William Dipini

Summertime

2010-07-26T08:50:00.000-04:00

It's got me. I'll be back very soon though. That's my word.

Just Got Back, Copped The EVO 4G -- Crazy Apps

2010-06-04T22:15:00.005-04:00

Although it's fucked up that I'll be charged $10 a month for a service I won't be able to use until the end of the year (4G network), overall this smartphone is hot -- and cute. The quality of the pics and videos I have taken with both cams are really, really good. I love the live wallpapers. The ring tones are okay. The touchscreen is a beast. Fast web-browsing. In short, every aspect of it is all to the good. (I haven't tried the video chat yet.)

There is, however, one seemingly big problem: Before you install an app from the Android Market, a window appears saying that the app will have access to all your personal data. Do apps get down like this? Or did my phone come with a security bug? I'd like to download and install a couple of apps, but I'm not going to do that if they're going to access all my data. That's nuttier than a Snicker bar. And I don't like nuts.

Links

2010-05-26T09:13:00.008-04:00

A New York State Assembly member has proposed legislation that would force cops to shoot to stop and not to kill a person. The New York Post writes, "But why stop there? Bullets are expensive; why not just mandate the use of Mr. Spock's Vulcan nerve pinch to render killers supine?"

Puerto Rican man to be sentenced for Wells Fargo robbery in 1983. I bet ultra-nationalist Efrain Ortiz will have a petition up presently calling for Avelino Gonzalez-Claudio's release.

Mark Kleiman: "Reporters [link] still can’t get it out of their minds that crime naturally rises and falls with the unemployment rate."

Stupid Drug Story of the Week.

The part where he talks about taking "man as he should be" reminds me of Niccolo Machiavelli's saying that:

A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savor of it. Let him act like the clever archers who, designing to hit the mark which yet appears too far distant, and knowing the limits to which the strength of their bow attains, take aim much higher than the mark, not to reach by their strength or arrow to so great a height, but to be able with the aid of so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to reach.

"This is a Puerto Rican issue."

2010-05-10T12:10:00.016-04:00

Just read this story from the New York Post:

Bronx State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. had more than housing on his mind when he delivered remarks today at a ceremony commemorating the 100,000th unit being built under Mayor Bloomberg's ambitious plan to create or renovate 165,000 "affordable" homes by 2014.

"Would you please take a message from me to Congressman Weiner?" Diaz asked Rep. Jose Serrano, sponsor of a fiercely-debated bill giving Puerto Ricans the right to vote on the political status of their island commonwealth.

"Tell him that this Puerto Rican and so many other Puerto Ricans are very angry that he doesn't want to give us an opportunity to decide our future."

Diaz told The Post that Anthony Weiner's vote against the bill was "shameful."

Weiner lined up with Brooklyn colleague Rep. Nydia Velasquez, who denounced the bill as a backdoor attempt at pushing statehood and urged a "no" vote.

Even as he blasted Weiner, Diaz said he had no problem with Velasquez's opposing view because "she is a Puerto Rican. This is a Puerto Rican issue."

A few thoughts:

1) Giving the option to become the 51st state to Puerto Rico is a United States issue, not a Puerto Rican issue. The United States government (American taxpayers) sends billions in federal assistance to the island every year; and a new state will have a huge impact on our society. Thus all US citizens have a right to express their views on this issue, whether Diaz likes it or not.

2) New York State Senator Ruben Diaz can disagree with, or be offended by, House Representative Anthony Weiner's opposing view on the issue, but he's wrong to say that Weiner doesn't have a right to vote against the bill because he's not Puerto Rican. Aside from the reasons I cited above, Anthony Weiner is a lawmaker. A House representative. He makes policy. It's his job to take a stand on an issue and vote accordingly.

3) I don't think Weiner's vote against the Puerto Rico Democracy Act means "that he doesn't want to give us an opportunity to decide our future." Many Puerto Ricans and non-Puerto Ricans see the bill as unfair, that it's slanted towards statehood. Puerto Rican House Representatives Nydia Velazquez and Luis Gutierrez -- both liberal Democrat -- opposed it; the former is pro-commonwealth, and the latter is pro-independence. And I think Weiner agrees with this sentiment, that the bill is pushing a statehood agenda. (Weiner's not the only liberal, non-Puerto Rican Democrat in the House who voted against the bill. Among other House reps, Dennis Kucinich and Barney Frank voted against it.)

4) Diaz is also a lawmaker. It's his job to make policy and to take a position on substantive issues. That said, Diaz has voiced his opposition to gay marriage in New York many a time. I strongly disagree with that position and think Diaz is a caveman and should lose his seat. But he does, as a lawmaker, have a right to voice his opinion (and/or speak for his constituents) and vote accordingly. That said, how would Diaz feel if someone told him that he can't vote against a bill allowing gay marriage in New York because he's not gay? He'd be furious!

Don't Ask Don't Tell, Ctd.

2010-05-10T11:21:00.000-04:00

MS, when you get the chance, also check out Letters From The Frontlines.

Elena Kagan

2010-05-10T10:17:00.000-04:00

She's never been a judge, but from what I've read she seems qualified for the job.

Don't Ask Don't Tell

2010-05-10T08:06:00.006-04:00

To my co-worker (you know who you are) who believes that gays and lesbians shouldn't serve in the military: You've said that your view on this issue is open to revision, that I could convince you to go the other way if I show you some evidence that shows that gay and lesbian soldiers face real problems as a result of DADT. Well, via Matt Yglesias, here's a story. Read the whole thing. We'll talk later.

Merlin

2010-05-08T14:07:00.005-04:00

You can find season one of the BBC TV series Merlin on Hulu, but what about season two? After reading my post on the show, a reader emailed in yesterday asking if I knew of a site where he could watch it. Season two has been out for some time now, but it's not up on Hulu or any other well-known sites that stream videos. If you, too, are looking for a place to rewatch the series (or watch missed eps), you can find both seasons right here.

Wheee!

2010-05-08T07:14:00.002-04:00

It's Saturday!

No NYPD Cuts

2010-05-06T08:34:00.000-04:00

'It's an absolute necessity to have more NYPD officers on the street in light of recent high-profile events.'

Suspect In Custody In Connection With Times Square Bomb Scare

2010-05-04T10:09:00.001-04:00

He's a naturalized United States citizen from Pakistan. If he's our guy, dude tried to fuck with my home and kill people and tear shit up. Probably thought he could get away with it. But he got caught. And I feel good about that. The New York Times has the story.

Murders And Shootings Are Up, Kelly Shaking Things Up

2010-05-02T11:07:00.009-04:00

Daily News reports:

The city's top cop is shaking things up in the Police Department.

NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly sent out a memo Friday, announcing 40 high-level departmental transfers - shifting commanding officers in dozens of units in the five boroughs.

With the recent spike in murders and shootings in the city, sources said the shakedown is meant to try to prevent the city from a return to the bad old days of high crime....

Though overall crime is down about 1% in the city, murders have jumped more than 20% compared with the same period last year, according to NYPD stats.

There also have been 456 shooting incidents so far this year, an increase of more than 14% over the 399 reported during the same period last year, stats show.

I think the city would be much worse if there were no stop-and-frisks, gun buybacks, cops on the beat, security and police in schools, etc. Because of these policies, NYers are much safer today. But the recent spike in murders and shootings are cause for concern.

UPDATE (4/4): Just added the links above (below the quote). I haven't written anything on the NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy, but I will very soon. Do I champion the policy? Yes.

Magic Is Back

2010-05-01T21:00:00.011-04:00

Just wanted to let you readers know that I'm a new fan of the BBC One TV series Merlin. Where the hell was I when the show came out in 2008? What was I watching on TV? I missed it! Anyways, thank gawd for Netflix and the internet. I watched the whole first season on Netflix this past Tuesday and Wednesday. And I enjoyed it -- great cast and some good story lines. I'm currently watching season 2 online and I have to say that so far it's much stronger than season 1. More action, more suspense, more profound and more funny stuff. Really, really good. I got my son watching it; and I'm trying to convince my girl to check it out.

Are you a Merlin fan?

Fewer Guns On The Streets Of New York

2010-05-01T19:58:00.005-04:00

It's always nice to hear news like this. But we all know that murder and shootings are on the rise out here. No it's not the late 1980s/early 1990s. And I doubt we're going back to the way things used to be. But you still have to be on your guard when you walk out your crib. I'm seeing a lot of teens and young adults out here rolling deep in groups. And we all know that teens and young adults do the most crime.

The World's Longest Filibuster

2010-03-20T23:09:00.002-04:00

I just saw this pretty cool photo gallery of the history of the filibuster over at Talking Points Memo. On the first page there is a photo of Sen. Strom Thurmond, and below the photo (second paragraph) it says:

Above: Sen. Strom Thurmond (D-SC) filibusters civil rights legislation in 1957. Thurmond, who eventually became a Republican, holds the record for the longest filibuster in American history at 24 hours, 18 minutes.

This is wrong. According to Wikipedia's take, former Texas State Senator Bill Meier holds the record for the longest filibuster in American history. In fact, he holds the world record. In 1977, he filibustered a worker's compensation bill for forty-three hours. Strom Thurmond? He holds the Senate record for the longest filibuster. In 1957, he filibustered the Civil Right Act of 1957 for twenty-four hours.

Because It's Saturday

2010-03-20T22:38:00.003-04:00

I was just listening to "100%" by Big Pun on the radio. My gawd. He had crazy skills. Just nasty on the mic. For those of you who don't know, Big Pun was the first Hispanic (Puerto Rican-American) solo artist to go Platinum. His career was cut short when he died of a heart attack in 2000. He was only 28. I'll write more about his life and career in a future post. For now, here's the "100%" video -- yo, don't let me catch you drooling at my Puerto Rican sisters. And here's another video (that he's actually in).

Boricua, morena...

The Road To Nowhere

2010-03-17T09:42:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate lost the special election -- big time -- to Assemblyman Jose Peralta. "This is not the last of Hiram Monserrate," Monserrate said.

Yawn.

New York Senate Race

2010-03-15T08:46:00.000-04:00

Josh says it's a reality TV show.

Yes We Can!

2010-03-14T11:00:00.001-04:00

The Daily News reports:

Expelled Sen. Hiram Monserrate boasted in the run-up to Tuesday's special election that he was operating an all-volunteer, grass-roots campaign.

It turns out the grass roots include almost his entire legislative staff, a paid consultant and a nonprofit that got city-funded video equipment from Monserrate, the Daily News found.

Twins

2010-03-14T10:04:00.002-04:00

For a second there I thought this woman in the photo was Ann Althouse. I was like holy crap! What is Ann doing on the front page (gossip section) of the Daily News with this dude? Then I read the caption.

"Set your clocks forward. Obama is such a socialist he is taking away one of your hours."

2010-03-14T04:26:00.002-04:00

A good one from John Cole.

15% -- Yes You Can!

2010-03-13T11:38:00.000-05:00

According to a new Siena College poll, that's the percentage of likely voters who support Hiram Monserrate.

World Filibuster Record

2010-03-12T21:49:00.008-05:00

I was just talking to a good friend of mine about the Senate filibuster, and at the end of our discussion he asked me this question: "Dipini, you have a degree in government, so you should know the answer to this question: Who holds the unofficial world record for the longest filibuster?"

I learned in one of my government courses that a state senator here in the United States held the world record for the longest filibuster. But I couldn't remember his name. In other words, I didn't know the answer to the question. (And it does not follow that because I have a bachelor's degree in government under my belt, I ought to know the answer to the question. There are lots of things I don't know.)

So I did a little research online. According to Wikipedia, the world record for filibustering is a state record. In 1977, Texas State Senator Bill Meier filibustered a worker's compensation bill for forty-three hours:

In May 1977, near the close of the regular session, Meier spoke for forty-three hours against a worker's compensation bill that he considered "anti-business" in scope. His activity blocked the bill from being considered in the waning hours of the session.

But this Wikipedia entry is ranked #1 in Google search results for "world record filibuster":

The world record is held by US Senator Strom Thurmond in 1957 by filibustering against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for 24 hours and 18 minutes.

A lot of people -- pundits, voters, etc. -- believe this. But it's not true. Strom Thurmond holds the Senate record, not the world record.

UPDATE: I'm interested to find out what are some of things Bill Meier read on the floor of the Texas senate for all those hours. Recipes for Texan-style cooking? Shakespeare passages? The phone book?

Blog Post Title Of The Day

2010-03-10T11:07:00.003-05:00

Massa Believes in Platonic Groping. Heh.

Monster-rate, Ctd

2010-03-10T09:49:00.012-05:00

He's using anti-gay politics to get his seat back, talking about that one of his opponents -- fellow Democrat Jose Peralta -- is anti-family because he supports gay rights. Apparently, Hiram Monserrate thinks he's the Family Guy in this race. A man who slashed his girlfriend in the face with a broken glass in December of 2008; who was subsequently convicted of misdemeanor assault for forcibly dragging her out of the building in which they live; who was later sentenced to one year of domestic abuse counseling, three years probation, and 250 hours of community service; who was expelled from the New York state Senate last month in connection with the assault. Seriously, I wonder what's in the water Mr. Family Guy is drinking. First he appropriated Obama's campaign slogan "Yes we can!" Then he talked about defending people's rights. Now he's the family-values candidate in the race. What's next?

Do Politicians Keep Their Promises?

2010-03-09T08:50:00.011-05:00

Welcome Jonathan Bernstein Readers! And thank you, Jonathan Bernstein, for the link. I really appreciate it.

Jonathan Bernstein (here's the link to his blog):

Politicians make lots of promises when they campaign -- some are on matters of public policy, some on process, and some on style. Whatever voters may think, the evidence is pretty good that pols themselves take these things pretty seriously. There is evidence (yup, from political scientists, but I'm afraid I don't have a citation handy) that pols tend to keep their promises...

Tracy Sulkin, associate professor of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, is currently at work on a book about congressional promise-making and promise-keeping. You may want to keep an eye out for it if you’re interested in the question of whether politicians follow up on their campaign promises when they’re in office. So, do they? Do politicians keep their promises? Well, legislators do. Here's the evidence: In a study I read a couple of weeks back titled "Promises Made and Promises Kept," Sulkin concludes (if I read the piece correctly) based on her findings that most candidates who make promises tend to keep them once they're in office. You can read the piece in Congress Reconsidered -- really good book.

Now, on “Whatever voters may think”: The popular view among the public is that legislators don’t follow through on their campaign promises when they’re in office. Where's the evidence? Tracy Sulkin cites the following evidence in the aforementioned study: the 2006 Congressional Elections Study, the 2004 National Annenberg Election Study and the 1999 Project on Campaign Conduct.

A Good Dish

2010-03-01T10:02:00.001-05:00

Political scientist and blogger Jonathan Bernstein is guest blogging over at the Daily Dish. If you're not reading his stuff, I recommend you drop him a visit and read his posts on government and politics. Good stuff.

Jennifer Lopez On SNL

2010-03-01T08:36:00.000-05:00

Funny stuff. Check her out at 40:25. Wow.

Pic For The Day

2010-02-28T15:57:00.000-05:00

Go Tell Mommy And Papi

2010-02-28T13:27:00.001-05:00

Shock Over Voided Puerto Rican Birth Certificates:

Native Puerto Ricans living outside the island territory are reacting with surprise and confusion after learning their birth certificates will become no good this summer.

A law enacted by Puerto Rico in December mainly to combat identity theft invalidates as of July 1 all previously issued Puerto Rican birth certificates. That means more than a third of the 4.1 million people of Puerto Rican descent living in the 50 states must arrange to get new certificates.

Monster-rate

2010-02-27T20:52:00.007-05:00

Former New York State Sen. Hiram Monserrate:

"I am committed, as I have always been, to defend the rights of the voters and never allowing their vote to be disenfranchised. The amount of community support during the past 6 days proves that voters in this district know who best represents them independently from party bosses, political hacks, and Albany insiders."

I can't imagine anyone supporting a dude who's been convicted of misdemeanor assault for ruffin' up his girlfriend and, among other things, sentenced to one year of domestic abuse counseling. Monserrate is not only an abuser. He's a joke. The dude assaulted his girlfriend and violated her rights and yet here he is talking about defending rights. "Yes You Can"? Is he fucking serious?

Related post: Monster-rate, Ctd

Music Blogging

2010-02-27T16:40:00.004-05:00

Over the past couple of days I've been thinking about the music my father used to listen to when I was a kid, and so I decided this morning to look up this song that's been on my mind forever (please, don't ask me why I hadn't done this years earlier). I only knew the lyrics to the song, so I googled: "Close your eyes, close your eyes, take a deep breath, open your heart, open your heart, and whisper I love you, I love you." I discovered that the lyrics are from "Close Your Eyes" by Aaron Neville. Because I couldn't find a video on the Web or a player to embed in this post, here's the link to the song and lyrics if you're interested. But I did find a video of a Neville hit I'm sure a couple of you have heard, a song that my father (and my partner's father) liked very much: "Tell It Like It Is."

Before I embed the video, I'd like to add that back in the day, when I was bored and didn't have anything to do, and my father wasn't home, I would indiscriminately pick out a couple of records from his voluminous collection of R&B and soul and play them nonstop. I was a curious kid, always looking through all his stuff; always looking for something to to do. It was also my way of getting to know more about Dad. As some of you know, he was a New York City cop, so he was always out on the streets fighting crime and doing lots of overtime; and on most of his days off he would either hang out at a bar around the way or chill with a couple of his siblings over at their crib on the Grand Concourse. I'm not sure if he's cognizant of the fact that I used to listen to his records when he wasn't home -- doubt it, but I'll ask him the next time I see him. Anyways, without further ado, here's "Tell It Like It Is":

Staying In

2010-02-27T15:32:00.002-05:00

Although I have a couple of errands to do today, it's not a good day to be driving. It's not snowing or anything like that, but the streets are still blanketed with snow and ice from the recent snow storm. Of course I can take public transportation; but I don't like taking the train or bus on weekends -- too much drama for me. So I'm just going to stay home. Blog, watch a movie, play a little Fight Night 4 on my Xbox. (¿Qué más se puede hacer?)

"This may be the greatest Jewish sporting event since David versus Goliath."

2010-02-17T08:24:00.000-05:00

Yuri Foreman vs. Miguel Cotto.

McCain

2010-01-28T09:57:00.002-05:00

Responding to President Obama's SOTU yesterday, Sen. John McCain sent out an email saying that Obama and the Democrats "have amassed a $12.4 trillion deficit that is growing each day." Josh Marshall wonders if McCain is still on crack. He's on something. Because on the day Obama took office, the national debt stood at around $10.4 trillion. And the Bush administration and the Republicans are responsible for nearly half of that.

Senate Hideaways

2010-01-23T17:51:00.001-05:00

"Only senators talk about them."

UPDATE: More.

Big Day Today

2010-01-19T08:52:00.000-05:00

In Massachusetts. Nate Silver says that Republican Scott Brown is the 3:1 favorite.

How To Weaken The Filibuster

2010-01-14T08:50:00.001-05:00

The time pressure on which the Senate operates gives filibusters significant power. Increase the time on floor activity, and the leverage gained by a filibuster threat will decrease.

Pat Robertson

2010-01-14T08:42:00.000-05:00

Watch this nut explain meteorological phenomena.

Reid's Comments v. Lott's

2010-01-11T10:03:00.001-05:00

I don't agree with everything Joe Klein said in this post -- namely, that "Lott's comments shouldn't have resulted in his defenestration" -- but I agree with this:

[I]t is just so much baloney to find moral equivalency between Reid's support of a black man for President (in large part because Obama--light-skinned, militantly middle class--defied the racial caricature) and Trent Lott's wistful regret that Strom Thurmond, a stone segregationist for most of his career, hadn't been elected President. These sentiments, both crude, are at the opposite ends of the political spectrum: Reid stands for the ultimate symbol of racial equality, a black man as President; Lott would have voted for a candidate who wanted black people at the back of the bus.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T07:44:00.006-05:00

I have two New Year's resolutions: 1) stop smoking cigarettes -- or at least cut down significantly, and 2) hit this blog hard with government and political stuff; and improve my writing and thinking skills. Best wishes to you all, and thanks for reading my blog!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T13:22:00.001-05:00

I'm going to watch a couple of flicks with my partner, play video games, and eat rice and beans with pernil -- and pasteles. Merry Christmas!

Running with Scissors

2009-12-18T12:43:00.001-05:00

I'm halfway through. Some events and observations made me chuckle, and some things just made me recoil in horror. But it's getting boring. I don't think I can read it through to the end.

Dexter Morgan Made Me Do It

2009-12-08T15:30:00.000-05:00

On My Desk

2009-12-08T14:49:00.001-05:00

Augusten Burrough's Running with Scissors. I'm going to crack it open tonight.

See You At The Hearing

2009-12-08T14:40:00.001-05:00

The other day, as I was driving to my job to pick up a personal item, I got slapped with a $115 parking ticket for "obstructing traffic at the intersection." It's so unfair: The light was green when I entered the intersection on 47th street and 3rd Avenue, and then seconds later it turned red. There was sufficient unobstructed space at the opposite side but a vehicle hurriedly drove right in front of me and took it. After realizing that I was screwed, I was going to make a turn, but the officer didn't even give me a chance. She pointed at me, told me to pull over, and asked for my driver's license. I told her that I was about to make the turn, and she said, "No you weren't." Now, look, I have much respect for cops (my father is a retired NYC officer), traffic enforcement officers, etc., but I couldn't help but think that the only thing that was on her mind was: "I need to make quota." But you know what? I'm pleading not guilty and will request a hearing. I did not violate any traffic rules.

I Feel Really Sad For The Guy

2009-12-04T19:47:00.017-05:00

Apparently, airplanes don't provide larger seats for big people. So unfair. I think the airlines should have a couple of seats available for the obese. I mean, jeebus, look at the guy. I bet he feels so uncomfortable. A lot of people have said that Big Guy should have purchased two seats. Well, with the recession and all, maybe he just didn't have the money to book two seats, or thought purchasing two seats would be absolutely mortifying. I wonder what the guy sitting beside him is thinking.

Wheee!

2009-12-04T16:50:00.015-05:00

Today is the first day of my one-week vacation. I'm very excited. No work for me for a week! Here are a couple of things I plan to do:

1) Spend some time pondering why I find myself rooting for a serial killer who analyzes blood spatter for the Miami police.

2) Call this cabbie that smacked right into my car as I was attempting to make a right turn on 48th Street and Lexington a few weeks back. Fucking idiot made an illegal turn on the intersection (he was on a pretty big white arrow pointing straight, not right) and now I have a pretty huge gash on my bumper. He vowed that he'd fix it though. I want this work done before my vacation is over. I've checked out a few shops in the Hunts Point area. It's going to cost around two hundred dollars.

3) Shooting out to Barnes & Noble tomorrow morning. I have a pretty big stack of books just sitting here catching dust. Some I have yet to crack open, but they're books on politics and other somewhat-related stuff. And boy do I need a hiatus from politics. I'm in the mood for something funny and crazy. A friend recommended Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. I'll check it out. My wife is tagging along, and she's predictable: she's currently reading Alyson Noel's Immortals series, and Cate Tiernan's Sweep series, and so I already know what she's gonna grab.

4) Play lots of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Fight Night 4 for Xbox 360. And I bought New Super Mario Bros. Wii for Jenise. Might play that too.

5) Because I don't have the wherewithal to do anything big, like visit for the first time the birthplace of my parents, Puerto Rico, which I had intended to visit, I'm thinking about driving either to D.C. or Atlantic City with my partner for a day. I've been to neither and would really like to go.

6) Do some Christmas and winter gear shopping. I need a coat and can use a new pair of sneakers.

7) Update my Zune player. I haven't added songs in a while, so that's something I've got to do.

8) I don't know how to swim; therefore, I'd like to take some swimming lessons. Might join the New York Sports Club, or see what's up with YMCA. Or just troop it to my alma mater. John Jay has an indoor pool and, I think, offers swimming lessons.

"Latino In America"

2009-11-18T10:00:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine wants to know If I saw the CNN special. "It was a very good documentary," he said. Well, no. I didn't see the four-hour news special; and I don't want to see it. I just don't think that a news special can capture the diverse experiences of all Latinos in America -- 44.3 million. Seriously, an attempt to do so is bound to fail. The topic is nuanced and I don't have time to listen to oversimplification and reductionism.

That said, here's a question for those who saw it: Assuming that it said anything about us, how did it portray Puerto Ricans and Nuyoricans? I bet they're drug addicts and welfare queens who speak little English.

Blog Discovery Of The Day

2009-11-14T13:03:00.002-05:00

Cop in the Hood is a blog written by John Jay College Professor Peter Moskos. He's the author of Cop in the Hood: My Year Policing Baltimore's Eastern District. Go check it out. He's right about Bill Bratton.

Quote For The Day

2009-11-14T12:53:00.003-05:00

"It's a bleaching cream that I apply before going to bed and whitens my skin some,"-- Sammy Sosa, responding to critics and fans who say he looked lighter than usual at the Latin Grammy awards last week and wonder if he's got a problem with his race or something -- you know, if he wants to be white. A before and after photo.

Random Thoughts, Links, Etc.

2009-10-28T03:33:00.012-04:00

Since no one is going to give me a coupon to exempt this longtime cigarette smoker from cigarette taxes, I think I should quit smoking, or at least cut down.

Note to Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr: I'm Puerto Rican and I think Sen. Hiram Monserrate should step down. My partner is Puerto Rican and thinks he should step down. The Puerto Ricans (and blacks) I work with think he should step down. Almost everyone I know thinks he should step down. We also think that if he doesn't step down, the Senate ought to remove him. Are we self-hating Puerto Ricans? Do you think my wifey is a sexist? Are we racially biased?

Dexter on Showtime aside, is there anything worth watching on teevee?

The only thing I and most of my black and Hispanic friends and co-workers know about Mr. Thompson is: "Eight is Enough." The problem with this is that it's not enough. Who the hell is Bill Thompson? What are his positions on substantive policy? I mean, seriously, Thompson has yet to convince any of us to vote for him.

NYT: Push to Legalize Marijuana Gains Ground in California

Gerry Vazquez said here that Bloomberg "Insults El Museo and Latinos w/terrible, terrible Spanish." But he does not substantiate the claim with any evidence. Perhaps Mr. Vazquez made a typo and instead meant to write that Bloomberg insulted him with "terrible, terrible Spanish"? Mira, Mike Bloomberg still has a lot to learn(around 1:40), but for a guy who doesn't speak the language every day, I think he speaks okay Spanish. Now, he's no Obama, but still you gotta give the man his props for trying and wanting to communicate -- in Spanish -- with the Hispanic community. The dude studies like about an hour a day and take Spanish lessons on his iPod. Here's another video of him speaking Spanish. As YouTube commenter jcblueeyes2276 says, "Very few speak multiple languages with the best of accents."

I said here that the word "herb" wasn't listed in the Urban Dictionary. I was wrong.

Monserrate

2009-10-21T08:41:00.002-04:00

The NYT says Sen. Hiram Monserrate should step aside immediately. I agree. I think New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said it best the other day:

"Whether an abuser is convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony, domestic violence of any sort is intolerable. State Senator Hiram Monserrate assaulted his partner, and allowing him to keep his Senate seat sends a disturbing message that he has not done anything wrong. He has, in fact, done something wrong. Something he should have resigned for immediately. Since he refuses to resign, the Senate should act swiftly to remove him from his seat."

Indeed.

"Every time I thought I was getting somewhere, they’d start speaking Spanish," Ctd

2009-10-18T12:32:00.003-04:00

I forgot to mention that I think Charles Rangel should step down as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee until the investigation is complete.

Twitter, Facebook And Last.fm

2009-10-14T06:05:00.004-04:00

All are being added this November to the Xbox 360 Dashboard. But these new features are available only for Xbox Live Gold members. Although I don't have a Facebook account and just recently stopped using Twitter (though my account is still active), and I haven't logged in to my Last.fm account in a while, I think adding them to the Xbox 360 is a great thing. Equally great is that Gold members will not be charged for these additions. Oh, another feature being added is the Zune Marketplace. As the proud proprietor of a Zune 120, I have to say, this is pretty cool!

Blog Title

2009-10-13T10:13:00.006-04:00

A good friend of mine wants to know why I have my name as the title of my blog. I'm going to share with you, dear readers, what I just told him via email: Well, because I'm not creative and couldn't come up with a name that I liked. For the first few months of its existence, this blog's name was "Wil's Page." Then I named it "Will's Page" (double l) because I had learned that Will is the appropriate short name for William. Not really content with that title, I said screw that shit and used my name. Just the other day I was going to change the blog title to "World-Renowned Suckie Blogger," but I had second thoughts and just left it alone.

"It’s funny — I just got a new car and I’m already dreading getting the next sticker."

2009-10-13T06:07:00.010-04:00

I bought my first car (used Honda Accord, for those who want to know) nearly two months ago, and when I tried to affix my vehicle registration stickers to my windshield, they didn't stick. It took a lot of pressing against the windshield to get them to adhere to it. A few days later, the corners started to peel off and I had to resort to Scotch tape. Since it's my first car, and my knowledge of cars is a bit above nil, I actually thought that the registration stickers were supposed to be that way (though stickers that don't stick didn't make much sense to me when I was thinking about it), that is until I read this story in today's New York Times. I'll drop by the DMV some day this week or next week to replace the faulty sticker. It's really no biggie though. After all, Scotch tape is doing me good.

What happens when you toss a cup of coffee at a NY cabbie

2009-10-12T06:04:00.002-04:00

Check this video out. Apparently, the pedicab driver thought the cabbie was a herb.

Deep Thought

2009-10-09T15:13:00.000-04:00

Obama shouldn't have chosen himself for the award.

Right-Wing Nobel Reactions Roundup

2009-10-09T13:23:00.003-04:00

Eric Kleefeld has the goodies.

"Every time I thought I was getting somewhere, they’d start speaking Spanish."

2009-10-09T12:45:00.002-04:00

Go read the New York Times on Charlie Rangel's "serial ethical messes." You can read what I said about Charlie Rangel's unpaid taxes and the villa he owns in DR here.

Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-09T11:17:00.022-04:00

My girl just told me about the big news. I thought she had read a piece from the Onion, but then I turned on the teevee and saw that it was true -- Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Tentative thoughts: I'd like to congratulate President Barack Obama for the award. Obama has changed how the world feels about America. Great stuff. And that's no small accomplishment. But, um, isn't it a bit premature to get crowned with the Noble Peace Prize? I mean, jeebus, we haven't even seen the real fruit of this big accomplishment yet. And there well may be others out there more deserving of the Prize. On the other hand, I think the Prize will succor him in his efforts to achieve his goals on the world stage -- like nuclear disarmament and an Israeli-Arab peace deal, to name a few. Perhaps this is why the committee awarded him with the honor.

UPDATE: Obama's response.

"What's A Herb?"

2009-10-08T08:55:00.012-04:00

A reader emails in with the question. He read this post.

I'm going to give you the meaning of the slang "herb," which is pronounced with the h. It's a noun and a verb. Now I'm not talking about marijuana. Herb pronounced without the h is marijuana.

This definition is right on target: A herb is "an individual easy to disrespect, take advantage of, and/or violate, usually do to cowardice or the desire to avoid conflict. Primarily used in Northeastern, United States." (I'm surprised that herb is not listed in the Urban Dictionary.)

But here's the thing. Around my way, a herb was (probably still is but I wouldn't know because I haven't been out here on the streets for many years now) an individual you disrespect -- beat up, rob, etc. -- or take advantage of, but not necessarily because it's easy to do so.

For example, let's say you're a violent person and like to start a lot of trouble. You hit some random dude around your way for no reason. He runs or refuses to fight back. This is what it means to "catch a herb." You herbed him. You don't know the guy, so you don't know if it's easy to disrespect or take advantage of him. And you weren't pondering whether he was an easy target before you punched him. You just didn't care.

That said, let me end this post by saying: (1) You're the herb if he fights back and beats the shit out of you; and (2) please, don't go out and catch a herb after reading this post. Seriously.

Quote For The Day

2009-10-07T08:08:00.000-04:00

"At some point, you have to stop looking at party and start looking at progress," -- Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

KFC Beatdown

2009-10-05T10:30:00.018-04:00

On the one hand, I laud the guy for standing up for the children. On the other, I think it was really stupid of him for opening up his mouth. Here you have a belligerent couple shouting profanities at the KFC employees -- God knows what the fuck they were on -- and this guy gets involved. It's one thing to be concerned about the children, it's quite another to actually intervene and play superman in front of the children. In a situation like this (the children, it appears, were not directly threatened), if you're with your kids and some shit goes down, you had better get the hell out of there -- with your kids. Or if you see children around, quickly get them out of there. Then call the police if necessary, or reenter the place when the troublemakers leave. If you're not auditioning for a spot in a forthcoming episode of Smallville, don't act like you are.

Dope Is Not Marijuana

2009-10-04T09:54:00.006-04:00

Just spoke to a friend of mine over the phone. Here's what I learned about the slang word "dope":

(1) Old-school white folks call all drugs "dope." (But not all drugs make you dopey!)

(2) People who don't live in the city call drugs "dope."

(3) A lot of people call marijuana "dope."

(4) Most dictionaries, if not all, define dope as 1) drugs in general, and 2) a street word for marijuana.

As I've said here before: Dope is heroin out here. Go to any weed spot in the city (that is, if you can find one) and ask the dealer for a bag of dope: He/she is going to tell you that you're in a weed spot, not a heroin spot. This is why it annoys me when I find a piece in a city paper using the word to refer to marijuana.

The writers and editors at the Daily News, of course, don't have to use the word to mean heroin. And they could use the word to mean drugs in general for all I care. But they ought stop using the word as a stand-in for weed. That's like a city paper in the West Coast using the Great Lake region slang word "pine trees" for meth. Look. Why not just call all drugs "drugs" and refer to a specific drug by its name -- marijuana is marijuana, crack is crack, heroin is heroin?

Civil War

2009-10-03T18:40:00.002-04:00

Sounds like fun. Thinking about buying it for my Xbox 360. And methinks a movie on this would be a really big hit.

$64.8 Million

2009-10-03T18:12:00.002-04:00

Wow. That's how much Mayor Mike Bloomberg has spent on his campaign so far. And, according to last week's Quinnipiac University poll, he's leading Thompson by 16 points.

Polanski

2009-10-03T18:00:00.004-04:00

Heard about the story earlier this week and just wanted to say something about it. Nothing novel here though: As all of you know, Roman Polanski raped a child many years ago. He drugged her to rape her, got caught and plead guilty, then fled the country because he didn't want to do a little time in prison. Today, over 30 years later, the United States wants him to face the music.

The "Free Roman" crowd (mostly Hollywood), however, says he shouldn't go to prison because, among other things, the rape is "ancient history," he's old, he has since done great things, he has suffered a lot over the years, and there are legal issues that need to be looked at.

I say nonsense. I'm kinda shocked that there are people out there trying to minimize what he has done. I mean, he is great talent. I really liked The Pianist (I own it) and highly recommend it to anyone out there who hasn't seen it. Poignant, beautiful film. And he's directed other really good films I haven't seen yet. But, look, all that is irrelevant. He raped a girl that was just 13. That's a serious crime and therefore he ought to go to prison.

Video Of The Day

2009-09-26T23:00:00.001-04:00

Strike.

Twitter

2009-09-26T09:43:00.004-04:00

I had lots of fun with my fellow Twitterers, but I'm done. I'm done with Twitter. It's just not for me. I'm here and Twitter is over there. Why go over there if I can say and link to whatever I want right here on my blog?

Anyway, if you want to kick it with me, email me.

On Cotto's Lice -- or "Kuto"

2009-09-25T05:02:00.010-04:00

A good friend of mine (Puerto Rican Cotto fan) found the article offensive and humorless. Meh. I didn't find it offensive at all. I don't know why people let stuff like this bother them. It's a humor piece (kinda childish though) penned by a Manny Pacquiao enthusiast at a mediocre and not-all-that-popular site. I mean, let the rabid Pacman fans have fun and talk/write crap. Let them distort and exaggerate stuff. Seriously, who the hell cares? It's not like he said "Cotto has lice because he's Puerto Rican!" -- that would be a different story. Oh, btw: Pac made a facetious remark -- he intended no harm, according to a couple of guys that I know who know more about Pac and boxing than I do.

Pac Fan Talkin' Crap

2009-09-24T11:35:00.008-04:00

Meh.

Gun Buybacks

2009-09-24T11:00:00.000-04:00

Okay. I haven't seen any evidence that gun buyback programs reduce gun violence. But I still find it hard to believe that not one of the weapons turned in could have been used in a crime, or used accidentally in your home.

Americano

2009-09-24T10:50:00.000-04:00

Newt Gingrich has created a bilingual news/opinion site for Hispanic Americans (courting swing voters). Me: I thought bilingualism was the language of living in a ghetto?

A Homeless Crackpot In New York

2009-09-24T01:22:00.001-04:00

Apparently, Qaddafi still can't find a place to put up his tent. Look, if he really needs a place to stay, I'd suggest that he attend a Tea Party or find out where the 9/11 Truthers congregate and ask a Crazy for a temporary place to crash. It's that simple.

UPDATE: Added link to Qaddafi's tent.

Civility In Washington Is Overrated

2009-09-19T14:19:00.005-04:00

Says David Harsanyi:

Some of us, for instance, would prefer the superb system of debating used by the British Parliament. Watching those foppish MPs holler "poppycock, sir!" at one another during speeches is a pure pleasure. The British trade courteousness for a more productive, more honest and, most importantly, more entertaining debate. (The occasional Taiwanese-style free-for-all parliamentary slap riot wouldn't hurt C-Span's ratings,
either.)

Instead, here at home, stilted House rules dictate that a member of Congress may not refer to the government as "something hated, something oppressive." Its members shall not call any unnamed officials "our half-baked nitwits handling foreign affairs," no matter how true the statement may be. And they never, ever can describe the president as a "liar" or a "hypocrite" or claim he is "intellectually dishonest."

It's a miracle anything is discussed, actually.

I don't think a member of the British parliament can call a colleague, or the PM, a liar. This is, from what I understand, a no-no just as it is in the US Congress. But I could be wrong.

That said, I'd like to revisit what I said here earlier today and make a minor alteration. I said that I'm all for the system of debating used by the British Parliament. But, honestly, I haven't given it that much thought. I mean, it sounds like a good idea. But before I start championing a system about which I know little, I'd be interested to read the pros and cons, and more on the rules and stuff that govern debate on the other side of the Atlantic. So if you've got some links, drop me an email or hit me up in comments.

Why I Think Congress Should Be More Like The House of Commons

2009-09-19T09:00:00.027-04:00

Shouting "You lie!" to the president at a joint session of Congress -- Obama wasn't even lying, which makes Rep. Joe Wilson a liar -- was a violation of House rules and custom (and unprecedented). So Congress earlier this week formally reprimanded Joe Wilson. Though it was just a slap on the wrist, I think it was justified -- but not really because he dissented and then refused to apologize to the House, but because he lied.

That said, I'm all for more boisterous confrontations between the President and Congress. No, no, no. I'm not advocating the throwing of shoes or fist fights. Rather, I'd like to see more hollering and rowdiness. More aggressive questioning and genuine debate. Something like this.

Imagine for a moment what our country (the world!) would be like right now if President Bush had been subjected to a torrent of aggressive questioning from members of Congress back in Spring 2003?

And wouldn't it be like way more fun to watch the President and members of Congress go at it the House of Commons way? No more falling out through House or Senate sessions on C-Span!

Heck, not only would it be more fun, I think it'd also be an educating experience for all Americans -- especially the ignorant -- about where the parties, the president, and individual members of Congress stand on issues of substance. And we'd be able to listen to and analyze the arguments for and against the President's agenda.

Back on the scene, crispy and clean...

2009-09-18T10:13:00.000-04:00

I'm back! Still a couple of more personal issues I gotta take care of, but I'll try really hard to keep this blog active from here on out. Dang, you don't know how much I miss blogging and chatting with my friends and readers on the Web! (My readership has plummeted big time for inactivity but I'm going to try to rebuild my defunct empire one day at a time.) Now let's do this.

Links

2009-08-17T09:00:00.005-04:00

I'm from this planet, and they're from another planet:

Tom Delay: I'm a Birther.

Healthcare co-ops emerging as viable alternative.

The Washington Post says that Obama should forsake the public option. Me: Right now? In exchange for what?

Democrats are considering 1) splitting the health care legislation into two and 2) using the the reconciliation process to pass some provisions.

I think Democrats talking about health care at their town halls should be more like Barney Frank when accosted by a Crazy.

The PlayStation 3 is now $299.99. Meh. I have an Xbox.

"He's trying to teach you manners papa."

2009-07-29T10:58:00.008-04:00

Yesterday, The Daily News reported:

A son of state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. escaped criminal charges yesterday by pleading guilty to a harassment violation for attacking a 76-year-old blogger at a political rally.

Alejandro Espada, 30, the director of one of his father's health clinics, must pay $432 in restitution to replace City Hall blogger Rafael Martinez Alequin's camera.

Cops say Espada broke it when the blogger peppered his father with questions at a Sept. 7, 2008, rally.

I saw the video yesterday. Pedro and his son basically caught a herb. Man, I'd never seen some shit like this before. A politician in his own political campaign rally basically telling his son to rough a cat up and teach him manners -- and then just walks away and ignores the man's cry for help. On camera! Wow. What did the 76-year-old independent journalist do wrong? What's the justification for breaking the dude's camera? It appears to me that it's Espada's son who needs to be taught some manners. And what's up with this "Papa" thing? Puerto Ricans are still slinging that word? That's so 1980. Anyway, Via the Village Voice, here's the video:

Sofrito

2009-07-28T14:03:00.001-04:00

A longtime reader of this blog emails in to say that what DC needs is a Sofrito. She says Sofrito serves delectable Puerto Rican food and plays really good Latin music -- live bands and DJs! Me: I'd never heard of the place before now. Go check out the site. The place looks really nice and spacious. I'm thinking about taking my partner down there in the not-too-distant future.

Update: Check out Sazon.

Latin Food In DC

2009-07-25T11:27:00.003-04:00

Ezra Klein said here a while back that D.C. is "a bit bereft of good Latin food." Man, that sucks. It's another reason why I think DC needs a Cuchifritos.

Why DC Needs A Cuchifritos Restaurant

2009-07-21T10:38:00.017-04:00

Responding to this tweet, a good friend of mine emails to say that he knows a lot of people in Washington, D.C. who would like to taste the Puerto Rican food Sonia Sotomayor eats: arroz con gandules y pernil (rice and beans with roast pork), mofongo (a mashed mound of plantains filled with meat, vegetable, whatever), morcilla (Spanish blood sausage), orejas (pig ears), cuaho (pig intestines), patitas de cerdo con garbanzo (pigs' feet with chickpeas) -- to name a few. The problem, he says, is that there are no Puerto Rican restaurants in the DC area.

Damn. It's kind of sad that not one Latin restaurant out there serves Puerto Rican dishes. DC folks are surely missing out on some delicious food.

That said, I think it's kinda cool, though, that people out in DC want to try Puerto Rican/Nuyorican food. Yesterday, I told a couple of my non-Hispanic co-workers that they have got to try our pig ears, pig tongue, blood sausage, etc., and they all recoiled in disgust at the thought of tasting the said delicacies. One guy said his religion forbids him to eat pork because "pigs are devils." Another said that he doesn't eat pork because pigs eat poisonous stuff.

On the former: I respect one's faith and all, but this is just silly -- so no comment. On the latter: I doubt this is true, but look I'm quite certain that eating pernil will not give you Swine flu or Ebola or anything like that. I've been eating roast pork and pig parts since I was a kid. I am healthy, though I think I'm slightly overweight. But, seriously: There's no need to worry if the pig is cooked properly.

Race-Baiting

2009-07-21T09:52:00.007-04:00

Clinging to the days of yore, Pat Buchanan argued in his column this past week that Republicans need not court the Hispanic vote to win elections; rather, he said, they could win elections by tapping the racial concerns of white people. Sounds like a really bad political strategy, considering the state of the GOP today and the fact that voters who can be swayed by appeals to cultural and racial fear are electorally shrinking (update: and this). But meh. I'm not surprised that he's spewing this crap. Pat is being Pat. What's driving him bonkers is the notion of having a Latina on the Supreme Court. Apparently, Pat thinks that the Supreme Court is only for white men -- they built this country, damnit! -- and that soon-to-be-confirmed Sonia Sotomayor will make decisions that are inimical to the interests of white people. Which is just pure bullshit but that's what Pat thinks.

Dope

2009-06-29T10:41:00.004-04:00

The Daily News, again: Cops' traffic stop turns up 100 pounds of dope stashed in casket.

For those who don't know: calling weed "dope" is a pet peeve of mine. Dope is heroin, not weed. Argh!

What I've Been Reading

2009-06-29T10:29:00.002-04:00

1.The Bronx (Columbia History of Urban Life)by Evelyn Gonzalez. This is my first book on the history of the Bronx. I'm halfway through. Lots of information. References abound. The author "argues that it was not racial discrimination, rampant crime, postwar liberalism, or big government that was to blame for the urban crisis that assailed the Bronx during the late 1960s. Rather, the decline was inextricably connected to the same kinds of social initiatives, economic transactions, political decisions, and simple human choices that had once been central to the development and vitality of the borough."

2. We Took The Streets: Fighting For Latino Rights With The Young Lords. I didn't know until recently that there was a book on the the Young Lords.

3. How to Read a Book (A Touchstone book) by Mortimer J. Adler. Heh. You think you know how to really read?

Michael Jackson, RIP

2009-06-29T10:17:00.019-04:00

My son ran into my room Thursday night and told me and his mother the shocking news. "Did you hear? Michael Jackson died," he said. My partner paused from what she was doing, quickly looked at me in utter disbelief, and hopped off the bed to telephone her mother. My jaw on the ground, I hurriedly tuned in to CNN and . . . there it was. It was true. Michael Jackson was gone.

When we were kids, my sisters and I would listen and dance to "Billie Jean," "Beat It," and "Thriller" whenever they played it on television or radio. At family gatherings, I would regale family members and friends with my break-dancing skills and the moonwalk -- white glove and all. My father -- a fan of MJ -- bought my sisters and me the red, multi-zippered jacket MJ wore in "Beat It" -- though ours were ~~plastic~~ polyester or nylon. I think I was five years old. In short, Michael Jackson was kind of big in our household back in the early 80s.

I'm not sure if I've said it here before, but one of my all-time favorite songs is Billie Jean. When I hear the song today, when I hear Michael's beautiful voice, I always naturally bob my head, snap my fingers, and sing. And the video is just off the hook. Now, "Beat It," "Rock With You" and "Thriller" are favorites. But "Billie Jean" was and still is the shit. I can't say that it's the best R&B pop song ever, because my knowledge of the genre is a bit above nil. But a lot of people think so.

On MJ's life: I've heard and read about some stuff -- good and bad -- but I'm not equipped with all the details so I'm just going to leave that part alone. Again, I was listening to his stuff when I was really young. I haven't followed MJ's life or his music since. Anyway, that's all I have to say right now.

All he needs now is the right word or two...

2009-06-20T13:11:00.001-04:00

Juan Gonzalez has some advice for Senate Democrats and Republicans wooing Pedro Espada Jr: check the dude for wires.

Update : Pedro Espada: "[C]ontrary to what Juan Gonzalez may say that when people talk to me I am wearing a wire, all I always wear is a pair of balls of steel."

"The Wise Latina" Cover

2009-06-19T11:16:00.033-04:00

I said here that the National Review's "Wise Latina" cover was not racist. But the point I actually wanted to make but didn’t is that I think calling this cover racist dilutes the word of its power to condemn real examples of racism. I could link to many examples of racism on the right, but that would be unnecessary for we all know they abound. So here are just two of the latest.

That said, I have to say that the cover almost crossed the line of being racist. The artist caricatured Sotomayor with exaggerated slanty eyes, and big teeth. The problem with this is that Sotomayor’s eyes are not slanted in that extreme at all. And she doesn't have buckteeth. Obviously, the more serious problem is that the slanty eyes/buck teeth thing is a racist Asian stereotype.

What were they thinking? I say the cover almost crossed the line because I don't know the answer to that question, and I don't want to accuse them of racism because we all know that people don't like to be called racists. Moreover, apart from the slanty eyes and the big teeth, I don't see anything wrong with the image. (But it offended a lot of people, and I can understand why.) Rich Lowry has said over at The Corner that it's just a caricature; the artist exaggerated her distinctive features. Okay.

I do think, on the other hand, and to echo what a couple of bloggers have already said, that Rich Lowry and 'em wanted to get accused of racism. You see, this is what a lot of conservatives and right-wingers do: They say or do something that is racist and not racist to get, well, accused of racism. Then they feign anger and resort to name-calling and say they're the victim.

I know, it's juvenile. But that's the silly game they like to play.

Goldstein on Sotomayor

2009-06-19T09:00:00.005-04:00

Tom Goldstein of Scotusblog had a great piece in the New York Times on Monday in which he argued that Justice Sonia Sotomayor is not, as critics (on the right) charge, biased against whites.

Go read it if you haven't already. Unlike the lazy people who accuse Sotomayor of racism solely on the basis of her decision in Ricci v. DeStefano, Mr. Goldstein has actually done the real work -- read all of her race-related decisions.

Quote For The Day

2009-06-19T08:53:00.003-04:00

"I didn't invent that; it's in the constitution," -- Pedro Espada Jr., telling reporters on Wednesday why, because he's now the Senate's president pro tempore, he's two Senators with two votes.

A Quote To Ponder

2009-06-15T11:26:00.004-04:00

"My home has always been in the Bronx, where I go to church and my civic activity. Don't you think for a moment we would be calling all the citizens of these districts fools if they have given me 97 percent because they don't know me? No, because they saw me in the streets and they voted me in," -- Pedro Espada Jr, responding to allegations that he doesn't live in the Bronx district he represents.

Pot

2009-06-15T11:21:00.001-04:00

Anderson Cooper is going to be be exploring marijuana and its use in the United States this week. The special report begins today at 10 p.m. You don't want to miss it if the subject is of interest to you.

Paterson: "I will not allow this"

2009-06-09T11:51:00.001-04:00

Big story yesterday in the New York Times: G.O.P. Regains Control of New York State Senate.

On National Review's "Wise Latina" Cover

2009-06-09T11:22:00.020-04:00

I'm a bit late to this, but I'd like to say something about the cover.

Lots of people on the left have commented that the National Review's latest cover of Nuyorican Sonia Sotomayor in a Buddhist-like pose with Asian features is racist.

Me: Buddhist-like pose? I'm not sure what to say about it. But the cover doesn't strike me as racist. And I don't see an Asian. What I see, rather, is a bland, humorless cover. I see Sonia Sotomayor's features exaggerated. And I also see NR editor Jonah Goldberg (dude with the glasses):

But that's what I see. Look. Whether you think it's racist or not, or just a bit racist, we don't know what the cartoonist and the editors were thinking. So I think we ought to refrain from accusing the magazine of racism -- a serious charge that needs to be backed up.

But these are just my first thoughts as I'm blogging right now. Perhaps I gotta think this through a bit more. Read a couple more blog posts on the cover. I'm going to ask my partner when she comes home with our son what she thinks.

What do you think?

UPDATE: "The Wise Latina" Cover

Immigrant Hater

2009-06-03T10:09:00.005-04:00

Efrain Ortiz asks: Who is Tom Tancredo?

Answer: Tom Tancredo is a right wing, anti-immigrant zealot who thinks that Miami is a Third World country. He's a dolt. And the loathsome nutball Pat Buchanan is his buddy.

Pat Buchanan

2009-06-02T10:40:00.008-04:00

Why cable news give this paleocon buffoon a platform to spew his nonsense boggles the mind. If you're Hispanic and speak both Spanish and English, Pat hates you. If you're Hispanic and speak Spanish but don't speak English for whatever reason (it's important, though, for people living here to learn how to speak and read American English), Pat hates you. If you're Latino/a and you're working really hard to learn English, Pat still hates you. Shit. Dude's got some serious issues with everybody -- Jews, blacks, Asians, gays, etc. Now the neanderthals who embrace his bigoted and racist views? No. Fucking. Problem. Those are his peeps. But I bet you already knew all that.

Sotomayor Said 'Court Of Appeals Is Where Policy Is Made'?

2009-05-26T13:15:00.013-04:00

Yes. But after making the comment she said "I'm not promoting it, and I'm not advocating it." It was just a joke -- and out of context. (Although there is some truth in what she said.)

As Atrios always says: simple answers to simple questions.

William Dipini

Summertime

Just Got Back, Copped The EVO 4G -- Crazy Apps

Links

"This is a Puerto Rican issue."

Don't Ask Don't Tell, Ctd.

Elena Kagan

Don't Ask Don't Tell

Merlin

Wheee!

No NYPD Cuts

Suspect In Custody In Connection With Times Square Bomb Scare

Murders And Shootings Are Up, Kelly Shaking Things Up

Magic Is Back

Fewer Guns On The Streets Of New York

The World's Longest Filibuster

Because It's Saturday

The Road To Nowhere

New York Senate Race

Yes We Can!

Twins

"Set your clocks forward. Obama is such a socialist he is taking away one of your hours."

15% -- Yes You Can!

World Filibuster Record

Blog Post Title Of The Day

Monster-rate, Ctd

Do Politicians Keep Their Promises?

A Good Dish

Jennifer Lopez On SNL

Pic For The Day

Go Tell Mommy And Papi

Monster-rate

Music Blogging

Staying In

"This may be the greatest Jewish sporting event since David versus Goliath."

McCain

Senate Hideaways

Big Day Today

How To Weaken The Filibuster

Pat Robertson

Reid's Comments v. Lott's

Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

Running with Scissors

Dexter Morgan Made Me Do It

On My Desk

See You At The Hearing

I Feel Really Sad For The Guy

Wheee!

"Latino In America"

Blog Discovery Of The Day

Quote For The Day

Random Thoughts, Links, Etc.

Monserrate

"Every time I thought I was getting somewhere, they’d start speaking Spanish," Ctd

Twitter, Facebook And Last.fm

Blog Title

"It’s funny — I just got a new car and I’m already dreading getting the next sticker."

What happens when you toss a cup of coffee at a NY cabbie

Deep Thought

Right-Wing Nobel Reactions Roundup

"Every time I thought I was getting somewhere, they’d start speaking Spanish."

Nobel Peace Prize

"What's A Herb?"

Quote For The Day

KFC Beatdown

Dope Is Not Marijuana

Civil War

$64.8 Million

Polanski

Video Of The Day

Twitter

On Cotto's Lice -- or "Kuto"

Pac Fan Talkin' Crap

Gun Buybacks

Americano

A Homeless Crackpot In New York

Civility In Washington Is Overrated

Why I Think Congress Should Be More Like The House of Commons

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