Local bloggers

a good Mary Schmich piece on Larry McKeon

El Jefe Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan Dictator, who controls all the Chevron gas pumps that I pass by, has his XXL Haines in a lumpy knot over yesterday's Interpol announcement that the lap-top computer found in a backpack belonging to a bumped off FARC terrorist in Columbia that contains references to Senator Barack Obama in its evil menu of dastardly tricks is valid and untouched. Hugo protested that files of computer were altered by some Gringo scoundrels and ne'er-do-wells.

Interpol - the International Police Agency - said the FARC info is accurate - certainly if not legit. Hugo Chavez called the Interpol report 'A Clown Show!' Now what would Simon Bolivar say, Jefe?

It seems that Ayers/Chavez/Dohrn/Chesa Boudin/FARC and Senator Barack Obama have some parsing to do.




Hat Tip to one of my favorite tree stands of boffo news items and ripping yarns torn from cyberspace IBD Editorials!

If the fiasco that is the electoral college isn't retired, tying states' electoral votes to the national popular vote is a good work-around. It would give results that better represent the will of the people and make everyone's vote count.

one from Patricia Barber: Gotcha

If you're interested in gardens and want to see some in Riverside, check this out on 5/18. A tour that focuses on the Arts and Crafts influence on the house and garden is presented by the Frederick Law Olmsted Society of Riverside. It includes the gardens Jens Jensen designed for Frank Lloyd Wright's Coonley Estate. Cost: $35 in advance, $40 day of event. Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Call: 708-442-7906.

If you're looking for something fun to do with your friends or family on Memorial Day weekend, consider Bike the Drive. It's a major fundraiser for Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, our local bike advocacy, which does a huge amount to improve conditions and laws regarding bicycles and pedestrians throughout the Chicago area.

Starting your day (early) by enjoying the ride and the views on Lake Shore Drive on your bicycle is a pretty cool thing. The ride starts and ends in Grant Park. There's food and entertainment, including the band American English (Beatles tribute band). C'mon out and ride! Click here for more info.

Here's a post from another blog that really cracked me up.

NARAL endorsed Barack Obama who told Planned Parenthood that he would fight for the right of Mothers who choose to murder their babies. Choice, argues NARAL, is Justice. I don't think so. But let's take a look at what a Pro Choice culture, Red China, has done for women.

Chairman Mao, a Communist Icon, demanded, advocated and ordered Abortion.

Here is what happened to a woman named Mao - no relative.

From Wikpedia

Mao Hengfeng is a women's rights and human rights activist in the People's Republic of China. A mother of twins, she was reportedly dismissed from her job in 1988 because she became pregnant for a second time with a third child, in contravention of China's family planning regulations. Mao refused to have an abortion, and was subsequently detained in a psychiatric hospital. She gave birth on 28 February 1989, and notified on 20 March that she had been dismissed from her job for missing sixteen days of work. This was the period when she was giving birth and recuperating, as well as recovering from her ordeal in the psychiatric institute.


[edit] Appeal and petitions
Mao Hengfeng appealed against her dismissal under China's Labour Law, and was reinstated to her job. However, the soap factory where she worked disputed the ruling. Mao was seven months pregnant with her fourth child at the time of the appeal hearing, when the judge reportedly told her that if she terminated this third pregnancy he would rule in her favour. Concerned for the welfare of her existing family, Mao terminated her pregnancy against her wishes, but still the court ruled against her, apparently because she had taken sixteen days of "unauthorized leave" from work, and also for her original violation of family planning policies.

From 1990 to 2004 Mao repeatedly petitioned the authorities for redress for her dismissal from work, her forced abortion, and the denial of other basic rights including that of freedom of expression. She had also made several attempts to initiate legal proceedings against the authorities in relation to these abuses, but courts repeatedly failed to respond or refused to file the cases.

As well as actively petitioning authorities to seek redress for herself, Mao Hengfeng has also acted to safeguard the rights of others. For instance, she is known to have actively supported other people seeking redress over alleged forced evictions in Shanghai and Shanxi province, and is reportedly regarded by the Shanghai authorities as one of the city's most persistent and experienced petitioners. She is actively campaigning on behalf of other individuals arbitrarily detained in "Re-Education Through Labour" or psychiatric facilities, including women held for alleged violation of family planning policies.

She opposes arbitrary detention and campaigns for legal reforms that ensure redress and protect ordinary people against abuse of power.


[edit] "Re-Education Through Labour" and recent developments in Mao's case
Mao Hengfeng was assigned without trial to eighteen months' "Re-Education Through Labour" (RTL) in April 2004 after repeatedly protesting about various abuses of her rights. Her welfare allowances were discontinued, leaving her family in severe financial difficulties. Many people in Shanghai openly demonstrated in support of her.

Since her release in September 2005 she has continued with her protests and has suffered further abuses along with her husband, Wu Xuewei, who was reportedly beaten by the police and may face criminal charges. Both are at risk of further human rights violations, including arbitrary detention and torture or ill-treatment.

On 13 September 2005, Mao and Wu were both reportedly beaten by police when they gathered with over a hundred other petitioners at Putuo District Court in Shanghai. They were supporting Xu Zhengqing, a petitioner who was facing trial in connection with his attempts to attend a memorial service in Beijing in January 2005. Along with dozens of other petitioners, the couple was detained by the police. Mao Hengfeng managed to escape and tried to continue her protest on behalf of Xu Zhengqing. However, she was detained again and sent back to her residential district, where local police and government officials apparently threatened her with imprisonment if she continued her protests and presented her with a formal police summons for investigation on suspicion of 'disturbing the normal lives of others'.

From 23 to 27 September, Mao and her family were reportedly held under a form of house arrest after she stated that she would go to a United Nations representative office in Beijing to protest about the abuses. Seven police officers reportedly stood guard in front of her flat preventing her from leaving, even to go shopping. On 29 September she was again placed under house arrest; an official told her that this would continue until the end of the fifth plenary session of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party on 11 October. The following day, three police officers and seven District Official Guards were stationed in front of her house. She was warned that she would be detained or face violent treatment if she tried to break out.

Amnesty International is following Mao's case, and this entry has been taken mostly from their article on her.

Choice ? Looks more like Death, Torture and Imprisonment.

John McCain is against Abortion. Barack Obama is for Abortion. I am for John McCain.

Click my post title for John McCain on Human Dignity

While the increase in gas prices has caused a lot of hardship in this country, we still have it easy compared to many other countries.

Here's a cool bikey blog.

It appears that Rev. Al Sharpton, The Godfather of Stole, is being asked by the G to buckup $1.5 M! Yeow! Good God!

Now that will put the Crown Heights Yarmulke Yanker out in traffic.
Stop the Bus!

Click my ost Title for Al's debt to society - Keepin' It Real! Death and Taxes, two to go, Al.

Here's a listing of LOTS of garden walks throughout the Chicago area, starting this weekend.

Check out Gemma's Garden.

Two funnies from San Francisco: Bad Reporter and Mark Fiore.

If you oppose the construction of any new buildings in Grant Park (including the Children's Museum), click here to sign a petition. IMO, Garfield Park would be a much better location. A children's museum would complement the Conservatory very nicely.

This morning I needed to take a cab from the train station to work because I was having trouble with my ankle and finding it difficult to walk. Usually I enjoy walking, so I rarely take cabs. When I got to the office, I handed him enough for a $0.50 tip on the $3.60 fare. As I got out, he said "hey, wait a minute. There's a $1 surcharge." I asked, "What surcharge?" This was a trip of less than a mile with no extra passengers, no luggage, no extras of any kind. "$1 surcharge because of gas prices." I looked in my bag and came up with a bit more change, still $0.10 short of the $4.50 he wanted. "Sorry, pal, but that's all the change I've got. If you want more, you've got to break a twenty." He gave me a disgusted look and drove away.

Sheesh! It's not like I take cab rides every day. How was I supposed to know that this new measure had just passed - like yesterday? Found this item online when I got into the office.

A new taxicab surcharge linked to fuel prices is now in effect. If the price of gas remains $2.70 or higher for a week, the surcharge is 50 cents/trip; if $3.20 or more per gallon, then the extra fare is $1. (Looks like $1 for sure, based on the prices seen around town these days!) The cabbies would have liked an even greater fare hike to cover rising fuel prices, while riders, especially those making short trips, will be particularly affected (as the surcharge is the same for two blocks or twenty miles). This surcharge will be in effect for at least a year, when a permanent fare increase can be considered.

It's nice to get http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-cta-track-work-webmay15,0,7532255.story" target="new">good news for a change.

I was watching Chicago Tonight's coverage of today's repeal of the foie gras ban and laughing hard at this priceless moment: King Richie saying "Thank you, Joe 'Foie Gras' Moore," in front of the Council and press, at the end of the vote.

... will be back soon. The Beverly farmers market opens its season on Sunday 6/8 at the 95th St. park and ride lot (at Longwood). At the Federal Plaza downtown, it started yesterday.

Here's a complete listing of area markets. Check your area and places you visit often. There are a bunch of new ones added this year.

For a guide to what's in season at various points in the summer, click here.

Buy all you need to garden organically at the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse plant sale. The greenhouse will sell more than 150 varieties of organically grown vegetable, herb and flower seedlings at this annual sale on May 17 & 18. Plant prices range from $2 & up. Kilbourn Park is located at 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave. Click here for more info., or call 773.685.3351 or 773.685.3359.