President Obama made some videotaped remarks concerning the Muslim holy month of Ramadan which begins today.
I was struck by this particular passage:
Ramadan is a time of intense devotion and reflection. A time when Muslims fast during the day and perform Taraweeh prayers at night, reciting and listening to the entire Koran over the course of the month. These rituals remind us of the principles we hold in common and Islam's role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
President Obama's statement is ironic in light of the case of Rifka Bary. She is a 17-year-old Muslim girl who ran away from home in Ohio and made her way to Florida where she converted to Christianity. Unlike Christianity and Judaism, those raised in Islam are not free to convert. If a Muslim converts to another religion he or she is considered an apostate and the sanction is punishment by death.
Naturally, Rifka fears for her life if she is compelled to return to Ohio. In an interview with an Orlando TV station she said:
If I had stayed in Ohio, I wouldn't be alive. In 150 generations in family, no one has known Jesus. I am the first — imagine the honor in killing me. There is great honor in that, because if they love Allah more than me, they have to do it. It's in the Koran.
Thankfully, a judge has granted Rifka a temporary reprieve and she will be allowed to remain in foster care until a hearing which has been scheduled for September 3rd.
Can President Obama tell us how killing people who choose to convert from Islam advances justice, progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings?
Does President Obama think Rifka should be returned to her parents?
Friday, August 21, 2009
Mike Rizzo is The Happiest Man in Washington
Yesterday, the Washington Nationals officially named Mike Rizzo as their general manager.
Rizzo had been named the Nats interim general manager last March after the resignation of Jim Bowden.
Seventy-two hours before Rizzo's elevation, he signed pitcher Stephen Strasburg to a four-year, $15.1 million contract. Strasburg was the number one pick in the 2009 MLB Draft last June. The 21-year-old righthander pitched at San Diego State and was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Baseball team at the Beijing games. Strasburg, whose fastball has been clocked at over 100 MPH, is being hailed as the savior of the Nationals franchise. Needless to say, Rizzo is now the happiest man in Washington.
Put it this way. If Rizzo hadn't signed Strasburg I believe his title would have been former interim general manager.
BTW, the Nats are 17-17 since Jim Riggleman took over the managerial reins of the club on July 12th thus making Riggleman. They have 43 wins this season which means they have exactly one more win than the notorious 1962 New York Mets. If the Nats play .500 ball the rest of the way they will lose fewer than 100 games thus making Riggleman the second happiest man in Washington. In which case, I think Rizzo should keep Riggleman on as their skipper next season even if he does have an unhealthy obsession with the five man infield.
Rizzo had been named the Nats interim general manager last March after the resignation of Jim Bowden.
Seventy-two hours before Rizzo's elevation, he signed pitcher Stephen Strasburg to a four-year, $15.1 million contract. Strasburg was the number one pick in the 2009 MLB Draft last June. The 21-year-old righthander pitched at San Diego State and was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Baseball team at the Beijing games. Strasburg, whose fastball has been clocked at over 100 MPH, is being hailed as the savior of the Nationals franchise. Needless to say, Rizzo is now the happiest man in Washington.
Put it this way. If Rizzo hadn't signed Strasburg I believe his title would have been former interim general manager.
BTW, the Nats are 17-17 since Jim Riggleman took over the managerial reins of the club on July 12th thus making Riggleman. They have 43 wins this season which means they have exactly one more win than the notorious 1962 New York Mets. If the Nats play .500 ball the rest of the way they will lose fewer than 100 games thus making Riggleman the second happiest man in Washington. In which case, I think Rizzo should keep Riggleman on as their skipper next season even if he does have an unhealthy obsession with the five man infield.
Remdawg Returns
Jerry Remy will be returning to the Boston Red Sox broadcast booth tonight and not a moment too soon. The Red Sox open a crucial three game series at Fenway Park with the New York Yankees.
Remy was diagnosed with lung cancer in the offseason and required surgery. He was well enough to begin the 2009 season in his spot in the NESN broadcast booth where he has broadcast Red Sox games since 1988. But an infection and pneumonia forced him to take an indefinite leave of absence at the end of April.
Remdawg (as he is affectionately known in Red Sox Nation) made a brief return to Fenway Park on August 12th and disclosed it was primarily depression rather than pneumonia or post-surgery infections that kept him away for so many months. Known for his gregarious and humorous nature this revelation took many people by surprise but his candor has won him praise.
During Remy's absence scores of former big league players turned color commentators worked alongside Don Orsillo including Dennis Eckersley, Dave Roberts, Jim Kaat, Buck Martinez, Frank Viola, Sean Casey and Rance Mulliniks.
Remy, who also played in the majors with the Red Sox and the California Angels for ten seasons, will resume his duties on a part-time basis. Presumably he'll largely be confined to broadcasting home games. Any road games he might undertake would most likely be restricted to AL East cities. In whatever capacity he works his presence will be warmly received.
Remy was diagnosed with lung cancer in the offseason and required surgery. He was well enough to begin the 2009 season in his spot in the NESN broadcast booth where he has broadcast Red Sox games since 1988. But an infection and pneumonia forced him to take an indefinite leave of absence at the end of April.
Remdawg (as he is affectionately known in Red Sox Nation) made a brief return to Fenway Park on August 12th and disclosed it was primarily depression rather than pneumonia or post-surgery infections that kept him away for so many months. Known for his gregarious and humorous nature this revelation took many people by surprise but his candor has won him praise.
During Remy's absence scores of former big league players turned color commentators worked alongside Don Orsillo including Dennis Eckersley, Dave Roberts, Jim Kaat, Buck Martinez, Frank Viola, Sean Casey and Rance Mulliniks.
Remy, who also played in the majors with the Red Sox and the California Angels for ten seasons, will resume his duties on a part-time basis. Presumably he'll largely be confined to broadcasting home games. Any road games he might undertake would most likely be restricted to AL East cities. In whatever capacity he works his presence will be warmly received.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Listen to Tim Buckley's New CD
Regular readers of my column might recall a piece I wrote about the late Tim Buckley a couple of years ago. I wrote the piece in response to a DVD release of his live performances on American, British and Dutch television titled My Fleeting House.
Well, next Tuesday (August 25th to be exact) Tompkins Square Records will release a CD titled Tim Buckley: Live at the Folklore Center, NYC - March 6, 1967. The Folklore Center was situated in Greenwich Village. Owned by Izzy Young, the Folklore Center was a veritable who's who of folk music artifacts. Not surprisingly, folk musicians would frequent this establishment including Bob Dylan.
When Buckley played in front of a small audience of 35 people late that winter he was all of 20 years old. But he already had his debut album, the self-titled Tim Buckley, under his belt which had been released by Elektra Records the previous year. Three months later, Elektra would release his second album Goodbye & Hello which as it turned out would be his best selling record.
Although the CD won't officially be released for several more days you can listen to the album in its entirety on NPR. (So government subsidized radio isn't totally useless.) I've listened to ten of the sixteen songs Buckley played at this gig. He plays several songs from his debut album (i.e. "Song for Jainie", "Wings") and from Goodbye & Hello (i.e. "Carnival Song", "No Man Can Find The War" - the obligatory anti-Vietnam war song.) But there are also six songs he performs that would never appear on any of Buckley's studio albums nor have they been heard in any of his other recorded live performances (i.e. "In The Rain Comes", "Country Boy".)
If none of these six songs ever saw the light of day again I wonder how many of them he co-wrote with Larry Beckett? Beckett, who is now a poet based in Portland, Oregon, was Buckley's high school friend in Anaheim. Buckley and Beckett were one half of the folk quartet The Bohemians along with Jim Fielder (who later played bass with Blood, Sweat & Tears) and Dan Gordon (who later became a screenwriter and wrote the screenplay for The Hurricane starring Denzel Washington.) The Bohemians recorded a demo for Elektra but the label was interested only in Buckley.
Nevertheless, Beckett became Buckley's writing partner for the first two albums. But by 1968 Beckett had gone into the Army and Buckley moved away from folk music and began experimenting with jazz and avante-garde music. He would also begin writing songs on his own and would not collaborate with Beckett again until his 1970 album Starsailor. Those six songs most likely didn't fit with Buckley's new musical direction and they were never heard of again until now. What is old is new again.
Well, next Tuesday (August 25th to be exact) Tompkins Square Records will release a CD titled Tim Buckley: Live at the Folklore Center, NYC - March 6, 1967. The Folklore Center was situated in Greenwich Village. Owned by Izzy Young, the Folklore Center was a veritable who's who of folk music artifacts. Not surprisingly, folk musicians would frequent this establishment including Bob Dylan.
When Buckley played in front of a small audience of 35 people late that winter he was all of 20 years old. But he already had his debut album, the self-titled Tim Buckley, under his belt which had been released by Elektra Records the previous year. Three months later, Elektra would release his second album Goodbye & Hello which as it turned out would be his best selling record.
Although the CD won't officially be released for several more days you can listen to the album in its entirety on NPR. (So government subsidized radio isn't totally useless.) I've listened to ten of the sixteen songs Buckley played at this gig. He plays several songs from his debut album (i.e. "Song for Jainie", "Wings") and from Goodbye & Hello (i.e. "Carnival Song", "No Man Can Find The War" - the obligatory anti-Vietnam war song.) But there are also six songs he performs that would never appear on any of Buckley's studio albums nor have they been heard in any of his other recorded live performances (i.e. "In The Rain Comes", "Country Boy".)
If none of these six songs ever saw the light of day again I wonder how many of them he co-wrote with Larry Beckett? Beckett, who is now a poet based in Portland, Oregon, was Buckley's high school friend in Anaheim. Buckley and Beckett were one half of the folk quartet The Bohemians along with Jim Fielder (who later played bass with Blood, Sweat & Tears) and Dan Gordon (who later became a screenwriter and wrote the screenplay for The Hurricane starring Denzel Washington.) The Bohemians recorded a demo for Elektra but the label was interested only in Buckley.
Nevertheless, Beckett became Buckley's writing partner for the first two albums. But by 1968 Beckett had gone into the Army and Buckley moved away from folk music and began experimenting with jazz and avante-garde music. He would also begin writing songs on his own and would not collaborate with Beckett again until his 1970 album Starsailor. Those six songs most likely didn't fit with Buckley's new musical direction and they were never heard of again until now. What is old is new again.
American Liberty Tour kicks off in 3 weeks
Friends in the Freedom Movement,
We're in our final planning stages for the upcoming American Liberty Tour and we're excited to be able to start sending you details as they become available.
For those who don't already know, the American Liberty Tour sends our crew from coast to coast, starting in Sacramento California and ending in Atlanta Georgia.
In each scheduled stop (17 cities), we'll be hosting activist training, movement leadership training, blogger meet-ups, townhall events and liberty rallies.
These are events that you do not want to miss!
Follow details and crew blogs at http://americanlibertytour
RSVP for a liberty rally here.
http://americanlibertytour
Register for the activist/movement training here.
https://www.americanmajori
We'll see you out on the road!
For Liberty,
-Eric Odom
Journalists, editors eligible for $5,000 scholarships for college religion courses
(Columbus, Ohio) — Religion Newswriters invites all working journalists, regardless of beat, to apply to its Lilly Scholarships in Religion program. The scholarships give full-time journalists up to $5,000 to cover the cost of taking college religion courses.
With religion in the headlines more than ever, now is the perfect time to dig deeper into today’s hottest religion stories. More than 100 people have already taken advantage of Religion Newswriters’ Lilly Scholarships in Religion Program for Journalists.
Some of the timely topics they’ve studied include: God & Politics, Culture of the Contemporary Arab World, Islamic Movements, Understanding Japanese Religions, Science & Religion and Evangelism.
“The coursework [Islam and Gender] allowed me to get an insight into Islam-related topics I may never have been able to as a reporter,” said Jaweed Kaleem of The Miami Herald.
The scholarships can be used at any accredited college, university, seminary or similar institution. Journalists can take any course they choose as long as it is in the field of religion. Scholarships cover tuition, books, registration fees, parking and other costs. Online and travel courses are also included (as long as travel costs are a part of the curriculum).
All full-time journalists—including reporters, editors, designers, copy editors, editorial writers, news directors, researchers and producers—are eligible, regardless of whether or not they cover religion.
The last scholarship application deadline for this year is Oct. 1.
Scholarships must be used within three academic quarters of their award date. Only full-time journalists working in the general circulation news media are eligible.
Religion Newswriters Association is the world’s only journalism association for people who write about religion in the mainstream news media. The scholarships are offered through its non-profit arm, the Religion Newswriters Foundation, with funding from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.
Complete information about the Lilly Scholarships in Religion program is available at http://www.religionwriters.com/training/lilly-scholarships-in-religion-for-journalists. For questions, contact Amy Schiska at 614-891-9001 ext. 3#, or Schiska@RNA.org.
Religion Newswriters offers training and tools to help journalists cover religion with balance, accuracy and insight. Visit www.RNA.org to learn more about our annual conference Sept. 10–12 in Minneapolis, with Rep. Keith Ellison D-Minn. as our keynote speaker and our pre-conference program on health and spirituality.
Scotland Releases Lockerbie Bomber
The Scottish government has released Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi on "compassionate grounds."
Convicted for killing 270 people aboard Pan Am Flight 103 as well as on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988, al-Megrahi has terminal prostate cancer and is expected to die within the next three months.
I say then let nature take its course. The Scots are showing far more compassion to al-Megrahi than al-Megrahi showed to those 270 people. If this atrocity doesn't warrant a life sentence then nothing does.
To its credit, the Obama Administration has publicly expressed its dismay with al-Megrahi's release. Of the 270 people killed that day, 180 were American.
In analyzing al-Megrahi's release the BBC asks:
Why is there so much anger in the US?
Many US relatives of those who died are convinced of Megrahi's guilt.
Well, so are the Scottish judges who convicted him in 2001.
Yes, there are those who think he is innocent. It is quite possible he did not act alone but that does not mean he did not participate. It doesn't nullify his culpability. Besides if al-Megrahi's was truly innocent he would not have dropped his appeal.
It is expected that al-Megrahi will go back to his native Libya to live out his final days where he will be lauded as a hero. Meanwhile, the Scottish government has just spit in the graves of 270 people. Absolutely shameful.
Convicted for killing 270 people aboard Pan Am Flight 103 as well as on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988, al-Megrahi has terminal prostate cancer and is expected to die within the next three months.
I say then let nature take its course. The Scots are showing far more compassion to al-Megrahi than al-Megrahi showed to those 270 people. If this atrocity doesn't warrant a life sentence then nothing does.
To its credit, the Obama Administration has publicly expressed its dismay with al-Megrahi's release. Of the 270 people killed that day, 180 were American.
In analyzing al-Megrahi's release the BBC asks:
Why is there so much anger in the US?
Many US relatives of those who died are convinced of Megrahi's guilt.
Well, so are the Scottish judges who convicted him in 2001.
Yes, there are those who think he is innocent. It is quite possible he did not act alone but that does not mean he did not participate. It doesn't nullify his culpability. Besides if al-Megrahi's was truly innocent he would not have dropped his appeal.
It is expected that al-Megrahi will go back to his native Libya to live out his final days where he will be lauded as a hero. Meanwhile, the Scottish government has just spit in the graves of 270 people. Absolutely shameful.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Smoltz Signs With St. Louis
Only 48 hours after formally being released by the Boston Red Sox, future Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.
At the moment it is not clear whether Smoltz will be used as a starter or a reliever. I'm inclined to think he'll be given a chance to be the Cards number five starter. Todd Wellemeyer was demoted to the bullpen earlier this month but Mitchell Boggs has been ineffective in his place.
During his brief tenure with the Red Sox, Smoltz started eight games and went 2-5 with an atrocious 8.33 ERA. Smoltz joined the Red Sox in the off season after having pitched for the Atlanta Braves for 20 seasons.
The Cardinals currently enjoy a six game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Thus Smoltz doesn't have to be Cy Young out there.
Then again perhaps some of Julio Lugo's good fortune will rub off onto Smoltz. The much maligned Lugo was released by the Red Sox last month and was picked up by the Cards five days later. In 21 games with the Redbirds, Lugo is hitting .343.
As an aside, Lugo was my roommate Christopher's favorite Red Sox player. When the Sox let him go, Christopher became a devotee of Smoltz. At this rate, he might soon become a Cardinals fan.
At the moment it is not clear whether Smoltz will be used as a starter or a reliever. I'm inclined to think he'll be given a chance to be the Cards number five starter. Todd Wellemeyer was demoted to the bullpen earlier this month but Mitchell Boggs has been ineffective in his place.
During his brief tenure with the Red Sox, Smoltz started eight games and went 2-5 with an atrocious 8.33 ERA. Smoltz joined the Red Sox in the off season after having pitched for the Atlanta Braves for 20 seasons.
The Cardinals currently enjoy a six game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Thus Smoltz doesn't have to be Cy Young out there.
Then again perhaps some of Julio Lugo's good fortune will rub off onto Smoltz. The much maligned Lugo was released by the Red Sox last month and was picked up by the Cards five days later. In 21 games with the Redbirds, Lugo is hitting .343.
As an aside, Lugo was my roommate Christopher's favorite Red Sox player. When the Sox let him go, Christopher became a devotee of Smoltz. At this rate, he might soon become a Cardinals fan.
Don Hewitt, 1922-2009. R.I.P.
Don Hewitt, the creator and longtime executive producer of 60 Minutes, died today of pancreatic cancer. He was 86.
We often hear about how a certain individual or program changed the face of television yet it is seldom true. However, such a claim is justified when it comes to Don Hewitt and 60 Minutes. Hewitt once described the show as "Life Magazine on the air." Hewitt created an ornament to both television and to journalism. Whether the subject was the Ayatollah Khomenei, Lena Horne or some con artist the program had your undivided attention. I have watched 60 Minutes for as long as I can remember and cannot conceive of a Sunday evening without it (except for Super Bowl Sunday, of course.)
Hewitt retired as executive producer of 60 Minutes in June 2004 ending a 36-year association with the program. Towards the end of his tenure the program became far more overtly left-wing (i.e. Richard Clarke, Paul O'Neill.) Not that it didn't have a liberal bias but it used to be subtle. But in response to the Bush Administration, that liberal bias is now worn on its sleeve under the direction of of new executive producer Jeff Fagen and can be seen in its overt affection for President Obama.
Nevertheless, 60 Minutes place in both television and journalism is ensconced and this would not have been possible without the innovative spirit of Don Hewitt.
We often hear about how a certain individual or program changed the face of television yet it is seldom true. However, such a claim is justified when it comes to Don Hewitt and 60 Minutes. Hewitt once described the show as "Life Magazine on the air." Hewitt created an ornament to both television and to journalism. Whether the subject was the Ayatollah Khomenei, Lena Horne or some con artist the program had your undivided attention. I have watched 60 Minutes for as long as I can remember and cannot conceive of a Sunday evening without it (except for Super Bowl Sunday, of course.)
Hewitt retired as executive producer of 60 Minutes in June 2004 ending a 36-year association with the program. Towards the end of his tenure the program became far more overtly left-wing (i.e. Richard Clarke, Paul O'Neill.) Not that it didn't have a liberal bias but it used to be subtle. But in response to the Bush Administration, that liberal bias is now worn on its sleeve under the direction of of new executive producer Jeff Fagen and can be seen in its overt affection for President Obama.
Nevertheless, 60 Minutes place in both television and journalism is ensconced and this would not have been possible without the innovative spirit of Don Hewitt.
Barack or Britney?
Last night, a bikini clad Britney Spears recited the Top 10 list on The Late Show With David Letterman.
To be precise, the list was the Top Ten Ways The Country Would Be Different If Britney Spears Were President.
The most interesting item on the Top 10 was number four: America might have a more coherent fiscal strategy.
Then again almost anybody would have a more coherent fiscal strategy than President Obama.
To be precise, the list was the Top Ten Ways The Country Would Be Different If Britney Spears Were President.
The most interesting item on the Top 10 was number four: America might have a more coherent fiscal strategy.
Then again almost anybody would have a more coherent fiscal strategy than President Obama.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Favre Comes Out of Retirement - Again!!!
Brett Favre is coming out of retirement - again!!!
Many people are not pleased about it and some want him to fail as much as Rush Limbaugh wants President Obama to fail.
After all, he retired in March 2008 after 16 seasons with the Packers only to change his mind three months later. At this point, the Packers were committed to Aaron Rodgers as their new QB so they didn't want him back with the club. A month later he was traded to the New York Jets. Although the Jets won 8 of their first 11 games they would lose four of their last five games and would miss the NFL post-season. Last February, following the Superbowl, Favre announced his retirement for the second time in less than a year.
But by June, Favre said he wanted to play with the Vikings. Yet last month he told them he was staying retired. Three weeks later, he is now a Minnesota Viking.
I mean even John Kerry would tell Favre to stop flip-flopping.
Now just because people might tire of Favre doesn't mean they won't watch him. That as much as any other reason maybe why the 39-year-old Favre can't walk away for good.
The Vikings play the Green Bay Packers twice during the 2009 NFL season. They meet first in Minnesota on October 5th for the Monday night game and then they meet again on November 1st in Green Bay. It will be interesting to see what kind of reception he gets when he is wearing a Vikings uniform at Lambeau Field and I suspect there will be a lot of TV viewers eager to find out the answer to that question.
Many people are not pleased about it and some want him to fail as much as Rush Limbaugh wants President Obama to fail.
After all, he retired in March 2008 after 16 seasons with the Packers only to change his mind three months later. At this point, the Packers were committed to Aaron Rodgers as their new QB so they didn't want him back with the club. A month later he was traded to the New York Jets. Although the Jets won 8 of their first 11 games they would lose four of their last five games and would miss the NFL post-season. Last February, following the Superbowl, Favre announced his retirement for the second time in less than a year.
But by June, Favre said he wanted to play with the Vikings. Yet last month he told them he was staying retired. Three weeks later, he is now a Minnesota Viking.
I mean even John Kerry would tell Favre to stop flip-flopping.
Now just because people might tire of Favre doesn't mean they won't watch him. That as much as any other reason maybe why the 39-year-old Favre can't walk away for good.
The Vikings play the Green Bay Packers twice during the 2009 NFL season. They meet first in Minnesota on October 5th for the Monday night game and then they meet again on November 1st in Green Bay. It will be interesting to see what kind of reception he gets when he is wearing a Vikings uniform at Lambeau Field and I suspect there will be a lot of TV viewers eager to find out the answer to that question.
Pudge Rodriguez Returns to Rangers
Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez has come full circle. The Texas Rangers traded two minor leaguers to the Houston Astros in exchange for the player who is arguably the greatest catcher to wear the tools of ignorance.
Pudge played with the Rangers from 1991 through 2002 with an AL MVP to his credit in 1999. He also won ten consecutive Gold Gloves for his defensive work behind the plate. The Rangers went to the post-season in 1996, 1998 and 1999 although they could never get past the New York Yankees in the ALDS.
I-Rod signed with the Florida Marlins as a free agent before the 2003 season and would earn his first World Series ring. He would sign a four year, $40 million contract with the Detroit Tigers in 2004 and would return to the World Series with the Tigers in 2006. Pudge won three more Gold Gloves in a Tigers uniform.
Although the Tigers picked up his option in 2008 he would be traded to the New York Yankees midway through the season for relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth. Pudge did not fit in well with the Yankees and could not fill the void left by the injured Jorge Posada. But I-Rod would play for Puerto Rico in the 2009 World Baseball Classic before signing a one-year contract with the Houston Astros. In 93 games with the Astros, Pudge was hitting .251 with 8 homeruns and 34 RBI.
Pudge's return to the Rangers is quite interesting. First, this past weekend, the Rangers overtook the Boston Red Sox for the AL Wild Card spot and currently have a one game lead over the Sox. Second, the Rangers number one catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (try saying that fast five times) was put on the 15-day disabled list with a bad shoulder. This leaves 25-year-old Taylor Teagarden as the number one catcher in a pennant race. The presence of Pudge will be one of a mentor to Teagarden as well as to the Rangers young pitching staff. Somehow I think this midseason trade will work better for Pudge this year than the one that sent him to the Yankees last year. And if it does work out for Pudge it will most likely be at the expense of the Red Sox.
Pudge played with the Rangers from 1991 through 2002 with an AL MVP to his credit in 1999. He also won ten consecutive Gold Gloves for his defensive work behind the plate. The Rangers went to the post-season in 1996, 1998 and 1999 although they could never get past the New York Yankees in the ALDS.
I-Rod signed with the Florida Marlins as a free agent before the 2003 season and would earn his first World Series ring. He would sign a four year, $40 million contract with the Detroit Tigers in 2004 and would return to the World Series with the Tigers in 2006. Pudge won three more Gold Gloves in a Tigers uniform.
Although the Tigers picked up his option in 2008 he would be traded to the New York Yankees midway through the season for relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth. Pudge did not fit in well with the Yankees and could not fill the void left by the injured Jorge Posada. But I-Rod would play for Puerto Rico in the 2009 World Baseball Classic before signing a one-year contract with the Houston Astros. In 93 games with the Astros, Pudge was hitting .251 with 8 homeruns and 34 RBI.
Pudge's return to the Rangers is quite interesting. First, this past weekend, the Rangers overtook the Boston Red Sox for the AL Wild Card spot and currently have a one game lead over the Sox. Second, the Rangers number one catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (try saying that fast five times) was put on the 15-day disabled list with a bad shoulder. This leaves 25-year-old Taylor Teagarden as the number one catcher in a pennant race. The presence of Pudge will be one of a mentor to Teagarden as well as to the Rangers young pitching staff. Somehow I think this midseason trade will work better for Pudge this year than the one that sent him to the Yankees last year. And if it does work out for Pudge it will most likely be at the expense of the Red Sox.
Robert Novak, 1931-2009. R.I.P.
Robert Novak, who had a syndicated column for more than 45 years, died today of brain cancer. He was 78.
Novak was diagnosed with the disease in August 2008 and promptly discontinued his column and other journalistic activities. However, Novak would resume writing only three weeks later. He discontinued his column for good this past February. He also ended the bi-weekly Evans/Novak Report which he had started in 1967 with his longtime partner Rowland Evans.
Novak, along with Evans, came to CNN in 1980 and appeared on many of its programs including Crossfire, Capitol Gang and Inside Politics. He left the network in 2005 after uttering an expletive during a live broadcast of Inside Politics while debating James Carville. Novak would join the Fox News Channel the following year.
I won't dwell on it at length but his anti-Israeli slant bothered me deeply. Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch criticized Novak for, amongst other things, referring to Hamas as freedom fighters. Novak was part of a small cadre of conservatives who believed the U.S. was going to war in Iraq for Israel.
Given his opposition to the War in Iraq, it is ironic that Novak later became a target of the Left when he leaked Valerie Plame's name in his infamous July 2003 column in The Washington Post. This came only days after her husband Joe Wilson had written an op-ed in The New York Times stating Saddam Hussein hadn't purchased uranium yellowcake in Niger. Indeed, Novak was never in sights of Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald. It is also worth noting that the man who did leak Plame's name, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, wasn't such a huge fan of the War in Iraq either. In retrospect it all seems much ado about nothing.
Novak leaves an enduring legacy in American print and broadcast journalism particularly in showing the way how conservatives can carve out a niche in an overwhelmingly liberal media.
Novak was diagnosed with the disease in August 2008 and promptly discontinued his column and other journalistic activities. However, Novak would resume writing only three weeks later. He discontinued his column for good this past February. He also ended the bi-weekly Evans/Novak Report which he had started in 1967 with his longtime partner Rowland Evans.
Novak, along with Evans, came to CNN in 1980 and appeared on many of its programs including Crossfire, Capitol Gang and Inside Politics. He left the network in 2005 after uttering an expletive during a live broadcast of Inside Politics while debating James Carville. Novak would join the Fox News Channel the following year.
I won't dwell on it at length but his anti-Israeli slant bothered me deeply. Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch criticized Novak for, amongst other things, referring to Hamas as freedom fighters. Novak was part of a small cadre of conservatives who believed the U.S. was going to war in Iraq for Israel.
Given his opposition to the War in Iraq, it is ironic that Novak later became a target of the Left when he leaked Valerie Plame's name in his infamous July 2003 column in The Washington Post. This came only days after her husband Joe Wilson had written an op-ed in The New York Times stating Saddam Hussein hadn't purchased uranium yellowcake in Niger. Indeed, Novak was never in sights of Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald. It is also worth noting that the man who did leak Plame's name, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, wasn't such a huge fan of the War in Iraq either. In retrospect it all seems much ado about nothing.
Novak leaves an enduring legacy in American print and broadcast journalism particularly in showing the way how conservatives can carve out a niche in an overwhelmingly liberal media.
Rose Friedman, 1911-2009. R.I.P.
Rose Friedman, the widow of Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman, died yesterday. She was 97.
Friedman was an economist in her own right. When her husband was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 by President Bush said the former Rose Director was "the only person known to have ever won an argument with Milton." She would co-author many articles and books with her husband and is best known for the 1980 PBS series and companion book Free to Choose. I read the book several years ago and it is the most straightforward book on economics I have ever read. The best part of Free to Chosse is the section on school vouchers, an issue both Friedmans remained passionate about for the rest of their lives.
She was married to the Nobel Laureate for 68 years until his death in November 2006.
Friedman was an economist in her own right. When her husband was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 by President Bush said the former Rose Director was "the only person known to have ever won an argument with Milton." She would co-author many articles and books with her husband and is best known for the 1980 PBS series and companion book Free to Choose. I read the book several years ago and it is the most straightforward book on economics I have ever read. The best part of Free to Chosse is the section on school vouchers, an issue both Friedmans remained passionate about for the rest of their lives.
She was married to the Nobel Laureate for 68 years until his death in November 2006.
African American Man Carries Assault Rifle to Obama Protest in Phoenix
I saw part of this when it aired on the CNN Newsroom with Rick Sanchez yesterday.
President Obama was speaking before the VFW yesterday in Phoenix and protesters were gathered outside. One of protesters was carrying an assault rifle which is legal in Arizona. The person happened to be an African-American male who refused to give his name but said he was exercising his Second Amendment rights. Sanchez briefly acknowledged the man's race.
Now, if that man had been white every network would have been carrying that image not just CNN. The man would have been portrayed as an angry white male who objects to having an African-American President. The Janeane Garofalos and the Chris Matthews of the world would have been foaming at the mouth. But the fact it was an African-American man carrying the assault rifle disrupts that narrative.
Now heaven forbid that anyone should make an attempt on President Obama's life. But imagine if the would be assassin were African-American? Of course, the liberal media would investigate any conservative leanings. But what if the would be assassin were African-American and thought Obama was insufficiently left-wing and had betrayed his principles? Then the liberal media would do its best to minimize that person's race and political background and say such things are irrelevant and instead focus their attention on passing more gun laws and weakening the Second Amendment. Needless to say, I hope such an incident never comes to pass.
At least in this instance, it appears this African-American man was engaging in protest and nothing more. Yet Sanchez does raise a legitimate issue. If I were in the Secret Service and it was my job to protect President Obama I would be very, very concerned about people carrying assault rifles regardless of who might be carrying them.
President Obama was speaking before the VFW yesterday in Phoenix and protesters were gathered outside. One of protesters was carrying an assault rifle which is legal in Arizona. The person happened to be an African-American male who refused to give his name but said he was exercising his Second Amendment rights. Sanchez briefly acknowledged the man's race.
Now, if that man had been white every network would have been carrying that image not just CNN. The man would have been portrayed as an angry white male who objects to having an African-American President. The Janeane Garofalos and the Chris Matthews of the world would have been foaming at the mouth. But the fact it was an African-American man carrying the assault rifle disrupts that narrative.
Now heaven forbid that anyone should make an attempt on President Obama's life. But imagine if the would be assassin were African-American? Of course, the liberal media would investigate any conservative leanings. But what if the would be assassin were African-American and thought Obama was insufficiently left-wing and had betrayed his principles? Then the liberal media would do its best to minimize that person's race and political background and say such things are irrelevant and instead focus their attention on passing more gun laws and weakening the Second Amendment. Needless to say, I hope such an incident never comes to pass.
At least in this instance, it appears this African-American man was engaging in protest and nothing more. Yet Sanchez does raise a legitimate issue. If I were in the Secret Service and it was my job to protect President Obama I would be very, very concerned about people carrying assault rifles regardless of who might be carrying them.
The Joker is on the Liberal Media
Remember those posters of President Obama's face painted as The Joker from The Dark Knight? You know the one with the caption that read, "SOCIALISM" in large, foreboding letters.
You might also remember how many in the liberal media argued the poster was racist such as Philip Kennicott of The Washington Post:
Obama, like the Joker and like the racial stereotype of the black man, carries within him an unknowable, volatile and dangerous marker of urban violence, which could erupt at any time. The charge of socialism is secondary to the basic message that Obama can't be trusted, not because he is a politician, but because he's black.
Well, as it turns out, the man behind the Joker poster is a 20-year-old student at the University of Illinois named Firas Alkhateeb. Alkhateeb, who is of Palestinian descent, did not vote for Obama but does like Dennis Kucinich. Somehow I don't think Alkhateeb was trying to tell people that Obama can't be trusted because he's black. So why did he make the poster? Because he was bored during his winter break.
As usual, when it comes to criticism of Obama, the liberal media reads things that aren't there.
So the joke - or in this case The Joker - is on the liberal media.
You might also remember how many in the liberal media argued the poster was racist such as Philip Kennicott of The Washington Post:
Obama, like the Joker and like the racial stereotype of the black man, carries within him an unknowable, volatile and dangerous marker of urban violence, which could erupt at any time. The charge of socialism is secondary to the basic message that Obama can't be trusted, not because he is a politician, but because he's black.
Well, as it turns out, the man behind the Joker poster is a 20-year-old student at the University of Illinois named Firas Alkhateeb. Alkhateeb, who is of Palestinian descent, did not vote for Obama but does like Dennis Kucinich. Somehow I don't think Alkhateeb was trying to tell people that Obama can't be trusted because he's black. So why did he make the poster? Because he was bored during his winter break.
As usual, when it comes to criticism of Obama, the liberal media reads things that aren't there.
So the joke - or in this case The Joker - is on the liberal media.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Is The Obama Inauguration The New Woodstock?
Tonight, I watched a documentary called Woodstock: Now and Then which aired on The History Channel. It was directed and produced by documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple (who is best known for her 1976 documentary Harlan County U.S.A.)
The executive producer was Woodstock organizer Michael Lang. Last month, I saw Lang give a talk about his book The Road to Woodstock. It was during this public appearance where I had the opportunity to ask Lang about Max Yasgur and his comments appeared in my column about Yasgur.
Most of the film was stuff familiar to me (i.e. the musicians, the songs, the organizers, the logistical difficulties, etc.) But there were some nice touches. Attendees were given a chance to talk about their experiences at Woodstock including Nick and Bobbi Ercoline. If their names aren't familiar their images should be. They are the couple who are lock in an embraced covered by a pink blanket on the Woodstock album cover. The Ercolines were married in 1971 and are still together. So there is certainly something to be said for that.
Towards the end of the film there is an attempt to link Woodstock with the inauguration of President Obama. I can't say I'm totally surprised at the linkage. Lang alluded to it briefly during his talk last month although he didn't dwell on it at length. However, he does elaborate further in an interview he did with The History Channel:
I think that when Woodstock came along it was like suddenly this amazing moment of hope, where this tremendously large group of people got together and had this amazingly peaceful experience and became this community that set an example for everybody. It really demonstrated in a practical way that there was a better way for us to live together. I think that's why it was remembered so much. It was this moment of hope in a very dark time. I like to compare it to [President Barack] Obama's inauguration, which came also at a pretty dark time for America and the world. We had gotten to a place where we were kind of headed over a cliff, and we're heading for another four years of that and suddenly—I think this is one of the best qualities that Americans have is to realize something and change the direction to do the right thing. The inauguration felt like another moment of hope in a very desperate time. The spirit of the crowd in the inauguration in 20-degree weather was just a sense of joy and hope that was phenomenal.
This sentiment was echoed in the film by New York Times columnist Gail Collins who, in fact, wrote a column about Obama's inauguration titled, "Woodstock Without The Mud." However, Collins made a point of stating there was an important difference:
The big difference was in the national reaction. The only people who felt unified during Woodstock were those who were there — everybody else was horrified or jealous. But the inauguration left the whole country glued together emotionally, one big American ball of hope.
I don't doubt Obama's inauguration meant something to people especially African-Americans whose grandparents and, in some cases, parents could not vote. But I don't think Obama's inauguration represented "one big American ball of hope" nor do I think "we had gotten to a place where we were headed over a cliff" before the election of Obama magically "saved" us.
That ball of hope certainly isn't there now especially with the Obamacare debacle and continuing economic uncertainty. That doesn't, of course, guarantee he's a one term President. But whether one can properly compare three days of fun and music to four years of Obama remains to be seen. His legacy isn't about getting to the White House. It's about what he does once he's inside. At this point, the jury is still out on him while the verdict came in on Woodstock once the festival had concluded. By the time the 2012 elections come about America might not be in such a festive mood when it comes to President Obama.
The executive producer was Woodstock organizer Michael Lang. Last month, I saw Lang give a talk about his book The Road to Woodstock. It was during this public appearance where I had the opportunity to ask Lang about Max Yasgur and his comments appeared in my column about Yasgur.
Most of the film was stuff familiar to me (i.e. the musicians, the songs, the organizers, the logistical difficulties, etc.) But there were some nice touches. Attendees were given a chance to talk about their experiences at Woodstock including Nick and Bobbi Ercoline. If their names aren't familiar their images should be. They are the couple who are lock in an embraced covered by a pink blanket on the Woodstock album cover. The Ercolines were married in 1971 and are still together. So there is certainly something to be said for that.
Towards the end of the film there is an attempt to link Woodstock with the inauguration of President Obama. I can't say I'm totally surprised at the linkage. Lang alluded to it briefly during his talk last month although he didn't dwell on it at length. However, he does elaborate further in an interview he did with The History Channel:
I think that when Woodstock came along it was like suddenly this amazing moment of hope, where this tremendously large group of people got together and had this amazingly peaceful experience and became this community that set an example for everybody. It really demonstrated in a practical way that there was a better way for us to live together. I think that's why it was remembered so much. It was this moment of hope in a very dark time. I like to compare it to [President Barack] Obama's inauguration, which came also at a pretty dark time for America and the world. We had gotten to a place where we were kind of headed over a cliff, and we're heading for another four years of that and suddenly—I think this is one of the best qualities that Americans have is to realize something and change the direction to do the right thing. The inauguration felt like another moment of hope in a very desperate time. The spirit of the crowd in the inauguration in 20-degree weather was just a sense of joy and hope that was phenomenal.
This sentiment was echoed in the film by New York Times columnist Gail Collins who, in fact, wrote a column about Obama's inauguration titled, "Woodstock Without The Mud." However, Collins made a point of stating there was an important difference:
The big difference was in the national reaction. The only people who felt unified during Woodstock were those who were there — everybody else was horrified or jealous. But the inauguration left the whole country glued together emotionally, one big American ball of hope.
I don't doubt Obama's inauguration meant something to people especially African-Americans whose grandparents and, in some cases, parents could not vote. But I don't think Obama's inauguration represented "one big American ball of hope" nor do I think "we had gotten to a place where we were headed over a cliff" before the election of Obama magically "saved" us.
That ball of hope certainly isn't there now especially with the Obamacare debacle and continuing economic uncertainty. That doesn't, of course, guarantee he's a one term President. But whether one can properly compare three days of fun and music to four years of Obama remains to be seen. His legacy isn't about getting to the White House. It's about what he does once he's inside. At this point, the jury is still out on him while the verdict came in on Woodstock once the festival had concluded. By the time the 2012 elections come about America might not be in such a festive mood when it comes to President Obama.
DeLay Named to Cast of Dancing With The Stars
I have never watched Dancing With The Stars.
But I did a double take when I saw that former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay had been named to the Season 9 cast for the ABC reality show.
Now, DeLay isn't the first conservative to be included on the show. I recall when Tucker Carlson was part of the DWTS cast back in 2006 but he didn't last too long.
In fact, DeLay isn't the only conservative on this year's cast. Model turned entrepreneur Kathy Ireland was also named to this year's cast. Ireland is a pro-life activist. So I guess they can talk to each other if other cast members are less receptive.
Others members of the DWTS cast include singer Donny Osmond, NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, UFC combatant Chuck Liddell and actress Melissa Joan Hart of Sabrina The Teenage Witch fame.
But I did a double take when I saw that former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay had been named to the Season 9 cast for the ABC reality show.
Now, DeLay isn't the first conservative to be included on the show. I recall when Tucker Carlson was part of the DWTS cast back in 2006 but he didn't last too long.
In fact, DeLay isn't the only conservative on this year's cast. Model turned entrepreneur Kathy Ireland was also named to this year's cast. Ireland is a pro-life activist. So I guess they can talk to each other if other cast members are less receptive.
Others members of the DWTS cast include singer Donny Osmond, NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, UFC combatant Chuck Liddell and actress Melissa Joan Hart of Sabrina The Teenage Witch fame.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
No Name Change for NDP
The NDP, my old political party, had its convention in Halifax, Nova Scotia this weekend.
Nobody would have particularly cared about that except for the fact that a) two members of President Obama's campaign team (Betsy Myers and Marshall Ganz) addressed the delegates and b) there was a resolution on the floor moving the party change its name.
Well, actually there were several resolutions to that effect. Mainly, there was a call to drop the New and be known as the Democratic Party. As much as NDPers love President Obama calling themselves the Democratic Party would be just too American. It would have been, well, gauche.
Whether they call themselves the NDP or any other name it is socialism just the same.
Nobody would have particularly cared about that except for the fact that a) two members of President Obama's campaign team (Betsy Myers and Marshall Ganz) addressed the delegates and b) there was a resolution on the floor moving the party change its name.
Well, actually there were several resolutions to that effect. Mainly, there was a call to drop the New and be known as the Democratic Party. As much as NDPers love President Obama calling themselves the Democratic Party would be just too American. It would have been, well, gauche.
Whether they call themselves the NDP or any other name it is socialism just the same.
The top new media people on the right, or "Websters"
Ralph Benko, author of "The Websters' Dictionary," a guide to using new media for conservative or populist activism, has created a list of the top people on the right using new media. Currently contains 79 Websters listed in alphabetical order.
AFP's pics from the first day of the Right Online conference
AFP's Tim Phillips
AFP's Erik Telford, the second worst person in the world
Click here for all the pictures
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Maybe Professor Gates Could Learn From Bob Dylan
With all the hoopla that surrounded the arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. last month perhaps he could learn something from music legend Bob Dylan.
Only 11 days after Gates arrest, Dylan found himself being questioned by authorities while in Long Branch, New Jersey. Dylan was taking a walk in Long Branch, evidently searching for a house where Bruce Springsteen once lived. When he wandered onto a lawn with a For Sale sign, the occupants became uneasy and contacted the police about an "eccentric looking old man."
You might recall the Sgt. James Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department was chided for failing to recognize the eminent Professor Gates. Well, it seems that Long Branch police officer Kristie Buble didn't recognize the internationally famous musician either. While Dylan identified himself to her he did not have identification to verify her request. So she asked him to step into her police cruiser.
Instead of bellowing "this is what happens to eccentric looking old men in America"; Dylan complied with Officer Buble's request. As Buble herself commented, "He was really nice, though, and he said he understood why I had to verify his identity and why I couldn't let him go." Of course, Dylan knew all along the answer would be blowin' in the wind. Professor Gates, on the other hand, couldn't see that times they are a changin'.
Only 11 days after Gates arrest, Dylan found himself being questioned by authorities while in Long Branch, New Jersey. Dylan was taking a walk in Long Branch, evidently searching for a house where Bruce Springsteen once lived. When he wandered onto a lawn with a For Sale sign, the occupants became uneasy and contacted the police about an "eccentric looking old man."
You might recall the Sgt. James Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department was chided for failing to recognize the eminent Professor Gates. Well, it seems that Long Branch police officer Kristie Buble didn't recognize the internationally famous musician either. While Dylan identified himself to her he did not have identification to verify her request. So she asked him to step into her police cruiser.
Instead of bellowing "this is what happens to eccentric looking old men in America"; Dylan complied with Officer Buble's request. As Buble herself commented, "He was really nice, though, and he said he understood why I had to verify his identity and why I couldn't let him go." Of course, Dylan knew all along the answer would be blowin' in the wind. Professor Gates, on the other hand, couldn't see that times they are a changin'.
Pics from crashing the Moveon.org Netroots convention party
My friend Ralph Benko wrote a book on how to successfully use the new media for political activism, called The Webster's Dictionary, where he explains Moveon.org's methods. The Moveon gang was appreciative of his book, and he has remained on good terms with them. Ralph likes to point out that even though they're progressives, they're populists, and populists on the left and the right have values in common, even though they disagree on the means. He calls us "mortal frenemies."
While in Pittsburgh for the Right Online conference this weekend, Ralph was invited by Moveon's Ilyse to their party at the Daily Kos Netroots convention. It was held outside in a yard next to the Andy Warhol museum to commemorate a new painting by Shepard Fairey, famous for his "Hope" picture of Obama done in faded red and black coloring and widely parodied by the right. Contrary to what I was expecting, I could detect no odor of marijuana and the party was relatively tame. There were very few older folks, most of the attendees were in their 20's and leaned more "geeky" than "hippy." But the contrast with the RightOnline convention was still there; you could get away with wearing a suit to a party at the RightOnline convention, but probably not to a Netroots party.
Two of Moveon.org's top players - Ilyse Hogue, Campaign Director (right) with Laura Dawn, Cultural Director
Ralph and Ilyse. Ralph actually looked more liberal than most of the attendees.
One of our peeps from Right Online, Elizabeth Terrell, who was handing out flyers outside for a screening of a movie exposing the global warming hype, "Not Evil Just Wrong"
These party attendees politely listen to her spiel
We asked this guy to give a shocked look when he read the flyer she was handing out
Note the upside down elephant on this guy's t-shirt
Doesn't he look suspiciously like Erik Telford, his counterpart on the right, who has been called the 2nd worst person in the world?
His reaction when he found out I was from the Right Online convention
With Shepard Farley. He was a really decent guy, and you have to admit he is talented.
I admit I like his artwork so much I used it on a photo of mine, even before I met him.
Ralph & Shepard
This guy on the left was great, he kept popping into my pictures. Turns out we actually had ONE thing in common, we're both deputy prosecutors. That was about it. He prosecutes gun crimes, which somehow did not surprise me.
Ilyse was the speaker and referenced the fact that this was the better convention in town, not Right Online. Shepard DJ'd for a good part of the night.
The best part of the evening came when Ralph approached a guy wearing a hat with donkeys on it who was promoting living on communes. Ralph asked him if the effort involved getting people organized, and the guy said yes. Ralph said that is where we differ, because we're from the Surrealist Party and we promote disorganization. Look where organization has gotten us. Too much power corrupts. The guy took it all in stride and we walked off.
The second best exchange of the night was when a guy walked up to us and said "You're evil." Ralph responded, "Yes I'm evil but your parties are better than those on the right." Think we won him over with flattery.
As nice as everyone was, I decided not to tell them I was the Right Online recipient of the Activist of the Year Award. I also decided it probably wasn't a good idea to dress up as Sarah Palin for the party, as much fun as it was dressing up as her for Halloween.
While in Pittsburgh for the Right Online conference this weekend, Ralph was invited by Moveon's Ilyse to their party at the Daily Kos Netroots convention. It was held outside in a yard next to the Andy Warhol museum to commemorate a new painting by Shepard Fairey, famous for his "Hope" picture of Obama done in faded red and black coloring and widely parodied by the right. Contrary to what I was expecting, I could detect no odor of marijuana and the party was relatively tame. There were very few older folks, most of the attendees were in their 20's and leaned more "geeky" than "hippy." But the contrast with the RightOnline convention was still there; you could get away with wearing a suit to a party at the RightOnline convention, but probably not to a Netroots party.
Two of Moveon.org's top players - Ilyse Hogue, Campaign Director (right) with Laura Dawn, Cultural Director
Ralph and Ilyse. Ralph actually looked more liberal than most of the attendees.
One of our peeps from Right Online, Elizabeth Terrell, who was handing out flyers outside for a screening of a movie exposing the global warming hype, "Not Evil Just Wrong"
These party attendees politely listen to her spiel
We asked this guy to give a shocked look when he read the flyer she was handing out
Note the upside down elephant on this guy's t-shirt
Doesn't he look suspiciously like Erik Telford, his counterpart on the right, who has been called the 2nd worst person in the world? 
His reaction when he found out I was from the Right Online convention
With Shepard Farley. He was a really decent guy, and you have to admit he is talented. 
I admit I like his artwork so much I used it on a photo of mine, even before I met him.
Ralph & Shepard
This guy on the left was great, he kept popping into my pictures. Turns out we actually had ONE thing in common, we're both deputy prosecutors. That was about it. He prosecutes gun crimes, which somehow did not surprise me.
Ilyse was the speaker and referenced the fact that this was the better convention in town, not Right Online. Shepard DJ'd for a good part of the night.
The best part of the evening came when Ralph approached a guy wearing a hat with donkeys on it who was promoting living on communes. Ralph asked him if the effort involved getting people organized, and the guy said yes. Ralph said that is where we differ, because we're from the Surrealist Party and we promote disorganization. Look where organization has gotten us. Too much power corrupts. The guy took it all in stride and we walked off.
The second best exchange of the night was when a guy walked up to us and said "You're evil." Ralph responded, "Yes I'm evil but your parties are better than those on the right." Think we won him over with flattery.
As nice as everyone was, I decided not to tell them I was the Right Online recipient of the Activist of the Year Award. I also decided it probably wasn't a good idea to dress up as Sarah Palin for the party, as much fun as it was dressing up as her for Halloween.
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