LA Eastside » Browne Molyneux

The Two Gold Lines. Yeah this totally looks fair…

Browne Molyneux — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:44:00 +0000

East L.A. Gold Line Indiana Station 03

South Pasadena Gold Line Mission Station 02

South Pasadena Gold Line Mission Station 03
In South Pasadena even the sidewalks are protected with barriers.

I won’t let this go until the side of town I live on is treated with the same concern that people in South Pasadena are treated with. I am willing to burn these videos onto CDs and give them to people who want them for free, if they would like to use these to explain to Metro what they want at the upcoming February 11 meeting on the safety issues for the Gold Line. Cheap reflectors, paint and tours aren’t enough!!! Cheap reflectors, paint and tours will not make us shut-up about this.

-Browne Molyneux

Poverty Porn or Of Course You’re Concerned

Browne Molyneux — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:27:11 +0000

This is funny to you?

As I have relented and signed on to Facebook I realized something, porn is very acceptable and never blocked on work servers. The kind I am referring to is of the poverty porn variety.

There are various genres:

Traditional: where a homeless person wanders around shouting, picking their nose or just sleeping. Yes homeless people are hilarious and great social commentary.

Rural: poor white people shopping at WalMart with funny clothes or hanging out with mullets.

Urban: poor black people are filmed with their funny hair, funny clothes, arguing, dancing or eating.

Interracial: poor people of different races participate in a fight to the finish in regards to space or dominance, with the money shot being the police coming or one of the participants being thrown out the store or the bus or the subway.

Children: poor people’s children eat cheetos, smoke cigarettes, say foul language or/and have funny hairstyles.

Snuff: poor people die through some beating act.

Poor people are amazingly entertaining to people. My “friends” on Facebook regularly send me shocking, yet “entertaining” videos from youtube of poor people.

Of course it’s always put with a, “What a shame” disclaimer, but while it’s a shame no one has a problem putting it up. It’s supposed to be a critique on society, but is it? Is it a critique or is it some kind of sick voyeurism that this new age has brought upon us.

Social media seems to be a pusher of the single story of poverty.

I understand it’s all very amusing, but if you are progressive and you understand the power of media, how could anyone who thinks more than ten second think that this kind of pushing a button activism is helping?

Facebook is huge and it goes many places. There is a problem with the single story that this medium pushes.

I think these kinds of videos plastered all of over people’s Facebook pages pushes forth the image of poor people being nothing, of people of color being nothing and it cements and spreads classism and racism.

What is my point of this post? To please not let the immediacy of Facebook blind you to the message you are truly sending. The fewer than 100 words you are allowed for commentary isn’t enough space to counteract a video that’s worth tens of thousands of words.

Target a huge corporate company stopped selling an offensive costume because of this social medium, so maybe when you post funny videos of poor people or videos to make people “think,” think about what you’re really saying. What are you truly saying when another person sees and pushes share and remember your disclaimer doesn’t go with it, your values don’t go with it, and you don’t go with it.

Just the image of poor people are stupid, which sends the message poor deserve to be trampled upon, because they are stupid and dumb. Is that really the message we want to be pushing if we’re progressive?

Think about it this way, when you aren’t sure as to whether you are pushing poverty porn think about when you send an email or post a video are you yourself personally going to actually physically do something to help this situation? If not, maybe you shouldn’t spread it around, unless you get off on poor people suffering.

Browne Molyneux

Silver Lake is not the Eastside and consumerism isn’t GREEN!!

Browne Molyneux — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:27:54 +0000

Apparently the creepy consumer addict greenies over at your daily thread didn’t get the memo that the Eastside is EAST of the LA River.

Maybe they were meditating.

Browne Molyneux

H/T Franklin Avenue

Sexism in Living Electric Color

Browne Molyneux — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:40:44 +0000

I don't know my place!!

I’m not one for the personal anecdote story, but I can’t think of another woman blogger who uses their name and picture and makes critical comments. If I could I would definitely not use myself, but for the purpose of this post I’m going to have to.

The blogosphere are filled with many personalities.

I have a strong personality, but so does my partner Ran BusTard, but in general when it comes to getting reprimanded and banned I get it much quicker than him. No, I get it and no one says anything to him. He’s threatened to bodily harm people on blogs and no one has ever said anything to him. Not only that, they apologize for offending him. Politically we’re almost identical.

A guy on the blogosphere is allowed a blank check to be as obnoxious as he wants to be. It’s viewed as an asset, but women online have to be very, “lets get along,” especially in the nonpolitical blogosphere.

As a woman blogger you are limited to three areas of blogging:

1. Event Promotion
2. Product Promotion
3. Posting adorable pictures of yourself and talking about how you went to an event or used a product

If you leave this realm of blogging and you are not rich like Arianna Huffington you risk being banned, censored, reprimanded and shunned.

How did this happen. How did the blogosphere become such a sexist place?

I will use an example from a blog that I won’t name, because this is a widespread thing and I want to be fair.

I got publicly reprimanded for this comment on a post about illegal pet shops:

The selling of animals period should be banned. This pet accessory crap is a sick trend and I hope it stops.

While we are at shutting down the “third world” I hope we all remember James Rudis of Overhill Farms in Vernon, he processes chickens (and ruins people lives and fires the people who support the people who he fires for crappy reasons.) It’s a pretty barbaric process. I actually hope all of you who are very disgusted by the “third world” people and “their” practices that it’s truly not so much about “those” people, but the animals. I hope you are also very concerned with the many eateries that are serving meat and the grocery stores that sell meat and the lotions and pet food like Iams that are tested on animals. As a vegan I find this all very disturbing

I hope you all take all of this concern and go after people who are hurting way more animals than these people and their little store fronts in downtown LA.

You know what I think, I think this has nothing to do with the animals I think it has to do with something else and that’s what I will continue to think when anyone who wears leather shoes and eat chicken, steak and fish starts acting completely outraged about animal abuse.

I’m not saying it’s not horrible, but I don’t believe why you are all so concerned.

—I was reprimanded for being distracting to the pet shop issue and was told privately by one of the editors I bring up race too much and water down real issues of race.—

But the male commenters below have been on this very same blog making these comments on a post about street closure, yet, nothing from the editors:

1. I hope there is a huge turnout of Mexican Flags to anger more and more Americans.
Not many “smarts” in this illegal alien crowd marching on U.S. soil with Mexican Flags
Had these people entered the U.S. with RESPECT they wouldn’t have to march at all. True immigrants didn’t even have to make spectacles of themselves. How sad.

2.Hmmm, these people still have not learned. Carrying Mexican flags while demanding rights for illegal immigrants will get them any support. And the march must be for illegal immigrants since legal immigrants already have full rights as they are demanding.

3.I did a little research. It seems The Civil Rights for Immigration Coalition has connections to ACORN, a criminal organization. The Democrat Socialist of America.The International Socialist Union. Obama’s personal purple t-shirt thugs the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) And the WORKERS WORLD PARTY, a Marxist-Leninist sect that is usually responsible for organizing these pro amnesty open borders rallies and will try to provoke the LAPD to use violence.

4.What lines will they be standing in and what buses will they be riding when they are deported?
No more by-the-case purchases at Costco with food stamps only to resell for cash; no more section 8 housing abuse, no more health-code-defying untaxed food sales, no more abusing emergency health services, no more runaway procreation for more welfare, no more drug & human trafficking, and no more blatant identity and welfare fraud from this group anyway

So talking about racism and how it is bad is a problem, but being racist is ok.

And this isn’t the only case. I have been banned from LAist owing to comment I made about the neighborhood project Watt’s post (where I was called a bitch and slut repeatedly) and I’m still banned, I asked.

BusTard who made virtually the same comments was not banned.

I think it’s shameful that among some men of color (because both of the people in the above cases were men of color) that racism is more acceptable and palatable to them than a woman of color having a strong voice.

I think that’s kind of sick and mind blowing, but of course I am a woman with a big mouth that starts problems.

Browne Molyneux

Debora Iyall, Sept 3 at the Knitting Factory

Browne Molyneux — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:52:52 +0000

My Debora Iyall from Romeo Void post came back to life just in time for some some good news for LA based Debora fans.

She is playing a show at the Knitting Factory this Thursday (September 3.) Her band includes Peter Dunne, Frank Zincavage and Dave Scheff.

Wire Train and Translator will also be playing.

I know this is LA and there is alot going on, but how about going to a traditional new wave show, though possibly putting traditional in front of new wave is a bit odd, but you know what I mean.

-Browne Molyneux

No related posts.

Separate but Equal Treatment via Rail Lines in L.A.

Browne Molyneux — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:19:45 +0000

If you look at this photo you wonder what is this? And how did anyone think this was safe?

Why is the safety method on the Eastside going to be of the “pull yourselves up by the bootstraps” variety via cameras to blame personal drivers and old men in yellow vests reminding people to “be safe,” while the City of Los Angeles west of LaCienega get the “silver spoon” variety of safety with expensive barriers and elevated stations?

Why will there will be no testing out Darwinism theory of survival of the fittest on the Westside?

Only the neighborhoods with higher concentrations of poor people and brown and black people are tested with sink and swim theories.

The rail dips just one mile into the magic dividing line of LaCienega and the people on that side of LA who don’t walk or even use public transit as extensively as people on the Eastside get all of our tax dollars spent protecting them from being hit by a train that most of them won’t even take or even be near outside of driving by its protected barrier.

(This is an excerpt of a very long post entitled “Cameras Aren’t Going to Make Fewer People Die.”)

by Browne Molyneux

The Sky is Falling, for real this time.

Browne Molyneux — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:38:41 +0000

Today is my favorite time of the month. Today is August 7 and it’s the day that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) puts out who got fired aka the employment situation, economic news release. This is where all of the media gets the numbers that they spin. Why don’t they just provide the numbers with no commentary? I guess that would be boring. Here is my entertaining spin on the pieces of clouds that are hitting me on the head.

Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 247,000 jobs (we needed 100,000 jobs a month to continue to employ the job market BEFORE La Crisis, so don’t let the corporate people lie to you and let you think everything is ok now since last month it was higher, it’s not ok, it’s nowhere near ok.)

“Another way of looking at the above task is to determine how long it will take the nation to return to full employment — basically an economy in which everyone who wants to work can find a full-time job to match their skill set and experience. It’s no minor task: the U.S. economy has to create about 200,000 jobs per month — a roughly net 100,000 job gain over the monthly gain needed to keep unemployment from rising — for the next 5.5 years to replace the roughly 6.8 million jobs lost during the recession.” Joseph Lazzaro, Daily Finance.

Also there are now 796,000 discouraged workers up by 335,000 over the past 12 months.

And there are now five million people who have been unemployed longterm (longterm is more than 27 weeks.)

On Chart A12 section U-6 Total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers.. is now 16.3%.

The Employment Situation for August is scheduled to be released on Friday,
September 4, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

-Edited by Browne Molyneux

Facebook and Twitter are down this morning! The horror.

Browne Molyneux — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:39:48 +0000

This is an outage for everyone, so if you think it’s something personal, don’t be so vain. There is no way that the gov’t thinks you are important enough to shut off your computer ONLY just because you looked at some questionable porn a few times.

We’ll now have to go outside and talk to people face to face. Darnit, I was getting used to not showering.

Though you can go to friendfeed, but I think you would have to be a pretty sad person to have facebook, twitter and friendfeed, I mean really, that’s just excessive unless you’re 16 and then I would completely understand.

Browne

August 11-18. RAM LA. Free root canals, glasses, pap smears, minor med procedures (including cataract surgery,) blood lab work and MORE!!

Browne Molyneux — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:30:47 +0000

*Dates:*

August 11-18, 2009

*Location:*

The Forum
3900 W. Manchester Blvd.
Inglewood, CA 90305

*FOR PATIENTS*

*How to Receive Treatment:*

All of our services are free and are provided by volunteers. The doctor is
free; the dentist is free; the eye doctor is free. Please arrive early,
bring a snack, and be prepared to wait. Your wait may be long; chairs will
be provided for your comfort.

*Services:*

DENTAL: Cleanings, fillings, extractions, and root canals. Everyone receives
a free dental exam. Pediatric dentistry is available.

VISION: Vision exam and free prescription glasses made onsite. (NOTE: May
not be able to make glasses for everyone.) Cataract surgery.

MEDICAL & WOMEN’S HEALTH: Mammograms and Pap smears; pediatric exams; adult
physicals & medical consults (including diabetes and hypertension);
chiropractors; acupuncture; blood lab work; chest X-rays; medication
assistance; and many other medical specialties available.

Services are provided by Remote Area Medical for the uninsured,
underinsured, unemployed, and those who cannot afford to pay. Services are
provided by volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists, dental hygeinists, dental
assistants, ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, and other trained
health professionals from the State of California.

On August 11th through August 18th,* **Remote Area Medical* will provide free
medical, dental, and vision care to thousands of needy individuals in the
Los Angeles area. The event is being planned and will be operated by* **Remote
Area Medical*, an all volunteer 501(c)(3) charity providing free care to
uninsured, underinsured and indigent individuals throughout the United
States.

Free care will be provided to anyone who needs it, without cost of any kind
to the patient, the taxpayer or the government. There is no income test, no
insurance requirement, no restriction of any kind. Medical and non-medical
personnel will all be volunteers; supplies and equipment will be donated or
provided by RAM.

The free clinic will be held at the Forum in Inglewood, and will treat an
estimated 1,200 people a day, possibly more. The Forum is being made
available through the generosity of the Faithful Central Bible Church,
owners of the facility.

We expect there to be 100 dental stations, 45 medical exam rooms, 25 eye exam
stations. Dentistry will include cleanings, extractions, fillings,
restorative procedures and root canals. Prescription eye glasses will be
ground and fitted on-site. Minor dermatological and other medical procedures
will be performed. Pediatricians and pediatric dentists will be present.
Follow-up care will be arranged for those who need it, with most referrals
to private sector practices and facilities. There will be a strong emphasis
on education, prevention and self-care. Mammography, pap smears, chest
x-rays, diabetes screening, blood pressure screening, and other services
will be provided. Healthcare foundations and agencies will be invited to
distribute patient education materials.

They are also accepting volunteers, medical and nonmedical, click on the website for more information and forward this to nonprofit groups and people who may need these services. Free root canals, that is unheard of, but so awesome that RAM is doing this!!

We need more stimulation.

Browne Molyneux — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:10:07 +0000

The other states that are in LA CRISIS!

Will NY be the next state handing out IOUs?

State tax collections for the first
quarter of 2009 showed a drop
of 11.7 percent, the sharpest
decline in the 46 years for
which quarterly data are
available. Combining the
Census Bureau’s quarterly data
with its annual statistical series,
which extends back to 1952,
the most recent decline in state
tax revenues was the worst on
record.
After adjusting for inflation,
legislative changes, and known
anomalies, tax revenue
declined in 47 states.
The personal income tax
decline was particularly sharp,
an unprecedented 17.5 percent
in nominal terms. The
inflation-adjusted decline in
state personal income taxes
was the greatest in the 46 years
for which quarterly data are
available.
Early figures for April and May
of 2009 show an overall decline
of nearly 20 percent for total
taxes, a further dramatic
worsening of fiscal conditions
nationwide. Preliminary figures
for the state fiscal year 2009
indicate around 8 percent
decline in total taxes, 13
percent in personal income
taxes, and 5 percent in sales
taxes.

Info from the Rockefeller Institute of Government.

Many people are going to look at the above numbers and go, “See the stimulus didn’t work, so we should just let the market, I mean the economy correct itself.”

I don’t agree. To me the above logic is comparable to a doctor giving a patient with syphilis half of a bottle of penicillin and then saying, “You’re not better, so we better just let it run it’s course.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to die from syphilis.

The first stimulus passed in 2008 after Bush realized he really messed up the country.
Then the second one was passed by Obama after he realized that Bush really messed up the country.

I think the second stimulus was too conservative and not taking into account how incompetent George Bush truly was. You know how Obama likes to be positive.

So I’m voting for a third stimulus. I’m not an economist, but from looking at the numbers above it looks like it wouldn’t be a rush to judgment (the people who talk this give it time silliness assume that you don’t know how to read the above charts or any charts at all that don’t come with naked people or movie stars) to assume the conservative stimulus package that was passed isn’t going to quite give the economy the jump start it needs, unless someone plans on killing off all of the unemployed people via a spectacular disease or fancy war.

The people who don’t want another stimulus give very vague reasons, which mainly center on things are getting better.

They don’t look better to me.

They also like talking about inflation.

But that’s stupid. Here why it is stupid put more succinctly by Harlan Green:

“The main inflation worry has been about the enormous amount of government debt. But the U.S. ran twice that amount of debt as a percentage of GDP during World War II that got us out of the Great Depression. Japan’s debt load is even higher.

And we cannot have inflation without rising wages and salaries—which make up more than 80 percent of incomes. Not only have wages and salaries barely kept up with the inflation rate for more than 30 years, but the jobless rate of this recession will reduce incomes even more. The average work week has now dropped to 33 hours—when it was 40 + hours during boom years.”

According to the above Rockefeller Institute of Government Study personal income tax fell by 17%, so I’m thinking that means fewer people are working and until that number comes back up (which doesn’t look to be anytime soon) we don’t have to worry about inflation.

Let us look at the Great Depression. In the Great Depression there was a real fear of inflation aka preserving the dollar at all costs. The government decided deflation was the way to go. This is why it lasted so long. (It’s more complicated than that, but this is just a blog.) The gov’t didn’t inject enough dollars, so people kept losing jobs, then everything kept getting worse and worse, BUT the upside is that people who already had cash. People whose banks didn’t fail and had fixed incomes (i.e. trustfunds,) came out smelling like roses. Their money rose in value. (It didn’t so much rise, but their purchasing power increased.)

Rich people already know what is going to happen. They know you’re going to be “responsible” and say we should buckle down and say no to more stimulus. The rich plan on staying rich which is why in September of 2008 they took 550 billion dollars out of their US Money Market Accounts.

So you might understand why a selfish rich guy might be anti-stimulus, because if this country continues to do poorly, his dollar ends up worth more which makes him even richer. Don’t listen to rich people who don’t have degrees in economics or non rich people who have ties to the stock market and work for rich people.

Here are the people with credentials who agree with me that another stimulus is needed.

It is bad out there, but we can fix it, but we need more help from the federal government.

Hopefully this current administration will not allow our whore of an economy to die of syphilis.

The economy promises next time to wear a condom.

By Browne Molyneux