There were a lot of cool things in the world to impress this child of the 80s. Transformers. WWF wrestling. Global thermal nuclear war. And Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto, seeping sophistication and style. I had a young crush on Benazir.

A few years back in romantic Lahore, a few hours' drive from the very Pasadena-like Islamabad, I was invited to a Muslim League rally. Ousted President Nawaz Sharif's former veep was among those making impassioned speeches about restoring democracy in Pakistan and challenging Gen. Pervez Musharraf's autocratic rule.

They didn't have many nice things to say about Bhutto. But that was as much rivalry with her hometown of Karachi and the rightful indignation many proud Lahore residents have for that city's "undeserved" cosmopolitan reputation.

Anyhoo, they did hold a much greater enmity -- along with many Bhutto fans I met -- for Gen. Musharraf's rule.

Posted by Todd at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Tuesday's paper just showed up in the office. I can understand why it was edited, but I still prefer my original lede:

Activists drawn to parade’s visibility

By Kenneth Todd Ruiz
Staff Writer
PASADENA — Inspired by biblical Armageddon or global climate meltdown, those with an end-is-nigh message will have to compete for attention at next month’s Rose Parade.

Not only those who’d hoped for a sanctioned human-rights march to sate their opposition to a Beijing Olympic float will be present, but hundreds of activists holding different messages plan to converge on Colorado Boulevard, lured by the thick crowds and cameras broadcasting around the world.

“It’s an unprecedented outreach opportunity for us,” said Peter Thottam of the Los Angeles National Impeachment Center, which is fielding hundreds of volunteers to promote an anti-war, pro-impeachment message.

Anti-war activist and Congressional candidate Cindy Sheehan will be in Pasadena as part of that campaign, as will members of CODEPINK, Troops Out Now Coalition, World Can't Wait, ANSWER, Progressive Democrats of America, the Green Party, Veterans for Peace, United for Peace and Justice, and others.
Events like the parade pose an opportunity for people of conviction, particularly those who feel marginalized by the mainstream media, to commandeer some of the publicity.
“We’re going to break in the new year and show the media we’re fed up with the blackout on the pro-impeachment and anti-war sentiments in this country,” said Thottam, a former state assembly candidate. “It’s a way of trying to educate Americans exposed only to Britney Spears and O.J. Simpson that there are things going on that matter.”
Similar to how critics of the Beijing Olympic float organized as the Pasadena Coalition for Human Rights in China, anti-war and pro-impeachment activists have united as the “White Rose Coalition.”
To reach the millions watching on television they’ve organized a “visibility action” near the cameras near the Norton Simon Museum and will hand out literature to the approximately million people estimated to line the route.
Everything planned will be legal, he added.
Attempts to broker a last-ditch agreement for a legal, authorized march by opponents of the Beijing Olympic float failed over the weekend.
After police twice rejected their plans, citing security concerns, march organizer John Li said his group rejected a final offer Saturday after meeting with Police Chief Bernard Melekian, Mayor Bill Bogaard, Councilman Victor Gordo, Avery-Dennison consultant Tim Kelly and Tournament officials.
“They basically want us to do things in the dark,” Li said of a 6 a.m. start time he said was proposed for a drastically scaled-back march. “We think that can not bring the glory human rights deserve.”
For the first time, parade organizers were set to approve a march for human rights just prior to their Jan. 1 event to accommodate those groups and individuals opposed to the Chinese float because of China’s worsening human rights record in the run-up to the Olympics there next year.
Li questioned why security concerns didn’t cause police to reject plans for more than 100 children to be part of the controversial float.
Given the parade’s profile, and sheer number of spectators and participants, police prepare a number of security plans, Police Chief Bernard Melekian said in a recent interview.
“There hasn’t been a year I've been here there hasn’t been some unusual eventuality we haven’t had to prepare for,” he said.
Melekian declined to say what additional measures were being taken this year, particularly regarding the float.
“There's no concern about violence at this time,” Melekian said. “I suspect that there may be some form of demonstration but nothing completely out of the ordinary.”

[TAG1]todd.ruiz@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4444
www.insidesocal.com/pasadenapolitics

Posted by Todd at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Wednesday was a nice day to spend wandering around the track and observing its culture.

And they're off ... to Santa Anita Park for opening day
By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 12/26/2007 09:51:54 PM PST

ARCADIA - There are two types of women, Thelma Barque figures - those chasing down deals after Christmas and those handicapping fast favorites at the track.

Barque of El Monte was among the motley regulars, casual tourists and picnicking families already at Santa Anita Park by noon Wednesday for opening day's first post, which according to track officials drew more than 30,000 visitors throughout the day.

"After our Christmas dinner, my sister was cutting ads out of the paper, but I had all my racing forms out," Barque said.

Away from the grandstand's roar, where mariachis and dancers entertained children while their parents filled lawn chairs, it's easy to forget there's a sporting event under way with a lot of money on the line.

But inside the Paddock Room, it's serious business.

A few long tables and plastic chairs over from where Barque sat circling and erasing her picks, Josephine Escamilla compared notes and exchanged quips with her brothers.

Ever since their father instilled equestrian values into their household, the Escamilla siblings descend upon Santa
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Anita as a regular tradition.

"His very last words before he died were, `No more Shoemaker,"' Josephine Escamilla said of her father's fixation on the sport and fondness for legendary jockey Willie Shoemaker.

Their track tradition is more about social ritual, she explained.

"You get a hot dog, you get a cup of coffee, you visit the gift shop, and most of all, meet your friends," Escamilla said.

Her secret to picking the right horse? Despite tell-tale racing forms and handwritten notes, she dodged the question.

"You got to have money and you got to have luck," she said.

Others weren't content to leave it to luck.

After more than 50 years of coming to Santa Anita, Jerry Lunn of Highland Park banks on the accomplishments of a horse's bloodline and its rider.

Ted James takes his chances.

"I'm a long-shot bettor," said the Altadena resident, because an unlikely horse can make for big returns on his small bets.

Overlooking the steeds circling the paddock ring, Robert Frasier of San Gabriel kept an eye out for "a horse with a good rear end."

Recent rains almost put the kibosh on the track's 71st opener after a $10 million synthetic track surface installed last summer didn't drain as expected.

It looks like sand, but the synthetic fibers, silica sand and rubber grains that make the "Cushion Track" were designed to be less taxing on the animals.

Nearly $1 million in repairs kept the track unavailable for pre-season training for most of the month, said Mike Willman, publicity director.

But it's still holding on to more water than is optimal, he said.

"It's better now, but we're being honest and saying it's not perfect," Willman said.

todd.ruiz@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4444
www.insidesocal.com/pasadenapolitics

Posted by Todd at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)