Palin Resigns as Governor of Alaska

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In a hastily arranged news conference at her home in suburban Wasilla, Palin said she will formally step down July 26. Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be inaugurated at the governor's picnic in Fairbanks. She announced that she will leave office even though she had two years left to her term.

"Many just accept that lame duck status, and they hit that road. They draw a paycheck. They kind of milk it. And I'm not going to put Alaskans through that," she said.

"I cannot stand here as your governor and allow the millions of dollars and all that time go to waste just so I can hold the title of governor," Palin concluded.

Fabulous Quotes for the Fourth of July

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July 4th, A.K.A. American Independence Day, has been described in terms that are serious, humorous, critical and glowing, resulting in some great quotations. Here are a few of my favorites:

"Any man that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and loose both." ~Benjamin Franklin

"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." ~Abraham Lincoln

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism." ~Erma Bombeck

Follow this link for more great quotes about the USA and Independence Day: Americana: The Fourth of July in Quotes

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U.S. Unemployment at 9.5% and Climbing

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More bad news for American workers, especially those in manufacturing, retail, services, and construction. The fallout from years of a depressed dollar, inflated housing, and irresponsible investing continues to pummel folks who are neither rich nor famous. U.S. companies shed 467,000 jobs in June and the national unemployment rate increased to an official 9.5 percent. According to the Labor Department, that is the highest in nearly 26 years. Services showed the sharpest drop, with 244,000 people losing their jobs in that area.

The increased layoffs are taking a tremendous toll on non-profit organizations, charities, and local municipalities that struggle to assist the unemployed. Donations to charities are also down, compounding the problem.

In all, the ranks of the unemployed swelled to 14.7 million people in June 2009. Still, there is no sign of CEOs cutting their own salaries or suspending their golf club memberships while their former employees line up for food bank handouts.

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(Photo used above from a 1929 newspaper.)

Coleman Concedes Minnesota Senate Race

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Republican Norm Coleman conceded to Democrat Al Franken in Minnesota's contested Senate race just a few minutes ago, ending a nearly eight-month re-re-recount and court fight over an election decided by only a few hundred votes. According to NPR, Coleman announced his decision at a news conference in St. Paul, hours after a unanimous Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Franken, a former "Saturday Night Live" comedian, author, and liberal commentator, should be certified the winner. Franken is now living proof that one vote does indeed count, albeit slowly.

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Has Al Franken Finally Won the Senate Race?

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The election was in November 2008. It is now the end of June 2009 and the state of Minnesota is still short one U.S. Senator. However, the end of the long-running senate race may finally be drawing near. The Minnesota Supreme Court has ordered that Democrat Al Franken be certified as the winner. Justices said Franken is entitled to the election certificate he needs to assume office. With Franken and the usual backing of two independents, Democrats will have a big enough majority to overcome Republican filibusters, assuming that the author and political rookie votes along party lines. NPR reports that Republican incumbent Norm Coleman's chances to challenge the decision are rapidly dwindling, but that he hasn't ruled out seeking federal court intervention. Meanwhile, Franken has visited the white house and hired a staff in preparation of taking office after the 4th of July weekend. This is a very long day at the races, folks. Order another hot dog.

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(Photo from Al Franken Sense)

Mummy Wraps, Tutini Cocktails, and More at SF Hotels

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In conjunction with the exhibition Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, the de Young Museum has partnered with 21 Bay Area hotels to create King Tut-inspired packages with silly names (below). The de Young is the only Tut venue north of Los Angeles and west of Dallas. When Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs opened in San Francisco on June 27, 2009, it marked the first time that the treasures of King Tut have visited Northern California since 1979. The photo at right is of a princess's chair, part of the exhibition (courtesy of King Tut press images).

Here are the ads from five of the 21 hotels. There are some good deals here, and also the very silly names.

• Hilton San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf—The Golden Chariot Tut package includes overnight deluxe accommodations, complimentary breakfast, complimentary parking and VIP tickets to the exhibition for $184.
• W San Francisco—An artful getaway for two, the W’s premium King Tut experience includes hip overnight accommodations, two “Tutini” signature cocktails at the XYZ bar, a “mummified” Bliss Spa Hot Salt Scrub or Shrink Wrap treatment, complimentary parking, and an upgrade to the next room type from $450.
• The St. Regis—The King Tut Platinum package includes overnight accommodations, a $100 dining credit that can be used at restaurants Ame and Vitrine or for in-room dining, two VIP exhibition tickets, overnight parking and a complimentary upgrade to the next room type from $499 per night.
• Hotel Palomar—Hotel Palomar’s Pharaohs Indulgence package includes a two-night stay in a deluxe suite, a luxurious “Mummy Wrap” Spa Treatment at the Burke Williams Spa, two VIP exhibition tickets, an exhibition catalogue and a champagne-and-strawberries welcome amenity for $670.
• Joie de Vivre—This favorite California hotelier offers two packages available at all 21 Bay Area properties in San Francisco, Marin and the East Bay. The Bad to the Bone package includes a one-night stay 
in a standard guestroom with two VIP tickets to the exhibition. The Suite Fit for a King package is perfect for families traveling to see the 
exhibit—guests will enjoy a larger guestroom, plus two VIP tickets to the exhibition.

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US Supreme Court Overturns Discrimination Ruling

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Racial discrimination can manifest itself in many ways. The United States Supreme Court ruled that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race. The city of New Haven, Conn., violated the rights of 20 firefighters when it threw out a promotion exam because too many white people and not enough minorities qualified, the Supreme Court ruled Monday. The Supreme Court justices decided in a 5-4 vote that the city had violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, reversing a previous appellate court decision.

"Fear of litigation alone cannot justify an employer's reliance on race to the detriment of individuals who passed the examinations and qualified for promotions," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority's opinion. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas agreed. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, David Souter and John Paul Stevens dissented, writing that the white firefighters "understandably attract this court's sympathy. But they had no vested right to promotion. Nor have other persons received promotions in preference to them."

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Bernie Madoff Sentenced to 150 Years

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U.S. District Court Judge Denny Chin sentenced Bernard Madoff, 71, to 150 years in prison on Monday for perpetrating Wall Street's biggest and most brazen investment fraud. Judge Chin called the the scope of Bernard Madoff's fraud "staggering" and handed down the most severe sentence allowed by law, ensuring that Madoff will pay for his crimes by spending the rest of his life behind bars. Sadly, the sentence cannot reimburse those he robbed.
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Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs

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Are you looking for something fun and educational to do in San Francisco this summer? Look no further than the latest National Geographic exhibition at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park: Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. The San Francisco Chronicle gave it a scathing review, but I had an opportunity to see the the exhibition last week and enjoyed it. Telling and showing the history of Tut's family and brief reign, I thought it struck a nice balance between shiny artifacts and information. Granted, there was a total lack of information about how Tut died, although there is enough evidence now for Egyptologists to agree on a reasonable theory. Also, the exhibition does not mention how badly the Carter expedition damaged Tut's mummy when they found it. But those issues do not need to be part of this impressive display of ancient Egyptian artwork, life, culture, and bling.

The boy king only reigned from the age of 9 until his sudden death at the age of 19, but his understated tomb at the bottom of the Valley of the Kings was one of the most intact and complete ever discovered. The photo to the right is of gold statues of Tut as ruler of both upper and lower Egypt, and is posted here with permission of the de Young via official press release.

What? Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs
Where? DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California
Tickets? http://www.tutsanfrancisco.org/
The Best? Carefully preserved artifacts from the tomb, including a little ebony and ivory chair that Tut probably sat in as a child, audio tour narration by Omar Sharif, and benches for weary museum patrons.
The Worst? Lines that are well-organized, but long. This is a popular event. Buy your tickets in advance and get there at least 1/2 an hour before the time on your ticket.

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Unexpected Japanese Cuisine

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Foreign residents and visitors to Japan who stray from the beaten paths and escape from the tourist spots often find themselves faced with some unexpected foods. Japan holds many secrets, such as corn pizza, that don't appear in travel brochures. Corn pizza was not invented in Japan, but this is a story of how food continuously travels the world and changes its stripes. Fusion cuisine has been around since long before it had a stylish name, so let me tell you about the food that has found its way to one of the most rural, out-of-the-way corners of southern Japan (including corn pizza). Click the link below to read the entire essay. Enjoy!

Corn Pizza...And Other Japanese Cuisine