Citizen Reporter

On beautiful, happy-go-lucky days like today, one could easily forget the horrors in this world. Biking down the street, I glance over at the fire-department, where it seems the fire-fighters are letting an entire primary school class have a go at using the hose. I get sprinkled, but kind of enjoy it, and I snap off a few photos of them.

This all comes to an abrupt end when I get home and turn on internet radio to listen to… brace yourselves.. the 9/11 commission.

Never has a more useless group of politicians been assembled in order to address such an important subject: the failures and reasons behind the failures on 9/11. But no real questions have ever or are ever going to be asked. And yet I listened, like so many, wishing for one of those commission members to have a sudden revelation – that he/she should start asking real questions. But alas, nothing. For hours they each take the mic and give some neverending speech kissing the ass of the witnesses like Rudy Giuliani, Mike Bloomberg, G.W. Bush, etc. They even manage to throw in little promos for the war on terrorism. But never do they find the time to ask useful questions about why emergency agencies (fire and police) can’t seem to work together, why FDNY equipment was of such poor quality, and why intellegence warnings were ignored.

There was one highlight, all be it a dim one. The hearings are being held in NYC right now, and many audience members were directly involved/affected by the tragedy. During the proceedings some would stand up and shout their questions and frustrations at witnesses and the commission. By favorites were the guy who shouted: “Just give me 15 minutes to ask real questions!” or “Why isn’t there a single family member on that commission!?” or even better, the more blunt: “LIAR!”

In the end, this is merely a hoax. Nothing will be learned because the government whose failures and policies allowed 9/11 to happen will not allow for a real investigation of themselves. That much is clear if you read the depressing and soporific transcripts.

Today’s Music: Morrissey – You are the Quarry

When it rains it pours. In the past 78 hours I’ve been offered 3 apartments. Now I’m not talking luxury living, but functional apartments for acceptable prices. All through my wonderful friends. Well, yesterday I got the call… a friend in the Oud West saying “Why don’t you take my place”… since he’s migrating to Spain for 6 months to a year. This works well for me, love the neighborhood, like the place, need the option in half a year to perhaps move somewhere else. Sure, moving is tiring, but you do get accustomed to it, and I’m not sure I could commit longterm to an apartment at the age. “I’m just not ready.” “It’s not you it’s me.” “I want to see other apartments.”

On yesterday’s Democracy NowI heard the son of a homosexual couple expressing his joy that his moms were getting married. It was such a sweet moment… even through the radio I could hear how much he loves his parents and what a wonderful home life he has. How shameful that it has taken this long to allow gay marriage in Massachusetts or anywhere!

I’ve started to read legal blogs… meaning blogs written by lawyers, law students and law professors. I find them quite insightful; to have an inside look into the world according to those who work in law. Some blogs, like How Appealing, are extensive linkdumps for legal news from around the net. Others simply contain honest reflections about law and the daily work these professionals do, such as Notes from the (Legal) Underground. That particular post I linked to talks about how this lawyer actually gained a client thanks to the blog. For collective opinions by a group of fun and interesting law students, De Novo is where I go.

These type of blogs represent another aspect I love about this method of personal publishing, the chance to get information straight from those involved in certain activities. Direct testimony from doctors, journalists, students, wives, children, etc. THAT-is a great new possibility.

Today’s Music: Vinicious Cantuaria-Vinicious

Special announcement: I’m an uncle. On May 13th, around 8pm, Alexander Marsh Rendeiro was born in New Brunswick, NJ, USA. Out of respect for the privacy of my nephew, photos are only available upon request for now. From what I gather, the family is good, just very, very exhausted.

A combination of the prospect of a new baby in my family and a recent blog about the Ironbound by TPB, Esq, has had me thinking of my childhood back there in Newark, NJ. While he talks about the courthouses; where I spent quite a few of my days collecting facts and leads as a happy slave at the Village Voice, as a child I never went near those courthouses. My world was the Ironbound, Ferry St., to be exact, was the center of my universe. The wonderful mix of Portuguese and a plethora of other nationalities that made up that neighborhood.

Of course to me this was Newark. After the train station was the end of the earth and my world was flat. My biggest priorities back then were, “Will I go all the way around the block today.” For a trip of that length meant I could stop at the fruit market, or more importantly, the candy store. At least I thought it was a candystore, a better definition would have been a blue-collar lunchonette which always seemed to reek of cigarettes and fried meat smell. The most important days were when dad or mom would walk me to the bakery where one of those pointy cupcakes with green or red sprinkles could be had. Of course, on those same days, I would have to endure the stench of the fish market, and the sight of dead sea dwellers like squid, octopus, swordfish, and of course- bacalhau. I think the octopus struck the most fear in me, those suction cups seemed deadly.

Ahh the Ironbound… Great years.

While I don’t have the desire to speak much about the horrendous prisoner torture scandal today, I do have several articles that might deserve attention. The first is by former dem. president candidate Wesley Clark, basically his analysis of how Bush is handling things. I got bored half way through and started playing along to BDB. The other is one of those uncomfortable network TV interviews, this one with the Pfc. England and her take on what happened-creepy. The final recommendation is perhaps the most important one, an LA Times story about rape in military prisons. (you’ll have to do the sign-in thing)

Today’s Music: Badly Drawn Boy – Hour of..