Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, An Artistic Marriage @ MOLAA

"I suffered two grave accidents in my life. One in which a streetcar knocked me down... The other accident is Diego." - Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are known world-wide for their contributions to the evolution of art. Both artists, although possessing completely different styles, became two of Mexico’s most famous people and in turn revolutionized the world of art. This dynamic pair was not only known for their talent and vision, but also for their stormy love affair that would last over thirty years. Theirs was a love inspired by mutual beliefs and passions. However, often throughout the course of their turbulent relationship, they were viewed as immature school children displaying bouts of jealousy and anger. Despite their problems, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera overcame the obstacles and their love proved enduring.

In celebration of Mexico’s Bicentennial the Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA) presents an all new Murals Under the Stars with Gregorio Luke. Beginning @ 6pm - Tickets are $30.00 - Each.

Mel Gibson Definitely Doesn't Know "What Women Want"

Be careful of what you say over the phone! Don't people know that there is such an invention as a recorder?

Mel Gibson was heard in a eight minute recording released RadarOnline.com that he hit the mother of his 8-month-old daughter Oksana Grigorieva.

Purportedly a phone argument between Gibson and Oksana, voice sounding distinctively like him, was heard telling his then girlfriend that she "deserved" to be hit after she chastised him for punching her in the face and breaking two of her teeth.

"What kind of a man is that?" she was heard saying. "Hitting a woman when she's holding a child in her hands? Breaking her teeth twice in the face! What kind of man is that?"

"Oh, you're all angry now!" Gibson allegedly responds. "You know what, you ... (expletive) deserved it!"

Alan Nierob, a spokesman for Gibson, declined comment on the tape. [of course]

The former couple have been locked in a bitter custody dispute in Los Angeles. The 40-year-old singer has accused Gibson of domestic violence, prompting sheriff's officials to launch an investigation. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said investigators will evaluate the recordings.

He said there was no timeframe for the inquiry to be concluded.

Last week, a recording posted by RadarOnline.com included comments it said came from Gibson telling Grigorieva that she was dressing too provocatively and that it would be her fault if she were raped. He used the N-word at one point.

Wow Mel. Wow. I actually loved "What Women Want" but you clearly think that includes a trip to the hospital. And it seems the only "Lethal Weapon" around here is you. *que drum symbols"

Justice being served...

Six more New Orleans police officers among them Officers Kenneth Bowen, Robert Gisevius, Anthony Villavaso and former officer Robert Faulcon have been indicted in connection with the shooting deaths of two people and the wounding of four others who were walking on the Danziger Bridge a few days after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.

Also charged were two supervisors who were accused of helping cover up the incident and obstructing the investigation.

Victims were James Brissette, a 17-year-old city resident, and Ronald Madison, a 40-year-old man who suffered mental disabilities and was shot in the back. The officers opened fire on the group, who were on their way to get food and supplies from a supermarket, according to the indictment. Brissette was shot and killed while four other family members were wounded.

"Today marks an important step forward in administering justice, in healing community wounds, in improving public safety, and in restoring public trust in this city's police department," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said at a news conference in New Orleans unveiling the charges.

"We will not tolerate wrongdoing by those who are sworn to protect the public," he said.

The four officers charged with the killings could face the death penalty or life in prison. Faulcon quit the department in 2005.

The two supervisors were Arthur Kaufman and Gerard Dugue. Kaufman could face up to 120 years in prison while Dugue, who is now retired, could face up to 70 years in prison.

WHAT?! Fruit Roll-ups Aren't Good For You?!

...But they are made of fruit aren't they?

General Mills Inc. was sued on Tuesday by a Payton McClure, who is described as a "life-long consumer" of General Mills products, [who isn't] for allegedly misleading consumers about the nutritional and health qualities of its Fruit Roll-Ups.

According to the complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, General Mills does not properly disclose that its fruit products, including Fruit Roll-Ups, Fruit by the Foot and Fruit Gushers, contain partially hydrogenated oil.

The complaint said use of the oil rendered "false and misleading" marketing over the last six years that General Mills fruit snacks were "nutritious" and "healthy to consume," and thus deserved premium prices. She seeks class-action status on behalf of purchasers of the fruit snacks, compensatory and punitive damages close to $5 Million, and other remedies.

"To our knowledge, this suit has not been served," said General Mills spokeswoman Kirstie Foster.

The case is McClure v. General Mills Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 10-05015.

A 14-Year old Discusses Racial Stereotypes and Cliques in Schools

 

My 14-Year-old “little” cousin Ms. Cheyanne Akmal was published in The Orange County Register. As if her being published weren’t enough she actually wrote an amazing and insightful article about racial stereotypes. From a perspective that most adults find challenging relating to she is able to channel emotions from a place of sheer candid thought. Here is a little of her article:


[I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I stared at the bar and prepared to jump. I took my first step as I started my approach. I took another step and another. I picked up speed and jumped. I cleared 4 feet 8 inches. I had won the Eighth Grade District Girls High Jump. This was something I really worked for, something I was proud of, something special, but one guy shattered that for me – the opposing team's coach.

Four words made me ashamed of who I was: "It's because she's black." Now these words really angered me. To him I didn't win because I had talent. I didn't win because I worked really hard at this or because I am a good athlete. I won because of the color of my skin, because of the way my hair curls back, because of a stereotype. ] Read More…

I am very proud of her and also very excited for her future writing career. I love when young people are thinking and opinionated.

Happiest Place On Earth Gets Sued: Now, That's Not Happy

Woman allegedly fired for cursing, all other workers angry about additional work caused by a larger resort.

MaryAnn Hegner, bartender in Disneyland’s Lost Bar and union steward for her union, Unite Here, at the Disneyland Hotel for 23 years was fired recently. She filed a retaliation charge with the National Labor Relations Board Tuesday because she feels she was fired suddenly and without just cause. She claims she was fired Saturday when a co-worker who she does not get along with, made an allegation that Hegner used a profanity while working, an allegation Hegner denies.

Meanwhile, there will be a hearing Aug. 2 in Los Angeles on Unite Here’s complaint that workers have to do more at Disneyland Resort because of build-ons and build-ups. The workers say there’s more to do because Disney has added new mattresses, more pillows and larger sheets and that the extra chores have led to some injuries, Unite Here spokeswoman Leigh Shelton said. Disney officials say other chores have been cut out, making the work level the same.

Hegner said she believes the firing is in retaliation for her recent union involvement. “I definitely believe this has to do with my union activity,” she said. “When our rights are being violated, I speak up for myself and my coworkers.”. Union officials say Hegner’s sudden termination for the alleged use of profanity is unprecedented and violates Disney’s past practices. There was no progressive disipline, a write-up or a suspension on the first offense.

Brown said “Unite Here has a history of filing a disproportionately high number of grievances. This is just another one of their tactics to distract from the real issue that after more than two years their members still do not have a contract despite our fair and comprehensive offer.”

At the hearing, labor relations board staff will represent the union before an administrative law judge who will make a recommendation to the labor board, said Bruce Hill, assistant to the regional director for the NLRB in Los Angeles’ Region 21.

Can't Stop The Pot: Patients Fight To Stop Los Angeles From Pot-Blocking

Superior Court Judge James Chalfant denied an attempt to stop a city ordinance from shutting down 400+ medical marijuana dispensaries. He just wants Los Angeles to prove their case to do so.

City Council created an ordinance to close the doors of all the pot shops that have popped up across Los Angeles over the past several years. The law would close down over 400 dispensaries and cause roughly 130 others to have six months to meet stringent guidelines if they wished to remain open. This new Law would have gone effective as of Monday.

Not so fast Los Angeles, Attorneys for patients using medical marijuana had filed a class-action lawsuit last week, contending that the law would unconstitutionally bar patients’ access to their medicine. (Word.) Although the law only calls for dispenseries to be removed from areas that are 1000 miles radius from schools and churches, allegedly it is a violation of the rights of citizens that need access.

“I believe access to medical marijuana … is supposed to be limited,” the judge said. “It is not supposed to be freely available on the street to anyone who wants it; that was the intention of the people.”

The class action suit included over 100,000 Los Angeles residents who suffer from illnesses ranging from anxiety and menopause to lupus or AIDS, according to an article written in Los Angeles Times.

Superior Court Judge James Chalfant on Friday ordered attorneys to file additional papers on whether allowing certain dispensaries to remain open while closing others would be a violation of the equal protection clause of the California Constitution.

Hearings for the patients and the dispensaries were set for early July.