Interesting article

Here's an interesting article on how Wal-Mart does business (and destroys other businesses in the process):


http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

Ninth Circuit Wonders or Blunders

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A recent ruling in the Ninth Circuit Court (Padilla vs. Lever) states that political material in a political jurisdiction must be in all applicable languages of that jurisdiction, not just English.  The Ninth Circuit Court covers the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Let's consider the applicable languages in the nine States that the Ninth Circuit Court covers.  They are: Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Italian, Korean, Russian, Hindi, Persian, Urdu, Gujarati, Serbo-Croatian, Finnish, Armenian, Hebrew, Mon Khmer, Navaho, Yiddish, Hmong, Lao, Thai, Hungarian, Achumawi, Ahtena, Alelut, Apache, Assiniboine, Atsugewi, Blackfoot, Cahuilla, Chehalis, Chetco, Cheyenne, Chinook Wawa, Clallam, Cocopa, Coeur D'Alene, Columbia-Wenatchi, Coos, Cowlitz, Cree, Crow, Cupeno, Degexit'an, Ekyak, Gros Ventre, Gwidh'in, Haida, Han, Havasupai-Walapai-Yavapi, Hawaiian, Holikachuk, Hopi, Hupa, Inuktitut, Kalapuya, Kalispel-Pen Dórreille, Karok, Kashaya, Kato, Kawaiisu, Klamath-Modoc, Koyukon, Kumiai, Kuskokwim, Kutenai, Luiseno, Lushootseed, Maidu, Makah, Maricopa, Miwok, Mohave, Mono, Nez Perce, Nisenan, Okangan, Paiute, Panamint, Papago-Pima, Pomo, Quechan, Quinault, Salish, Serrano, Shasta, Skagit, Snohomish, Spokane, Tanacross, Tanaina, Tenino, Tewa, Tlingit. Tolowa, Tsimshian, Tubatulabal, Tututni, Umatilla, Ute, Walla Walla, Wasco-Wishram, Washo, Wintu Yakima, Yakui, Yokuts, Yuki, Yupik, and Yurok.  I've probably missed several and please forgive me if I have.

Comments to the City Council, 24 January 2006

[A very slightly edited version of my comments to the City Council on 24 January 2006.  I've also sent them to the Pasadena Start-News and the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.  Not counting on seeing them there, though].

Thank you, Jay Imperial for postponing the recall election. Thank you for giving us another compelling reason why you should be removed from office. The transparent, self-serving nature of your suit, and the votes of yourself and Councilmember Taylor to cancel a recall election that you did not have the legal authority to cancel, speaks volumes about your ego and your ethics.

Contact Your Representatives in Congress!

One of the problems any group faces in trying to battle a development threat is that people more than a few miles away often don’t see how the issue concerns them. That’s true even when the development involves the world’s largest corporation. But Padilla v. Lever changes that.

That case [and Jay Imperial’s case], if allowed to stand, will place a cloud of uncertainty over every single recall or initiative effort in the entire Ninth Circuit. [The Ninth Circuit includes California, Hawaii, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana–55 million people, or about 1/5 of the nation’s population].

Lashbrook Park

Some musings.  This one's actually a bit of a downer.  I get that way when ever I think of what Wal-Mart is doing to this city. . . .

Today, my wife and I made our way over to a place called "Lashbrook Park." It’s located just a bit north and east of the corner of Rosemead Blvd and Garvey Avenue, in El Monte, along the concrete banks of the Rio Hondo.

It’s a small "pocket park," part of the "Emerald Necklace" envisioned by Amigos de los Rios, an offshoot of the Sierra Club. Amigos wants to build a whole network of parks along the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers, which run mostly through El Monte, South El Monte, and unincorporated Los Angeles County, with perhaps bits in Arcadia and Temple City. A person could spend a long day walking, or a short day riding a bike, in a circuit around the area. For an area [that, like Rosemead] is woefully lacking in open space, the Emerald Necklace sounds like a little slice of heaven.

"Give 'Em Hell, Harry"

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This one's long and a little bit of an indulgence on my part.  If you liked the open letter, you'll like this essay.  If you didn't like the open letter, you won't like it.  So if you're a Wal-Mart sock puppet, don't blame me if you read this and get all offended.

Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers: Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_3434522

Link to a syndicated story that appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune 1/25/2006

It appeared in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune 1/28/2006:

http://www.sgvtribune.com/opinions/ci_3445647

City Council meeting Tuesday @ 8:00PM!!

Don't forget, the first City Council meeting of 2006 is on Tuesday, January 24th.  This is a good meeting to go to, so we can make it clear that the new year represents a new phase in our battle to save OUR Rosemead.  We want to make a good impression, don't we?  So come one and all to 8838 Valley Blvd. in Rosemead, starting at 8:00PM in the council chambers.