Archive for December, 2008
30
Dec
Tell ‘em why you mad!
30
Dec
Taken for a Ride
Whenever I find myself bogged down in LA’s notorious traffic, the following two thoughts invariably pop into my head.
1. Get the fuck out of my way!
2. It didn’t have to be like this.
Taken for a Ride is a 1996 documentary that lays out some of the circumstances that led to America having “the worst public transit in the industrialized world.” It’s informative, infuriating, and should be mandatory viewing for every American who lives in an urban area. I watched in on Christmas Eve. Luckily, the next day I was able to retreat into the Paris Metro system, thanks to this amazing gift from my wife.
19
Dec
Nigella’s XXXmas
If this doesn’t get you in the holiday spirit, nothing will. Well done, casetteboy.
16
Dec
Me, in 12 Songs or Less
Here it is. Even though Julian beat me to it. Stream it here, or download for individual tracks and liner notes.
1. “Alabama” – John Coltrane
2. ” The Lost Ones” – Ted Hawkins
3. “Your Body Makes Eyes at Me” – Arthur Prysock
4. “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)” – Maxwell
5. “Black Cow” – Steely Dan
6. “Resurrection” – Common
7. “Doomsday” – MF DOOM
8. “Who is It? – Björk
9. “Verb: That’s What’s Happening” – Bob Dorough feat. Zach Sanders
10. “Prophets of Rage” – Public Enemy
11. “Space Cowboy” – Jamiroquai
12. “Chameleon” – Herbie Hancock
My ongoing correspondence with my employees in Washington continues. Back in October, I wrote to Rep. Henry Waxman and Senators Feinstein and Boxer regarding the report issued by the Global Cannabis Commission in particular, and this country’s backwards, illogical marijuana laws in general. Yesterday, Senator Boxer’s office sent this reply:
Dear Mr. Adams:
Thank you for contacting me about the legalization of marijuana. I appreciate hearing from you.
Although I do not support the legalization of drugs for recreational use, I do believe that medical doctors should be allowed to use their best judgment, consistent with federal law, in deciding on the most effective treatment for their patients, especially those with terminal illnesses.
Again, thank you for writing to me. Please feel free to contact me again about this or any other issue of concern to you.
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
Polite, curt and completely dismissive towards the substance of my letter. I hold onto my naive idea that those who are elected to represent my interest should at least pay me the courtesy of actually addressing my concerns. As such…
Senator Barbara Boxer
I appreciate your office taking the time to respond to my letter. What I do not appreciate is the fact that you did not even bother addressing the specific issues that the letter addressed. I’ll cut to the chase and ask you two specific questions.
When all the scientific, medical and criminal evidence tells us that marijuana poses significantly less harm to the individual user and to society as a whole than legal substances like alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs, why do you and your colleagues insist on maintaining the illogical stance of complete prohibition?
Further, when our state is facing a financial crisis, why would you and your colleagues continue to ignore the potential tax revenue from a cash crop with an estimated worth of up to $14 billion?
As always, thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
Nick Adams
06
Dec
A fallen Demon Deacon
Some sad news from the world of sports. Fellow Demon Deacon and former NBA player Rodney Rogers was injured in an ATV accident last week, and is paralyzed from the shoulders down. This is obviously a horrible story and my heart goes out to Rogers and his family. What jumped out at me when I read the news story about the accident was this passage:
A Durham native who starred in high school football and basketball, Rogers had returned to his hometown and was working for the city public works department as a heavy machinery operator. He was promoted to a supervisory position six months ago, according to the report.
He was also volunteering as a girls’ basketball coach at a Durham middle school and had set up a computer lab at a city public housing complex, according to the report.
His agent and lawyer, James “Butch” Williams, described Rogers as “an outdoorsman, plain and simple,” according to the report. “He hunts, motorcycles, rides horses. He loves big trucks,” Williams said.
Rogers, who was financially set, took the job with the Durham DPW because he liked working with heavy trucks, Williams said, according to the report.
“Rodney isn’t the type to sit around twiddling his thumbs. There aren’t any jobs he considers too small for him,” Williams said, according to the News and Observer. “He started his own trucking company and was usually the lead driver. He’d be out there driving to the quarry at 3:30 in the morning.”
Michael Balzarano, who oversaw Rogers at the Durham DPW, said Rogers was not working for the city as a lark until he got bored. “I didn’t even know he had lots of money. He is very friendly, very concerned, very conscientious,” Balzarano said, according to the report. “We chose him because of his ethics and his attitude. He was highly motivated. He was promoted to supervisor six months ago.”
Yes. You read that correctly. A guy who played 12 seasons in the NBA and was financially secure was working at the Durham Public Works department for kicks.
I was lucky enough to see him play in person when I was at Wake. The image of him unleashing one of his patented 360 degree, left-handed dunks will forever be burned into my sports memory. I’m not a praying man, but I’ll definitely be thinking good thoughts for Rodney and his family.
