The United States government might have a bigger budget to work with — if one bodybuilding governor would pay the back taxes it appears he never got around to paying. According to documents filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Arnold Schwarzenegger owes the IRS $39,047 from 2004 and $40,016 from 2005.

In total the Guv owes $79,064.00 … and as we all know, he’s definitely not saving the money for rainy day traffic violations.

An official at the L.A. County Recorder’s Office tells TMZ their system shows the lien is still active.

Calls to Arnold’s office have not been returned.

Arnold Schwoarzenegger als Hörküliss! Grandioses Kino!

Obama is taking politicking to a new low. Always he answers question without answering them. Wait, thats been done for years. The difference? When Obama does it, I feel as if someone just gaveled the logical portion of my brain with a cannister of oozing toxicity of twisted rhetorical slime.

Example,

Press: Mr. Obama, what are going to do about the economy?

Barack: I’ve been meeting regularly with experts from both sides to determine the best strategy in undertaking the discussion of the best strategical plans for attacking the economic difficulties at hand for the American people.

Press: Mr. Obama, what are you going to do about terrorists actions and plans for assault on American soil?

Barack: I think we need to keep in mind that Islam is a religion of peace. Terrorism can be perpetrated by any religious group. Yes, 100% of terrorist attacks against Americans have been acted out by Muslim radicals but to echo the words of  Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey, speaking about the tragedy of Fort Hood, “If our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that’s worse.”

Press: Loss of diversity is worse than loss of life?

Barack: I think we both know what I meant.

Press: No, actually I don’t.

Barack: Next question.

Compare with response from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,

Press: Governor Schwarzenegger, what are you going to do about the economy in California?

Arnold: Get DOWN!!!

Press: Governor Schwarzenegger,  what are you going to do about terrorists entering our borders through Mexico?

Arnold: Get to the CHOPPER!!!

California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger was caught by the paparazzi parking his car in a prohibited area.

After just weeks after his wife Maria Shriver asked public apologies for having parked the car in a prohibited parking place, Arnold has done the same.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was with his wife and their two children shopping, when he was caught by photographers violating the law. The politician’s car, a silver Porsche was parked in a prohibited place.

For this breach of law, a driver normally receives a fine of $ 90. Schwarzenegger’s spokesman, Aaron McLear, refused to comment on the situation.

California Disability Action Community Network,  November 23, 2009

Social Security Agency To Investigate If California Is
Illegally Denying Social Security Disability and SSI Claims

Social Security Commissioner Says Furloughs of Federally Funded State Employees In Dept. of Social Services Who Help In Determining Eligibility May Be Cause of Possible Violations of Federal Social Security Laws – Investigation Comes After Charges Made by San Diego Congressman Who Charged That  Denials of Claims Are Coming At “Expense of Those In Greatest Need”

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 11/23/09  07:20 AM  (Pacific Time)  -  The US Social Security Administration will investigate allegations by Rep. Robert Filner (Democrat - San Diego) made before the US House Way and Means Subcommittee on Social Security on November 19th that California is improperly denying social security and SSI (supplemental security income) program claims as a means to get around delays caused by mandatory furloughs of state workers in the Disability Determination Service division within the Department of Social Services, who play a critical role in determining eligibility for those two programs.  The investigation will also look at similar policies and problems in Hawaii which has instituted similar mandatory furloughs of its state employees.

There was no official statement by the Schwarzenegger Administration reacting to the Social Security Administration's investigation.

As a budget cutting measure, earlier this year Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered mandatory furloughs of all state departments and agencies - including the Department of Social Services, which are closed on the first, second, and third Friday of each month until June 30, 2010.  The Department of Social Services' Community Care Licensing Division and the Disability Determination Service Division offices will remain open and operate on "self-directed furloughs".

Commissioner Michael J. Astrue who heads the federal agency, said on Friday (November 20) that in a memo to Patrick P. O'Carroll, Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, ordered the investigation writing that:

...Governor Schwarzenegger has insisted on furloughing California Disability Determination Service...employees, despite the fact that we fully fund both their salaries and overhead.  According to Congressman Robert Filner, the State is attempting to find ways to improperly circumvent the effects of the furlough at the expense of some of the State residents who are in the greatest need.

The action by the Social Security Administration, which has no immediate impact on the state, does add yet more uncertainty about various state budget reductions, with California facing yet another huge budget shortfall - now estimated to be $21 billion by the end of the 2009-2010 State budget year (June 30, 2010).  Advocates and policymakers alike expect more major spending cuts to be proposed in the coming months to close the growing shortfall.

Congressman Filner Makes Charges of Improper Denial of Claims

Congressman Filner testified last Thursday that the California's Disability Determination Service (known as "DDS" - same initials as the "Department of Developmental Services" which is a completely different state agency)  is denying the claims of disability applicants who fail to return a 25 page report within 20 days - a practice which has been adopted since the mandatory state furloughs were implemented earlier this year, reporting the following:

• One California Disability Determination Service field office, Filner claimed, had closed 30% of its cases due to an individual's failure to return the completed application form within 20 days.
• In addition, Filner said he believed that California Disability Determination Services (under the California Department of Social Services) may be manipulating its service numbers by assigning claims to fictional examiners or supervisors, which Filner says would allow the state to hide the fact that these cases are not actually being reviewed.

Commissioner Is Bush Appointee - Reports Directly to President Obama

Commissioner Astrue, appointed by President Bush on September 14, 2006 and confirmed by the US Senate on February 2, 2007, was sworn into office on February 12, 2007 for a 6 year term that expires January 19, 2013.

The commissioner, who oversees the independent federal agency with over 60,000 federal employees and 1,500 offices across the nation,  reports directly to President Obama.  The headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland.

Impact on People With Disabilities, the Blind & Seniors

The issue has actual and potential impact on thousands of children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs and seniors, among others, who are applying for federal social security disability benefits or federally funded SSI grants.  In California the SSI recipients also include an additional state funded "SSP"  (Supplemental Security Payments) grants.

Any delays or outright denial of claims - especially those dealing with SSI/SSP - could have a ripple effect also on a person's immediate accessible and affordable housing, transportation and medical and other support needs.

The Department of Social Services estimated in May the SSI/SSP caseload by June 30, 2010, will total 1,290,473 persons:

• 376,163 who are seniors or 30% of the projected caseload
• 20,225 persons who are blind (or 2% of the projected caseload)
• 894,085 who are children and adults with disabilities (or 68% of the projected caseload)

Background of Disability Determination Service

• The federal Disability Insurance program, established under Title II of the federal Social Security Act, provides benefits to wage earners and their families in the event the wage earner becomes disabled.
• The Supplemental Security Income program, established under Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act, provides benefits to financially needy individuals who are aged, blind, or disabled.
• The federal Social Security Administration (SSA) is responsible for implementing policies of handling and determining eligibility of disability claims under the Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs.
• Persons apply for either social security disability or SSI at any Social Security office. If the person applying meets the non-medical criteria, their application would then be sent to the state's Disability Determination Service, who will then obtain the applicant's medical and other related records to determine severity of the disability or impairments and the impact on the ability to engage in work.
• In each of the 50 states (plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico), eligibility - or determinations under both Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income are performed by its own "Disability Determination Service" (known as "DDS" - same initials used for the Department of Developmental Services, which is a different state agency entirely, though the same person could have gone through Disability Determination Service for SSI eligibility - and then to the Department of Developmental Services for supports and services) in each state. In California, the Disability Determination Service is a division under the Department of Social Services. It has 11 branch field offices, including 3 in Los Angeles County.
• The federal Social Security Administration reimburses state Disability Determination Services for 100% of allowable expenditures up to its approved funding authorization.

Social Security Administration Previously Raised Concerns of State Furlough Impact on Social Security Disability and SSI Claims

In a related action by the Social Security Administration dealing with the impact of California's furloughs, on October 16th, the US Department of Justice, on behalf of the Social Security Administration,  filed a "Statement of Interest" in the state lawsuit "Union of American Physicians and Dentists v. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California" that seeks to stop the mandatory state furlough program.    The state lawsuit, filed in the Alameda County Superior Court, is still pending further action.  It is one of several lawsuits filed by different unions and agencies regarding the mandatory state furloughs.

The Union of American Physicians and Dentists includes state employees of the California Disability Determination Services Division under the Department of Social Services, who evaluate the medical or health part of a person's Social Security Disability or SSI (Supplemental Security Income) claims.  The federal government fully pays for the salaries and overhead costs for these state employees in all 50 states.

The "Statement of Interest" which indicates in this instance support of this specific lawsuit, notes that California's furloughs of these specific state employees are inconsistent with the state's obligations and responsibilities under the federal Social Security Act which requires a state, in carrying out disability determination functions, "to the best of its ability, facilitate the processing of disability claims by avoiding personnel freezes, restrictions against overtime work, or curtailment of facilities or activities."

Commissioner Astrue said in October:

...for many months we have been trying to convince California officials that furloughing [Disability Determination Service Division state] employees does not save the state a single penny, and actually costs the state money.  It also unnecessarily harms their citizens with disabilities and their civil servants. Unfortunately, our arguments have fallen on deaf ears.  We hope our Statement of Interest will awaken state officials to the irreparable damage their furlough policy is causing.

Asture said in October that California’s furlough of Disability Determination Service employees under the Department of Social Services costs the state $849,000 per furlough day in administrative funding and that  ”…each furlough day results in a delay costing California’s disabled citizens over $420,000 in much-needed Social Security benefits”.

The State, represented by the California Department of Justice, is denying those claims in the various lawsuits.

TEXT OF COMISSIONER ASTRUE’S MEMO ORDERING INVESTIGATION

The following is the memo to Social Security Administration Inspector General Patrick P. O’Carroll from Commissioner Astrue, dated November 20^th:

At yesterday’s [November 19^th] hearing before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, I testified about some disturbing practices the State of California has instituted that aggravate, rather than help, in response to its budgetary situation.  As you know, Gov. Schwarzenegger has insisted on furloughing California Disability Determination Service (DDS) employees, despite the fact that we fully fund both their salaries and overhead.  According to Congressman Robert Filner, the State is attempting to find ways to improperly circumvent the effects of the furlough at the expense of some of the State residents who are in the greatest need.

Congressman Filner indicated that since the furloughs began, the California DDS [CDCAN Note: same initials as Department of Developmental Services which is a different state agency] has begun denying the claims of those disability applicants who fail to return a 25-page report within 20 days.  This practice, if true, places applicants in an untenable position because the substantial amount of information required must often be gathered from third parties.  If an applicant fails to return complete information within the time set by the State, the DDS deems the applicant to have failed to cooperate and closes the file, thereby depriving that applicant of fair and full consideration.

I am also greatly concerned by Congressman Filner’s report that the California DDS may be manipulating its service numbers by “staging” claims, assigning them to fictional examiners or supervisors, rather than to actual examiners.  According to Congressman Filner, this practice would allow the DDS to claim that the cases have been assigned, rather than indicate that they are still in queue, thus minimizing the effects of the furlough.

If true, these practices are, of course, very disturbing.  Therefore, I am asking you to undertake a full review of the practices of the California DDS to determine the scope and breadth of any inappropriate practices.

I am also concerned about the State of Hawaii, which is furloughing its DDS employees for as many days as California, and which has made statements about new business efficiencies that closely track statements made by California officials.  Accordingly, I ask that you also review that agency to ensure they are fully adhering to all SSA rules and policies.

Thank you for your assistance.

NOTE: There may be updated information located on our homepage. Also, don’t forget to check out the post tags to narrow your search.

For years California has courted a reputation as an eco-friendly, green-minded leader, but the state now finds its most basic program of recycling beverage bottles and cans mired in debt and litigation.

Dozens of supermarket recycling sites have shut down recently as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislators spar over how to close a massive gap in the program’s budget.   California’s 23-year-old recycling program, managed by the Department of Conservation through fees charged to beverage buyers, has been hurt this year by recession, rising redemption rates and raids of its coffers to help ease the state’s budget woes.

Schwarzenegger and the Democratic-controlled Legislature concede that the program, which collected more than 16 billion beverage containers last year, is in fiscal distress – but each has rejected the other’s solution.  “This is an important program for California and we are currently looking at ways to improve funding in this down economy,” said Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Rachel Arrezola.

Mark Murray of Californians Against Waste, a nonprofit advocacy group, said consumers are going to find it increasingly difficult to recycle their beverage containers.  “The net result is likely to be a drop in the recycling rate,” he said.  Shoppers remain entitled to their nickel or dime deposits for returning glass, plastic or aluminum beverage containers, but many consumers could be forced to drive farther, wait longer or comply with shorter center operating hours.

The number of supermarket parking-lot recyclers has grown gradually in recent years to about 2,100. But two of the largest operators, Tomra Pacific and NexCycle, announced the shutdown of about 90 centers recently, laying off more than 100 workers.  Tomra, which projects losses of $9 million this year, has joined with two other firms to sue the state, seeking to “stop the dismantling” of the program. Exacerbating problems, the scrap value of aluminum cans has plummeted in the past year, and the market for other containers has struggled.

“If consumers can no longer find convenient outlets for recycling used bottles and cans, they are more likely to go back to their old ways of discarding them in landfills – or worse, on streets, beaches and other property,” the lawsuit said.  “This will essentially end the Recycling Program as we have known it,” the suit said.

By law, supermarkets not served by parking-lot recyclers are supposed to either pay the state $100 a day – only one store is doing so – or redeem the containers themselves, but many do not.  In a telephone check of 15 such supermarkets Friday, only six accept empty cans and bottles. 

Many supermarkets are not prepared to pick up the slack from closures of parking-lot recyclers because of the time it would take to count bags of containers and the health and safety implications of doing so where food is sold, said Dave Heylen of the California Grocers Association.

“It’s something that would be quite a hardship,” he said.

Department of Conservation officials declined to discuss Tomra’s lawsuit or allegations of harm. But state officials clearly are not trying to kill the program because both Schwarzenegger and the Democratic-controlled Legislature have tried to intervene, thus far unsuccessfully.

In May, state finance officials projected a $162 million deficit for the program by July 2010, which sparked across-the-board cuts that affected subsidies paid to collection centers but not to consumers who redeem beverages.

Schwarzenegger’s relief proposal focused on targeted cuts and on compressing subsidiary efforts, such as for public education and recycling incentives, into a new program of competitive grants.

The Legislature rejected Schwarzenegger’s plan during budget talks and crafted its own proposal, Senate Bill 402, which would have relied on expansion rather than contraction to bolster the program.

In vetoing SB 402, Schwarzenegger said that consumers would have been hurt by provisions to double the fee on 20-ounce sodas, from 5 to 10 cents, and to expand the kinds of beverages and types of containers accepted.

“I recognize that without this bill there is an immediate hardship,” his veto message said, but “the lasting effects of this bill are far worse.”

As a stopgap, Schwarzenegger said he would order emergency regulations to require beverage distributors to submit payments to the state every two months, not three, which is expected to generate a one-time infusion of about $100 million.

California’s recycling program partly has been a victim of its own success, because each redeemed container takes a nickel or dime from funds for subsidies, outreach or operational funds.

Redemption rates have risen from 67 percent in 2007 to 74 percent in 2008, and to 85 percent for the first six months of 2009.

Meanwhile, beverage sales from January to June were 325 million containers less – about 3 percent – than for the same time span in 2008.

Bottom line? Projected revenue has dropped by about $74 million the past year, from $1.15 billion to a projected $1.086 billion.

But Chuck Riegle of Tomra said the most painful blow was self-inflicted by the state: Politicians have raided recycling coffers, through loans, to help balance the state budget.

Tomra’s suit seeks to force repayment of about $415 million that otherwise would have been used for recycling.

Four times this decade, the state has borrowed beverage funds, most recently during the current fiscal year when more than $99 million was diverted to the state’s general fund.

The deadline for paying back $286 million borrowed in 2002 and 2003 initially was June 2009, but it was extended three years ago to 2013. Only $30 million has been repaid, records show.

In borrowing fee revenue, the state requires that no harm be done to the affected program, yet more than half of this year’s projected $162 million deficit consisted of the $99 million loan to bolster the state’s general fund.

Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association said the multiple raids on recycling funds, the lack of timely repayment and the harm caused to collection centers raise questions about whether fees were spent illegally.

“It changes what otherwise might be characterized as a legitimate fee into a tax of questionable legality,” Coupal said.

State finance spokesman H.D. Palmer disagreed, saying that the program was projected to have an $81 million balance when legislation was signed in February to borrow for the next fiscal year. Changing market conditions made the deficit evident months later, in a May budget revision, Palmer said.

“This is just one example of the dramatic fluctuations we’ve seen in the state’s fiscal picture as a result of the recession,” he said.

Schwarzenegger’s veto message for SB 402 said he supports repaying past loans and banning any future loans from recycling coffers to the state’s general fund.

Sources: Fresno Bee and WIH Resource Group

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University of California students should be better informed. Where have they been for the last year or two as California’s economy went into the tank and the Governor and state Legislature refused to raise any taxes to balance the budget? What, exactly, do they expect UC President Yudof and the Board of Regents to do? Print money?

Students should be protesting the fact that Californians refuse any tax increases — alcohol taxes, commercial real estate taxes, and corporate income taxes to name a few — that could close the yawning budget deficit and save the world’s greatest university system from this historic decline. A quarter a drink alcohol tax alone could raise $3.5 billion a year.

Students should be protesting against the people of California — including their parents and themselves — who always seem to want something for nothing. Either we raise taxes to balance the budget or we dismantle the greatest system of higher education ever created — UC, CSU and California community colleges together — along with all our other social services.

The Legislative Analyst says that California will run $20 billion deficits through 2015, at which time there will be little left of our great state. Why don’t UC students aim their protests at the people and politicians who refuse to raise taxes and save California?

Bueno, después del éxito del anterior post vamos con otra noticia que, aunque vieja ya, me pareció un puntazo en su momento. Copio y pego de la web de Fotogramas:

.

Curiosa cuando menos es la noticia que nos llega del otro lado del Atlántico, concretamente del estado norteamericano de California, donde se ha aprobado una normativa para convertir una zona portuaria en zona residencial. Hasta ahí, todo normal.

Pero el gobernador, el ex actor Arnold Schwarzenegger ha vetado el plan y ahora viene lo curioso: en la carta que ha enviado al congresista Tom Ammiano para informarle de su decisión, hay incluido un acróstico bastante ofensivo.

Si tomamos la primera letra de cada una de las frases, se puede leer la ingeniosa leyenda: “Fuck you”, que creemos no necesita traducción. Como es obvio, Tom Ammiano defiende que el mensaje es claramente intencionado, y ha criticado el sentido del humor de Schwarzenegger. El portavoz del gobernador, por su parte, declaró: “Dios mío, ¡qué coincidencia!”.

.

Genial el Chuache. Por cierto, gracias de nuevo a Franco Battiato por la noticia. Voy a tener que ponerte en plantilla. xD

Di facce di bronzo (a gomitolo, a culo, insomma fate voi), si sa, in Italia ce ne sono parecchie. Però alcune sono purtroppo più pubblicizzate di altre. Le vediamo su tutti i Tg ogni sera: sono i vari Capezzone, Lupi, D’Alema, Latorre, Cicchitto, Bonaiuti, Veltroni e naturalmente troppi altri. Poi, in realtà, ce ne sono molti che non compaiono così spesso, vuoi perchè non bazzicano granchè dalle parti di Palazzo Madama o Montecitorio (Luca Barbareschi), vuoi perchè preferiscono tenerli nascosti (Tiziano Treu, PD, che al di là della legge Biagi è stato il primo ad introdurre il lavoro precario in Italia nel 1999), o vuoi ancora perchè si sono dovuti dimettere dato che svolgevano già un altro ruolo. E’ il caso di Roberto Formigoni, il governatore della Regione Lombardia.

Formigoni ha lanciato il World Regions Forum, ovvero il summit delle 15 regioni più avanzate del pianeta, che si è aperto oggi e durerà tre giorni, con varie personalità a prendere parte, tra cui uno spaesato governatore Schwarzenegger. A cosa servirà questo vertice di fondamentale importanza (o, se preferite, inutile spreco di soldi pubblici)? Controllando sul sito www.worldregionsforum.org si legge che lo scopo primario sarà quello di favorire la crescita economica attraverso lo scambio di suggerimenti ed esperienze. In particolare l’ex DC, PPI, sottosegretario all’ambiente e vicepresidente di Forza Italia ha detto (e si può leggere anche questo) che una delle tematiche fondamentali sarà la sostenibilità ambientale. Ebbene, che cosa potrà portare ad esempio della sua regione, ci chiediamo? Potrebbe per esempio cominciare dagli sponsor del progetto, tra cui figurano ENI, PIRELLI e MAPEI. Poi potrebbe continuare raccontando dell’EXPO 2015, magari seguendo punto per punto gli argomenti proposti per il summit:
Mobilità. L’80 % degli investimenti sulla mobilità per l’EXPO riguarderanno la mobilità su gomma, tra 17.000 posti auto, nuove tangenziali ed autostrade, sacrificando metropolitane e servizi pubblici. Non solo, sono in progetto per la regione altre 59 strade entro il 2015. La cementificazione selvaggia in Lombardia, che non va riferita ovviamente all’evento in questione, perchè è in atto già da molto tempo, rende il suolo del comune di Milano impermeabile per il 48,5%, e le stesse zone agricole sono a forte rischio contaminazione da agenti chimici.
Qualità dell’aria. Sul suo sito, Formigoni si vanta di aver rispettato i “suoi” impegni ambientali, riducendo i principali inquinanti dell’aria, biossido di zolfo, biossido di carbonio OZONO!, monossido di carbonio. Peccato che: il BIOSSIDO DI ZOLFO sia diminuito in tutto il mondo negli anni ‘80 con l’avvento del metano; l’OZONO dalle rilevazioni dell’ARPA competente aumenti in concentrazione e NON decresca; le emissioni di BIOSSIDO DI AZOTO e di MONOSSIDO DI CARBONIO siano connesse ai motori diesel e quindi siano costantemente ridotte dalle normative internazionali sulle auto, non dalla Lombardia.
Acqua. La Lombardia è stata una delle prime in Italia a privatizzare la gestione delle risorse idriche, con una legge regionale che però è stata ABROGATA da un referendum popolare; proprio oggi che si è aperto il WRF i lavoratori dell’igiene ambientale di Milano (e di tutta Italia) sono andati in sciopero, a seguito del decreto Ronchi che impone nuovamente la liberalizzazione.
Gestione dei rifiuti. Qui sale in cattedra Formigoni, indagato a suo tempo insieme alla Simec e a Paolo Berlusconi per corruzione, abuso d’ufficio e falso in atto pubblico in merito alla bonifica della discarica di Cerro Maggiore. Inoltre, la Lombardia non ha più il primato della raccolta differenziata, e nei comuni di Brescia e Pavia la situazione è da mani nei capelli.
Energia. Sarà anche vero che la Lombardia è la prima regione in Italia per la potenza degli impianti fotovoltaici; è però ugualmente vero che è quasi ultima per potenza PRO-CAPITE, segno che c’è un forte dislivello tra il numero di cittadini e il livello raggiunto.

Mi immagino uno scambio di vedute Schwarzenegger-Formigoni. Che diavolo mai potrà dire il nostro fantomatico amministratore, con un curriculum del genere? Non potremo mai saperlo, in ogni caso, visto che il meeting sarà rigorosamente a porte chiuse per i media: quel sovversivo del governatore…

D.Piselli

part of an ongoing series of columns I’ve written, reprinted from the TU Rambler.

November, 2009.
Most pharmaceutical ads I see usually say something about only being effective when combined with “proper diet and exercise.”  But what does that mean?  Last week we talked about eating healthy; this week, let’s talk about exercise.  Our culture seems to have an obsession with “getting ripped”, which I’m pretty sure is the male equivalent of girls starving themselves trying to look like Kate Moss, but instead we have protein shake-chugging guys going to the gym trying to look like men, at least the way a sculptor or an art director or Mtv says men should look.  But really, there’s no reason to try to become Ahnold Schwarzenegger.  When in life are you ever going to need to lift 400 pounds?

Like I said last week, if you want to see human beings at their height of physical fitness, you have to turn the clock back about 20,000 years.  If the lifestyles of modern-day hunter-gatherers are any indication, your ancestors were way more fit than you.  How’s this for analogy: Paleo-man is to ‘carved out of wood’ as you are to white bread.  Modern man is a flabby, out-of-shape wimp.  “But,” you protest, “I spend fifteen hours a week in the gym pumping iron and running on an elliptical machine!  Surely that makes me better than some hairy Ice Age brute.”

Yes, perhaps you are more outwardly muscular than Mr. Cro-Magnon Man.  But look at modern hunter-gatherers living on the savannah: none of them look like Kimbo Slice, or even Mr. T.  There is more to being healthy, fit, and trim than counting repetitions and bulking up and drinking Gatorade.  Our ancestors didn’t pencil in a block of time each day for ‘workout’.  Bushmen get their exercise in the course of their normal day, chasing gazelle, climbing trees, throwing spears or shooting a bow-and-arrow (chances are so did your great-great-grandfather, who probably had to chop wood, make tools, and plow his fields by hand).  While I’d like to be as hale as the former, I could happily settle for the latter.

Here’s a novel idea: instead of buying a Bowflex, buy (or even make!) a bow and learn to shoot it;  master some stairs instead of hopping on the Stairmaster; don’t run laps around the track, map out a route and take a jog around town (you might even take a bag and pick up trash along the way).

Human beings weren’t meant to get their exercise the way most people do now: under florescent lights, hooked up to a machine (identical to the one next to it), in front of a window, unable to feel the wind or the sun on your face.  We evolved in an ever-changing landscape, not separate from it.  A change of scenery can transform exercise from drudgery to fun, but the scene out the window of the [campus Athletic Center] rarely changes.

Schwarzenegger visits troops in Iraq

via Schwarzenegger visits troops in Iraq – Politics AP – MiamiHerald.com.

Arnold Schwarzenegger les devolvió sin la ley sin firmar a los miembros de la legislatura de California junto con la siguiente nota, donde la primera letra de cada oración forma un mensaje escondido, un elegante y muy formal FUCK YOU:

No lo tenía para estas sutilezas a Arnie.

Here in America we live in a land of plenty.  Our land is so rich that it only takes water to create bountiful harvests for our holiday tables.  When we sit down to feast on that last Thursday in November it is important to gives thanks for the valuable abundance produced by the people of our state.

With the drought affecting the west side of the Central Valley, farmers are trying to survive with their remaining crops on the east side.  Those who are not fortunate enough to have east side water, are dried up right out of business.  Now, with new releases from the Friant Dam, east side groves have become the next target of environmental extremists trying to destroy our land.

Before new water restrictions are imposed, it is important to see some of the benefits to our economy provided by our agricultural sector.  This is where it all starts.  This is where our food comes from.  Harvest time in Central California, means jobs, but only if you had water for your crop.

Jeremy Freitas of Freitas Farms describes harvest time in the walnut groves of his family’s agricultural business.

When we water walnuts we create a win win situation.  The crops produced increase wealth for many families who work our land. 

These are good people.  Hard working Americans who dedicate themselves to feeding the world.  And, as Jeremy describes, after the machine harvest the remaining nuts are shared with neighbors and friends throughout the community. 

These are the people who make our country free.  These are the people who make our country great.  These are the people who create jobs with water.  Without water, walnuts will wither.  Jobs then disappear.  One small grove generates employment for many workers, vendors, truckers, and corporations.

Our farming community is the most ecologically sound segment of our society.  The people here do everything known to man to preserve our environment and maximize the sun’s energy.  They generate more energy with their crops than any solar panel or windmill in existence.  The food grown here increases output at every stage of production.  Farmers are masters at capturing the sun’s energy and turning it into carbohydrates and proteins. 

Here Jeremy shows us a silage corn field that produces feed for dairy cattle.  The milks and butters necessary for holiday cooking come from corn-fed dairy cows.   

There is an art to this science.  Everything is measured.  It is essential to follow efficient practices in order to maximize the farm’s output.  Free market competition forces the family farmer to keep his land well-ordered.  Every inch of land is maximized for greatest efficiency.

So how many ears of corn do you get from each stalk?  Six to seven-foot tall stalks 6 inches apart fill thousands of acres of corn fields across our country.  Imagine how many ears are needed just to fill our movie theaters with popcorn.

Any environmentalist who supports diverting water away from the farmers is not an environmentalist at all.  They are complete hypocrites who are eliminating green jobs and increasing the costs of our food production.  In addition the dust storms are increasing air pollution.  Dry fields are brown, wet fields are green.

There is a science to irrigating such large acres of land.  Jeremy describes the irrigation systems for a tomato field in the west side of the Central Valley.

These irrigation systems require engineers to design the equipment, vendors to supply the sprinkler heads and pipes, and farmers to operate, maintain and monitor them.  All jobs that come from the wealth of the land as it uses water to produce its increase.

But the jobs do not stop there as the crop must be harvested and brought to market.  How is that done?  Once again Jeremy described the next step in the process that uses water to produce jobs and food for all of California’s families.

If you want to keep our country great.  If you want our state to increase jobs.  If you want to keep your freedoms.  Get involved.  The government of California is still adopting policies to reduce water supplies, drive up water rates, increase our debt, expand government power over our free markets, drive up energy costs, and develop an environmental police state.

The new water bill that has come out of Sacramento and was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger this past week is filled with flaws.  It is proof that bipartisan compromise just creates an endless bureaucracy determined to raise taxes, increase deficits, reduce supplies of basic necessities like water and electricity, and develop a new environmental police state eager to impose fines and penalties for those who just want to survive.  The Governor has failed to stand up for the people.  His attempt to appease his opponents has only created more unelected officials who answer to no one but special interests.

This bill adds $11.1 billion of debt to our state, reduces water supplies, increases rates, and dismantles hydroelectric dams across the Northwest.  California’s electric rates will rise along with the water rates.  This bill flies in the face of economic common sense.

It is time to stop this nonsense.  It is time for California to elect a Governor who is one of the people.  Someone who will represent the people and not the special interests.  Someone who will oppose environmentalists who devalue human life.  Someone who will bring our jobs back, our farms back, and our freedoms back.  In 2010 California will say good-by to the Terminator.  This time he won’t be back.

O texto do rodapé em vermelho diz…

“Governador “Suja as negas” demonstra sua força física erguendo uma Hummer H3 com sua bunda.”

To the absolute disgust and horror of the Republican party, Sarah Palin has decided to take another swing at the giant candy-filled Republican pinata. “Good lord this woman is like some monkey, some sort of deranged screecher monkey riding on the back of the GOP.” Said Shannon Blakely, a Republican party strategist. “Hey Sarah, thanks for helping us in New York.” She said of Palin’s decision to back a more conservative candidate for congress in New York, which wound up costing the Republicans the election. “Independents want absolutely nothing to do with her. I feel like getting a broom and chasing her out of here like some sort of bat. Get out! Please, leave us alone Sarah!” Shannon screamed while gripping her hair in frustration.

“Oh no!” Said Democrat strategist Brad Stephanopolis in thinly veiled mock fear, “Please Sarah, don’t run for the 2012 elections! We are very frightened of you! Your combination of good looks and political acumen are too much to overcome!” He continued as he clenched his fists and shook as if to appear scared. Brad Stephanopolis’ reaction is a common one among Democrats: hopeful that she will run in the 2012 presidential elections, but worried that she might figure out that they are all secretly hoping for it. At this point, it is unknown whether Sarah Palin will be running in the 2012 primaries, though signs point towards a Republican nominee bid. Never has a candidate inspired so much fury and confusion from their own party, nor as much “fingers-crossed” optimism from their opponents as Sarah Palin.  One of the biggest questions on the matter is whether Americans vote for name value alone.

“Americans tend not to elect celebrities,” said David Frum, a former GW Bush speechwriter, “Schwarzenegger is the exception, and okay, maybe Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura. Ronald Regan, sure, fine, but that’s it! They’re the only celebrities that Americans will elect. AND AL FRANKEN. Okay? Fine. Al Franken too. But that’s it. Fuck you.”

Link to original CNN article

Forty-six years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Gideon v. Wainwright, a case which first provided the right to counsel for indigent defendants in criminal cases.  In the spirit of that landmark case, Gov. Schwarzenegger recently signed AB 590, the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, which for the first time will provide a lawyer to people who cannot afford one in civil cases related to basic human needs.

The bill creates a six-year pilot project to provide free legal assistance for the poor in certain civil matters. Cases may include matters involving custody disputes, elder abuse, domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders, housing-related matters, probate conservatorships, and guardianships. The bill also gives priority for funding to providing legal assistance to parents embroiled in civil child custody disputes.

The bill was named after Sargent Shriver, Schwarzenegger’s father-in-law, who helped build the nation’s legal services programs in the 1960s and was the founder of the Peace Corps.

The bill was authored by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, who experienced the difficulty of meeting the legal needs of the poor while serving as executive director of Bet Tzedek legal services in Los Angeles. Speaking about the bill, Feuer said:

I think this legislation is exceptionally important … If you steal a box of Twinkies from a 7-11 and you’re arrested, you’re entitled to a lawyer. If your house is about to be taken away or you’re in a custody dispute over your child or in a domestic violence dispute, you’re not entitled to a lawyer. There’s something very wrong with that. It’s completely antithetical to who we are as a nation.

Of course, even the most compelling existing programs have been getting the ax during these difficult economic times. That’s why it may make sense that the $11 million-a-year program is actually fully self-supporting through existing court fees.

This is a monumental piece of legislation, and it could lead to a dramatic shift in the legal system.  Currently, more than 4.3 million Californians are believed to be unrepresented in court proceedings each year, primarily because they can’t afford an attorney. Legal aide operations are extremely under-funded, with current funding allowing legal services programs to assist less than one-third of California’s poor and lower income residents. As a result, many individuals are left to represent themselves when it comes to fundamental issues of human rights which in spirit and effect might as well carry the same consequence of a criminal conviction.

What’s more, providing attorneys to the poor in civil cases also makes economic sense. People who try to represent themselves overburden the courts, increasing costs and taking up valuable court time. With economic downturns actually increasing the number of civil cases such as divorce and custody battles, there is an even greater need to create efficiencies in the court system.  Thus, this bill has a good chance of both helping to service the interests of justice and saving money and unburdening the courts at the same time.

AB 590 takes effect in 2011.

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 1176 without my signature.

For some time now I have lamented the fact that major issues are overlooked while many
unnecessary bills come to me for consideration. Water reform, prison reform, and health
care are are major issues my Administration has brought to the table, but the Legislature just
kicks the can down the alley.

Yet another legislative year has come and gone without the major reforms Californians
overwhelmingly deserve. In light of this, and after careful consideration, I believe it is
unnecessary to sign this measure at this time.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Para fazer O exterminador do futuro 2, Arnold Schwarzenegger recebeu 15,3 milhões de dólares. Nesse filme, ele grunhiu cerca de 700 palavras – o que dá algo como 21.860 dólares por palavra. Assim, só a famosa frase “Hasta la vista, baby”, valeu 87.440 dólares.

. ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ .

Para hacer que el Terminator 2, Arnold Schwarzenegger recibió 15,3 millones de dólares. En esta película, el murmullo aproximadamente 700 palabras – que le da algo así como 21.860 dólares por palabra. Así, sólo la famosa frase “Hasta la vista, baby”, rendió 87.440 dólares.

Fra i membri del Ku Klux Klan nostrano che non comprendono che gli italiani non rientrerebbero nel concetto di razza bianca pura dei loro cugini di oltreoceano, un giornale (Il Giornale) che accusa un altro quotidiano della stessa parte politica di esser diventato di sinistra e Giovanardi che sostiene che la morte di Cucchi sia dovuta alla droga e alla mancanza di una legge sul testamento biologico… non viene da pensare che in confronto quella di Schwarzenegger sia una mirabile raffinatezza?

or: Newsom plays the part of Candy Corn in California, no one actually likes it

or: Brown defeats Newsom without raising a hand

or: Newsom drops out, feels like a jackass-o-lantern

(I know, what a copout using Halloween references, I disgust myself)

The only way to describe the latest development in the 2010 Governor’s race is both shocking and a little confusing. Up to this point Gavin Newsom has been trailing, and to a greater extent losing ground, to the unofficially running State Att. Gen. Jerry Brown in both poll numbers and fundraising. Newsom, who has been officially campaigning throughout California and on networking sites like Twitter and Facebook since April, dropped a bomb Friday when he issued a press release that he was officially dropping out of the race for Governor. Newsom cited a new family, and a strained inability to focus on his responsibilities as Mayor of San Francisco as reasons for his regretful withdrawal from the race. What this leaves is a vacuum of candidates on the Democratic side since Jerry Brown is the only name left and he is technically not even running a campaign yet, leaving the only show to watch right now the Republicans fighting tooth and nail amongst themselves for party candidate supremacy.

The Newsom campaign did not run as much as limp along fraught with struggles and setbacks trying to follow an Obama-like framework for a truly grassroots uprising for change and new leadership, for which Newsom was to be the glowing poster child. A young candidate, Newsom spent nearly all of his time working through online town halls, discussions, and direct mail equivalent campaigning with a very active Twitter stream and a facebook page where quite often you could ask questions directly of him for review on live streamed open forum appearances. Newsom tried to connect with the youth vote, his strong base of 18-39 voters. Though these were the least likely to show up to vote on the big day, he had to corner these voters since they were not as aware of Brown’s storied history with the state. In recent polls he did have a 9 point lead over Brown in this demographic, but Brown led strongly in every other category, including in San Fran, Newsom’s home base.

In fundraising Newsom had great difficulties getting contributions. On his facebook page, in fact, he sent out a request for the funds to buy a $400 dollar video camera so he could use it for the live stream broadcasts he eventually did almost every week. This plea for a cheap video camera is both symptomatic and evident of the kind of campaign he was running. Newsom had tens of thousands of supporters on facebook (I have cited this before in previous pieces) as Brown had a few thousand, yet it was obvious that these were not contributing constituents. Brown, without running or campaigning for funds, currently has millions of dollars he hasn’t even used yet while Newsom struggled since April to pull together just over 3 million dollars. Brown had not gotten off the bench and in to the game and Newsom was already way behind.

Some have speculated that Newsom never really resonated with the voter. The campaign platforms he had were a tough sell in California on the whole. Health care reform he touted on in San Fran, green jobs, etc., were not the kind of thing that were going to go over well in a struggling and desperate state like California is today. Newsom also seemed a little odd in his public vote on the Newsom campaign logo, a simple decision that brought as many snickers as it did votes. He also was looking to find out what policy and constitutional changes the public wanted him to have as opposed to just having these policies in place. As much as I have spoken out for direct constituency representation, it seems these are policies and platforms that need to be hammered out behind closed doors with your campaign manager and PR guys. His progressive message and ideas for the future were not conducive with the brass tacks kind of reform and infrastructural work that California is in need of; he was looking to landscape the backyard while the roof was caving in on the ‘house that is Arnold built’.

The departure of Newsom is not unexpected, it was going to happen sooner or later given the trends in his numbers, but the surprise is that it has occurred so suddenly and so soon. Newsom just last week issued his first online ad spot, he was putting together some constitutional caucus forum this week, and his logo was just decided a few weeks ago. At this point anyone with any Newsom campaign swag has collector items and memorabilia. He was beginning to gain some speed with Bill Clinton endorsing him and more appearances and cheap advertising, which felt like an introduction to something bigger. With all this preparation and items getting hammered out nearing the ‘365 to E-Day’ mark it seemed that he was gearing up to start making his run. Newsom needed a grand opening for his campaign, a big public forum, coverage, a big speech, pull a McGovern and attack the primaries. Instead he has pulled a Muskie and has to drop out of the race, San Francisco is his Wisconsin.

Brown now has the floor, a full pardon from campaigning or defending himself from in-party attacks or advertisements. The Republicans wouldn’t dare attack State Att. Gen. Brown before he even officially starts a campaign, plus they are just too busy defending themselves and attacking one another. Brown now has cart blanch on going about his business in his current position and coming off very respectable and astute in his lawsuits in defense of the little guy. Brown can now go on raising campaign funds without spending a dime. He is regularly in the LA Times every time he draws up another suit against credit card companies, or banks, or illegal business practices. Right now it seems that he is Batman to the average Californian, a defender of the night, shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Brown will simply let the curiosity of the public be his campaign for now.

Over the coming months Brown will cement his fundraising dollars and his campaign platforms. Brown is being savvy in not having swam around in the shark tank as of yet, staying above it all and just going about his business of protecting the state. Brown will, as Newsom should, have all his policies in line and all of the major points of his campaign platforms at the ready. When Brown comes out for the race, and trust me it will be a big hootenanny, maybe in Oakland where he was Mayor, or in LA, but most likely in Sacramento, it will attract state-wide attention. He will hit it huge, grab almost every headline, and leap in to the California news stream as the odds on favorite to win the election next year right from the start.

When might you be able to look for this news? I am not well versed enough in politics yet to know whether he should strike now or later, but I think it will depend on what other hats get tossed in the ring. Right now there are a few Democrats talking with advisors and checking out the polls as they take stock of their career and lives to see if they got what it takes to box with Brown for the top spot. With Newsom out, there will probably be a few weeks where speculation takes place (this is after all politics and speculation is 90% of what we do) but I don’t think anyone is going to be jumping in to Newsom’s shoes before the holidays. The primaries aren’t for 8 months and I think anyone who wants to make a serious run at Brown needs to take some time and really check out their P’s and Q’s as to not pull a Newsom.

I would look for Brown to make his campaign official in the next 30-45 days. I think a massive New Year’s Eve fundraiser would not be bad, Christmas party, etc. The photo ops he could have during this holiday season and the speeches about to enjoy the season in the midst of such struggle could be inspiring. A newly married man, he can tote family values and the things that are really important, and how he is the guy to help us all enjoy and protect those things. If Brown goes official before the first of the year then so does whomever wants to go hand to hand with him. The iron is hot right now for someone to come out on the Democratic ticket. I would look for a young candidate to run against Brown again, but if this new face is going to get officially in the fray they will need to speak up in the same time frame as I have set out for Brown. A battle against him after the first of the year if he announces in 2009 will be a more vicious uphill battle than anyone can handle.

One name has come up with the Newsom drop-out, one we have heard before and does not seem to be going away; Feinstein. Sen. Feinstein has come up again as a possible Democratic candidate despite showing no interest at all in the position. Why should she be? She has a cushy seat in a Democratic majority Senate with an Obama administration she is in love with while she is getting to be part of the greatest health care reform controversy this country has ever seen. She has a golden ticket as Chairwoman of the intelligence committee and a filibuster-proof senate which leaves the door wide open for Democrats to pretty much run Capital Hill. (Democratic white house, Majority in both the Senate and House as well as a fairly liberal Supreme Court, but that is just a side note) Why would she trade all of that for the job governing a shit-hole like California?

Speculation is going to go on for a few weeks, and I am glad that it will so I can get research done on those names that come up. Brown gets to just cruise for a while going about his business looking stately while Newsom goes back to San Francisco and fixes his approval rating in his own town as well as raise his newborn child with his celebrity wife. He never had much of a chance I guess, too progressive, no notoriety, a poorly run campaign, and the looks of a cross of Norman Bates of Psycho and Patrick Bateman of American Psycho…hmm, indeed. Newsom, when he set out on this campaign said he just didn’t want to embarrass himself. This is a poor mentality going in to a state wide campaign. A goal of this insecure and vain level speaks to the frailty of the man in the suit and the lack of conviction he held for his principles. Whatever the case may be, the next candidate will come from deep within the state, most likely another mayor or possibly someone from the House, but definitely a candidate that is a clear choice from Brown in the fashion of Newsom, but I am betting they will have their shit together from the start, or at least a logo.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced just a short time ago that he is withdrawing from the California governor’s race.

From the Wall Street Journal:

Despite launching his campaign more than a year ago, the 42-year-old Mr. Newsom had been trailing in the polls and in fund raising behind Jerry Brown, the state attorney general. Mr. Brown hasn’t yet declared his candidacy for governor, though he launched an exploratory campaign for the position last month.

Mr. Brown had $7.4 million in campaign cash after the January to June fund-raising period, while Mr. Newsom had only $1.2 million. A Field Poll released earlier this month gave Mr. Brown a 47% to 27% advantage over the San Francisco mayor for the June 2010 Democratic primary.

From Reuters:

“With a young family and responsibilities at city hall, I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to — and should be — done,” Newsom said in a statement.

His withdrawal leaves Jerry Brown, the state’s attorney general and a former governor, as the leading Democratic contender to succeed Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is prohibited from running again by California’s term-limits law.