February 2, 2008 archive

Feb 02 2008

Why I Can’t Vote For Hillary: A Deeply Personal Story

A few days ago, I posted an essay about Columbia County, New York.  What I didn’t mention was that for seven years, Columbia County was the scene of a huge, grassroots battle against St. Lawrence Cement and plans to construct an enormous cement plant in Columbia County on the Hudson River. The citizens group, Friends of Hudson, believe it or not won the battle.  There is no new cement plant today.

Today the founder of Friends of Hudson, Sam Pratt, posted the following diary at dKos about the Friends of Hudson and Hillary Clinton.  This is an important story, which I am posting here with Sam’s permission without further comment:

Feb 02 2008

Coming Soon to a Soup Kitchen Near You:

You! I hope.

Got a call yesterday from the more-or-less manager of a soup kitchen that just started up a few months ago near downtown. Business is booming. And “soup kitchen” isn’t going to cut it; that was the original concept, but more is needed. These people need full meals. Kids and families, seniors, homeless vets. The kitchen does two lunch sessions a week. They could do 7 easy if they had the food and volunteers.

They are jammed. Over 200 people showed up at the last one. With 4 volunteers and 1 cook, scramble scramble and hope the food lasts.

I understand this is happening all over: food pantries are running low, charity providers are strapped for cash, donations, volunteers.

So here’s my plea: if you have anything to spare, now would be a good time. Spare change from the dresser drawer, an extra loaf of bread, a can of soup, a bag of rice or beans.

Get it down to a relief kitchen and lend a hand if you are able.

Thanks for your help.

 

Feb 02 2008

Frivolous Super Bowl Pool….

Please conduct any financial wagers offsite…just to be sure!!

But for fun…why not record our picks here, if only for bragging rights??

The Giants are 12 point dogs going in, and the over/under is at 54.5, according to betus.com.  

I’m taking the under (risky, i know), and the G-men…i’m picking them straight up, in fact, but the spread can only help me…

My parents also like to have a pool where everyone submits a number which they are guessing will be the total combined score.  closest without going over wins.  Im guessing 39.  

any takers?

Feb 02 2008

Weekend News Digest

Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties ’cause it’s cooooold out there today.

Groundhog predicts more winter weather

Associated Press

Sat Feb 2, 8:57 AM ET

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – Brace yourself for more wintry weather. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow Saturday, leading the groundhog to forecast six more weeks of winter.

Weekend News Digest is an Open Thread

From Yahoo News Top Stories

1 Chad rebels seize capital after heavy fighting: military source

by Francesco Fontemaggi, AFP

16 minutes ago

NDJAMENA (AFP) – Rebels seized Chad’s capital Ndjamena on Saturday after intense fighting with government forces, military and rebel sources said, as President Idriss Deby Itno remained holed up in the presidential palace.

“The whole of the city is in the hands of the rebels. It’s down to mopping-up operations,” according to the military source.

Chadian rebel spokesman Abakar Tollimi said the president could leave his palace, if he so wishes, but later added that there were plans to attack the presidential residence.

Feb 02 2008

Interrobang ?!?……..

Feb 02 2008

Bad news on Groundhog Day

John McCain saw his shadow this morning, and you know what that means.

100 more years of war in Iraq.

Or maybe 10,000 years.*

Feb 02 2008

Congressional races by state: AR, OR, IA, ME, UT

I am all for running everywhere, and the 50 state strategy.

But neither we nor the Republicans are running everywhere (at least not yet!) In this series, I will look at where we are not running (I am not going to look at where Republicans are not running, as I have no desire to help Republicans, however modestly)

This diary is partly inspired by the great work done by BENAWU.

crossposted to dailyKos

Feb 02 2008

Congressional races by state: CA

I am all for running everywhere, and the 50 state strategy.

But neither we nor the Republicans are running everywhere (at least not yet!) In this series, I will look at where we are not running (I am not going to look at where Republicans are not running, as I have no desire to help Republicans, however modestly)

This diary is partly inspired by the great work done by BENAWU.

crossposted to dailyKos

Feb 02 2008

Weekend Marathon! “Among The Best Neighborhoods in the US”

In Can You Help? NOLA’s 9th Ward Needs Us! the excellent ikrisarus starts the big challenge:

A group of bloggers over at Docudharma have been actively writing about NOLA after Hurricane Katrina and we have decided to do a week-end marathon fund-raiser for the 9th Wards’ NENA (Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association)

The Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association (NENA) was established in the aftermath of Katrina to play a lead role in rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward.

Organized and controlled by residents of the Lower Ninth Ward, NENA addresses not only the immediate recovery needs created by the storm’s destruction, but also the institutional neglect and disinvestment that plagued the neighborhood long before Katrina. NENA works with current Lower Ninth Ward residents, displaced residents living in other parts of New Orleans, and the broader diaspora who want to return to the neighborhood.

Feb 02 2008

Christo’s The Gates: An Appreciation

It was an audacious project: 7500 saffron-orange gates covering 23 miles of footpaths in Central Park.  A work of art some 25 years in the making, with an estimated total cost of $21 million, paid for by the artist.  And it had the whole city talking.

Feb 02 2008

At the Polls

On Thursday night students, faculty and staff at Bloomfield College gathered for a discussion of the issues and the candidates in the current campaign.  I have to admit I missed it.  I was in the midst of becoming rather ill and in need of horizontal collapse.

I do have to admit that Edwards and Giulliani dropping out on Wednesday ticked off the students who were preparing the event for Thursday.  Students always hate it when work they’ve done becomes irrelevant.  But at least those students were able to participate in the issues discussion.

This event and other events are the brainchildren of a collaboration between the political science, history disciplines and women’s studies disciplines and Student Government.  The candidate event kicks off Black History month for us.

Feb 02 2008

“I Was Off to Represent For My Fathers…”:

I would like for any reading this to travel over and read



Field Producer Robin On Veterans and the Petition Delivery, a very moving, and short read, of her travels with the Homeless Veterans to

the FOX media New York city studios.

A sample below:

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