/mike

There is a spread titled Gay or Asian? in Details magazine (if you can't read the text, there should be a zoom button on the lower right corner of the scaned page). It's excessivly mean spirited and jackass-y, but when Cindy initially showed it to me, I admit I thought it was a funny idea.

Today, a good friend of mine sent me a mass email about it, including a petition requesting (1) an apology, and (2) the dismissal of the writer, Whitney McNally.

I'm all for people to have the right to speak out and prepare such petitions. I mean, this is part of what makes America great, right? That being said, it really isn't my style. Maybe it's because I'm such a tough guy, or maybe it's because I live in southern california where I'm often the majority, or maybe it's because I'm politically middle-right, or maybe it's because I'm so post-UC-Ethnic Studies-101, but if I were offended, I'd just stop buying the magazine.

I wonder if gays were offended.

I don't have a problem with the concept of baseball opening the season in Japan, but why do the Yankees and Devil Rays have to play more spring training games once they come back to the states?

Oh who the hell cares because baseball is back. Woo hoo! My enthusiasm isn't strictly about high expectations for the Angels (who should be good) or my fantasy baseball team (which should be horrible) but I truly love baseball. In fact, I signed up for my office's softball league. This will be the first time I've played since little league. I had better practice before I embarrass myself. I think I'm still a little afraid of the ball.

When the Yankee's lost the season opener, I was surprised how satisfying it felt. I don't have anything personal against them. I don't complain about their high payroll. But once they were 0 - 1 for the season, I thought to myself:

"Wouldn't it be great if NY not only lost the division to the Red Sox, but missed the playoffs altogether. Maybe the wild card can come out of the American League West. It's possible. I'd like to see the smug faces on ARod and Jeter then. Ha ha, that's the ticket!

We all know that's a pipe dream. I woke up today and saw that the Yanks routed Tampa in game 2. Of course, ex-Dodger Kevin Brown pitched seven shutout innings too. Bastards.

For those who need a quick recap, Cindy and I have realized that I'm often too lazy to retain or seek out detailed information. I'll talk about something and the minute someone asks me an easy question to elaborate on, I'll be at a loss.

So I'm working on the details thing by consciously picking up an extra tidbit of information about whatever mundane topic I'm thinking about. In one instance, I threw out one such detail (Rosemary's Baby was written by Ira Levin) and subsequently threw off Cindy because she knows that I never know anything about things like that. She challenged my tidbit but I got her that time. Ha!

Alas, I thought I had Cesar Chavez off today. Now I'm not so sure. Other county workers I know don't have this holiday, AND my Dad (who is in the same union) says he will be at work. I was going to finally see The Passion during my day off too. Blah. I should have paid more attention at my calendar at work.

Over 6 months ago when I was still working in Van Nuys, my buddy at work told me about www.MusicCDSettlement.com. Anyone who wanted could be included in a huge lawsuit as long as you claim to have purchased a CD from Tower Records in the 90's. The whole office signed up.

Well I've now got a check for $13.86 from the CD MAP Antitrust Litigation team. I'm sure I was ripped off for more but it still feels funny to be part of a class action lawsuit.

Alright! Cindy has helped me resize my pictures so it should be a little easier to load.

Here's the Troubadour sign.
Frank Reader crooning to the crowd.
Frank going at it.
Me and my tcs tshirt.

Jason and I went to the Wizard comicon last weekend. I have pictures and promise to post them. I'm still figuring out the formatting. I also only have access to my ibook during the weekends right now. Anyway, we were looking for something to do and came upon a Magic: The Gathering starter pack. Playing against him was just like old times, except we got beginner cards and couldn't be very tricksey during our game play.

Another geek game I've been playing is LOTR Risk. I've finally figured out that there are major flaws in the game. Without explaining too much, the four-player-every-person-for-themselves games almost always depend on who goes last (and that simply depends on random rolls). That isn't very satisfying for five hours of intense warfare. I should ditch the game and go to poker, bridge, or chess, but instead I've thought up alternate rules that might make the game more fun (or maybe just more complicated)! Woo hoo!

I drove by the studio apartment on 6th and Grand again. This time, there was an old lady hanging out on the balcony. She wasn't the manager and also didn't speak english, but she led me to the vacant unit.

Overall I have to say that it wasn't too bad and the building itself has a lot of potential. The problem is that the place is rank with unspeakable smells. There were flies everywhere. I felt sick on my quick walkthrough. Next, please.

I saw this on Extra! yesterday, but kept it to myself. Of course, the picture has found its way onto the Angels message board and I'm feeling more shameless. This must be part of Arte Moreno's marketing plan for expanding the Angels brand. I like it!

At least I wasn't the one posting comments like "does she need a date to the next game?" Hnuk, hnuk.

The instructions were to ask the clerk of Jerry's Video for the key to check out the studio. I took a coworker along with me for moral support. Unfortunately, the security bars were still up and a hand written note was left saying "closed until friday".

My coworker was telling me to move slowly in my apartment hunt, because I might end up with a lot of unforeseen hassles. One of her friends lived nearby and got attacked by a crazy drugged out neighbor (who lived in a small apartment with her seven babies).

I'm feeling a need to buy a small table for my room in Torrance.

I've decided to spend sixty dollars and look for a place in San Pedro. I'd like to live close enough to walk to work, but my office isn't necessarily surrounded by desirable areas.

The closest option is "Downtown San Pedro", which is located a few blocks south of the Port office. Oh, there are plans to create a nice quaint downtown through Port and CRA funds, but it is still in pre-neighborhood in transition status at best, meaning it remains to be seen if anything will come of all the public investment.

Yesterday I walked by a studio for rent. I'm going back today to see inside. My first impression is that the place is dirt cheap and I'd get what I pay for. It's above a video/music store and a magic shop. There's a sign that reads "No black magic items sold here". Across the street is a new age store. Maybe it's just because I watched Rosemary's Baby with Cindy but I think I may have to sprinkle holy water and do a prayer walk around the building before I even consider moving in.

Places like this feed into my romanticized view of life. I just don't want to have my car broken into or stolen just because I want to be romantic. Everyone at work who is a Pedro-native can't help but laugh that I would want to live in nasty conditions for fun.

There are other options too. I'll keep this page posted on all the fun that follows.

Last night's trashcan sinatras show at the Troubadour was unbelievably amazing. Better than I ever could have hoped for. My new favorite concert. More on this, including pictures, later.

The other day I was thinking about how people can easily make moral stands in areas that don't affect them. I've had personal experience where my theoretical take didn't hold much ground in a real life crisis. The ivory tower of ethical theory (or dare I say biblical interpretation) makes things a lot less complicated, but then again, maybe I was simply justifying my actions. It's a case by case sort of thing, I suppose.

Which brings me to my instant negative reaction to an article in yesterday's LA Daily News' on soaring government payrolls. Granted, it's simplistic and harsh but there are also aspects that I probably agree with. Of course, this frightens me because I'm fairly satisfied with my urban planning career (which has always been in the public sector). I don't want to lose my job, nor any "cost of living" (but we all know they are higher than inflation) pay increases we received during my union's last contract negotiation.

It hurts, but the current system is probably not sustainable. Even worse, it might be a drag on our economy. Reforms are needed. In my opinion, government needs to find a balance between civil service protection (which is a good thing!) and encouraging good work production. I don't say this because I'm just pointing the finger at others, I'm saying that I sometimes feel tempted to eat too much at the buffet line too.

I got to listen to my first game on Saturday. Bartolo Colon got rocked, and the Angels ended up losing 26-3. Granted, this is only spring training, but it was like waiting all year for Christmas, only to find a rock in my stocking.

It could be worse. I could be from Boston. Here's a line from an Associated Press article about yesterday's Yankee/Red Sox spring training game:

The Red Sox blew that comfortable lead just as they had done last Oct. 16 in Game 7 [of the A.L. Championship series] when they squandered a 5-2 lead in the eighth and lost 6-5 on Aaron Boone's solo homer in the 11th.

Haha. Isn't that a bit harsh for an article about spring training? It doesn't count. Practice! We're talking about practice. Not a game. Practice.

Thankfully, I just gots me a digital camera.

I was on my way home from work when I saw this incredible rainbow. From one end to the other, the entire length was visible. I was absolutely blown away. These pictures hardly do it any justice. I guess you just had to be there.

A while back, I posted about a proposed mixed-use, live/work/play development in San Diego. I told a friend, who runs a community empowerment organization in the area, expecting her to share in my excitement.

I was surprised that her response to the possible revitalization was lukewarm. She explained that she, and those that she serves, would probably get priced out of the area if the redevelopment continued. Even though I still think it is a good project, it reminded me that even positive things have a cost.

I just hope that some of the community in the area own their homes. They will make a ton, but those who rent might have to move away.

Last night, I attended an international business class at Harbor College! Granted, the first thing that the instructor told me was "the level of depth is probably not as high as you are accustomed to", but I don't mind. Taking any class in addition to work is already progress for me.

There's the war on terror and there's the economy. I know where I stand and I know why. And then there's gay marriage...

I'm consistently on one side of the culture wars (here's a hint, I endorse the death penalty) but when it comes to gay-marriage/gay-civil-unions/amendment-to-ban-gay-marriage, I also have one foot firmly set on the fence. I've been trying to figure out my position and my reasons for it, but I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

After a mobilized California took in Arnold, it's anticipated that we are back to low overall turnouts.

Here's my quick pitch for Propositions 57 and 58. The bipartisan support for Arnold's bond measure includes Democrats-I-respect (i.e. Diane Feinstein), and even Democrats-I-don't-respect, like Gray Davis.

That being said, Proposition 55, the school bond measure, also has such bipartisan support, but I'm currently leaning against voting for that one.

No on 55/56. Yes on 57/58.