Friday, January 27, 2012

FRIDAY Jan 27, 6:30 to 8:00 pm ... Join BFP at the WORD Bookstore in Greenpoint!

The WORD on PEACE

Evening of music, poetry, and spoken-word performances

Presenting: Jan Clausen (Novelist, poet, and professor); Anya Skidan (Greenpoint musician); Rafiq Kathwari (writer/poet and member of Occupy Wall Street’s poetry group); and Susan Metz (poet and Latin America activist)

Location: 126 Franklin Street near Greenpoint Ave (short walk: see map on our website http://www.brooklynpeace.org/)

Sponsor: Brooklyn For Peace Arts & Culture Task Force

Train: G to Greenpoint Ave (at Manhattan) (Transfer from A/C at Hoyt Schermerhorn, from the F at Bergen St, or from L at Lorimer St/Metropolitan Ave)

Admission and Refreshments are Free

This will be a fun event, as well as a great time to support BFP burgeoning Arts & Culture Task Force! Event will be from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, after which you can enjoy the WORD bookstore, as well as check out restaurants and the general ambiance of Greenpoint.
QUOTE OF THE DAY “When you take a bite of an apple that’s not ripe, perhaps even bitter, the problem isn’t with the apple; the problem is we didn’t wait for the tree to get to the place where the apple is ripe. It’s our timing that is the problem, not the apple itself, nor the tree. This is a powerful message for us, because it makes clear that the only real problem we have is that our process is not yet complete. That means we cannot beat ourselves up because we’re angry, sad or depressed, or because we haven’t reached our goals or benchmarks. We’re just a work in progress. We are the fruit not yet ripe for the picking. Would you cut down a tree because it gives unripe apples? No. You would be patient and have trust in the process.” - YEHUDA BERG

Monday, January 23, 2012

FIRST OFFICIAL SNOWFALL OF WINTER IN BROOKLYN























LATEST IN THE NEWS

The Corporate State Will Be Broken
Chris Hedges, Truthdig / Op-Ed
http://www.truth-out.org/chris-hedges-corporate-state-will-be-broken/1327331237

How Can Communities Defend Themselves From Corporate Interests?
Rose Aguilar, Truthout / Report
http://www.truth-out.org/how-can-communities-defend-themselves-corporate-interests/1327072431

Quote of the Day“Voting will not alter the corporate systems of power. Voting is an act of political theater. Voting in the United States is as futile and sterile as in the elections I covered as a reporter in dictatorships like Syria, Iran and Iraq. There were always opposition candidates offered up by these dictatorships. Give the people the illusion of choice. Throw up the pretense of debate. Let the power elite hold public celebrations to exalt the triumph of popular will. We can vote for Romney or Obama, but Goldman Sachs and ExxonMobil and Bank of America and the defense contractors always win." - Chris Hedges [journalist & writer]

The Saga of Vermont Yankee – Nuclear Power in the US: a Rigged System
Karl Grossman, Counterpunch
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/01/23/nuclear-power-in-the-us-a-rigged-system/

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Quote of the Day ... "The biggest problem humanity faces isn’t the value of the dollar or the yen; it’s the value of the self. If we don’t think we are someone special, if we are too tough on ourselves, how can we ever expect to accomplish that which we were born to do? If we don’t realize how capable we are, how can we ever expect to make a difference in the world? Without knowing our true value, life is going to be full of chaos. Why? Because we are creating a self-fulfilling, self-limiting prophecy. Today, know you’ve been given everything you need to succeed." - Yehuda Berg

Friday, January 20, 2012

CRAYONS


OR


SHARPIES


My Livingroom


in coloring


book processing

Monday, January 16, 2012

Sunday, January 15, 2012

THE LATEST IN NEWS

Tanks, SWAT Teams, Surveillance Helicopters – Cities Already Turning into Mini-Police States for the Political Conventions
Rania Khalek, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153730/tanks%2C_swat_teams%2C_surveillance_helicopters%3A_cities_already_turning_into_mini-police_states_for_the_political_conventions?akid=8115.9992.aqHOsM&rd=1&t=5

Barricades Come Down at Zuccotti Park, Protesters Re-Occupy
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/761266/barricades_come_down_at_zuccotti_park%2C_protesters_re-occupy/#paragraph4

Tumultuous Times for Democracy Compelled Moyers' Return to TV http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/01/10-1

Why the New Hampshire Primary is an Elaborate Reality Show Designed for National Media
Adele M. Stan, AtlerNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153721/why_the_new_hampshire_primary_is_an_elaborate_reality_show_designed_for_national_media?akid=8105.9992.QmKeJW&rd=1&t=8

Quote of the DaySome days we will be happier than others. And some periods of time we will be more successful than other times. The key to real success is to be the best you can be in any situation, and never assume you’ve arrived.Yehuda Berg

The 20 Biggest Donors of the 2012 Election (So Far)
Dave Gilson & Gavin Aronsen, Mother Jones
http://www.alternet.org/story/153728/the_20_biggest_donors_of_the_2012_election_%28so_far%29?akid=8115.9992.aqHOsM&rd=1&t=8

America Isn’t a Corporation
Paul Krugman, NYTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/opinion/krugman-america-isnt-a-corporation.html?_r=3&smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc_id=OP-E-FB-SM-LIN-AIC-011312-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

Fracking on Shaky Ground – How Our Latest Fossil Fuel Addiction is Linked to Earthquakes
Scott Thill, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153717/fracking_on_shaky_ground%3A_how_our_latest_fossil_fuel_addiction_is_linked_to_earthquakes?akid=8105.9992.QmKeJW&rd=1&t=5

5 Founding Fathers Whose Skepticism About Christianity Would Make Them Unelectable Today
Rob Boston, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/153727/5_founding_fathers_whose_skepticism_about_christianity_would_make_them_unelectable_today?akid=8109.9992.Q-Q0HM&rd=1&t=2

Why are Republican Prudes Still Desperate to Control Your Sex Life?
Tracy Clark-Flory, Salon
http://www.alternet.org/story/153731/why_are_republican_prudes_still_desperate_to_control_your_sex_life?akid=8109.9992.Q-Q0HM&rd=1&t=15

The WORD on Peace - Upcoming BFP Peace Performance Series

On Friday, January 27, 2012, the Arts & Culture Committee of Brooklyn For Peace will host "The WORD On Peace", an evening of music, poetry and spoken-word performances at WORD Bookstore in Greenpoint [Brooklyn].

"The WORD On Peace" is the second of the ongoing Peace Performance Series presented by the Brooklyn for Peace Arts & Culture Committee, of which I am a member and co-chair.

Where: WORD Bookstore, 126 Franklin Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222 ... www.wordbrooklyn.com

Time: 6:30 – 8:00pm

There will be snacks and beverages.

With the ongoing Occupy movement changing the focus and possibilities of the peace and justice movement in New York and around the world, the Arts & Culture Committee wants to encourage a culture of peace and creativity to flourish and grow in Brooklyn. We will celebrate the growing movement with an evening of performances, including novelist and professor Jan Clausen; Greenpoint musician Anya Skidan; and writer/poet and member of Occupy Wall Street’s poetry group, Rafiq Kathwari, plus two other performers.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

THE ANNUAL "JRR TOLKIEN BIRTHDAY TOAST" ON JAN 3RD AT ENTWINE


































Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Monday, January 02, 2012

PERSONAL NEWS #203

Thursday, Dec 1st, I attended the monthly BFP board meeting at The Commons.

Friday, Dec 2nd, I was asked to assist with an important EY client meeting, and had to arrive on location by 6am. Due to being at an EY event so early, I was able to leave the office between 3pm and 4pm. I met up with Sam [photo below] at 4pm for a brief photo shoot around Bryant Park, and then dinner at El Rio Grande on 3rd Avenue.

Dec 3rd & 4th … wasn’t particularly exciting weekend for me, as I had to cancel plans due to continued illness and stay home. Dana came by Saturday morning to clean my apt, and I took care of a few errands. One of those errands was to rent some DVDs [Foyle’s War] for the weekend.

Tuesday, Dec 6th, I had another follow up appt with my lung specialist, as this friggin situation is just NOT going away. Grrrrrrrrrrrr It is time for alternative medicine and visiting an acupuncturist down in ole Chinatown.

Wednesday evening, Dec 7th, I did volunteer work at the WCW national office.

Saturday, Dec 10th, I attended a gathering at friend’s home, hosted by “NYC Friends of Tolkien”, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the UK premiere of FOTR. [photo below]

Tuesday, Dec 13th, I took a vacation day and hung out with my friend Sheila in the afternoon. We had lunch and then did some holiday shopping at the GCS Holiday Bazaar. That evening I joined fellow BFP Peace Fair committee members for our monthly meeting at Charlotte’s place.

Thursday, Dec 15th, I did volunteer work at the WCW national office.

Friday, Dec 16th, I attended the annual BFP holiday gathering in Brooklyn. [photo below]

Saturday, Dec 17th, I volunteered with other BFP members at the BSEC holiday event.

Sunday, Dec 18th, I had my first appt with Dr Tan down in Chinatown.

Wednesday, Dec 21st, I participated in the BFP A&C committee conference call in the evening. It was a really good call and very productive for our upcoming January event.

Thursday, Dec 22nd, I did volunteer work at WCW national office.

Dec 23rd – 26th, I visited my family in upstate NY for the Xmas holiday.

Dec 24th, turned out to be an interesting day, not just because it was Christmas Eve. Day started out with me getting my hair done at the local salon, then back at the house to get things ready to bring down to my brothers home for a nice meal and exchange gifties. Well, that was the plan, until I started coughing up blood into paper towels halfway to Schenectady. My parents and I turned around to head to Bennington hospital emergency room. Fastest time ever spent at an emergency room. Was there for 2 ½ hours and learned that I have a mild case [again!] of Pneumonia, plus that friggin Bronchiectasis was the cause of the blood issues. Thankfully all my vitals were good and I didn’t have to stay at the hospital for the holidays. Before leaving I had to take a new, stronger antibiotics and assured [we’ll see] that I would see results in 24 to 48 hours. Went to RiteAid to get my prescription filled and was told my insurance card was rejected. What?!? I had to pay full price for those nine friggin antibiotics and that came to $179!! Most annoying, and rest of the day was spent at my parent’s home relaxing, and watching cable TV.

Monday, Dec 26th, I had my second appt with Dr Tan down in Chinatown. I told him about what happened on Xmas Eve, utilizing the herbs and eating as he prescribed. He did an exam and told me that my system is slowly improving. No herbs for this week, but more acupuncture treatment on today and Thursday.

Wednesday, Dec 28th, I did volunteer work at WCW national office.

Thursday, Dec 29th, I had my third appt with Dr Tan down in Chinatown.

Friday, Dec 30th, started off with a much needed appt with my chiropractor, as it had been two months since last adjustment. Then I met up with Jackie in the afternoon to hangout, go shopping, enjoy a leisurely dinner and exchange holiday gifties.

New Years Eve, Dec 31st, I took care of errands, got a pedicure and rented several DVDs [ie: Ironman, Sherlock Holmes, 5th season of LOST].