where grapes go to die

what a journey this weekend has been...

i'm a trainer/facilitator for camp courage, which took place in fresno this past weekend. imagine for just a moment what it must be like to be gay in a community that isn't open and accepting, a place that might look you in the eye and tell you, if you happen to be gay, that you're going to hell. the locals kept referring to it as 'the bible belt of california' and they would certainly know better than i. but the fresno i met this weekend, in that ball-room in the downtown holiday inn, will forever be a part of my story, and the lives my team touched and changed are now in possession of the tools, the network, and the mentorship to go out and change their world.

i believe in equality for all, and i find so much reward and personal satisfaction in helping organize communities, and empowering people to go out and make the world a better place. i also believe that the lgbt community is badly in need of a central theme of love and inclusion, and a leader who unites them in a fight for greater equality. that community, in particular, has for too long been united in division, perpetrators of the hate they wish to abolish, and mired in the self-pity and reactivity of the oppressed. but they want to change. and as far as i've been able to tell, it only really takes one voice to change the world, and my team and i helped nearly 200 new community organizers find the heart and the words to develop their own voice.

and i have a great deal of hope that the tradition we all began as campers united by obama, is spreading far and wide, and that the campaigns of this generation will be successful because they will carry that tried and true mantra respect, empower, and include...

ashley and i had a kick ass road-trip (both going and coming) that today took us through selma, california, 'the raisin capital of the world'. why is that so funny? well, because who can't stop laughing about the place where grapes go to die?

~k

dear austrian economists

you advocate laissez faire economics. you are screaming and crying and applauding rush limbaugh for claiming that barack obama is ruining america (sorry to burst your bubble, guys, but obama is too late), because he's pumping government money and regulation into the institutions now bringing down your precious free market.

the problem with your economic theory is that it assumes benevolence. it forgets that markets (even those controlled by themselves) contain a human element. and i think those rich, greedy fucks on wall street have already proven that there is little to no honor when there's a buck up for grabs.

it kinda reminds me of what the wickedness of man has done to that brilliant utopia carl marx once wrote about.

so long as human beings have a hand in the market and the government, things like laissez faire and communism will never be anything more than great ideas inimical to reality.

~k

endorsements from the music box steps

tomorrow is election day in los angeles, and there are some hot seats up for grabs. i've been watching and listening, and reading up on the goings on. and lots is going on.

i'm going to start with Greg Akili (check it out, standard caps ;)). "akili" was an rfd during the obama campaign here in socal. like many of us, part of his gig was camp obama, the difference being that he _was_ camp obama. he was our compassionate and instinctive leader. he was the organizer, the motivator, he was the epitomy of inclusion. akili's had a tough life, has made tough decisions when faced with tough challenges. he's has had to overcome a lot of shit, and still believes - and makes you believe, that 'yes we can'. he was born to organize communities, and you should want him shaping the education america needs in the next generation. Greg Akili, Community College Board of Trustees, Seat 6

next is Jack Weiss. i've met jack a couple of times. i actually like the guy, in spite of what you might expect. sure, there's those loud whinnies coming from the wealthy landowners moaning about the development coming in. i get it, it sucks. but the city's growing in a new direction, and even though it congests your streets, and moves your neighborhood further away from a suburban feel, it's not a bad thing for los angeles. development brings jobs, and builds communities, and i'm kind of okay with that. it's not jack's ideas, it's the rumors that his constituents can't stand him, and that he's regarded as the most disliked member of our city council (though this too phases me only a little bit, as our city council is more in my mind a club of douchebags (except for you, eric garcetti. i heart you and you're getting my vote tomorrow)). but jack's a smart guy, he's got good experience as a lawyer, a great education (extra points from me for that legal education), and i think he has a real opportunity to do some good work here in an area of politics for which he may be better suited. and i'm willing to give him a chance. all the better that he knows i'll be watching. Jack Weiss for City Attorney

i can't help but cheer for eric garcetti. i just like the guy. i've never met him, but i've heard him speak, i've heard his constituents remark that he's responsive and listens (he'll actually fix your potholes). and i've had such great experiences with folks on his staff, i can only assume he's as cool as he seems. no brainer here, and i really think this guy's got what it takes to do a lot more for los angeles. Eric Garcetti for City Council, District 13


The Ballot Measures
i am voting for the ballot measures, except E. regarding B (this is the solar energy one), there was some debate with my politico friends that made sense. the argument was that the oversight of the program would be in the hands of an already misguided and fairly ineffective city council (see above, "club of douchebags"), which could mean that little progress is actually made with installing solar panels into government buildings. the thing is, little progress is better than no progress, and the courage campaign, sierra club, the la county democratic party, and young progressive majority agree and i'm voting yes on Measure B

and the mayor... i think we all know how i feel about the mayor. but sadly, the competition leaves little room for an alternative. i mean, i'm not voting for tony, but slim pickin's on the ballot. i so badly wanted to love zuma dogg, but it's just not possible. i mean, i like the idea of what he's doing and trying to say, but his style of communication is so not okay for a mayor, especially the mayor of los angeles. in addition to zuma dogg, there are a couple of crazy anti-immigration candidates, some write-ins, there's craig rubin who put his name on the ballot to free the weed, some libertarian actor, and carlos alvarez. i like carlos. he's young, hip, and in this race because he's trying to make the world a better place. but he's too left, even for me (i mean, who knew there was such a place?). i envy his idealism, but am grateful i didn't have power when i thought as he did. so folks, it looks like i've talked myself out of carlos alvarez, and the mayor's box on the ballot altogether.

but i haven't talked myself out of the mayor's election party tomorrow night...

~k

perfume and airplanes

if there are two things that don't mix, it's your perfume in the seat next to me. and just so you know, i'd rather inhale the stench of whatever flavor of b.o. you're trying to hide than the toxic fumes of your frilly fragrance.

this rule also applies to offices, ballgames, concerts, and any and all other closed-quartered events during which you are subjecting me to your bad taste in aromas. trust me, you smell a whole lot worse with it than you would without...

~k

the long road home

it began at 1:00 pacific time, yesterday, when i left the office for the airport.

i parked, flagged down the shuttle, changed shuttles, was dropped off at the terminal, checked my tiny bag (i have to check my fucking bag because i travel with liquids, many more than will fit in 3-oz. containers inside of one small baggie. it royally pisses me off that i have to check my bag, and i'll probably never stop bitching about it, or that the inconvenience of travel does not make me feel safer on board planes, only more annoyed than usual), made my way through security (again, in case my annoyance sentiment was somehow unclear in my earlier parenthetical sidebar, i will reiterate again just how fucking annoying it is to deal with the "joys of traveling", the tsa in particular, and their really dumb rules), put down some cash for an overpriced piece of crap wrap, and sat down to wait to board.

we were meant to board at 3:00. at 3:15 the plane arrived. we boarded at a wee before 4. twenty minutes later we unboarded. at 5:00 we boarded a new plane. at 5:30, we were in the air.

at 10:30 i landed in st. louis, two hours later than i had planned to land in st. louis.

by the time i picked up my checked duffel bag, made my way to the rental car line, and got into my car and on the road, it was 11:30.

i pulled into my brother's driveway at 1:45 am.

it took me over ten hours to get from southern california to southern illinois. and to add insult to injury, it's snowing. and it's really, really, really cold. and i hate the cold. and i hate snow even more. thank goodness i love my family.

because i begin my trip back to southern california in 32 hours.

~k

manic monday

i almost never rant about my day job. because, well, i am one of those lucky people who digs a day at the office, and it leaves little to rant about.

but today.

today is different.

i just closed my door to cry. because after spending the last two fucking months pouring over every last detail for my 2009 budget, i just got a please-fix-it email from the budget guru that may as well have been written in japa-fucka-nese.

i hate numbers, i hate excel, i hate budgets, i hate today, and i need booze. NOW! where's that damn bottle i promised to leave in my bottom drawer for just these emergencies?

being kbd ain't all it's cut out to be. at least not today :(

~k

the light beacons

thanks to a reality check (i heart you, humanitarian friend!), my path has become a wee bit more clear.

i don't want to be a politician. i can't be. i wouldn't be okay compromising really important things for the sake of other really important things. i wouldn't be able to sleep at night. i would let politics and the deal-making break my spirit.

but because i do love me some politics, and believe that the gods had more in mind when they decided me a worthy recipient of this gift of gab, i'll be watching from the sidelines. and reporting to you, my thirteen readers, the whispers i hear from city hall, and whether or not your elected officials are being true to their message...

~k