Yo La Tengo - Let's Save Tony Orlando's House
Anyway, so I'm watching the Food Network while sitting on my carpet the other day, daydreaming about what it might be like to watch the Food Network while sitting on a couch, when suddenly a commercial grabs my attention: a different food channel, advertised on Food Network! The chefs were about equal parts men and women (to Food Network's credit, they almost feature as many male chefs as female chefs) and they were way "edgier" and "grittier" than the chefs on Food Network (You're using raw ingredients? What a badass). "It can't be," I thought to myself. "A competitor? Advertising on the incumbent's channel?"
Soon, however, I learned that this new food channel is merely an extension of the Food Network designed to net in those that up to now have simply found themselves too hardcore for the wussified offerings of Alton Brown, Paula Deen, and the others. I don't have much else to say about that; I just thought it was an interesting reminder of how networks and corporations spread their dirty little fingers all over the place.
I got rid of my cable last week, so I guess it makes no difference either way.
Anyway, so that bill in Arizona...yeah. I shouldn't have to describe it because y'all have undoubtedly noticed what a stir it's causing. Mexican president Felipe Calderon on a state visit (don't worry, he brought papers with him) criticized the new Arizona law - twice - from the White House. What a guy. If I may offer my opinion (hey, that's what you're here for, isn't it?), it is a pretty horrible piece of legislation. I mean, it's impossible to sugarcoat it and there literally is no need to exaggerate or reword the law to make it sound more horrible; I've read the main points a few times and I just can't see how someone wrote that and thought, "Why yes, this is totally consistent with a free democratic system in which people have the right to live in peace and happiness regardless of their race, sex, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation." The bigwigs from International Rescue Committee HQ in New York were visiting our office two weeks ago and I had the pleasure of inquiring about the possibility of a boycott, and they reacted favorably. That is, they laughed, which I'll take over a stern look and a reprimand any day.
But it goes on: Los Angeles is awesomely kicking around the prospect of boycotting the state of Arizona altogether. Arizona at first retaliated by threatening to boycott the city of Los Angeles, but when Los Angeles officials pulled out their maps to try and remember where this "Arizona" place was, an Arizona official went one step further and threatened to shut off the power in Los Angeles! Oh snap, he went there! That's right, Arizona Corporate Commission member Gary Pierce wrote in an open letter to LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa that since about 25% of the electricity used in Los Angeles is generated at plants outside of Phoenix, Mr. Pierce will simply just shut the party down if LA officials continue on with the boycott plans. You can read Mr. Pierce's love letter here. Here's an excerpt, if you don't feel like reading the whole thing:
If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation. I am confident that Arizona’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands.
Ha, what a snarky bastard. My 17-year-old self would have been proud.
This is kind of exciting, honestly. Even though I know it won't turn into anything and Mr. Pierce will probably just be at best severely reprimanded and at worst fired and asked for "papers please," I would still love to see an epic, bloody battle on some field between Angelenos and whatever they call people from Arizona. Maybe Texans will take advantage of the confusion and claim sovereignty again, and then I can bring my family here as refugees and Texas can keep its ass-backwards textbooks.
Iran tomorrow.
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