Postcards From Aleppo

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power speaking from the United Nations floor to her counterparts representing Syria, Russia and Iran:

“When one day there is a full accounting of the horrors committed in this assault of Aleppo — and that day will come, sooner or later — you will not be able to say you did not know what was happening, You will not be able to say you were not involved. We all know what is happening. And we all know you are involved.”

Aleppo’s population is/was about that of Houston, but people have inhabited it for about 6,000 years longer than Texas. Click here for some “Then and Now” photos from the besieged city.

True Meaning of Christmas… and Bananas

santaconAmong the many things that Portland, or Portlandia if you prefer, claims to have originated or is the leader of, is Santacon. Supposedly inspired by the “Santa Rampage” in San Francisco, the first “Santacon,” a pub-crawl of revelers dressed as Santa Claus crowded the sidewalks and streets in 1996. The initial event ended in a standoff with police who barred their entrance into the Lloyd Center shopping mall. Santacon was organized – if ‘organized” is the right word – by a group called The Portland Cacophony Society.

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A Blast From the Past

johnfredGonzaga University’s radio station came to life while I was a student there. Broadcasting from a corner of the COG (Center of Gonzaga) student union building’s basement, the shoestring operation operated with used equipment and neophyte enthusiasm. The station’s disc jockeys – I was one – played the popular music of the day, mixed in with whatever else we felt other students needed to hear.

“Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)” by John Fred and His Playboy Band was Billboard’s number one record for two weeks in early 1968. “Judy in Disguise” was either homage to or parody of the Beatles “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” Both had lyrics that probably made sense when you were stoned. John Fred’s follow-up “Hey Hey Bunny,” made it to number 57. Subsequent releases sank without a ripple and “Judy in Disguise” is remembered as a novelty curiosity and John Fred as a prototypical One-Hit Wonder.

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Malibu Update

FILE - This Aug. 3, 2002, file photo shows people walking past a sign stating that this beach, in Malibu, Calif., is private property. A Superior Court judge upheld an action by the California Coastal Commission on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, to provide public access to Carbon Beach in Malibu. Judge James C. Chalfant upheld a Commission-issued cease and desist order, which directed Lisette Ackerberg and the Lisette Ackerberg Trust to allow opening up of the public entry from the Pacific Coast Highway to the beach, and to remove a number of items blocking the entry. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)Wealthy property owners on California’s coastline have been relentless in their efforts to keep the common people away from the beaches fronting their expensive real estate. California law is explicit that beaches are public. Regardless of the law, beachfront owners believe they are the rightful owners and do what they can to deny access to hoi polloi. Two owners have received a setback as the California Coastal Commission fined them more than $5.1 million for blocking access to the beaches at Malibu.

After fighting for nine years, Warren and Henny Lent were penalized $4.2 million for “diverting a public easement to private use.” Simon and Daniel Mani, owners of the Malibu Beach Inn received a $200,000 fine and were ordered to build required stairways to the beach, install a $425,000 crosswalk with signals and pay $300,000 to a local conservation agency.

Meanwhile, up north at half Moon Bay, near San Francisco, is considering using eminent domain for the first time in its 78-year history. Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla is demanding $30 million to reopen access to Martin’s Beach. He closed access after purchasing the fronting property in 2008.

Freedom of the Press

breitbart-bmw-deutsche-telekom-20161207The First Amendment to our Constitution allows Breitbart News Network to publish whatever dreck they choose. It also works in the other direction. Companies are free to spend their advertising dollars wherever they choose. Some are now paying attention to where third-party agencies place their ads. Kellogg’s, for example, decided it no longer wants its brand associated with the right-wing “news” site.

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