WTF??--> Gary Locke, Ron Simms, and Gil Kerlikowske

Ron Sims

Gary Locke

Gil Kerlikowske

By Pablo Fanque
All This Is That National Affairs Editor

Man, if this is the cream of the crop. . .we're in for one rocky four years.

President Barack Obama's third pick for Commerce secretary is former Washington Gov. Gary Locke, a senior administration official said Monday. This office is starting to look like the piano player's slot in the Grateful Dead--a ticket to oblivion.

Locke, a Democrat, was the nation's first Chinese-American governor when he served two terms in the Washington statehouse from 1997 to 2005. Obama's choice of Locke arose less than two weeks after his most recent pick, Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, backed out. Just over a week after Obama named him and he accepted, Gregg cited "irresolvable conflicts" with the policies of the Democratic president. And after Bill Richardson bailed out early on, mired in some sordid money scandal. Gary also served as the King County Executive, a slot that the newly appointed Deputy Secretary also held.

Ron Sims - couldn't get elected Senator or Governor. But Obama wants him. I like Ron. I voted for him a few times. But would I have made him deputy Secretary? Probably not.

President Obama's choice to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy — otherwise known as the country's "Drug Czar" — is reportedly Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske. Having served in law enforcement for more than 30 years, Kerlikowske is "known as an innovator and fierce defender of community policing principles that emphasize relationships with citizens over force." He got the Seattle Police Chief job when Norm Stamper (a pretty cool guy, and now an activist for relaxed drug laws) presided over the WTO riots in Seattle.

Seattle appears to have a bizarre lock on high profile jobs in the new administration. Hey, BHO, if you can come up with something for our governor. . .!
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Poem: Tethers

Your tenuous hold on earth
Is disguised in your shadow,
Tethered to the ground
By the soles of your feet
And a theory of gravity.
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Video: The Beatles play Please Please Me, warts and all

I am always fascinated by The Beatles live performances, using PAs and guitar amplifiers far less powerful than what we see in 100 person clubs now. They couldn't usually overmatch the screaming. When I saw them in '66 in their second to last show, it was a murky jumble of sound, and the girl's screams won. And yet, it is amazing how good they were live, with the deck totally stacked against them...

Drawing: The 'Bot Master

click to enlarge

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Sean Penn's Oscar acceptance speech

I know some of my right-leaning friends don't much cotton to Sean Penn for his extra-vehicular, globe-trotting activities. But I love this guy--he's smart, loud, and talented. His personal life has been amusing to watch. Mostly, 'though, his heart is in the right place, and you have to admire someone who Stands Up. I liked his speech.





From Jeff Spicoli to Harvey Milk is a serious leap. . .but with Sean Penn, I like the extremes, and the passages in between.



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Painting: 44

click to enlarge
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A Street Sign In San Pancho

This photo shows a street sign in San Pancho a/k/a San Francisco, Nayarit in Mexico. San Pancho is maybe ten miles from Bucerias, where we've stayed many times. . .I could live there.



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Five Tattoos people may live to regret

Statististically, and otherwise, we are in the midst of one King-Hell tattoo boom. From 1995-2005, more tattoos were needled on than ever before, and more tattoo parlors opened than in any ten year span.

A Harris poll conducted in 2003 found that 16% of all adults in the U.S. have at least one tattoo. [1]

From 2005 on, it has possibly even increased...I just can't find any data past 2006. In late 2006, Flumesday.com collected the ten most pathetic categories of tattoos:

• The tramp stamp - the tat above the buttocks that skyrocketed to popularity with the rise of thongs and low-rise jeans.
• The Jailhouse tat.
• The teardrop
• Anything on the ankle
• Barbed wire "Nothing says, "I got a tattoo in the late '90s" like the barbed wire arm band."
• Anything on Mike Tyson's body. He has a Maori face tattoo and a picture of Mao on his arm.
• Something tribal
• Something misspelled (awsome for awesome for example)
• Your lover's name
• Chinese characters

Flumesdat also mention in their article that, unlike horn-rim glasses, beehive hairdos, and other fashion statements, tattoos are a bit more permanent.



Where do these folks even work? I mean, we're used to seeing 7-11 clerks and baristas duded up with tats and piercings, but not quite to this extent. . .

[1] I'm pretty sure the number approaches 100% in prisons:


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President Clinton tells President Obama "Speak up!"

click to enlarge POTUS 42

By Pablo Fanque,
All This Is That National Affairs Editor

Former President Bill Clinton spoke to ABC News' Chris Cuomo this week, giving President Barack Obama a grade of A on his first month in office, but also told him Obama needs to put on a more positive face when speaking to the American people about the economy, and perhaps even more importantly, must turn up the heat on the Republicans trying to derail his plans. [Ed's note (JB): This has to be a little weird for BHO, Pablo. . .I know how I've felt in the past, when the spouse of one of my employees told me how to run my business. But, then, none of those spouses were President for eight years either.]

"Look, the American people, I think, know The President has tried to reach out to Republicans."

Clinton said "it takes two to tango. I think there are some of them who really believe that just-say-no politics is good politics." He added "sooner or later, I think if he just keeps chugging along, just keeps the door open, invite 'em to every economic conference, invite 'em to every meeting, eventually, he'll start getting some votes [in Congress]."


click to enlarge BHO

In a showdown vote this week, only three Republicans in the Senate and none (!) in the House of Representatives voted for the Obama-endorsed $787 billion economic stimulus proposal.

Clinton said, "I like the fact that he didn't come in and give us a bunch of happy talk. I'm glad he shot straight with us."
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Alien Lore No. 149 - "Fireball" spotted over Dallas and Austin

A large fireball was spotted by hundreds Austin and Dallas citizens on February 15th, but local authorities have found no evidence as to exactly what the falling object might be.

Police from Dallas to Austin were barraged with calls describing a large egg-shaped fireball in the sky. Sonic booms were also reported. but authorities claim to have not been able to locate any debris on the ground.

Authorities confidently state that the "fireball" was "not a result of last week’s US and Russian satellite collision." No authority has, so far, come out and said the object was NOT of extra-terrestrial origin.


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Talking Heads and Laurel & Hardy mash up Slippery People

This is an incredible mashup of the Talking Heads playing Slippery People, mashed with video clips of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy dancing. Who'd have thunk?

The Tom Tom Club play Genius of Love

The Tom Tom Club (Tina and Chris from Talking Heads, and friends and family) play Genius of Love at a Talking Heads show (this may well be from Demme's Stop Making Sense film). When I lived in NYC, we saw the Talking Heads many times at CBGB, at the short lived CBGB Second Avenue, and in Central Park. I always loved watching Tina play bass. And she had great legs.


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