PERSONAL NEWS #209

Friday evening, June 1^st, I did volunteer work with City Harvest at Union Square farmers market.

Saturday afternoon into evening, June 2^nd, I enjoyed a nice outing with my friend Jackie in the Grand Army Plaza and Park Slope area.  We looked at Brownstones, gardens, shops, boutiques and all the while catching up on news/gossip. Had a delicious early dinner at 84 7th Avenue called FAROS, then further along at 228 7th Avenue for dessert at the Cocoa Bar.  Evening ended with a mini shopping spree at B&N.

Sunday, June 3^rd, I attended Hatha yoga class, then an acupuncture appt with Dr Tan and followed by an evening at a NY METS game with friends at Citifield.  The NY METS beat the SL Cardinals 6 to 1.

Wednesday, June 6^th, I volunteered with WCP staff at a Bradley Manning demonstration at Union Square in early evening.

Thursday, June 7^th, I attended the monthly BFP board meeting, presented the A&C committee report, and was elected to the “Board of Directors”.

On Friday, June 8^th, I did volunteer work with City Harvest at Union Square’s farmers market.

On Sunday morning, June 10^th, I attended Hatha yoga class, and in the afternoon I stopped my office and also “Books of Wonder” to visit with Sam.

Tuesday, June 12^th, I attended the monthly BFP PF committee meeting.

Thursday evening, June 14^th, I attended training to learn the basics of WordPress with other BFP members.

Friday evening, June 15^th, I joined other volunteers with City Harvest and attended the NY METS game out at Citifield.  Sadly, the Mets lost to the Reds 7 to 3.

Saturday, June 16^th, I met up with a former co-worker from WCP, Yvette N, and we hung out in the city for a “shutterbug adventure”.  I haven’t seen Yvette since leaving WCP in 1996, and we reconnected via LinkedIn and FB.

Sunday morning, June 17^th, I attended Hatha yoga class, and in the afternoon I joined other members of BFP in tabling at the 7^th Heaven festival in Park Slope.

Monday evening, June 18^th, I volunteered at the WCW office and helped with database assistance.

Tuesday evening, June 19^th, I co-chaired [plus took the minutes] the monthly BFP A&C committee meeting.  This in-person meeting was held at a committee member’s apartment on Prospect Park West.

Thursday evening, June 21^st, I attended the monthly NYC Tolkien group meetup.

Friday, June 22^nd, I did volunteer work with City Harvest at Union Square’s farmers market.

Saturday, June 23^rd, I had an appt with Dr Tan on Canal Street, and he has put me back on the “herbs” for my stomach and lungs.

Sunday, June 24^th, I attended Hatha yoga class in the morning, and in the afternoon I joined other members of BFP in tabling at the Smith Street Sunday Funday Festival.

Tuesday evening, June 26^th, after my foot doctor appt, I met up with Ms Dee [whom I hadn’t seen since Jan 2010 at E&Y].  We chilled out at “Pacific Grill” down by the East River and South Street Seaport.  Enjoyed a nice meal and caught up on alot of important news.  Then I hopped on the East River ferry boat to head home to my neighborhood.  It was an enjoyable ride and I took many pictures.

Wednesday evening, June 27^th, I attended the BFP Climate Action committee meeting to learn more about what they do.  Meeting was held at the co-chairs home in Park Slope, and it is a lovely spacious duplex.

Thursday evening, June 28^th, I attended my first official BFP board of directors meeting, as a new member, at The Commons.  Earlier in the day, I participated in the 3^rd Annual EY Art Show and it was a success.  I showed framed and portfolio shots from my “365 Project”.

Friday evening, June 29^th, I did volunteer work with City Harvest at Union Square farmers market.

 Tabling with "Brooklyn for Peace"

at two street fairs on

June 17th and 24th

 Shutterbug Adventures with Yvette

June 16, 2012

Manhattan

 Statue of Eleanor Roosevelt

 Jazz in Central Park

 Me and Yvette on West 72nd Street

 NY Mets Play Against Cincinnati Reds

June 15, 2012

 WALKING TOUR ON JUNE 2ND

GRAND ARMY PLAZA & PARK SLOPE

BROOKLYN

NY METS GAME AGAINST

SL CARDINALS
on

JUNE 3, 2012

[Mets won 6 to 1]

MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND

UPSTATE NY

May 2012

AND NOW – THE NEWS

Will a Militarized Police Force Facing Occupy Wall Street Lead to Another Kent State Massacre?

Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet

Today is the 42^nd anniversary of an ugly chapter in American history.

http://www.alternet.org/story/155270/will_a_militarized_police_force_facing_occupy_wall_street_lead_to_another_kent_state_massacre?akid=8717.9992.n-KLkI&rd=1&t=2

4 May Day Stories the Corporate Media Missed While Fixating on Obama’s College Girlfriend

Sarah Seltzer, AlterNet

A number of remarkable things happened on May 1^st.  So why is the media so bored with social protest?

http://www.alternet.org/story/155267/4_may_day_stories_the_corporate_media_missed_while_fixating_on_obama%27s_college_girlfriend?akid=8717.9992.n-KLkI&rd=1&t=21

Six Ways That Obama has Been Worse than Bush

http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.php/features-mainmenu-220/crimes-are-crimes/7702-six-ways-that-obama-has-been-worse-than-bush

The Progressive Union with Doreen and Tony DiLeonardo

Real Progressive Talk Radio – Join Today

http://www.theprogressiveunion.com/

‘Predator Nation: Corporate Criminals, Political Corruption, and the Hijacking of America’

Don Hazen and Charles Ferguson, AlterNet

http://www.alternet.org/story/155643/charles_ferguson%27s_%27predator_nation%3A_corporate_criminals%2C_political_corruption%2C_and_the_hijacking_of_america%27?akid=8862.9992.7GNlTi&rd=1&t=2

Obama Expands Secret Wars Across the Globe

Andrew J. Bacevich, TomDispatch.com

It is only on Obama’s watch that secret warriors have reached the pinnacle of the U.S. military’s prestige hierarchy.

http://www.alternet.org/story/155639/obama_expands_secret_wars_across_the_globe?akid=8862.9992.7GNlTi&rd=1&t=18

Creating Change is the People’s Job

Deepak Bhargava, YES! Magazine

We, not just the president, have to be the agents of change in our society.  How do we extend our electoral organizing beyond the elections?

http://www.alternet.org/story/155615/creating_change_is_the_people%27s_job?akid=8862.9992.7GNlTi&rd=1&t=21

SOME OF MY LATEST ENTRIES WITH "365 PROJECT"

PERSONAL NEWS #208

Tuesday, May 1^st, I had an appt with my foot doctor, and then afterwards I headed up to Union Square to participate in the awesome MayDay Occupy rally and march.  When I got home I listened in on the monthly Peace Alliance conference call at 9pm.

Thursday, May 3^rd, I participated with other BFP members at a great event yesterday evening at the Brooklyn Brewery on North 11th Street in Williamsburg. This event was hosted by "Brooklyn for Peace" [BFP] and United Community Centers [UCC], and was titled "Brooklyn Spring Blast for Peace & Justice". Being a proud member of BFP, I assisted at this event / fundraiser. Free food and music was on hand after paying for event fee, plus one received a free beer. Everyone had a great time, and Mukti gave a delightful Indian cooking demo. There was also a raffle for several terrific prices. A good time was had by all. J

Friday, May 4^th, after getting therapy for my back at the chiropractor, I headed down to Atlantic Avenue to see the screening of a really good documentary [ie: Coffee Strong] at The Common in Brooklyn. Heard about it via BFP and glad I went. If you are a veteran or know a veteran, please, share this film with them. Vets helping vets!  Also, check out http://groundsforresistance.com/ for more info.

Saturday, May 5^th, I attended an evening performance of “Tragedy of Macbeth” at the Holy Trinity Church in Inwood.  My friend TJ Glenn was the director, and fight coordinator, of this entertaining production.  The only down side was the sky was too overcast in the evening, and missed out on seeing the Super Moon.

Sunday, May 6^th, I participated in a Hatha yoga class in the morning and in the afternoon had an acupuncture appt with Dr Tan.  The annual Five Boro Bike Tour was ambling along through my hood, which made for a colorful sight.  That evening I joined some friends to celebrate Thom Kulsea’s birthday at O’Lunneys on West 45^th Street.  A good time was had by all  J

Tuesday, May 8^th, I had an appt with my lung specialist, and all seems stable.  I don’t have to see him again until mid-July.

Thursday, May 10^th, I attended and participated in a “follow up” meeting to the 2012 PF with other PF committee members.

Friday, May 11^th, around 2pm the BFP A&C committee had a follow-up conference call regarding the annual Peace Fair.  Then, after work, I headed down to Union Square farmers market to start another season of volunteering with City Harvest.

Saturday, May 12^th, I attended the 2^nd Annual Brooklyn Food Conference in the neighborhood of Fort Greene.

Sunday, May 13^th, I joined CodePink, Granny Peace Brigade, BFP and others in the 6^th Annual Mother’s Day Peace Stroll.

On Wednesday, May 16^th, so far this week at work, I’ve been assisting with the City Harvest “Skip Lunch Fight Hunger” campaign, plus volunteered at the E&Y town hall session at the Marriott Marquis.

Early Friday evening, May 18^th, I did volunteer work with City Harvest at Union Square farmers market.  Afterwards, I stopped by an OWS table in Union Square to chat about latest developments.

Sunday afternoon, May 20^th, I stopped by the Halloween shop to see Wendy and we started work on the pattern for the first HP theme costume/outfit.  In the morning I participated in the Hatha yoga class in my neighborhood.

Tuesday evening, May 22^nd, I attended and participated in an “in person” BFP A&C committee meeting held at Wild Ginger restaurant in Cobble Hill.  It was very productive and much to do on our agenda.

Friday, May 25^th, we had the day off from work as part of the Memorial Day weekend.  I had an appt with Dr Tan for acupuncture treatment, and this is the first time in about 3 weeks.  I was doing pretty well and then the allergies came back this past Monday.  Afterwards, I did abit of shopping at Pearl Paint for watercolor items and then back home to attend to errands.  At 6pm I volunteered with City Harvest at Union Square farmers market.

Saturday through Tuesday, May 26^th / 29^th, I headed upstate NY to visit with the parents for a nice, relaxing holiday weekend and car rental from Enterprise.  It started off with bus leaving 30-minutes late from NYC, abit of weekend traffic, and getting to Albany at 11:35am.  I couldn’t get a hold of Enterprise, so when I got off the bus I walked to the car rental location.  Another chap was there waiting to drop off his car rental and location appeared closed.  WTF?!?  Sign said they’d be back around 12pm.  I called the 800 number and their reps were of no help.  I called my parents and vented abit, plus called Steve’s Taxi.  Then Ryan from Enterprise came up to the door and finally got things resolved.  Whew!  He upgraded me to a nice Mitsubishi Endeavor, but at the cost of a smaller car, plus another discount.  Sweet!  Rest of the weekend with the vehicle went very well, though it is abit of a gas guzzler.

Then I find out that the new laptop I have from work won’t cooperate in modem mode at my parent’s home.  Meaning no internet!  WTF?!?  So Sunday and Monday evening, along with Monday morning at the Memorial Day parade, I was able to hook up to free WiFi in downtown area were my parents live.  This meant I was able to deal with emails, FB, and 365 Project.  Rest of the holiday weekend was spent relaxing, noshing, shopping, cable tv, hair salon, photo ops, drive to Hildene in VT, Memorial Day parade, painting, assisting around the homestead, etc.  Weather the whole time was warm [ie: 80 to 85 degrees] and humid, with no rain in sight, plus there was pollen everywhere.  OMG, my allergies and asthma were not happy about all that.  Overall it was a good weekend.

MESSAGE FROM CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH

This movement is and always has been about more than one campaign. And while we're about to start a new chapter of our movement from outside the halls of Congress, it doesn't mean we don't need allies within.

Alan Grayson has always been a champion of peace, justice, and equality. He's fought for universal healthcare and against wasteful corporate welfare. Alan has consistently stood up for Main Street and ordinary workers, and he has always boldly called out corporations when they corrupt our process and destroy our jobs. So guess who's now attacking Alan Grayson?

The corporations, of course. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to take down Alan in his run for Congress. And, of course, this unregulated corporate money's not telling the truth. FactCheck.org says their TV ads are mis-educating voters.

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/dennis4alan

The most corrosive forces in our politics are trying to destroy Alan because they know he's the type of leader who can't be bought off by their influence. Alan is a doer. He's a bold progressive who doesn't sit idly by while corporate forces try to drag us into endless war and ruin our economy.

Look what he did about Bush's war based on lies: During the last decade, when the Bush Administration neglected to prosecute those who were committing fraud in Iraq, Alan stepped up to defend the American tax payer. He set up his own shop and dedicated hours to prosecuting those who were illegally profiting from the war in Iraq.

The Wall Street Journal called it “a one-man war against contractor fraud in Iraq.” Alan got justice for the American people. He was behind the only successful prosecution of an Iraq war profiteer.

That's the type of thing that irks big corporations. And when they come attacking, you know you've done something right.  So, please join me in standing up for Alan Grayson -- "A Congressman with Guts."