http://fourstory.org/features/ en jim@fourstory.org Copyright 2010 2010-09-06T13:00:50+00:002010-09-05T21:26:52+00:002010-09-03T13:00:09+00:002010-09-02T15:46:44+00:002010-09-02T13:00:02+00:002010-09-01T13:00:51+00:002010-08-31T13:00:49+00:002010-08-30T23:12:09+00:002010-08-27T19:48:20+00:002010-08-26T18:03:06+00:002010-08-26T17:46:07+00:002010-08-25T13:00:50+00:002010-08-24T23:50:06+00:002010-08-24T15:07:18+00:002010-08-24T13:00:03+00:002010-08-23T13:00:36+00:002010-08-19T14:46:05+00:002010-08-19T13:00:55+00:002010-08-19T11:20:16+00:002010-08-18T13:00:19+00:002010-08-17T13:16:51+00:002010-08-17T13:00:11+00:002010-08-13T20:34:50+00:002010-08-13T12:33:58+00:002010-08-13T13:00:16+00:002010-08-12T13:00:57+00:002010-08-11T20:43:42+00:002010-08-10T13:00:37+00:002010-08-09T13:00:09+00:002010-08-06T13:00:21+00:002010-08-05T16:12:10+00:002010-08-05T13:00:42+00:002010-08-04T13:00:03+00:002010-08-03T13:00:58+00:002010-08-02T21:17:10+00:002010-08-02T03:31:26+00:002010-08-01T15:38:35+00:002010-07-30T13:00:15+00:002010-07-29T13:57:52+00:002010-07-29T13:00:00+00:002010-07-28T22:19:21+00:002010-07-28T16:22:45+00:002010-07-28T13:00:02+00:002010-07-28T03:19:52+00:002010-07-27T20:23:25+00:002010-07-27T13:00:48+00:002010-07-26T19:48:48+00:002010-07-24T13:13:19+00:002010-07-23T19:56:55+00:002010-07-23T13:00:26+00:002010-07-22T17:06:43+00:002010-07-22T13:00:27+00:002010-07-21T19:42:55+00:002010-07-21T13:00:21+00:002010-07-21T01:38:02+00:002010-07-20T21:55:41+00:002010-07-20T13:00:25+00:002010-07-19T22:02:01+00:002010-07-19T13:00:32+00:002010-07-17T13:00:56+00:002010-07-16T13:00:22+00:002010-07-16T04:36:53+00:002010-07-15T13:44:38+00:002010-07-15T13:00:43+00:002010-07-14T13:00:28+00:002010-07-13T21:02:49+00:002010-07-13T13:00:13+00:002010-07-12T19:37:41+00:002010-07-12T16:14:04+00:002010-07-12T15:40:39+00:002010-07-12T15:17:03+00:002010-07-12T14:10:48+00:002010-07-12T12:59:59+00:002010-07-10T13:00:55+00:002010-07-09T15:38:21+00:002010-07-09T13:00:53+00:002010-07-08T12:46:51+00:002010-07-08T13:00:03+00:002010-07-08T03:53:20+00:002010-07-07T12:59:59+00:002010-07-06T13:00:12+00:002010-07-05T20:40:16+00:002010-07-05T16:19:48+00:002010-07-05T13:00:21+00:002010-07-02T12:28:05+00:002010-07-02T13:00:08+00:002010-07-01T20:23:53+00:002010-07-01T13:00:16+00:002010-06-30T13:00:33+00:002010-06-29T13:00:22+00:002010-06-28T22:27:21+00:002010-06-28T14:56:02+00:002010-06-28T13:00:19+00:002010-06-27T04:13:53+00:002010-06-25T20:03:07+00:002010-06-25T13:00:26+00:002010-06-24T19:30:37+00:002010-06-24T16:09:07+00:002010-06-24T13:00:35+00:002010-06-23T13:00:29+00:00 http://fourstory.org/features/story/money-the-real-grass-roots/ http://fourstory.org/features/story/money-the-real-grass-roots/#When:13:00:50Z I just about have had it up to here with government regulation. I would tell you where “up to here” is except that would entail using a government-standardized unit of measure, and our government isn’t supposed to do that. They’re only supposed to wear wigs or something. But we have an activist, Negro-led government now, and their overreaching socialist regulations are destroying America. Just the other day, I got in my Toyota, because I like a car that will accelerate to 120 without coaxing. I thought I’d head down to Sam & Ella’s Eggs R Shit for a nice half-a-billion-egg… Sustainable Living, Government, The Economy, The Media 2010-09-06T13:00:50+00:00 http://fourstory.org/weblog/post/the-death-of-ruben-salazar/ http://fourstory.org/weblog/post/the-death-of-ruben-salazar/#When:21:26:52Z In this past Wednesday's Donuts at 2 A.M., "August, the Mother of All Months," I made a passing reference to this August also being the 40th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, or National Chicano Moratorium March in East L.A. organized by the Brown Berets. This resulted in a confrontation between activists and the Sheriff's Department on Whittier Boulevard, and the deputies going hog wild on some of the 30,000 men, women and children gathered to exercise their right to protest. Three people were killed, most notably L.A. Times columnist and KMEX-TV news director Ruben Salazar. He was killed when… Justice For All 2010-09-05T21:26:52+00:00 http://fourstory.org/features/story/i-got-your-value-added-right-here/ http://fourstory.org/features/story/i-got-your-value-added-right-here/#When:13:00:09Z “Good morning,” he breathed, all breathily, into his cell phone. “Senator Cedillo,” I purred at him. That is how we talk to each other—sexily. I don’t know who started it, but it was probably him, or else it was me. And yet, somehow, I continued. “Guess whose mama is among the 100 most effective teachers in the LAUSD?!” “Whose?” he asked, before catching himself. “Yours!” he answered, correctly. “Well, all you have to do is look how she taught you to see that!” He was purring and pandering simultaneously. Gil Cedillo is a politician of exceptional skill.… Justice For All, The Media 2010-09-03T13:00:09+00:00 http://fourstory.org/weblog/post/the-largest-green-friendly-development-ever/ http://fourstory.org/weblog/post/the-largest-green-friendly-development-ever/#When:15:46:44Z Want to see what the homes look like that Brad Pitt and fourteen architects have been working on in New Orleans? These homes are part of the largest green-friendly development in the world.  They feature:     *  solar panels which result in zero energy use     *  framing that can stand up to 130 mph winds     *  Kevlar coated windows (like the bullet-proof vests) that can stand up to hurricane winds     *  Energy Star appliances     *  cisterns to harvest rainwater     *  fiber cement board for strength     *  low flow toilets and zero VOC paint    … Housing & Development, Sustainable Living, Justice For All, The Economy, The Arts, La Vie Quotidienne 2010-09-02T15:46:44+00:00 http://fourstory.org/features/story/twelve-generations-of-environmental-damage/ http://fourstory.org/features/story/twelve-generations-of-environmental-damage/#When:13:00:02Z When we think about fighting the good fight as hardcore environmentalists, we tend to focus on our habits. For example, we can just as easily recycle that plastic bottle as throw it in the garbage. Once all cars in the fleet become electric, we won’t have gasoline emissions to worry about, and once all fossil fuels are replaced by sustainable sources we’ll have practically no transportation emissions at all. But what exactly does being an environmentalist entail? You might answer anything from “a reverence for the planet” to “a strict adherence to becoming carbon neutral”; but you (individually) wouldn’t be… Sustainable Living 2010-09-02T13:00:02+00:00 http://fourstory.org/features/story/august-the-mother-of-all-months/ http://fourstory.org/features/story/august-the-mother-of-all-months/#When:13:00:51Z Now with Beckapalooza or the I Have a Scheme chest-beating extravaganza, to steal the headline from The Daily Show, is behind us, it’s noteworthy several anniversaries have come and gone this past August. Though come on, did anyone really believe this Don Draper crossed with Lonesome Rhodes would succeed in psychologically hijacking the legacy of the momentous March on Washington? Yes, he issued hyperbole like “We’re going to reclaim the civil rights movement.” But really, there was no chance of that happening given the right wingers speaking at the rally, and I’d hazard a significant number of the… Housing & Development, Justice For All, Government, The Economy, The Media 2010-09-01T13:00:51+00:00 http://fourstory.org/features/story/letting-go/ http://fourstory.org/features/story/letting-go/#When:13:00:49Z The dogs jumped up from their cool spots on my concrete floor and ran to see who had driven up to my house. It was Neighbor Jim. It’s a big deal to have someone come to Chigger Lake unannounced. Being out in the boonies means somebody really wants to see you about something. So I opened the back door and saw that Neighbor Jim had a wry smile on his face. He asked, “Do you smell smoke?” Hmmmm. Now that he’d mentioned it, I did, and as I looked down the driveway I could see wisps of it through the… La Vie Quotidienne 2010-08-31T13:00:49+00:00 http://fourstory.org/weblog/post/inflating-home-prices/ http://fourstory.org/weblog/post/inflating-home-prices/#When:23:12:09Z Great article in the L.A. Times today!  I'm just going to slap up the best excerpts for ya: You can't force someone to buy a house.But as a society we've long tried to make homeownership an offer you couldn't refuse.And since the real estate mega-bubble burst three years ago, the government has tried even more tricks to get people to sign home purchase contracts.Now, a grim reality has set in: Despite the still-rich basket of tax breaks for residential property owners, and the lowest mortgage rates… Housing & Development 2010-08-30T23:12:09+00:00 http://fourstory.org/weblog/post/taking-poor-peoples-homes/ http://fourstory.org/weblog/post/taking-poor-peoples-homes/#When:19:48:20Z For a furious fix of malfeasance this Friday, check out this cruel coup conducted by that meretricious mobster, the Montgomery Mayor: The Daily Caller pretty much sums it up (bold emphases are mine): Imagine you come home from work one day to a notice on your front door that you have 45 days to demolish your house, or the city will do it for you.  Oh, and you’re… Housing & Development, Justice For All 2010-08-27T19:48:20+00:00 http://fourstory.org/weblog/post/you-wont-be-sorry/ http://fourstory.org/weblog/post/you-wont-be-sorry/#When:18:03:06Z Who knew that Stan would find me and then put me in touch with Ann after all these years?  Fifty-two, to be exact. We were best friends in Junior High, back in the day when they called Middle School, Junior High.  Ann writes a blog about her life in Los Osos.  It is fantastic.  Seriously.  It is fantastic.  She writes about everything from the antics of local wildlife to the state of the Union.   Don't thank me.  It's my honor and my pleasure. http://www.calhounscannon.blogspot.com/   Justice For All, Government, The Economy, The Media, The Arts, La Vie Quotidienne 2010-08-26T18:03:06+00:00