This is a rather disturbing pattern. Why haven't these ineligible voters been purged from the voter rolls? Wasn't this an issue in previous presidential elections? I am not trying to digress but the Elections Board in the Kansas Secretary of States office asked this question last week, where is there proof that felons vote Democratic? Here is the proof!

More from the Sentinel:

More than 30,000 Florida felons who by law should have been stripped of their right to vote remain registered to cast ballots in this presidential battleground state, a Sun Sentinel investigation has found.

Many are faithful voters, with at least 4,900 turning out in past elections.

Another 5,600 are not likely to vote Nov. 4 — they're still in prison.

Of the felons who registered with a party, Democrats outnumber Republicans more than two to one.

Here is a statement from Florida's Secretary of State:

Florida's elections chief, Secretary of State Kurt Browning, acknowledged his staff has failed to remove thousands of ineligible felons because of a shortage of workers and a crush of new registrations in this critical swing state.

Browning said he was not surprised by the newspaper's findings."I'm kind of shocked that the number is as low as it is," he said.

Asked how many ineligible felons may be on Florida's rolls, Browning said, "We don't know."

The Division of Elections has a backlog of more than 108,000 possible felons who have registered to vote since January 2006 that it hasn't had the time or staff to verify. Browning estimated that about 10 percent, once checked, would be ineligible.

What has the Secretary of State in Florida been doing with his time? Is he going to appoint more people to clean up the rolls or allow wholesale voter fraud in November?

The law pre-dates the Civil War as seen in the following excerpt from the Sentinel:

Florida's felon ban originated before the Civil War, and today the state remains one of 10 that restrict some felons from voting even after they've served their time. The law requires state and county elections officials to remove felons from voter rolls after conviction and add them only when they've won clemency to restore their voting rights.

In 2007, the state eased the restrictions by granting automatic clemency to most nonviolent offenders who have completed their sentences. Others, including people convicted of federal offenses, multiple felonies or crimes such as drug trafficking, murder and sex charges, must still apply for clemency and have their cases reviewed.

The Sentinel unearthed names of some more famous felons who remain on the voter rolls:

The felons the Sun Sentinel identified never received clemency, but their names remain on Florida's voter rolls. Some are well-known: ex-Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne and ex-Palm Beach County Commissioner Tony Masilotti, for instance, both convicted last year of public corruption.

Browning said the state painstakingly checks all voters before removing them to avoid inadvertently taking off eligible voters as happened in two previous large-scale purge attempts.

"The policy of this department, this state, is that we will err on the side of the voter," he said.

Err on the side of the voter. The Florida is clear, take the felons off the rolls.

More from the article:

Florida registers voters largely on an honor system, asking applicants to affirm on a signed form that they are not convicted felons or that their rights have been restored. State law requires the Elections Division to conduct criminal records checks only after voters are added to the rolls, and it takes months or even years to remove those who are ineligible, the Sun Sentinel found.

"It's scandalous, really," said Lance deHaven-Smith, professor of public policy at Florida State University. "Why do they have to cull the rolls after they get registered? They shouldn't get on the rolls in the first place."

And of course there is confusion amongst the felons. They really aren't sure if they should vote or not. None of them understand the "automatic clemency" or the need to request clemency. The county election officials will not remove these ineligible voters until directed to do so. Who exactly is going to direct them to? The Secretary of State in Florida says he can't guarantee anything on the voter rolls. And neither can the Division of Elections!

What recommendations have been made?

More from the article:

Maintaining accurate voting rolls is up to the state Division of Elections, which has failed to effectively remove felons for years.

Most recently, in 2006, the Auditor General recommended the division conduct a "comprehensive check" of all registered voters against lists of convicted felons, a step the state still has not taken, Browning acknowledged.

In response to auditors, the division said running the search "would not be a problem," but it lacked the manpower to verify possible matches. "Staff further stated that they were busy full-time" checking newly registered felons.

Once voters are added to the rolls, the state's procedure for removing them is tedious and labor-intensive. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs daily checks of criminal records against new voters and those who have made changes to their registrations, sending possible matches to the Elections Division.

They have had years to fix these errors. What is their excuse, "it is time consuming". Doesn't Florida pay their government employees enough to do their jobs?

More:

Elections staff then manually check each one, a process that involves three to five workers reviewing records, comparing driver's license and prison photos and verifying convictions. Confirmed matches are sent to the counties for removal.

Since January 2006, more than 1.6 million new voters have registered in Florida. FDLE identified more than 124,000 possible felons.

In that time, elections workers removed about 7,200 from voter rolls statewide. Broward County took off just 232 and Palm Beach County 31.

"We do want to make sure ... that we have the right voter," Browning said.

Elections workers are now reviewing more than 3,800 possible felon voters but have more than 108,000 others still to be checked. "We've not touched those records yet," Browning said.

Asked how long it will take to review them all, he said, "I don't have a clue. I really don't."

Recently registered
John Teate, who lives west of Boca Raton, remains on the voter rolls after registering as a Democrat in July despite felony drug and theft convictions dating to the early 1990s. He said someone he thinks was a Democratic supporter signed him up while he waited for a bus at the central terminal in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

"I said, 'I'm a convicted felon. I can't vote,'" recalled Teate, 45. "I figured when the paperwork came in, there would be a red flag."

A spokesman for Barack Obama's campaign said it is unlikely his volunteers signed up Teate because his name is not in a database of new voters they registered.

Teate hasn't voted and said he doesn't plan to.

It's a third-degree felony for ineligible voters to knowingly cast ballots and for campaign workers and voters to submit false registration forms. Prosecutors and elections officials in South Florida could not recall any prosecutions related to felons registering or voting in recent years.

Henderson, the Hallandale Beach voter, said he does not think his criminal record should keep him from voting.

"I paid my debt," Henderson said. "Just because I was incarcerated, that means I'm nothing now? I'm still a father. I got two kids I'm raising."

Evan Snow, a West Palm Beach Republican, agrees. Convicted of burglary, battery and other crimes dating to the 1980s, Snow said he sought clemency several years ago but was discouraged by the lengthy process and gave up.

Snow, 46, registered to vote in June. He said he plans to cast a ballot Nov. 4 but hasn't decided which presidential candidate to support.

"Everybody is getting interested in politics right now," he said. "We are all here together. Shouldn't we all be able to make a decision about who runs the place?"

To civil rights advocates, the troubled system is an argument to change the state's constitution to automatically restore voting rights to all felons who complete their sentences.

As of mid-September, about 118,000 mostly nonviolent offenders had received automatic clemency under the 2007 change. For more than 9,700 of them, it didn't matter — their names had never been removed from the voter rolls.

Just on Fox News at On The Record, the Sentinel said the total felons may be in excess of 50,000 to 60,000 felons. The Secretary of State should be pulling all nighters to correct this problem before it is an issue after November 5th. Mr Browning,one piece of advice, do your job! Floridians one piece of advice, make Browning do his job.

Mobile post sent by simplify3 using Utterli.  Replies. ]]> http://originallaxrv.wordpress.com/?p=45 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:55:20 +0000 mattragland http://originallaxrv.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/the-rig-hauls-homefinally/ The Original Lax RV is on the final leg of its return trip from the Fall Classic at USTC. This weekend was crazy busy for the Big Rig-o-Lax as we had teams playing all over the Pennsylvania countryside. Unfortunately, we don't fit down those Sleepy Hollow-esk very well. If one of those measly 12 passenger vans finds the spirally roads tight, than our 33 1/2 feet of Lax-Luv doesn't stand much of a chance to fare better.

All tolled, we supported three camp sites, and enabled the director and at least one middle school team to rove from field to field bringing a smile and excitement at every turn. A special shout out to the parents and kids from the Carolina Fever 2014 middle school team. It was great to see another southern club at the event! The Lax RV has a lot of enthusiasm for good sports and positive attitudes. We love making new friends on our journeys. Isn't that a part of it?

I feel bad for the green girls. One looked at the Rig and gave a big thumbs down. There must be a profound sadness, or a negative energy to bring that type of reaction out of a 14-year old! We hope they are feeling better now that the event is over and they do not have to see TLC for a few months. Playing against the best club in the nation can cause any kid to become discouraged! Hang in their greenies...you'll get a chance again to play them! Smile! :)

Being positive and being successful are linked. We love being able to bring the joy of lacrosse to new areas and to more established ones as well! Who knows, maybe Sam Matz and his TLC crew will jump on board and get their very own bright red TLC mobile!

This trip has logged 2000 miles and about 30 hours of drive time, but it's all worth it! We get to do some more local lacrosse events for a while now: Queen of the Crypt 3-v-3 in Jupiter, First Coast Lax Fall Ball Sundays, and a nice trip up to the 'All-In' tournament in South Carolina..followed up with the Wishbone. Then it's off to Maniax tryouts! December 2008 coming to a city near you! HONK! HONK!!!

Sleek and attractive meet professional and executive in this complete J&J office set. Finished in walnut, this duo comes complete with credenza and computer table with full modesty. Office Remix is known for it's ability to furnish any office with style!

J&J 72" desk with Credenza & computer table, Walnut

Now that it looks more and more like they're going to lose the white house, and their attempts at racist, fear-mongering bullshit flopped like McCain's right arm, they're setting the stage to argue that it is not their pathetic campaign; that their well deserved and long overdue stomping at the polls will be the result of voter fraud.

The problem with this is that it's a lie.
It is not true.  It is an absolute, unmitigated bit of utter horseshit and Sarah Palin either knows that (in which case she's a filthy fucking liar) or she doesn't (in which case she's too fucking stupid to be on the ticket).  I have no problem with either of those propositions.

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is concerned with registering voters.  This cycle, they have allegedly registered 1.3 million low income and minority voters - obviously not voters the GOP wants to see at the polls in November.  This is the group that the GOP cites in making the case that rampant voter fraud may steal this election from them.  ACORN is in the bag for Obama, and they're gaming the system with phony votes!

Here's the rub:  ACORN uses some volunteers and some paid personnel to help voters fill out the registration forms.  Some of those workers are paid on a per form basis - the more they complete, the more money they make.  Obviously, this leaves the system wide open to fraudulent registrations being submitted.  There has been confirmed evidence of false information being submitted on some forms - names of pro football players, "John Q. Public," and such.

Here's the counter rub:  ACORN is obligated by law to turn in every form, no matter what's written on it.
Let me say that again:  ACORN must turn in every completed form no matter whose name is on it.  It could say George Washington, Little Miss Muffet, Bugs Bunny or Fuck Fuckity Fuckerstone and ACORN is obligated under the law to submit that form to the registrar.

ACORN goes to great trouble to identify and flag any voter registration form they deem questionable.  One supposes that "Fuck Fuckity Fuckerstone" would get flagged, while perhaps the one filled out in NFL quarterback Tony Romo's name might be a little more likely to slip through.   Hunter Thompson is no longer scrutinizing the registration forms.
The fact remains that some fraudulent registrations get submitted.  Occasionally some of those show up on the voter lists.  ACORN has helped the authorities identify and prosecute those responsible for submitting false forms - not what you'd expect from an organization out to commit fraud.

Here's the rub against the grain:  Despite the fact that some fraudulent forms get submitted, and perhaps even added to the voter rolls, there has never been a confirmed case of any of these fraudulent names showing up anywhere to vote.  Let's be clear about this:  There is not, never has been, and it is exceedingly unlikely that in this coming election anyone will identify even a single case of voter fraud.  Miss Muffet, Bugs Bunny, and Mr. Fuckingstone simply never come to the polls and insist on casting a ballot.

The last notable case of voter fraud identified in the United States was Ann Coulter, who tried to lie about her address so she could vote in another precinct.  Nevertheless, the GOP - and Sarah Palin specifically - cite these dodgy registration forms as proof that the scary, left-wing fuckers (read Democrats) are out to steal this election by cheating!

What ought to be far more troubling to those concerned with fair and free elections is the lengths to which the GOP will go to disenfranchise legitimate voters.
If your name is the same as someone convicted of a felony, you may expect to be challenged at the polls.
If you currently live in a home that has had foreclosure proceedings filed against it, you may expect to be challenged for residency.
If you cannot produce photo ID - which is absolutely not a requirement under the law - you may expect to be challenged in some states.
The GOP has been behind some of the shadiest, most underhanded tactics in electoral history (and most commonly in swing states...surprise, surprise) to keep poor and minority voters from casting a ballot on election day.
When George Bush won Florida in 2000, tens of thousands of black votes were not counted as a direct result of such dirty plots.  And yet, Sarah Palin is yammering her vapid, empty, ignorant head off about how the leftist groups are trying to steal this election with vote fraud.

The media is not even bothering to properly investigate or report this story with anything remotely resembling competence.  CNN is running stories on an investigation into the fraudulent ballots as if ACORN is responsible for submitting them despite the fact that they are merely following the law - ACORN is not allowed NOT to turn them in.
The yammering lipflaps in Atlanta even go so far as to suggest, despite the total lack of any evidence of voter fraud, that it looks like voter fraud might be a problem!  It's nothing more than a complete abdication of journalistic responsibility and a sycophantic repetition of another horseshit GOP talking point.

There's a big difference between voter registration fraud, and voter fraud...and Sarah Palin is either (as I said) too stupid to know the difference or willfully ignorant and all too happy to use this bit of bullshit to incite further fear, hatred and suspicion among the GOP base, and lay the groundwork for a blanket excuse as to why she - the most qualified Mavericky dingbat in the history of American politics - did not win the vice presidency.

Having been unable to make anything else work, including veiled references to Obama "palling around with terrorists" (plural), ginning up racism and hatred, yammering about abortion, flailing about the economy, repeating the words, "Maverick, you betcha," over and over again...finding nothing but contempt and frustration at every turn and refusing to admit that those are simply proper responses to the McCain-Palin ticket, she's now accusing the Democrats of outright cheating even before a single ballot has been cast.

Where's the moose meat, oh Wicked Witch of Wasilla?  If you're going to assert that someone is cheating, you'd better have some fucking proof.  And registration forms submitted with false names when (a) ACORN is obligated to submit them in any case, and (b) there has never been a confirmed case of voter fraud, does not make the cut.  Either put up or shut the fuck up and get back to your pointless flailing about.

Sorry to break this to you, Sarah...but in a democracy, citizens get to vote.  Not just the rich ones, not just the white ones, not just the creationist, ant-abortion freakazoids that think you're just the most down-to-earth thing since Jesus rode a dinosaur.  ALL citizens of voting age are entitled to vote (in their districts and so long as they are not convicted felons).
ACORN signed up about 1.3 million voters who want to send your shallow Miss Congeniality Caribou Barbie ass back to Alaska.  Too fucking bad for you and Senator Gimpy McMumblefuck.
While you're learning to live with the simple fact that you don't get to pick and choose who may vote, try reading something besides every newspaper in America.  Take a break and have a browse through the Constitution and some of those Supreme Court cases with which you're so familiar.  Some of them deal with voting rights.   Then, the next time Katie Couric asks you a penetrating question about which decisions you disagree with, instead of staring blankly like a moose in the headlights, you'll be able to go on at great length about how, "...it's just wrong there for this law to allow then permit and there black and poor brown people with no money and not white like you and I see things there can just vote here in this country, dontcha know!"

1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma State
4. Michigan State
5. Boise State
6. Wake Forest
7. USC
8. Oklahoma
9. Florida
10. Ohio State

The anomaly seem to be Michigan State and Wake Forest, but I have no qualms.  The whole methodology of my formula is taking care of business against other teams who are taking care of business, which they are both doing.  But, one loss can certainly have its toll, as Vanderbilt dropped from #2 to #18 in one week.  We shall see as the season goes on.  However, SEC vs. Big 12 seems about right, since they're the two top conferences:

1. Big 12
2. SEC
3. Big Ten
4. ACC
5. Big East
6. Mountain West
7. Pacific-10
8. WAC
9. Independent
10. Mid-American
11. Conference USA
12. Sun Belt

The Pac-10 is slowly creeping up on the Mountain West, and we can only cross our fingers that the top 6 conferences are indeed the BCS conferences by the end of the year.  Otherwise, well, it will show how worthless the BCS really is.  Without a playoff, it is as good of a tool as we're going to get, but that certainly does not mean it is better than a playoff.  It is, in fact, much worse.

Dana Milbank reports that Palin's taken hold of her message of hate with those stubborn pitbull jaws and even at the request of her running mate (that would be John McCain, he's running for president under Palin's vice presidency) refuses to rein in her snarling, rabid froth. 

As the Palin/McCain ticket sinks slowly in the west (east, north and south), Palin continues her ruinous rants, proclaiming, reports Milbank, " 'For me, the heels are on, the gloves are off,' she announced at high noon Monday to a group of Republican donors at the Naples Beach Club.

"You betcha."

Read Milbank's whole story here, and God, bless us, everyone.

Flush is about a boy who's dad is in trouble. He destroyed another man's boat. He did it because he believes that the man was dumping his waste into the water and ruining the beaches. The tries to help his father prove that the man was dumping waste into the water, and get him to stop. The whole story is the boy trying to catch the man doing the crime. He fails a few times until he comes up with a plan.

No. I don't think others would want to read this book. It is boring and the author, Carl Hiassen, goes on and on about one thing for multiple pages. It is easy reading, and a bit monotonous.

Review by Casey I. - 7th grade

Even Gov. Charlie Crist, who helped deliver Florida for McCain during the primary, said he will be spending more time minding the state's weak economy than campaigning for the Arizona senator in the final weeks before Election Day.

''When I have time to help, I'll try to do that,'' Crist said last week, after he flew around the state with McCain running mate Sarah Palin. Saturday, he skipped a McCain football rally and instead went to Disney World.

Senior members of the Republican party are in open mutiny against John McCain's presidential campaign, after a disastrous period which has seen Barack Obama solidify his lead in the opinion polls.

...snip...

From inside and outside his inner circle, Mr McCain is being told to settle on a coherent economic message and to tone down attacks on his rival which have sometimes whipped up a mob-like atmosphere at Republican rallies.

Original DVD cover.

Two former rivals for the party nomination, Mitt Romney and Tommy Thompson, went on the record over the weekend about the disarray in the Republican camp. And a string of other senior party figures said Mr McCain's erratic performance risks taking the party down to heavy losses not just in the presidential race but also in contests for Congressional seats. Mr Thompson, a former governor of the swing state of Wisconsin, said he thought Mr McCain, on his present trajectory, would lose the state, and he told a New York Times reporter he was not happy with the campaign. "I don't know who is," he added.

Some Republicans seeking election to Congress have begun distancing themselves from Mr McCain. In Nebraska, a Republican representative, Lee Terry, ran a newspaper ad featuring support from a woman who called herself an "Obama-Terry voter".

From The Trail at The Washington Post:

CHICAGO -- Falling behind in a sheaf of polls amid one of the nastiest campaigns in the country, Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) announced today that he will unilaterally disarm: He will pull his negative advertising and urge his supporters to do the same.

At a St. Paul press conference, the onetime Democrat-turned-Republican sounded as though he was channeling Sen. Barack Obama, who has taken a strong lead in Minnesota polls.

...snip...

Coleman told reporters that he would not be appearing at a planned rally with McCain this afternoon. Could it be McCain's sliding polling numbers in Minnesota? His attacks on Obama? Coleman said he needs the time to work on suspending his own negative ads.

From The Miami Herald:

For the first time in more than a decade, Florida Republicans are considering the almost unthinkable: Their presidential nominee could lose the state.

The economy, an unpopular president, a strong opponent, and the inability of John McCain to reverse poll numbers despite repeatedly revising his strategy has top state Republicans looking for someone to blame.

''There are a lot of folks who have never been in a foxhole before and are clearly nervous,'' said Brian Ballard, a major McCain fundraiser. ``There is some finger-pointing going on a little bit too soon.''

Even Gov. Charlie Crist, who helped deliver Florida for McCain during the primary, said he will spend the final weeks before Election Day minding the state's weak economy rather than campaigning for the Arizona senator.

''When I have time to help, I'll try to do that,'' Crist said last week, after he flew around the state with McCain running mate Sarah Palin. Saturday, he skipped a McCain football rally and instead went to Disney World.

West Palm Beach Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL), whose predecessor resigned in the wake of a sex scandal, agreed to a $121,000 payment to a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue him, according to current and former members of his staff who have been briefed on the settlement, which involved Mahoney and his campaign committee.

Mahoney, who is married, also promised the woman, Patricia Allen, a $50,000 a year job for two years at the agency that handles his campaign advertising, the staffers said.
...
The affair between Mahoney and Allen began, according to the current and former staffers, in 2006 when Mahoney was campaigning for Congress against Foley, promising "a world that is safer, more moral."

The outrage at Mahoney from the left is about as loud as a gathering of Air America listeners (both of them).

From Matthew 5:7: "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."  May God be with Mahoney's family through this personally tough time.

Minutes later Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also called for an investigation.

ABC News reported on its Web site Monday that Mahoney agreed to pay $121,000 in March to a former mistress and staffer after being threatened with a sexual harassment lawsuit.

The network, citing unnamed sources, says the congressman began an affair with Patricia Allen in 2006 while he was campaigning for Congress. Source:A Florida (House) Bombshell Read more Click

Florida Democratic Rep. Tim Mahoney paid a former mistress more than $100,000 to settle a lawsuit she was planning to bring against him badly imperils a seat that was already high on Republicans' target list.

Mahoney's media consulting firm -- Fletcher Rowley Chao Riddle Inc. -- with whom Mahoney allegedly promised his mistress a job immediately cut ties with the congressman and insisted they had no knowledge of any such deal.

"According to ABC News, Tim Mahoney apparently included our company in a secret legal agreement without the knowledge of our firm," said Bill Fletcher. "Our firm did not agree to any legal settlement."

What does all of this mean for Mahoney's chances at reelection?

Mahoney represents the 16th district solely because of another scandal -- this one involving then Rep. Mark Foley (R) and inappropriate instant messages to House pages. That news, which was also broken by ABC, force Foley from office and was blamed by many GOP strategists as a catalyst for their heavy losses at the ballot box in November 2006. (Foley was recently cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in the matter.) Source:

Another Democrat investigation! The democrats are not as clean as they would like the American people to think! John Edwards and now Tim Mahoney!

Mahoney, who is married, did not directly address the ABC report, but said in a written statement, "I was notified this afternoon about a story that ran on ABC News' web site reporting allegations about a former employee. While these allegations are based on hearsay, I believe that my constituents need a full accounting. As such, I have requested the House ethics committee to review these allegations. I am confident that when the facts are presented that I will be vindicated."

The ABC story said Mahoney began an affair with Patricia Allen during his campaign in 2006. Allen was later hired to work for Mahoney's Florida congressional office. In addition to the $121,000 legal settlement, the story reports that Mahoney secured Allen a job at the consulting firm that handles his campaign commercials. A spokesman in Mahoney's campaign office in Florida declined to answer any questions regarding the allegations in the ABC report.

Mahoney's West Palm Beach area congressional seat was formerly held by Republican Mark Foley, who resigned in late 2006 after his own sex scandal involving inappropriate communication with male House pages.

A senior Democratic operative said that with these allegations surfacing in the same district that Mark Foley served, "the irony is not lost on any of us."

After Mahoney called for the investigation, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said, "I just learned today about the serious allegations concerning Congressman Tim Mahoney. These charges must be immediately and thoroughly investigated by the House Ethics Committee."

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, recently confronted Mahoney about a report that he had been unfaithful to his wife. According to DCCC spokeswoman Jennifer Crider, "After a rumor recently surfaced on a blog about Mr. Mahoney's affair, the chairman spoke briefly once with Mr. Mahoney about his responsibility as an elected
official to act appropriately and urged him to come clean with his constituents if there was any truth to the rumor."

In a sign of how politically devastating the allegations are for Mahoney's chances of re-election, The Cook Political Report, a publication that rates congressional races, swiftly moved its rating on Monday for his Florida seat from "Lean Democratic" to "Lean Republican."

When: Opening reception Saturday 8th November 7 - 11pm.
Where: Damien B. Contemporary Art Center
282 NW 36th Street Miami Fl
Contact: damien@damienb.com
T/F: 305 573 4949
Damien B. Contemporary Art Center
Is very proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the International Miami Book Fair in collaboration with the francophone pavilion which this year's theme is
"the comics galaxy"

 
"A view on the 9th Art, the art of graphic novels"
International exhibition dedicated to the Art of graphic novels, comic strip, book illustrations, animations, cartoons...

5 comic books authors will be showing originals and rare limited editions of drawings.

Mohamed Aouamri (France),
Alex Baladi (Belgium),
Regis Loisel (Canada),
 Luc Nisset (France)

Yves Swolfs (Switzerland)

The 9th Art is the link between traditional literary narratives to a visual language of myth as seen in comic strips.
 
Once considered the lowest form of literature, denounced by parents, teachers and clergy for their corrupting on the minds and moral of  youth, comics now command the attention of cultural critics and scholars of Art history
Comics and cartoons are an indelible fact of American Life and consequently of American Art, and are central to the postmodern sensibility.

In contemporary Art the influence of the comic book’s draftsmen, fabulous graphic artists and cartoonists is predominant. Taking an in-depth look at the current phenomenon of cartoon-referencing work, its connection to the Pop Art movement of the 1960s, when the artist as a reaction of Abstract Expressionism employed a common imagery found in comics strips, publicity, popular culture, consumer products, Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring cartoonist’s son, Andy Warhol, began appropriating comics iconography into their Art work, drawn to its mass appeal while using it to critique the commercial aspect of society. For the first time, huge canvas filled with images and text blown up from comic books where hung on gallery walls.

In today' Art, cartoon imagery is ubiquitous the new generation of artists influenced by pop Art and raised on TV created and comic - infused Art the Street Art, Graffity,Urban Art, video and the social and cultural factors that have shaped our understanding of the comics as a form of popular communication receiving a warm embrace from the art public.

Damien B. Contemporary  Art Center will present an exhibit introducing comics novel authors and emerging artists influenced by the 9th Art.

Exhibited Artist includes:

Mohamed Aouamri "La Quete de l’Oiseau du Temps"                   
Mr Mohamed Aouamri was born in Kabylia (Algeria) the 4th of march 1957. He studied drawing at the Art institute of Douai and later at the Art Institute of Reims, in France. He first worked for the French newspaper Pilote where he used to publish some wildlife gags. Then he started a career in the advertising environment as an independent drawer.

In 2008, he was president of the 13th disc and comics festival of Evian-les-Bain
Drawings of « Mortepierre » 2007 : Drawings of La Quête de l’oiseau du temps, tome 6, Le Grimoire des Dieux.
Award :  TF1 award at the 9th festival of Angoulême (1982)
Alex Baladi  "Frankenstein"
Born in Switzerland in 1969, Alex Baladi studied literature in Genève and cinema
In addition to his work in the comics field, Baladi’s paintings have been exhibited widely throughout Europe.

Régis Loisel "La Quete de l’Oiseau du Temps" "Peter Pan"
He is one of main and first French authors that worked in the fantasy genre since the 1970s. The style that Loisel used for his famous series ‘La Quete de l’Oiseau du Temps’ has become a standard for the European artists that work in this genre. In 1972, Loisel made his debut in the magazine Pieds Nickelés, while attending comics courses in Vincennes. From 1974, he was present in Mormoil and Pilote. In the following year, he joined Serge Le Tendre in the creation of a first version of ‘La Quête de l’Oiseau du Temps’ in Imagine. . In 2000, He has also cooperated on the Disney animation films ‘Mulan’ and ‘Atlantis’, as well as on Olivier Dahan’s ‘Petit Poucet’.

Awards
2003: nominated for the Audience Award at the Angoulême International Comics Festival
2006: Grand Prix de la ville d’Angoulême at the Angoulême International Comics Festival 
2007: nominated for the Grand Prix, for best French language comic and for best artwork at the Prix Saint-Michel, Brussels.
Yves Swolfs
Yves Swolfs joins the Atelier R, prestigious graphic novel section of the Saint Luc Institute of Bruxelles. He publishes his first story in 1978. In may 1980, Yves Swolfs creates Durango, a Western style character inspired of Clint Eastwood. The cycle becomes a great success and is reprinted frequently. At the same time, he starts writing historic graphic novels cycles with Dampierre and Légende. Cycle"Durango" ( western) 13 tomes Cycle " Le prince de la nuit" 6 tomes.He is also the author of very famous fantasy cycles like Vlad and Griffo.
 
Saturday November 8th 2008  7-11pm
Wynwood Gallery Night
 
Damien B. Contemporary Art Center
 282 NW 36th street
 305 573 4949
 www.damienb.com

• It has been reported that Clemson head coach Bobby Bowden has been fired.  It's about time.  He was hands down the worst head coach in the ACC.  The two things you can always count on during a college football season are USC being really good and Clemson drastically underachieving.  The firing may have an effect on Bowden's recruits as some of them may change their mind now but the move will ultimately be good for the program's future.
• After this weekend I am fully convinced that the Big 12 is the best top to bottom football conference in the nation.  That Texas-Oklahoma game was a great show.  The reason that puts the Big 12 over the top and ahead of the SEC is their unbelievable quarterback play.  I can't recall a better collection of QBs in a single conference.  Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel, Todd Reesing, Graham Harrell, etc.  Wow.  Those SEC defenses wouldn't look so great if they constantly faced these types of QB talents.
• Texas will lose and fall from their perch at number one in the nation.  The Big 12 is just too balanced and too good.  In just this past weekend we saw Oklahoma and Missouri go down to conference foes while letting second half leads slip away.  Texas needs to watch out for their next game, hosting Missouri.
• Kudos to Butch Davis for the job that he has done.  His rebuilding process at UNC has happened way faster than I expected.  That was an impressive win at home against a decent Notre Dame team.  They also did that without starting quarterback T.J. Yates.  If they can get enough offense they might even pull off a shocking ACC Title run.
• This just in: Rutgers is a joke.  I tried to tell people that they were one of the most overrated programs over the last few years.  They only had a good run because they had an NFL caliber fullback and an NFL halfback.  Their offense could not make a drive if their life depended on it.  1-5 and falling.
• I have said before that Penn State is a darkhorse national title contender and they proved it this past weekend.  Their stomping of Wisconsin provided the Badgers with their worst loss in 19 years.  
• Don't overreact to Michigan's 2008 season.  It is not that surprising and not a big deal.  They are just 2-4 and seem destined for a season similar to what Notre Dame went through last year.  But they will be back next year.  Rich Rodriguez is too good and just needs a quarterback that can run his offense.  They will bounce back with an bowl appearance next year, similar to Notre Dame this year, and then they'll be on their way.
• I hope you didn't overreact like everyone else did.  USC is still elite and will be right there for a BCS Title berth since they will roll through the rest of their schedule.
• LSU on the other hand is not a serious contender.  We all knew that they were weak at QB but their defense isn't even playing at a high level.  That was embarrassing at Florida and they cannot generate a good pass rush.  Wait till next year.

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This big guy was hanging out not too far from where we put in.

Then we had our most spectacular encounter of the day.

We saw five total on the day, but this first group we encountered must have been a little family.  There were two adults and a baby that really couldn't have been much longer than 2-3 feet.  They seemed to be pretty interested in us, so we let them check us out and then paddled on.  It was quite the experience for us taking the boat out for the first time.

We were surprised that there weren't too many boats out...just a handful of kayaks, canoes and pontoon boats primarily.  Not that we were complaining...it was, for the most part, completely serene.

So we were satisfied with our new rig, and our first foray into the kayak world as owners instead of renters.

And it worked perfectly with the Subaru.  We are hooked, for sure.

1. Texas Longhorns (6-0, 2-0 Big 12)
Beat Oklahoma in a game that lived up to the hype. The offenses were there and Texas made the difference on special teams. Texas probably also found that game-changing back they needed. They should be heavy favorites against Missouri next week, and a win would give them a solid lead to winning the Big 12 South.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0 SEC)
The number one team lost while Alabama had their bye week, but they stay in the second position. They probably have one of the easier SEC schedules remaining and should be a pretty decent bet to win their division. They're also in position to challenge for the National Championship, but anyone can upset anyone.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-0, 3-0 Big 10)
Their offense didn't disappoint, and the defense dominated a supposedly tough road game. The Big 10 isn't what it once was, but JoePa's boys are dominating every aspect of the game right now. Ohio State still looks a little vulnerable, but they'll still put up a fight against Penn State.

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-0, 2-0 Big 12)
The big winners of the week. By upsetting Missouri in Columbia, the Cowboys make the biggest jump in the polls. Their defense intercepted Chase Daniel twice three times and shut down the Tigers offense just enough to eek out a huge road win. But they still have Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech remaining, and the odds they burn through all three of those aren't great.

5. Oklahoma Sooners (5-1, 1-1 Big 12)
The Texas-OU game was probably one of the better games we'll see this season and losing to Texas isn't the end of the world. They'll need some help now if they want to win the Big 12 and lose in the Fiesta Bowl again, but it's possible. One loss doesn't end a season anymore.

6. Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-0, 2-0 Big 12)
I can't wait to see what the likes of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas will do to this team that had to hold off a terrible Nebraska team at home in overtime. But college football is more than a beauty contest to me, and a win's a win in my book.

7. Brigham Young Cougars (6-0, 2-0 MWC)
Cougars still undefeated, strength of schedule still atrocious.

8. Missouri Tigers (5-1, 1-1 Big 12)
Horrible call nonwithstanding, Missouri deserved to lose the Oklahoma State game. The offense disappeared, and it looked like both Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin were a little beat up. There were some questionable coaching calls (opening drive FG, ill-advised second half timeout) but Missouri did not play well. The defense wasn't bad, but everything has got to improve if they expect to win in Texas next week. If not, any bid for a serious bowl berth could evaporate.

9. Georgia Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1 SEC)
They managed to slide by a terrible Tennessee team, but should of won by much more. There's no doubt the Bulldogs are a good football team, but they are also a team that can be exposed by other good teams. The offense is a little erratic and should be scoring more than they are.

10. Florida Gators (5-1, 3-1 SEC)
It was either the Gators or USC here, and while both have pretty bad losses, I feel Florida has played much more quality opponents than USC. They beat a really good LSU team and beat them pretty good.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Oklahoma State 28, Missouri 23
I'm not making any excuses for Mizzou, as they deserved to lose this game. But Missouri was down 28-23 late in the fourth quarter but had the ball at Oklahoma State's 37 yard line with about 2 minutes left. On second and six, Chase Daniel fired a pass towards Jeremy Maclin but it was caught by OSU's Patrick Lavine to end the drive. The play was reviewed and confirmed as an interception. But I guess the ball on the ground wasn't irrefutable enough for the officials (h/t to Steve Keers). There's no going back and overturning calls, even if a team gets 5 downs against Missouri.

Texas 45, Oklahoma 35
Easily the best game of the weekend and it certainly lived up to the hype. Every time Oklahoma tried to pull away, Texas came storming back and eventually took control of the game. There's still a ton of time, and the number one ranking doesn't mean anything in October, but Texas looks good.

The Beirut Apartment was interesting. The filmmakers rented a small, anonymous apartment in Lebanon to interview young same-sex attracted people about their lives. They talk about how war, religion, gender and  the social stigma surrounding homosexuality affects their daily lives.I was very impressed to see that there is in fact a refuge/community centre set up in Lebanon for GLBTI people to go to, as well as how progressive some of the people interviewed were - considering the environments that they grew up in and the lack of services and education regarding queer issues that would have been available to them. More impressive still is how well organised  and active The Helem Centre is, despite being situated in a country where homosexuality is still a criminal offense. It even has a sponsored publication and apparently was at the forefront of participation in International Day Against Homophobia back in 2006.  Christ - here in Perth you'll be lucky if you get a rabble of uni students drawling half-heartedly into a megaphone every May....

Even more impressive is that there is also an organisation in Lebanon for same-sex attracted, trans* and intersexed women: Meem

Following a spot of research (Thank you Google!) It seems that Lebanon is more tolerant of homosexuality than most other Arab countries. The penalty for male homosexuality is a maximum of a year in prison and/or a hefty fine, and is included with sodomy, fornication and adultery under article 354 of Lebanon's penal code. Female homosexuality is not covered under this law, as lesbian sex does not involve penetration, and is therefore deemed not to exist. (Wow. Original..)

From what I can see, Lebanon has very much the same attitude as Singapore. Not illegal to be gay per-se, and you're not going to get chucked in a jail cell for holding your partner's hand in public - but probably best not to haul out the glitter and Kylie records just yet. Since watching The Beirut Apartment and doing a little bit of research into Lebanese LGBTI life and activism,  I've actually started seriously considering including Lebanon as one of the places I must visit before I die. I never knew that Beirut was such a massive party town. Apparently there are one or two gay clubs that, despite being esoteric, discreet and largely dominated by men - I'd really love to see. Something about being raised in a privileged, Western country where we do not have to regularly fear for our lives and liberty on account of our sexuality or gender identities can often make us take what we have for granted.

I should very much like to see what kind of atmosphere can be found in a club that - in the eyes of the authorities - condones and harbors immorality and sin. Fear? Exhilaration? The thrill of breaking the rules and tasting 'forbidden fruit?'  Would one find camaraderie and support between members of an esoteric and persecuted minority? Or twitchy, paranoid and self-loathing individuals just looking for a release?

In any case - it would certainly make a difference from the spoiled, apathetic and thankless brats that seem to be populating the dance-floors of Australia's queer nightspots. I'd love to visit the Helem centre - if nothing else than perhaps to learn a little humility and gratitude. For someone who has grown up with every whim catered to and the freedom to do whatever (and whomever) I choose - the concept of living under circumstances like this is anathema. My pampered western brain just cannot allow me to comprehend it, especially when you consider  that, comparatively speaking - the Lebanese are actually pretty tame  when you consider the way that queers are treated in other countries that I could name. (And will in a moment).

I whinge and bitch and moan about Katy Perry and Colin Barnett using queers as a novelty - while other people around the world just want to live their lives without being thrown in jail or worse. A little sense of perspective would, I think be very enlightening for anyone that has never had to fear for their lives simply because of who they love.

A short clip of The Beirut Apartment. The film was very interesting, despite it's tendency to drag a bit. I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

The second film that was screened was Be Like Others. And it was one of the saddest things I've ever seen.

Although homosexuality is considered a grave sin in Islamic Law, there is apparently a loop-hole that states that transsexuality and undergoing gender reassignment surgery is perfectly permissible.

According to cleric Muhammad Mehdi Kariminia, the Qu'ran considers homosexuality (specifically, sodomy) to be sinful. Under Islamic law, in Iran the crime of 'Lavat' is punishable by death. It is estimated that something like 4000 men and women accused of being homosexual have been excecuted since the Ayatollahs took power in 1979.  Despite the fact that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denies this outright. However, transsexuality is not considered to be a sin - rather it is looked upon as an illness with a cure.

“There is a thick wall between homosexuals and transsexuals,” Mr. Kariminia said. “Transsexuals are sick because they are not happy with their sexuality, and so they should be treated. But homosexuality is considered a deviant act.

So, in order to treat this 'sickness' it seems that there are scores of same-sex attracted people that are undergoing gender re-assignment surgery not because they identify as transsexual, but simply because it will mean that they can be with their partners without fear of retribution from the authorities. Thanks to the 1983 fatwa declared by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran appears to have become the unwitting transsexual capital of the world. But for all the wrong reasons.

Be like Others follows several young Iranian men who are undergoing gender reassignment surgery. Each of them appears to have a slightly different situation, but it was the young couple Ali and Anoosh that really struck me most.  Anoosh - a very effeminate young man had gender reassignment surgery so that he may live a 'decent life' with his partner, who became angry whenever Anoosh appeared in public in male attire. It seems that effeminate men or people suspected of being transvestites (and, therefore - in the eyes of the authorities, homosexuals) are frequently arrested and harrassed by the police.

The most heartbreaking scene in the film was the two of them sitting on the couch together following Anoosh's (now known as Anahita) surgery. Although she appeared to be ecstatic and optimistic about what the change would mean for her, her boyfriend appeared to be - at best, apathetic about the transition. Thoughout the scene, it is clear that Ali is deeply uncomfortable, and appears to be completely disinterested in Anahita, who is trying her best to attract his attention. What may well have been a deeply devoted and loving relationship now appears to be completely one sided - as I would hazard a guess that Ali was more attracted to his partner as a male rather than a female. I cannot say for sure and certain whether Anahita did actually identify as female, but there were a couple of cases of non-trans* people opting for the surgery as a last resort rather than an issue of identity. Ali Askar was one of those young men.

It was difficult to hold back tears during his pre-surgery interview.  This young man sat in his blue hospital gown sobbing - knowing that things were only going to get worse. "I'd never touch God's work" he says - explaining that if he were not at risk of being arrested, tortured and put to death for being what he was, he'd never go through with it. After the surgery he looks straight at the camera and says 'Nothing is worth this pain.." Once again, that spoilt, priviledged sense of Westernised incomprehension dawned on me. I cannot imagine being forced to mutilate and scar my body just so that I may fit in and not be considered a deviant or a criminal, and watching this man sitting on the hospital bed musing upon what it would be like to be able to do as he wished without fear of the consequences made deeply ashamed for ever taking anything I have for granted. A year afterwards, Ali - now known as Negar - stares blankly into the camera and says in the most chillingly calm voice that he has given up on being loved. His family deserted him, and he earns money as a prostitute, as he cannot find any other form of work.

Throughout the film, the subjects are advised by a post-op transsexual woman named Vida. Vida appears to be something of a queen bee - counselling both the young men and their families about their surgeries. Watching with a western eye, my first impression of Vida was of a typical bitchy, bossy prima donna - telling everyone how to act and dispensing advice left right and centre. I was particularly horrified to see her berate a young pre-op transwoman for dressing in female clothes before her surgery - ordering her not to appear in public in such a manner again until after her surgery. But then after watching for a little longer it dawned on me that she wasn't saying this to be catty - but because if an effeminate male is found to be wearing female clothes without a permit (which are usually granted after surgery) then it is likely that they will be arrested and beaten. Why? Because it insinuates homosexuality.

Throughout the film, I noticed a constant trend. A chronic fear of the subjects to be confused with or considered to be homosexual. It seemed like transsexuality and gender reassignment surgery were not issues within themselves - but more of a method with which to 'cure' same sex attraction. There is a brief interview with the mother of one of the young men undergoing surgery in which she states "My son told me, I cannot marry - as I am a woman. I know this because I like boys."

It seems to me that that the very concept of same-sex relationships and attraction are anathema to the majority of Islamic Iranian society. In order to be attracted to the same sex - you must be of the opposite sex. No exceptions. It's impossible to be male and attracted to other men.  A gay man is not male - but simply a heterosexual female in the worng body. Therefore - in this vein of logic - this problem can be fixed by simply changing the gender of the unfortunate person afflicted with homosexuality. During an interview with Anoosh, he argues with his mother - presenting a genetic test that proves that he is 100% male, with no chromosomal imbalances;  something that she appears to dispute greatly. Gender roles are more than just a belief system - but they are all that exist. There is no alternative.

I also expected there to be a good deal more discussion about how homosexuality and transsexuality are received within Islamic law, and how the subjects of Be Like Others were able to reconcile their religious beliefs with their sexualities and gender identites. However - it seemed that any discussion about the nature of their impending transitions or relationships began and ended with Islam. Vida takes pains to reassure a mother in the clinic waiting room that since the operations were sanctioned by law (and the law, in turn - was sanctioned by Allah) then the entire process was both justified and necessary. It must be right - God says so.

There is only one exception to this within the entire film - an argument between a man seeking to undergo the surgery and a journalist investigating the phenonmenon of Iranian transsexuals. The young man was the only one to argue outside the realms of religion, stating quite clearly that what he was doing was indeed a last resort - that he was forced to give up his priviledged status as a man so that he may simply live without fear of persecution. He was the only one to question Islamic law - demanding to know why it was sinful for him to appear in public in female clothing, despite his pre-op status.

I thoroughly recommend seeing this film. If nothing else but to appreciate just how lucky you are.

On the complete opposite end of the scale - it looks like Conneticut has jumped on the gay marriage bandwagon.

Fortunately, because this deals with State Constitutional issues, this cannot be appealed in a Federal Court. Following the marriage act in 1996, Marriage is defined in Federal law as existing only between a man and a woman. (Gee, where have we heard that before..?) But, because prior to this act, there was no official Government definition of what marriage entailed, and so whatever an individual state defined as 'marriage' was recognised by the Federal Government. Unfortunately, following the Defense of Marriage Act, the  same-sex marriages in Massachusetts, California and - now, Conneticut are recognised only at a state level.

Let us just hope that this does not result in more anti-gay marriage bigots clamouring to have the law reversed like we have seen in Florida and California. It seems that the ruling that granted same-sex marriage back in May/June may well be shortlived, as an amendment to redefine marriage as existing solely between a man and a woman is being added to the November ballot.

Is it just me, or does this seem so - malicious? I mean, at risk of sounding like a whiny kid with a skinned knee, granting same sex couples the full and equal treatment that they have been working so hard for and then suddenly snatching it away is nothing short of mean spirited. It's like dangling a carrot on a string.... Guys - the voters decided the first time - you lost. Get the fuck over it and go back to your lives.

Seriously - are these people's lives so very sad that all they have to do with themselves is to try to rip apart other people's rights on the ridiculous and unfounded paranoia that it will somehow compromise their own relationships? Are they so desperate to show just how superior their shiny, heterosexual, cis lives are by shoving other people into the dirt.

When it boils down to it - it really is little more than schoolyard bullying if you ask me. I think someone's a little insecure...

The Turtle Club in Naples is located on Vanderbilt Beach and truly exemplifies the Florida lifestyle.  There are hundreds of fantastic restaurants in Naples, Florida, but none are located directly on the beach with beautiful sunsets and the Gulf of Mexico as your view.  A wonderful menu and an even better winelist make a wonderful dining experiences. One the best parts about the turtle club is it's casual setting, which makes it easy to wear your most comfortable evening attire.  Parking is never a problem as they offer a free valet service.  A local tip,  you can enjoy this entire experience for half the price as they're open for lunch as well!

Posted by David Auston, Amerivest Realty - Naples, Florida

Will Republicans Wimp Out On Race

Will Republicans ever fight back when it comes to charges of racism or racial insensitivity? Democrats—and many of their allies in the mainstream media-- are masters at putting Republicans on the defensive on race—even when significant numbers of their own in Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania said that race was a factor in supporting Clinton over Obama .

Regardless of their racial “glass houses," when the political battles begin in earnest, you can be certain that many liberal Democrats and Obama supporters will throw the usual “racism stones” and make race baiting a key tool of the fall campaign. It has already begun. When Democratic Chairman Howard Dean recently said that Republicans use race baiting, hate and divisiveness, there was nary a peep from the National Republican Leadership or its surrogates. The same when he said that that the Republican National Committee could get a large number of people of color in a single room only if the “hotel staff” were present.

...

When it comes to race baiting, given their party’s history, Democrats should be the last group to criticize anyone on race and Republicans should not wimp out and be silent when they do. Republican leaders, black and white, should remind liberals and the media that it was the Democratic Party that gave us slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, opposition to anti-lynching laws and George Wallace-Lester Maddox stand-in-the-doorway obstruction to civil rights.