Wednesday, December 28, 2011

DECEMBER NEWS

Revolutions Don’t Happen in a Day – 5 Ways OWS Can Stay Powerful and Truly Build a Movement
Yotam Marom, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153529/revolutions_don%27t_happen_in_a_day%3A_5_ways_ows_can_stay_powerful_and_truly_build_a_movement?akid=8033.9992.R1aP5x&rd=1&t=24

Our Rallying Cry Should Be, “We Own Wall Street and We Can Stop Corporate America’s Worst Behavior”
Eliot Spitzer, Slate
http://www.alternet.org/story/153535/eliot_spitzer%3A_our_rallying_cry_should_be_%22we_own_wall_street%2C_and_we_can_stop_corporate_america%27s_worst_behavior%22?akid=8033.9992.R1aP5x&rd=1&t=2

GOP Voter Suppression Plan – Seven Tactics to Block Your Vote in 2012
Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153509/gop_voter_suppression_plan%3A_seven_tactics_to_block_your_vote_in_2012?akid=8039.9992._LDQyk&rd=1&t=2

How Can the World’s Richest Country Let Children go Hungry? 6 Tricks Corporate Elites Use to Hoard ALL the Wealth
Les Leopold, AlterNet
America is filthy rich, but the money is hidden away by the 1% while poverty rises all around.
http://www.alternet.org/story/153531/how_can_the_world%27s_richest_country_let_children_starve_6_tricks_corporate_elites_use_to_hoard_all_the_wealth?akid=8044.9992.c3EnyH&rd=1&t=5

The 99% Versus Wall Street – Stephen Lerner on How We Can Mobilize to be the Greedy 1%’s Worst Nightmare
Sarah Jaffe, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153541/the_99_versus_wall_street%3A_stephen_lerner_on_how_we_can_mobilize_to_be_the_greedy_1%27s_worst_nightmare?akid=8044.9992.c3EnyH&rd=1&t=2

10 Winning Moments for the 99% in 2011
Sarah Jaffe, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153548/10_winning_moments_for_the_99_in_2011?akid=8055.9992.oU7047&rd=1&t=5

7 of the Nastiest Scams, Rip-Offs and Tricks from Wall Street Crooks
Dave Johnson, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153530/7_of_the_nastiest_scams%2C_rip-offs_and_tricks_from_wall_street_crooks?akid=8055.9992.oU7047&rd=1&t=2

The Dark Side of Reforestation Programs – Planting 7,000 Trees a Day in Brutal Conditions
Brittany Shoot, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153442/the_dark_side_of_reforestation_programs%3A_planting_7%2C000_trees_a_day_in_brutal_conditions?akid=8053.9992.E7w2Js&rd=1&t=27

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF "Brooklyn for Peace" ON DEC 16th


























CHRISTMAS UP AT THE FAMILY HOMESTEAD [Dec 23 to 26]


















Sunday, December 18, 2011

ABIT OF NEWS TO ROCK YOUR WORLD

Bail-Out Bombshell: Fed “Emergency” Bank Rescue Totaled $29 Trillion Over Three Years
Andres Felkerson, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153462/bail-out_bombshell%3A_fed_%22emergency%22_bank_rescue_totaled_%2429_trillion_over_three_years?akid=8002.9992.BHecgm&rd=1&t=2

Ehrenreich: The Truth Exposed by Occupy Shows that the Real Elites are the Thieves of the 1%, not the Liberals of Conservative Myth
Barbara & John Ehrenreich, The Nation
http://www.alternet.org/story/153452/ehrenreich%3A_the_truth_exposed_by_occupy_shows_that_the_real_elites_are_the_thieves_of_the_1%2C_not_the_liberals_of_conservative_myth?akid=8002.9992.BHecgm&rd=1&t=5

NO, The U.S. is NOT Leaving Iraq
Justin Elliott, World News Daily ICH
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30020.htm

The Best, Worst and Most Overlooked Food Stories of 2011
Ari LeVaux, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153473/the_best%2C_worst_and_most_overlooked_food_stories_of_2011?akid=8014.9992.ukud9C&rd=1&t=2

Obama Reverses Himself: Administration Won’t Veto ‘Global Battlefield’ Indefinite Detentions Measure
Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153450/obama_reverses_himself%3A_administration_won%27t_veto_%27global_battlefield%27_indefinite_detentions_measure?akid=8003.9992.F0X-Pw&rd=1&t=5

The Fracking Industry Has Bought Off Congress – Here are the Worst Offenders
Scott Thill, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153467/the_fracking_industry_has_bought_off_congress%3A_here_are_the_worst_offenders?akid=8014.9992.ukud9C&rd=1&t=8

6 Stories That You May Have Missed From the Occupy Movement
Lauren Kelley, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153472/6_stories_that_you_may_have_missed_from_the_occupy_movement_?akid=8014.9992.ukud9C&rd=1&t=5

Obama: A Disaster for Civil Liberties
Los Angeles Times Op-Ed
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-turley-civil-liberties-20110929,0,7542436.story

Friday, December 16, 2011

"NYC FRIENDS OF TOLKIEN" Gather on Dec 10th to Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the London Premiere of "Fellowship of the Ring" at a members home in Manhattan























Tuesday, December 06, 2011

LATEST IN THE NEWS

6 Shocking Revelations About Wall Street’s “Secret Government”
Les Leopold, AlterNet
Top officials willfully concealed the true extent of the 2008/2009 bailouts from Congress and the public.
http://www.alternet.org/story/153274/6_shocking_revelations_about_wall_street%27s_secret_government?akid=7928.9992.tbdq9Z&rd=1&t=2

Thanks to Nurses Union and Occupy Wall Street, Pressure for Wall Street Speculation Tax Grows
Sarah Jaffe, AtlerNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153276/thanks_to_nurses_union_and_occupy_wall_street%2C_pressure_for_wall_street_speculation_tax_grows?akid=7928.9992.tbdq9Z&rd=1&t=15

Our Right to Privacy has Been Systematically Shrunk. What’s Left?
Patricia J. Williams, The Nation
http://www.alternet.org/story/153233/our_right_to_privacy_has_been_systematically_shrunk._what%27s_left?akid=7933.9992.eTUuFw&rd=1&t=8

What if They Sent in Social Services to Help Occupations Instead of Riot Cops to Bust Heads?
Joshua Holland, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153257/what_if_they_sent_in_social_services_to_help_occupations_instead_of_riot_cops_to_bust_heads?akid=7933.9992.eTUuFw&rd=1&t=15

GOP Eager to Squelch Student Voters
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/742938/gop_eager_to_squelch_student_voters/#paragraph3

Zuccotti Park’s Owners Owe New York City $139,000 in Back Taxes
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/743421/zuccotti_park%27s_owners_owe_new_york_city_%24139%2C000_in_back_taxes/#paragraph4

20 Ways the Obama Administration Has Intruded on Your Rights
Bill Quigley, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153283/20_ways_the_obama_administration_has_intruded_on_your_rights?akid=7939.82266.jXaZ8n&rd=1&t=15

Monday, December 05, 2011

PERSONAL NEWS #202

Thursday, Nov 3rd, I had an appt with my foot doctor, and afterwards headed into Brooklyn for the monthly BFP board meeting.

Saturday, Nov 5th, I hosted a HP/LOTR/GofT gathering at Casa Charlene which started shortly after 3pm and ended around 9:30pm. Really good gathering and enjoyed it so much with Linda, Debbie, Margaret, Jenna, Carole, Beth and Sam. We partook of wine, delicious food, had a fun raffle and the diverse conversations were great. Some of them got abit passionate; especially regarding the “relationship” between Aunt Petunia and Harry. Afterwards Sam stuck around to help me clean up the apt, and over tea we discussed photography and other interesting topics. Hum, if I’d been feeling 100% better, well, he’d never have left that night. [wink wink]

Sunday, Nov 6th, I watched part of the NYC marathon, which goes through my neighborhood as it heads towards Queens. Another sunny day though abit on the cool side. Early in the afternoon I headed over to WORD to talk with Jenn [event coordinator] about an event that BFP A&C committee will be hosting end of January 2012 at the bookstore.

Monday evening, Nov 7th, I did abit of volunteering at the WCW national office helping out with a large mailing.

Tuesday evening, Nov 8th, I hosted the 4th meeting of the BFP A&C committee at Casa Charlene, and it was quite productive.

Wednesday, Nov 9th, I took a personal day from work so that I could go to doctor appts in my neighborhood. The furballs were hurling fast and furious in the AM, but by the PM less so with new meds I am on. Was suppose to attend the BFP PF committee meeting in the evening at 7pm, but due to the side effects of the cough syrup with Codeine, well, I had to participate via conf call.

Thursday evening, Nov 10th, I did abit of volunteering at the WCW national office helping out with a large mailing.

Weekend of Nov 12/13 ... wasn’t particularly exciting for me, as I had to cancel plans due to continued illness and stay home. This meant I missed out on seeing the Quidditch World Cup #V at Randall’s Island, but the NYC HP team did really well. I did purchase the final HP film [DH2] on Saturday and watched it several times over the weekend, plus get a much needed pedicure and take care of BFP responsibilities.

Monday, Nov 14th, I took a vacation day from work so that I could go to doctor appts in my neighborhood. Had many tests done and the chest/lung X-ray came back not looking too bad, though Richheimer said Abbot would be able to make a better diagnosis during my upcoming Friday appt. We are still awaiting the test results for stomach sonogram, blood work and urine sample. I am now on Maalox and Omeprazole for this friggin “acid reflux”, which is wreaking havoc on my stomach. Need to suppress it or cure it, so that I can eat bland food and keep it down. How exciting ... not!

Friday, Nov 18th, I had a follow up appt with my lung specialist [Abbot] and learned the previous lung infection is gone, but has been replaced with a mild case of pneumonia, plus I am still experiencing acid reflux. So have new antibiotics to zap the pneumonia and stay indoors all weekend. Just as well, cause dang; it was a windy and cold evening. [Plus, stayed in over the weekend for some much needed R&R, plus had to cancel commitments due to health.] Around 9:30pm that same evening, I participated in the BFP A&C committee conference call regarding our upcoming event at BC on Dec 6th. It’s shaping up quite nicely.

Tuesday, Nov 22nd, I had a follow up appt with my lung doctor, and he said I was improving, but still needed to take it easy over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Friday – Sunday, Nov 25 / 27, I spent the remainder of the Thanksgiving weekend up at my parents homestead in upstate NY. Mom and I watched the “Indiana Jones” movie trilogy marathon on the 26th, plus a mini marathon of “The Big Bang Theory” episodes. I got my hair done at salon, plus a wee bit of Xmas shopping at local, small businesses, plus, on the 25th, we visited my brother and sister-in-law in Schenectady. Other than that, the rest of the time there was very laid back and low key.