Grandstanding

West Coast version:

versus

East Coast version:

West Coast version: lunch at the local tasty burger joint. I counted 6 workers there at least this afternoon. The black outfits and big badges announcing their purpose were easy to spot.

East Coast version: Buffet lunch for most and the President takes a couple of questions from reporters as he walks home to eat.

West: A celebration of cinematic drama

East: drama, drama, drama!!

Keith Olbermann's Emotional Special Comment: 'My Father Asked Me To Kill Him' (VIDEO)

My family has gone through the situation three different times where one of us was nearing the end of their battle with their illness. My family was, I'm sure, so grateful for the times when a Living Will/Health Care Directive, etc., was in place. My heart went right back to that painful place Mr. Olbermann is right now. I even just got a call from a buddy of mine who can't afford the anti-biotics he needs to treat bronchitis because he has no health insurance.



I look forward to the day when all of this is no more than a bad nightmare from a long-ago day.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The countdown begins!

The Boulevard is slowly gearing up for an award show on Sunday March 7. Today's new roll out was metal barricades with security posted here and there along the barricades.

As we get closer to the Big Night, the closures get a little bit bigger. This is my first time navigating the Boulevard during this time of the year and I'm quite happy to keep you posted on how things are going. Enjoy the pics!

Don't Ask, Don't . . . *yawn*

About the debate over whether or not to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", this article posted at Stars and Stripes' website should end it. I know it really doesn't, but three consecutive town hall-style meetings with soldiers and sailors where DADT wasn't brought up until Admiral Mullen brought it up and, even then, the groups had way more pressing issues to discuss.

Exactly.

I'm also a little fuzzy on the notion that this policy keeps "teh gay" out of the Armed Forces like chicken wire keeps the vermin away from a garden. It does not and it was not originally intended to act like gay repellent. Just so happened that the way the policy was enforced led to more outings of gay and lesbian military personnel.

So, what are the "keep things the way they are" crowd really wanting to maintain?

While I'm in between posts

A couple of quick updates --

I'm planning on being at a peace rally/march in the Hollywood area on March 20 -- look for the yellow tile on the left and click it for more details.

Meanwhile, one of my favorite bands from the '80s is back with a new song after 10 years with their new album due in a little over a month. Stephen's voice is as good as it's been in the last 20 years and it's so nice to hear a Warren DeMartini guitar solo after so long! Keep the spandex in the closet and grab yer air guitar while I collect a few more thoughs

More rainbows

Another southern California storm and another late-day great big rainbow over the Boulevard.

There have been a few stories that borrow from the principal of the rainbow -- the very picture of the beginnings of light shining through a dark and stormy scene.

First, Lt. Dan Choi, who has put a face on the fight to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy within our military, was able to drill with his unit (no laughing, please) recently. While it's not the bright, shimmering rainbow one would hope for, I'll take anything that leads toward a repeal of this absurd policy.

Another survivor was pulled from the rubble yesterday in Port-au-Prince and the man is still recovering. That would make him having survived, somehow, for 27 days. And, life goes on in that nation. If it only took sheer willpower and spirit to recover from last month's earthquake, Haitians would have already rebuilt their country and thrown a city-wide party this past weekend. Still, their needs will change in the coming weeks and months, so I'll keep the Red Cross link posted at the top. If you've been fortunate to find extra money or you're being blessed with a tax refund, a few extra dollars donated to the Red Cross or any of the other organizations who are trying to help will still go a long way.

The slowly growing rays of sunshine seem to be piercing even the darkest clouds in our nation's capitol. The President chatted with the press earlier today about his meeting with Legislators from both major parties to see what sorts of bills could be crafted to provide more help to those in need of a job and businesses who may want to hire but think they cannot afford to do so. I'm a little hazy on when, if at all, President GW Bush had done the same sort of thing in the last couple of years of his presidency. So, even if only a couple of things are worked out this week creating even the smallest movement forward toward recovery, it won't be due to a lack of effort to get both sides to work together by the President.

For liberals like me and, I'm sure, a health number of conservatives, the changes aren't coming often and fast enough. As much as I'd like to think one post written on one blog would be all that's needed to make everything come together, I'm a bit more realistic about those chances.

Then again, to get the strongest looking rainbow, you need a hard rain, dark cloudy skies on one side and bright sunlight on the other.