Of News and of Note…

Michael Jackson.
For a significant civic event a city is expected to pony up the money to help said event take place.  How did Michael Jackson’s memorial service become a significant civic event in a city where, according to the LA Times, $1.6 billion will be cut from education and as many as 4,000 teachers and staff may be laid off (LA Times Article)?  Is this event only about laying to rest a tremendously talented man who was taken too young? Somehow, I think not.

GrandCentral
Do you remember Cary Grant buying a ticket in Grand Central Station and then trying to get lost in the crowd in the movie “North by Northwest”?  Google is giving us a whole new GrandCentral and this one should make you feel even better than watching an old movie!  How many times have you thought, “WHY DO I NEED SO MANY PHONE NUMBERS???”  Well, Google has listened to your cries.  This week Google rolled out its GrandCentral service.  The service allows users to route all their calls through ONE NUMBER. WooHoo!!! (GrandCentral).

Shame on You! On Tuesday, June 30, 2009, Lieutenant Dan Choi who served in the New York Army National Guard faced a panel of colonels who decided to dismiss him from the service because he said “I am gay” on the Rachel Maddow Show on Thursday, May 7, 2009.

Here is that clip and an interview of Mr. Choi by Rachel Maddow (Maddow/Choi Interview).

The United States has the greatest military in the world and has a lot to be proud of.  Dismissing a West Point graduate and Iraq war veteran for saying “I am gay” is not something to be proud of.