Sung To The Tune Of DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS - Comes This Tidbit Shared By Peter C & Gleaned From "Daily KOS"
The stars of the Right
Are filled with fright
Deep in the heart of Texas
They're hiding from
Somebody's mom
Deep in the heart of Texas
The guy who's boss
Takes five weeks off
Deep in the heart of Texas
Yells "Bring it on"
Yet hides from moms
Deep in the heart of Texas
The President
Sure acts low rent
Deep in the heart of Texas
He's awfully windy
Yet hides from Cindy
Deep in the heart of Texas
The cattle's fat
Imagine that
Deep in the heart of Texas
Yet Bush has none
'Cause he's all hat
Deep in the heart of Texas
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
SEAN BEAN TURNED HIS BACK ON LIFE AS A TOUGH GUYAndy Dougan / The Herald
[Bean at London premiere of THE ISLAND on August 7th]
http://www.theherald.co/uk/features/44351.html
[Duchess Note: The below tidbit was shared with me by a good friend in Virginia. Indeed, they are four very excellent thoughts.]
COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington And they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give them all a cow.
CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.
TEN COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a Courthouse! You cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians! It creates a hostile work environment!
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
George Carlin said it best about Martha Stewart. "Boy, I feel a lot safer now that she's behind bars. O.J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant are still walking around; Osama Bin Laden too, but they take the one woman in America willing to cook, clean, and work in the yard, and haul her butt off to jail.”
COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington And they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give them all a cow.
CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.
TEN COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a Courthouse! You cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians! It creates a hostile work environment!
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
George Carlin said it best about Martha Stewart. "Boy, I feel a lot safer now that she's behind bars. O.J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant are still walking around; Osama Bin Laden too, but they take the one woman in America willing to cook, clean, and work in the yard, and haul her butt off to jail.”
Monday, August 08, 2005
RESISTANCE CINEMA Presents -- THIRST (52 min. Snitow-Kaufman Productions, 004) Another Award Winning Film Distributed by Bullfrog Films
WHEN: Sunday August 14th at 1pm
WHERE: Community Church of NYC, 40 east 35th Street
ADMISSION: Free, donations appreciated
Is water part of a shared common a human right for all people? Or is it a commodity to be bought, sold and traded in a global marketplace? It doesn't receive much press (so what else is new?) but it is one of the most important questions of our time. Global corporations are rapidly buying up local water supplies around the world. Communities suddenly lose control of their most precious resource. THIRST reveals how water is the catalyst for explosive community resistance to globalization. Shifting from struggles waged in Bolivia, Japan, India, to Stockton, California the film takes a piercing look at the conflict between public stewardship and private profit. THIRST is a remarkable film. The looming fresh water crisis is the greatest environmental and human rights crisis of our time. Maude Barlow, Chair, Council of Canadians.
RESISTANCE CINEMA is a collaborative project of the Education Committee of Not In Our Name and Action For Justice of CCNY
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... If those in charge of our society; politicians, corporate executives and owners of press and television can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves. Howard Zinn
[Duchess is third from left (in photo) with co-workers at a June 30th NY Mets baseball game. And the Mets beat the Phillies that day 7 to 4, plus Pedro Martinez was pitching. View of Shea Stadium from third base side.]
MESSAGE FROM Senator Edward M. Kennedy -- One of their Prime Targets
I have been a PRIME TARGET of the right wing for decades, and they're not letting up now! I wear it as a badge of honor they’ve bestowed it on me because I speak out against them, and they know I always will. I fight for working Americans, when right-wingers are bent on helping corporate donors. And, I don't back down when it comes to resisting any and all of their shameful attempts to turn the Senate into a rubber stamp for the President. With your help over the past four months, my voice is stronger, and we're fighting harder for our troops in Iraq and their families at home. We're fighting for a stronger economy, for good jobs, for better education, and for decent health care and full civil rights for all. And we're fighting to make sure that Americans voices are heard when Supreme Court nominee John Roberts comes before the Senate. We need to show the right wing that their number one target in the Senate never walks alone. Your support will help make it clear we will not back down: http://www.tedkennedy.com/contribute
The right wing fringe is not having a good year. Their scheme to privatize Social Security could not even make it to the full Senate for debate. With the support of concerned citizens across the country, Senate Democrats stood strong and protected the retirement security of millions of Americans. A few reasonable Republican Senators couldn't swallow their party's attempt to pack the courts with right-wing judges. With your help we were able to block Senator Frists plan to abuse his power and unleash the nuclear option on the Senate floor. Now, with the Supreme Court vacancy on the line, right wing groups are spending millions of dollars to get their way, so you and I need to make sure that John Roberts isn't rubber-stamped onto the Supreme Court. He deserves a full hearing, in which the voices of Americans are fairly heard, and there is no cover-up of his record. These are the battles that I intend to keep fighting. That’s why the right-wing keep attacking me, and they'll do all they can to make sure that in 2006 I will face a tough campaign challenge to divert my attention between now and next years elections. With your help and strong support, that strategy won't work. With your contribution now, you can do your part, and tell the right wing in no uncertain terms that we've only just begun to fight: http://www.tedkennedy.com/contribute
They don't believe you can do it, but I know you can. Over the past few months I've been impressed at what you've accomplished. I want to continue my work for you, and make TedKennedy.com a window on the Senate and a place we can work together to achieve the great goals in store, and keep America from turning back. Your support right now will show the right wing that we are serious about these battles, and that we intend to prevail in 2006 the best antidote of all to the bitter right-wing agenda is the election of a Democratic Senate.
WHEN: Sunday August 14th at 1pm
WHERE: Community Church of NYC, 40 east 35th Street
ADMISSION: Free, donations appreciated
Is water part of a shared common a human right for all people? Or is it a commodity to be bought, sold and traded in a global marketplace? It doesn't receive much press (so what else is new?) but it is one of the most important questions of our time. Global corporations are rapidly buying up local water supplies around the world. Communities suddenly lose control of their most precious resource. THIRST reveals how water is the catalyst for explosive community resistance to globalization. Shifting from struggles waged in Bolivia, Japan, India, to Stockton, California the film takes a piercing look at the conflict between public stewardship and private profit. THIRST is a remarkable film. The looming fresh water crisis is the greatest environmental and human rights crisis of our time. Maude Barlow, Chair, Council of Canadians.
RESISTANCE CINEMA is a collaborative project of the Education Committee of Not In Our Name and Action For Justice of CCNY
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... If those in charge of our society; politicians, corporate executives and owners of press and television can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves. Howard Zinn
[Duchess is third from left (in photo) with co-workers at a June 30th NY Mets baseball game. And the Mets beat the Phillies that day 7 to 4, plus Pedro Martinez was pitching. View of Shea Stadium from third base side.]
MESSAGE FROM Senator Edward M. Kennedy -- One of their Prime Targets
I have been a PRIME TARGET of the right wing for decades, and they're not letting up now! I wear it as a badge of honor they’ve bestowed it on me because I speak out against them, and they know I always will. I fight for working Americans, when right-wingers are bent on helping corporate donors. And, I don't back down when it comes to resisting any and all of their shameful attempts to turn the Senate into a rubber stamp for the President. With your help over the past four months, my voice is stronger, and we're fighting harder for our troops in Iraq and their families at home. We're fighting for a stronger economy, for good jobs, for better education, and for decent health care and full civil rights for all. And we're fighting to make sure that Americans voices are heard when Supreme Court nominee John Roberts comes before the Senate. We need to show the right wing that their number one target in the Senate never walks alone. Your support will help make it clear we will not back down: http://www.tedkennedy.com/contribute
The right wing fringe is not having a good year. Their scheme to privatize Social Security could not even make it to the full Senate for debate. With the support of concerned citizens across the country, Senate Democrats stood strong and protected the retirement security of millions of Americans. A few reasonable Republican Senators couldn't swallow their party's attempt to pack the courts with right-wing judges. With your help we were able to block Senator Frists plan to abuse his power and unleash the nuclear option on the Senate floor. Now, with the Supreme Court vacancy on the line, right wing groups are spending millions of dollars to get their way, so you and I need to make sure that John Roberts isn't rubber-stamped onto the Supreme Court. He deserves a full hearing, in which the voices of Americans are fairly heard, and there is no cover-up of his record. These are the battles that I intend to keep fighting. That’s why the right-wing keep attacking me, and they'll do all they can to make sure that in 2006 I will face a tough campaign challenge to divert my attention between now and next years elections. With your help and strong support, that strategy won't work. With your contribution now, you can do your part, and tell the right wing in no uncertain terms that we've only just begun to fight: http://www.tedkennedy.com/contribute
They don't believe you can do it, but I know you can. Over the past few months I've been impressed at what you've accomplished. I want to continue my work for you, and make TedKennedy.com a window on the Senate and a place we can work together to achieve the great goals in store, and keep America from turning back. Your support right now will show the right wing that we are serious about these battles, and that we intend to prevail in 2006 the best antidote of all to the bitter right-wing agenda is the election of a Democratic Senate.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leave the skin. Mark Twain
BAD GUY ROLES WITH GOOD GUY RULES
Scott Schulte / Brentwood Magazine
http://www.brentwoodmagazine.com/media-3/Jul-Aug-05/24.shtml
[Photo of Sean Bean -- courtesy of The Compleat Sean Bean website & run by Nona]
BAD GUY ROLES WITH GOOD GUY RULES
Scott Schulte / Brentwood Magazine
http://www.brentwoodmagazine.com/media-3/Jul-Aug-05/24.shtml
[Photo of Sean Bean -- courtesy of The Compleat Sean Bean website & run by Nona]
Thursday, August 04, 2005
MESSAGE FROM UFPJ ACTION ALERT - Aug 6-9: No Nukes! No Wars! Defend Democracy!
August 6 and 9, 2005 mark the 60th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. United for Peace and Justice urges you to join with thousands of people at four central U.S. nuclear weapons sites to call for an end to the development and production of nuclear warheads. For more information about the four regional actions, visit: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2955 There are also activities planned in scores of cities around the nation, and you can find out what might be happening close to you by going to: http://www.besafenet.com/2005Calendar.htm
In Iraq, they never found nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, yet the daily reality of death and annihilation continues, sparked by the Bush administration's invasion and fueled by the ongoing U.S. military occupation. A majority of people in this nation now oppose the war, but the White House and most members of Congress are resisting the only solution to the crisis: bring the troops home immediately. This year, the 60th anniversaries of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki also coincide with the 40th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act on August 3, 2005. Ensuring our basic voting and civil rights is at the heart of keeping our democracy alive and healthy. A vibrant democracy with open public debate is essential to keep U.S. power in check. Given that U.S. power is directly expressed and projected through its possession and threat to use nuclear weapons, the links between democracy, power and nuclear weapons becomes clear. To read a statement drafted by in February 1999 that addresses these crucial links, visit: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2953
United for Peace and Justice encourages those of you in driving distance of Atlanta, GA to participate in a demonstration organized by the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition on Saturday, August 6th. The march and rally will bring together people from all walks of life in a call for Congress to re-authorize key provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that will expire in 2007. Visit http://www.rainbowpush.org to learn more about the August 6th demonstrationin Atlanta, Georgia. And wherever you are this weekend...in Atlanta, at one of the four regional anti-nuclear protests, at a local demonstration...we hope you will use this as an opportunity to help spread the word about the Sept. 24 - 26 antiwar mobilization in Washington, DC. Momentum is building for what promises to be an historic gathering, but each time people come together we must make sure they know about the September plans. Please check the UFPJ web site for leaflets and organizing materials you can download and use this weekend by going to: http://unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2872
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... Non violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man. Mahatma Gandhi
A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY
By Paul Hackett via DFA
Yesterday, one of the reddest regions in America turned a whole lot bluer. I ran in a special election to serve in the United States House of Representatives from the 2nd District of Ohio. I am a Marine recently returned from Iraq, a husband, a father, an attorney, and a Democrat. When I won the Democratic primary for this contest, few people believed we had a shot at victory. But DFA put its faith in me -- and went to work organizing on the ground and online. Your support helped build the greatest Democratic get-out-the-vote effort this district has ever known. While we didn't pull out a victory yesterday -- we came incredibly close. We got 48 percent of the vote. And in those results rests hope for the future.
It had been 15 years since a Democratic candidate for Congress received more than 30 percent of the vote in Ohio's 2nd District and decades since a Democrat held the seat. Your support helped me improve Democratic performance by nearly 20 percent. This is a victory for democracy. And if we can do this in Ohio -- we can do it anywhere. We have the power to win back Congress. Yesterday proved it. And DFA is on the front lines of the fight -- determined, hopeful and fearless. I believe we can change this country. I believe we can win in every state -- and I know that you do too. Please join me today: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/bat
MESSAGE FROM OHIO CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH - August is for Organizing
Congress is now on recess and I am back in my district in Ohio for the month of August, where I am finalizing plans for a major organizing effort. As you know if you follow the news on http://www.kucinich.us, I have been relentless in Congress this session. I will be asking for your help on these issues and more:
1] I have been continuing my challenge to the war in Iraq, and helped to develop a bi-partisan withdrawal Bill to hasten the return home of our troops without partisan wrangling, deadlock or defeat.
2] I have developed a detailed response to the Administration's attempts to privatize Social Security, which we will see build to full steam when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day.
3] I am continuing to shine light on the positive benefits of - and the critical need for - national single-payer health care which, along with universal coverage for citizens, offers significant economic advantages for employers.
4] I continue to spearhead positive alternatives to destructive and misguided policies which set America apart from the rest of the world's aspirations for peace, harmony and a sustainable planet.
We are beginning a nation-wide organizing effort which will focus on issues as they are slated to come up in Congress. Our initial focus for August and September will be Iraq, a Department of Peace, and Social Security.
1] The tragedy of the war in Iraq continues to be compounded by increasing casualties of US troops and Iraqi civilians. I need you to contact your congressional Representative and ask him or her to join in co-sponsoring H.J. Res. 55, which will require the Administration to submit to the Congress a plan to withdraw from Iraq by the end of this year and to begin the withdrawal no later than October of 2006. Congressmen Walter Jones (R-NC), Ron Paul (R-TX), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), and I have organized this effort which will be instrumental in the United States taking steps to finally end the war.
2] The readiness to go to war in Iraq points to a larger problem in our society, one which the creation of a Department of Peace is intended to address. In September, thousands will travel to Washington in support of legislation to create a Department of Peace, to make nonviolence an organizing principle in our society. We will focus on the domestic purposes of the legislation: programs to address domestic violence, spousal abuse, child abuse, violence in the schools, racial violence, violence against gays, police-community disputes and more. I have gathered more than fifty members of Congress to support the legislation. Help us gain more. The bill will be introduced in September.
3] The leadership of the House plans to bring up Social Security legislation in September. The attempt to privatize Social Security is theft, pure and simple. I spent a considerable amount of time studying this issue and have produced a 55 minute DVD which is available for house parties, town hall meetings, or broadcast on local television. This video is the definitive response to privatization. Order your copy from http://store.kucinich.us
We will soon deliver tools on kucinich.us to help you organize town hall meetings, house meetings and teach-ins on these issues, but don't wait for us. Organize events now and write to us at http://kucinich.us with event details and, if appropriate, we'll help with publicity. I will participate as my schedule allows by calling in to meetings or, where I can, arranging to be present to speak. Remember when we began this journey a few years ago? That same vision which animated my involvement on the national scene is more important than ever: Peace and social justice. Peace and economic justice. Peace and human rights. Peace and human freedom. You are an essential part of everything I do in Congress - thank you. I work for you, but I can't do it without you.
August 6 and 9, 2005 mark the 60th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. United for Peace and Justice urges you to join with thousands of people at four central U.S. nuclear weapons sites to call for an end to the development and production of nuclear warheads. For more information about the four regional actions, visit: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2955 There are also activities planned in scores of cities around the nation, and you can find out what might be happening close to you by going to: http://www.besafenet.com/2005Calendar.htm
In Iraq, they never found nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, yet the daily reality of death and annihilation continues, sparked by the Bush administration's invasion and fueled by the ongoing U.S. military occupation. A majority of people in this nation now oppose the war, but the White House and most members of Congress are resisting the only solution to the crisis: bring the troops home immediately. This year, the 60th anniversaries of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki also coincide with the 40th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act on August 3, 2005. Ensuring our basic voting and civil rights is at the heart of keeping our democracy alive and healthy. A vibrant democracy with open public debate is essential to keep U.S. power in check. Given that U.S. power is directly expressed and projected through its possession and threat to use nuclear weapons, the links between democracy, power and nuclear weapons becomes clear. To read a statement drafted by in February 1999 that addresses these crucial links, visit: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2953
United for Peace and Justice encourages those of you in driving distance of Atlanta, GA to participate in a demonstration organized by the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition on Saturday, August 6th. The march and rally will bring together people from all walks of life in a call for Congress to re-authorize key provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that will expire in 2007. Visit http://www.rainbowpush.org to learn more about the August 6th demonstrationin Atlanta, Georgia. And wherever you are this weekend...in Atlanta, at one of the four regional anti-nuclear protests, at a local demonstration...we hope you will use this as an opportunity to help spread the word about the Sept. 24 - 26 antiwar mobilization in Washington, DC. Momentum is building for what promises to be an historic gathering, but each time people come together we must make sure they know about the September plans. Please check the UFPJ web site for leaflets and organizing materials you can download and use this weekend by going to: http://unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2872
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... Non violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man. Mahatma Gandhi
A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY
By Paul Hackett via DFA
Yesterday, one of the reddest regions in America turned a whole lot bluer. I ran in a special election to serve in the United States House of Representatives from the 2nd District of Ohio. I am a Marine recently returned from Iraq, a husband, a father, an attorney, and a Democrat. When I won the Democratic primary for this contest, few people believed we had a shot at victory. But DFA put its faith in me -- and went to work organizing on the ground and online. Your support helped build the greatest Democratic get-out-the-vote effort this district has ever known. While we didn't pull out a victory yesterday -- we came incredibly close. We got 48 percent of the vote. And in those results rests hope for the future.
It had been 15 years since a Democratic candidate for Congress received more than 30 percent of the vote in Ohio's 2nd District and decades since a Democrat held the seat. Your support helped me improve Democratic performance by nearly 20 percent. This is a victory for democracy. And if we can do this in Ohio -- we can do it anywhere. We have the power to win back Congress. Yesterday proved it. And DFA is on the front lines of the fight -- determined, hopeful and fearless. I believe we can change this country. I believe we can win in every state -- and I know that you do too. Please join me today: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/bat
MESSAGE FROM OHIO CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH - August is for Organizing
Congress is now on recess and I am back in my district in Ohio for the month of August, where I am finalizing plans for a major organizing effort. As you know if you follow the news on http://www.kucinich.us, I have been relentless in Congress this session. I will be asking for your help on these issues and more:
1] I have been continuing my challenge to the war in Iraq, and helped to develop a bi-partisan withdrawal Bill to hasten the return home of our troops without partisan wrangling, deadlock or defeat.
2] I have developed a detailed response to the Administration's attempts to privatize Social Security, which we will see build to full steam when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day.
3] I am continuing to shine light on the positive benefits of - and the critical need for - national single-payer health care which, along with universal coverage for citizens, offers significant economic advantages for employers.
4] I continue to spearhead positive alternatives to destructive and misguided policies which set America apart from the rest of the world's aspirations for peace, harmony and a sustainable planet.
We are beginning a nation-wide organizing effort which will focus on issues as they are slated to come up in Congress. Our initial focus for August and September will be Iraq, a Department of Peace, and Social Security.
1] The tragedy of the war in Iraq continues to be compounded by increasing casualties of US troops and Iraqi civilians. I need you to contact your congressional Representative and ask him or her to join in co-sponsoring H.J. Res. 55, which will require the Administration to submit to the Congress a plan to withdraw from Iraq by the end of this year and to begin the withdrawal no later than October of 2006. Congressmen Walter Jones (R-NC), Ron Paul (R-TX), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), and I have organized this effort which will be instrumental in the United States taking steps to finally end the war.
2] The readiness to go to war in Iraq points to a larger problem in our society, one which the creation of a Department of Peace is intended to address. In September, thousands will travel to Washington in support of legislation to create a Department of Peace, to make nonviolence an organizing principle in our society. We will focus on the domestic purposes of the legislation: programs to address domestic violence, spousal abuse, child abuse, violence in the schools, racial violence, violence against gays, police-community disputes and more. I have gathered more than fifty members of Congress to support the legislation. Help us gain more. The bill will be introduced in September.
3] The leadership of the House plans to bring up Social Security legislation in September. The attempt to privatize Social Security is theft, pure and simple. I spent a considerable amount of time studying this issue and have produced a 55 minute DVD which is available for house parties, town hall meetings, or broadcast on local television. This video is the definitive response to privatization. Order your copy from http://store.kucinich.us
We will soon deliver tools on kucinich.us to help you organize town hall meetings, house meetings and teach-ins on these issues, but don't wait for us. Organize events now and write to us at http://kucinich.us with event details and, if appropriate, we'll help with publicity. I will participate as my schedule allows by calling in to meetings or, where I can, arranging to be present to speak. Remember when we began this journey a few years ago? That same vision which animated my involvement on the national scene is more important than ever: Peace and social justice. Peace and economic justice. Peace and human rights. Peace and human freedom. You are an essential part of everything I do in Congress - thank you. I work for you, but I can't do it without you.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
PERSONAL NEWS #65
Thursday, July 21st, was the NYC Dept of Peace monthly board meeting. All members were present except for Vlad and we had a guest [ie: Janet C] join us. A few DoP members had met Janet back in early April, while attending a FOR Non-Violent Weekend Training course. It was great seeing her again. Between Joe, Kevin and myself ... we provided some delicious, yummy goodies for all to partake of during the 2-hour meeting. Which, I might add, was very productive and fun. We tied up alot of loose ends regarding our upcoming "congressional training" event on the 23rd. Plus, we discussed the September Peace Conference, which is being held in Washington DC. [I'm saving money for the conference fee, meals and travel expenses. I'll be staying with my dear friends Nancie and Tim.]
After the meeting, several of us were hanging outside of Karen's office building talking, when we heard a loud clattering noise behind us. When we turned we saw part of a wooden restaurant sign on the ground and a young woman hopping on one foot clasping the other. She was definitely in pain and then we saw blood seep through her clasped hands. DoP members to the rescue! While Carol used her cell phone to call 911, we descended on the suffering woman to help out. [Whoever said New Yorkers are cold and heartless is a liar.] I grabbed two chairs from the restaurants outside dining tables for the young lady to sit on. [We later learned she was visiting NYC from Columbia and her name was Monica.] Several of us went inside the restaurant to find management, large cloth napkins & ice, plus find Monica's friend. All this was accomplished within 5 to 15 minutes, plus two people who were eating at the outside dining area also assisted AND even a passerby. We New Yorkers even helped the suffering gal with calling another friend. Monica's English wasn't that good, but she was very thankful for our help. Also, Janet gave Monica her name and cell phone number. May I add we did not leave the young woman’s side until the ambulance showed up and took her to the nearest hospital, along with her male companion. Definitely main topic of discussion while walking to the subway afterwards.
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. Martin Luther King
On Saturday, July 23rd, the NYC DoP group held its first "CongressionalTraining" event and guest speaker was Lynn McMullen from Peace Alliance. [She’s such a font of info, energy & inspiration.] Ecstatic that the nasty humidity and heat wave we'd been experiencing broke the night before and Saturday turned into a gorgeous clear day. It felt wonderful! Our event was held at a spiritual center down in the SoHo district of Manhattan. [One can take the #6 subway to Spring Street. Lots of awesome shopping and cafes in this funky area.] My food contribution to the event was homemade chocolate chip cookies, fudgy brownies and two different kinds of hummus. I also contributed copies of DoP info and other documentation. Due to subway trouble, which is typical for NYC on weekends, I was about 10 minutes late. Even though we’d seen each other Thursday evening, we all shared good wishes and hugs. One of my duties was as welcoming committee to our attendants, of which about 35+ showed up. This duty meant that I would miss out on the 30 minute meditation segment before the training began. The “congressional training” started at 1pm and was to run until 4:45pm. Lynn asked those attending their thoughts and/or comments on Dept of Peace. Some of the responses were:
1] World going to “hell in a handbag” and wants to be part of the change.
2] Curious about Politians response.
3] Learn about organization.
4] Vision for future and wants to be part of it.
5] Very concerned about terrorism and violence.
6] Wants people to wake up.
7] Declaration of peace at Constitutional level.
8] Learn non violent ways to speak and present ideas to others.
Lynn had some positive things to announce. One of which is that the Dept of Peace campaign now has 235 active Congressional District Team Leaders in the US. [Of which the Duchess is one of them in District 12.] She also said that “peace is a human desire”. Let me lightly touch on some topics Lynn talked about in relation to DoP. They were lobbying, reintroducing the bill, talking to senators, prison systems, Susan B. Anthony, schools, police/fire departments, poverty, domestic violence, the Peace Corps and volunteering. After a short break we split up into District Teams and worked on assignments given us by Lynn. [She stressed that honesty and integrity are key.] We networked, made connections and left feeling very inspired. Overall the whole event was an invigorating success.
P.S. Stay tuned for more "personal news" updates.
Thursday, July 21st, was the NYC Dept of Peace monthly board meeting. All members were present except for Vlad and we had a guest [ie: Janet C] join us. A few DoP members had met Janet back in early April, while attending a FOR Non-Violent Weekend Training course. It was great seeing her again. Between Joe, Kevin and myself ... we provided some delicious, yummy goodies for all to partake of during the 2-hour meeting. Which, I might add, was very productive and fun. We tied up alot of loose ends regarding our upcoming "congressional training" event on the 23rd. Plus, we discussed the September Peace Conference, which is being held in Washington DC. [I'm saving money for the conference fee, meals and travel expenses. I'll be staying with my dear friends Nancie and Tim.]
After the meeting, several of us were hanging outside of Karen's office building talking, when we heard a loud clattering noise behind us. When we turned we saw part of a wooden restaurant sign on the ground and a young woman hopping on one foot clasping the other. She was definitely in pain and then we saw blood seep through her clasped hands. DoP members to the rescue! While Carol used her cell phone to call 911, we descended on the suffering woman to help out. [Whoever said New Yorkers are cold and heartless is a liar.] I grabbed two chairs from the restaurants outside dining tables for the young lady to sit on. [We later learned she was visiting NYC from Columbia and her name was Monica.] Several of us went inside the restaurant to find management, large cloth napkins & ice, plus find Monica's friend. All this was accomplished within 5 to 15 minutes, plus two people who were eating at the outside dining area also assisted AND even a passerby. We New Yorkers even helped the suffering gal with calling another friend. Monica's English wasn't that good, but she was very thankful for our help. Also, Janet gave Monica her name and cell phone number. May I add we did not leave the young woman’s side until the ambulance showed up and took her to the nearest hospital, along with her male companion. Definitely main topic of discussion while walking to the subway afterwards.
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. Martin Luther King
On Saturday, July 23rd, the NYC DoP group held its first "CongressionalTraining" event and guest speaker was Lynn McMullen from Peace Alliance. [She’s such a font of info, energy & inspiration.] Ecstatic that the nasty humidity and heat wave we'd been experiencing broke the night before and Saturday turned into a gorgeous clear day. It felt wonderful! Our event was held at a spiritual center down in the SoHo district of Manhattan. [One can take the #6 subway to Spring Street. Lots of awesome shopping and cafes in this funky area.] My food contribution to the event was homemade chocolate chip cookies, fudgy brownies and two different kinds of hummus. I also contributed copies of DoP info and other documentation. Due to subway trouble, which is typical for NYC on weekends, I was about 10 minutes late. Even though we’d seen each other Thursday evening, we all shared good wishes and hugs. One of my duties was as welcoming committee to our attendants, of which about 35+ showed up. This duty meant that I would miss out on the 30 minute meditation segment before the training began. The “congressional training” started at 1pm and was to run until 4:45pm. Lynn asked those attending their thoughts and/or comments on Dept of Peace. Some of the responses were:
1] World going to “hell in a handbag” and wants to be part of the change.
2] Curious about Politians response.
3] Learn about organization.
4] Vision for future and wants to be part of it.
5] Very concerned about terrorism and violence.
6] Wants people to wake up.
7] Declaration of peace at Constitutional level.
8] Learn non violent ways to speak and present ideas to others.
Lynn had some positive things to announce. One of which is that the Dept of Peace campaign now has 235 active Congressional District Team Leaders in the US. [Of which the Duchess is one of them in District 12.] She also said that “peace is a human desire”. Let me lightly touch on some topics Lynn talked about in relation to DoP. They were lobbying, reintroducing the bill, talking to senators, prison systems, Susan B. Anthony, schools, police/fire departments, poverty, domestic violence, the Peace Corps and volunteering. After a short break we split up into District Teams and worked on assignments given us by Lynn. [She stressed that honesty and integrity are key.] We networked, made connections and left feeling very inspired. Overall the whole event was an invigorating success.
P.S. Stay tuned for more "personal news" updates.
WORLD TURNING ITS BACK ON BRAND AMERICA
Kevin Allison in NY / UK Financial Times
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0802-02.htm
The US is increasingly viewed as a "culture-free zone" inhabited by arrogant and unfriendly people, according to study of 25 countries' brand reputations. The findings, published online today, will add to concerns that anti-Americanism is hurting companies whose products are considered to be distinctly "American". The Anholt-GMI Nation Brands Index found that although US foreign policy remained a key driver of hostility, dissatisfaction with the world's sole superpower might run deeper. "The US is still recognized as a leading place to do business, the home of desirable brands and popular culture," said Simon Anholt, author of the survey. "But its governance, its cultural heritage and its people are no longer widely respected or admired by the world."
NORTHERN ROCK
Ian Nathan / EMPIRE MAGAZINE Sept 2005
When it comes to the rugged bad guys, no-one in Hollywood is as hard as Sheffield's sharpest. Sean Bean has a scar above his left eye from the time Harrison Ford hit him with a boat-hook. It was an accident, of course. A miss-timed shot on the set of Patriot Games. And, in the long run, it just added to his nascent, rugged charm. A visible reminder that Bean has, over the last few years, become the best looking bad guy in town … Don't say a word, Equilibrium, National Treasure, you can argue Odysseus in Troy and poor Boromir had their character flaws, and he is at it again for future-shock thriller The Island.
"They are not just bad guys" implores Bean. "They're very enjoyable characters. They stretch a bit more, they go beyond the limits. And I wouldn't stop doing it because I think I'm putting out a bad image or something. I go by my gut instinct."
Let's talk about Merrick. He is the cold-eyed scientist who runs the cloning experiment that cultivates perfect body parts in The Island. "He's a very intelligent guy, very driven and medically very informed," he says, giving the case for the defense. "He believes in what he is doing - saving people's lives. Which he is, to some extent."
The problem is, he's doing it illicitly. He wasn't meant to birth fully-formed adults, and when two breaks out he orders their immediate termination. "I just tell people to do things," says Bean. "Merrick keeps his hands clean. Still, $200 million-worth of product, as he calls them, has to be removed."
There's a cunning sub-text to the character. If he has no faith, no religion, just a belief in the pioneering influence of science, then he will go untroubled by moral qualms. Thus, is he actually bad? "They're not humans to him, just pods," concludes Bean, who has researched and been quite unnerved by the extent of cloning science... "It will be possible to do that in five years" he marvels.
By current estimates, this 46-year-old, Sheffield-born, humble-as-pie actor, (really "Shaun"), who rose to fame as swashbuckling hero Sharpe and the lead Lothario in TV's Lady Chatterley alongside Joely Richardson, is assuredly the toast of Hollywood casting directors. He's got another three films in the bag -The Dark, Flightplan and Class Action - and is currently shooting horror videogame adaptation Silent Hill.
"The Dark is quite disturbing. It's a ghost story about kids and other worlds. Very challenging, that one. Flightplan, with Jodie Foster, is a thriller set on a massive plane. She loses her child onboard. I'm the captain, and I'm not sure if she's telling the truth. Class Action, with Charlize Theron, is by Niki Caro, who did Whale Rider, and is a real-life political drama, a true story, real characters, and you know what?" What? "They're all good guys."
Kevin Allison in NY / UK Financial Times
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0802-02.htm
The US is increasingly viewed as a "culture-free zone" inhabited by arrogant and unfriendly people, according to study of 25 countries' brand reputations. The findings, published online today, will add to concerns that anti-Americanism is hurting companies whose products are considered to be distinctly "American". The Anholt-GMI Nation Brands Index found that although US foreign policy remained a key driver of hostility, dissatisfaction with the world's sole superpower might run deeper. "The US is still recognized as a leading place to do business, the home of desirable brands and popular culture," said Simon Anholt, author of the survey. "But its governance, its cultural heritage and its people are no longer widely respected or admired by the world."
NORTHERN ROCK
Ian Nathan / EMPIRE MAGAZINE Sept 2005
When it comes to the rugged bad guys, no-one in Hollywood is as hard as Sheffield's sharpest. Sean Bean has a scar above his left eye from the time Harrison Ford hit him with a boat-hook. It was an accident, of course. A miss-timed shot on the set of Patriot Games. And, in the long run, it just added to his nascent, rugged charm. A visible reminder that Bean has, over the last few years, become the best looking bad guy in town … Don't say a word, Equilibrium, National Treasure, you can argue Odysseus in Troy and poor Boromir had their character flaws, and he is at it again for future-shock thriller The Island.
"They are not just bad guys" implores Bean. "They're very enjoyable characters. They stretch a bit more, they go beyond the limits. And I wouldn't stop doing it because I think I'm putting out a bad image or something. I go by my gut instinct."
Let's talk about Merrick. He is the cold-eyed scientist who runs the cloning experiment that cultivates perfect body parts in The Island. "He's a very intelligent guy, very driven and medically very informed," he says, giving the case for the defense. "He believes in what he is doing - saving people's lives. Which he is, to some extent."
The problem is, he's doing it illicitly. He wasn't meant to birth fully-formed adults, and when two breaks out he orders their immediate termination. "I just tell people to do things," says Bean. "Merrick keeps his hands clean. Still, $200 million-worth of product, as he calls them, has to be removed."
There's a cunning sub-text to the character. If he has no faith, no religion, just a belief in the pioneering influence of science, then he will go untroubled by moral qualms. Thus, is he actually bad? "They're not humans to him, just pods," concludes Bean, who has researched and been quite unnerved by the extent of cloning science... "It will be possible to do that in five years" he marvels.
By current estimates, this 46-year-old, Sheffield-born, humble-as-pie actor, (really "Shaun"), who rose to fame as swashbuckling hero Sharpe and the lead Lothario in TV's Lady Chatterley alongside Joely Richardson, is assuredly the toast of Hollywood casting directors. He's got another three films in the bag -The Dark, Flightplan and Class Action - and is currently shooting horror videogame adaptation Silent Hill.
"The Dark is quite disturbing. It's a ghost story about kids and other worlds. Very challenging, that one. Flightplan, with Jodie Foster, is a thriller set on a massive plane. She loses her child onboard. I'm the captain, and I'm not sure if she's telling the truth. Class Action, with Charlize Theron, is by Niki Caro, who did Whale Rider, and is a real-life political drama, a true story, real characters, and you know what?" What? "They're all good guys."
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
INTERESTING EVENTS COMING UP WHICH ARE SPONSORED BY "NOT IN OUR NAME"
If you missed the DISAPPEARED IN AMERICA exhibition (VISIBLE Collective) at the Queens Museum (which Not In Our Name assisted in producing), you have another opportunity now to see it at:
The Brecht Forum
451 West St. (West Side Hwy betw Bank & Bethune 1-1/2 blocks north of West 11th)
New York, NY 10014
Subways 1, 9, 2, 3, A, C to 14th Street
Phone: 212-242-4201
August 5th thru August 30th
Since 9/11, thousands of Muslim immigrants were detained in a security dragnet. The majority of those detained were from the invisible under class of cities like New York. They are the recent immigrants who drive our taxis, deliver our food, clean our restaurant tables and sell fruit, coffee and newspapers. The only time we see their faces are when we glance at the hack license in the taxi partition or the ID card around the neck of avendor. Already invisible in our cities, after detention, they have become "ghost prisoners." In this, there are eerie parallels to past witch-hunts, including the 1919 detention of 10,000 immigrants after anarchists bombed the Attorney General's home; the 1941 internment of 110,000 Japanese-Americans; the trial and execution of the Rosenbergs; and the HUAC black-listing under Senator Joseph McCarthy. While this work started in the U.S. context, it expanded to look at Europe, in recognition that anti-immigrant xenophobia, coupled with Islamophobia (a more acceptable shorthand for "dark masses"), is not a new or uniquely U.S. phenomenon.
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A film to be seen: WINTER SOLDIER
On the first two days of February 1971, one month after the revelations of the My Lai massacre, a public inquiry into war crimes committed by American forces in Vietnam was held in the second floor ballrooom of a Howard Johnson motel in Detroit. The event was organized by Vietnam Veterans Against the War with support from Jane Fonda and Mark Lane. Over 125 veterans spoke of atrocities they had witnessed and, in some cases, committed. Predictably, the event was picketed and ignored by news outlets, but it marked a major turning point in the anti-war movement. The courage of the veterans in testifying, their desire to prevent further atrocities and to regain their own humanity, provide a dramatic intensity that makes "Winter Soldier" an unforgettable experience. Acclaimed at film festivals around the world, the film was rejected as too incendiary by U.S.television and played only on New York's local public television station, WNET. Since then, only few screenings by the filmmakers have kept the legacy alive. This is a rare chance to have another look at this searing document. There will be a panel discussion following the 8 pm screening on Fri., August 12.
Fri Aug 12: 8; Sat Aug 13: 2 & 6; Sun Aug 14: 8; Mon Aug 15: 4:15; Wed Aug 17: 7:30; Thurs Aug 18: 2
LOCATION: Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center, NYC Phone: 212-875-5600
If you missed the DISAPPEARED IN AMERICA exhibition (VISIBLE Collective) at the Queens Museum (which Not In Our Name assisted in producing), you have another opportunity now to see it at:
The Brecht Forum
451 West St. (West Side Hwy betw Bank & Bethune 1-1/2 blocks north of West 11th)
New York, NY 10014
Subways 1, 9, 2, 3, A, C to 14th Street
Phone: 212-242-4201
August 5th thru August 30th
Since 9/11, thousands of Muslim immigrants were detained in a security dragnet. The majority of those detained were from the invisible under class of cities like New York. They are the recent immigrants who drive our taxis, deliver our food, clean our restaurant tables and sell fruit, coffee and newspapers. The only time we see their faces are when we glance at the hack license in the taxi partition or the ID card around the neck of avendor. Already invisible in our cities, after detention, they have become "ghost prisoners." In this, there are eerie parallels to past witch-hunts, including the 1919 detention of 10,000 immigrants after anarchists bombed the Attorney General's home; the 1941 internment of 110,000 Japanese-Americans; the trial and execution of the Rosenbergs; and the HUAC black-listing under Senator Joseph McCarthy. While this work started in the U.S. context, it expanded to look at Europe, in recognition that anti-immigrant xenophobia, coupled with Islamophobia (a more acceptable shorthand for "dark masses"), is not a new or uniquely U.S. phenomenon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A film to be seen: WINTER SOLDIER
On the first two days of February 1971, one month after the revelations of the My Lai massacre, a public inquiry into war crimes committed by American forces in Vietnam was held in the second floor ballrooom of a Howard Johnson motel in Detroit. The event was organized by Vietnam Veterans Against the War with support from Jane Fonda and Mark Lane. Over 125 veterans spoke of atrocities they had witnessed and, in some cases, committed. Predictably, the event was picketed and ignored by news outlets, but it marked a major turning point in the anti-war movement. The courage of the veterans in testifying, their desire to prevent further atrocities and to regain their own humanity, provide a dramatic intensity that makes "Winter Soldier" an unforgettable experience. Acclaimed at film festivals around the world, the film was rejected as too incendiary by U.S.television and played only on New York's local public television station, WNET. Since then, only few screenings by the filmmakers have kept the legacy alive. This is a rare chance to have another look at this searing document. There will be a panel discussion following the 8 pm screening on Fri., August 12.
Fri Aug 12: 8; Sat Aug 13: 2 & 6; Sun Aug 14: 8; Mon Aug 15: 4:15; Wed Aug 17: 7:30; Thurs Aug 18: 2
LOCATION: Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center, NYC Phone: 212-875-5600
Monday, August 01, 2005
PLEASE HELP OUT WITH OHIO SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION
On Tuesday, August 2nd there is a special election in Ohio's 2nd congressional district. Please join me in helping to send an Iraq War veteran to congress. Please forward this message to everyone you know asking them to support Paul Hackett. Go to: http://www.hackettforcongress.com
[Duchess Note - This message was sent to me by a fellow NYC Kucitizen. Thanks Peter!]
On Tuesday, August 2nd there is a special election in Ohio's 2nd congressional district. Please join me in helping to send an Iraq War veteran to congress. Please forward this message to everyone you know asking them to support Paul Hackett. Go to: http://www.hackettforcongress.com
[Duchess Note - This message was sent to me by a fellow NYC Kucitizen. Thanks Peter!]
THE LATEST NEWS THAT’S FIT TO PRINT & THEN SOME
THE END OF THE VIOLENCE
Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!
After 36 years, the Irish Republican Army lays down its weapons. Now what?http://www.alternet.org/story/23821/
DESPITE PROTESTS, BUSH INSTALLS BOLTON AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.
Reuters
WASHINGTON - President Bush bypassed the Senate and appointed John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Monday over the protests of Senate Democrats who complained he was abusive and would hurt U.S. credibility. "This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about U.N. reform. So today I've used my constitutional authority to appoint John Bolton as America's ambassador to the United Nations," Bush said during a White House Roosevelt Room ceremony.
SPEAKING OF THE FUTURE ESTABLISHMENT
Kristina Rizga, AlterNet
The current model of progressive activism on college campuses is a huge number of small organizations focusing on their own issues. How can campus newspapers unite them to affect bigger national agendas?
http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/23760/
BUSH NAMES BOLTON TO UN; DEMOCRAT CALLS BOLTON “DAMAGED GOODS”
Terence Hunt, Associated Press
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0801-02.htm
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... My task will be to take you on a journey into Truth, into the Blessed Country of Love, and there to show you to yourselves as God. My Masters, likewise, will take you by the hand and lead you to his divine feet. Message #53 from Maitreya
THE DEBATE THAT WASN'T
Joshua Holland, AlterNet
Due to the push for 'free' trade, more than 17 million Americans have traded skilled labor jobs for low-payingservice positions or the unemployment line. Are we ever going to talk about this?
http://www.alternet.org/story/23581/
TIME FOR HEALTH CARE FOR ALL ON MEDICARE’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Holly Sklar, Distributed by Knight Ridder
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0801-22.htm
'SUPREME' DEFEAT
Paul Loeb, AlterNet
Accepting SCOTUS nominee John Roberts as 'the best we can get' traps us in a cycle of low expectations.
http://www.alternet.org/story/23813/
A FEW OBSCENITIES FOR BLAIR AND COMPANY TO CHEW ON
Gwynne Dyer, Toronto Star
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0731.26.htm
Let's talk dirty. The 9/11 suicide hijackers — all Arabs — attacked the U.S. instead of Brazil or Japan because the U.S. government has been neck-deep in the politics of the Arab world for a generation, whereas the Brazilian and Japanese governments haven't. There is a connection between Washington's Mideast policies — its support for oppressive Arab regimes, its military interventions in the region, and its uncritical backing for Israeli government policies — and the fact that Americans have become the preferred targets for Islamist terrorist attacks.
OIL COMPANIES DISCOVER 'SUSTAINABILITY'
Charles I. Burch, Prairie Writers Circle
The companies have yet to admit that no scheme for providing sustainable energy can rely on petroleum.
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/23805/
THE END OF THE VIOLENCE
Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!
After 36 years, the Irish Republican Army lays down its weapons. Now what?http://www.alternet.org/story/23821/
DESPITE PROTESTS, BUSH INSTALLS BOLTON AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.
Reuters
WASHINGTON - President Bush bypassed the Senate and appointed John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Monday over the protests of Senate Democrats who complained he was abusive and would hurt U.S. credibility. "This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about U.N. reform. So today I've used my constitutional authority to appoint John Bolton as America's ambassador to the United Nations," Bush said during a White House Roosevelt Room ceremony.
SPEAKING OF THE FUTURE ESTABLISHMENT
Kristina Rizga, AlterNet
The current model of progressive activism on college campuses is a huge number of small organizations focusing on their own issues. How can campus newspapers unite them to affect bigger national agendas?
http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/23760/
BUSH NAMES BOLTON TO UN; DEMOCRAT CALLS BOLTON “DAMAGED GOODS”
Terence Hunt, Associated Press
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0801-02.htm
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... My task will be to take you on a journey into Truth, into the Blessed Country of Love, and there to show you to yourselves as God. My Masters, likewise, will take you by the hand and lead you to his divine feet. Message #53 from Maitreya
THE DEBATE THAT WASN'T
Joshua Holland, AlterNet
Due to the push for 'free' trade, more than 17 million Americans have traded skilled labor jobs for low-payingservice positions or the unemployment line. Are we ever going to talk about this?
http://www.alternet.org/story/23581/
TIME FOR HEALTH CARE FOR ALL ON MEDICARE’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Holly Sklar, Distributed by Knight Ridder
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0801-22.htm
'SUPREME' DEFEAT
Paul Loeb, AlterNet
Accepting SCOTUS nominee John Roberts as 'the best we can get' traps us in a cycle of low expectations.
http://www.alternet.org/story/23813/
A FEW OBSCENITIES FOR BLAIR AND COMPANY TO CHEW ON
Gwynne Dyer, Toronto Star
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0731.26.htm
Let's talk dirty. The 9/11 suicide hijackers — all Arabs — attacked the U.S. instead of Brazil or Japan because the U.S. government has been neck-deep in the politics of the Arab world for a generation, whereas the Brazilian and Japanese governments haven't. There is a connection between Washington's Mideast policies — its support for oppressive Arab regimes, its military interventions in the region, and its uncritical backing for Israeli government policies — and the fact that Americans have become the preferred targets for Islamist terrorist attacks.
OIL COMPANIES DISCOVER 'SUSTAINABILITY'
Charles I. Burch, Prairie Writers Circle
The companies have yet to admit that no scheme for providing sustainable energy can rely on petroleum.
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/23805/
Sunday, July 31, 2005
MESSAGE FROM PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA [PDA] REGARDING – Downing Street Minutes Next Steps - Resolution of Inquiry
Thanks in part to an overwhelming show of public outrage over the implications of the Downing Street Minutes; the light of inquiry is finally shining into the darkest corners of these administrations shady dealings. Suddenly, things are moving very quickly. On July 17, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) - along with 34 co-sponsors - introduced a Resolution of Inquiry in the House of Representatives. If it passes, the White House and the State Department will be required to "transmit all information relating to communication with officials of the United Kingdom between January 1, 2002, and October 16, 2002, relating to the policy of the United States with respect to Iraq."
This potentially paradigm-shifting resolution must be voted on in committee within fourteen legislative days of its introduction. The resolution will almost certainly be voted on in committee between September 6 and 16, because if it is not, Lee can demand a vote of the full House. If left standing, however, the resolution must be taken up again by September 16. Here’s where your help is needed: the more Congress Members in the full House who co-sponsor the resolution, the more likely it is to be approved by members of the committee. Now is the time to bring full pressure to bear on those representatives who remain uncommitted and to do all we can to get as many members as possible to sponsor this resolution.
When writing your representatives, tell them that information in the Downing Street Minutes strongly suggests that President Bush intentionally deceived Congress about the reasons for going to war. Tell them that if such is not the case, the administration should be eager to release the information contained in the additional official documents and see the President vindicated. Either way, Congress or the American people deserve to know the truth. Full disclosure is essential. No one is above the law. We will not stand for secrecy in our White House.
We have only a few days in which to urge our representatives to keep this pivotal resolution alive. Demand that committee members not only vote for it, but vow to discuss it at length and engage in substantive debate when the committee meets, forcing opposing members to go on record with their reasons for voting it down. The future of our country hangs in the balance. And, as always, PDA is here. Progressive representatives are working alongside the citizenry, pushing for truth and justice. Your participation and support are making this all possible. Thank you for all you're doing. TAKE ACTION HERE: http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/bills/?bill=7877436
QUOTE OF THE DAY - The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Abigail Adams, Paris 1787
MESSAGE FROM MARTY WALSH AT TEDKENNEDY.COM - Ignoring Reality
The White House needs a plan for success in Iraq. And over the past few weeks, more than 27,000 of you sent that message straight to the White House. It amazed me to watch the numbers grow -- first as a trickle, and then skyrocketing by the thousands. That outpouring from our growing online community demonstrates how Americans across Massachusetts and the country want to unite around what matters to us. The folks who delivered the petition have a post on our website's journal: http://www.tedkennedy.com/whdelivery
As out of touch as this President can seem, he can't ignore the growing skepticism about our progress in Iraq. And it's not partisan opposition -- its fundamental discontent seen in our returning soldiers, in congressional testimony, and among friends in the international community. While our soldiers fight overseas, the White House ignores its responsibility to offer a strategy for success. Granted, they have a host of questions to answer these days in Washington -- but some of them speak directly to the importance of this critical task. The sacrifices made in Iraq by our soldiers in Iraq -- brave Americans fighting for a country they value above of their own lives -- merit more than press conferences and photo-ops. Our troops deserve the hope that only a real plan for success can give them.
Ultimately, we the voters must hold this President and our leaders in Congress accountable -- and elect leaders who represent our values in Washington. That's why we need, more than ever, to stand together and stand with Senator Kennedy. I look forward to working with you over the next few months. Together, we will continue to give the Senator the support and energy he needs to keep standing up for our values.
[Duchess Note ... Some of what Mr. Walsh says on behalf of the Senator I don't believe in. Progress in Iraq? I don't think so. Be that as it may, I feel the general facts and message need to be broadcast far and wide. This Bush Regime needs to be held accountable for their numerous lies and deceptions.]
MESSAGE FROM THE FOLK AT ImpeachBush@VoteToImpeach.org -- Majority Believes Bush Misled the People
STEPS FORWARD FOR THE IMPEACHMENT MOVEMENT MAJORITY OF U.S. PUBLIC BELIEVES BUSH MISLED THE PEOPLE BUSES COMING FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. FOR SEPTEMBER 24
Haunted by the threat of impeachment, Bush has received the news that he dreaded most. A majority of the U.S. public doubts the United States will win in Iraq and believes Bush intentionally misled the country about Iraq's weapons capabilities, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll. Previous Gallop polls have asked the same questions, but this was the first time that over half of those polled - 51 per cent - believed Bush deliberately misled the people when he asserted Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, USA Today said. As we reported two weeks ago, more than "two-in-five voters (42%) say they would favor impeachment proceedings if it is found the President misled the nation about his reasons for going to war with Iraq," according to a recent Zogby Poll.
The war in Iraq is one of the greatest atrocities in recent times. The Bush Administration's combination of arrogance with an utter disregard for the law requires Congress to immediately proceed with filing Articles of Impeachment. Tens of millions of people know with certainty that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and other leading officials lied to them. That is why the impeachment movement has developed as a nationwide grassroots political phenomenon. On September 24, hundreds of thousands of people will be in the streets for major antiwar demonstrations in Washington DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The impeachment movement is organizing a major contingent for September 24 at the White House.
ImpeachBush.org/VoteToImpeach.org signs and banners will be everywhere that day. Thanks to the support of so many people, the publicity and outreach campaign is in full gear and will get stronger in the weeks ahead. Supporting this campaign makes all the difference. Listed below are some of the cities that we know are already mobilizing buses and car caravans to come to the September 24 demonstration at the White House. It is already an incredible list that will surely double in size as we intensify our work, getting out leaflets, posters, stickers as well as the phone banking and national outreach efforts. This is a huge, national effort and the expenses are great. Every day volunteers sacrifice their time and energy. But we can only succeed with the donations and contributions of people who believe that nothing is more important than holding Bush and other high officials accountable for their criminal conduct. Please make a contribution and tell a friend and family member to so as well. To make a contribution on our secure server, where you can also obtain information to write a check, click here: http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=nIjaaNDKxF0lmpjyhwuhog
Cities already organizing transportation to the White House on September 24 include:
Albuquerque, NM
Ann Arbor, MI
Baltimore, MD
Bangor, ME
Berkeley Springs, WV
Birmingham, AL
Boston, MA
Buffalo, NY
Cape May, NJ
Charlotte, NC
Chattanooga, TN
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Cobleskill, NY
Dallas, TX
Detroit, MI
Dubuque, IA
Evansville, IN
Fayetteville, NC
Gainesville, FL
Geneseo, NY
Gulfport, MS
Hackensack, NJ
Harrisburg, PA
Harrisonburg, VA
Hattiesburg, MS
Jacksonville, FL
Kingston, NY
Lancaster, PA
Lafayette, LA
Linwood, NJ
Louisville, KY
Luck, WI
Macon, GA
Memphis, TN
Meridian, MS
Burlington, VT
Montpelier, VT
New Brunswick, NJ
New Paltz, NY
New York City, NY
Newark, DE
Newark, NJ
Pleasantville, NJ
Poughkeepsie, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Reno, NV
Richmond, VA
Rochester, NY
Sarasota, FL
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Schenectady, NY
St. Petersburg, FL
Tuscaloosa, AL
West Chester, PA
[Duchess highlighted the cities near where I live in Brooklyn, NY]
Thanks in part to an overwhelming show of public outrage over the implications of the Downing Street Minutes; the light of inquiry is finally shining into the darkest corners of these administrations shady dealings. Suddenly, things are moving very quickly. On July 17, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) - along with 34 co-sponsors - introduced a Resolution of Inquiry in the House of Representatives. If it passes, the White House and the State Department will be required to "transmit all information relating to communication with officials of the United Kingdom between January 1, 2002, and October 16, 2002, relating to the policy of the United States with respect to Iraq."
This potentially paradigm-shifting resolution must be voted on in committee within fourteen legislative days of its introduction. The resolution will almost certainly be voted on in committee between September 6 and 16, because if it is not, Lee can demand a vote of the full House. If left standing, however, the resolution must be taken up again by September 16. Here’s where your help is needed: the more Congress Members in the full House who co-sponsor the resolution, the more likely it is to be approved by members of the committee. Now is the time to bring full pressure to bear on those representatives who remain uncommitted and to do all we can to get as many members as possible to sponsor this resolution.
When writing your representatives, tell them that information in the Downing Street Minutes strongly suggests that President Bush intentionally deceived Congress about the reasons for going to war. Tell them that if such is not the case, the administration should be eager to release the information contained in the additional official documents and see the President vindicated. Either way, Congress or the American people deserve to know the truth. Full disclosure is essential. No one is above the law. We will not stand for secrecy in our White House.
We have only a few days in which to urge our representatives to keep this pivotal resolution alive. Demand that committee members not only vote for it, but vow to discuss it at length and engage in substantive debate when the committee meets, forcing opposing members to go on record with their reasons for voting it down. The future of our country hangs in the balance. And, as always, PDA is here. Progressive representatives are working alongside the citizenry, pushing for truth and justice. Your participation and support are making this all possible. Thank you for all you're doing. TAKE ACTION HERE: http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/bills/?bill=7877436
QUOTE OF THE DAY - The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Abigail Adams, Paris 1787
MESSAGE FROM MARTY WALSH AT TEDKENNEDY.COM - Ignoring Reality
The White House needs a plan for success in Iraq. And over the past few weeks, more than 27,000 of you sent that message straight to the White House. It amazed me to watch the numbers grow -- first as a trickle, and then skyrocketing by the thousands. That outpouring from our growing online community demonstrates how Americans across Massachusetts and the country want to unite around what matters to us. The folks who delivered the petition have a post on our website's journal: http://www.tedkennedy.com/whdelivery
As out of touch as this President can seem, he can't ignore the growing skepticism about our progress in Iraq. And it's not partisan opposition -- its fundamental discontent seen in our returning soldiers, in congressional testimony, and among friends in the international community. While our soldiers fight overseas, the White House ignores its responsibility to offer a strategy for success. Granted, they have a host of questions to answer these days in Washington -- but some of them speak directly to the importance of this critical task. The sacrifices made in Iraq by our soldiers in Iraq -- brave Americans fighting for a country they value above of their own lives -- merit more than press conferences and photo-ops. Our troops deserve the hope that only a real plan for success can give them.
Ultimately, we the voters must hold this President and our leaders in Congress accountable -- and elect leaders who represent our values in Washington. That's why we need, more than ever, to stand together and stand with Senator Kennedy. I look forward to working with you over the next few months. Together, we will continue to give the Senator the support and energy he needs to keep standing up for our values.
[Duchess Note ... Some of what Mr. Walsh says on behalf of the Senator I don't believe in. Progress in Iraq? I don't think so. Be that as it may, I feel the general facts and message need to be broadcast far and wide. This Bush Regime needs to be held accountable for their numerous lies and deceptions.]
MESSAGE FROM THE FOLK AT ImpeachBush@VoteToImpeach.org -- Majority Believes Bush Misled the People
STEPS FORWARD FOR THE IMPEACHMENT MOVEMENT MAJORITY OF U.S. PUBLIC BELIEVES BUSH MISLED THE PEOPLE BUSES COMING FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. FOR SEPTEMBER 24
Haunted by the threat of impeachment, Bush has received the news that he dreaded most. A majority of the U.S. public doubts the United States will win in Iraq and believes Bush intentionally misled the country about Iraq's weapons capabilities, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll. Previous Gallop polls have asked the same questions, but this was the first time that over half of those polled - 51 per cent - believed Bush deliberately misled the people when he asserted Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, USA Today said. As we reported two weeks ago, more than "two-in-five voters (42%) say they would favor impeachment proceedings if it is found the President misled the nation about his reasons for going to war with Iraq," according to a recent Zogby Poll.
The war in Iraq is one of the greatest atrocities in recent times. The Bush Administration's combination of arrogance with an utter disregard for the law requires Congress to immediately proceed with filing Articles of Impeachment. Tens of millions of people know with certainty that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and other leading officials lied to them. That is why the impeachment movement has developed as a nationwide grassroots political phenomenon. On September 24, hundreds of thousands of people will be in the streets for major antiwar demonstrations in Washington DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The impeachment movement is organizing a major contingent for September 24 at the White House.
ImpeachBush.org/VoteToImpeach.org signs and banners will be everywhere that day. Thanks to the support of so many people, the publicity and outreach campaign is in full gear and will get stronger in the weeks ahead. Supporting this campaign makes all the difference. Listed below are some of the cities that we know are already mobilizing buses and car caravans to come to the September 24 demonstration at the White House. It is already an incredible list that will surely double in size as we intensify our work, getting out leaflets, posters, stickers as well as the phone banking and national outreach efforts. This is a huge, national effort and the expenses are great. Every day volunteers sacrifice their time and energy. But we can only succeed with the donations and contributions of people who believe that nothing is more important than holding Bush and other high officials accountable for their criminal conduct. Please make a contribution and tell a friend and family member to so as well. To make a contribution on our secure server, where you can also obtain information to write a check, click here: http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=nIjaaNDKxF0lmpjyhwuhog
Cities already organizing transportation to the White House on September 24 include:
Albuquerque, NM
Ann Arbor, MI
Baltimore, MD
Bangor, ME
Berkeley Springs, WV
Birmingham, AL
Boston, MA
Buffalo, NY
Cape May, NJ
Charlotte, NC
Chattanooga, TN
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Cobleskill, NY
Dallas, TX
Detroit, MI
Dubuque, IA
Evansville, IN
Fayetteville, NC
Gainesville, FL
Geneseo, NY
Gulfport, MS
Hackensack, NJ
Harrisburg, PA
Harrisonburg, VA
Hattiesburg, MS
Jacksonville, FL
Kingston, NY
Lancaster, PA
Lafayette, LA
Linwood, NJ
Louisville, KY
Luck, WI
Macon, GA
Memphis, TN
Meridian, MS
Burlington, VT
Montpelier, VT
New Brunswick, NJ
New Paltz, NY
New York City, NY
Newark, DE
Newark, NJ
Pleasantville, NJ
Poughkeepsie, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Reno, NV
Richmond, VA
Rochester, NY
Sarasota, FL
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Schenectady, NY
St. Petersburg, FL
Tuscaloosa, AL
West Chester, PA
[Duchess highlighted the cities near where I live in Brooklyn, NY]
Saturday, July 30, 2005
PERSONAL NEWS #64Back on July 16th, on my way to catch a MetroNorth train to Yonkers, I purchased the new Harry Potter book. Bought it at 30% off at Posman Books in Grand Central Station. Didn't care what it cost so long as I could start reading it ASAP. Proceeded to read it on the train ride to and from Yonkers that day. Finished it a few days later at 12:30am. Definitely a good story, tho the last two Potter books were far better.
Plus, I had some questions end of "Half Blood Prince". The ending of this book didn't upset me like "Order of the Phoenix". My initial reaction was more like "what the hell". Why?!? Also, my second thought was the next book [also the last] will be one hell of a roller coaster ride. The week following the release of the book saw all types of folk on NYC 7 & G subways reading the new novel. [smiling] But I digress from July 16th and my volunteer work at Yonkers Ferret Shelter. It'd been 2 1/2 months since my last volunteer visit and I missed the wee ones. It's always a pleasure seeing Joanne, as well as her two sometimes rambunctious dogs [ie: Harley & Mikey]. We caught up on news, gossip and health issues before commencing with duties in the shelter. Halfway thru my duties a hispanic family stopped by to drop off their 2 one-year old ferrets.
[Little Baxter (photo) is such an adorable DEW ferret.]Apparently they couldn't or didn't want to handle the responsibility. This happens alot with families who purchase baby [kits] ferrets without knowledge of how to be good responsible owners. They just think their cute and thats it. Sigh! Got alot accomplished that afternoon, enjoyed my visit and ferret fix has been satisfied. [smiling]
On Tuesday morning, July 19th, I briefly stop by the Greenpoint Clinic to give blood for my upcoming lung biopsy. The Bronchoscopy is slated for Thursday morning, July 28th, at the Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn. Also, my neighbor [John] was helping me with repair work on my kitchen sink and removing a nasty stinky clog in the system. I may be good at baking and cooking, but when it comes to other kitchen "stuff", I can sometimes be clueless. :-)
QUOTE OF THE DAY - We learn from history that we do not learn from history. Georg Wilhelm Hegel
On Wednesday, July 20th, I participated in the New York Dept of Peace congressional district team leader conference call, which was hosted by Kevin. Four other district team leaders were online including me and with Kevin it was five. We had a nice, productive one hour call. I believe Pricilla mentioned the following website ... http://wwwcongressmerge.com
Other main topic during the conference call was "experiences in writing to and/or calling our congressperson". I'm in the 12th district and Nydia Velazquez is my congressperson. She was a co-sponsor last time for the DoP bill. I need to contact her in August about signing on again for this 109th Congress. Much work to do between now and the Peace Conference in September. Plus the Dept of Peace bill will be re-introduced into Legislation on September14th by Congressman Kucinich. So it'll coinside as close as possible to the 9/11 anniversary. We need peace and love in this country and the world, NOT constant war and fear. [More peacemakers and less warmongers.] To learn more, go to http://www.dopcampaign.org
Friday, July 29, 2005
AFTER TASTE OF CALM, APPETITE FOR PEACE
Warren Hoge / NY Times
[Duchess Note ... Peace does work for any state or country, as evident by this article (link below). To learn more about the Dept of Peace campaign in your area, go to ... http://wwwdopcampaign.org]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/29/international/europe/29ira.html?ex=1123300800&en=8d48e4a37e8b0420&ei=5070&emc=eta1
Warren Hoge / NY Times
[Duchess Note ... Peace does work for any state or country, as evident by this article (link below). To learn more about the Dept of Peace campaign in your area, go to ... http://wwwdopcampaign.org]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/29/international/europe/29ira.html?ex=1123300800&en=8d48e4a37e8b0420&ei=5070&emc=eta1
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
PERSONAL NEWS #63
Saturday, July 9th, started out in the morning with a visit to my massage therapist and chiropractor in my neighborhood. After the 45 minute long treatment I felt wonderful and energized. That afternoon, around 2pm, I went to the NYC Tolkien/LOTRs group luncheon at Café le Fortuna on the upper Westside. I so enjoyed chatting with others who have a similar passion for Tolkien’s work, as well as love for the LOTR movie trilogy. The café has an outdoor garden in the back, with awnings, where one can dine el fresco. Those in attendance were Jackie, Syndi, Mike, Lefty, Carole, Becca, Josh and I. [photo below - Mike took pix] Some had a late lunch and those, like me, indulged in delicious iced liquid refreshment. Good thing we were under a large sheltered awning … as a brief nasty thunderstorm passed thru Manhattan.
Then it cleared up and was a lovely sunny day. Of the group, I was the only Boromir admirer and the others were mostly into the hobbits, Aragorn and Legolas. Actually, in the books I gravitate to Gandalf, but in the movies it’s strictly Boromir. When Josh showed up he brought a LOTRs board game with him and we spent 1 ½ hours trying to figure it out. After much head scratching, puzzled expressions and jocularity, we decided to attempt it on another occasion. I had such a fun time hanging out and we all exchanged email addys.
On Sunday, July 10th, I was invited to brunch at a fellow DoP members [Karen] apartment in midtown Manhattan. Due to the subways being so messed up, I arrived about 30 minutes late. [I curse NYC transit! Damn you!] Several DoP members were there including Carol along with hubby Gary, Joe with his wife Marie, and Ellen showed up with her friend Andy and dear Liz. Members of Karen’s family were also in attendance and even some of her co-workers. Donna, from the FOR Non-Violent Training, came and it was a pleasure seeing her again. On the kitchen table, which Karen turned into a charming buffet, were all sorts of yummy homemade goodies. Around the apartment were scattered delightful floral arrangements. As people left around 2:30pmish … we were handed little bags of candies, sort of like party favors.
Monday, July 11th, I hooked up with two other Yahoo "Bean Buffs" to view celebs arriving for THE ISLAND premiere at Ziegfeld Theater. [Weather was very warm and humid that day.] Main reason I was there with the “Buffs” [ie: Sara & Debbie] was to see the talented, handsome, sexy British actor Sean Bean. He plays another bad guy [Dr Merrick] role in this film. Sean showed up in a limo with his current girlfriend, actress Georgina Sutcliffe. [She’s an attractive young lady, but overall I can’t say I was impressed.] We fans of the movie’s many “stars” had to view the proceedings from across the street. Once all the “photos” were taken, Georgina went into the theater and Sean worked the line of reporters for about 25 minutes. From across the street we mostly saw him from behind and the occasional side profile. All of which are so dishy. Of all the celebs that showed up for the premiere, only one of them came across the street to shake hands and briefly chat with us fans. And that was the impressive Michael Duncan Clarke. The film officially opened on Friday, July 22nd, and I hope to view it the weekend of July 30th.
On Thursday, July 14th, I attended my third "support group" session at Karen’s place. A portion of the session was devoted to Carol and hearing about her amazing trip to South Africa back in June. Also at this session were Janet, Joe, Maria and Liz. As always I find the support group experience to be very uplifting and healing. Plus it’s a learning experience as I travel this path of awakening and spiritual enlightenment. Afterwards I hopped a taxi on up to upper Westside to join "NYCTolkien" meetup, which was already in progress. I joined Jackie, Becca, Katie, Stephanie, Katalina and enjoyed the refreshing delight of an iced Cappuccino with scoop of chocolate ice cream. Total yummers! One of the gals brought a Tolkien book, which was letters written between father/son during WWII. Totally fascinating! Shortly after 10pm some of the group left. Then it was just Becca, Jackie and I. We talked and laughed on a variety of topics, and finally left the café at 11:30pm. What a great evening.
Saturday, July 9th, started out in the morning with a visit to my massage therapist and chiropractor in my neighborhood. After the 45 minute long treatment I felt wonderful and energized. That afternoon, around 2pm, I went to the NYC Tolkien/LOTRs group luncheon at Café le Fortuna on the upper Westside. I so enjoyed chatting with others who have a similar passion for Tolkien’s work, as well as love for the LOTR movie trilogy. The café has an outdoor garden in the back, with awnings, where one can dine el fresco. Those in attendance were Jackie, Syndi, Mike, Lefty, Carole, Becca, Josh and I. [photo below - Mike took pix] Some had a late lunch and those, like me, indulged in delicious iced liquid refreshment. Good thing we were under a large sheltered awning … as a brief nasty thunderstorm passed thru Manhattan.
Then it cleared up and was a lovely sunny day. Of the group, I was the only Boromir admirer and the others were mostly into the hobbits, Aragorn and Legolas. Actually, in the books I gravitate to Gandalf, but in the movies it’s strictly Boromir. When Josh showed up he brought a LOTRs board game with him and we spent 1 ½ hours trying to figure it out. After much head scratching, puzzled expressions and jocularity, we decided to attempt it on another occasion. I had such a fun time hanging out and we all exchanged email addys.
On Sunday, July 10th, I was invited to brunch at a fellow DoP members [Karen] apartment in midtown Manhattan. Due to the subways being so messed up, I arrived about 30 minutes late. [I curse NYC transit! Damn you!] Several DoP members were there including Carol along with hubby Gary, Joe with his wife Marie, and Ellen showed up with her friend Andy and dear Liz. Members of Karen’s family were also in attendance and even some of her co-workers. Donna, from the FOR Non-Violent Training, came and it was a pleasure seeing her again. On the kitchen table, which Karen turned into a charming buffet, were all sorts of yummy homemade goodies. Around the apartment were scattered delightful floral arrangements. As people left around 2:30pmish … we were handed little bags of candies, sort of like party favors.
Monday, July 11th, I hooked up with two other Yahoo "Bean Buffs" to view celebs arriving for THE ISLAND premiere at Ziegfeld Theater. [Weather was very warm and humid that day.] Main reason I was there with the “Buffs” [ie: Sara & Debbie] was to see the talented, handsome, sexy British actor Sean Bean. He plays another bad guy [Dr Merrick] role in this film. Sean showed up in a limo with his current girlfriend, actress Georgina Sutcliffe. [She’s an attractive young lady, but overall I can’t say I was impressed.] We fans of the movie’s many “stars” had to view the proceedings from across the street. Once all the “photos” were taken, Georgina went into the theater and Sean worked the line of reporters for about 25 minutes. From across the street we mostly saw him from behind and the occasional side profile. All of which are so dishy. Of all the celebs that showed up for the premiere, only one of them came across the street to shake hands and briefly chat with us fans. And that was the impressive Michael Duncan Clarke. The film officially opened on Friday, July 22nd, and I hope to view it the weekend of July 30th.
On Thursday, July 14th, I attended my third "support group" session at Karen’s place. A portion of the session was devoted to Carol and hearing about her amazing trip to South Africa back in June. Also at this session were Janet, Joe, Maria and Liz. As always I find the support group experience to be very uplifting and healing. Plus it’s a learning experience as I travel this path of awakening and spiritual enlightenment. Afterwards I hopped a taxi on up to upper Westside to join "NYCTolkien" meetup, which was already in progress. I joined Jackie, Becca, Katie, Stephanie, Katalina and enjoyed the refreshing delight of an iced Cappuccino with scoop of chocolate ice cream. Total yummers! One of the gals brought a Tolkien book, which was letters written between father/son during WWII. Totally fascinating! Shortly after 10pm some of the group left. Then it was just Becca, Jackie and I. We talked and laughed on a variety of topics, and finally left the café at 11:30pm. What a great evening.
BEAN BAGS ANOTHER BAD GUY
Ian Spelling / Film Stew Website
http://www.filmstew.com/Content/Article.asp?Pg=1&ContentID=11994
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... I think that people want peace so much that one of these days government had better get out of their way and let them have it. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Ian Spelling / Film Stew Website
http://www.filmstew.com/Content/Article.asp?Pg=1&ContentID=11994
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... I think that people want peace so much that one of these days government had better get out of their way and let them have it. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY: The 9/11 News Special You Never Saw
Tonight at 7 PM
The Sixth Street Community Center
638 6th Street, between Avenue B & C
This is a 70-minute sequel to The Great Deception by Barrie Zwicker who was the first mainstream journalist in the world to go on air (in January 2002) and ask hard questions about the official story of 9/11. The Great Deception is a compilation of his series of seven commentaries on 9/11. In The Great Conspiracy, Zwicker updates and expands his critique. With the examples of historical precedents of the attacks of 9/11 we get a deep understanding of the imperial agenda that created the conditions for this act of state-sponsored terrorism. He analyses the use of fear to befuddle the public. He deconstructs the so-called "war on terrorism." He examines in depth the failure of the military on 9/11 and George Bush's highly inappropriate behavior that day. He finds the 9/11 Commission to be a total cover-up operation. You'll see the shocking evidence showing that the collapse of WTC7 was a controlled demolition. Throughout, he analyses the role of the mainstream media as complicit in keeping the public massively misinformed and befuddled. And he suggests what we can do. Since NYC was the scene of the crime, please bring friends and family so that we can create a broad-based consciousness of the forces shaping our aggressive military policy and police state conditions at home. ADMISSION IS FREE AND DONATIONS ACCEPTED.
WHAT BUSH DOESN'T KNOW
Bob Herbert / NY Times
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0725-21.htm
There is still no indication that the Bush administration recognizes the utter folly of its war in Iraq, which has been like a constant spray of gasoline on the fire of global terrorism. What was required in the aftermath of Sept. 11 was an intense, laserlike focus by America and its allies on Al Qaeda-type terrorism. Instead, the Bush crowd saw its long dreamed of opportunity to impose its will on Iraq, which had nothing to do with the great tragedy of Sept. 11. Many thousands have paid a fearful price for that bit of ideological madness.
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having. Henry Miller [writer]
FILMMAKER TESTS BOUNDARIES OF SCIENCE
By Claudia Parsons / Movie Review
Michael Bay, who directed Armageddon, likes big bangs, fast chases and fancy gadgets, but his latest movie, The Island, takes a new turn, addressing the pressing political issue of cloning and the ethics of science. Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson play two clones who escape from a secret institution. "I want people when they walk out of this movie to think 'If I could, would I want a clone?"' Bay told reporters while promoting the film in New York. "We all want to live longer but how far would you go? Would you be selfish enough to take someone's life to live longer?"
The movie starts with a view of Lincoln Six-Echo, played by McGregor, who lives with hundreds of other people in an apparently Utopian facility where everybody wears white and has their every move monitored and controlled. The residents live in hope of winning the lottery that will allow them to go to The Island, reportedly the last place on the planet uncontaminated by environmental disaster. Conversations with a technician played by Steve Buscemi awaken Lincoln's curiosity. He then discovers that his real purpose is to provide spare parts for rich and famous humans who have paid US$5 million ($7.4 million) to be cloned.
He and Johansson's character escape with a band of mercenaries in hot pursuit, at which point Bay gets to go to town on big action stunts and flashy chase scenes. Early reviews have been positive, though its echoes of films such as Logan's Run and The Matrix may irk some. "The Island starts off an aggressively derivative sci-fi thriller, then morphs into an above-average chase melodrama," the Hollywood Reporter said in its review, which also noted that the film was an "ethical horror story". "What's troubling from a political point of view is that these film-makers have, perhaps unwittingly, delivered a film certain to give succor to the religious right," it said.
Bay brushes off questions about the politics of his film, insisting he sees it as a "popcorn" movie aimed at entertainment rather than a contribution to serious debate about genetics or stem-cell research. Stem cells offer the potential for progress in curing diseases such as Alzheimer's. But because embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos, which are destroyed in the process, the research has raised ethical issues and President George W. Bush has vowed to veto a bill expanding their use. "I've met several stem-cell researchers; it's amazing how they feel they can cure so many diseases," Bay said. "This film is just taking cloning in a science fiction way to the nth degree. It's just to open discussion," he said.
Several of the actors also said they did not see it as a cautionary tale against research. "I certainly hope we don't get to the point that we're cloning whole human beings and harvesting them for body parts but I do believe that stem-cell research should be funded and supported,” said Buscemi. "I hope no one would use this film to make the case against stem-cell research," he said. "Of course the technology is probably there. If we can clone an animal we can probably clone a human being. "Should we? No. But that doesn't mean we should stop research in trying to cure diseases."
Paul Levinson, a professor of media and communications at New York's Fordham University, said that historically, movie audiences had proved their ability to discern fact from fiction. "These kind of movies serve an important public service, which is getting these issues before the public in a vivid and dramatic way," said Levinson, author of five sci-fi novels.
British actor Sean Bean's character [photo at left] provides the most complex insights on the issue. He plays the director of the institute who pioneers the technology for birthing adult human clones, or "products" in the terminology of the movie. "He's standing up for science; it's a clash between humanity and science," said Bean, who played Boromir in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. "That's what drives him. It's not really a question of money. It's more the science and how far he can push the boundaries," Bean said. "I think he feels very good about what he's created. As far as he's concerned he's saving lives.”
Support Is Growing For Bringing The Troops Home -- Get Representative Nydia Velazquez (Or Your Congressional District Representative) To Push for Iraq Troop Withdrawal
Thirty Congressmembers have already joined a call for President Bush to come up with a plan for bringing the troops home. [Personalize message here at: http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/IraqExitStrategy Ask your representative to sign on, and make it count. Research proves that your words are almost ten times more likely to convince a Congressperson than a standard form letter. The resolution in Congress pushing President Bush to plan an Iraq pullout is gathering steam. You probably didn't hear about this in the newspapers last week, but it will be news soon. Now's the time to give this resolution a big push. Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr., Republican from North Carolina, led the way by introducing a bipartisan resolution calling for President Bush to come up with a plan by the end of this year to withdraw the troops from Iraq, and for the withdrawal to start no later than October of 2006. Rep. Jones became famous for changing the name of the french fries served in the congressional cafeteria to "freedom fries" when France came out against invading Iraq. He also represents Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, where many new recruits go for basic training, so it is significant that he is publicly breaking with Bush policy.
When we first alerted you about this opportunity, Rep. Jones had three other members of Congress as co-sponsors TrueMajority members sent 50,000 messages of support for the idea to Congress, and now the resolution has thirty co-sponsors, including some of the most conservative Representatives. This week, we and our friends at MoveOn, Working Assets, and other progressive groups are making a major push to double that number. Representative Nydia Velazquez has not yet signed on to support the "Homeward Bound" resolution. If you aren't yet a member of TrueMajority, or if you'd like to personalize the message, click here: http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/IraqExitStrategy
This is how quagmires like this end. First, public support drops, and polls already show that Americans' support for this war is declining. Next, Congress begins to pressure the administration to come up with a way out. That is what this resolution does. Finally, if the administration continues to fight calls for withdrawal, Congress pulls the plug on the money. That is how the war in Vietnam eventually ended. We understand that this resolution gives the Bush administration a long time to keep our troops in Iraq, but it is an important first step toward bringing them home. Not having a real exit strategy and timetable only helps the insurgents, who claim that we intend to stay. We need to get off that path if we want the people of Iraq to ever live in a stable, peaceful nation. Please share this message with anyone else you know who cares about peace. Message from Darcy Scott Martin in Washington DC.
Tonight at 7 PM
The Sixth Street Community Center
638 6th Street, between Avenue B & C
This is a 70-minute sequel to The Great Deception by Barrie Zwicker who was the first mainstream journalist in the world to go on air (in January 2002) and ask hard questions about the official story of 9/11. The Great Deception is a compilation of his series of seven commentaries on 9/11. In The Great Conspiracy, Zwicker updates and expands his critique. With the examples of historical precedents of the attacks of 9/11 we get a deep understanding of the imperial agenda that created the conditions for this act of state-sponsored terrorism. He analyses the use of fear to befuddle the public. He deconstructs the so-called "war on terrorism." He examines in depth the failure of the military on 9/11 and George Bush's highly inappropriate behavior that day. He finds the 9/11 Commission to be a total cover-up operation. You'll see the shocking evidence showing that the collapse of WTC7 was a controlled demolition. Throughout, he analyses the role of the mainstream media as complicit in keeping the public massively misinformed and befuddled. And he suggests what we can do. Since NYC was the scene of the crime, please bring friends and family so that we can create a broad-based consciousness of the forces shaping our aggressive military policy and police state conditions at home. ADMISSION IS FREE AND DONATIONS ACCEPTED.
WHAT BUSH DOESN'T KNOW
Bob Herbert / NY Times
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0725-21.htm
There is still no indication that the Bush administration recognizes the utter folly of its war in Iraq, which has been like a constant spray of gasoline on the fire of global terrorism. What was required in the aftermath of Sept. 11 was an intense, laserlike focus by America and its allies on Al Qaeda-type terrorism. Instead, the Bush crowd saw its long dreamed of opportunity to impose its will on Iraq, which had nothing to do with the great tragedy of Sept. 11. Many thousands have paid a fearful price for that bit of ideological madness.
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having. Henry Miller [writer]
FILMMAKER TESTS BOUNDARIES OF SCIENCE
By Claudia Parsons / Movie Review
Michael Bay, who directed Armageddon, likes big bangs, fast chases and fancy gadgets, but his latest movie, The Island, takes a new turn, addressing the pressing political issue of cloning and the ethics of science. Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson play two clones who escape from a secret institution. "I want people when they walk out of this movie to think 'If I could, would I want a clone?"' Bay told reporters while promoting the film in New York. "We all want to live longer but how far would you go? Would you be selfish enough to take someone's life to live longer?"
The movie starts with a view of Lincoln Six-Echo, played by McGregor, who lives with hundreds of other people in an apparently Utopian facility where everybody wears white and has their every move monitored and controlled. The residents live in hope of winning the lottery that will allow them to go to The Island, reportedly the last place on the planet uncontaminated by environmental disaster. Conversations with a technician played by Steve Buscemi awaken Lincoln's curiosity. He then discovers that his real purpose is to provide spare parts for rich and famous humans who have paid US$5 million ($7.4 million) to be cloned.
He and Johansson's character escape with a band of mercenaries in hot pursuit, at which point Bay gets to go to town on big action stunts and flashy chase scenes. Early reviews have been positive, though its echoes of films such as Logan's Run and The Matrix may irk some. "The Island starts off an aggressively derivative sci-fi thriller, then morphs into an above-average chase melodrama," the Hollywood Reporter said in its review, which also noted that the film was an "ethical horror story". "What's troubling from a political point of view is that these film-makers have, perhaps unwittingly, delivered a film certain to give succor to the religious right," it said.
Bay brushes off questions about the politics of his film, insisting he sees it as a "popcorn" movie aimed at entertainment rather than a contribution to serious debate about genetics or stem-cell research. Stem cells offer the potential for progress in curing diseases such as Alzheimer's. But because embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos, which are destroyed in the process, the research has raised ethical issues and President George W. Bush has vowed to veto a bill expanding their use. "I've met several stem-cell researchers; it's amazing how they feel they can cure so many diseases," Bay said. "This film is just taking cloning in a science fiction way to the nth degree. It's just to open discussion," he said.
Several of the actors also said they did not see it as a cautionary tale against research. "I certainly hope we don't get to the point that we're cloning whole human beings and harvesting them for body parts but I do believe that stem-cell research should be funded and supported,” said Buscemi. "I hope no one would use this film to make the case against stem-cell research," he said. "Of course the technology is probably there. If we can clone an animal we can probably clone a human being. "Should we? No. But that doesn't mean we should stop research in trying to cure diseases."
Paul Levinson, a professor of media and communications at New York's Fordham University, said that historically, movie audiences had proved their ability to discern fact from fiction. "These kind of movies serve an important public service, which is getting these issues before the public in a vivid and dramatic way," said Levinson, author of five sci-fi novels.
British actor Sean Bean's character [photo at left] provides the most complex insights on the issue. He plays the director of the institute who pioneers the technology for birthing adult human clones, or "products" in the terminology of the movie. "He's standing up for science; it's a clash between humanity and science," said Bean, who played Boromir in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. "That's what drives him. It's not really a question of money. It's more the science and how far he can push the boundaries," Bean said. "I think he feels very good about what he's created. As far as he's concerned he's saving lives.”
Support Is Growing For Bringing The Troops Home -- Get Representative Nydia Velazquez (Or Your Congressional District Representative) To Push for Iraq Troop Withdrawal
Thirty Congressmembers have already joined a call for President Bush to come up with a plan for bringing the troops home. [Personalize message here at: http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/IraqExitStrategy Ask your representative to sign on, and make it count. Research proves that your words are almost ten times more likely to convince a Congressperson than a standard form letter. The resolution in Congress pushing President Bush to plan an Iraq pullout is gathering steam. You probably didn't hear about this in the newspapers last week, but it will be news soon. Now's the time to give this resolution a big push. Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr., Republican from North Carolina, led the way by introducing a bipartisan resolution calling for President Bush to come up with a plan by the end of this year to withdraw the troops from Iraq, and for the withdrawal to start no later than October of 2006. Rep. Jones became famous for changing the name of the french fries served in the congressional cafeteria to "freedom fries" when France came out against invading Iraq. He also represents Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, where many new recruits go for basic training, so it is significant that he is publicly breaking with Bush policy.
When we first alerted you about this opportunity, Rep. Jones had three other members of Congress as co-sponsors TrueMajority members sent 50,000 messages of support for the idea to Congress, and now the resolution has thirty co-sponsors, including some of the most conservative Representatives. This week, we and our friends at MoveOn, Working Assets, and other progressive groups are making a major push to double that number. Representative Nydia Velazquez has not yet signed on to support the "Homeward Bound" resolution. If you aren't yet a member of TrueMajority, or if you'd like to personalize the message, click here: http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/IraqExitStrategy
This is how quagmires like this end. First, public support drops, and polls already show that Americans' support for this war is declining. Next, Congress begins to pressure the administration to come up with a way out. That is what this resolution does. Finally, if the administration continues to fight calls for withdrawal, Congress pulls the plug on the money. That is how the war in Vietnam eventually ended. We understand that this resolution gives the Bush administration a long time to keep our troops in Iraq, but it is an important first step toward bringing them home. Not having a real exit strategy and timetable only helps the insurgents, who claim that we intend to stay. We need to get off that path if we want the people of Iraq to ever live in a stable, peaceful nation. Please share this message with anyone else you know who cares about peace. Message from Darcy Scott Martin in Washington DC.
Monday, July 25, 2005
PEARL JAM FANS DISCOVER THERE ARE LOTS OF RULES FOR ATTENDING POLITICAL CONCERT
by Tyler Christensen / Missoulian News
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/07/24/news/local/news05.txt
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... Once you hold the hand of love, it's all surmountable. Eddie Vedder [Pearl Jam at left]
MESSAGE FROM THE NORM SIEGEL CAMPAIGN FOR NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE
Tonight on NY1 at approximately 6:54pm and 10:24pm* some of the families of victims of 9/11 will help launch the television phase of Norm's campaign. Their message needs to be heard. Watch NY1 tonight and read today's New York Times (Metro Section, page B2, or at http://www.norman2005.com/node/482). Please spread the word to family and friends. After reviewing the ad, please let the Norm Siegel campaign know your reaction. Call them at (212) 686-3911 or e-mail at: comments@norman2005.com
* The TV spot will appear Monday through Thursday between 6:54pm and 7pm in the commercial break adjacent to the opening of NY1’s awarding winning "The Road To City Hall". Tonight only, it will also air in the commercial break adjacent to the opening of the repeat between 10:24pm and 10:30pm.
Comment from Sally Regenhard, of 9/11 Families & Friends for Norman Siegel. . . .
"Over three years ago we all experienced an unspeakable tragedy. At the Public Advocate's office we were met with silence. While we tried to deal with our shock, grief and unanswered questions, one of our most important advocates has been attorney Norman Siegel."
MESSAGE FROM THE PEOPLES EMAIL NETWORK ['THE PEN'] -- TELL CONGRESS THE PRESIDENT HAS NO RIGHT OF TORTURE
There is a strong bipartisan move afoot in Congress to limit the power of the president to torture detainees in our name, specifically to bar the U.S. Military from engaging in "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment". Does it surprise anyone that this out of control administration is threatening to VETO the whole defense bill if it can't continue to commit war crimes? If we do not speak out they are our crimes as well. Why don't you tell your members of Congress to stand tall and stand together? http://www.usalone.com/guantanamo.htm
This is especially meaningful in the context of the hearings Friday where seasoned intelligence operatives stepped forward to testify that GOOD intelligence comes from building relationships over decades with foreign sources on a TRUST basis, not by pulling off the people's fingernails. It is precisely our confidence in our intelligence community that the outing by administration officials of one of our own top secret undercover agents has so wantonly destroyed for petty political purposes. And they did it AGAIN by outing a key inside source whose information would have prevented the recent British transit attacks. We are getting bad intelligence from administration policies that are doing nothing but destroy our country and our respect in the civilized world. Please tell Congress to demand that the torture must STOP: http://www.usalone.com/guantanamo.htm
by Tyler Christensen / Missoulian News
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/07/24/news/local/news05.txt
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... Once you hold the hand of love, it's all surmountable. Eddie Vedder [Pearl Jam at left]
MESSAGE FROM THE NORM SIEGEL CAMPAIGN FOR NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE
Tonight on NY1 at approximately 6:54pm and 10:24pm* some of the families of victims of 9/11 will help launch the television phase of Norm's campaign. Their message needs to be heard. Watch NY1 tonight and read today's New York Times (Metro Section, page B2, or at http://www.norman2005.com/node/482). Please spread the word to family and friends. After reviewing the ad, please let the Norm Siegel campaign know your reaction. Call them at (212) 686-3911 or e-mail at: comments@norman2005.com
* The TV spot will appear Monday through Thursday between 6:54pm and 7pm in the commercial break adjacent to the opening of NY1’s awarding winning "The Road To City Hall". Tonight only, it will also air in the commercial break adjacent to the opening of the repeat between 10:24pm and 10:30pm.
Comment from Sally Regenhard, of 9/11 Families & Friends for Norman Siegel. . . .
"Over three years ago we all experienced an unspeakable tragedy. At the Public Advocate's office we were met with silence. While we tried to deal with our shock, grief and unanswered questions, one of our most important advocates has been attorney Norman Siegel."
MESSAGE FROM THE PEOPLES EMAIL NETWORK ['THE PEN'] -- TELL CONGRESS THE PRESIDENT HAS NO RIGHT OF TORTURE
There is a strong bipartisan move afoot in Congress to limit the power of the president to torture detainees in our name, specifically to bar the U.S. Military from engaging in "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment". Does it surprise anyone that this out of control administration is threatening to VETO the whole defense bill if it can't continue to commit war crimes? If we do not speak out they are our crimes as well. Why don't you tell your members of Congress to stand tall and stand together? http://www.usalone.com/guantanamo.htm
This is especially meaningful in the context of the hearings Friday where seasoned intelligence operatives stepped forward to testify that GOOD intelligence comes from building relationships over decades with foreign sources on a TRUST basis, not by pulling off the people's fingernails. It is precisely our confidence in our intelligence community that the outing by administration officials of one of our own top secret undercover agents has so wantonly destroyed for petty political purposes. And they did it AGAIN by outing a key inside source whose information would have prevented the recent British transit attacks. We are getting bad intelligence from administration policies that are doing nothing but destroy our country and our respect in the civilized world. Please tell Congress to demand that the torture must STOP: http://www.usalone.com/guantanamo.htm
Saturday, July 23, 2005
MESSAGE FROM SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY - More Than Politics
Now that President Bush has nominated John Roberts, the Senate and the nation face the critical task of understanding what kind of Supreme Court justice he would be - there are many questions that need to be answered. During the confirmation process, the Senate must find out whether he will be on the side of basic rights and individual liberties or if he will side with powerful special interests. Mr. Robert's brief public record raises several serious and troubling questions. Senators must ask those questions for the American people -- and ensure that we receive honest and complete answers. Our oath of office requires no less. Over the past two weeks, thousands of concerned Americans have submitted personal stories that emphasize the importance of this process. Each one details a way the Supreme Court affects our lives -- and the lives of our children and grandchildren. We can define the importance of this debate with our own words. Together, we can combine our voices and elevate the debate to show the real-world impact of decisions made by the highest court in the land. Here are some examples:
Theodore of Georgia ... "I shadowed the first black undergraduate at FLU in1962-63. Maxwell was admitted in the Fall of 1962 and my job was to see that he survived the year. It was not easy, but he survived. I will never forget it. We must not stop or slow this type of progress."
The battle has been brewing for months. Right wing groups boast a war chest of $20 million and counting. They will turn any confirmation process -- no matter who the nominee is -- into a political football, ignoring the best interests of the nation in the hopes of imposing their extreme views on our independent judiciary. They might have the money, but we have the truth. No matter what they spend, they will never match the powerful case that thousands of citizens have already made:
Greta of California ... "I am a teacher for students with severe physical and mental challenges. When I first started teaching in the public schools eight years ago, the district was just beginning to provide wheel chair access to the bathrooms. It was an important moment for these children to have access to the bathrooms … We need a judge that will uphold their fundamental rights."
During the hearings, Roberts was evasive about his views on equal opportunity, desegregation, criminal justice, and the right to privacy. We cannot let this evasion happen again. Its up to us to make sure the facts are known and that the voices of the American people rise above the partisan fighting and special interest money. The candor and insight of your stories inspire me. Together we will make a case for the American people. Thank you so much.
P.S. - Everyone has something to say about the importance of the Supreme Court -- and every new voice makes a difference. Please ask your friends and family to join us and share their own stories: http://www.tedkennedy.com/morestories
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead
Now that President Bush has nominated John Roberts, the Senate and the nation face the critical task of understanding what kind of Supreme Court justice he would be - there are many questions that need to be answered. During the confirmation process, the Senate must find out whether he will be on the side of basic rights and individual liberties or if he will side with powerful special interests. Mr. Robert's brief public record raises several serious and troubling questions. Senators must ask those questions for the American people -- and ensure that we receive honest and complete answers. Our oath of office requires no less. Over the past two weeks, thousands of concerned Americans have submitted personal stories that emphasize the importance of this process. Each one details a way the Supreme Court affects our lives -- and the lives of our children and grandchildren. We can define the importance of this debate with our own words. Together, we can combine our voices and elevate the debate to show the real-world impact of decisions made by the highest court in the land. Here are some examples:
Theodore of Georgia ... "I shadowed the first black undergraduate at FLU in1962-63. Maxwell was admitted in the Fall of 1962 and my job was to see that he survived the year. It was not easy, but he survived. I will never forget it. We must not stop or slow this type of progress."
The battle has been brewing for months. Right wing groups boast a war chest of $20 million and counting. They will turn any confirmation process -- no matter who the nominee is -- into a political football, ignoring the best interests of the nation in the hopes of imposing their extreme views on our independent judiciary. They might have the money, but we have the truth. No matter what they spend, they will never match the powerful case that thousands of citizens have already made:
Greta of California ... "I am a teacher for students with severe physical and mental challenges. When I first started teaching in the public schools eight years ago, the district was just beginning to provide wheel chair access to the bathrooms. It was an important moment for these children to have access to the bathrooms … We need a judge that will uphold their fundamental rights."
During the hearings, Roberts was evasive about his views on equal opportunity, desegregation, criminal justice, and the right to privacy. We cannot let this evasion happen again. Its up to us to make sure the facts are known and that the voices of the American people rise above the partisan fighting and special interest money. The candor and insight of your stories inspire me. Together we will make a case for the American people. Thank you so much.
P.S. - Everyone has something to say about the importance of the Supreme Court -- and every new voice makes a difference. Please ask your friends and family to join us and share their own stories: http://www.tedkennedy.com/morestories
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead
Friday, July 22, 2005
SEAN BEAN: SUAVE VILLAIN, HUNKY HERO
by Lynn Barker / Teen Hollywood News
http://www.teenhollywood.com/d.asp?r=102976&cat=1035
INFO ON THE SEPTEMBER 3rd ANNUAL PEACE CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON DC
Support a U.S. Department of Peace
September 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2005
Washington D.C.
Featuring:
Marianne Williamson (Master of Ceremonies)
Patch Adams
Walter Cronkite
Azim Khamisa
Rep. Dennis Kucinich
Barbara Marx Hubbard
Tim Reynolds
Jonathan Schell and more...
Join us in our nation's capitol to lobby for a Cabinet-level Department of Peace, as the legislation is re-introduced in the House of Representatives as a tribute to victims of September 11th. From a culture of peace will come a world without war.
Special Highlights:
1] Join us for a conversation with legendary journalist Walter Cronkiteand Congressman Dennis Kucinich about building a culture of peace, and more specifically the Department of Peace.
2] John Titus, from September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrow http://www.peacefultomorrows.org will share at a non denominational serviceon Sunday Sept. 11th.
At the Conference:
1] Join with hundreds of citizens from across the country.
2] Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Department of Peace legislation.
3] Discover and practice effective lobbying strategies.
4] Network with citizens from around the country ... Visit Capitol Hill and walk the halls of Congress, Meet your representatives, Make your voice heard.
5] Form a new political constituency with the power to make an historic impact.
Every generation has its moment. This is ours and we hope to see you there!
Register now and learn more at: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/events/sept_conf_05.htm
For further information watch Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Marianne Williamson on CNN at: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/cnn.htm
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... We are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful. Mother Teresa
MESSAGE FROM DON HAZEN AT ALTERNET - We Are Writing Today To Let You Know About Robert Greenwald's New Documentary, "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price."
Visit http://www.walmartmovie.com/?track=alternet to find out more.
It is at the heart of what is shaping up to be one of the largest, and most important, national grassroots efforts for social change in recent history. More importantly, this is an invitation for you to participate in this grassroots campaign by hosting a screening of the movie.
Problem: Wal-Mart, the world's wealthiest company
Solution: Millions coming together in opposition to the most egregious corporate abuses ever seen in America.
How: The formation of a grassroots coalition, across the political spectrum, to support and organize around the upcoming documentary, "WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price," from director Robert Greenwald of “Outfoxed" and "Uncovered." Check out: http://www.walmartmovie.com?track=alternet
Every new Wal-Mart store creates a ripple effect – family businesses close up shop, factories shut down, communities get squeezed, and fulfilling careers are turned into nightmare chores. Meanwhile, taxpayers are footing the bill for the healthcare of thousands of Wal-Mart's employees, while the company receives exorbitant tax breaks from the very same communities Wal-Mart will eventually discard. These are blatantly anti-family, anti-American practices. We must demand change from Wal-Mart. This film will be a powerful, emotional, entertaining, and visual mechanism designed to jumpstart this effort -- demanding change in the way the company conducts business in the U.S. and across the globe.
Greenwald is looking for your help to make this happen; he needs you to be his Warner Brothers and help get this film seen by hosting a screening. "Wal-Mart," the movie, will debut not in movie theaters, but in thousands of homes, churches and family businesses through the week of November 13, 2005. Please visit http://www.walmartmovie.com/host.php?track=alternet to join us and host a screening by signing up. Pick a day that is most convenient for you -- don't worry about the details; when we get closer to November, we'll be back in touch. With your support, we will give "Wal-Mart," the movie, a citizens' premiere that will blow the lid off of traditional film distribution and trigger a debate across our country on the true high cost of Wal-Mart's "low prices."
by Lynn Barker / Teen Hollywood News
http://www.teenhollywood.com/d.asp?r=102976&cat=1035
INFO ON THE SEPTEMBER 3rd ANNUAL PEACE CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON DC
Support a U.S. Department of Peace
September 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2005
Washington D.C.
Featuring:
Marianne Williamson (Master of Ceremonies)
Patch Adams
Walter Cronkite
Azim Khamisa
Rep. Dennis Kucinich
Barbara Marx Hubbard
Tim Reynolds
Jonathan Schell and more...
Join us in our nation's capitol to lobby for a Cabinet-level Department of Peace, as the legislation is re-introduced in the House of Representatives as a tribute to victims of September 11th. From a culture of peace will come a world without war.
Special Highlights:
1] Join us for a conversation with legendary journalist Walter Cronkiteand Congressman Dennis Kucinich about building a culture of peace, and more specifically the Department of Peace.
2] John Titus, from September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrow http://www.peacefultomorrows.org will share at a non denominational serviceon Sunday Sept. 11th.
At the Conference:
1] Join with hundreds of citizens from across the country.
2] Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Department of Peace legislation.
3] Discover and practice effective lobbying strategies.
4] Network with citizens from around the country ... Visit Capitol Hill and walk the halls of Congress, Meet your representatives, Make your voice heard.
5] Form a new political constituency with the power to make an historic impact.
Every generation has its moment. This is ours and we hope to see you there!
Register now and learn more at: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/events/sept_conf_05.htm
For further information watch Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Marianne Williamson on CNN at: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/cnn.htm
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... We are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful. Mother Teresa
MESSAGE FROM DON HAZEN AT ALTERNET - We Are Writing Today To Let You Know About Robert Greenwald's New Documentary, "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price."
Visit http://www.walmartmovie.com/?track=alternet to find out more.
It is at the heart of what is shaping up to be one of the largest, and most important, national grassroots efforts for social change in recent history. More importantly, this is an invitation for you to participate in this grassroots campaign by hosting a screening of the movie.
Problem: Wal-Mart, the world's wealthiest company
Solution: Millions coming together in opposition to the most egregious corporate abuses ever seen in America.
How: The formation of a grassroots coalition, across the political spectrum, to support and organize around the upcoming documentary, "WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price," from director Robert Greenwald of “Outfoxed" and "Uncovered." Check out: http://www.walmartmovie.com?track=alternet
Every new Wal-Mart store creates a ripple effect – family businesses close up shop, factories shut down, communities get squeezed, and fulfilling careers are turned into nightmare chores. Meanwhile, taxpayers are footing the bill for the healthcare of thousands of Wal-Mart's employees, while the company receives exorbitant tax breaks from the very same communities Wal-Mart will eventually discard. These are blatantly anti-family, anti-American practices. We must demand change from Wal-Mart. This film will be a powerful, emotional, entertaining, and visual mechanism designed to jumpstart this effort -- demanding change in the way the company conducts business in the U.S. and across the globe.
Greenwald is looking for your help to make this happen; he needs you to be his Warner Brothers and help get this film seen by hosting a screening. "Wal-Mart," the movie, will debut not in movie theaters, but in thousands of homes, churches and family businesses through the week of November 13, 2005. Please visit http://www.walmartmovie.com/host.php?track=alternet to join us and host a screening by signing up. Pick a day that is most convenient for you -- don't worry about the details; when we get closer to November, we'll be back in touch. With your support, we will give "Wal-Mart," the movie, a citizens' premiere that will blow the lid off of traditional film distribution and trigger a debate across our country on the true high cost of Wal-Mart's "low prices."
Thursday, July 21, 2005
PEARL JAMMIN' FOR A SENATE SEAT - FOR BASSIST JEFF AMENT, BACKING DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IS WALKING THE POLITICAL WALK
by Jamie Kelly / Missoulian News
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/07/21/entertainer/ent01.txt
PERSONAL NEWS #62
July 1st thru 5th I visited my parents in upstate New York for the July 4th holiday weekend. It’s great to get out of NYC during summer holidays and not have to deal with tourists. Plus, avoid unexpected fireworks from obnoxious teens in the hood. As for the weather, once the nasty thunderstorms passed on Friday the rest of the weekend was gorgeous. Overall it was a good weekend, with some unpleasantness [ie: opinionated, rude, narrow-minded relatives] at a picnic. Mom and I did some shopping in Saratoga, checked out some tag sales and dined out. [ie: Picked up some New Age Spiritualism books at B&N, such as “The Power of Now” and “Gifts from the Course of Miracles”.] Finished the Dan Brown novel, “Angels & Demons”, which was most entertaining and totally fascinating. Dad drove us up to Lake George, which was so crowded, and we took in the view from atop Prospect Mountain. I also helped out with yard work, watched some cable TV and even went to the hairdresser.
On Tuesday evening, July 5th, participated in National DoP conference call at 9pm. Lynn McMullen hosted the call, with Matthew Albracht and Judy Kimmel as backup. Over 25 people participated in the call from all over the US. [Always exciting, as well as fascinating, to hear how others are handling the DoP campaign in their regions.] Lynn announced that Peace Alliance and Dept of Peace campaign now has 223 congressional district team leaders signed up. I’m one of those “team leaders” in New York’s 12th district and our congressperson is Nydia Velazquez. Majority of the call was about the upcoming Peace Conference that is being held in Washington DC in September. Looking forward to meeting and networking with others at the conference. I’ll be there from Saturday thru Monday [Sept 10th-12th] … OMG … less than two months away. Mon dieu!
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... The genius of our ruling class is that it has kept a majority of the people from ever questioning the inequity of a system where most people drudge along, paying heavy taxes for which they get nothing in return. Gore Vidal
The following evening, on July 6th, I attended a spiritual event [ie: featuring Marianne Williamson] at Covenant House. Also speaking that evening was an elderly, charmingly delightful Rabbi who is a survivor of the Holocaust. He said we experience many miracles every day, one of which is just waking up in the morning. He’s right, we should be thankful for such a miracle. The third speaker was Sai Ma and I believe she’s a Hindu spiritualist. She had many wonderful things to say and lead everyone in a 10 minute uplifting chant. But her dismissive reaction to Marianne’s short commentary about DoP and the Peace Bracelets left a sour note in my heart. What she did was wrong and deeply hurt Marianne’s sensibilities. [No person of peace should treat others in such a fashion. It’s inexcusable!] We NYC DoP members discussed this afterwards and also comforted Marianne. We were tabling at the event, along with two volunteers. [Those in attendance were Karen, Liz, Ellen, Maria, Joe, our 2 volunteers & I.] We were their in full force to spread the news on DoP campaign and did very well. Sold many bracelets, gave away literature and signed up folk for our monthly DoP newsletter. Despite that one “hiccup” in the evening it was a success.
P.S. More updates on "Personal News" coming soon ... stay tuned.
UPDATES FROM NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE CANDIDATE "NORM SIEGELS" CAMPAIGN
Friday's finance deadline brought a major victory for Norman Siegel's grassroots campaign for Public Advocate. Although the incumbent raised a good deal of money from her wealthy base - averaging more than $850 per donor - Norman received contributions from 1,693 people, more than any other candidate for Public Advocate, including the incumbent. Ultimately, all your hard work and support helped us raise $149,000 through the July filing deadline, more than enough to qualify for 4-to-1 matching!
This news serves as a reminder that although the people believe in Norman's vision for a cohesive and cooperative New York, there is a formidable financial machine separating us from the Public Advocate we deserve. With your continued support and energetic spirit, we can make this town the beacon of freedom and opportunity it should be. Please contribute what you can http://www.norman2005.com/contribute, and ask your friends to do the http://www.norman2005.com/tell-a-friend same. The current Public Advocate has let New Yorkers down. Don't let her do it again. Every http://www.norman2005.com/contribute penny helps.
Petitioning: Norman's on the Ballot! Winning an election is hard work, but most people don't realize that actually getting into the election is one of the most difficult steps. Our fair city requires every candidate for Public Advocate to collect 7,500 petition signatures in order to get on the ballot. Yesterday was the reporting deadline, and we are proud to announce that our campaign collected an astonishing 39,600 signatures! Of course, campaigns routinely like to collect 3-4 times as many signatures as the law requires, just to be on the safe side, but for those of you keeping track at home, we collected nearly five and a half times as many signatures as we needed. Norman's support in this city is as wide as it is deep.
Norman's Time Is NOW ... The New York chapter http://www.nownyc.org/ of the National Organization for Women officially endorsed Norman Siegel's grassroots bid to unseat incumbent Betsy Gotbaum as New York City's Public Advocate. "Norman Siegel has a lifelong track record of being an advocate for people, and a strong record on women's rights," said NOW-NYC President Sonio Ossorio. "The citizens of New York City deserve someone like Norman, who has a breadth of experience, sincerity, and a vision for the job." NOW is the largest voice for gender equality in the United States, with 500,000 contributing members and 550 chapters. This endorsement could not come from a more respected authority on women's issues. Like so many others, they see that Norman is the clear choice to lead us to a fair and equitable New York.
Stonewall Support Is Solid for Siegel ... The Stonewall Democratic Club, one of the citywide LGBT Democratic clubs, has thrown its weight behind Norman's campaign, voting to endorse his bid for Public Advocate. The Stonewall Dems were impressed by Norman's long and consistent record of defending civil liberties, most recently in his service was counsel in Shields v. Madigan, a case that challenged the ban on same sex marriage rights in New York.
Norman Heats Up The Presses ... New Yorkers have known for a while now that our city deserves a better Public Advocate. Over this past week, it seems as though the press has caught on, too. Word of Norman's vision for a strong and fair New York, resonating strongly with NYC'ers, is now spreading throughout the city's print media.
First, there was a very positive profile http://www.norman2005.com/node/434 in the neighborhood weekly West Side Spirit. They chronicled Norman's brand of community-oriented activism, and contrasted it sharply with the incumbent Public Advocate's brand of press-release-oriented...inactivism? We turn next to a profile http://www.norman2005.com/node/437 in New York Press, which featured Norman on the cover http://www.norman2005.com/files/images/nypresscover.jpg According to this story, people are rapidly picking up the message that Norman can bring accountability back to City Hall. The Press followed up with a fun man-on-the-street http://www.nypress.com/18/28/news&columns/betsy.jpg item showing that after three and a half years, many people still don't even recognize the current Public Advocate's name.
Finally, the authority on what's hot in NYC, Time Out New York, also chimed in, voicing support http://www.norman2005.com/node/439 for Norman's fight against anti-dancing laws. Thanks to decades-old cabaret laws, New York's vibrant entertainment scene has been slowly transforming into a low-budget version of "Footloose." Norman is helping to put the breaks on these arcane laws, and as Public Advocate, he will ensure that New Yorkers have fair-paying jobs during the day and great places to unwind at night.
by Jamie Kelly / Missoulian News
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/07/21/entertainer/ent01.txt
PERSONAL NEWS #62
July 1st thru 5th I visited my parents in upstate New York for the July 4th holiday weekend. It’s great to get out of NYC during summer holidays and not have to deal with tourists. Plus, avoid unexpected fireworks from obnoxious teens in the hood. As for the weather, once the nasty thunderstorms passed on Friday the rest of the weekend was gorgeous. Overall it was a good weekend, with some unpleasantness [ie: opinionated, rude, narrow-minded relatives] at a picnic. Mom and I did some shopping in Saratoga, checked out some tag sales and dined out. [ie: Picked up some New Age Spiritualism books at B&N, such as “The Power of Now” and “Gifts from the Course of Miracles”.] Finished the Dan Brown novel, “Angels & Demons”, which was most entertaining and totally fascinating. Dad drove us up to Lake George, which was so crowded, and we took in the view from atop Prospect Mountain. I also helped out with yard work, watched some cable TV and even went to the hairdresser.
On Tuesday evening, July 5th, participated in National DoP conference call at 9pm. Lynn McMullen hosted the call, with Matthew Albracht and Judy Kimmel as backup. Over 25 people participated in the call from all over the US. [Always exciting, as well as fascinating, to hear how others are handling the DoP campaign in their regions.] Lynn announced that Peace Alliance and Dept of Peace campaign now has 223 congressional district team leaders signed up. I’m one of those “team leaders” in New York’s 12th district and our congressperson is Nydia Velazquez. Majority of the call was about the upcoming Peace Conference that is being held in Washington DC in September. Looking forward to meeting and networking with others at the conference. I’ll be there from Saturday thru Monday [Sept 10th-12th] … OMG … less than two months away. Mon dieu!
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... The genius of our ruling class is that it has kept a majority of the people from ever questioning the inequity of a system where most people drudge along, paying heavy taxes for which they get nothing in return. Gore Vidal
The following evening, on July 6th, I attended a spiritual event [ie: featuring Marianne Williamson] at Covenant House. Also speaking that evening was an elderly, charmingly delightful Rabbi who is a survivor of the Holocaust. He said we experience many miracles every day, one of which is just waking up in the morning. He’s right, we should be thankful for such a miracle. The third speaker was Sai Ma and I believe she’s a Hindu spiritualist. She had many wonderful things to say and lead everyone in a 10 minute uplifting chant. But her dismissive reaction to Marianne’s short commentary about DoP and the Peace Bracelets left a sour note in my heart. What she did was wrong and deeply hurt Marianne’s sensibilities. [No person of peace should treat others in such a fashion. It’s inexcusable!] We NYC DoP members discussed this afterwards and also comforted Marianne. We were tabling at the event, along with two volunteers. [Those in attendance were Karen, Liz, Ellen, Maria, Joe, our 2 volunteers & I.] We were their in full force to spread the news on DoP campaign and did very well. Sold many bracelets, gave away literature and signed up folk for our monthly DoP newsletter. Despite that one “hiccup” in the evening it was a success.
P.S. More updates on "Personal News" coming soon ... stay tuned.
UPDATES FROM NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE CANDIDATE "NORM SIEGELS" CAMPAIGN
Friday's finance deadline brought a major victory for Norman Siegel's grassroots campaign for Public Advocate. Although the incumbent raised a good deal of money from her wealthy base - averaging more than $850 per donor - Norman received contributions from 1,693 people, more than any other candidate for Public Advocate, including the incumbent. Ultimately, all your hard work and support helped us raise $149,000 through the July filing deadline, more than enough to qualify for 4-to-1 matching!
This news serves as a reminder that although the people believe in Norman's vision for a cohesive and cooperative New York, there is a formidable financial machine separating us from the Public Advocate we deserve. With your continued support and energetic spirit, we can make this town the beacon of freedom and opportunity it should be. Please contribute what you can http://www.norman2005.com/contribute, and ask your friends to do the http://www.norman2005.com/tell-a-friend same. The current Public Advocate has let New Yorkers down. Don't let her do it again. Every http://www.norman2005.com/contribute penny helps.
Petitioning: Norman's on the Ballot! Winning an election is hard work, but most people don't realize that actually getting into the election is one of the most difficult steps. Our fair city requires every candidate for Public Advocate to collect 7,500 petition signatures in order to get on the ballot. Yesterday was the reporting deadline, and we are proud to announce that our campaign collected an astonishing 39,600 signatures! Of course, campaigns routinely like to collect 3-4 times as many signatures as the law requires, just to be on the safe side, but for those of you keeping track at home, we collected nearly five and a half times as many signatures as we needed. Norman's support in this city is as wide as it is deep.
Norman's Time Is NOW ... The New York chapter http://www.nownyc.org/ of the National Organization for Women officially endorsed Norman Siegel's grassroots bid to unseat incumbent Betsy Gotbaum as New York City's Public Advocate. "Norman Siegel has a lifelong track record of being an advocate for people, and a strong record on women's rights," said NOW-NYC President Sonio Ossorio. "The citizens of New York City deserve someone like Norman, who has a breadth of experience, sincerity, and a vision for the job." NOW is the largest voice for gender equality in the United States, with 500,000 contributing members and 550 chapters. This endorsement could not come from a more respected authority on women's issues. Like so many others, they see that Norman is the clear choice to lead us to a fair and equitable New York.
Stonewall Support Is Solid for Siegel ... The Stonewall Democratic Club, one of the citywide LGBT Democratic clubs, has thrown its weight behind Norman's campaign, voting to endorse his bid for Public Advocate. The Stonewall Dems were impressed by Norman's long and consistent record of defending civil liberties, most recently in his service was counsel in Shields v. Madigan, a case that challenged the ban on same sex marriage rights in New York.
Norman Heats Up The Presses ... New Yorkers have known for a while now that our city deserves a better Public Advocate. Over this past week, it seems as though the press has caught on, too. Word of Norman's vision for a strong and fair New York, resonating strongly with NYC'ers, is now spreading throughout the city's print media.
First, there was a very positive profile http://www.norman2005.com/node/434 in the neighborhood weekly West Side Spirit. They chronicled Norman's brand of community-oriented activism, and contrasted it sharply with the incumbent Public Advocate's brand of press-release-oriented...inactivism? We turn next to a profile http://www.norman2005.com/node/437 in New York Press, which featured Norman on the cover http://www.norman2005.com/files/images/nypresscover.jpg According to this story, people are rapidly picking up the message that Norman can bring accountability back to City Hall. The Press followed up with a fun man-on-the-street http://www.nypress.com/18/28/news&columns/betsy.jpg item showing that after three and a half years, many people still don't even recognize the current Public Advocate's name.
Finally, the authority on what's hot in NYC, Time Out New York, also chimed in, voicing support http://www.norman2005.com/node/439 for Norman's fight against anti-dancing laws. Thanks to decades-old cabaret laws, New York's vibrant entertainment scene has been slowly transforming into a low-budget version of "Footloose." Norman is helping to put the breaks on these arcane laws, and as Public Advocate, he will ensure that New Yorkers have fair-paying jobs during the day and great places to unwind at night.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
MESSAGE FROM BEN BRANDZEL AT MOVEON.ORG REGARDING ROBERTS AND SUPREME COURT
In the past weeks, Republicans and Democrats have called on President Bush to nominate a moderate for the Supreme Court—someone who would honor the legacy of independent Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. But last night, President Bush nominated Judge John Roberts, a far-right lawyer and corporate lobbyist, to fill her post on the Supreme Court. We've got to stop Roberts. He opposed clean air rules and worked to help coal companies strip-mine mountaintops. He worked with Ken Starr (yes, that Ken Starr), and tried to keep Congress from defending the Voting Rights Act. He wrote that Roe v. Wade should be "overruled," and as a lawyer argued (and won) the case that stopped some doctors from even discussing abortion. Join our urgent petition to let our senators know we expect them to oppose John Roberts right now at:
http://political.moveon.org/roberts/?id=5817-4703541-v9ghJm.DQM0SvZT9KoXHng&t=3
This is one of the most important domestic fights of President Bush's career. We can win—Americans overwhelmingly want a moderate judge. But to win, we need to get the word out early that Roberts is out of the mainstream. After you've signed, please send this message on to your friends and colleagues. We need to fight back against the misinformation that the Bush administration is putting out. John Roberts has little experience as a judge—he was only appointed in 2003. But he's got a lot of experience as a corporate lobbyist and lawyer, consistently favoring wealthy corporations over regular Americans. Here's a list of some of the things that make Roberts the wrong pick for the Supreme Court:
Wrong on environmental protection: Roberts appears to want to limit the scope of the Endangered Species Act, and in papers he wrote while in law school he supported far-right legal theories about "takings" which would make it almost impossible for the government to enforce most environmental legislation.
Wrong on civil rights: Roberts worked to keep Congress from defending parts of the Voting Rights Act.
Wrong on human rights: As a appeals court judge, Roberts ruled that the Geneva Convention doesn't apply to some prisoners of war.
Wrong on our right to religious freedom: Roberts argued that schools should be able to impose religious speech on attendees.
Wrong on women's rights: Roberts wrote that "Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and should be overruled." He also weighed in on behalf of Operation Rescue, a violent anti-abortion group, in a federal case.
President Bush could have chosen many fair-minded and independent jurists to replace Sandra Day O'Connor. Instead, he chose a corporate partisan loved by Bush's right-wing base, but out of step with the rest of the country. Tell your senators they need to stop John Roberts now, at:
http://political.moveon.org/roberts/?id=5817-4703541-v9ghJm.DQM0SvZT9KoXHng&t=4
In the past weeks, Republicans and Democrats have called on President Bush to nominate a moderate for the Supreme Court—someone who would honor the legacy of independent Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. But last night, President Bush nominated Judge John Roberts, a far-right lawyer and corporate lobbyist, to fill her post on the Supreme Court. We've got to stop Roberts. He opposed clean air rules and worked to help coal companies strip-mine mountaintops. He worked with Ken Starr (yes, that Ken Starr), and tried to keep Congress from defending the Voting Rights Act. He wrote that Roe v. Wade should be "overruled," and as a lawyer argued (and won) the case that stopped some doctors from even discussing abortion. Join our urgent petition to let our senators know we expect them to oppose John Roberts right now at:
http://political.moveon.org/roberts/?id=5817-4703541-v9ghJm.DQM0SvZT9KoXHng&t=3
This is one of the most important domestic fights of President Bush's career. We can win—Americans overwhelmingly want a moderate judge. But to win, we need to get the word out early that Roberts is out of the mainstream. After you've signed, please send this message on to your friends and colleagues. We need to fight back against the misinformation that the Bush administration is putting out. John Roberts has little experience as a judge—he was only appointed in 2003. But he's got a lot of experience as a corporate lobbyist and lawyer, consistently favoring wealthy corporations over regular Americans. Here's a list of some of the things that make Roberts the wrong pick for the Supreme Court:
Wrong on environmental protection: Roberts appears to want to limit the scope of the Endangered Species Act, and in papers he wrote while in law school he supported far-right legal theories about "takings" which would make it almost impossible for the government to enforce most environmental legislation.
Wrong on civil rights: Roberts worked to keep Congress from defending parts of the Voting Rights Act.
Wrong on human rights: As a appeals court judge, Roberts ruled that the Geneva Convention doesn't apply to some prisoners of war.
Wrong on our right to religious freedom: Roberts argued that schools should be able to impose religious speech on attendees.
Wrong on women's rights: Roberts wrote that "Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and should be overruled." He also weighed in on behalf of Operation Rescue, a violent anti-abortion group, in a federal case.
President Bush could have chosen many fair-minded and independent jurists to replace Sandra Day O'Connor. Instead, he chose a corporate partisan loved by Bush's right-wing base, but out of step with the rest of the country. Tell your senators they need to stop John Roberts now, at:
http://political.moveon.org/roberts/?id=5817-4703541-v9ghJm.DQM0SvZT9KoXHng&t=4
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
GREAT INTERVIEW WITH BRITISH ACTOR SEAN BEAN - Who Plays The Role Of Merrick In Upcoming Film THE ISLAND - Opening In Cinema's On July 22nd
[Other soon to be released films that the handsome & talented Sean Bean is appearing in ... FlightPlan, The Dark & Silent Hill. Recently he's appeared in "National Treasure", "Troy", "Don't Say A Word", "The Big Empty" and "LOTR Fellowship of the Ring".] Click on the link to read the interview: http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/island2a.php
The People Email Network Energy Bill ACTION Alert -- Make Oil Companies Pay For Their Environmental Damage
This year again the administration is trying to deliver a huge payoff to their corrupt oil company campaign contributors, absolving them of any future liability for polluting our water supplies with MTBE, an insidious smelly solvent infiltrating water systems all over the country. Let me get this straight, the oil industry, who is rolling in so much windfall profits cash their biggest problem is they don't know what to do with it. That oil industry can't afford to clean up after their environmental disasters. This measure barely passed the house, but not in the Senate and will now be settled in conference. With such shaky support, those pushing for this mammoth act of corporate welfare are offering to create some kind of fund that oil companies will "contribute" to in some kind of LIMITED way, and the rest of us just get to pick up the rest of their tab, whatever that might be. And if that wasn't outrageous enough, we now discover that hidden in the energy bill like some stealth elephant is repeal of the original Public Utilities Holding Company Act, the last thing standing between our public utilities and worst kind of speculators, like nobody's supposed to notice or Enron never happened. We still have time to raise a howl about all this, so please use the action page below to do so: http://www.usalone.com/energy.htm
What they did to grease this hit job on the PUHCA was to propose that oversight responsibility be shifted to the director of FERC, who just HAPPENS to be a hardcore administration crony. Yes, you heard right, yet another wolf put in charge of administrating the dismantling of the Hen Protection Act, this one a key member of Cheney's SECRET TASK FORCE who wrote the energy bill itself. It gives incentives to mostly the wrong people, does nothing to promote real conservation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, will decimate the sea life off our coasts with excruciating sonic booms in preparation for destroying even more of our coastal environment, and all instead of making renewables the urgent policy priority they should be: http://www.usalone.com/energy.htm
[Other soon to be released films that the handsome & talented Sean Bean is appearing in ... FlightPlan, The Dark & Silent Hill. Recently he's appeared in "National Treasure", "Troy", "Don't Say A Word", "The Big Empty" and "LOTR Fellowship of the Ring".] Click on the link to read the interview: http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/island2a.php
The People Email Network Energy Bill ACTION Alert -- Make Oil Companies Pay For Their Environmental Damage
This year again the administration is trying to deliver a huge payoff to their corrupt oil company campaign contributors, absolving them of any future liability for polluting our water supplies with MTBE, an insidious smelly solvent infiltrating water systems all over the country. Let me get this straight, the oil industry, who is rolling in so much windfall profits cash their biggest problem is they don't know what to do with it. That oil industry can't afford to clean up after their environmental disasters. This measure barely passed the house, but not in the Senate and will now be settled in conference. With such shaky support, those pushing for this mammoth act of corporate welfare are offering to create some kind of fund that oil companies will "contribute" to in some kind of LIMITED way, and the rest of us just get to pick up the rest of their tab, whatever that might be. And if that wasn't outrageous enough, we now discover that hidden in the energy bill like some stealth elephant is repeal of the original Public Utilities Holding Company Act, the last thing standing between our public utilities and worst kind of speculators, like nobody's supposed to notice or Enron never happened. We still have time to raise a howl about all this, so please use the action page below to do so: http://www.usalone.com/energy.htm
What they did to grease this hit job on the PUHCA was to propose that oversight responsibility be shifted to the director of FERC, who just HAPPENS to be a hardcore administration crony. Yes, you heard right, yet another wolf put in charge of administrating the dismantling of the Hen Protection Act, this one a key member of Cheney's SECRET TASK FORCE who wrote the energy bill itself. It gives incentives to mostly the wrong people, does nothing to promote real conservation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, will decimate the sea life off our coasts with excruciating sonic booms in preparation for destroying even more of our coastal environment, and all instead of making renewables the urgent policy priority they should be: http://www.usalone.com/energy.htm