Beautiful Horizons

The 2nd Amendment

Pop Quiz - identify the respective authors of the  following quotes regarding intent of the founders in establishing the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution:

1)  The Second Amendment exists "to guarantee the rights of states to form militias, not for individuals to bear arms." 

A. President Barack Obama

B. Barbara Streisand

C. Huey Newton

D. Robert Bork

E. Arizona Congresswoman Gifford

2) The NRA's interpretation of the 2nd Amendment "is one of the greatest pieces of fraud, I repeat the word 'fraud', on the American public by special interest groups that I have ever seen in my life."

A. Michael Moore

B. George Clooney

C. Chief Justice Warren Burger

D. Ralph Nader

E. Robert F. Kennedy

Answers below the fold:

The Super Rich

Business journalist Chrystia Freeland has a very good piece in the latest Atlantic on the unreality of the world inhabited by the Super-Rich, who are sucking up the lion's share of increases in wealth at the expense of the much-vaunted and lately lamented "middle class."  Worth a read as part of ongoing conversations about wealth distribution, taxation, the unraveling of rational social constraints on plutocrats, deficit hysterics/hypocrisy and increasing economic  destabilization.

Wall Street is worthless

"Must read."

Notes from the Natasha Vargas-Cooper Book Launch

Acting upon our friend Marc Cooper's open invitation to his daughter's book launch at the Formosa Cafe  Thursday night, I made the half hour drive up from San Pedro.  "Mad Men Unbuttoned" has hit the bookshelves and sales and reviews seem to be positive.  Quick interview, here.

It was a lively and fully packed little ditty on the rooftop of the famous little dinner.  Many of the guests and attendees where cleverly dressed in 1960's attire.  I lost count of the number of dudes sporting skinny ties and ladies channelling Jackie O splendidness.  Among the men, no one was dressed better than Marc himself.  Complete in a very smart grey suit with a fedora.  

Upon entering the scene -- unfashionably late -- it suddenly struck me that I have no fashion.  Or style. Or what-have-you.   Apparently yours truly here exists in some non-fashion cul-de-sac that the creative juices of image makers and ad men --the Don Drapers of the world -- have fully missed.  When I was told for the second time by the waiter-staff that this was private party -- gee, was it the Toronto Maple Leafs hat that gave me away? -- I decided to reconnoiter the surrounding neighborhood.  I found the Target (Tar-jay) @ Santa Monica & La Brea still open and purchased the best fitting black shirt I could find to cover up my Lebowski summer casuals... It worked.  The next waiter I bumped into offered me a chicken shish kebab! 

Miss Natasha was dashingly sporting a beautiful blue dress.  After patiently waiting to approach the young writer, I was able to share a few notes of common interest related to helping the SEIU and the working class stiffs of the world.  Am now the proud owner of an autographed copy of Mad Men Unbuttoned.  Later on, Natasha held center court and gave a very gracious and brief thank you speech to all the guests and the many friends and folks who helped her write the book.  One had to be a little impressed with Natasha's resiliency after enduring some tough economic times and how that experience prompted and motivated her writing. How good is this book?  Well, I've made it to chapter 3 now, and it's been as fun and revealing I as hoped it would be.  In fact, we here @ BH have reliable evidence that Natasha's writing is so compelling, that even folks who don't pay for cable nor have even seen an episode of the Mad Man series have bought this book.  

(photo:  billboard @ the 7200 block of Santa Monica Blvd.)

Your Feel Good Story of the Day

Very busy so don't read me, read this. It'll put a smile on your face.

Eisenhower's Farewell Address

With a nod to James Fallows, who favorably compares the philosophy and grace notes to President Obama's speech at West Point, I'm putting Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell address to the nation, delivered nearly 50 years ago, beneath "the fold."  Consider Eisenhower's world view in the context not just of President Obama's approach to foreign policy, but the radical rupture with contemporary Republicans:

With all of the negative and disturbing news about Catholicism...

...this uplifting and humanizing essay by a faithful member of the church is well worth your time.

"Ahmadinejad is the Bush of Iran. And Mousavi is the Obama of Iran."

So says Mousavi's spokesman in a fascinating Foreign Policy interview.

Education Reform - New Yorker on Green Dot Charter Schools

Steve Barr's Green Dot charter schools  - located mostly in LA - appear to be a very bright spot on the depressing landscape of failing urban education.  And Green Dot has gotten the attention of Obama administration Education Secretary Arne Duncan.  Rather than attempt to summarize a complex and compelling story, I'll link to an article that appears in this week's New Yorker on the subject.  This piece is absolutely essential reading for anyone concerned with the possibility of effective education reform. Green Dot is notable for including unions in it's strategy and for developing a district-wide approach to expanding innovative charter schools in poor neighborhoods that the public education system is miserably failing. The founder, Steve Barr, is a colorful and fascinating character in his own right.  Check it out (and Hat Tip to WitnessLA.)

Here's a follow-up column by Alexander Russo, who's writing a book on Green Dot.

God, this is a great country !!!!

John McCain's 24-year old daughter, Meghan, landed a "high six figures" book deal. The US economy is moving again !