Euro Barack:Clever Media Relations Strategy

Presidential Candidate Barack Obama is standing next to President Sarkozy answering journalist’s questions about creating a common global agenda. Yesterday he spoke in Berlin. He’s positioning himself on an activity schedule that a president would.  I’m sure this is intentionally done, not just to create a fan base among voters who want world peace, but to prove he’s capable of touring like a President. In the process, he looks like one.   Clever boy.  The point that validated my observation  was when a French reporter asked him to specify how many troops he would move.  Barack said, “I’m not the president.  I am a United States senator.”

The Right-wing armpit.

AIDS! AIDS! AIDS!  Nothing shines a philanthropic light upon an individual quite like an effort to combat a deadly STD.

This afternoon Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde are out proselytizing the American majority’s values, seeking votes to pass their H.R. 5501/S.2731.

Their bill reeks of the right-wing armpit.

Lantos N Hyde mildly distorted the old United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2003 , trading out some old passages for newer ones rife with antiquated modes of thought.

Like no one in America has AIDS.  Pff. Check out Section 101 (Z). It reads, yada yada yada we want to implement “specific strategies developed to maximize the capacity of health care providers,  including faith-based and other nongovernmental organizations, and family planning providers  supported by the United States Government to ensure access to necessary and comprehensive information about reducing sexual transmission of HIV among women, men, and young people, including strategies to ensure HIV/AIDS prevention training for such providers.

Uh… Separation of church and state?  What happened to that? Civil servants shouldn’t have any clout in religious matters.

Anti-gay, monogamy-promoting, abstinence-glorifying verbage permeate the bill.  Part of their “prevention training” includes telling boys don’t drink alcohol, but do mutilate your genitals.  You know what they say about foreskin… They’re ransacking 15-million dollars from American taxpayer’s paychecks for this crap.  The 48-billion wasn’t enough? Jesus.  Can we get some deo on this B-O?

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:1:./temp/~c110EaZ4ck:e22504:

In The news

The Senate couldn’t decide what to do about gas prices and climate change…so they went home to blow stuff up.   Both parties have gone home for the 4th of July holiday, leaving tax breaks and renewable energy production documents in the chamber.   Really dispelling that “do-nothing” Congress nickname, guys.  Not saying that Congress did nothing this year.  There was that stimulus package and of course the Iraq funding.

Arshbishop Raymond Burke heads up the Vatican Supreme Court now. As of yesterday, he is the first American to hold the position.  The Archbishop from St. Louis is the one who denied communion to John Kerry because Kerry supported the right to abort.   What about the right to say, “No father I have not sinned.”

It’s hard enough to walk a few miles in sneakers.  But Neil Sauter crossed the state of Michigan…in stilts.  Two months and six stilts later, Sauter had travelled 830 miles.  And raised more than 64-thousand dollars for cerebral Palsy.  What a noble carnie.

Meatless Wieners

As we sat on a teal bench in Shutlz Garten, I took a look at this thing that I had created. It was veggie dog with 3 squirts of sauce: Stubb’s BBQ sauce, mustard, and ketchup. I was insanely hungry and had 40 minutes to kill. For some reason unknown to anyone in my immediate area, the Veggie Dog Eating Contest didn’t start on time. So I ate. It wasn’t too bad. It didn’t really taste like anything except saucy bread.

Two Guys wearing Karate Kid head scarves posed for the cameras. The guy under the green pennant in the picture, whom I recognize from somewhere,stood to their left stretching his arms. Friendly locals gave each contestant 10 plain hot dogs. “You don’t have room for condiments!” a mildly intoxicated man yelled. The Score from the Rocky Balboa movies pumped up the crowd.

Last year’s second-place winner Sean carried his trophy with him for good luck. It was a little hot dog with arms holding its full belly, face contorted in painful joy. He was really excited to be interviewed. He had a whole cheering squad with him. They wore papers with hot dogs drawn on them that said “Sean” on the wiener. We didn’t stay long enough to see how he did. It started raining and the beast demanded another story.

Going out with photogs is all right when it’s not so hot outside.

The Wait

When the lighting struck, the sky burnt green. A wall of gray green rain raged past the front of the Wells Fargo sign, making it almost impossible to read. The droplets flew through the sky cutting a path almost parallel to the ground. What was originally just a peek outside the window to watch the lighting flash, turned into a holy shit I need to move my car before the hail hits it.

Where the hell were my keys!?!

Clothes were angrily banished to the corners of the room.  I became the tornado. The adrenaline began to course through my veins when I emerged into the wild. I leapt over the tree branches and fallen debris, looking to they sky, hoping that a branch wasn’t going to conk me on the head before I was able to move my car. Had it been hit by the hail? How much does it cost to fix hail damage? I just paid tuition. And just washed my car. Damn.

Leaves accosted me on the way, their freedom from the burden of product accumulation mocking me. A fraternity of leaves had swarmed my car, bringing their seeds and semen to the party. So, I moved my car. And the damn dirty oak gave me a rash.

I’m wide awake now. What to do? Do I go to sleep, or just wait for the next blow?

Shh. shh.. Are those birds chirping? Are they flocking to the east so they don’t get hit by the rain?

Weather.com shows a storm movin’ towards Austin… ETA 5 a.m.?

The Power of Plastic

I’m not big on sports. I have in fact been quoted as saying, “When people talk sports, my eyes glaze over.” But this weekend, changed my perspective on emotional investment in professional sports. I went to the FedEx Kinkos Classic on Saturday to hang out with good company and drink in a picturesque environment. This semester has been the roughest semester EVER, so I needed time to let my eyes glaze over. A place where cell phones aren’t allowed. A place where I don’t have to fill the dead air. In fact, silence is enforced. Where better to do this than in a manicured environment where plastic reigns?

So I put on a really cute outfit, grab a visor to shield my eyes from the sun, and we hurried out to make Fred Funk’s 12:50 tee time at The Hills. I didn’t even drink coffee. NUTS right? This year, we had to park in the public lot and take the shuttle to the course which made us late. Ah well. We tried.

On the course, a class hierarchy unfolds. People are expected to wear their badges on their clothing, so that the course employees know upon sight whether a spectator is allowed to be where they are. Your badge sizes you up. It becomes your status. Like your coat of arms. Or rank. Let’s just say, every time I go out there, I get into at least one or two conversations about my badge. Just random people…The old men who volunteer to marshall crack jokes with you when you’re wearing the plastic- not the paper. Or maybe that’s because I’m a woman.

An image release is printed on the back of the paper admission pass, detailing how the media will not compensate you if you are in a shot. Although it is implied that you know what’s up if you’re wearing the plastic, you still have the right to litigate?

Oh the power of plastic in America.

The Whiff

So , somewhere in between the 4^th and fifth drink, I find myself on the 8^th or the 9^th hole. I don’t remember which one. Fred bogied it. His wife had aggravated him in an attempt to get him mentally back on track after he missed some putts that could have lowered his score. Right after that, he sliced the ball off the course beside some bush.

Out of all the areas to land, it lands in the one spot with a ridiculously large bush growing on it. He tried standing over the bush and getting to the ball; but couldn’t just couldn’t get it. So he hit it left-handed. OMG. He took some time to assess what he could do then decided he was going to just punch it out and hit a really long three wood into the green 275 yards out.

So, he’s swinging left-handed with a right-handed club, meaning he had the club face awkwardly tilted down, the ridges facing down instead of across, so that it was aimed at the ball. That shit is crazy. I thought he was taking a practice swing. His left arm must have been tight or something. He took the swing and pulled up a little early totally whiffing it. But that stroke was counted. He was so robbed. Considering the 1.6 million dollar purse, that shot cost him thousands. Potentially more than 200K.

How odd is it that I just wrote that? Me? Ms. Non Sports.

Booze Clues

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner. Most people around here know it as Drinko de Mayo. But why is that?

Origins of the Cinco de Mayo:

May 5, 1862 was the day General Ignacio Zaragosa led Mexican forces against the French and won. No one really celebrated that day until about 100 years later. Los Angeles Recreation and Parks commissioner Riordan decided to use the day to market the Coors beer distributors he owned. He took advantage of the Chicano movement, acknowledging the buying power of the Latino community. Calendars were printed that showed Chicanos and Mexican-Americans looking like yuppies while objectifying women. He sponsored all sorts of events and passed out free beer at community celebrations.

Mexican Americans had been boycotting Coors because they had fired workers because of their race. The beer company was charged in 1969 with racial discrimination and found guilty a year later. In 1985 The National council of La Raza made a pact with Coors. Call off the boycott and we’ll give Latino organizations 350-million dollars

Coors became the good guy and the slogan emerged “Drink a Coors for La Raza.”

In 2002->

Coors still donates money. They have a whole diversity strategy.

In 2008, a lot of people celebrate the holiday in America, but don’t know why. They just know they like margaritas and Mexican food and intend to partake in them. No one celebrates the holiday in Mexico.

And now, you’re in the know.

Update

I spoke with Adan Tuesday afternoon to clarify the result of that meeting I mentioned in my previous post.  He said the charges brought against him by the other Sergeant were determined to have to merit or ability to justify any demotions or loss of pay.  The issue of the violent attack was not addressed as there was no formal complaint filed.   Evidently incidents like these are commonplace and the guys do not complain about them to retain the social bonds they formed upon arrival at Pendleton.    Adan’s request to be transferred to a different department was granted.

Surprise, Surprise, the whole thing gets swept under the rug.

He said he just wants to forget about it until November when his service contract ends.

Rape victims also decline to discuss things in order to deflect the conflict that would arise from conversations of abuse.

The squeeze-my-eyes-tight-and-try-to-think-of-something-less-awful-until-it’s-over method.

Racism at Camp Pendleton

Mexican American life in the Marines

On Friday, March 28 at 1900 hours while Marine Sergeant Adan Castañeda was buying food at Ralph’s, Castañeda received a call on his cell phone from Sgt Hahn.

“Just one question. How does a stupid wetback like you pick up sergeant anyway?” Hahn said.

“What?” Castañeda said,

Hahn says, “You heard me you stupid beaner.”

Castañeda didn’t want to make a scene at the register so he hung up.

Hahn is white. Castañeda is Mexican-American.

This isn’t the first time:

Castañeda is constantly being told things like:

“Where’s his green card? We should get his ass deported back to Mexico. He’s in good shape because he spent his whole life running from I.N.S. , border patrol, and the police. We’ll deport you if you don’t take out the trash for us. “

Adan was born in Texas.

Why I’m freaking out:

On Tuesday, April 22 at 0900, all the marines are supposed to be into an office “to work it out like men” in a non-official meeting (which means no right to legal counsel) at the command of a Sgt. Major.

“I’m either going to get my ass kicked or we’re going to talk it out. Probably not though. If you can’t get a hold of me on Wednesday, I’m probably dead. If it looks like a suicide, blame it on Sgt Major. Connally (sp?) a major from 2-5. I’m not planning to disappear or anything like that. If I go U.A., the marine corps killed me and buried me in the desert, ” Adan said Friday April 18.

It began March 4, 2008.

Sergeant Hahn, platoon commander of maintenance, was making an announcement. No one could wear headphones during 7:30 a.m. jogging session.

Castañeda says, “Yeah because if we have headphones in you won’t be able to hear the mortars going off and you could die.”

Hahn is enraged and starts yelling to establish his authority in front of the others. He files a complaint with Master Sergeant Soltero, saying Castañeda was acting belligerent.

Castañeda says Hahn says things to him that are racist, discriminatory, and humiliating in an attempt to single him out to subject him to a form of hazing which is intended to disrespect his Mexican heritage and make him appear foolish in front of a crowd-all the time.

Currently, Hahn is trying coerce and demoralize him into accepting a demotion which would strip him of his rank. Adan Castañeda has a certificate of commendation, and a meritorious mast for outstanding service, has served this country in Ramadi and Karman, and has had no disciplinary problems in the past. Since they’re both Sergeants, the only difference in authority level right now is that Hahn is platoon commander of maintenance.

April 12, 2008: The drunken attack

While Castañeda was on duty, a drunk Corporal Samens comes back to the barracks late. He comes up behind Castañeda, puts him in a head lock and starts punching his head. Castañeda grabbed his arm and wrestled his way out of it. But then when he told Lt. Colonel Allen, Allen did nothing for 48-hours.

Castañeda went to his Military Lawyer Captain Tetzloff; but Tetzloff refused to even look at the documents or evidence, saying he can’t do anything. Is he trying to cover it up and protect the corps? He’s supposed to represent enlisted men not blow them off. Adan can’t afford an attorney on his salary.

Why doesn’t a lance corporal get put on a working party before a sergeant?

Recently, Hahn told Castañeda to pull the weeds in front of the regiment company office all by himself, by hand while Hahn was going to watch through a window in an air-conditioned building. When Castañeda asked for a working party to help him, Hahn and Staff Sergeant Z. told him they couldn’t find one extra marine to help.

“They’re trying to come up with ways to haze me without making it look like hazing,”Castañeda said.

When Castaneda wanted to talk to his Lt. Colonel, Hahn told him he couldn’t, saying “You need to pick up this shit now; you can talk to him later.”

Castañeda says Hahn is a poor leader, a bad example of a marine, and an embarrassment to the Marine Corps. He wants to be transferred, because he doesn’t want to be subjected to this physical and mental abuse anymore.

Right now Castañeda is scared for his life.

It has escalated to the point where the maintenance team is ganging up on him, siding with the commander of s-7, Hahn.

Sgt. Hahn continues to slander him to the rest of the team, alienating him from his peers.

My 2 dollars:

I don’t understand why minorities in the military just take it when people make racist remarks to them. I’m glad that Adan is finally refusing to take it any longer.

What kind of sick establishment is this that allows the verbal and physical mistreatment of individuals in the workplace based upon the color of their skin? In the real world, would this Hahn guy be like Austin Police Department’s Sergeant Michael Olson who used excessive force against minorities without reprimand until one was killed? It’s only through career paths such as the military that guys like Hahn are given this kind of power. Hazing is illegal. They’re singling him out. How many of these marines are white compared to how many are not? I am disgusted by the entire ordeal.

This is my brother. He has put his life on the line for this country. He doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.

I’m researching whether you can you sue for slander in the military. Hahn’s comments are defamatory, false, said in the presence of others, Adan is clearly identified. Hahn is obviously at fault because slanderous statements are harming Adan’s social standing. He intends to humiliate. It’s a my balls are bigger than your balls /are you going to talk back to me so I have a reason to fight you even though we’re technically the same rank scenario.

If I were in California and this wasn’t my brother, I would do a news story on this. This is a BIG deal. I’m calling the ACLU.

-Vanessa Castañeda

SwiftKids

OH man. These videos are hilarious.

The Obama Snow Job