CALIFORNIA "BLUES"

On November third, voters created a wide, red swath across the maps radiating from our TV screens, with the notable exception of California, and especially, the Bay Area. Staying "true blue", California elected a democratic governor (Brown) and senator (Boxer) in two big races that were being watched nationally. In another race, democrat Nancy Pelosi defended her seat effortlessly.  Democratic candidates from other parts of the country stayed as far away from Ms. Pelosi and her health-care bill as possible, but Bay Area voters chose to continue their embrace.  Also going into the “blue” column, Prop B, the proposition that asked city workers in San Francisco to contribute some, or in the case of fire and police personnel, to contribute a bit more, to their retirement funds, failed. 

Historically, California leads the charge for change, but this election cycle California dug in its heels and continued to support old-guard Washington and Sacramento favorites.  Does the rest of the country know something that California doesn’t?

I was baffled at the animus hurled at Meg Whitman for spending so much of her personal wealth in an effort to get elected governor.  Spending your own money and not being beholden to any special interest should be a good thing.  Mr. Brown does not have Ms. Whitman’s personal wealth, but what he does have is the support of the unions and the mega-dollars that go with it—a combination that proved formidable for Meg Whitman, as it does for most politicians.

Ms. Pelosi is another darling of the labor unions.  The Washington Post recently reported:

Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said Monday that “America’s public employees and all working families have never had a greater champion than Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.”Barbara Boxer was also a beneficiary of the union’s largess.  Big labor loves democrats.  So what's the problem?

CALIFORNIA IS BROKE:  it borrows 40 million dollars a day from the Federal Government. The Wall Street Journal reported today that Governor Schwarzenegger has called a special session to make mid-year budget cuts to deal with California's deficit, which next year will grow to $25.4 billion dollars, double previous forecast.

Unions at the municipal and state levels are taking California to its knees by demanding salaries (which on average are twice that of private sector salaries) and overly-generous pensions and health-care benefits.   More money is directed toward unionized California prison guards than to our once-enviable, but now-declining, California State University system.  When the UC trustees recently announced yet another tuition increase, they also made clear that more student aid would be available for low-income families.  Wealthy families will still be able to afford to send their children to one of the University of California schools, and so will low-income families because of tax- payer support.  The big losers in this game are the middle-class taxpayers that aren't union:  between higher taxes, fees, tuitions, and trying to save for retirement (unlike union workers, these private sector workers have to fund their retirement plans themselves), these middle-class worker's paychecks are stretched too thin and they are starting to wonder why they are sticking around.

For the first time California did not add congressional seats after the census. More people are now leaving the state than moving in.  Businesses have fled the big-labor, big-tax state in droves.  Politicians love to wax poetic about jobs and protecting the middle class, but when push comes to shove, their main goal is simply to get re-elected--unions win, the middle-class loses.

The rest of the country has watched the labor strife in Greece and France and has taken heed.  Fiscally conservative candidates were overwhelmingly elected this month to state and federal offices.  Even liberal and labor-loving New Jersey has seen the light--earlier this year they elected Chris Christie to bring the unions in line with private sector workers in an effort to save their state.

At seventy-two, incoming governor Jerry Brown could decide to retire in four years, in which case he might stand-up to the unions and put California on the road to fiscal health. If not, instead of California Dreamin’, the state will be singing the "bankruptcy blues."

SAVING SAN FRANCISCO

From Greece to Vallejo, California, countries and cities have been fighting to stay solvent.   San Francisco could soon be facing its demise if pension reform is not addressed.  Public Defender, Jeff Adachi, in a bold move, has decided to take on the powerful unions in an effort to save San Francisco from fiscal disaster by spearheading pension reform. 

At a recent gathering at the home of a concerned citizen, I learned more about SF Smart Reform (which will appear as Proposition B on your ballot in November) and was surprised, in fact shocked, by the numbers supporting the need for pension reform.

Government workers have historically received generous pensions because they made lower salaries than their private sector peers.  Not anymore!  At a $93,000 average per year salary, City employees earn over double that of private sector employees who average only $46,000.  An April article on SFGate.com stated: “More than 1 in 3 of San Francisco’s nearly 27,000 City workers earned $100,000 or more last year – a number that has been growing steadily for the past decade.”  

Take a look at The San Francisco Employee Retirement System (SFERS) vs. private sector retirement plans:  Private employees fund their retirement accounts (generally 401(k) or IRAs) and when they retire they get back what they put into these accounts plus (or minus) any monies made (or lost) via investments.  While 401(k) and IRAs are generally conservatively invested, they are not guaranteed.  Public pensions on the other hand are guaranteed, if they lose value the taxpayers have to ante-up the difference.

San Francisco’s pension and health-care costs rose from $175 million just five years ago to $525 million this year; it is expected that within two years the city will be paying $675 million.  This is simply NOT sustainable—even with a healthy economy.  Mayor Gavin Newsom has said that he has already addressed pension reform.  For specifics go to this site: http://www.baycitizen.org/budget-crisis/story/newsom-already-reforming-pensions-my-way/.  An advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger who is intimate with the numbers assured me that Mayor Newsom’s efforts at pension reform were akin to “rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”  Very few politicians are willing to tackle pension reform in a meaningful way, and for good reason:  unions are huge contributors to their campaigns.  Make no mistake:  PENSIONS WILL HAVE TO BE REFORMED BY THE VOTERS.  Politicians will continue to ask taxpayers to pay more taxes and fees rather than take on the unions.

Union leaders will frame this debate as David vs. Goliath—and they are right—but what they won’t tell you is that they are Goliath.  They bused protesters, replete with band, to the meeting that I attended.  They WILL turn out to vote.  They want you to believe that this proposition takes their pensions and health-care away.  It doesn’t.

What Prop B will do as quoted from the Yes on B website:

Require all city employees, including elected officials, to contribute 9-10% of their salaries toward their own retirement pensions and pay $96 per year for their own health care, far less than most workers in the private sector pay.

Save taxpayers over $120 million a year, money that can be redirected to schools, fire protection, street repair, children and senior services.

Prop B does not cut health care costs or pension benefits for any city employee or their dependents; it just requires city employees to contribute towards these costs.

Almost half of  City employees pay nothing toward their pensions and some of these workers can retire at 55 with 90% of their salary for life.  Mr. Adachi told me that those in the private sector would have to put away 65% of their income to match City employees’ pension values.   

I’ll leave you with this startling number: 1 in 5 taxpayer dollars goes toward City employee pensions and health-care benefits—that’s 20% of taxpayer dollars going to support less than 4% of the city’s population. (This number is expected to jump to one third of every dollar within five years!)  This means potholes aren’t being fixed, summer schools get canceled, and our parks are being neglected.  We are supporting overly generous pensions to City employees at the expense of our present, and to the detriment of our future.  PLEASE VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION B.

For more information follow this link: http://www.voteforpropb.com/COST_OF_HEALTH_CARE.pdf

ARIZONA'S IMMIGRATION LAW--CHANGE WE WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE IN

The histrionics over Arizona's immigration law have reached peak levels as the law (albeit with its teeth removed by a federal judge)  goes into effect today.  The extremes are evidenced from the pictures above. 

Unfortunately, the law hasn't generated a legitimate debate about immigration as much as it has led to both a backlash against Arizona (cities, sports teams, and corporations have boycotted the state) and irresponsible political maneuvering by politicians--on the left and the right--in an attempt to get re-elected.   

Contrary to the cries of "Gestapo tactics," the law states:  "for any lawful contact made by a law enforcement official or a law enforcement agency...where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person..." This is not randomly stopping people and asking them for their "papers."  This isn't taking your kids out for an ice cream only to get arrested or deported as the president irresponsibly suggested. Authorities must have legitimate reasons for stopping people. U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton's ruling yesterday bars police from demanding immigration documents.  It also blocks the enforcement of penalties for not carrying immigration documents and the punishment for illegals who seek work.  Even before it was eviscerated, Arizona's sb1070 was in-line with federal law. In fact, Title 8, Section 1304 of the federal law states that illegal immigrants 18 and over must carry their certificate of alien registration at all times.

The federal government (both current and past administrations) has been derelict in its duty with regard to immigration reform. President Reagan granted amnesty to a couple million illegal immigrants with a promise to secure our borders.  The borders were not secured and now we have over 11 million illegal aliens in this country--the gift of amnesty served as a magnet and border states like Arizona are suffering the heaviest consequences.

Phoenix is second in the world, only behind Mexico City, for kidnappings.  However, Arizona is not only having to deal with crime.  The state has approximately 500,000 illegal immigrants, putting a big burden on the schools, hospitals, and prisons that are servicing these people, without the benefit of collecting taxes from them.  Our federal government has ignored Arizona's plight while the Mexican government seems to think it's the least Arizona can do. 

Mexican President, Felipe Calderon condemned Arizona's illegal immigration law as discriminatory and threatened that Mexican-American relations will suffer because of it.  Illegal Mexican immigrants send billions of dollars back to Mexico every year boosting Mexico's economy -- a possible explanation as to why Mr. Calderon has been so vociferous against Arizona's law.   In an interview in Sunday's New York Times' magazine, former Mexican President Vicente Fox  responded to the immigration law, saying, "xenophobes have taken over."  When asked if he thought the United States was causing Mexico's crime wave he retorted: "Absolutely, yes." Deborah Soloman's pandering interview did not ask Mr. Fox about the double standard of Mexico's harsh immigration laws, if he thought drug use in Mexico contributed to the turf wars of the cartels, or his opinion as to why so many Mexicans risk their lives to come to America.  Note to Messrs. Fox and Calderon:  Thank you for your opinions, but your attempts to usurp America's laws with your threats and finger-pointing have been seen for what they are -- self-serving and a failure to create jobs at home.

Immigration is vital to the success of America.  Whether it be a farm worker or a PhD graduating from an American university, we welcome people from all nations that come here legally and live honorably.  We cannot take everyone who wants to come to America, nor is it our responsibility to do so.  Washington needs to secure our borders and implement a valid worker visitation program.  If you are here and want to stay here permanently you should have to go home and then follow the "rules" to get back to America legally.

American laws make for a civilized and therefore "livable" country -- our government has every right, indeed a responsibility to its citizens to enforce our laws.  By not enforcing federal laws, the government abdicates its power to the states.  Arizona's governor has promised to appeal the restrictions to sb1070.  I don't expect the 9th Court of Appeals to side with Arizona but the Supreme Court probably will. Hopefully, this will force the federal government's hand and it will do its job.

FRIDAY FROTH...

RN74, a Michael Mina restaurant in San Francisco, completely wowed me and "the blondes" on a recent, and regular old Wednesday evening.  Dressed in our Sex and the City finest, we made the trip to hip South of Market for an evening of what was to be delicious food, great wine, and impeccable service, all served up in an atmosphere that transported us to a place way more glamorous than our everyday lives.  The picture above, taken from the restaurant's website, doesn't do it justice--the people and the decor give the restaurant an energy that moves you to another place.  In the bar you could fancy yourself at Gare Du Nord in Paris waiting to board a train to Burgundy for the weekend--the "departure" boards along the wall list the names of wines instead of destinations.  Once seated you can imagine yourself on the Orient Express, having a great meal on your way to St. Petersburg.  One of the "blondes" mentioned that the lighting was perfect, beautiful in reality and effect.  According to another blonde (her second trip) the people are a mix of all ages with the commonality of cool, sophisticated chic.  The champagne (a sparkling wine from Burgundy) was even a beautiful color--rose' with a hint of gold--perfect for blondes and non-blondes alike.

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Brad Pitt shaved--finally!  His graying, scruffy goatee (that he was inclined to wear in a ponytail) is now a normal, hip, trimmed goatee.  Maybe he heard that my sixteen year-old daughter said that he looked like "an old Chinese man."  What is it with very attractive people defacing themselves?  If it's an attempt to become invisible then I have big news:  time will take care of that problem for you, and it will happen sooner than you think!

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I tried to watch the USA vs. England World Cup soccer match but those incessant vuvuzela horns put me right to sleep.  I woke up, watched the 30-second highlight reel, and knew everything about the game that I needed to know.  Horns that create a beehive sounding white noise should not be legal at games where a high score is 3 to 2.  World Cup soccer has just passed golf for the "best sport to sleep to" award.

On the other hand, if you even blink during a basketball game you miss something--especially if it's the Lakers vs the Celtics.  In game seven Kobe had a hard time making his shots, but even the best players' shooting can go "cold."  To his credit (and one of the reasons he'll go down as one of the game's best) he took up his own slack by hitting boards--getting 15 rebounds, and by not losing his temper or his focus.  Tiger Woods should take some "Kobe lessons" for life on, and off the court/course.

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A couple of summers ago mid-way on a flight from Boston to San Diego I finished the book I was reading.  I must have looked panicked to be book-less because the nice woman sitting next to me quickly offered me a book that she had finished.  Water for Elephants, thoroughly researched by author Sara Gruen, takes place amid a traveling circus in the 1930's.  Spending over three hundred pages and three hours with circus people would not normally be my idea of a good time.  I started reading and found out that Jacob Jankowski, the protagonist felt the same way.  After a series of tragedies Jacob drops out of Cornell Law School just short of graduation, suffers a breakdown, jumps on a train that he soon finds out is a circus train.  Like me, Jacob had nowhere else to go so he makes the best of things by putting his veterinarian skills to use, falling in love (with a woman and an elephant) and finding out that humans can be more wild and dangerous than animals.  In the end, we both enjoyed our adventure.



                                      

FRIDAY FROTH...

POLITICAL ROUND-UP…Tuesday was a big day for mid-term politics so I though I would make a few observations.  

Three of the most interesting races featured women:

Meg Whitman won, some would say, bought, her primary.  Frankly, it’s her money and if that’s how she wants to spend it, fine by me.  Her campaign was probably the biggest boost to California’s economy the past six months!  And, given the choice of a candidate spending his or her own money or special interests' money, I will choose self-financing any day.

Carly Fiorina won her primary and then made the mistake of making a quip into a hot mike (unbeknown to Carly) about Barbara Boxer’s hair.  This is bad on so many levels.  The main rule broken here:  If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.  Second:  On a day when we want to revel in how well women performed in the political arena, you had to go and make us look catty instead of relevant.  Find another hot mike and apologize publicly to Ms. Boxer and then pick up the phone and do it privately.

The media seem to think that Arkansas senator Blanche Lincoln came close to losing to a union-backed opponent in her primary because she voted against “card-check” and because she spoke out against a public option for health-care.  I’m from Arkansas, so I made a few phone calls.  Contrary to what the media is reporting, the consensus is that people were angry with Ms. Lincoln for voting for health-care (never mind the public option), and that they wanted a “left-wing” guy to win the primary so the conservative republican could win big in the general election.  

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Speaking of girls…

Have you seen Sex and the City 2?  Yes, it got horrible reviews but it was playing at one of my favorite theaters ( they serve fresh, hot caramel corn), so what's a girl to do--stay home?  The girls looked great!  Samantha (Kim Cattrell) is the oldest but has aged the best--it must be all of the, uh, "fun" she has.  SATC2 has no more, or less of a plot than most "guy" movies.  Instead of over-the-top car chase scenes, SATC2 has over-the-top clothes, and instead of the requisite pole dance scene, SATC2 has a pool full of rugby players in speedos--what's not to like?!?

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And more girls…

I was at lunch recently with two girlfriends who were dressed in two of my favorite color combinations.  One had on pale blue, beige, and white; the other beige and white--both looked fabulous.  Beige is the "it" color for summer.  I especially like it on shoes, they tend to disappear, making your legs look forever long!

         

TOO BIG TO FAIL?

Nancy Pelosi is a Superwoman.  As Speaker of the House, the formidable Ms. Pelosi wielded her power to get a much-debated national health-care bill; under her watch financial reform passed both houses and now awaits a final vote; and, given the catastrophic Gulf oil spill, an energy reform bill is likely in the next few months. 

Is there no end to what this woman can do?  There just may be – his name is John Dennis. 

The health-care bill has been so unpopular nationally that it’s exploded the ranks of the anti-big government Tea Party, and has gotten a republican elected to the senate in the very “blue” state of Massachusetts.  In San Francisco’s best neighborhoods there are rumblings of fear and anger over financial reform from those in the banking/finance industries who feel they are already over-regulated and are being scapegoated.  In the less tony neighborhoods, people worry that energy reform could mean higher home energy bills in an already tough economic climate.  And, the anti-war people are not happy that Ms. Pelosi voted to continue funding the war in Afghanistan--a war she opposed under George Bush.  As Ms. Pelosi continues to check items off her “to do” list, approval ratings for Congress continue to plummet.

Mr. Obama and Ms. Pelosi have brought big government back—big time. It’s growing at an alarming rate and voters have voiced their disapproval by booting incumbents from Utah to Pennsylvania.  California’s Eighth Congressional District, however, is very liberal and has had quite a love affair with Ms. Pelosi—is it possible that she too is vulnerable?

I had the opportunity to sit down and discuss some key issues with John Dennis, the man that will most likely face Ms. Pelosi in November and I’m happy to report that he is completely sane.  Mr. Dennis was well informed, articulate, and exhibited no sign of the grandiose rhetoric that one might expect from a novice politician with the temerity to challenge a popular grand dame. 

Mr. Dennis’ small government and free market libertarian leanings are antithetical to Ms. Pelosi’s big government, liberal policies. 

On health-care, Mr. Dennis feels the current bill should be scraped, saying:  “it’s a mess,” and indicating that allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines would be a good place to start the fix.  He likes the idea of health savings accounts and believes out-of-pocket medical expenses, as well as premiums paid by individuals, should be tax deductible.  In a bold move he says he is for ending tobacco and corn subsidies.  He jokingly pointed out that his stance on corn subsidies precluded him from ever running for president.  When you consider that smoking and obesity are responsible for well over fifty percent of health-care cost, it’s amazing to think that the government would encourage these problems with subsidies.

Breaking with traditional republicans, Mr. Dennis is for ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  He was however, very adamant that a “strong national defense” is essential.  His website states:  “I do not believe that our troops should be forced to be policemen of the world.  Our troops, first and foremost, should protect Americans where they live—in America.”  (With Al-Qaeda in over sixty countries and with more and more attempted attacks taking place within our borders, maybe America is exactly where our troops should be.)  When I asked Mr. Dennis if he was an isolationist, he countered that he was a non-interventionist.  Isolationist implied economic isolation and he is all for trade.

On the hot topic of illegal immigration, Mr. Dennis is for securing the borders but would like to see America get back to the “guest worker” program that benefited our country for years.  He feels strongly that any path to citizenship should start outside our borders.  Being from humble beginnings, and a product of the world of tough public housing, Mr. Dennis seems truly sympathetic to people who are willing to work hard to make a better life for themselves.  He told me that he started working when he was seven, shining shoes, and that if he got elected, this same spirit would help him stick to his principles--finding another job doesn't faze him, so pandering to special interest to get re-elected is not part of his plan.   

Mr. Dennis denounces torture and warrantless wiretaps which should please San Francisco voters.  He puts his faith in the Constitution and free markets and not in big government--ideals that could attract campaign contributions from disgruntled Americans coast to coast.  He avoided taking a swing at Mr. Obama on his handling of the Gulf oil spill proving he is no ordinary republican.  Deficits are soaring and the most liberal of San Francisco democrats are starting to get worried.   If Ms. Pelosi is vincible, John Dennis may very well be her kryptonite.   

For more information on Mr. Dennis, visit his website at:  www.johndennis2010.com

FRIDAY FROTH...

A good friend (and fellow Southerner) with a knack for picking books that you are sure to be seeing on all the best beaches, recently recommended Kathryn Stockett's fiction debut, The Help.  The "help" in the title refers to the household variety, and, because this book is set in 1963 Jackson, Mississippi, the help is black.  My friend promised me that this book was not a white bashing, southerners-still-want-slavery book, and that in fact, it takes a fair and honest view of blacks and whites and their relationship during the time it was set--and it does, for the most part.  One of Ms. Stockett's main characters is a woman that is hell-bent on making sure that all of her Jr. League friends have separate bathrooms in their homes for their "colored" help.  The problem for me with this book is that this character is more "mean girl" than she is racist.  She treats her mother as badly as she does her black maid, and she browbeats her white friends into submission.   The Jr. League girlfriends go along with varying degrees of malice toward their help to keep in good standing with Miss High-and-Mighty League President.  I might have enjoyed this book more if memories of my daughter's Jr. High school run-ins with mean girls wasn't so freshly splattered across my mind.  Mean girls are still aplenty in our society but thankfully we've made some inroads on racism.  If I had ever suggested that our "help" use a separate bathroom the "help" would have spanked my bottom, but not half as hard as my daddy would have when he found out.  Pick up The Help-- while it's neither profound nor poetic, it is a quick and entertaining read for the beach or poolside.

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Robin Hood could have been a great movie.  Its star, Russell Crowe, and its director, Ridley Scott, have made beautiful music before:  Gladiator was an award-winning work of art.  But alas, Robin Hood could not keep me from constantly moving my legs around--the more my mind is engaged, the less my long legs move around looking for a comfortable place to rest and vise versa.  You would not have wanted to sit in front of me during Robin Hood!  It's not that the movie was bad -- it was an okay to good film; however, I expected better from the talent involved in its production.  Surprisingly, Scott's new movie has caught some criticism because it's a prequel to the story that we are familiar with.  This current version of the story shows the events in Robin Hood's life that eventually led him to his mission of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor--I liked seeing the forces that motivated the man.  The essence of Scott's Robin Hood is that the former king has spent the nation into poverty with foreign wars, and the new king wants to tax everyone into poverty to restock the coffers -- sound familiar?  Robin Hood knows that taking from the rich and giving to the government, um, I mean king, never works -- a concept that clearly makes me very uncomfortable as well.  Now that I think about it, maybe my flailing legs were more of a reaction to the idea of wealth redistribution than boredom.

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My fall fashion prediction is that over-the-knee boots will be a must-have come September.  This ever-so-sexy footwear is showing up more than traditional boots.  There are lots of styles to choose from so don't be afraid that you can't make tall boots work for you--you can, just keep everything else simple.  Above:  Manolo Blahnik's lattice-top boots would look great with a grey wool sheath and pearls or black tights and a slim tunic.  Ralph Lauren's flat brown boots would make a great statement with jeans and a t-shirt or cords and a sweater.  Come on...don't be shy!

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They've arrived!  College students are home for the summer and they are tired and hungry.  If you have the male variety then you're exhausted from shopping and cooking (and let's face it, you're still cleaning up after him) to keep the poor baby from starving.  If you have the female variety your clothes and shoes are disappearing, or either dirty when you want to wear them.  With either variety your car and credit card are being requested daily and cash evaporates from your wallet.  They like to go out when you are going to bed and go to bed when you are getting up.  Hang in there.  September will be here before you know it and someday they will have their own teenagers returning from college for the summer and you can laugh out loud with delight when they complain about them.

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And now for a non-frothy item (because there are some plain-old black coffee drinkers out there):

What do you think about Joe Sestak being offered a job by the White House to not run against Arlen Spector?  It's all very fishy isn't it?  You can bet the administration's delay in talking to the press was so they could all get their stories straight.  While what went down may be illegal, it's probably nothing that hasn't been done by both parties many times before, but the bottom line is that people are tired of this type of shenanigans in government and Mr. Obama said that he was going to change things--he hasn't.

FRIDAY FROTH...

As the end of the school year approaches we can expect our kids to come to us with ideas for graduation/end-of-the-year trips.  If they suggest Mexico you should think long and hard before saying yes.  Its warring drug cartels have made Mexico a very dangerous place--I'm sure you've read about the murders, kidnappings, and innocent people being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  What you may not know is that Mexico now has one of the world's most liberal laws for drug users.  Roughly speaking, legally you can have four marijuana cigarettes, four lines of cocaine, 50 milligrams of heroin, 40 milligrams of methamphetamine, or 0.015 milligrams of LSD.  Maybe you are confident that your child won't be tempted by the legality of drugs while they are in Mexico--I'm sure they won't--but what about all of the other people that your child will be partying with in the clubs or on the beach?  Scary!

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Some of my favorite books are fiction with a strong historical component.  I've just finished The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff.  Mr. Ebershoff entertains as well as illuminates in his intertwined stories of polygamy.  In one story, Ann Eliza Young, 19th wife of Brigham Young, tells of life growing up in a polygamist world and her eventual apostasy from the Mormon Church.  This is not a love story.  Ann Eliza was at times in awe of Brigham as a leader, but most of her time as his wife was titular. The modern-day story,within-the-story, also involves polygamy, as well as being a murder mystery, and has its own apostasy--not regarding polygamy but gays, and the Mormon Church's rigid stance that has caused them to leave the church, if not the religion.  I like books with interesting finales and this author has a unique and clever way of integrating the two stories at the end.

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The recent gubernatorial debate between Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner offered little in the way of new information.  However, it did confirm that negativity is alive and well in politics.  Mr. Poizner came out slinging and Ms. Whitman found herself on the defensive, but she managed to throw a few feeble punches of her own regarding Mr. Poizner's flip-flopping on issues. Pundits quipped that Meg might not be tough enough to govern.  Tough may not be what we need.  Arnold is tough, yet he has had a hard time making an impact.  We need someone who can make Californians understand that we are in deep trouble and that it is not going to be pretty or fun getting out of this mess.  We need someone to instill pride and a sense of duty in Californians--not a sense of entitlement.  We need a leader.  Right now we have a state that is covered in a security blanket that has become threadbare by pensions, labor unions, and illegal immigration.  Our politically correct, freewheeling attitudes have taken us down the road to ruin.  The "right" candidate for California would be running ads of Greece's current nightmare with a voiceover saying, "California will be the next Greek tragedy unless we all pull together for the greater good."  Too many politicians cater to special interest instead of dedicating themselves to making tough choices.  They make promises to get themselves elected or reelected: solving problems is a distant second on their agendas.  I'm not optimistic--feta-stuffed grape leaf anyone?

PS--If you think Greece is not our problem think again.  The trillion-dollar bailout will be partially funded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the largest contributor to the IMF is yes, you guessed it, America.  This  means Mr. and Ms. American taxpayer will not only be paying for health-care and other social services for Americans, but also Greeks.

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It was just me and my sometimes snuggly, always feisty, 16 year-old daughter on Saturday night so we went to the Jennifer Lopez movie, The Back-up Plan.  Ms. Lopez is not a great actress but she looked fabulous strutting around (pregnant, no less) in her five-inched Christian Louboutins.  And to be fair, her co-star, Alex O'Loughlin looked great too.  Mr. O'Laughlin doesn't need $1000 shoes because he has million-dollar abs that he flaunts while driving a tractor shirtless.  The movie opens with Ms. Lopez being artificially inseminated because she desperately wants to have a baby but has not met anyone who can fill the bill as father.  She leaves the doctor's office and meets the man of her dreams before you can say baby-daddy.  This is not a great movie--it's predictable, silly, overly sentimental and at times, gross.  However, if your daughter is in a snuggly mood it's a perfectly fine way to spend an evening.

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It would not have been hard to miss the news that there was major flooding in Tennessee earlier this month.  Even if you heard there was a flood, chances are you are not aware of how catastrophic it was.  The flood has gotten short shrift by the news media and the White House.  With few complaints about being over-shadowed by terrorist attempts in Times Square and an oil rig horror in the Gulf, the good people of Tennessee have pulled together to take care of themselves.
Check out this video:  YouTube - Nashville Tennessee Flood 2010

FRIDAY FROTH...

I think it was really big (no pun intended) for Britney Spears to release the unretouched photos from her recent Candies' ad campaign.  Ms. Spears is a young (28) and fit woman who is generally thought of as having a good figure--and she does.  These photos show the reality of a good body vs. the ideal of a body that is the norm in magazines, but is rarely seen at the beach.  If you have a daughter you should show her these photos and remind her that what you see in magazines is an image that has been enhanced by lightning, hair and makeup experts, and retouching.  You should also mention that it's a split second in time and life is not lived that way so she should go easy on herself.  If you have a son, you should show him these photos and remind him that what you see is NOT necessarily what you get--what you get is imperfect--yet it moves, breaths, and is infinitely more fun.  I've never thought of Ms. Spears as much of a role model for young girls but it looks like she's proving me wrong--check her out!

Britney Spears Reveals Unretouched Candies Ads (PHOTOS)

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Marriage can be a grind--kids, jobs, and endless trivial, but necessary, things "to do" around the house.  Marriage can be boring but sometimes boring beats the alternative.  This is the premise of the movie Date Night starring Tina Fey and Steve Carell as Phil and Claire Foster.  The Fosters love and are eager please each other, but when Claire hops into bed wearing her spit-laden mouth guard we know the thrill is gone.  In an effort to get the magic back, the suburban couple dresses up and heads to a fancy shmancy Manhattan restaurant.  A case of mistaken identity takes Phil and Claire on the ride of their lives and makes them almost appreciate their boring existence.  Tina Fey is very funny and Steve Carell is his usual nerdy, but hilarious self (Really, this guy is so un-sexy!  I'm betting the director gave Ms. Fey the drooly mouth guard to make his point but he probably told Mr. Carell to just show up in bed and act natural).  I laughed until tears streamed down my face; but I have to tell you, the two handsome men that I was with (one a teenager; the other not a teenager!) didn't laugh nearly as hard as I did.  Despite the pole dance, the car chase (both are departures from the normal fare), and the title, this is ultimately a chick-flick.

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David Benioff's City of Thieves is a great book that I hope will be made into a film (unfortunately, a quick search of IMDB didn't show anything currently in the works.)  City of Thieves is a buddy/odd couple/ road trip (minus the car)/ coming-of-age story that takes place during the Nazis' siege of Leningrad.  This compelling book is both frightening and funny with an underlying pathos.  Protagonists Lev Beniov and Kolya are both trying to balance staying alive with having a life when they find themselves in the same prison cell.  Their journey begins when they are released from prison to pursue an impossible task.  Mr. Benioff is an imaginative writer--he turned his novel, 25th Hour, into a screenplay that was brilliantly directed by Spike Lee and should have been nominated for an Oscar back in 2003.  Mr. Lee, if you are listening, I think Jude Law would be a great Kolya--and because he is one of he best actors out there, and he was amazing in your last novel-to-screenplay effort, Ed Norton would be a swell Lev!

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Check your mobile phone bills.  When you do you will probably notice that your teen is sending considerably more text messages than he/she is making phone calls.  When it comes to driving, both are dangerous but the combination of teenagers and texting is especially lethal.  You are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash if you are texting and over 60 percent of teens say they text while driving.  Many states have laws that prohibit texting while driving, and there have been recent reports that they are stepping up the enforcement of these laws.  But, will knowing the statistics and law keep teens from texting behind the wheel?  Probably not.  It just doesn't fit with the "it won't happen to me" rebellious nature of the beast.  I have a few ideas that may help teens resist the temptation to text while driving:  1) Make them put their phone in the glove box and lock it before they start the car.  Yes, they can drive around the corner and turn the car off and get their phone out but at least you've made it more difficult.  2)  Show them this YouTube clip YouTube - Texting While Driving - British PSA (warning:  it's very graphic)  3)  Get them to sign a pledge to not text while driving and to wear one of the thumb rings that say, "texting kills" (think Lance Armstrong's yellow Live Strong bracelets, but black and for the thumb!) Thumbs Up to the Safest Holiday Ever - Take the Pledge.  4)  Cross your fingers and pray like crazy!

FRIDAY FROTH...

Despite my disappointment in the iPad, I'm a huge Apple fan and I am anxiously awaiting the release of the new iPhone OS 4 this summer.  (This will be Steve Jobs' chance to get the g [for genuflect] behind his name again in this blog.)  The new phone is promised to be more powerful and will be able to multitask.  There is a current limit of 180 apps that you can have on your phone but the new phone will be able to manage 2160 apps--amazing!  To get you started I thought I would introduce you to some favorites.  If you are already into apps, comment and let Qmuse know what your favorites are and why.

One of my favorites is Shazam--a great name and so fun.  If you hear a song you like or want to know more about it, just hold your phone up to a speaker and Shazam will tell you the name of the song you are hearing, who sings it, and more.  It will also connect you to iTunes to download the song.  You'll have to pay for the song download but the app is free.

Hungry?  Urbanspoon uses Wi-Fi to find you and then gives you restaurant recommendations in your area.  You can lock-in neighborhood, cuisine, or price and then shake your phone to find alternatives.  You can also get reviews and ratings and this app is also free.

 My Vacation will cost you $3.99 but it is worth it.  This application will help you plan your vacation, journal and then share your notes and pictures.  I want to go on vacation just to play with this app.

So many apps; so little time!

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And now for the HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM segment of FF...  Would you like to take a guess at the percentage of people that will be paying NO federal income tax this year?  The answer is 47 percent.  Yes, that means almost half of filers will pay nothing.  Most people that I queried guessed that the number would be in the in the 20 percent range.  It gets worse--of that 47 percent that pay no federal tax, 40 percent will actually get money back from the US Treasury.  Also interesting, the top 10 percent of earners pay 73 percent of taxes.  There are rumors that a VAT tax may be in America's near future.  It's controversial, especially now, because it's a consumer tax and it may slow consumption in an already slow economy.  Maybe, but I would be all for it if it replaced the income tax.  It makes no sense to me to penalize people for working and making money.

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If you are feeling down and want to wallow in your sadness then head to the nearest cinema and spend a couple of hours watching the recently released, The Greatest.  This film stars Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, and Carey Mulligan (An Education) and explores the different ways people grieve. There are no surprises in the ways that this families' grief is manifest, but there is a complication between the parents. The movie starts out strong--there is an especially good scene in the beginning of the movie of the family stuffed together in the backseat of a limo on their way home from a funeral.  The director keeps us in the car watching them for what seems like forever--it forces you to look at grief and feel just how uncomfortable it is.  There are some good moments throughout the movie, but it solves everything a little too fast and too tidy.  A good film if you need a good cry.

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In my continuing effort to keep us all feeling good and looking great, I have to report that an article in the New York Times this week suggest that when it comes to weight lifting, more weight is better: "...when women performed various resistance exercises at different weights and repetitions (85 percent of their maximum ability for 8 reps, versus 45 percent for 15).  Subjects lifting more weight fewer times burned more energy and had a greater metabolic boost after exercise."  Two other studies support this finding and one specified that the women who used the heavier weights lost more "intra-abdominal" fat.  So, the bad news is that your gym workout needs to be harder.  The good news is that you'll be out of there sooner and headed for that latte with non-fat milk, because we all know you need some protein within 30 minutes of a workout to really benefit those muscles.

FRIDAY FROTH...

If you think for one minute that the people representing us in Washington got there because they are smart, then you'd better think again.  Click on this link to hear Georgia congressman Hank Johnson expressing concern to Admiral Robert Willard about the addition of 5,000 Marines and their families to the island of Guam.  Representative Johnson is worried that the additional people may cause the small island to "tip over" and "capsize."  Notice the Admiral's face as he replies, "We don't anticipate that."  You have to see this clip to believe it--there is nothing remotely intelligent that escapes Mr. Johnson's lips!  Democrats seem to think they have a monopoly on intelligence; they love to roll their eyes at Sarah Palin.  Well, think again, Mr. Johnson is a democrat.

YouTube - Hank Johnson (Congress D-GA) - Warns Guam May Capsize

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And for the republicans that think they have a lock on morality, I beg you to reconsider.   What could possibly be moral, or even make sense, about gathering money to elect conservative candidates that want to put God and family front and center, and gays and lesbians on the back burner, and then spending that money to take donors to a lesbian, bondage-themed strip club?

Guam-gate and Bondage-gate have caused me to ponder which is worse: ignorance or hypocrisy?  I've decided that it doesn't really matter--both parties are rife with both.  But the thing that the two parties have most in common you ask?  Both proclaim to be fiscally responsible--neither is.

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If you want to see a movie that will be nominated for an Academy Award for best picture, best original screenplay, and have a couple of acting nominations to boot, then run, don't walk, to the nearest theatre showing City Island.  This charming and quirky film was a pleasure to behold from beginning to end.  City Island, an island on a spit of land in the Long Island Sound, is a part of the Bronx and a perfect setting to highlight the dysfunctional Rizzo family, given the island is quiet and quaint and the family is anything but.  For a movie with lots of unexpected twists, it ends a bit predictably, but I can't count that as a negative.  Andy Garcia is the patriarch having a mid-life crisis and Julianna Margulies is the tough-talking, sexy, but spurned wife.  And if you think hell hath no fury like a women scorned then you better get ready for a women scorned with a Bronx accent--it's a few degrees hotter.  We Southern women have to draw blood before anyone knows we're angry, all Italian women from the Bronx have to do is open their mouths.  Ezra Miller is fantastic as Vinnie, the teenage son--he had me laughing out loud.  He and the teenage daughter (played by Andy Garcia's daughter) gave me a whole new appreciation for my teenage son and daughter!  See this movie!!!

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The iPad makes its grand appearance on Saturday so I thought I would include my previous review.  Now that someone other than Mr. Jobs has actually seen the iPad, I've found out that it does have a dictionary built-in and you can buy iWork for word processing, but I'd like to have Word and I'll have to see the dictionary to believe it.  I stand by by first reaction--it seems like a big iPhone and I want more.  All of you app inventors out there, see below and get crackin'!

THE iPAD:

Dear Mr. Jobs,

i am your biggest fan. i love everything i! i awoke last Wednesday heady with anticipation--you were unveiling a new iproduct. i went to my desk, i kissed my Mac good morning and i logged on. i watched you unveil the iPad tablet.

"Oh," i said to myself as i watched. i was a little disappointed--i may have even cried a wee bit!

Mr. Jobs, i think we need to talk.

i have noticed two things: 1. The name iPad has received some criticism and even some laughs. it seems that the name makes some people think about feminine hygiene. Frankly, pads were my grandmother's generation and that generation still uses transistor radios, so i am afraid that the problem may be the lack of anything else to talk about regarding the iPad. 2. the iPad is being described as just a big iphone, and unless you are a big gamer, that's kinda what it is.

Here are some suggestions for the second generation iPad tablet from your humble igroupie: i want to be able to download books, magazines, newspapers and other reading materials and then not have to rely on any type of connection--i may be getting on a plane and you know how they feel about connections! i want to be able to highlight (via touch) passages from books, paragraphs from newspaper articles, or quotes from a blog, and then move them to a file so that I can refer to them at a later time. i also need to be able to make notes in the book or magazine. i would love for you to have a built-in dictionary so that i can point to a word, triple click and voila', the definition appears. i don't want to have to rely on the internet to look-up a word. i also need to be able to use the iPad as a word processor--i can use that great MobileMe to transfer what i write on my iPad to my computers.

i am sure that i will think of other things to make the iPad better and when i do, i will be sure to let you know.

Have a great iweekend Mr. Jobs

Warmly,

Qmuse

FRIDAY FROTH...

I loved watching Roman Polanski's latest film, Ghost Writer.  I was mesmerized by its look--moody, haunting, and great visual metaphors.  Mr. Polanski was clearly channeling Alfred Hitchcock in visual style, but also gave a wink and a smirk to his own life by placing Pierce Brosnan's character, former British Prime Minister Adam Lang, under virtual house arrest after he is accused of war crimes.  Mr. Polanski finished Ghost Writer while under house arrest in Switzerland.  A very good Ewan McGregor is the writer that Lang has hired to finish his memoirs after the original writer mysteriously dies.  Pierce Brosnan is also very good.  After appearing to be a pawn, Mr. Brosnan delivers a "checkmate" speech that galvanizes his performance and gives the movie perspective.

This movie is worth seeing for the performances and Mr. Polanski's visual style; however, the writing is thin at best.      

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If the stack of books on your bedside table is getting low, then consider picking up One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus.  I read this book several years ago and enjoyed it so much I'm tempted to read it again.  The premise of the story is based on an actual historic event from 1854 when an Indian chief asked the U.S. government to gift one thousand white women as brides for his young warriors.  The goal was to help assimilate the Indians into the encroaching white culture.  The protagonist, May Dodd is released from an asylum to go west and marry one of the young warriors.  But make no mistake, May is not insane.  This story mixes history, fiction, and passion in equal parts; a nice combination--enjoy!

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Well girls, I have good news and bad news.

The bad news:  There was a study released this week that indicates that as women reach middle-age they need to work out moderately--walking or a leisurely bike ride-- for an hour a day to keep from gaining weight.  The old recommendation was for thirty minutes of intensely working out five days a week.  Men only need a third of the exercise as women do to maintain their weight.

I know this doesn't seem fair, but life's not fair.  Studies have shown that shoes and handbags do seem to help with the inequities...

The good news:  I have the perfect thing to motivate you to get cracking on those workouts.  Check out this new see-through handbag from Prada.  I love the diamond shaped kiss closure, and it's waterproof so you can take it to the beach.

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Did you see the picture of President Obama on the front page of the New York Times today?  He's in a bookstore holding up two books--one by Karl Rove and the other by Mitt Romney.  I have to say I was put off by Mr. Obama's big smile/laugh.  In light of the huge success he has just had passing his legacy health-care bill, it looks like gloating to me.  On the campaign trail Mr. Obama stated that passing legislation with only 51 votes was NOT how he wanted to do business in Washington and he also said that he wanted to change the tone of politics.  He has to be aware of the deep divide this bill (that he passed with only 51 votes) has caused in this country.  Mr. President, wipe that smile off your face, show some graciousness, put your head down and get back to work.

FRIDAY FROTH...

The Green Zone is a new movie that deals with the war in Iraq, specifically the first months of engagement.  While it’s not nearly as good as last year’s The Hurt Locker, I did find parts of it interesting and most of it entertaining.  Matt Damon has the lead role as an officer who takes his team out in search of the now infamous weapons of mass destruction.  He soon learns that he is getting bad intelligence, and it’s too easy to tell that his Pentagon superior, played by Greg Kinnear, not only knows this, but also will do anything to prevent the world from finding out.  This is where the movie turns political, taking easy jabs at the Bush Administration and reducing the Green Zone to black and white.  It misses an opportunity to expand on an Iraqi interpreter, Freddy, who is helping Matt Damon’s character.  Freddy’s is an interesting perspective into a very complex situation and I would have liked to see it explored further. 

The camera work will make some seasick, but I liked its shock-and-awe movement.  If you can get past the politics and the incredulity of Matt Damon going rogue in Baghdad and just enjoy your popcorn and some good action, you’ll have fun.

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The tabloids were reporting yesterday that Sandra Bullock’s husband, Jesse James, was having an affair.  Mr. James has issued a statement saying that most of the allegations against him are untrue; he goes on to say that he is sorry for the pain that he has caused his wife and kids.  I’m betting the affair part of the story is true.  The “other woman” appears to be a tattoo model looking for attention and celebrity.  I won’t delve into the reasons Mr. James may have committed his infidelity.  What I do find fascinating and want to comment on are the women that go after the husbands of beautiful and successful women.  This phenomenon is nothing new, but as more women are becoming high profile, we are seeing an increase in this type of affair.   And, if the husband appears to be an adoring husband, these “other women” seem all the more eager.  It seems these women can’t find a way to be successful on their own so they think that by enticing a successful/beautiful/confident woman’s husband to pay attention to them, they have achieved success—that by slipping into another woman’s bed you also slip into her life.   Or, sometimes, these “other women” just want to take someone who appears to have too much going for them down a notch or two.  These are the same insecure girls that in jr. high made-up ugly rumors about other girls. These women are less interested in getting in bed with the husband than they are in “screwing” the wife.  Girls, where is the solidarity?

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It would be remiss to not mention HEALTH-CARE--a vote is expected on Sunday.  It is amazing how many people are paying attention.  Does anyone remember the Clinton’s health-care of the 90’s?  I have a theory that people were captivated by the 2008 presidential election because for the first time, we had a woman and a black man in serious contention for the White House.  Politics became captivating and we kept watching even after the presidential outcome was decided.  Then we became horrified!  Oh, the deficits, the bickering, and the utter contempt for the American public!  There is very little good news about health-care--it’s contentious and the process has been fraught with dirty deals.  The good news is that people are not only paying attention now, they are getting involved.  Warning:  Be very careful Washington, We The People are back, we are watching, and we will hold you accountable.

FRIDAY FROTH...

OSCARS 2010

For the first time that I can remember, I missed the live telecast of the Academy Awards.  I was in Denver for the weekend to see my son play lacrosse and was flying home during my favorite show of the year.  I had asked my daughter, who was staying with a friend, to go by our house and record the show for me but she forgot. Seems she was too busy cleaning-up my house from the party that she threw on Saturday night, but that’s another post on another day.  Just don’t expect to she her “out” anytime soon unless she’s part of a chain gang.  Now, back to the Oscars. I have done copious on-line research to bring you some fashion highlights of the evening along with some other “Oscar observations”.

The Hurt Locker was the big winner of the evening with six awards and I could not be happier.  It took the prize for Best Picture which was the only surprise in the “big six” categories.  Kathryn Bigelow deservedly took home the Oscar for Best Director—the first time a woman has won in this category.   Casting is an especially strong suit for Ms. Bigelow.  Placing an unknown, Jeremy Renner, in the lead was brilliant—it kept us guessing as to whether he would make it out alive or not.  If she had cast Brad Pitt we would have known that he was not getting blown-up because he cost way too much money to die!  I have a huge amount of respect for Kathryn Bigelow for thinking about story over opening weekend receipts.   And while we are on the subject of Kathryn Bigelow…

One of my favorite looks of the evening was Ms. Bigelow who at 58 years old looked better than a lot of the actresses half her age.  Her dress emphasized her tone arms and with her long hair down and slightly curled, she looked effortlessly elegant. 

Best Actress winner, Sandra Bullock, looked stunning in a beautiful beaded Marchesa gown.  Ms. Bullock’s simple and sleek hairdo and her red lipstick set-off her gown perfectly.  As my good friend VJ said, “Sandra Bullock dressed to win.”

Other winners in the best-dressed category…Meryl Streep is a brilliant actress but has often shown up on the red carpet looking less that glamorous.  Not anymore!  She was stunning at the Golden Globes and was a winner (on the red carpet) at the Oscars in a bright white gown that showed of a smooth décolleté and a smile that conveyed a comfortable veteran enjoying herself.  Helen Mirren is a master of dressing for her age—always elegant and sexy but never looking like she’s trying to compete with the ingénues that surround her.  Kate Winslet was the epitome of elegance in an YSL gown that fit her perfectly and a necklace that completed the dress instead of fighting with it for attention.  Sarah Jessica Parker’s gown was on as many “worst-dressed” lists as it was “best-dressed” but isn’t that what we’ve come to expect of SJP?  I think she pulled it off with Carrie Bradshaw panache.  I want Rachel McAdam’s Ellie Saab dress!

Now for some less than perfect looks.  Vera Farmiga and Jennifer Lopez may have been two of the sexiest women on the red carpet.  So why would anyone—especially the sultry girls—wear a dress that looks like a suit of armor?  I just think that if you pass your sweetheart on the way back to your seat from the bathroom and he wants to grab you and take you into the coat room for a nice, long kiss, you should have a dress on that says “take me, I’m yours” and not one that says “you can’t come near me and if you try I’ll hurt you.”

And for the men…Tom Ford you were perfection and George Clooney, you were perfection that needed a haircut!

 I was disappointed that Matt Damon wasn’t nominated for his role in The Informant, or Marcia Gay Harden for her role in Whip It and that the movie The Hangover didn’t get one of the ten Best Picture nominations.  It was a joy however, to see Jeff Bridges finally win an Oscar to see him share the moment with his wife of many years.

I promise to never again miss the live telecast of the Oscars.  If my son plays in Denver next year on Oscar weekend I will simple stay over and fly home on Monday.  And as for my daughter, I’ve checked with the Presidio police (they had to make a trip to my house to break-up the party that my DARLING daughter threw) and they have assured me that if she doesn’t want to make the trip to see her brother play, they have a cell that rents for cheap.