February 2011 archive

FIGHTING CLING-ONS FOR THREE DECADES

 

Toto’s warm water-spraying Washlet toilet seats celebrated 30 years of keeping things clean down under, living up to their slogan, “Buttocks, too, want to be washed.”

Locals in Miyazaki rolled out the welcome wagon for the Yomiuri Giants as they opened “spring” camp, lavishing 20 kilos of kumquat, 20kg of mikan, 10 boxes of strawberries and 100 broiled eels on the Central League powerhouse.

But the Giants gave as good as they got, donating some ¥3 million to support local relief efforts as Miyazaki battles bird flu and a spewing volcano.

Meanwhile, the Softbank Hawks also got a welcome gift at their camp when 10kg of tuna and 10kg of shrimp were dropped off by the Miyazaki Fish Federation.

16-year-old ballet dancers Shizuru Kato and Yuko Horisawa finished fifth and seventh, respectively, at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne competition, each earning year-long scholarships to some of the top dance schools in the world.

This week’s selection would seem particularly timely, especially given the bare-knuckled assault on the working class playing out in many states across the country, most notably in Wisconsin. The progressive factions have, quite predictably, splintered into numerous warring factions, much to the delight of the oligarchs who now see absolute power and control of the masses within reach. Our challenge, if we wish to survive, is to reach out to those whose core values are similar, while at the same time realizing that most of those individuals will not agree with us on all counts.  

Written in the early 1960s by singer-songwriter Chet Powers (aka Dino Valenti), this week’s selection represents a heartfelt plea for peace and brotherhood. The message also speaks to the frequent struggle between the mutually exclusive sentiments of love and fear, as well as the importance of the path we choose.    

Regular Daily Features:

• The Zombies kick off the day in Late Night Karaoke, mishima DJs
• Six Brilliant Articles!    from Six Different Places!!     on Six Different Topics!!!
  
                  Six Days a Week!!!                at Six in the Morning!!!!

Essays Featured Friday, February 25^th:

• In Friday Open Thoughts slksfca shares the news The bus comes to Broadway
• ek hornbeck spreads the word about Solidarity Saturday
• Ria‘s Get Growing series begins it’s run for the season with Seeds
• Diane Gee spreads the words of her 100^th Radio Show
• Firefly Memories 1.0 is where Alma takes a look back at some of the Brilliant essays of our first years posts, highlighting those which exemplify our firefly-dreaming spirit and mission.  
  
  Today:World AIDS Day – A tour of the Grove

join the conversation! come firefly-dreaming with me….

Scarlet Letter

Injustice at Every Turn (pdf) is a 122-page report of data gathered in 2008 by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality concerning quality of life issues for transgender people living in this country.

Possessing accurate and consistent identification documents is essential to basic social and economic functioning in our country. Access to employment, housing, health care and travel all can hinge on having appropriate documentation. Yet, for many of the respondents, obtaining identity documents that match their gender is a major hurdle.

Previous “turns” have covered the basic data about who transpeople living in America are in Who we are — by the numbers, Part I: Education, Part II: Employment, Part III: Health Care, Part IV: Family, Part V: Housing and Part VI: Public Accommodation.

One last piece to come concerns treatment by police and incarceration.

Our regular featured content-

• Six In The Morning by mishima
• On This Day In History by TheMomCat
• Punting the Pundits by TheMomCat
• Evening Edition by ek hornbeck
• Prime Time by ek hornbeck

And these articles-

• Solidarity Saturday by ek hornbeck
• Which Side Are You On? by ek hornbeck

The Stars Hollow Gazette

Tomorrow, Saturday, starting at noon there will be solidarity rallies for Wisconson workers at every Statehouse in America as well as some other locations.  Moveon.org has this handy tool that will help you find one close to you.

If you happen to have a cheesehead it would certainly be appropriate and how many times can you say that?  Moveon suggests Badger colors (red and white) perhaps because red is a labor color, I don’t think Packer green and gold would be out of place either (they are unionized and currently in negotiations with management).

I do seriously encourage any who can to take the time and attend.  It is my hope that this will be as large as the demonstrations in favor of immigration and against the war in Iraq.

Thank you in advance.

ek hornbeck

Below the fold a message from Bob Fertik of Democracy.com.

New Zealand earthquake: ‘slim chance’ of further survivors

Emergency services continue earthquake rescue efforts but no survivors found in last 24 hours

Toby Manhire in Christchurch

The Guardian, Friday 25 February 2011

As the death toll from Tuesday’s earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, continues to rise, the authorities have admitted that the chances of finding further survivors are increasingly slim.

With 113 people confirmed dead, including two babies, and more than 200 people still missing, civil defence minister John Carter said: “We’re still hopeful, but it’s getting less and less likely.”

The bleak warning came as one of two Britons confirmed dead in the quake was named as Gregory Tobin, 25, a chef, from Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. Tobin had been on a round-the-world trip and was believed to have been working temporarily at a garage in Christchurch. One tribute on his Facebook page read: “Such a nice guy and at such a young age.”