlier -- 10.3.3 works SOLID on G4s -- I am greatly satisfied.

Other than that, I've been in reflective mode, weighing job offers and trying to decide which one is the best fit of all relevant factors -- upon further review, I think I am overthinking this one big time.

Was there a more emotionally wrenching show than House of Sand and Fog last year? If so, I don't want to see it -- really fantastic performances by all but one actor -- it is really a human story that makes you question motivations, desires, appearances, and essentially how long does one cling to dreams that are unreal.

Fell asleep to Blood of the Samurai last night (How life imitates art -- see the movie and find out the lame inside joke) -- actually I will watch it more tonight -- and soak in its supreme kamp

Once again, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, there is nothing better than the love of a mother

Posted by at 8:48 PM | Permalink

SD and I saw TOTO live with the Honolulu Symphony Pops -- we had a really great time.

Certainly, TOTO may not be the most relevant band in this era of uber-singles pop -- but it is really cool to see a band that is really high on the musicianship end -- oh yeah, and also has a few hits (so you know they're not total jackoffs, HA).

Luke still shreds -- Dave still amps up the audience -- what more do you need to know?

In the end, it was mostly a greatest hits night -- with a few political barbs thrown in during Home of the Brave and Better World about world peace and the war sucking.

I suppose I'm old enough to have live during the apex of TOTO's run in the US and also to admit that I like TOTO's hits -- tonight we got a full slab -- Rosanna, Africa, I'll be over you, Hold the Line, I won't hold you back, plus a full plate of older TOTO rockers too

A really cool night of fun with the Symphony and TOTO

Posted by at 8:48 AM | Permalink

In light of the shocking abuses and treatment of prisoners of war by the United States in Iraq -- including recent information that he may have known of these situations for a while -- Secretary Rumsfeld should take responsibility and the Army should hold accountable others who were responsible for this absolute travesty and mockery of the international standards of warfare and humane treatment of prisoners of war -- and its likely adverse effects on this so-called "war on terrorism"

(Courtesy MoveOn)

TIMELINE: What was known, and when.

Fall 2003 Bremer repeatedly raises issue of prison conditions with Rumsfeld and the President's inner circle according to LA Times: "Bremer repeatedly raised the issue of prison conditions as early as last fall -- both in one-on-one meetings with Rumsfeld and other administration leaders, and in group meetings with the president's inner circle on national security. Officials described Bremer as 'kicking and screaming' about the need to release thousands of uncharged prisoners and improve conditions for those who remained." (Washington Post, Graham, 5/7/04)

November 5, 2003 Maj. Gen. Donald J. Ryder files report concluding that there were potential human rights, training, and manpower issues -- system wide -- that needed immediate attention. Discussed serious concerns about tension between missions of the military police assigned to guard prisoners and intelligence teams who interrogate them. (New Yorker Magazine, Hersh, 5/5/04

January 2004 Rumsfeld learns of photographs showing prisoner abuse according to the Washington Post: "...Rumsfeld has known of the photographs since January, when they came to the attention of U.S. commanders in Iraq, he had not seen them, and he was not aware that CBS was about to air them until just hours before they were broadcast last week." (Washington Post, Graham, 5/7/04)

Mid-January, 2004 Bush told about the photo of abuse according to the Washington Post: "Marine Gen. Peter Pace...said Wednesday on CBS's "Early Show" that beginning in mid-January, everyone "up the chain of command . . . was kept apprised orally of the ongoing investigation." Asked if Bush "was well aware of the situation," Pace replied: "Yes."" (Washington Post, Allen, 5/7/04)

Late February 2004 Major General Antonio M. Taguba issues 53-page report concluding that between October and December 2003 there were numerous instances of "sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses" at Abu Ghraib. Report was not meant for public release. (New York, Hersh, 5/5/04 and LA Times, McDonnell, 5/3/04)

March 2004 Six enlisted personnel charged with prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib. One is court marshaled. (AP, Burns, 5/3/04)

Mid-April, 2004 Military learns CBS has pictures of prisoner abuse in Iraq. General Abizaid and General Myers ask CBS to post-pone broadcast of the photos. (NY Times, Schmitt, 5/4/04)

April 28, 2004

* Graphic photos of abuse of Iraqi prisoners are shown on CBS 60 Minutes 2. (AP, Crary, 4/28/04)

* Rumsfeld provides classified briefing to Congressional leaders on situation in Iraq, fails to mention that photos of Iraqi abuse victims will be aired that evening on television. (Senate Armed Services Committee Testimony, Levin, 5/7/04)

* May 3, 2004 Spokesman McClellan says that Bush still hasn't seen or been briefed on the Taguba report. (WH Briefing, McClellan, 5/3/04).

May 4, 2004

* Rumsfeld says he disagrees with critics who have said the Pentagon moved too slowly. Defense Department officials have moved correctly and efficiently, he said. "The system works," he said. "The system works." Admitted he had not read the whole Taguba report or seen the photos. (DoD Briefing, Rumsfeld, 5/4/04)

* Military discloses Army has conducted 30 criminal investigations into misconduct by American captors in Iraq and Afghanistan, including 10 cases of suspicious death, 10 cases of abuse, and two deaths of Iraqis already determined to have been criminal homicides. (NY Times, Neilan, 5/5/04)
* General George Casey, Army's Vice-Chief of Staff, refers to a "complete breakdown in discipline." (NY Times, Reuters wire, 5/5/04)

Posted by at 12:13 PM | Permalink

Well, it's finally near complete, I finally managed to get the new Samsung up and running -- nice and quiet, gotta dig the liquid bearings technology -- thanks Korea

And to think, now I seem motivated to do goofy shit to my XBOX ... I don't learn, ha

Today is the last day of session and things seem pretty much up in the air for what I shall do for work -- well, I think I'll take a few days off to think about things and relax a bit

Well, off I go to clean up my office, more to come later -- maybe I can actually post reviews of D12, Prince, and a few other things that are sitting on my NU hard drive -- yeah, NOTT

Posted by at 8:17 AM | Permalink

The owners of the happiest place on earth would like to help you with your political thought as well -- sound fishy? Yeah, we thought so too

(From Moveon)
Michael Moore's new movie Fahrenheit 9-11, which heads to the prestigious Cannes film festival next week, was expected to be distributed by Miramax this summer. But Disney, which owns Miramax, blocked the plan. Denying allegations of political favoritism,

Disney said it doesn't want to be involved with a partisan film.

Moore responded, "If this is partisan in any way it is partisan on the side of the poor and working people in this country who provide fodder for this war machine."

The film details financial connections between the Bush family and powerful Saudi Arabian families over the last thirty years, including the evacuation of Osama bin Laden's relatives from the United States two days after Sept. 11. Also included are American soldiers in Iraq describing their doubts about the justification for war.

Michael Moore has commented, "At some point the question has to be asked, 'Should this be happening in a free and open society where the monied interests essentially call the shots regarding the information that the public is allowed to see?' "

For Disney and any other media outlet (or even the government) that wishes to manipulate the free exchange of ideas and information,

THE ANSWER IS NO

Posted by at 11:11 AM | Permalink

Ok, so phase 3 -- and probably the final phase of my pet mod project to my pet computer, ze Koob

I realized something today -- sometimes the manual is wrong -- sometimes using flat blade screw-dr is NOT the best approach to removing connectors from pins -- thats why we have PLIERS ... ha

Anyways, I have blisters on my thumbs, and I'm kind of salty because the use of pliers would have saved me time, sleep, and blisters

Oh well -- so now I have to figure out how to set my drive jumpers and make all the new stuff work with each other -- I wonder now if I knew how much of a headache this would be, whether I would do it or not again

Maybe get a blister on your little finger
Maybe get a blister on your thumb - Dire Straits, $ 4 0

Posted by at 11:56 PM | Permalink

It was good news to hear that high school football star/honor student Marcus Dixon was released from jail after the Georgia Supreme Court threw out his 10-year prison sentence for sexual offenses with a 15-year-old classmate.

Marcus had been in jail for 15 months before being released today. The court ruled that Marcus should have been prosecuted on misdemeanor stat rape rather than aggravated child molestation.

The supreme irony of it all was that it was consensual teenage sex between a black boy and a white girl -- and the original ten year sentence seemed motivated in part by racial differences

We at the Luau (along with act4justice.com-- where we found out about his case a few months ago) are pleased the harsh punishment has been overturned

Although we do decry the loss of the time for this young man, who had been granted a scholarship to attend Vanderbilt University -- and we remain aware that in some parts of our country, there still are pernicious vestiges of racism that really need to be addressed once and for all, so that all may have justice, equal treatment, and liberty

Some background from act4justice:

This true story took place in rural Rome, Georgia, USA just last year 2003!

Marcus Dixon,� an 18-year old African American high school senior was accused of rape by a classmate (a white girl only a few months shy of 16, a sophomore). The jury quickly came back with Not Guilty verdicts on all rape & use of force, they agreed the sex was consensual (only took them 15 minutes)

However, the prosecutor added the charge of aggravated child molestation since the girl was under 16.

He was found guilty by this charge per se and sentenced to a mandatory minimum 10 year sentence.

No high school boy or girl has ever been charged with child molestation of a classmate less than three years his or her junior until Marcus. Marcus was a star on the football team, an Honor Student (3.96 GPA) and had a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University.

Marcus had served 15 months prior to his conditional release today

Posted by at 2:58 PM | Permalink

It's hot and humid --- so it's hard not to get testy

I have three things to rant about from this one fan's perspective (which in all actuality don't amount to a hill of beans)

Perspective.
It's very hard to maintain perspective over a 162-game season -- as much as I whined and complained last week, the interlocking NY is now on a 6-game winning streak -- and the hated Beantown Dirtdogs, well they got swept by a upstart Texas team that is playing WAYTHEHELL better without the 250M bonus baby -- a long way to go, but at least things seem to be turning around for the pinstripes

Consistency.
I heard a very interesting comment from one of the talking heads last week while watching the playoffs. I can't remember precisely who said it, I think it may have been Doc Rivers, but I'm not sure -- he said that the team that is the most consistent game to game, not flashy, plays like a team, plays good D -- is the (HATED) Spurs.

I think that that is precisely what has made my favorite team so frustrating this year -- yes there are 4 future HOFers -- yes they probably have the most on-paper talent -- but damn it, they are frustrating to watch -- like today for example, a really great 3rd quarter leads to a single digit performance in the 4th -- I can't figure them out, they are killing me -- it's only 1-0 but this one is the one that got away

Getting a Clue.
Ok, in the bigger scheme of things UTEP leaving the WAC really does not shift the polar icecaps or cause the national collegiate athletic landscape to profoundly change -- However, I do have this to say as a UH fan -- WTF has been going on since 1998 -- I have seen 8 teams leave to form the MWC -- leaving a bunch of geographically stretched teams to play and burn enough jetfuel to cause this global warming -- TCU then left and then left another conference to join the MWC -- the UH President talks like he's going to get something done and plan and move forward -- well hey, lookit (yes, not grammatical but I'm pist) -- we're in worse shape than we ever were in a conference of castoffs and wannabes -- how does a team in the middle of the Pacific play league games in RUSTON DAMN LOUISIANA -- and soon (Wherethehellis) Las Cruces and Logan FKN Utah -- the powers that be at UH really need a reality check

I don't claim to know the be all, end all -- but why didn't the WAC go after SDSU and UNLV -- I think the answer has been in front of the remaining WAC members's faces for a really long time -- Mr. Benson needs help -- and UH and the other WAC members need more help because they are following his lead

Damn, it's humid

Posted by at 5:19 PM | Permalink

I know this one has been out for a very long time but I finally saw from S-F, the Mexican gangs in LA classic, American Me

Very depressing in many ways, very gritty -- it's interesting because it feels like it was ahead of its time -- seemingly, Fontana and the OZ crew have much to thank Olmos et al. for some of the basic template that they use in their soon to culminate series

It's interesting put into context against Boyz in the Hood -- I think both movies reveal a cycle of violence that underlies the life of minorities in Los Angeles -- from father to son -- from young to old -- who is it that can break the cycle? -- how do you do do it -- is it by education, is it by getting a job, or is your life predetermined fatalistically because you are a member of a certain ethnic group, a neighborhood, a skin color -- when do you have the power to act for yourself -- or is your only voice through group membership

I don't know the answers

Posted by at 5:27 PM | Permalink