Libertyville Abortion Demonstration

I think this really needs to be addressed. This is an important video in regards to the abortion debate. It also clearly shows the gap between religious beliefs and reason.

I have been blogging mainly about politics recently. Unfortunately the time is here to address political issues directly because they are severly impacting our lives. (middle class quality of life that is - they have been messing with the lower class for a lot longer)

The Sexiest Picture of Stephen Colbert EVER

The Sexiest Picture of Stephen Colbert EVER
Originally uploaded by No Fact Zone.net

It's Tuesday, I'm bummed out.

So I am posting a HOT picture of Stephen Colbert - Enjoy

I threw up a little in my mouth......

once again. Here's why:


From the November 8 broadcast of Fox News' The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly:


O'REILLY: Hey, you know, if you want to ban military recruiting, fine, but I'm not going to give you another nickel of federal money. You know, if I'm the president of the United States, I walk right into Union Square, I set up my little presidential podium, and I say, "Listen, citizens of San Francisco, if you vote against military recruiting, you're not going to get another nickel in federal funds. Fine. You want to be your own country? Go right ahead."


And if Al Qaeda comes in here and blows you up, we're not going to do anything about it. We're going to say, look, every other place in America is off limits to you, except San Francisco. You want to blow up the Coit Tower? Go ahead.

The face of Nazism and the KKK

according to Bill O'Reilly, I rival the Nazis and KKK in my hate because I am a member of The Daily Kos website.

I have been reading The Daily Kos for as long as I have been blogging (5 or 6 months?). Anywhoo, imagine my surprise when a tv pundit calls me a Nazi, KKK member............or worse.

I am extremely offended and appalled. Although my friends, family, and loved ones might have different political and religious beliefs than me, we share the same morals and values. The people who know me well might call me idealistic, naive, annoying, different, etc. But they would not compare me to a Nazi. Fascism, oppression, and totalitarianism make me weep. Openly, and more frequently in my soul, when I see the death, destruction, horror and pain that happens *daily* in our world.

Sooooo, a reasonable conclusion could be made that Bill O'Reilly is lying. In fact, he is.

It would appear that Fox News and Bill O'Reilly lie a lot. Because they like $$$. And the most effective way for them to make $$$ is to scare people. To insulate people. To have their viewers sooo paranoid that they will chose to blindly watch Fox News and never question the "facts" they are being given.

That is power folks.

Well, I for one am sick of it. (And yes, being compared to Nazis and the KKK was the last straw)

It is time to call Fox News and Bill O'Reilly on their lies and misinformation campaign.

If you do not like your sister, daughter, friend, lover, or blogger being called a hate-filled individual like the Nazis and KKK

.......or perhaps you are more offended by Fox News continually making "mistakes" such as this.

Then please go here to foxattacks.com . Watch the video, decided for yourself what is important in a media outlet, and start letting advertisers know you will not be shopping with them until they stop advertising on a program that lies about global warming and the environment.......................

and oh yeah - and calls Sisterfish a Nazi.

Peace.

Back-Talk #2 DOJ Scandal and Impeachment

Confused? Watch this.

Then contact your representatives (even if it is Lamborn *sigh*). A quick email or phone call actually DOES make a difference. Everybody just needs to take the time. We can't give up on America. Thank you.

Ask A Ninja Special Delivery 4 Net Neutrality

A good way to understand Net Neutrality. A really important issue for anyone using the series of tubes known as the internets.

Gotta Wake Up....

From an article on Firedoglake by Christy Hardin Smith:

The nation’s founders lived through the upheaval of a revolutionary war and watched the European continent erupt in petty battles over territories that had been long-coveted by a few monarchs across the continent for centuries. The Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the nation’s laws were designed as a stop-gap against tyranny. From Scott Horton in Harper’s:


As Benjamin Franklin left the Constitutional Convention, on September 18, 1787, a certain Mrs. Powel shouted out to him: “Well, doctor, what have we got?,” and Franklin responded: “A Republic, if you can keep it.” Like many of the Founding Fathers, he was intensely concerned that the democratic institutions they were crafting would deteriorate over time. In particular, they were concerned—and talked ceaselessly during the convention about the risk that, under pressures and exigencies of war, a tyrant would collapse their system into something closer to the monarchy that they had just defeated. Over the intervening 220 years, the republic has maintained itself, though not without close calls. And today, while we face what may be the gravest challenge in the nation’s history, our media will serve up the next chapter in the life of Paris Hilton.

Near the close of the Second World War, Learned Hand–a man who embodies everything that constitutes a good citizen, a great judge and a patriot–made a powerful speech at the Great Lawn in Central Park. “Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women,” he said, “when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it. While it lies there it needs no constitution, no law, no court to save it.” This observation may be obvious, but it is an obvious truth which at this point goes unstated. Our Constitution and values will only survive the present onslaught if we remain conscious of them and recall the great cost at which they were secured. The current events are far more momentous than some partisan political struggle. For the next generation of Americans, they will define what this country has become.

We all need to get involved before our collective apathy has won (has it already? some days it feels like it).

The simplest way to get involved?? Call or email your representative and let your voice be heard. It is simple and easy.....and it is why we have representation.

C'mon now, if you truly like this country we all live in, it is time to become involved. No more excuses.

Are you ready freddy? Great, then click here and start voicing your opinions, frustrations, and hopes for our country.

Ben Franklin double dog dares you.

Peace.

How come

.....the sh%t is hitting the fan, and no one is noticing the horrible smell in the room? Seriously. It is a bit worrying that no one is freaking out. Because it is some pretty nasty sh%t, and it effects all of us. Apparently the mainstream media doesn't have a sh%t detector, which is crazy since its job is suppose to be to spotlight sh%t going on in our country so we stay informed.

Here is an excerpt from Firedoglake today:

Our Media Is Missing the Story of the Century

As the New York Times lead editorial recognized Sunday, the Bush White House is now in complete and open defiance of all lawful Congressional efforts to hold the executive accountable for misconduct and possible crimes committed by members of the White House staff. Just as Bush claimed he had an inherent right to disregard Congressional statutes (e.g., FISA, the Geneva Conventions, signing statements) and the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments, or to cover up WH complicity in crimes (via commuting Scooter Libby’s prison term), the President is now claiming he can ignore any Congressional oversight of White House misconduct.

I’ve almost given up waiting for the media’s most public faces to express outrage over what is happening. The Administration has so systematically undermined the Constitution’s established checks and balances and means of accountability via Congressional and judicial oversight that there is virtually nothing left to check their lawless excesses except impeachment and removal from office. Fielding’s moves suggest that Bush and Cheney just want to “bring it on.”

The traditional media can’t seem to get their heads around how dangerously unAmerican this is and how serious a threat it poses to our constitutional framework. And there are too many in the media like the editorial writers at the Washington Post who pretend that the Administration might be more cooperative if only the Congress would be less insistent and simply offer the WH a face-saving compromise.

So I’m going to appeal to whatever remaining instincts the journalists in our media might still have as news people, and as Americans. There’s a story here, folks; a really big story. The details may be hard to follow, but the basics are simple: we are already deeply into a constitutional crisis deliberately provoked by a brazenly lawless Administration, a regime that is violating the laws with impunity because it regards itself as above the law, and a regime that is openly daring Congress to impeach it. Can any of you smell a story here?

All I can say is this sh%t really stinks! Don't we want to address it?

Peace.

Dead Milkmen - Nutrition

A song to supplement my previous rant.

MSNBC: 75 PERCENT OF AMERICANS OVERWEIGHT BY 2015

Here is the MSNBC article.

It states:

If people keep gaining weight at the current rate, fat will be the norm by 2015, with 75 percent of U.S. adults overweight and 41 percent obese, U.S. researchers predicted on Wednesday.

A team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore examined 20 studies published in journals and looked at national surveys of weight and behavior for their analysis, published in the journal Epidemiologic Reviews.

“Obesity is a public health crisis. If the rate of obesity and overweight continues at this pace, by 2015, 75 percent of adults and nearly 24 percent of U.S. children and adolescents will be overweight or obese,” Dr. Youfa Wang, who led the study, said in a statement.

Can we address this issue in the same manner we address other issues that threaten the health and happiness of Americans? ie Terrorism

Why is it that we are not taking a serious look at WHY obesity is a public health crisis? Is it that we are really that ignorant that we believe that being overweight is just because someone doesn't have enough will-power or stamina?

That is ridiculous! And by feeding into that utter insanity we are not bothering to look at the ACTUAL causes and problems.

Our food supply SUCKS

Fast food really SUCKS and is affordable - especially for poor people

Corporations like Sam's, Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway, etc - want consumers to consume. DUH They don't give a rat's patoody about our health or the ramifications of selling us huuuuge portions.

AND to top it off we are lulled into a comatose state with TV, video games, the internets

I am the first to admit that I am no better than anyone else. I frickin love Taco Bell, Cable TV, and sittin on my ass.

But at least I am pissed off and frightened about my health and the health of my love ones. So it is incredibly hard (I ain't gonna lie), but now fast food is the exception, we limit our TV time, and I try to read as much as possible about food choices and the crap in the food we eat.

I really recommend What to Eat by Marion Nestle and Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food by Eric Schlosser.

It's not a matter of being "weak" or "lazy" that we are over-weight. It is a matter of ignorance and lack of time in our lives. We all need to take responsibility for our health....the first important step is educating ourselves.

No fad diets, no guilt inspired memberships to Curves that never get used.......I am talking about going to the library, bookstore, internet and feeding our brains first.

Once our brains are on board, our bodies will be happier and much more amendable to eating better portions, exercising, and stepping away from the pharmaceuticals.

This is OUR public health crisis.

Peace

Up All Night with Sen. Tom Harkin

Confused about what is happening in Congress? Noticing how the Mainstream Media is labeling this "Political Theater". IT'S NOT THEATER. Its the Democrats in Congress trying to let YOU, the people, know the situation.

Republicans are refusing to publically voice their position on the war. And they are using spin and as much "Political Theater" as possible to keep you misinformed.

Bullshit on that!

ABBA - 1980 Super Trouper

My daughter, Alex, has been at her cousins this past week - and her dad's this weekend. I miss her!

So I am sharing some ABBA in honor of Alex. She is a serious ABBA fan......and a Super Trouper!

My Trees

Its a small step for me, but I love my lemon and lime trees. I am not a house plant type. ESPECIALLY since I have never bought one. Thus, if I am ever in a position to take care of one I get really resentful. I never asked for that kind of responsibility! Fortunately my husband understands and waters his own plants.

However, I did buy my trees and I love them. And now they are starting to show fruit!! Check this crazy shit out:

Can you see the lime in the upper right?

Baby limes

Almost there!

Budding lemons

Ahhhh, I love them. I do not resent them in the slightest.

On another note, Jeff and I went hiking on the lower Barr Trail yesterday. The switchbacks kicked....my....ass. I dunno why I choose a freakin hard trail because I am a NOVICE. Oh well, we still had fun. And I like it when Jeff looks out for me (um, hon, your face is bright red and you are breathing like a bull in heat. You might want to stop for a while).

I am still doing my 3 mile power walk at the Paint Mines every morning, so hopefully I will be in better shape by the end of this summer.

****UPDATE********************************************************

Some rascally varmint stole the lime from my tree! It's gone! That sucks the big one. Stay tuned to see if any other lemons and/or limes survive!

*********************************************************************

PEACE.

Michael Moore Rips Wolf Blitzer/CNN

Amazing how Michael Moore can piss off so many people (who most likely haven't even seen his movies).

He's right, CNN, FAUX NEWS, the Networks....are not journalists. They are shills working for the corporations that run them.

If this exchange makes you uncomfortable - perhaps it is because as a society we have been lulled into thinking that the media's job is to provide the answers, fears, positions for all of us.

Bullshit! The media is suppose to report the FACTS and unbiased information which leads to DEBATE. Something that is hard to do with a TV.

We all need to wake up.

Rollins on impeachment

Give it up for Rollins - I love you too, man.

Still breathing (part II)

The lake was fun - but I need to finish up my vacation diary.

After our life changing excursion in the Redwoods we headed up the coast to the house my folks had rented. My parents had encouraged us to stop at the sea lion caves if we had the time. We got there 15 minutes before they closed. It was really cool. They had an outside platform where you could look down at all the sea lions on the beach. There was a lot and they seemed pretty content hanging out in the sun.

Next we took an elevator 208 feet down into the sea lion cave. It was loud, and stinky, and awesome. All those sea lions! Their cave was huge and amazing, and they were all piled on top of each other enjoying the scene. Another extraordinary experience for us.

Sea Lion Caves in Florence, Oregon

We got to my parents elegant vacation house on the rocky, Oregon beach. It was very nice to not be in a hotel! We got some local grub. Fish & Chips and clam chowder. excellent

The next morning we were looking through the industrial size telescope my parents brought (haha) and we saw whales!!!! Beautiful. When you see creatures so majestic and different from yourself, it puts your life in perspective. We all liked the whales a lot :) We also saw some starfish clinging on the rocks through the telescope. I like starfish.

That day we continued up the coast to our next rental place in Netarts, Oregon.

We stopped at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. Lots to see......huge crabs, starfish, jellyfish, puffins, too friggin-cute-for-words otters, an octopus, seals, and lots of FISH. Another great place to visit. We got some cool video that hopefully we will put on youtube some day.

A couple miles down the road was The Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center at OSU. Very educational and fun. I got to touch a starfish!!

We got to our next residence and it was very nice. Alex got to sleep up in the loft, and Jeff and I had a bedroom with huge picture windows showing the ocean. Loved it!

A short path led to the beach and we hung out there quite a lot. We even built a swanky sandcastle.

It was too cold to go swimming in the ocean. But just getting our legs wet and exploring the beach at high and low tide was awesome.

The next day we went to the Tillamook Air Museum . A must see museum if you are into airplanes, blimps, WWII, history, or beautiful buildings. I really liked this museum, so did Jeff & Al.

Next stop the famous Tillamook Cheese Factory. We saw the cheese being cut, packaged, etc and had some yummy, yummy ice cream.

The next day we took some time to relax and chill out. We saw the Cape Meares Lighthouse and the Octopus Tree. Just some more sights to blow our minds and make us feel wondrous.

Finally it was time to head home. This time we took the shorter route.

(We drove through Portland. I would love to go back and visit Portland again.)

As we were driving through Oregon we saw the signs for Bonneville Dam. Jeff wanted to stop and I was cool with that. I had no idea what an informative and interesting place the visitor center would be. We got to see fish, some quite huge, going up the steps to the other side of the dam. They have windows in the lower level of the building, underneath the water, to see the fish swim by. The dam was a visual rush of course. They also had a fish hatchery with a 10 foot sturgeon!!! Freakin Awesome!!!

By then we were happy and exhausted and headed home. We had such a cool vacation. What a good feeling to see other places, and learn so much about other creatures, history.......and ourselves.

Visit Oregon!

My (early) Fourth of July Post

We are going to the lake tomorrow, so I wanted to post a bit of relevant history:


"We may congratulate ourselves that this cruel war is nearing its end....But I see in the future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless."

Abraham Lincoln, "Letter to Col. William F. Elkins, Nov. 21, 1864"


Twenty-two years later was the landmark Supreme Court decision Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad.

However, corporations are not "persons" they have no soul or ethical conscience.

We have seen our government become corrupt and self-serving.

Instead of waving flags or idolizing politicians this 4th of July.....let us study history, understand our Constitution, and take action to preserve the integrity of The United States of America.

Thank You & Peace.

And........breathe (Part 1)

Well, we are back from a friggen AWESOME vacation. I can't get over how wonderful it was. We did so much cool stuff and it went so smoothly. Driving 3000 miles in the family car could have produced some scary results, but amazingly enough no one had a meltdown. Okay Jeff and I got a bit cranky at times, but Alex was incredible. No complaints, no whining. She was a role model for us.

My favorite part of the trip was walking on the beach. My folks renting very cool houses on the beach for our stay. You just walked down to the ocean. I really, really loved it.

We started off driving through Colorado to Wyoming. We stayed the night at Rawlins and it sucked. Then we drove through Utah and Nevada. We spent the night at Sparks, Nevada which was much better. On to California where we took the highway from hell across the mountains and we went to Lassen Volcanic National Park. The park was very beautiful and informative for geeks like us.

We arrived in Eureka, CA and spent the night. It seemed like an odd town, we didn't get a chance to explore it much because we were off on our mighty road trip up the coast on Highway 101.

We stopped the first chance we got to get up close and personal with the ocean.

Next stop: REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK!!!!

So breath-taking. So beautiful. So ENORMOUS!!!

We hiked up to a beautiful waterfall and met a very smart ranger. It was profoundly extraordinary.

We bought the Dr. Seuss book "The Lorax" and read it as we drove through. Okay, I know that is geeky. But it is one of my favorite books, and the story fit perfectly with the mind blowing experience that is The Redwoods. We are going back someday, some way.

Well, I am going to stop here for today. But there is much, much, more to come!!!

Stayed tuned.

Peace