Not my friends…

These are not my friends. I don’t know their names, but I do see them in my neighborhood, usually together, usually laughing and one of them bartends down the street from where I live. They’re friendly enough, both smiling and serious in the rare moments I’ve seen them and they’ve always been (at best) friendly and (at worst) ambivalent. Either of those responses are fine. … Continue reading Not my friends…

A reaction to the reckless…

  Yesterday, Judge Carl Barbier ruled British Petroleum was guilty of gross negligence in the lead-up to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, stating BP made “profit-driven decisions” during the drilling of the well and “these instances of negligence, taken together, evince an extreme deviation from the standard of care and a conscious disregard of known risk.” Barbier went on to say that due to the “egregious” nature … Continue reading A reaction to the reckless…

On Leaving San Francisco…Converse All Stars, High Rents and the Fillmore Jazz Fest

I was standing outside the Converse All Star Store on Market Street in San Francisco when it became clear to me it was again, time to leave this city.  The sign in the store window yelled, “SHOES ARE BORING! WEAR SNEAKERS!” in large, capitalized letters and behind this sign stood an equally loud, colorful scream of red sneakers, white sneakers and blue, all arranged on … Continue reading On Leaving San Francisco…Converse All Stars, High Rents and the Fillmore Jazz Fest

Republican coincidence and payroll tax holidays…

At the end of this month the payroll tax holiday will expire, and if allowed to lapse, it will come as a tax increase for working lower and middle class Americans. The Democrats, including Obama, are in favor of an extension while many Republicans are not. Many Republicans are demanding the extension be offset by spending cuts elsewhere or simply done away with altogether. Why? Simple… According to Macroeconomic … Continue reading Republican coincidence and payroll tax holidays…

Feds, Coast Guard, join BP to prove they’ve learned very little…

In two developments this past week, British Petroleum officially welcomed the Coast Guard and the Federal Government to their party that history forgot. Behind the ivy covered walls, steel doors and security guards of BP headquarters, Bob Dudley toasted Coast Guard Captain, Julia Heim and BOEMRE head, Michael Bromwich, celebrating a rousing relapse of maritime irresponsibility and forgetfulness. Toast completed, Bob turned on the tequila fountain, shaped like a deepwater … Continue reading Feds, Coast Guard, join BP to prove they’ve learned very little…

British Petroleum says to hell with public relatons, we’re gonna screw everybody we can…

It’s official. “Making things right,” has been declared dead. The priest has been to the hospital, performed last rites and was then thrown through the glass doors and spit upon by current British Petroleum CEO Bob Dudley, who whipped around, his black duster flapping lazily in the fall breeze, before he strode back into the hospital. Word is he was heading towards the pediatric ward to see if he … Continue reading British Petroleum says to hell with public relatons, we’re gonna screw everybody we can…

In a nutshell – another reason Jim DeMint and the Tea Party are complete frauds…

“No, I know for a fact the Constitution expressly forbids global warming, therefore, anyone who speaks of it is committing treason…” Jim DeMint, Senator and self-described Tea Party Rock Star who never saw a constitution he actually wanted to read, recently had this to say about job creation: “DeMint argued, businesses want the government to oppose unions and eliminate regulations, which he said would create “certainty.” “What they want … Continue reading In a nutshell – another reason Jim DeMint and the Tea Party are complete frauds…