New Postal Rgulations Will Hurt Everyone

The Reagan Administration promoted the notion that the government is a failure, that the government is bad and all patriotic Americans should want to reduce the government.

This is absurd, of course, because a great people can only build a great government. Prior to the conservative destruction of our government by Nixon, Reagan, Clinton and the Bushes, we were the greatest people on the planet with the greatest government -- a government that was the envy of everyone in the world.

Now, we are a regional power with a strong military focused on profiteering instead of war. We have abandoned our sick and hungry. We are dismantling the agencies that have made America great, proud and strong. We eliminate the role of auditors and inspectors, we shuffle tax dollars from services to independent contractors. We are an embarrassment.

The agency most obviously hurt by this philosophy has been the postal service. The federal government is focused not on competing in the marketplace, but reducing costs. Every company that tries to succeed by cutting costs either closes or becomes a second-rate player in their industry.

Like all other agencies, the postal service is becoming a tool for the powerful to profit from. The latest scheme by postal authorities has a scary effect on freedom of the press. This from Teresa Stack, President of The Nation magazine:

Postal regulators have accepted a scheme designed in part by lobbyists for the Time Warner media conglomerate. In short, mailing costs for mega-magazines like Time Warner's own Time, People and Sports Illustrated will go up only slightly or decrease. But smaller publications like The Nation will be hit by an enormous rate increase of half a million dollars a year.

So, Time, News Corp, Conde Nast and a small number of mega-publishers will save millions in shipping costs while smaller, local, regional, specialty publishers will be forced to pay prices so high that they will likely go out of business.

Nice job Hillary, Chuck, and Barack! Let's limit press access to the post office. Good plan! I expect King George the W to make this happen, but he is doing it on your watch! Clinton, Schumer and Obama stand by while our nation is destroyed -- except during those times when they are actively participating in its destruction.

This hurts all Americans. These new postal regulations know no favorites -- they are designed to hurt small publishers and protect mega-publishers. These regulations are immoral and unethical and un-American.

The Nation, one of America's oldest and most important voices of freedom, will be severely crippled by these new regulations. The Nation needs your help:

Please send a donation here

Please subscribe here

Please find the contact information of your elected officials and complain about it here

A Medley from Sly & The Family Stone

On the Ed Sullivan Show:



Or see it at youtube.com



Dick Mac Recommends:

Essential Sly & Family Stone
Sly & Family Stone

Humor - Blond Joke

After a really good party a man walks into a bar and orders a drink. Already drunk and delirious, the man turns to the guy next to him and asks, "You wanna hear a blonde joke?"

The guy replies, "I am a 240 pound world kick-boxing champion and a natural blonde. My friend is 190 pounds, world judo champion and a natural blonde. And my other friend is the 200 pound world arm-wrestling champion and a natural blonde. Do you still want to tell me that blonde joke?"

The man thinks for a while and says, "Not if I have to explain it three times."



Dick Mac Recommends:

Moonage Daydream
Mick Rock & David Bowie

Verdict Reached in Roy Pearson v. Custom Cleaners Trial

Judge Judith Bartnoff has ruled in a 23-page opinion that Roy Pearson

is not entitled to any relief whatsoever on his claims under the CPPA, Counts One and Four of his Amended Complaint.

Hooray! This means that Pearson gets nothing! NOTHING!

The ruling goes on to say

The Court's analysis of the plaintiff's CPPA claims applies as well to his claims of common law fraud in Count Two of the Amended Complaint. The plaintiff acknowledges that he is required to prove those claims by clear, convincing and unequivocal evidence. He has not proven those claims by a preponderance of the evidence, let alone by that higher standard. Judgment therefore will be awarded to the defendants, as well as their costs.

Justice!

Not only does Pearson get nothing, he must pay the defendants' costs!

I have not yet learned what is happening with Count Three, and I do not know the specifics of that count. If newsworthy, however, I will follow-up!

This is a real victory for jurisprudence.

Read Marc Fisher's article here. Fisher is the washingtonpost.com writer who broke the case in the media.

This is the AP article (reprinted without permission):

Verdict Reached in $54 Million Pants Suit
June 25, 2007 - 11:54am

WASHINGTON - A judge ruled Monday in favor of a dry cleaner that was sued for $54 million over a missing pair of pants.

The owners of Custom Cleaners did not violate the city's Consumer Protection Act by failing to live up to Roy L. Pearson's expectations of the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign once displayed in the store window, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff ruled.

Bartnoff ordered Pearson to pay the court costs of defendants Soo Chung, Jin Nam Chung and Ki Y. Chung.

Pearson, an administrative law judge, originally sought $67 million from the Chungs, claiming they lost a pair of suit trousers and later tried to give him a pair that he said was not his. He arrived at the amount by adding up years of alleged law violations and almost $2 million in common law claims.

Pearson later dropped demands for damages related to the pants and focused his claims on signs in the shop, which have since been removed.

Chris Manning, the Chungs' attorney, argued that no reasonable person would interpret the signs to mean an unconditional promise of satisfaction.

The Chungs said the trial had taken an enormous financial and emotional toll on them and exposed them to widespread ridicule.

The two-day trial earlier this month drew a standing-room-only crowd and overshadowed the drunken driving trial of former Mayor Marion Barry.

The owners of Custom Cleaners did not violate the city's Consumer Protection Act by failing to live up to Roy L. Pearson's expectations of the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign once displayed in the store window, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff ruled.

Bartnoff ordered Pearson to pay the court costs of defendants Soo Chung, Jin Nam Chung and Ki Y. Chung.

Pearson, an administrative law judge, originally sought $67 million from the Chungs, claiming they lost a pair of suit trousers and later tried to give him a pair that he said was not his. He arrived at the amount by adding up years of alleged law violations and almost $2 million in common law claims.

Pearson later dropped demands for damages related to the pants and focused his claims on signs in the shop, which have since been removed.

Chris Manning, the Chungs' attorney, argued that no reasonable person would interpret the signs to mean an unconditional promise of satisfaction.

The Chungs said the trial had taken an enormous financial and emotional toll on them and exposed them to widespread ridicule.

The two-day trial earlier this month drew a standing-room-only crowd and overshadowed the drunken driving trial of former Mayor Marion Barry.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Thank you Judge Bartnoff for restoring my faith in our judicial system.

I hope the supervisor of Administrative Law Judges in the District of Columbia will now grow a testicle and terminate the employment of Pearson on the grounds that he is unable to use common sense when interpreting the law and is unfit to dispense any level of justice in the United States.


Dick Mac Recommends:

The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri

My Favorite Player Leaves My Favorite Team

What do I do? Cry?

Do I really want to cry?

I mean, this is just business, right!

Thierry Henry is just a soccer player who is paid to entertain me. I do not know him, we do not work for the same organization, I have no professional relationship with him. I like his new employer, they are my favorite team in La Liga.

Ever since my addiction to soccer started, especially English football, six years ago, I have adored Thierry Henry. He was the star player on the team I adopted as my own: Arsenal.


I am an Arsenal supporter. I will remain an Arsenal supporter. But I am a Thierry Henry fan, too. I will remain a Thierry Henry fan.

What impact does this have on my life? Not much, I think. I never purchased an Arsenal jersey with Henry's name on the back, because Arsenal uses Nike as their shirt provider, and I don't buy Nike products. Henry's new team, the Catalan side Barcelona, also use Nike as their shirt provider, so I will not even consider an Henry shirt from Barca, either. No sportswear loss.

My cable television subscription includes the Spanish-language GOL-TV, which carries La Liga matches, allowing me to watch Henry play with some of my other faves: Ronaldhino and Gio, in particular. Maybe I should switch to Direct-TV which broadcasts GOL-TV in English. That could be a huge pain in the ass! Switching television providers.

This is the first time I will have to explain to my 3-year-old daughter that our favorite player no longer plays for our favorite team. In my childhood, most sports players stayed with the same team for all or most of their careers. No longer, of course, but I haven't had to explain it to her yet. This could be more difficult than switching television providers!

Thierry Henry has left Arsenal.

It's like Larry Bird leaving the Celtics, or The Mick leaving the Yankees, or Gordie Howe leaving the Red Wings, or Joe Namath leaving the Jets, it just isn't supposed to happen; and today the universe seems just a little bit askew because of it.

Arsenal announce Henry departure
Arsenal have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Barcelona for the transfer of striker Thierry Henry. The deal, thought to be worth about £16m to the Gunners, is subject to the Frenchman, 29, passing a medical, which is set to take place on Monday.

Henry had already announced he intended to end his eight-year stay at Arsenal to sign a four-year deal with Barca.

"I still must pass a medical on Monday but yes, I have chosen Barcelona," he told French sports daily L'Equipe.

Soriano added it was "the wish of all parties" for an agreement to be reached for the transfer of Henry.

He also insisted that Barcelona waited for the green light from Arsenal before making a move for the France international, who is the club's all-time record goalscorer.

"We don't want to point a gun at anybody," said Soriano. "We have good relationships with the European clubs."

Henry, who only agreed a lucrative new deal with Arsenal 12 months ago, also confirmed his exit in The Sun newspaper.

In an open letter, he blamed the shock departure of Gunners vice-chairman David Dein and continuing doubts over the future of manager Arsene Wenger as the main reasons for his decision to leave.

"Arsene has been part of my life for as long as I can remember," he wrote.

"Unfortunately and understandably, he has said that at this moment he will not commit to the club past the expiration of his current deal, which finishes at the end of the coming season.

"I respect his decision and his honesty but I will be 31 at the end of next season and I cannot take the chance to be there without Arsene Wenger and David Dein.

"This is solely my decision, no-one has forced me to do anything and I will represent myself in this transaction. I feel it is something I just had to do."

Henry, who has also been linked with European champions AC Milan, has also revealed why he decided to move to the Nou Camp ahead of other possible destinations.

"Barcelona are a wonderful club steeped in tradition and play beautiful football. I'm sure I will be very happy there," he continued.

"But I will miss the Arsenal fans dearly, they have supported me through thick and thin.

"They will always be in my heart, as will all the fans who make the game here so special. I will always have a special bond with Arsenal Football Club."


Henry began his career as a winger with Monaco in 1994 - under the supervision of current Arsenal boss Wenger.

He was in France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad and went on to join Juventus the following season.

But his time in Turin was a largely unsuccessful one and the player was soon heading to north London, with Wenger keen to get the best out of the prodigious talent.

The France international has since blossomed into one of the greatest talents in world football.

He helped Arsenal to two league titles and three FA Cups and led the Gunners to the finals of the 2000 Uefa Cup and 2006 Champions League.

In February 2006, he became the first Arsenal player to score over 200 goals for the club, with a strike against Birmingham, and has bagged a club record 226 goals in 364 appearances for the Gunners.

His consistency in front of goal ensured he finished as the Premier League's top scorer on four occasions.

He has won the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year title on two occasions and the football writers' player of the year three times. He has also twice finished runner-up in the Fifa world player of the year.

Story from BBC SPORT:
Click here for original post.
Published: 2007/06/23 09:41:17 GMT
© BBC MMVII

AFP reports that Nicolas Anelka will be brought in at Arsenal to fill the void left by Henry's departure. If you are an American sports fan, then this is like Bill Buckner stepping-in for Lou Gehrig, or Mike Everett stepping in for Joe Montana, or any random Canadian skater stepping in for Bobby Orr. It is as comforting as knowing the snake under the bed isn't a very good climber. Anelka cannot do anything to replace the loss of Henry.

There has been speculation about Henry's departure (and possibly team manager Arsene Wegner's as well) since the April resignation of David Dein from Arsenal's front-office.

Fellow French player and former Gunner, Patrik Viera, stated last week that he believed Henry would remain a Gunner only if Arsenal made some world-class signings as proof-positive they were committed to winning at the European level.

Of course, the xeonphobic idiots who chased-away David Dein ignored Viera's remarks to the press and have sold-off one of the greatest players that ever donned the red kit at Highbury and Ashburton Grove.

In meeting the press, Henry said, "I want to be certain of where the club was going and reassured in a way. I wasn't and I have chosen to go. . . . I left Arsenal to go to Barcelona because, no disrespect to any other team, but there are only two teams in the world who play football the way I like it."

Looking directly into a camera, Henry thanked Gooners around the world for their support and said he would always be an Arsenal player.

"Arsenal will always be in my heart, my blood, my head," Henry said. "I will always have Arsenal in my blood. I know some people will never accept the decision. I just want to say to the fans that I always gave 100 per cent. . . . I said I was going to be a Gunner for life and I did not lie because when you are a Gunner, you will always be a Gunner."

And once a Gooner, always a Gooner. I will miss Henry and will remain an Arsenal supporter; but we have to get someone better than Anelka (whom we sold-off once already).

Monday sees Henry having his first team physical and that will be followed by his first step onto the pitch at Nou Camp as a Barcelona striker. See the FC Barcelona website here for details.

Barcelona now becomes the most amazing team in Europe, while Arsenal will struggle to remain in the England top four. The Frank Rijkaard led Barca includes Ronaldhino, Henry, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Samuel Eto'o, Deco, Silvinho and others. See their current squad here.

Congratulations, Barca supporters! You now have the best player in the world to play alongside the best player in the world. You suffer an embarrassment of riches.

Good luck, Thierry!


Dick Mac Recommends:

Thierry Henry
Oliver Derbyshire

TV News Crews Being Trained for Kidnapping

The television news agencies have done a piss-poor job reporting on military conflicts, genocides, and terrorism. Companies that own television news agencies now see the news as a profit center. When television news agencies were seen as a necessary service to the public, the news reports seemed to have a lot more integrity.

Television news' complicity in the lies about Iraq and Afghanistan, and their utter failure to shine appropriate light on atrocities like Darfur, leave a bitter taste in my mouth.

Still, I am more troubled when I learn that television reporters are kidnapped.

Brian Keenan's wonderful book about his time as a hostage in Lebanon gives amazing insight into his experience. He was a teacher, not a journalist. Like most citizens, he had no training about how to handle a hostage situation.

Journalists have not had any such training either. Until BBC news reporter Alan Johnston was kidnapped one hundred days ago. Now, TV correspondents are receiving kidnapping training courses.

This in from popbitch:

Hostage to fortune
TV news-crews get special training

Alan Johnston has now spent 100 days as a hostage in Gaza. TV news networks are taking no chance with other British foreign correspondents. News hounds are being hurriedly sent on Kidnapping Training courses.

And what are they told to do in the event of being kidnapped?

"Tell them absolutely anything they want."

This is the most sensible thing I have ever heard! If they kidnap you, tell them everything. Then you might live. Why hold onto secrets? What secrets do any non-military people have to keep? None. Tell them everything.

I pray for Alan Johnston and hope he is released soon.

Still no word on the Pearson v Custom Cleaners verdict. I guess the judge will avoid an all-out media assault if she issues her verdict at 3:00 P.M. then heads directly to her Summer home!


Dick Mac Recommends:

"Heroes"
David Bowie

Is Cruelty To Animals Really Cruelty?

Three rabbits escape from a testing lab and find an entire field full of carrots. They eat themselves into a stupor and sleep throughout the night. The next morning, they find an entire field full of female rabbits with no males in sight. They screw themselves into a stupor and sleep throughout the night. The next morning, the rabbits get to talking.

"I'm gonna go back to that field of carrots," says one.

"I'm gonna go back to those cute little rabbits," says the second.

"I'm going back to the lab," says the third. "I'm dying for a cigarette."


Relax! It's a joke! Relax!

I am awaiting the Pearson v Custom Cleaners verdict! I will post when I learn of it.



Dick Mac Recommends:

Bend It Like Beckham
Imran Ali, Ameet Chana

Bravery And Cowardice

Bravery is a virtue in short supply in these conservative times. We have cowards running the White House who pretend to be brave by using "tough" language; but, they are all cowards. Not one of them has ever exhibited bravery. Not the president nor the vice-president nor the chief of staff nor the press secretary nor the cabinet members nor the architects of the War in Iraq. Not one of them has exhibited a moment of bravery.

Conservatives tend to be cowards. They hide behind the rhetoric of terror and aggression and they wave flags of patriotism and godliness while condemning those who want to defend the Constitution. There is no more cowardly group of men than those running the Republican Party, those who terrorize women and the poor and the homeless and children with their unChristian policies and economic warfare against those least able to protect themselves.

Bush and Giuliani and Cheyney and the other post-9/11 opportunists who are killing off Americans to further their own careers know no bravery. They are cowards.

Sadly, many Americans think these cowards are brave and represent strength; but they don't.

Bravery isn't about rhetoric, it's about action. Bravery isn't sending someone into the line of fire, it is going into the line of fire yourself.

Firefighters and cops and teachers are brave. Elected officials are, generally, cowards. Conservatives are almost always cowards.

Yesterday, nine men lost their lives in the line of duty. They were not in Iraq or Afghanistan. They were in Charleston, South Carolina, serving their community, serving humanity, and in that vein they were serving God. They are firefighters who perished doing their jobs.

Capt. William "Billy" Hutchinson, 48
Capt. Mike Benke, 49
Capt. Louis Mulkey, 34
Mark Kelsey, 40
Bradford "Brad" Baity, 37
Michael French, 27
James "Earl" Drayton, 56
Brandon Thompson, 27
Melven Champaign, 46

These men were brave. These men are what makes America great.

Think of them today and ask yourself what you are doing to make the world a better place.

Are you changing the world for the good, or are you just fighting terrorism?

These men can face their creator with their heads held humbly high. Can we?



Dick Mac Recommends:

"Heroes"
David Bowie

David Beckham Limps To Los Angeles

David Beckham leaves Europe with one more medal as he helped lead Real Madrid to their first La Liga championship in four years. Unfortunately, he leaves Europe with a limp after hurting his ankle in the last match of the La Liga season!

Nevertheless, Beckham has won another championship; and that is why he is so valuable. He's a winner. Nobody crosses a ball like Beckham. Nobody.

I have seen David Beckham play for England and he is brilliant. He is very exciting to watch and we are lucky to be getting him in the USA.

I am a supporter of Red Bull New York, my "local" MLS team where I hold a season ticket. On August 18, the Los Angeles Galaxy (Beckham's new team) come to town. I can't wait!

Galaxy boss waits, worries for news of Beckham injury

AFP - June 18, 2007

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - An ankle injury that saw David Beckham removed from the field in the 66th minute of his final match for Real Madrid on Sunday has Los Angeles Galaxy officials waiting and worrying about his health.

Beckham limped off the field 24 minutes from the finish but his Real Madrid teammates rallied to defeat Real Mallorca 3-1 and capture the Spanish league title in Beckham's last match before he joins the Galaxy next month.

"We have not had any indication on the nature of the injury," said Galaxy's general manager Alexi Lalas. "Right now he's still a Real Madrid player."

Beckham, 32, signed a landmark deal worth up to 250 million dollars and 27.5 million in player salary with the Major League Soccer club in January, but the five-year contract does not begin until July 1.

Beckham is expected to join the Galaxy in mid-July, but the severity of the ankle injury - first suffered while playing for England on June 6 - will likely decide just when Beckham can first suit up for the US team.

"He was obviously carrying an injury but it's nice that he can now have a rest and recuperate. He's going to need it," Lalas said.

The Galaxy are 2-4 with three drawn and rank next-to-last in the US league with only nine points. At fifth in the Western Division, the Galaxy rank six points behind Colorado for the last playoff berth with four months remaining in the regular season.

But Beckham did manage to help bring Real Madrid a Spanish crown during his stay, even if it came in the final moments and with him on the sidelines as a spectator when the rally came for the decisive victory.

"We couldn't be happier for David and Real Madrid, and we send our congratulations to him and his team," Lalas said.

"It was an incredible finish to an incredible season and it's a wonderful way for him to end his time in Spain before he heads off to America for a new adventure with the Galaxy."

Congratulations, David Beckham! Welcome to America!



Dick Mac Recommends:

Beckham
David Beckham

Roy Pearson Affiliations

Roy Pearson, the Administrative Law Judge from the District of Columbia who has sued his local dry cleaner for millions of dollars, has managed to weasel his way into some respectable positions.

The verdict in Pearson's suit against his local dry cleaner has yet to come in; but, I would hate to see him drop off the Internet radar.

According to the Pearson entry in Wikipedia, he has been on the board, or served as counsel for numerous Washington D.C. community organizations, including: Columbia Heights Youth Club, Fort Lincoln Civic Association, Black Seeds, Inc., the Washington Council of Lawyers, and the National Council of Black Lawyers.

Columbia Heights Youth Club does not list Pearson as a member of its board.

The Common Denominator, a local newspaper in Washington, D.C., published this article about Pearson's work on behalf of the Fort Lincoln Civic Association. In this instance, Pearson seems to have found real fraud, but he didn't sue the developer for fifty million dollars. If the allegations of fraud by the developer of New Town, made by the Association and Pearson are true, this is the place where Pearson should be suing for millions!

I can find no quick reference to Black Seeds, Inc. on the Internet.

The Washington Council of Lawyers website makes no reference to Pearson that I can find.

The National Council of Black Lawyers has no website that I can find. Pearson is a black lawyer, so he could be the only member! I can only assume that this organization is for lawyers of African heritage, as opposed to lawyers who have blackened the reputation of the society they are sworn to serve.

If you know anyone in these organizations, please ask them if Pearson is associated with them. If he is, you might consider telling these people of Pearson's embarrassing, unethical, immoral, insane behavior as a litigant. It'd be interesting to hear if anyone defends his actions.



Dick Mac Recommends:

The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri

Oases of green for butterflies and birds

This article originally appeared in the New York Daily News. I reprint it here without permission and beg mercy from those who own the copyright. I am only spreading the good news.

Oases of green for butterflies and birds
Helping create garden party for birds, butterflies

by Denise Romano

Daily News, Tuesday, June 12th 2007, 8:15 AM

Jennifer Hopkins creates rest stops for things that fly.

In the densely populated strip of land between Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery, Hopkins and fellow gardeners are creating oases of green for butterflies and birds.

The goal of the Greenway Project is to link two of Brooklyn's largest habitats - at least for airborne species.


"This is something I can do and that people can actually do to make a difference," Hopkins said, noting butterflies and birds are important pollinators.

In her garden, Hopkins has spotted monarchs, swallow tails, painted ladies and azure butterflies. She also has seen ovenbirds, kinglets and threshers - all rare in the city, she said.

"Having a backyard that is butterfly-friendly in such a densely populated borough is very important," said Hopkins, who has spread her message by word of mouth for the past six years.

Hopkins avoids the usual geraniums, petunias and impatiens favored in most gardens. She uses flowers richer in nectar.

"I plant purple coneflowers, asters, sunflowers and host plants - such as milkweed and parsley," she said recently as birds chirped in her garden.

"Milkweed is the only plant that monarchs can lay eggs on. Caterpillars eat the milkweed and parsley as well," she said. "But never put pesticides on your garden because it defeats the purpose and kills the butterflies."

For the birds, Hopkins plants berry bushes, has a cherry tree and keeps her birdbath full. One neighbor has followed in her footsteps and put up a humming bird feeder. Another has a bush where a family of cardinals is nesting. The nearby Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church is also on board and is set to plant a garden this summer, she said.

But Hopkins does not want to stop there.

"I want to work with contractors and maybe get them to put up butterfly and bird gardens in their greenspaces," she said. "I also want to work with local garden centers, so when people go into the store to start their own garden, all of the supplies are in one spot."

If more people followed Ms. Hopkins' lead and more media outlets published articles like this one, the world would be a better place!

To create your own butterfly and bird garden, e-mail Jennifer Hopkins



Dick Mac Recommends:

Inventory
Tony Visconti

Pearson v. Custom Cleaners - Trial Over, Verdict Pending

"It was a long two days," Judge Judith Bartnoff said.

And it seems the speculation, buzz and banter about the Pearson v. Custom Cleaners lawsuit was more exciting than the actual trial.

Marc Fisher, the washingtonpost.com writer who first brought this story to my attention, covered the second and final day of the trial at his blog.

The judge showed the type of prudence and restraint you would expect in a judge, which was highlighted in this exchange between judge and plaintiff (Pearson):

"Your position," Bartnoff said to Pearson this morning, "is that 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' means they have to satisfy whatever you demand, with no limitations, absolutely unconditionally?"

"That's correct," Pearson replied.

"I have grave doubts about that," said the judge.

See, this entry in Fisher's blog here.

I particularly like that Judge Bartnoff told Pearson to stop using the word "we."

"You are not a we, you are an I," Judge Bartnoff told Pearson. "You are seeking damages on your own behalf, and that is all."

Pearson has been trying to turn this into a class-action style lawsuit all along.

And, yeah, sure, I hate the business practices of the Korean dry cleaner in my neighborhood, too; and I dislike it when he pretends that he doesn't understand English and can't negotiate a conflict or confusion. I wish the Korean mafia that runs New York's dry cleaning cosa nostra would switch to an industry I don't use. None of their actions, however, are actionable! I am not going to sue the guy because my trousers are misplaced for a week! I've had English, Irish, Italian and Latina dry cleaners in four states and two countries misplace my clothes over the years and they eventually come back.

One time a shirt never re-appeared and I received a check for forty-six dollars, which I thought was the fair price for a used dress shirt. I probably could have gotten the entire $92.00 the shirt originally cost, but I thought I would be equitable, and since the shirt was two years old, I asked for half its cost. It took over a month for the check to arrive. I didn't think to sue for fifteen hundred bucks a day! Stupid me!

Pearson might win his case about the signs "Satisfaction Guaranteed" and "Same Day Service" misleading him.

But, I hope he doesn't.

I hope he loses and is forced to pay the dry cleaners' legal fees.

We will know next week.

The New York Times has a good story: Judge Tries Suing Pants Off Dry Cleaners.



Dick Mac Recommends:

The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri

Pearson v. Custom Cleaners - Day One Wrap

Emil Steiner, a blogger at washingtonpost.com, presents a real-time blog of the case and his wit and intelligence shine through each dispatch. I create this synopsis based on his writings.

It takes all parties involved over forty minutes to agree whether the case is about trousers or signs. Eventually they agree that this claim is about the sign; but, Pearson wants to present evidence about the trousers. In fact, he has added so many complicated motions that it it seems a guarantee that he will discuss his trousers at length throughout the hearing. Eventually, the judge refers to his eloquence as excruciating.

Pearson's circus continues with witnesses: others who have been dissatisfied with the service at the dry cleaner (including one who spoke in a mock "asian" accent), his son who testifies that daddy is opposed to litigation (in stark contrast to reality), a nattily attired salesman from Nordstrom's, and a subordinate who was distressed that his mentor was unable to pay much attention to his work because he has had to spend so many hours on this case.

Then Pearson took the stand and got emotional, had to ask for a recess, and when he tried to pull the break-down-and-cry maneuver again, the judge explained that he was doing just fine and could continue.

In this courtroom sketch, Judge Roy Pearson, left, who is suing Jin Nam Chung, seated at center right, and his wife Ki, seated 2nd right, for $54 million for what he calls "misleading signage" at their dry cleaning business, speaks at DC Superior Court in Washington, D.C. Tuesday, June 12, 2007. (Courtroom sketch by AP Photo/Dana Verkouteren - reprinted without permission.)

Wednesday will see the defense attorney cross-examine Pearson. I sure wish I could see it live!

Steiner generously recaps by saying that "Pearson is a fastidious litigator, and Judith Bartnoff is a patient judge."

The latter is patently obvious, the former is far more generous than Pearson deserves.

Follow all the action at Steiner's blog OFF/beat.

And stay tuned for all the action!

Also see, New York Times coverage: Judge Tries Suing Pants Off Dry Cleaners

Also see AP article at Boston Globe: Judge suing dry cleaner cries over pants



Dick Mac Recommends:

The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri

Pearson v. Custom Cleaners

Emil Steiner, of the Washington Post, is covering the trial.

Follow this link to read his observations. I will summarize in the morning!



Dick Mac Recommends:

The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri

Humor - Light Bulb Jokes

How many Republicans does it take to change a light bulb?
Three. One to change the bulb, one to call the media and publicize it, and one to blame the electric bill on the Democrats.

How many Democrats does it take to change a light bulb?
That light bulb's never getting changed.



I guess the humor is in the accuracy. How disappointing is the Democratic majority in Congress? Have you ever seen a party more inept? If there is any group that can screw-up the Democratic majority, it's the Democrats.

On the Roy Pearson front, I was told that the trial was to have started yesterday, but it seems that it did not. If it happens today, I will certainly post an update.



Dick Mac Recommends:

The Best Of Freda Payne
Freda Payne

The Pearson v. Dry Cleaners Trial Starts Today

Roy L. Pearson, Jr., is the Administrative Law Judge in the District of Columbia who is suing his local dry cleaner for millions and millions of dollars because (1) he was dissatisfied with their service after they guaranteed his satisfaction; and (2) his same-day service was not realized when his trousers went temporarily missing.

It is quite possible that Mr. Pearson will win: the signs posted in the dry cleaner were false advertising, so technically he is correct and therefore deserves to win the case. I certainly hope, as would any decent human being, that the judge will not award this asshole the tens of millions of dollars he is seeking in damages.

Let's give the devil his due: Pearson is trying to make a point. His point is that he is dissatisfied with the service provided and they did not deliver same day service. He is correct and will probably win on those technical points.

I suspect the upshot of Mr. Pearson's actions will be that the District of Columbia will begin to gut their consumer protection laws to prevent this sort of abuse.

So, the dry cleaners may not suffer any monetary loss, and Mr. Pearson will live the rest of his life being "right," and reasonable citizens will lose their ability to go after companies that really abuse consumers.

I will be following the news, and I hope you will post anything you hear about the case in the comments section below.

You can read my previous articles about Pearson here:

Jerk Lawyer Abuses Citizens

Roy Pearson Administrative Jerk Update



Dick Mac Recommends:

The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri

Dr. James Holsinger

In his infinite wisdom, the current president of the United States has nominated for the post of Surgeon General (the top medical post in the government) a man who has said: "When the complementarity of the sexes is breached, injuries and diseases may occur."

This homophobic remark is amazing!

What "injury" occurs in a homosexual relationship? Is that injury different from an injury that can take place in a heterosexual relationship? And what disease is spread among homosexuals that is not also spread among heterosexuals? Is this man really a medical doctor?

This administration is more frightening by the day.

Can one of my neo-con readers please explain how an American in the 21st Century could defend the appointment of this man as Surgeon General?

Please contact your representatives in Washington and tell them you are opposed to the appointment of Dr. James Holsinger to the post of Surgeon General.



Dick Mac Recommends:

The Assault On Reason
Al Gore

Happy Birthday!

June 7th is a good day to have a birthday. If you have a birthday today, then you are in good company, musicians, athletes, artists and actors:

1848 Paul Gauguin
1909 Jessica Tandy
1917 Dean Martin
1940 Tom Jones
1952 Liam Neeson
1958 Prince
1975 Allen Iverson
1981 Anna Kournikova

Happy Birthday, To You!


Dick Mac Recommends:

Inventory
Tony Visconti

I Can't Carry A Tune In A Bucket

Tone deaf. I am.

If I hear a song often enough I can sometimes learn it to such a degree that I can mimic the sound of the singers' voices; but I cannot stand alone in a room and carry a song.

Don't even listen to me attempt "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" with that really low part in the chorus. Ugh!

This is tough for a guy who loves to listen to songs. I don't actually care much about the music, it's the song I like.

Because of my inability to carry a tune, I have always avoided karaoke. I have that one shred of dignity that does not allow me to get up and embarrass myself that way. My friends will tell you that I am happy to embarrass myself in other ways, but I have never had the testicular fortitude to perform karaoke.

And now I know why.

Read on . . .

Man shot dead for bad singing in Philippine karaoke bar

A jobless man was shot dead by a security guard for singing out of tune in a Philippine karaoke bar, police said Thursday.

Romy Baligula, 29, was halfway through his song on Tuesday night in a bar in San Mateo town, east of Manila, when 43-year-old security guard Robilito Ortega yelled that he was out of tune.

As Baligula ignored his comments and continued singing, Ortega pulled out his revolver and shot him in the chest.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas said Baligula died instantly.

The security guard was detained by an off-duty policeman shortly after the shooting.

Deaths and violence are not uncommon in Philippine karaoke bars.

The popular Frank Sinatra song "My Way" has been taken off many karaoke bars in Manila after it was found to be the cause of fights and even deaths when patrons sang out of tune.

Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AFP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Agence France Presse.

Dick Mac Recommends:

Twelve
Patti Smith

Humor - Somebody's Perfect Husband

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cell phone on a bench rings and one of the men engages the hands-free speaker and begins to talk.

Everyone else in the room stops to listen.

MAN: "Hello"

WOMAN: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"

MAN: "Yes."

WOMAN: "I'm at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat. It's only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?"

MAN: "Sure, go ahead if you like it that much."

WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2007 models. I saw one I really liked."

MAN: "How much?"

WOMAN: "$65,000."

MAN: "OK, but for that price I want it with all the options."

WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing. The house we wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking $950,000."

MAN: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer, but just offer $900,000."

WOMAN: "OK. I'll see you later! I love you!"

MAN: "Bye, I love you, too."

The man hangs up.

The other men in the locker room are looking at him in astonishment.

Then he smiles and asks: "Anyone know whose phone this is?"


Dick Mac Recommends:

Twelve
Patti Smith

Quite a weekend for soccer around the globe!

See all by following the links!

USA beats China in a friendly.

USA thumps China in Gold Cup tuneup

USA routs China, 4-1

The Red Bulls crumble in Kansas City when Mathis is unfairly red-carded.

Red Bulls bumped to third with loss

Johnson bags hat trick as Wizards down short-handed Red Bulls

Denmark forfeits a draw with Sweden when an irate fan attacks an official.

Denmark-Sweden Euro tie abandoned

Abandonment threatens NI top spot

Crazed fan ruins Denmark-Sweden Euro qualifier

A stampede after Zambia beat Congo 3-0 in an African Nations Cup qualifier left 12 people dead and 46 others wounded at the Chililabombwe stadium.

Twelve fans die at Zambia match

Three Nigerian fans died when angry fans went on the rampage during a league match between Akwa United and Enyimba.

Fans reported dead in Nigeria

A supporter of Mozambican side Ferroviario de Nampula was killed by opposing fans for celebrating his team's second goal during an away match.

Fan killed for celebrating goal

And to think that sports fans in the USA say that soccer is boring!


Dick Mac Recommends:

Warm Leatherette
The Normal

David Geffen On The Clintons

David Geffen is a media mogul. I hold him in no particular regard or disregard.

Being in the media industry, he has a business agenda that is not necessarily good for we consumers. One only need look at the RIAA's anti-consumer campaigns of the past decade to see that media moguls, their lackeys in elected office, and the corporate associations they prop-up to legitimize their campaigns are bad for America.

On the other hand, Geffen tends to be a social liberal and has supported the tiny number of liberals who still exist in the Democratic Party. I am not actually sure how many liberals remain in the Democratic Party; but, if there are any, you can generally count on Geffen to lend them his support.

The Clintons (current Senator and former President) are considered liberals. In reality though, although the former President is an economic and political liberal and maybe a bit of a social liberal, the Senator certainly is none of those things. She is a neo-con who has managed to cloak herself in notions of liberalism to secure the votes of women and homosexuals.

Geffen is probably a leftist when compared to Senator Clinton.

Although I have no particular respect for David Geffen, beyond the fact that he is human and deserving of the same respect all humans deserve, I was pleased to read this statement he made about President and Senator Clinton:

Everybody in politics lies. But they [the Clintons] do it with such ease, it's troubling.

I think this might be the most astute observation and the most important candid statement made in the run-up to the Democratic Primary.

Hillary Clinton is bad for America. Not because she is a woman, not because she is a liberal; because she is a liar, a bad liar, and a liar of the worst kind: a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Pay close attention to her positions on reproductive rights (there should be limits), the rights of homosexuals (against gay marriage), education (supports privatization of public schools), workers' rights (supports corporate subsidies that undermine worker security), economic policy (supports continued deregulation), and globalization (champion of CAFTA). These are not the positions of a liberal, they are the positions of a conservative, a new conservative, a neo-con. She will deny these positions when convenient, but just pay attention for the next couple years.

If she can lose the support of David Geffen while gaining the support of Rupert Murdoch, you have to think twice about her.


Dick Mac Recommends:

The Assault On Reason
Al Gore