PERSONAL NEWS #207

Tuesday, April 3^rd, I attended and participated in the BFP PF committee meeting.

Thursday, April 5^th, I had an appt with Dr Tan in late afternoon, and afterwards headed to the BFP board member meeting.

Early on Friday, April 6^th, I headed upstate NY for the Easter weekend with my parents, brother and sister-in-law.  Rented a car [VW Jetta] from Enterprise in Albany for the weekend and had my hair done at salon.  I stopped by Oakwood Cemetery, near Troy NY, on Saturday for some photo ops, as the weather was really quite nice.

Week of April 9^th I am working the 11am to 8pm shift at work due to final crunch of “tax season”.  The nice thing about all this is that I get to sleep late in the morning.  Sweet!

Thursday, April 12^th, I participated in the BFP A&C committee conference call, which was very productive.  We’re down to the wire and final crunch before the 8^th Annual PF happens on the 28^th.

Friday, April 13^th, I stopped by costume shop to see Wendy at lunch time to pay for the Gibson Girl style costume she is creating for me.  It’ll have the Hufflepuff colors, theme and will be used for HP cosplay and other future events.  She also took my measurements for the vest/skirt ensemble.  So exciting!  Later on I had an appt with my chiropractor for adjustments.

Saturday, April 14^th, was a productive day with many chores/errands accomplished, plus attending the “Know Drones Forum” in Ft Greene section of Brooklyn.  Also went around to different businesses in my hood to distribute PF posters and palm cards.  That evening I rented on DVD the film “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” with Gary Oldman.  It was very good.

On Sunday morning, April 15^th, I started taking a Hatha yoga session in my neighborhood and plan on doing these sessions every weekend.  I also did more distribution of “Peace Fair” fliers, palm cards and posters.  In the afternoon, I had an appt with Dr Tan, plus stopped by Gothic Renaissance store to try out corsets for an HP ensemble, and then wrapped up the early evening with watching the film HUGO on DVD.

Tuesday evening, April 17^th, I attended and participated in the BFP PF committee meeting.

Wednesday evening, April 18^th, I volunteered at the WCW national office to assist with computer work and abit of organizing supplies for a rally on April 19^th.

Thursday evening, April 19^th, I attended the monthly “NYC Friends of Tolkien” at our usual diner in midtown Manhattan.  Main topic of discuss was season 1 and 2 of the HBO series GofT, plus the books, as well as other programs on cable TV.

On Saturday morning, April 21^st, my cleaning lady came by to take care of the apt.  In the afternoon, I joined my friend Jackie in taking a 3-hour walking tour of Brooklyn Heights, followed by a late lunch on Montague Street.

On Sunday morning, April 22^nd, I participated in my second Hatha yoga session in my hood, and in the afternoon I had an appt with Dr Tan.  Finally, the much needed rain showed up, and it’ll wash away that pollen that bothers many of us with allergies.

Wednesday evening, April 25^th, I attended and participated in the BFP PF committee meeting for final flesh out of PF details.

Friday morning, April 27^th, I had two teeth extracted by an oral surgeon specialist.  I took off the day from work for this procedure and recovery.

Saturday, April 28^th, was the BFP 8^th Annual PF at Brooklyn College.  I arrived at Brooklyn College Student Center by car service at 9am.  Busy day of setting up, organizing, monitoring, listening to our two feature speakers [ie: Scahill and Chappell], cleaning up and then a group of us took Capt Paul Chappell out to dinner.  I mostly worked in the Club Room assisting with setting up and distribution of assorted refreshment for BFP members and PF attendees.  It was a great day, and roughly 400+ attended the event.  My day ended around 10pm, after being driven home by Oliver and Charlotte.

 

Sunday, April 29^th, I had an appt with Dr Tan, and afterwards stopped by the bookstore to see Sam.

SCENES FROM EASTER WEEKEND with the parents, brother and sister-in-law in upstate New York ... and yes, I even rented a car [VW Jetta]

PERSONAL NEWS #206

Thursday, March 1st, I had to take half a personal day from work in the morning to attend to two doctor appts. In the evening, I attended a screening of DH2 with other TGTSNBN members.

Saturday, March 3rd, I had an appt with Dr Tan in Chinatown.

Monday, March 5th, I stopped by Liberty Travel after work to discuss taking a cruise from NYC to Canada in October of this year.

Tuesday, March 6th, I participated in the BFP PF committee meeting with more prep work for the upcoming fair.

Wednesday, March 7th, I participated in the BFP A&C committee conference call regarding Peace Fair 2012.

Thursday, March 8th, I volunteered with WCW national office to assist with compute work.

Friday evening, March 9th, at Judson Memorial church I attended a panel discussion on police violence in NYC, repression and how to deal with it. Plus other news on the OWS movement.

Saturday, March 10th, I had an appt with Dr Tan in Chinatown, and then met up with Anni to do some shopping for sofa foam cushions and dinner.

Sunday afternoon, March 11th, I participated in the BFP A&C committee meeting, and we got a lot accomplished.

Wednesday, March 14th, I stopped by “Books of Wonder” to discuss final prep of TRD with Sam.

Friday, March 16th, I had an appt with Dr Tan in Chinatown.

March 17 & 18, attending the annual Left Forum at Pace University in downtown Manhattan.

On Saturday, March 17th, after attending the Left Forum I walked over the Brooklyn Bridge, took pix, and also pix at Cadman Plaza before heading home on the subway. Later that evening, with a bottle of wine in hand, I went to a party hosted by Rebecca and Kirby at their abode in my hood.

On Sunday, March 18th, after attending the Left Forum, I headed home and met up with my friend Anni who brought my new, firm sofa cushions.

Monday evening, March 19th, I stopped by the costume shop to see Wendy and start discussion on creating two Harry Potter type ensembles [ie: Hufflepuff theme] for upcoming Halloween and future HP events. Earlier in the day, I participated in the BFP A&C conf call.

Tuesday, March 20th, another follow-up appt with my foot doctor about progression of toe after surgery of early February. All is completely well with the toe, and I was informed I could now have a much needed pedicure. Hurray!

Wednesday evening, March 21st, I participated in the BFP PF committee meeting, which was very productive and informative.

Saturday, March 24th, in the morning, my cleaning lady [Dana] came by for some spring cleaning of the apt. Later in the afternoon I had an appt with Dr Tan.

Sunday afternoon, March 25th, I was at “Books of Wonder” for Tolkien Reading Day with other members from “NYC Friends of Tolkien”. Many great readings from assorted Tolkien books and well received by the audience. Afterwards, many of us headed over to the Hollywood Diner for some refreshment, conversation and shared laughs.

On Tuesday, March 27th, a rather unsettling feeling upon leaving my apt building in the morning to finding a pool of dried blood on the steps. [It wasn't there when I got home last night around 9pm.] I went back inside to inquire with my neighbor / super of our building. John said he'd heard a scuffle outside late last night, but didn't investigate. This morning, at around 8am, someone was ringing all the buzzers to our apt doors. If I am not expecting anyone I don't buzz yah in. Strange tidings! Later that evening, I attended a BFP Fundraiser committee meeting in Brooklyn, which was interesting and productive.

On Thursday morning, March 29th, I had to take half a personal day, as I had an urgent dental appt and an appt with my acupuncturist before heading to the office at 1pm.

Friday afternoon, March 30th, I participated in the BFP A&C committee conference call.

On Saturday, March 31st, I joined my friend Margaret at Ft Tryon Park in northern Manhattan to stroll around the park and visit The Cloisters. Even though the weather was abit unpleasant, we had a good time, and it was my first time inside The Cloisters. Afterwards, we had a late lunch at a nice Thai restaurant on West 181st Street in Washington Heights.

TOLKIEN READING DAY - Sunday, March 25th, at Books of Wonder in NYC [Just a few photos from a wonderfully delightful event]

TOLKIEN READING DAY [Sunday, March 25th] My segment was the Galadriel voiceover in the prologue from the film "Fellowship of the Ring".

The world is changed

I feel it in the water

I feel it in the Earth

I smell it in the air

Much that once was is lost. For none now live who remember it.

It began with the forging of the Great Rings. Three were given to the elves. Immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings. Seven to the dwarf lords, great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls. And nine, nine rings were gifted to the race of men. Who above all else, desire power.

For within these rings was bound the strength and will to govern each race. But they were all of them deceived.

For another ring was made. In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom the dark Lord Sauron forged in secret a master Ring to control all others and into this Ring he poured all his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life.

One Ring to rule them all.

One by one the free lands of Middle Earth fell to the power of the Ring. But there were some who resisted.

A last alliance of Elves and Men marched against the armies of Mordor. And on the slopes of Mount Doom they fought for the freedom of Middle Earth.

Victory was near. But the power of the Ring could not be undone.

It was in this moment, that Isildur, son of the King, took up his father’s sword.

Sauron, the enemy of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth was defeated.

The Ring passed to Isildur. Who had this one chance to destroy evil forever. But the hearts of Men are easily corrupted. And the Ring of Power has a will of its own. It betrayed Isildur to his death.

And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend, legend became myth, and for two and a half thousand years the Ring passed out of all knowledge.

Until, when chance came it ensnared a new bearer.

The Ring came to the creature Gollum who took it deep into the tunnels of the Misty Mountains. And there it consumed him.

The Ring brought to Gollum unnatural long life. For five hundred years it poisoned his mind. And in the gloom of Gollum’s cave it waited.

Darkness crept back into the forests of the world. Rumour grew of a shadow in the East, whispers of a nameless fear.

And the Ring of Power perceived. Its time had now come. It abandoned Gollum.

But something happened then that the Ring did not intend, it was picked up by the most unlikely creature imaginable.

A hobbit. Bilbo Baggins of the Shire.

For the time will soon come when Hobbits will shape the fortunes of all.

GMO-Free Foods – A List for Those Who are GMO Free ... Nourished Kitchen ... http://nourishedkitchen.com/gmo-free-food/

List of Companies that use Monsanto GMO Foods ... http://nofoolshere.blogspot.com/2012/02/heres-list-of-food-companies-monsanto.html

Another reason to buy organic, plain, whole foods, not processed ones! Companies that use Monsanto GMO seeds/foods:

Aunt Jemima (Quaker)
Jemima (Quaker)
Betty Crocker (General Mills)
Bisquick
Duncan Hines
Hungry Jack
Jiffy
Mrs. Butterworths
Pepperidge farms (Campbell’s)
Aurora Foods Kraft/Phillip Morris (post cereals)
Hershey’s Nestle (Carnation)
Holsum (interstate bakeries)
Best foods (Knorr)
Kellogg’s
Nature Valley
Nabisco (Phillip Morris)
Pillsbury
Heinz
Hellman’s
Hunts
KC Masterpiece
Frito-lay/Pepsi
Delicious brand cookies
Famous Amos
Keebler/Flowers Industries
Banquet
Green Giant
Healthy Choice (ConAgra)
Kid Cuisine (stouffers)
Lean Cuisine (stouffers)
Marie Callenders
Ore-ida
Smart ones Power Bar Brand
Chef Boyardee
Hormel
Loma Linda
Morningstar
Lipton (Unilever)
Uncle Ben’s
Rice-a-roni/Pasta-roni
Tombstone Pizza
Totinos
Orville Redenbacher
Pop Secret
Pringles (Procter and Gamble)
Coca Cola
Minute Made
Pepsi
Cadbury/Sweppes
Capri-sun
Cool-aid
Ocean Spray
V-8
Prego Pasta Sauce
Ragu Sauce

Perils of the Global Economy by Ralph Nader

For months now our stocks have gone up and down due to various concerns, but none more recurrent than concerns about the financial crisis in Greece. Morning after morning, New York City based casino capitalists trade with Greece and the latest rumors from Western Europe on their minds.

What will affluent Germany do to bail out the collapsing, debt-ridden country of Greece? Will France go along with those plans? Will the massive injection of liquidity by the European Central Bank help the banks to behave in ways that help Greece, among other countries? Day after trading day, the U.S.

Why? Greece is a country of just over ten million people with a GDP smaller than that of New Jersey. But because it is closest to the fiscal cliff, financial observers fear a domino effect. If Greece defaults badly, it could pull Portugal, Spain, Ireland and then possibly Italy closer to financial disaster.

And what is the chain that binds Greece to these nations and then to larger countries in the EU and across the Atlantic to the U.S.? It is the deep, interdependency brought about by corporate globalization and its massive financial speculators, piling derivatives such as credit default swaps and other intricate pyramids of bets, on additional bets. These are the banks, hedge funds and other financial entities that pool other peoples' money into ever-more abstract and complex betting or gambling instruments of parasitic, big finance.

Not that much has changed since the Wall Street collapse of 2008 other than the renewed "Wall Street" belief that you, the taxpayers, will be forced once again by your government to bail out even larger financial giants who are so interlocked as to be "too big to fail."

Traders making speculative money from speculative money, traded in trillions of dollars, now hold hostage the real economy wherein people make money from providing needed or wanted goods and services. The fate of American workers, their pensions and the real businesses that employ them, rests on the globalized dominoes that a teetering Greece could set in motion. This is the craven logic of a global casino economy, driven by split-second computerized algorithms and camouflaged by the phony theory of "free trade" which is really corporate-managed trade.

The U.S. does not need to be shackled by the global corporatists to what may happen in Greece or Spain or Portugal. We should be less dependent on financial economies abroad and more self-reliant and independent of the global economy's dangerously contagious risks.

That is why the more community-based economic activity there is in our country - credit unions; renewable, efficient energy; community health clinics; community food markets, etc. - the more insulated we will be from global seismic ravages. Those same community economies would have helped shield the Greek people from the wily clutches of Goldman Sachs and other aggressive casino creditors.

Unfortunately, the intellectually impoverished presidential and Congressional campaigns never propose ways to extricate our country from the octuple straitjackets of global speculators. The two-party political tyranny - Republican and Democratic - is too busy kneeling before the check-writers of imperious corporatists to stand up for the people whose votes they strive to secure.

As U.S. citizens struggle, Wall Street and Washington worry about Greece.

PERSONAL NEWS #205
Thursday afternoon, Feb 2nd, I participated in a BFP A&C committee conference call as a follow up to our event at WORD. Later that evening, I attended the monthly TGTSNBN meetup. I hadn’t been to one in months due to illness and being involved with the BFP board meetings. Very enjoyable and many members read excerpts from their fav books while growing up.

Saturday, Feb 4th, I had a nice time in the evening hanging out with Margaret K, and seeing the film “The Iron Lady” starring the wonderful Meryl Streep. Earlier in the day, I participated in the demo and national day of action in Times Square regarding “NO War against Iran!” [There were 73 similar actions around the US and the world.] Stating we want a nuclear free Middle East, as well as NO sanctions! NO intervention! NO assassinations! Plus, coming up on Feb 15th, will mark 9th anniversary that I became involved in peace / political activism via that huge global protest against a war and occupation of Iraq. Also, during the day into early evening, I stopped by “Books of Wonder” to visit with Sam, and afterwards had dinner at Nanoosh near Lincoln Center. [Photo above of Lincoln Center at night time]

Sunday, Feb 5th, at 12pm, I had an appt with Dr Tan, then shopping at Pottery Barn and then headed down to Cobble Hill in Brooklyn for a vegan lunch at “Wild Ginger”. Afterwards, I picked up some goodies at Nutbox, and then home.

Tuesday, Feb 7th, at 7pm, many thanks to a fellow activist, and acquaintance, in letting me know that Chris Hedges would be speaking at All Souls church on Tuesday evening. It was a great talk [followed by Q&A] by Hedges on the Occupy Movement, as well as the death of the Liberal class. Hedges is an author and journalist, who touched on the following topics … the church, the press, education, labor, culture and the Democratic Party have either withered or surrendered to corporate interests. Hedges examined the failure of the liberal class to confront the rise of the corporate state and the consequences for our democracy. Chris calls upon those of us who care about the issues of justice and democratic equality to turn away from formal systems of power and begin to fight back through various options, including civil disobedience. Failure to do so, he believes, will harden into place a corporate system that will continue to exploit the working class and extinguish what is left of our democracy.

Wednesday, Feb 8th, I did volunteer work at WCW national office.

On Thursday, Feb 9th, after work, I attended the “Don’t Suppress Occupy” committee meeting near Washington Square Park.

On Friday afternoon, Feb 10th, I had minor surgery for ingrown toenail issues.

Saturday, Feb 11th, I participated in the BFP A&C committee conference call, which was very productive and informative.

On Tuesday, Feb 14th, I have a follow up with my foot doctor to check on toe after surgery on Friday afternoon.

On Feb 15th in 2003 I participated in my first ever peaceful protest, march and rally against war and the Bush/Cheney regime. It was a frigid cold day, but that didn’t stop thousands of protestors in NYC, and millions more around the world, against the US invasion of Iraq. That day was a turning point for me and my outlook on US and World politics. [As well as the peace movement and many progressive Democrat campaigns.] Many thanks go out to the inspiring Quaker couple who took me “under their wing” during the protest, and regaled me with their “protesting” stories from the 1960s to present. That whole afternoon was an eye-opening experience, and after that I listened to WBAI all the time, plus started reading articles on “Common Dreams” website, etc, etc.

Thursday, Feb 16th, I have an appt with Dr Tan down in Chinatown.

Friday – Sunday, [17th to 19th] I visited with the parents in upstate NY, and we even got abit of snow on Saturday afternoon. [Photo below during snowfall.] It was lovely! Helped Mom with her digital camera and transferred her pix from Xmas to present onto a CD. Easier that way for her to take to RiteAid and get prints done up. Mom and I also watched DH1 on DVD, plus PofA on cable TV. I also took the parents out for breakfast on Saturday, and got lots of “artsy” pix over the weekend.

On Monday, Feb 20th, I took half a personal day in the morning, as I woke up with neck / back issues. After seeing my chiropractor I headed into the office.

Tuesday evening, Feb 21st, I attended the BFP PF committee meeting in Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn. There is much to do and accomplish before the PF at BC end of April.

On Wednesday, Feb 22nd, I attended the monthly meetup with other “NYC Friends of Tolkien” members at a local diner. Bought a “Gosford Park” book off of Timdalf, and we mostly discussed TRD, and Pauline’s recent trip to the Middle East. It was also the first day of Lent and I always give up chocolate.

Thursday, Feb 23rd, I had an appt with Dr Tan down in Chinatown. Afterwards, I stopped by PC Richards to check out and purchase a new TV for my apt.

Friday, Feb 24th, I have an appt with my foot doctor as follow-up to recent surgery. Afterwards, headed up to Chelsea area to have dinner with my friend Larry, and get my 2011 taxes taken care of.

Saturday, Feb 25th, morning my cleaning lady, Dana, will stopped by to tend to my apt.

Sunday, Feb 26th, I visited my good friend Katherine up in CT, and we exchanged Xmas gifties while at lunch at a Chinese buffet. We also caught up on news, saw the latest innovations in the barn, etc. [Photo of Katherine in new barn at her homestead.]