Saturday, October 23, 2010

Obama Rally at USC!

So Obama came and went.

And it was awesome!

Seeing so many like-minded people made me realize that all the tea-baggers that oppose him just have a lot of free time.  And let's face it, they're weird.

They complain about health care legislation like it's their sacred religion, then they try to oust any new city development that's Muslim-based.  Huh?

As for health care, the new legislation simply regulates how insurance companies operate.  Any silly argument about a government take-over neglects the fact that every other industry in our country has had similar legislation.  As Californians, we are not allowed to drive without car insurance.  But no one's calling that a government take-over.  We're not allowed to sell houses without a license, or practice law.  We're not allowed to operate on people or animals, not allowed to grow certain plants in our back yards, or walk around naked in public.  All of this is based on legislation.

And yet the tea-baggers focus all their energy on legislation that tells multi-million dollar insurance companies that they cannot deny coverage on an 11 year old girl with leukemia because she didn't disclose that she had the chicken pox's when she was five.  What?  That's what the government is supposed to do.  Tea-baggers, stop it.

Anyway, here are some videos from the Obama Rally at USC.

http://vimeo.com/16132247

http://vimeo.com/16132926

http://vimeo.com/16133643

Now go vote.

Love,

Chicano Lawyer

Sunday, October 10, 2010

How To Remove Graffiti

Last night some friends came over and we made a movie.  Please enjoy this simple guide on how to remove graffiti.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN44t_HKudI

Sunday, October 3, 2010

The 1st Annual Los Angeles Motorcycle Push!

Last Wednesday my 1976 Moto Guzzi Convert's alternator died.  How do I know? Cause it wouldn't start.  The battery?  Dead.

I connected some jumper cables, pushed start and presto! It started right up. Yeah!

I then took the cables off the battery.  Instantly, it died again.  For those of you who don't know, if the alternator worked, the motorcycle would keep running even without a battery.  The fact that it turned off means that my alternator died.  It needs new magnets.

I let my roommate borrow my Guzzi and it died on him at the Westside Pavillion parking lot.  When he called, I knew I would be too cheap to pay for motorcycle towing and would have to make alternative arrangements.  Maybe a chain would work?

So I grabbed a ten foot chain that I previously used to lock down an actress to a bed in a Lancaster Motel and drove with South Central Matt to fetch my Guzzi.  Of course, I also brought my Canon 1D Mark IV.

Watch it. Let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRHHNKnNYCA&hd=1

I did get into an accident.  Some guy pulled a left, directly in front of Matt.  He braked hard, so I braked hard too.  Then he accelerated, probably remembering the precious cargo he was pulling.  The jerk made my Guzzi make a 12 foot long steel gash on the payment at the intersection of Overland and National, near the 10 fwy.

Wow. I was okay.  I landed on my knee and hand, then popped right up.  Lucky me.

I grabbed all my stuff that popped out of my Guzzi's trunk and lifted the Guzzi right up, pushing it off the flow of traffic.  I felt stupid.  Crashing in front of strangers is embarrassing.

Examining the Guzzi, I realized the chain bent the front fender.  If I continued my way home with chains, I might cause me more harm.

I threw the chain in Matt's SUV and grabbed a heavy-duty tension strap from the Guzzi's trunk.  I always carry one just in case.

I anchored one hook on the crash bars of the Guzzi, and anchored the other hook in the bumper of Matt's SUV.  It works!  We both moved down Overland toward Venice Blvd.  Nothing could go wrong now.

Then the cops pulled us over.  Apparently, Officer Jolkoele, Badge No. 26874, thinks towing my Guzzi home violates the law somehow.  Matt's ticket alleges some violation of Vehicle Code Section 29004(a)1.  Huh.  We'll see what the judge at the West L.A. courthouse has to say about that.  Hopefully, I won't get stuck with Judge Rafferty.  He's mean.

Would this traffic citation end my mission home?  Nope.  While Matt waited for Officer Jolkoele to finish crossing his T's and dotting his I's, I pushed on down Venice Blvd.

The way I figured it, I've already ran 5 miles completely barefoot before.  I should be able to easily run four miles with my Vibram FiveFingers.  Sure the 600 pound Guzzi might present an obstacle, but I'm wearing toe-shoes this time.  And it's one mile less.

So I started pushing.  After a mile in, I realized I would need nourishment.  Luckily, the Bluebird Cafe popped up out of nowhere.  And they serve beer.  This is good.

With my Ahi hamburger in my belly and my free Bluebird cupcake in my Guzzi trunk, I set off for South Central.

It wasn't easy.  The crash bars were great for the fall but kept hitting my legs on the push home.

About two miles in, I started rethinking the wisdom of pushing my Guzzi.  I could have just as easily searched Craigslist on my iPhone for a motorcycle towing service and paid some guy $40 to tow it home.  But that would be too easy.  Anyone with $40 could pay some dude to go home.  I wanted a challenge.

So I kept pushing.  I got so tired at one point, I actually just collapsed on top of my bike. Damn, I felt stupid.  Good thing no one saw.  It must have looked real funny.  Some guy  pushing his Guzzi when suddenly he just falls right on top of it.  My cupcake was ruined. The Canon 1D Mark IV also took a hit.  But it kept on ticking.

I lifted the 600 pound Guzzi off Rodeo Blvd., somewhere between La Cienega and La Brea.  Again I rethought the wisdom of pushing my Guzzi instead of calling a Craigslist tow guy.  Huh. I kept pushing.

When I got to the Ralph's at La Brea and Rodeo, I knew I needed something more than Ahi hamburger leftovers to get me home.  I needed liquids.  I needed milk.

After drinking half-gallon of milk, I pushed on.  I eventually made it home, smiling like a kid in Disneyland.  Overall, I'm glad I did it.  I saved $40. I sweated a lot, but it felt good. I definitely recommend motorcycle pushing as an annual event.  In fact, let me know if anyone wants to join me for the 2nd Annual Los Angeles Motorcycle Push.  Or not.

Love,

Chicano Lawyer