Turns out that Guantanamo Bay wasn't just for the "worst of the worst" terrorists ... in reality, it's a place where ordinary footsoldiers and old men, brought to the prison because of score-settling and bounties collected by their Afghani countrymen, ended up mixed with the handful of real Al-Qaeda operatives.
http://www.star-telegram.com/464/story/701139.html
This is why due process is such a big deal, folks, and why Guantanamo Bay needs to be closed immediately. Imagine being held for years without being charged or tried for any crime, and having no means to defend yourself and none of the protections of the Geneva Convention.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
This is the voice of Gen Y?
Not everyone in pop music is a virtuoso, a poet, or a visionary. I accept that. Some of my favorite music (say, from 1977 through 1993) is relatively mindless post-punk, new wave fun. But few of those pop artists cloaked themselves in an aura of musical sainthood -- they seemed just happy to have the fortune and glory of stardom. Those artists that did have something meaningful to say (U2, for instance), said it powerfully and without apology.
But now we have John Mayer, the man who considers himself the inheritor of the guitar throne of Hendrix, Clapton, Santana, and Vaughan. He's everywhere in the tabloids, too, frolicking from one starlet to the next. Womanizing young rock stars are nothing new. But Mayer's attempt at social and political relevance sets a new standard for vapidity and slackerdom.
Here's what his website (http://www.johnmayer.com/bio) had to say about his most recent hit, "Waiting on the World to Change":
This is the musical/political spokesman for Generation Y? He's too afraid to get into a debate because the situation isn't static? It's a lame excuse, and frankly insulting to the numerous twentysomethings that do actually give a damn and are willing to risk a little conflict.
Mayer starts with a Van Morisson sound and marries it to milquetoast lyrics, creating a saccharine tribute to inaction. The net result? A catchy tune justifying ignorance and apathy. I wonder what Joan Baez, John Fogerty, and other musicians whose souls bled on vinyl in the 60's would say about Mayer's philosophy. Would Mayer still be "Waiting on the World to Change" if he was drafted?
The simple truth is that Mayer promotes a do-nothing attitude because it's not his ass on the line.
Greg Kot, reviewing a guitar festival at which Mayer performed this drivel, put it this way (at http://crossroadsguitarfestival2007.com/presscoverage.html):
I have news for you, Johnny -- you can keep on waiting, but the world isn't going to change, and if it does, it's not going to be in a way that makes it any easier for any of us. Taking action to make things better takes guts. You have to be willing to fail in order to make a difference. Your song, in short, is a candy-coated enabling of a generation of slackers who, if they listen to you, will remain blissfully unaware of the world crumbling around them.
"Someday our generation's/gonna rule the population."
Heaven help us.
But now we have John Mayer, the man who considers himself the inheritor of the guitar throne of Hendrix, Clapton, Santana, and Vaughan. He's everywhere in the tabloids, too, frolicking from one starlet to the next. Womanizing young rock stars are nothing new. But Mayer's attempt at social and political relevance sets a new standard for vapidity and slackerdom.
Here's what his website (http://www.johnmayer.com/bio) had to say about his most recent hit, "Waiting on the World to Change":
With "Waiting on the World to Change", Mayer shot for something even more
ambitious - something like an attempt to explain his generation's attitudes
about politics. "It's meant to shed a little light on inactivity and inaction,"
he says, "because I don't believe that inaction is disinterest, I think inaction
is preservation – nobody wants to get involved in a debate in which the rules
and the facts will change so that they'll lose. So we end up with this other
option, which is, I guess we'll just have to wait for things to get better.
This is the musical/political spokesman for Generation Y? He's too afraid to get into a debate because the situation isn't static? It's a lame excuse, and frankly insulting to the numerous twentysomethings that do actually give a damn and are willing to risk a little conflict.
Mayer starts with a Van Morisson sound and marries it to milquetoast lyrics, creating a saccharine tribute to inaction. The net result? A catchy tune justifying ignorance and apathy. I wonder what Joan Baez, John Fogerty, and other musicians whose souls bled on vinyl in the 60's would say about Mayer's philosophy. Would Mayer still be "Waiting on the World to Change" if he was drafted?
The simple truth is that Mayer promotes a do-nothing attitude because it's not his ass on the line.
Greg Kot, reviewing a guitar festival at which Mayer performed this drivel, put it this way (at http://crossroadsguitarfestival2007.com/presscoverage.html):
John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change” may be the most spineless
social-justice song ever written. It advocates a passive approach, whereas the
song it most closely resembles --- Curtis Mayfield’s classic “People Get Ready”
--- urges everyone to get involved, or risk being left behind.
I have news for you, Johnny -- you can keep on waiting, but the world isn't going to change, and if it does, it's not going to be in a way that makes it any easier for any of us. Taking action to make things better takes guts. You have to be willing to fail in order to make a difference. Your song, in short, is a candy-coated enabling of a generation of slackers who, if they listen to you, will remain blissfully unaware of the world crumbling around them.
"Someday our generation's/gonna rule the population."
Heaven help us.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
One more reason to shake your head ...
For more on our government's failure to provide basic due process rights to those held at Guantanamo Bay ...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080609/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/guantanamo_interrogations
These men were held indefinitely, essentially under a suspended writ of habeas corpus -- then the government denies them any access to prosecutorial information to defend themselves. But is this really surprising considering our current policies concerning torture and rendition?
This is an affront to our values, our legal system, and the American way. Anyone who believes in liberty should be appalled at this, yet another step on Bush II's road to a fascist state.
One assumes that the "detainees" (what a sanitized term ... call them kidnappees or prisoners) are only now getting a trial so that their judgments can be pronounced prior to W's exit from office. Let's hope their attorneys can delay the cases long enough for a new chief executive to change policy and end this travesty in a just manner. What would be just? A civilian criminal trial or a war crimes trial as provided under the Geneva Conventions.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither -- and lose both." -- Benjamin Franklin
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080609/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/guantanamo_interrogations
These men were held indefinitely, essentially under a suspended writ of habeas corpus -- then the government denies them any access to prosecutorial information to defend themselves. But is this really surprising considering our current policies concerning torture and rendition?
This is an affront to our values, our legal system, and the American way. Anyone who believes in liberty should be appalled at this, yet another step on Bush II's road to a fascist state.
One assumes that the "detainees" (what a sanitized term ... call them kidnappees or prisoners) are only now getting a trial so that their judgments can be pronounced prior to W's exit from office. Let's hope their attorneys can delay the cases long enough for a new chief executive to change policy and end this travesty in a just manner. What would be just? A civilian criminal trial or a war crimes trial as provided under the Geneva Conventions.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither -- and lose both." -- Benjamin Franklin
Monday, May 12, 2008
More on Real Estate and Mortgages
Here's a good example of "investor" speculation fueling the mortgage crisis:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24569891/
(Self-absorbed man buys eight negative-amortization homes and loses his shirt when the market goes bad).
I have represented several clients with a similar story, though none used such a ridiculous mortgage product. In a neg-am loan, the borrower artificially reduces his payment BELOW the amount necessary to cover the interest. Principal is never paid. You read that right. The balance on the note gets bigger over time! As if interest-only mortgages weren't bad enough.
The real estate business is a mine field, and investing in it with mostly borrowed money (or in risky mortgage variants) puts your financial future in the hands of shaky tenants to pay the rent and a volatile real estate market to eventually recapture your investment.
There are thousands of people in North Texas right now who think they are the next Donald Trump. These "investors" are "investing" in real estate with other people's money, and for every success story there are ten others who have flamed out, unable to pay the mortgages on properties nobody wants to rent or buy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24569891/
(Self-absorbed man buys eight negative-amortization homes and loses his shirt when the market goes bad).
I have represented several clients with a similar story, though none used such a ridiculous mortgage product. In a neg-am loan, the borrower artificially reduces his payment BELOW the amount necessary to cover the interest. Principal is never paid. You read that right. The balance on the note gets bigger over time! As if interest-only mortgages weren't bad enough.
The real estate business is a mine field, and investing in it with mostly borrowed money (or in risky mortgage variants) puts your financial future in the hands of shaky tenants to pay the rent and a volatile real estate market to eventually recapture your investment.
There are thousands of people in North Texas right now who think they are the next Donald Trump. These "investors" are "investing" in real estate with other people's money, and for every success story there are ten others who have flamed out, unable to pay the mortgages on properties nobody wants to rent or buy.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
The Real Estate Market
Residential real estate prices have fallen and sellers ask "has it bottomed out yet?" The answer is no. A glut in available homes coupled with a downturn in homeowner purchasing power is a recipe for a market slump.
Flat wages and increased costs of living for transportation, utilities, and food have made it harder for North Texans to justify a mortgage commitment at the prices of yesteryear. In Tarrant County, a mortgage payment higher than $1,200.00 is beyond the means of most people. Yet the new home construction continues (typically priced at $150,000.00 or higher), adding to the oversupply problem.
The factors in North Texas leading to this crisis:
Flat wages and increased costs of living for transportation, utilities, and food have made it harder for North Texans to justify a mortgage commitment at the prices of yesteryear. In Tarrant County, a mortgage payment higher than $1,200.00 is beyond the means of most people. Yet the new home construction continues (typically priced at $150,000.00 or higher), adding to the oversupply problem.
The factors in North Texas leading to this crisis:
- overbuilding;
- speculation in the real estate market;
- the aggressive marketing of risky mortgage products, including interest-only and adjustable rate mortgages;
- the refinancing boom of 2002-2006, resulting in a reduction in home equity;
- a flat or falling job market in most sectors; and
- increases in consumer costs in transportation, food, and utilities
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Loving the Illegals
The work line was forwarded to my cell phone. It chirped at me during the middle portion of my ice cream sandwich.
She beat around the bush for a bit, then asked me whether the Texas Workforce Commission was illegally discriminating against her by suggesting she learn Spanish to help her get a receptionist position. The weary woman said she was 40 years old and couldn't learn Spanish tomorrow.
I sympathized with her frustration and told her I'm not a labor lawyer, but that if a job required a bilingual employee then her inability to speak Spanish seemed to be a legitimate reason to not hire her. Like a company not hiring a disabled person for a job requiring heavy lifting. I recollected that the employer had to make reasonable accomodations for disabled folks, but being monolingual is not a disability.
It took a few tries to convey the overall message to her.
"So basically you're saying you're with the illegals. Fuck you!"
Not exactly what I had in mind after spending five minutes of my evening and some cell phone airtime to try to help someone.
Everyday realities like those experienced by my caller continually inflame the white trash extremists in our midst, friends. The folks who can't cope with the truth -- that they have fewer marketable skills than a 18 year old bilingual high school grad -- would rather blame the world for their problems and hide behind racist dogma. They'd rather seek legal redress for their "injury" then take positive action to make things better in their own lives. Ironically, it is these same extremists who accuse other racial groups of laziness and mooching off the government.
It's just easier to complain, call random attorneys out of the phone book, and get drunk.
She beat around the bush for a bit, then asked me whether the Texas Workforce Commission was illegally discriminating against her by suggesting she learn Spanish to help her get a receptionist position. The weary woman said she was 40 years old and couldn't learn Spanish tomorrow.
I sympathized with her frustration and told her I'm not a labor lawyer, but that if a job required a bilingual employee then her inability to speak Spanish seemed to be a legitimate reason to not hire her. Like a company not hiring a disabled person for a job requiring heavy lifting. I recollected that the employer had to make reasonable accomodations for disabled folks, but being monolingual is not a disability.
It took a few tries to convey the overall message to her.
"So basically you're saying you're with the illegals. Fuck you!"
Not exactly what I had in mind after spending five minutes of my evening and some cell phone airtime to try to help someone.
Everyday realities like those experienced by my caller continually inflame the white trash extremists in our midst, friends. The folks who can't cope with the truth -- that they have fewer marketable skills than a 18 year old bilingual high school grad -- would rather blame the world for their problems and hide behind racist dogma. They'd rather seek legal redress for their "injury" then take positive action to make things better in their own lives. Ironically, it is these same extremists who accuse other racial groups of laziness and mooching off the government.
It's just easier to complain, call random attorneys out of the phone book, and get drunk.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
The Special Relationship
Gordon Brown's ascension to the premiership of the United Kingdom wasn't just the end of the Tony Blair era -- it was a notable downturn in the "special relationship" between the U.S. and U.K.
Britons are understandably eager to separate themselves from the U.S. in general and George W. Bush in particular. The war in Iraq is even less popular in the U.K. than it is here, and the Blair government was unfairly seen as subservient to the U.S. Tony Blair's popularity in the U.S. wasn't just because he supported us in Iraq -- it was due to his own charisma and character, not to mention his effectiveness in international dialogue. Tony Blair smoothed over Bush's corn-pone attitude and intellectual shallowness. Even though Bush was over his head at G-4 summits and other key gatherings, Blair was like the wise college senior showing the energetic freshman the ropes.
The special relationship between our nations was then largely maintained by the special relationship between Bush and Blair, forged in the aftermath of 9/11. It was Blair alone that made the "coalition" of forces in Iraq more than a political label and transformed the war and occupation into something other than a unilateral U.S. policy decision.
With Gordon Brown in and Blair out, the bond between our nations has weakened, one hopes not critically. One suspects that British leaders will cast a doubtful eye on future joint foreign policy adventures. Our next president will have some serious fence-mending to do.
A significant number of ordinary Americans care deeply about the U.K. and hate to see the special relationship on the rocks. We know who our friends are. And we want to elect a president that makes a state visit to the U.K. with one simple message: "how can we help you?"
Britons are understandably eager to separate themselves from the U.S. in general and George W. Bush in particular. The war in Iraq is even less popular in the U.K. than it is here, and the Blair government was unfairly seen as subservient to the U.S. Tony Blair's popularity in the U.S. wasn't just because he supported us in Iraq -- it was due to his own charisma and character, not to mention his effectiveness in international dialogue. Tony Blair smoothed over Bush's corn-pone attitude and intellectual shallowness. Even though Bush was over his head at G-4 summits and other key gatherings, Blair was like the wise college senior showing the energetic freshman the ropes.
The special relationship between our nations was then largely maintained by the special relationship between Bush and Blair, forged in the aftermath of 9/11. It was Blair alone that made the "coalition" of forces in Iraq more than a political label and transformed the war and occupation into something other than a unilateral U.S. policy decision.
With Gordon Brown in and Blair out, the bond between our nations has weakened, one hopes not critically. One suspects that British leaders will cast a doubtful eye on future joint foreign policy adventures. Our next president will have some serious fence-mending to do.
A significant number of ordinary Americans care deeply about the U.K. and hate to see the special relationship on the rocks. We know who our friends are. And we want to elect a president that makes a state visit to the U.K. with one simple message: "how can we help you?"
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