Roller Derby Rocks!

Remember those raucous roller rag chicks of the 70's? Well Roller Derby has had a resurgence in the last few years and the heat is on. The LA Derby Dolls all-star team, The Ri-ettes, met The Iron Curtain from Tuscon Arizona last weekend at the Doll Factory here in Los Angeles. Players like Titty Titty Bang Bang and my fav, Lace N' Arsenic, strap on to throw down the likes of Helen Wheels and Psycho Babble on the famed bank track. Unlike the 1970's games which appeared to be nothing short of that phony baloney wresting nonsense this is a real game with real rules and jam-packed action. My friend and I were lucky to get a spot at the railing to hold on and enjoy the ride. The game (surprisingly) attracts people from all demographics - hipsters, punks, old white men, couples, birthday celebration-ers, and everybody else. It's an awesome representation of how the world's inhabitants should coexist.

All members of the nationwide teams, crews, staff, announcers, doctors, etc. are volunteers. In fact like so many other amateur sports teams the players actually pay dues. And they come up with some pretty funny names. Gori Spelling, # 90210 on her jersey, was befitting for our town. And then there was Laguna Beyatch in the house proppin' for the O.C. The rules of the game are quite simple and clear. In an hour of total play - four 15 minute quarters - each play is called a jam, up to 60 seconds in length as determined by the lead jammer. The blockers, 5 girls from each team, try to prevent the jammers, one from each team from scoring points. Points are scored as the lead jammer, the first girl who gets around the rink once, passes the opposing team's blockers. This particular game was a bloodbath with a final score of 176 (LA) to 85 (Tuscon). In fairness, it was announced that this was the 1st game the Iron Curtain had played on a bank track, so not a bad showing in all consideration. There's a live band at half time out in the parking lot where plenty of gourmet food trucks wait to serve. Beer and wine is sold but bring plenty o' dough 'cause nothing's cheap, except admission ($20). Check it out. From slingshots and body checks to tripping and skidding it's a riotous event of tough chicks slamming each other that won't disappoint.

California Senate Debate '10

The state of California is in a state of flux. We're broke, can't pass a budget, unemployment is in double digits - 12.2 % as of June 2010 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - and it's an election year. My instinctive reaction is to fire every incumbent, as they are obviously incompetent in their jobs and let the new crop give it a go. Up for grabs is the governor's position and the junior senate seat currently occupied by Barbara Boxer, a career politician. She's "served" the people of California since 1993. Her feminist record is one of liberalism and credited with being a stauch leader on many a noteworthy project. However, if you look closely at her voting record she is a spendthrift and given our current state of affairs I would consider this record less of a service than a disservice. At this stage of the game I think fiscal conservatism is in order. It's time to guard the purse and stop squandering the precious little resources we have. Stop regarding business as the enemy and running them out of the state with tax impositions and regulation. We need a level-headed problem solver rather than an idealistic, partisan egoist.

I have always been an independent thinker and have never been registered as anything other than an independent voter though, if labeled, I consider myself socially liberal and fiscally conservative. It's time we install persons to represent our interests with some business acumen. Someone who understands responsibility, accountability and consequences. Boxer has been complicit in all our political crises in recent years simply by being on the role if not her direct vote. I've never warmed to her views so I admit I'm somewhat biased going in but after listening to the debate between her and Carly Fiorina the other night I believe the choice IS clear, as Boxer trumpeted throughout, and that is we should boot the bitch out; her and her 18 years of pandering and let someone with real-world sensibilities reign.

California is one of, if not thee, critical state in the union. What happens here sets the precedent for succession federally, and globally I might add. Plus, as a border state, we have some unique issues. Boxer is just too reckless when it comes to spending frivolity. Check her voting record on the issues that matter to you. I'd rather put my money on the woman who ran a company than the one who helped run California into the ground.