Ugly Betty Votes Hillary!

According to the button she was wearing during tonight's Presidential Debate.

Will there be an US Weekly spread of the Debate red carpet?  And should it be red? I hope it was a blue carpet. Sheesh.

You Know the Economy's Bad When...

...the casinos are having to lay people off.

I guess people just don't feel like gambling when they don't have money.

“Our business is such that people don't spend the same amount of money when they don't feel as wealthy,” said Jerry Turk, who runs the Pala Casino near Fallbrook.

On the other hand, the people I know would probably gamble away their last $5.

Bush takes a shocking stand

Against genocide! Wow. Way to come out strong. It's ballsy to oppose genocide.  Too bad we can't spend too much money on opposing genocide or intervening on behalf of victimized people 'cause we're so busy elsewhere with other stuff. Sorry guys! Better luck next time!

I Don't Get It

Is it okay to like it? Bollywoodification does make everything that much better:

Hillary and Obama: Making history before it happens

Snaked from LA Politica:

I know it would be hard for pundits to do, but maybe, if they just try a little bit, they could back the hell off making final determinations about events that are still unfolding. Like right now. All around us.

Remember that scene in Spaceballs? No?*

The LA Times has a teaser headline on its front page saying "Super Tuesday Could Cut Obama Down To Size." Seriously? Was he more than the correct size again? Just because of Saturday's South Carolina results? I'm not discounting his victory, I think it's great. But really, this was the year of the Hillary until Iowa and then again once we made it to New Hampshire, and, come Super Tuesday, it likely will be in some big states. And don't get me wrong, I would LOVE the national convention to be a nail-bitter of delegate lobbying and network newscasts, but, c'mon. Can we all have just, like, half a break?

*Dark Helmet: What the hell am I looking at? When does this happen in the movie?
Colonel Sandurz: Now. You're looking at now sir. Everything that happens now, is happening now.
Dark Helmet: What happened to then?
Colonel Sandurz: We passed then.
Dark Helmet: When?
Colonel Sandurz: Just now. We're at now, now.
Dark Helmet: Go back to then!
Colonel Sandurz: When?
Dark Helmet: Now.
Colonel Sandurz: Now?
Dark Helmet: Now!
Colonel Sandurz: I can't.
Dark Helmet: Why?
Colonel Sandurz: We missed it.
Dark Helmet: When?
Colonel Sandurz: Just now.
Dark Helmet: When will then be now?
Colonel Sandurz: Soon.
Dark Helmet: How soon?

TV, TV, Everywhere

Maybe you haven't been watching TV lately. Like, at all. But if you've ever turned it on, you've seen ads telling you to vote yes, vote no, vote clinton.

But what are all those Indians talking about anyway? (See the new Yes on Props 94-97 here.

The casino props, or Propositions 94 through 97, are probably the most controversial. Should we let 4 tribes down here add ALOT of slots to their casinos? [Let's ignore the whole fact that if we're going to pretend that gambling should be outlawed, then we shouldn't pawn it off on Indian tribes, so they can deal with the side effects and consequences of our hypocrisy, in an attempt to make ourselves feel better for taking over their country a few hundred years ago. I'm not even sure this is something I should be voting on.]

There's alot of reasons no and some reasons yes.

And, all those TV ads? While they've increased awareness from 43% to 70%, have they changed anyone's mind? Not really at all.

Other propositions? 93, which lowers term limits to 12 years but allows legislatures to spend it all in either the house or senate. There have been plenty of ads against it. Which pretty much means it isn't going to pass. Because, right, why would we want our legislators to have experience?

Pretending that our legislators aren't professionals, is like pretending the Olympics is just for amateurs.

Lt Gov Urges Students to Protest

I am so there.

The Lt. Gov is urging students to protest the budget cuts.

So much for bi-partisan support of the stupid budget.

It costs about $7,347 to attend UC San Diego for undergraduates who are state residents. That figure does not include housing.

It's good that housing around here isn't expensive or anything.

I know we pay a little less at SDSU, but still it's starting to get ridiculous. And my roommate's from out of the state; I don't know why she would want to come here. She's never going to be able to pay off her debt. Why would we want to encourage intelligent people to come to our state.

Don't Forget to Vote

Courtesy of Dr. Delores A Jacobs, over at The Center:

As the 2008 presidential campaigns continue to heat up, it is clear that our community will play an incredibly important role.

We are a sought-after voting bloc, as evidenced by nearly all the Democratic presidential candidates appearing in the LOGO/HRC Visible Vote forum, speaking exclusively about issues of specific concern to the LGBT and allied community, and the efforts of candidates of all parties to reach out to our community – for volunteers, for dollars and for votes. It is a fact – LGBT people and our supporters are an integral part of these campaigns.

We cannot afford to be passive in this process. We all have a role to play, and must take the appropriate steps to ensure that our voices are heard in 2008, and that can start by simply making certain that we are registered to vote.

If you are not yet registered, or have moved since the last election, you must register with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. There are three options to register – online at www.sdvote.com, by picking up a postcard registration form at the Registrar’s office (5201 Ruffin Road, Ste. I, San Diego, CA 92123), at any city clerk’s office in San Diego County, at the Department of Motor Vehicles, U.S. post offices and public libraries. Or, you can call the Registrar’s office at (858) 565-5800 and request a registration postcard.

If you are registered, but would like to receive vote-by-mail ballot, you can do so at www.sdvote.com or by calling (858) 565-5800. Voting by mail gives you the opportunity to take your time (two weeks) to complete your ballot and ensure that unforeseen circumstances like work, illness or travel, don’t keep you from casting your vote.

If you are registered, but would like to permanently become a vote by mail ballot voter, you can also do so at www.sdvote.com or by calling (858) 565-5800 and requesting the permanent vote by mail voter form.

For more information about voting in San Diego, please contact the Registrar of Voters at (858) 565-5800 or www.sdvote.com.

City Attorney Aguirre Subpoena

In case you haven't been following the saga of city attorney Mike Aguirre (I haven't), the State issued a subpoena in its investigation for info from several law firms that worked with his office.

For at least a few months, Bar investigators have been interviewing people about Aguirre's legal work, public comments and other behavior. The Bar licenses and disciplines the state's lawyers. It can mete out punishment ranging from a private reprimand to disbarment.

Basically, it seems our emminent attorney recieved improper payments and meted out improper case judgements. And I thought when politics and lawyers mixed punishment wouldn't be involved.

What's Going On This Week

Booze banned on beaches. Too bad.

Foreclosures are up 328%

The Governore decided he's pro-toll road.

Another Tijuana police official murdered. And you thought TJ was sketchy...

From the Left. Or the Right?

Steve Francis officialy entered the race for Mayor.

But, instead of the old 'no new taxes' Republican mantra, he seems to be trying to get some more votes from the left.

Makes sense, with more resgistered Democrats than Republicans in the county and no Democrat running for Mayor.

Of course...

Still, he criticized the mayor's support for gay marriage -- saying Sanders inappropriately let his personal relationships with his daughter and staff members cloud a policy judgment.

State of the City

Mayor Sanders made his State of the City speech today.

He plans to expand the Convention Center and add new ports of entry.

Of course...

In last year's speech, the mayor promised it would be "a year of action." At that point, he expected the city to have its credit rating back and return to Wall Street by summer 2007. The city remains stranded from Wall Street and that goal carried over again into this year's speech.

And it sounds like the Mayor may not have heard the word from the Governator that we're in a bit of a 'budget crunch'.

Fire Tech

It turns out when there's a fire going on, people aren't at home, they don't have access to computers and sometimes electricity gets cut off. Imagine that.

A panel was held to discuss better alert systems.

“Make sure Web site capacity is beyond your wildest dreams. Ten million hits is something we never imagined,” said Ron Lane, director of the county's Office of Emergency Services.

I don't know. I would imagine that during an emergency people might log onto the website for emergency services.

International Day of Action to Shut Down Gitmo

Apparently San Diego will be observing the International Day of Action to Shut Down Guantanamo.

So, if that's your thing:

Friday, January 11th NOON - 1pm
In front of the San Diego Federal Bldg and Courthouse
880 Front Street (near Broadway)

San Diefo Unified's Awesome Plan

San Diego Unified used $3Million in federal money that was suppose to go to low-income students for retiree benefits instead.

And how are they going to pay back that money?

"They're going to have to figure out where that money is coming from," said Camille Zombro, president of the San Diego Education Association. "But it's not coming out of [retirees'] pockets."

Way to focus on the big picture.

But, what is possibly even more stunning, was the district's plan that originally encouraged these people to retire by offering 7% of their salary on top of the regular benefits.

The $84 million plan was intended to save schools as much as $20 million a year by replacing long-serving, higher-paid workers with less experienced, lower-earning educators.

The offer proved so enticing that nearly 1,500 school workers quit in a single year -- almost 10 percent of San Diego Unified teachers.

And how do they pay for the retirements of these experienced teachers? By taking money from different child development, nutrition, Title 1 and ELL funds.

No, no, that was definitely a good idea. Especially since schools aren't about helping kids...

Gay-la

Happy New Year to all and in the spirit of parties:

Lake Tahoe's Second Annual Blue Gay-la

Five-Day Gay and Lesbian Celebration Includes Skiing, Snowboarding, Parties, Drag Races and Headliner Entertainment

Not sure whether I feel offended or inclined to go...