My latest assignment: press photographer

Last week at the eleventh hour, I was summoned to be official press photographer (although I prefer to be known as a photo-journalist) for some big event involving the members of the Enormously Vile Infamous Leaders. Apparently some important Mega-Lord was visiting. As always, the Captain can't get her act together and is too cheap to hire a pro... So I'm sent out with my five year-old, mostly-working, half-dependable D70. Enjoy.

My handiwork is visible on all three vehicles. You already know I designed the community bus.

Remember my green logo?

My first buswrap design. This bus is like a rolling classroom (with flat screen tv's) educating seniors and the disabled about taking public transportation. Hmm, I wonder who's inside...

We readily offer crash courses in driving. And we only hire the best drivers. You're not qualified unless you're able to make the bus look like this.

OMG!! Is that really Senator Blablah Bonkers??!! She's so much taller on television.

Reporter: Um Senator... Senator... Hey, this isn't really her! We've been tricked! It's a wax dummy! Oh wait, it's breathing...
Bonkers: Sorry boys, I was just having a rigor mortis moment. What? You think it's easy living with ice in your veins??

Henchman: You see Senator, this motor can shred a person into a hundred unrecognizable pieces. Now we just have to figure out how to get Carly to stand in front of the bus..."
Mayor Chucky: She's meeting with me next week. We can make it look like an accident.

Reporter: Mr Mayor, what are your plans beyond your term? Will you run for re-election?
Mayor Chucky: I'm currently in talks – or may I say "grunts" – with Hollywood for the next Addams Family movie. They think I'm a shoo-in for Lurch!

Bonkers: Let me tell you all, Obummer is a wimp! That's right, I said it! It was MY idea to waste these stimulus dollars for a fleet of unneeded hybrid buses and Prius vehicles to combat that ludicrous global warming concept. Yes, mark my words, this will be MY legacy! Because after I'm long gone and after the hybrids become obsolete... your children, and your children's children... they will all continue to remember me. How's that you ask? Because they will still be paying off the bill!! Muwahahahahahaha!!!!

Reporter: Senator Bonkers, with last week's crushing defeat in Massachusetts, is it true your party has lost touch with not only Republicans but Independents also? What can you do to reach across to the other side... to let them know you understand their frustration and feel their pain?
Bonkers: Quite frankly, what you are asking is impossible. I absolutely CAN NOT do that. I mean, how can you expect me to feel for the other half of the country when on most days I can't even feel the other half of my body?!

Reporter: Senator Bonkers, as a tireless champion for a woman's right to choose and protecting the right to partial birth and late-term abortions... in your opinion, when is a fetus considered to be a human being?
Bonkers: When it votes Democrat!

Social justice, ghetto style

WARNING: Lots of violence and obscenities. Turn down volume because action speaks louder than words.

This video was uploaded yesterday from the 10 a.m. Muni bus in SF Chinatown.

As someone who grew up in Oakland, I've been intimidated on the bus countless times. So to see someone fight back, I feel a sense of justice finally being served (30 years later). Like, finally... someone standing up to thug. I know this is a very rare occasion, and violence is never the answer, especially when the Bible tells us that vengeance belongs to the Lord and that we should turn the other cheek... But I do feel the need to defend ourselves and not be a doormat to the scum of the earth. So please forgive me for taking a little bit of pleasure in seeing the old Chinese lady open a can of whoop-a** on the unsuspecting aggressor – Like did I see a flying kick in there??

Now had this been in Oakland on AC Transit, and the roles were reversed, you know someone is gonna get killed. True that!

On the serious side, obviously an assault occurred. But Muni is more concerned in investigating why the driver didn't report the incident than the crime itself. Unbelievable! Oh yeah, and I hear a "significant number" of cameras on Muni buses don't work. Beware.

LINK: Matier and Ross

The world is changing

First off, sorry for the long absence. For the last two years I've been averaging two posts per week, but I haven't posted in 20 days. Thanks to my faithful readers for inquiring about my silence. I am fine. Just been busy. I'll try to blog fast and furious in the next couple weeks to make up.

During my absence I've noticed some action in my blogosphere. If you look on the right column, I've added a listing of active blogging friends you might know (and deleted the deadbeats). First, I would like to welcome Oli and his new blog, Inconceivable. Then Patty finally got off Facebook long enough to put in a few entries. And Stu even updated twice since my last blog! Twice! Wow, I've really been gone a long time!

Captain EO
When we were at Disneyland's Tomorrow Land back in August, the first thing I noticed was, "Hey, where's Captain EO?" Upon checking with Wikipedia, I see that Captain EO closed in 1994 :( That should tell you when was the last time I've been there.

With today's inaugural speech, I can't help but think about Jacko singing "We Are Here to Change the World" to Anjelica Huston in 1986. To me, the 80's always had the best music. It brought back great memories at a time when MJ was still likeable. Still normal. And still black. A time when Whitney was still sweet and not a crack queen. And the hardest rappers were Run DMC. Music has only gone downhill after that.

I listened to the speech today. Like many of you, I felt inspired. I felt hope. I know change is coming. But change for the better remains to be seen. Honestly I can't help but feel trapped in the back of a big bus heading in the wrong direction... But that's just me. In these violent times and crappy economical conditions, lets forget about today for a moment and relive the good times with Michael strutting his stuff. Nobody moonwalks any better!

America has chosen a new president

Sorry, I just don't see or feel the "hope" that everyone is talking about. Instead, what I do see is "change" – as in a change in our abilities to discern right from wrong. Nowadays it's all about rights, choices, privacy and tolerance – and as promised, our new president will be leading the charge, as well as the "change" on all those fronts. And I beg to differ, Mr. President, but living in the bluest part of the bluest state, I can truly say there IS a liberal America and there IS a conservative America. Unfortunately as history has shown, it's a lot easier for the conservative to become liberal rather than the other way around. But regardless of how I feel, he is now our president. He is now my president. So whether you voted for him or not, please remember to pray for our new president.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
I Timothy 2:1-4

Below is a commentary that should prepare you for the days to come. Click on link to read entire article.

LINK: America Has Chosen a New President

Given the scale of the Democratic victory, the political landscape will be completely reshaped. The fight for the dignity and sanctity of unborn human beings has been set back by a great loss, and by the election of a President who has announced his intention to sign the Freedom of Choice Act into law. The struggle to protect marriage against its destruction by redefinition is now complicated by the election of a President who has declared his aim to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. On issue after issue, we face a longer, harder, and more protracted struggle than ever before.

Without doubt, we face hard days ahead. Realistically, we must expect to be frustrated and disappointed. We may find ourselves to be defeated and discouraged. We must keep ever in mind that it is God who raises up nations and pulls them down, and who judges both nations and rulers. We must not act or think as unbelievers, or as those who do not trust God.

Who's your candidate?

I don't know how much you care about politics, but I work with, and carpool with, a bunch of liberal Bush-hating fanatics. They blame the war on him. They blame the housing crisis on him. And they even blame the stock market on him. I guess it makes people feel better to have someone to blame... So now all they talk about (other than their pensions) is the upcoming elections and how desperately they want a Democrat as president to "balance out the power" (even though Congress is already controlled by Democrats). Anyway, they're quite a passionate bunch to say the least. I usually try to zone them out by pumping the music louder on my iPod or pretending to sleep. They probably think I'm ignorant and sheltered because I don't share their passions.

The African-American guy in my carpool likes Hillary. The white guy likes Obama. Go figure... With all the attacks, the posturing, the promises... it's really hard to tell them apart on the issues. One has "vision" while the other has "experience," but in the end, they all promise the same thing, "change." Yeah, like change the subject!

Glassbooth.org
This week a friend introduced me to GlassBooth.org. This is a great website where you can determine for yourself which candidate best represents your values. You rate the issues most important to you and then take a brief survey related to those issues. Based on your answers, it will list the top three candidates that best identify with your beliefs. If you're curious as to why a certain candidate does or does not coincided with your morals, you can click on their name for a list of their views on a given topic, including a list of quotes and how they voted on certain issues in the past.

It only takes a few minutes. But it's worthwhile to find out who you should be voting for regardless of what you hear in the media. If you're a true Democrat or Republican, chances are your candidates will all fall along party lines. But it is still important to see where they stand on specific issues (immigration, Iraq, gay rights, etc.). And who knows, you may be surprised that you're a bit more liberal/conservative than you originally thought!