Monday, October 02, 2006

Enlightening moments while drunk and abroad…

I attended the YP Webmaster Getaway last weekend, and had a great time reconnecting with a few old webmaster friends, and getting to know some new ones, too.  In spite of my being in virtually a perpetual state of inebriation (or plain old sleep-deprivation-induced delirium) I found myself reflecting on things I’d not thought too much about before… or at least haven’t in quite some time.

First and foremost, driving past the Mexican border towns and Baja coastline one would have to be blind not to notice the strange (yet ubiquitous) juxtapositions of relative wealth side-by-side with abject poverty.  Westward glances out the window present one with the striking contrast of a newly-built large, well-appointed beachside home sitting next to a ramshackle abode that’s clearly been crafted out of whatever abandoned materials the inhabitants have been able to scrounge up.  In town after town, I saw “houses” that more closely resembled the forts I helped build as a kid: half a piece of corrugated tin here, a section of fence or plywood remnants there.  (Oh, and the “new” buildings almost all have rebar poking out of the walls and/or roof, because in Mexico, apparently as long as the building isn’t “finished,” there are no taxes assessed.  On the ride down, we wondered aloud at all the rebar “crowns,” but were informed of this loophole in Mexican tax policy by those in the know at the Baja Seasons resort.) Putting myself in the shoes of the poor souls who live in those cobbled-together casitas, it’s all too easy to understand the motivations of those who’d risk life, limb and liberty to escape across the border… they may get paid shit wages once they get here, but at least they’ll be living in a house or apartment that’s properly built, with indoor plumbing, electricity and all the other basic necessities so many Americans take for granted.

In a similar vein, I found that my “bleeding heart” continues to leak, if not hemorrhage… especially when I’m confronted with the dirty faces of children, nursing mothers and the abuelitas whose leathery, wrinkled faces, gnarled hands and hunched backs make it difficult to tell whether they’re 50 or 80, but in any case are testament to their having lived harshly enough, if not long enough, to bring them sufficiently close to the end of their lives that there’s little doubt they’re unemployable.  During a 3-hour shopping trip to Ensenada, I’d imagine at least 1/4 of the money I spent went to the “chiclet kids,” mamas with babies at their breast and a couple of abuelitas.  My cousin, Chet, chastised me, saying that the kids probably work hard at looking so dirty and pathetic (and likely go home to designer clothes, iPods and big-screen tv), and that he actually SAW one of the mamas pinch a baby to make it cry.  I admit it, I’m a sucker… and thus I must limit the amount of time I spend in places where I’ll end up interacting with beggars.  Even though I know on an intellectual level that many of these people are probably making a better living by begging than I do by working, there’s that small part of me that is all too aware that a sudden downturn of fortune can quite quickly land ANYONE in the undesirable position of having to beg in order to survive.  It can and does happen here in the U.S., and in a place like Mexico the loss of a job is more often than not a fast-track to abject poverty. Despite my disbelief, I succumb to the little voice in my brain that says, “There but for the grace of God go I,” and put a little something in the cup.  Ah well, better a bleeding heart than none at all!

Mexicans, regardless of on which side of the border they’re residing and/or their legal status as immigrants to America, are not only my fellow human beings but my neighbors - and I speak not merely of their country’s bordering mine, but of their being a large and vital force in my community for as long as I’ve lived in Southern California (which is virtually my entire life… at least the part that counts, from my teens ‘til now).  This state would not be what it is if not for the people of Mexico, who are an integral part of its history, style and culture. They’ve left (and are still leaving) their marks everywhere, from our local towns’ architecture and nomenclature to the food we eat and the cocktails we imbibe (Margaritas for Cinco de Mayo? Sí ... muy gusto!).  Even so, all of the above doesn’t even take into account the physical labor performed by Mexicans (and yes, other Latinos) whether they’re here legally or not. Unlike those people who choose to see only evidence of their preconceived notions and negative stereotypes, it’s been my experience that my Mexican friends and neighbors’ stories of coming to America and getting established are nearly identical to those I’d heard growing up from my Sicilian relatives… the first to arrive here scratch out a living doing back-breaking work while sponsoring as many family members as possible, and successive generations (hopefully) assimilate and generally have more opportunities than their forbears.  For my part, I salute Mexicans for their contributions to the society I live in and I recognize that without them California, and indeed the United States, would be a very different place… I appreciate how their culture has enriched ours; and on a more personal level, its influence on my own life and worldview.

Lastly, the “dirty old lady” in me simply won’t let me end this post without admitting to being (positively) biased, purely primal in nature.  Mexicans, and Latinos in general make some bee-you-tiful specimens of human being!  I freely admit to being enthralled by people whose ethnicity is immediately apparent in their physical makeup (and yes, to going all squishy inside sometimes, for particular male specimens, heh).  Having grown up primarily in Southern California, a goodly number of the hands-down hottest, most breathtakingly beautiful people I’ve ever known/seen have been at least a little bit Mexican; and even I, before becoming a wise old married crone, made a few bad decisions while held in thrall by el guapo con carisma latino, silly girl that I was.  It’s the coloring, it’s the accent, it’s just… chemical, I suppose!  I’m perfectly satisfied with admiration from afar these days, and even as a happily married woman I ‘m happy to report that from my observations, the stereotypical “Latin Lover” type is in absolutely no danger of going extinct any time soon.

YP 2006 Video slideshow - So many great memories, such inspiration…

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Bill Clinton and Keith Olbermann are HOT!

As a rule, I’m more attracted to younger men… but over the past few days, between President Clinton and Keith Olbermann, it’s difficult to say which one got me more tingly and breathless as they so eloquently read Chris Wallace and George Bush (respectively) the riot act.  It just doesn’t get much better!!!!

The nation’s freedoms are under assault by an administration whose policies can do us as much damage as Al-Qaeda; the nation’s “marketplace of ideas” is being poisoned, by a propaganda company so blatant that Tokyo Rose would’ve quit. Nonetheless.... ...the headline is this: Bill Clinton did what almost none of us have done, in five years. He has spoken the truth about 9/11, and the current presidential administration. “At least I tried,” he said of his own efforts to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden. “That’s the difference in me and some, including all of the right-wingers who are attacking me now. They had eight months to try; they did not try. I tried.” Thus in his supposed emeritus years, has Mr. Clinton taken forceful and triumphant action for honesty, and for us; action as vital and as courageous as any of his presidency; action as startling and as liberating, as any, by anyone, in these last five long years. * The Bush Administration did not try to get Osama Bin Laden before 9/11. * The Bush Administration ignored all the evidence gathered by its predecessors. * The Bush Administration did not understand the Daily Briefing entitled “Bin Laden Determined To Strike in U.S.” * The Bush Administration… did...not...try. Moreover, for the last five years one month and two weeks, the current administration, and in particular the President, has been given the greatest “pass” for incompetence and malfeasance, in American history! * President Roosevelt was rightly blamed for ignoring the warning signs—some of them, 17 years old—before Pearl Harbor. * President Hoover was correctly blamed for—if not the Great Depression itself—then the disastrous economic steps he took in the immediate aftermath of the Stock Market Crash. * Even President Lincoln assumed some measure of responsibility for the Civil War—though talk of Southern secession had begun as early as 1832. But not this President. To hear him bleat and whine and bully at nearly every opportunity, one would think someone else had been President on September 11th, 2001—or the nearly eight months that preceded it. That hardly reflects the honesty nor manliness we expect of the Executive.

Monday, September 11, 2006

More crap laws meant to silence legal speech

Earlier today I read a column on DangerousTalk.net that illustrates how far the Religious Right will go toward forcing all Americans into their way of thinking.  Secular Spice addresses the pressure far-right “traditional values” groups are putting on corporations, as well as legislators, in her article, “Waging the War against ‘White Collar’ Porn”:

In early August, 2006, several religious-right groups such as Concerned Women for America, the Family Research Council, Morality in Media, and the American Family Association, joined forces to place an ad in USA today, demanding that the US Department of Justice “investigate” pornography that is made available to hotel patrons, claiming a violation of obscenity laws.

Worse still, they’re using shitty data to argue that the government ought to step in and enforce their worldview:

Using language usually reserved to describe terrorists, the anti-porn crusaders asserted, “Pornography is a disease plaguing America’s freedom and safety.” They called on the US Department of Justice to step in.

Is this really a good use of taxpayer money? Let’s look at the facts. According to federal crime statistics released in June, the incidence of rape has decreased 85% since the 1970’s. While the Campaign for Corporate Responsibility claims that viewing pornography causes people to commit sex crimes, they ignore the fact that hundreds of millions of porn videos are rented and purchased in the United States each year. Yet, the US Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that violent crime rates have dropped since 1994, to the lowest rates in 2004.

[emphasis added - OB]

It is these SAME deluded, lying fundy assholes who are behind the very REAL laws that have already passed and have a direct effect on thousands of people in the adult industry; laws which I assert are truly a plague upon American freedom and safety.  While the good Christian husband, exercising his freedom to view a (softcore) porn in the privacy and safety of his hotel room may be imperiling his soul, somewhere in a small town there’s a young single mom whose freedom to make some extra money by being a webcam girl has been compromised, because the current labeling requirements would require her to jeopardize her privacy and physical safety.  Even an educational site would need to comply.  It’s ridiculous! Simply because some people disapprove of sexually explicit speech of ANY sort, they would have the government intercede and make the punishments or dangers so dire as to repress it altogether.

The way things are going, it won’t be long until blasphemy and heresy are criminalized; or otherwise regulated such that the penalties for non-compliance will effectively discourage many people from engaging in those forms of speech.  If that happens, I’ll take up arms, Jack!

I was reminded that I never did copy my rant over here…

Reposted from my MySpace blog 7/26/06:

Yet another law with good intent, sure to be challenged because it goes much further than necessary in pursuing its stated goal, HR 4472 includes language that discriminates against constitutionally protected, sexually explicit speech and creates a chilling effect on those who engage in such speech.

There’s a good summary and analysis by Kat Sunlove and Reed Lee of the Free Speech Coalition which points out the numerous and serious problems with this bit of legislation that represses the speech of adults in its zeal to protect children.

Especially vague and therefore dangerous, is this part:

SEC. 503. RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS FOR SIMULATED SEXUAL CONDUCT.

(a) In General- Chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2257 the following:

`SEC. 2257A. RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS FOR SIMULATED SEXUAL CONDUCT.

How, exactly, does one define that term?  It’s important to me that it be clearly spelled out, lest I fail to keep the proper paperwork and/or give out my private information to the world at large because the government insists that any sexually explicit speech is assumed to be child pornography unless it can be proven that it’s not.  That’s just crazy!

Here’s an example:  If I post a little video on ObnoxiousBitch.com of myself engaging in some rant or another, during which I use a gesture that can be construed as “simulated sexual conduct,” and by virtue of ads on my site am considered a “commercial” enterprise, does that mean I have to label my site in accordance with these new §2257 requirements?

This is important for me to know, because anyone who’s known me for more than probably a day, knows that included and fairly common in my repertoire of gestures (extensive and prolific, Sicilian that I am!) are any number that are undoubtedly sexual in nature.  By thumping the end of my tongue in my cheek while simultaneously using a certain hand gesture, there’s no doubt I’m simulating fellatio… something I do quite regularly when the subject is something along the lines of “I wonder why so-and-so got such a good gig/spouse/raise/whatever?”

I need to know if just being myself or most especially, being my persona is going to imperil my liberties and require me to jump through a maze of legal hoops simply because the things I say and do are inappropriate for some people’s children - even though it’s not my intent to speak to those children in the first place, but to rational adults.

Industry Alert: Senate Agrees to Revamping of 2257 Statute

Of course, mainstream entertainment entities are subject to an entirely different and far less complicated record-keeping schema, as well as being immune to the fines and jail time that adult entertainment producers face for having one piece of data out of place.  For those who produce erotic entertainment, there’s a very real possibility that a clerical error will make them a felon… and two will put them in jail for up to 10 years.  The clear discrimination against the adult industry, based entirely on the content of their speech surely must be grounds for a legal challenge!  And if not, why not?

Just as the FCC fines have a chilling effect on anyone who broadcasts across the airwaves, laws like this cause people to self-censor out of fear that they’ll be ruined simply because of something they say.  This is a crushing blow to the First Amendment rights of American citizens, even those who aren’t pornographers.  Comedians, actors, artists, filmmakers and a whole host of people should be concerned that they too can be caught in this ever-growing net of laws that attempt to force a certain morality upon our society.

I’ve been called paranoid for trying to point out small things that indicate, to me, a systematic takeover of our government and our society, by people who believe they have a lock on “morality” because they adhere to a certain faith or belief system, or book, that claims to be the sole source of all law and goodness in the universe.  It is laws like these, that criminalize thoughts and actions contrary to what the bible supposedly says is “moral” that serve as evidence to me that the march toward theocracy continues and unless more people stand up and fight for their rights, anyone who strays from a theistic and/or blindly patriotic mindset will be marginalized, vilified and eventually legislated into either complying or being penalized.

We cannot allow it to happen.  If you haven’t already visited the Free Speech Coalition website, please do so - and REGISTER TO VOTE if you’re qualified. America’s is a government of the People, but right now, it’s only some People who are getting their say, because they’ve been mobilized and are voting in much larger numbers than those who don’t hold their extremist views.

GO DO IT NOW!!!

Thursday, August 24, 2006

History Repeats Itself?

My best friend and I have debated the issue of whether, historically, the distinction of having a larger body count belongs to the religious or the godless.  Today I found this quote amongst a rather large list, most of which contained more direct references to religion.  It seems to me that although the times may change, the struggle of the über-religious to gain power over, and control of, the citizenry has changed little, if at all, with the passage of time.

“Parallel to the training of the body a struggle against the poisoning of the soul must begin. Our whole public life today is like a hothouse for sexual ideas and simulations. Just look at the bill of fare served up in our movies, vaudeville and theaters, and you will hardly be able to deny that this is not the right kind of food, particularly for the youth...Theater, art, literature, cinema, press, posters, and window displays must be cleansed of all manifestations of our rotting world and placed in the service of a moral, political, and cultural idea.”

Substituting “the internet and television” for “vaudeville and theaters,” this quote could have come from any one of the religious nuts from the Family Research Council, Concerned Women of America, or another of the groups of True Believers^™ whose mission is to sanitize art, the airwaves and the whole of entertainment in the hopes of bringing more souls to Jesus, and proclaiming America a Christian Nation.

However, the quote comes from another person whose aim was to change a country by winning the “Culture Wars” of the time.

- [Adolf Hitler, “Mein Kampf”, Vol. 1, Chapter 10, echoing the Cultural Warfare rhetoric of the Religious Right]

via Pharyngula

Friday, August 11, 2006

Happy Birthday to the Great Agnostic

In 3 more minutes, it won’t apply… so, thanks RG!

http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/god_in_constitution.html

Les said pretty much everything I’d say anyway… check it out