On Sunday, March 20th, attended another wonderful Marianne Williamson lecture at the Covenant House in Manhattan. [This woman is brilliant and I so recommend checking out her website at http://www.marianne.com/] Actually I arrived 25 minutes late due the continually messed up, corrupt NYC mass transit system. Anyhow … Marianne gave a terrific lecture and connected it with Palm Sunday theme. [I purchased several of her lecture CDs.] During the gospel singer segment, as well as the long Q&A segment, we at the NYC DoP table did brisk business with interested folk. People took flyers, asked questions, purchased t-shirts/buttons and signed up on our mailing list. Those from NYC DoP, who were there: Carol, Karen, Ellen, Liz, Maria and I. [Always a pleasure seeing my fellow DoP board members.] Marianne’s next appearance at Covenant House is slated for April 10th.
Next day, at lunch time, had a dentist appointment for cleaning and X-rays. [Commentary on this topic will be brief, as I loath going to the dentist as do most folk.]
Received several mail deliveries around this time of goodies I’d ordered online. Several DVDs [ie: Lady Chatterley, Sense & Sensibility and Le Femme Musketeer] and a few Bernard Cornwell SHARPE short stories. Also, my Pearl Jam MF friend [Michelle] sent me the “Three Fish – The Quiet Table” on vinyl. Which I have in CD format, but on the vinyl there are a few bonus songs. WooHoo! So very happy with all my new wonderful goodies.
Wednesday, March 23rd, turned into a busy evening. Started off with a NYC Dept of Peace Strategy Committee conference call at 5:45pm, of which I conducted at the office. Covered items I’d found on DoP Activists listserve. I left office around 6:20pm to attend a free documentary [Hotel Palestine – Killing the Witness] screening at the Unitarian Church of All Souls. Was invited by fellow Kucitizen Stephanie and hung out with another Kucitizen [Linda G]. A brief description of what the movie is about … “On April 8, 2003, the same day it bombed the Al Jazeera offices killing one of its journalists, a US military tank fired on the Palestine Hotel and killed two more journalists. Was this intentional? The family of Spanish journalist Jose Couso, who died in the attack on the hotel, presents a compelling case in this 50 minute film that his death was NO accident.” Also at the event was “Democracy Now” Amy Goodman and Jose Couso’s brother. [The latter spoke eloquently and with much feeling.] I highly recommend others see this documentary, because the facts speak the truth and the US Military, along with US government, are shown in their true light. Evil, corrupt, no compassion and total disregard for all of mankind, as well as the environment.
The weekend of March 25th through 27th I spent with family in upstate NY for Easter holiday. Helped out Mom, as she was laid up from surgery on her foot, and couldn’t get around the house too well. Dad was having troubles with his sciatica, plus I wanted to give him a break from taking care of Mom. Other things I did over the weekend … hairdresser appointment, yard work, shop for new bed linens/stereo system, watched some cable TV, etc.
On Tuesday, March 29th, I learned there was to be a National DoP conference call at 9pm, which I participated in and it was most informative. Also, my new stereo system [turntable came separately], which I purchased in upstate NY over Easter weekend, was delivered via UPS delivery to my apartment. Yippee! I can listen to my vinyl once again. Oh happy day! My old stereo system was given to me as Xmas gift by my parents back in 1990. Only part of that old stereo working in last year or so was the radio. Yep, it was time to retire and move onward. Now I need to save up the bucko’s and purchase a new computer for my home. This will take awhile……
On March 30th, via postal delivery, I received “Sharpe’s Tiger” [by Bernard Cornwell] audio cassettes.
Which I ordered via Amazon.com in the UK. Why the UK and not US? Cause there I was able to find the cassettes that were narrated by the very talented British actor Sean Bean. In my past ramblings one may recall me mentioning that Sean Bean played Sharpe in the TV series.
GOOD JOURNALISM AND THE TRUTH IS WHAT WE AMERICANS NEED ... NOT THIS CONSTANT SPIN OF FAKE CORPORATE NEWS MEDIA ... HAVING SAID THAT ... BELOW IS SOME GOOD JOURNALISM
GOODBYE TO ALL THAT OIL
Stan Cox, AlterNet
The peak oil idea -- which says that world oil production will go into irreversible decline sometime in the next decade or two -- is quickly morphing into conventional wisdom.
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/21588/
CURVEBALL THE GOOFBALL
Maureen Dowd, NY Times
It is absurd to have yet another investigation into the chuckleheaded assessments on Saddam's phantom W.M.D. that intentionally skirts how the $40 billion-a-year intelligence was molded and manufactured to fit the ideological schemes of those running the White House and Pentagon. As the commission's co-chairman, Laurence Silberman, put it: "Our executive order did not direct us to deal with the use of intelligence by policy makers, and all of us were agreed that that was not part of our inquiry." Huh? That's like an investigation into steroids in baseball that looks only at the drug companies, not the players who muscled up. We don't need a 14-month inquiry producing 601 pages at a cost of $10 million to tell us the data on arms in Iraq was flawed. We know that. When we got over there, we didn't find any.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0403-27.htm
THE CULTURE OF LIFE TOP TEN
Michael Blanding, AlterNet
At minimum, a true "culture of life" would support these ten positions.
http://www.alternet.org/story/21660/
PAPAL LEGACY: QUESTIONING CAPITALISM
Marcin Krol, TomPaine.com
The death of the Pope John Paul II was not unexpected, and his immense influence on the modern world will be judged and commented on by everybody who thinks that he has something to say. Before explaining one of the less known aspects of his teaching, it should be emphasized that one of the comments that is now being heard repeatedly is based either on stupidity or on a lack of understanding of what the Catholic Church is about: the charge that the Pope was and is “conservative” is nonsense. John Paul II was undoubtedly conservative when he commented on Catholic dogma, but the institution of the Catholic Church is based on the Ten Commandments and dogmas which cannot be changed. Being truthful and faithful to what is the bedrock of Church teaching cannot be deemed conservative.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0404-33.htm
WAL-MART'S CULTURE OF CRIME AND GREED
Jonathan Tasini, TomPaine.com
Manipulation, greed and wrongdoing in the name of profit are as much a part of the Wal-Mart business model as are those low, low prices.
http://www.alternet.org/story/21658/
BETWEEN FACT AND FICTION
Mitra Ebadolahi, AlterNet
The hit show 'Alias' may make for rollicking good television, but how realistic is its portrayal of the CIA?
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/21661/
FORGETTING AFGHANISTAN AGAIN
Sonali Kolhatkar, AlterNet
Laura Bush's visit to Afghanistan focused media attention on the still-struggling country. But not a single news article dared to question her empty talk of solidarity with Afghan women.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/21657/
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