The city of New Orleans could lose up to 80 percent of its black population if people displaced by Hurricane Katrina are not able to return to damaged neighborhoods, according to an analysis by a Brown University sociologist.
Initial Report (pdf)
President Bush will have two major audiences when he delivers his State of the Union address Tuesday night, and one of them is a lot more disappointed in him than the other.
But for a few anemic signs of independence, the Republican-controlled Congress seems happy following his lead. Not so the American public.
Canadian Prime Minister-elect Stephen Harper
"It is the Canadian people we get our mandate from, not the ambassador of the United States."
Photo by Ryan McManus
friday random ten:
"Pissed Off 2AM" - Alejandro Escovedo
"Hitchhiker" - Kris McKay
"La Feria de la Flores" - Los Lobos
"Frontier" - Dead Can Dance
"Deep Thoughts, Pt. I" - George W. Bush Singers
"Poison Moon" - Elvis Costello
"One Chord Wonders" - The Adverts
"Sunday Morning Coming Down" - Johnny Cash
"There'll Be Some Changes Made" - Dave Brubeck, Jimmy Rushing
"River of My People" - Pete Seeger
Library tells FBI to get a warrant
Law enforcement and Newton Free Library officials were embroiled in a tense standoff for nearly 10 hours last week when the city refused to let police and the FBI examine library computers without a warrant.
Police rushed to the main library last Wednesday after it was determined that a terrorist threat to Brandeis University had been sent from a computer at the library.
But requests to examine any of its computers were rebuffed by library Director Kathy Glick-Weil and Mayor David Cohen on the grounds that they did not have a warrant.
While one law enforcement official said he was "totally disgusted" with the city’s attempt to hold up a time-sensitive investigation of potential terrorist threat, Cohen is defending the library’s actions, calling it one of Newton’s "finest hours."
"We showed you can enforce the law ... without jeopardizing the privacy of innocent citizens," Cohen said.
Philly Roller Girls prepare for an exhibition bout on February 12th.
I watched as practice moved on from stretching to drills -- endurance drills, blocking drills and whipping drills -- and was followed by a scrimmage.
As they were racing around the rink, hitting each other and sending girls to the ground (giving me the mayhem that I was hoping for) the injured Derby Sanchez and Gori Amos gave me the roller derby rundown.
Derby Sanchez is recovering from a lingering ankle injury from an October practice. Gori Amos has a bum knee from a roller skating accident that did not happen during roller derby. Putting on their skates after a few beverages to entertain their friends is not unheard of. Gori Amos was at a roller skating party, lost her balance and fell just like she was trained too. The only problem was that since she wasn't at roller derby practice, she didn't have those trusty kneepads on. Whoops.
Suddenly I heard a clashing of helmets and elbow pads above the roar of rolling roller skates and one of the girls went skidding across the floor.
All I could hear was the squeaking sound of bare skin sliding across the wooden floor. Ouch.
I have a wild and crazy idea.
George W. Bush's delivery of the State of the Union address will take place on Tuesday, January 31, a little more than a week from now. It is my strong belief that every single Democrat present in the House chamber for the speech should, at a predetermined moment, stand up and walk out. No yelling. No heated words. Every Democrat should simply stand silently and leave.
Crazy, I know. Crazy, and possibly the best idea ever put before a body of Democrats since the New Deal.
Understand this, congressional Democrats, and understand it well: you are not dealing merely with a body of political opponents in the GOP. You are dealing with a group of people that want you exterminated politically. The days of walking the halls of the Rayburn Building, sharing a bourbon with a colleague from the other side of the aisle, and hammering out a compromise are as dead as Julius Caesar. Collegiality is out. Mutual respect is out. They want you gone for good. Erased. Destroyed.
And you have been far too polite about this. The writing has been on the wall for a while now. Back in 1995, Republican Senator Phil Gramm said, "We're going to keep building the party until we're hunting Democrats with dogs." That was eleven years ago. If you listen close, you can hear the beasts baying in the distance, waiting to slip the leash. Your limp tactics in the face of the assault upon you, your vacillation, your strange hope that maybe the GOP will be nicer tomorrow, has left you all smelling like Alpo.
The banked track Lonestar Rollergirls skate this Sunday, January 29th.
The Holy Rollers take on the Putas del Fuego.
Sunday, January 29, 2006.
At the new Thunderdome (map)
Tickets are $15.
Doors open at 6pm.
For more info please visit the Lonestar Rollergirls website for more info.
tags: tags: roller derby, rollergirls,Lonestar, Putas del Fuego, Holy Rollers, Austin
The flat track TC Rollers will skate their first bout this Saturday, January 28th.
Banger Sisters vs. Beautiful Butt-Kickin Babes
Saturday, January 28, 2006.
Cheap Skate Rink, 3075 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.
Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.
Doors open at 7pm, bout at 7:30pm.
Please visit the TC Rollers website for more info.
tags: roller derby, rollergirls, TC Rollers
Topics In This Episode:
New GGRD Team: Bronx Gridlock
Minnesota vs. Carolina bout
New WFTDA Rules
Featured Interviews
Lil' Hellion of Minnesota RollerGirls
Busty O'Lipp of Carolina Rollergirls
Ivanna S. Pankin of Sin City Rollergirls
