PERSONAL NEWS – Part XXVII

On Wednesday, June 30th, I phoned up Bud [Kucinich & Jereski campaign volunteer] and we decided to meet up at 86th Street cinema around 6:30pm. Bud had the petitions and I brought many copies of the Jereski flyers/Queens article/Bio/etc. Bud focused on the cinema's box office ticket line and he worked it terrifically. By the time I left shortly after 8pm, he had about 4 petition pages filled up. Dude owned that line! I worked the other side of the cinema and got signatures, plus handed out lots of flyers et al. Ran into a variety of folk from the neighborhood, foreigners [ie: New Zealand, Australia, Germany, etc] and folk from other areas of NYC. I engaged in several long and in depth conversations; not only on the new Michael Moore film, but world events, Jereski campaign and naturally politics. The nice weather we had helped out a lot, compared to the down pour effect from last Friday. People were far more receptive this time around.

Thursday, July 1st, was the Kucinich Meetup and held at Skylight Diner on Westside of Manhattan. I arrived a few minutes after 7pm to find only one other person [Tom W] waiting and after a brief discussion, we decided to get a table for 6 people. [Tom had attended the previous meetup.] There was suppose to be 8 people attending the meetup, but in the end there was only 3 of us. After sitting down and getting glasses of ice water from a reluctant waiter, Tom and I talked about current events. Then a nice chap [George] showed up and asked if we were the meetup group. Naturally we both said “yes” and chatted for abit, before realizing he was there for a different meetup. Something to do with PDP, a computer program sort of like HTML. George went off in search of his “meetup”. [Later on I gave him my business card, as there was something about him I really liked.] Shortly afterwards a middle-age woman [Bernadette] arrived and the three of us ordered vegetarian chili to nosh on. I got the feeling that she wasn’t into the meetup and wanted to be elsewhere. We discussed what Kucinich was working on in conjunction with upcoming DNC, plus other political topics. Shortly after 8pm Bernadette left and it was just Tom and I. We talked on a number of topics before paying the bill. While up at the cashier I noticed that George was still there, but sadly the rest of his meetup group didn’t show up. Tom and I learned that he is new to NYC area and from VT. Told him about lots of cool, fun, free things to do in NYC in the summer; like going to see “Shakespeare in the Park” & a variety of events in Prospect Park. It wasn’t the greatest meetup, but then again it wasn’t a flop.

On the morning of July 2nd I headed up to my parents place in upstate NY for the long July 4th holiday. [E&Y gave us employees July 2nd & 5th off. Sweet!] The experience at Port Authority and bus ride up to Albany was part enjoyable, plus annoying. First bus left at 8:15am and then usually they bring another around right away for rest of passengers. This time they seemed to forget about us and didn’t have a damn bus until almost 8:50am. When we took off close to 9am, I realized our driver was abit incompetent. It became more obvious to the other passengers as the ride progressed up to Albany. Damn driver took us on a mini tour of northern NJ before getting to Route 87. Halfway up on the ride I got to chat with Dennis and Jennifer, who sat behind me. Jennifer is a young gal traveling from England to be a summer camp counselor in upstate NY and Dennis is a retired bus/truck driver. We had some good laughs on many a topic and it took my mind off the incompetent driver. As to him, the moron passed our exit into Albany. Unbelievable! Got off at next exit, hit lots of traffic and he asked for directions at the Toll Booth. By this time several of us passengers are yelling at him, plus giving him the correct directions. One chap yelled out “your fired”! A ride that should take no more than 2 ½ hours ended up being over 3 hours. I felt badly for those passengers who had to make connections in Albany, plus my parents had been waiting an hour. Mon dieu! Mom was waiting for me at the gate and watched my bags, so that I could lodge a formal complaint at the terminal office. I wasn’t the only one, another female passenger also bitched about the driver. Girl Power!

After dropping Dad off at the golf course, Mom and I had lunch out at a very charming country café. Then it was off to Saratoga Springs and a leisure tour of the delightful “Gardens at Yaddo”. [Located on Union Avenue (Route 9P) just west of Exit 14 off the Northway (I-87) in Saratoga Springs. The website URL is ... www.yaddo.org] The roses were in glorious bloom and there scent was divine. There are statues, a terrace, pergola, rock gardens, fountains, benches, sundial and it’s all free to the public. We had such a lovely time and I took lots of photos. Did some shopping afterwards and then home to relax.

Will have more “personal news” over next day or so. Stay tuned……………

Kucinich statement on the selection of John Edwards for VP
Upon hearing the news that Senator Kerry has chosen North Carolina Senator John Edwards as his running mate, Congressman Dennis Kucinich issued the following statement: "Today is a good day for the Democrats. John Edwards is a friend and a colleague. He is an excellent choice and will be a tremendous asset to Democrats from the top of the ticket on down."

California Governor Asking Opinion on Ferret Bill!

I recently heard that the Governor's office is asking the publics opinion on our ferret amnesty bill. I absolutely urge you all to call in your support for this bill as soon as possible. Follow the prompts and select the one that asks for you opinion on legislation. I just called but I want you all to listen carefully in case it changes. To respond to legislation, press #2, then listen for SB 89, press #3, then to support SB 89 press #1. Please have all of your friends and family call in. This is, I believe good news but we must answer this loud and clear! The Governor's number is: 916 445-2841. Don't let this unique opportunity to be heard by the Governor's Office go by!

Some folks from out of state have asked if they should call, and I don't see what's wrong with that. If you plan to move or visit CA this will affect you too someday. But, we absolutely MUST have Californians call so if you live in CA, or have friends and/or family in California, please have them call as soon as possible! If you have a web site please post this information. If you have an e-mail list, please forward this information. We need as much exposure as we can get!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM TRUE MAJORITY - New York to Host 1 of 18 Rallies by National Coalition Representing 3 Million Americans

Come Out and Show Your Commitment to Verifiable Elections. The national attention to computer voting glitches and the need to ensure verifiable voting has really grown, and election officials are feeling the heat. TrueMajority is into the next phase of the "Computer Ate My Vote" campaign, bringing together a coalition including MoveOn, Howard Dean's Democracy for America, Common Cause, Working Assets, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, VerifiedVoting.org, and distinguished computer experts. We will hold a National Day of Action on TUESDAY, JULY 13. At coordinated news events across the country, citizens like you-representing over three million Americans-will present petitions to the chief election officials of eighteen states, including New York.

We'll ask the election officials to adopt the "Pledge of Ballot Integrity," which commits them to providing voters with verifiable paper ballots this coming Election Day. That paper backup will ensure that, even if computer glitches lose or change election data, the votes will be properly counted and recounts will be possible for contested outcomes. To add your name to the petition for presentation on July 13, click Reply and Send in your e-mail program (if you're a TrueMajority member) or, if this was forwarded to you, click here: http://action.truemajority.org/ctt.asp?u=380807&l=680action=10178&ms=doa1&ref=380807