tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106924652024-03-12T19:17:23.856-07:00Washington WomanThinking, speaking, writing, and being active on issues that affect women, children, society and the environment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-755027767583273132010-09-17T16:48:00.001-07:002010-09-17T16:48:08.788-07:00Washington State initiatives mostly corporate funded<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> 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style=""> </b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Figures listed in the <a href="http://www.pdc.wa.gov/">Public Disclosure Commission</a> show that the majority of funding that has placed initiatives on the November ballot have come from corporate donors. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">All fundraising and expenditures for candidates and initiatives must by law be recorded by the PDC to create transparency to voters regarding campaign funding. Ironically, the PDC was established in 1973 after enough signatures were placed on the ballot to make reporting mandatory.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The purpose of the initiative process was to allow citizens to play a role in creating the laws that have an effect on them. But some have questioned the authenticity of the grassroots movement as corporate donations have enabled the use of paid signature gatherers and advertising.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Andrew Villeneuve, founder of the <a href="http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/">Northwest Progressive Institute</a> has been tracking what he considers to be a disturbing trend in the initiative process. Among them is <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/i-10532019s-supermajority-requirement-is-excessive-and-unreasonable">I-1053</a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“It’s not actually Tim Eyman’s initiative anymore,” Villeneuve said. “It’s actually BP’s initiative. It’s Conoco Phillips initiative. It’s Tesoro’s initiative, along with Bank of America and other corporations.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Initiative 1053 is listed at the PDC under the names Citizens for Responsible Spending and Voters Want More Choices. To date a cumulative amount of $65,000 has been donated by BP, a British owned company. Conoco Phillips and Tesoro have each contributed $50,000. Bank of America has donated $10,000. The list is extensive and it is made up primarily of corporate donors.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> More than $6 million dollars has gone into I-1107, known as Stop the Food and Beverage Tax Hikes, for the American Beverage Association – which includes Pepsi and Coca-Cola. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Costco has donated in excess of $800,000 to I-1100, known as Modernize Washington, which would allow the privatization of liquor sales in Washington State.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “Every corporation is trying to maximize their own bottom line,” Villeneuve said. “They want to be able to maximize profits and not be responsible for the messes they create.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> According to Villeneuve, in the case of some of the oil companies that have refineries on Puget Sound, they are trying to stonewall legislation that environmentalists have been trying to pass through congress to increase hazardous substance fees.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “Eyman’s 1053 is basically designed to jam the gears of democracy by saying that the legislature can’t approve any new revenue without a two-thirds vote.” Villeneuve explained. “It will only take one-third to kill a bill. Majority rule gets subverted in the process.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> According to Villeneuve, many politicians will not want to risk losing their biggest campaign donors and will therefore vote against bills that will cost those companies money.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/members/kirby/"> Rep. Steve Kirby (D-Tacoma)</a> agreed that the initiative process is no longer based on citizen action.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “All it takes is money. It doesn’t matter where it comes from,” Kirby said. “Now it’s all done by rich people and corporate money. It’s one of the easiest ways to subvert the system. It’s a way to turn it on its ear.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> According to Kirby, not only do donors not have to be from Washington State, but neither do those that gather signatures.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “It’s a highly organized business. Some will even fly in small armies of gatherers in on planes from out of state,” Kirby said.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Signature gathers are not required to be knowledgeable on the issue nor accurately disclose the intent of the behind the initiative.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “It’s a problem,” Kirby said.”The courts have allowed them to lie under protection of the First Amendment.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The initiative process itself could be eliminated by an initiative. But all sides want the option, he said. Legitimate interests use the initiative process, and some even use paid gatherers. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Kirby said that public disclosure is the best tool there is for now. As far as making the process more fair and transparent, Kirby doesn’t see a clear answer.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “It’s possible there’s something we haven’t thought of yet,” he said. “But powerful corporations hire lawyers.”<br> <br> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b style=""> </b></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-15738798922962795832010-01-18T18:24:00.001-08:002010-01-18T18:24:42.459-08:001968 King Assassination Report (CBS News)<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/cmOBbxgxKvo' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/cmOBbxgxKvo'/></object></p><p>Very interesting video.</p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-65802279830486119272009-09-29T00:13:00.001-07:002009-09-29T00:13:38.496-07:00My Name Is Not "Those People"<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/hQWbkVqZKeo' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/hQWbkVqZKeo'/></object></p><p>Simply wonderful and well said....<br /><br /></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-37112240074524119362009-09-14T15:37:00.002-07:002009-09-14T15:43:56.962-07:00The Unauthorized 9.12 Teabagger Tour<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><object height="350" width="425"><param value="http://youtube.com/v/UASS1qFAIQ8" name="movie"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://youtube.com/v/UASS1qFAIQ8" height="350" width="425"></embed></object></p><p>Oh My God!<br /></p><p>Can you believe we live in a country with so many scary deranged people?</p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-1196074779052387362009-04-07T22:49:00.002-07:002009-04-07T22:57:51.914-07:00The Filth and The Furious - The EPA's Most Wanted<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27pt; line-height: 200%;">The <a href="http://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency </a>is turning up the heat on dirty criminals. Deputy director Doug Parker began compiling a list of the <a href="http://www.epa.gov/fugitives/">EPA’s “Most Wanted</a>” in March of 2008 to ferret out those who are wanted on criminal investigation of environmental felonies. Although a relatively new endeavor, the list of 21 fugitives reaches back as far as 1996, when a man by the name of <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_19990717/ai_n11725916/">Mauro Valenzuela</a> smuggled oxygen canisters onto an airliner, causing the deaths of 110 people when they ignited – causing the plane to crash into the everglades. Included on the roster are Albania Deleon, who ran an operation that hired workers to remove asbestos without proper certification, and two men who are believed to have trafficked ozone depleting coolants. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27pt; line-height: 200%;">According to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/us/06wanted.html">Cornelia Dean’s article in the New York Times</a>, Parker states that the E.P.A. has “’180 agents fully authorized with arrest powers, carrying firearms’ around the country, but that it usually worked with state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies as well as the Coast Guard, the Homeland Security Department, and Interpol.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27pt; line-height: 200%;">While I applaud the idea behind the efforts of Parker and the agency, one omission I found glaringly obvious, was that of the range of penalties for these crimes. While Mauro Valenzuela would likely be brought up on charges that could include homicide, and is as of yet at large, what is to become of the perpetrator who places countless lives in danger in a more subtle manner that may span over a number of years? It has seemed that the victims often must rely on litigation for resolution, and if successful, may wait years for vindication. If ever they do. <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2009/3/24/20_years_after_exxon_valdez_oil">Twenty years after the massive travesty of the Exxon Valdez</a> oil spill, which had been ignored by the behemoth corporation and was cleaned up by good Samaritans, the diminutive sum that they were ordered to pay was again reduced by the Supreme Court. While the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill">Exxon episode</a> may have been deemed an accident and, therefore, not criminal, they’re lack of response is beyond irresponsible. And in cases where people or corporations deliberately act in ways that put the public at risk, they should be penalized in a similar manner as if they used any other weapon. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27pt; line-height: 200%;">So, bravo to Doug Parker and the E.P.A for putting a face on environmental terrorists.<span style=""> </span>Let’s hope it’s not just a never seen tribute to the post office wall.</p> <div class="moz-signature"><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://johnlscott.com/marielynn"></a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-68016612252640848282009-03-07T12:04:00.006-08:002009-03-07T12:19:29.352-08:00Steven Colbert, Glenn Beck and FEAR!Steven Colbert takes on glenn beck and the crazies at fox news. Even during the bush administration all they had to sell to the American people and the world was fear. You would think that they would have noticed that the vast majority of people in this country voted for HOPE, Change and Courage!<br /><br />Here we have Steven Colbert telling us about beck' new War Room". This is followed by Steven Colbert's own version of the War Room called the "DOOM Bunker"<br /><br />Have fun.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Steven Colbert and glenn beck's War Room.</span><br /><style type='text/css'>.cc_box a:hover .cc_home{background:url('http://www.comedycentral.com/comedycentral/video/assets/syndicated-logo-over.png') !important;}.cc_links a{color:#b9b9b9;text-decoration:none;}.cc_show a{color:#707070;text-decoration:none;}.cc_title a{color:#868686;text-decoration:none;}.cc_links a:hover{color:#67bee2;text-decoration:underline;}</style><div class='cc_box' style='position:relative'><a href='http://www.comedycentral.com' target='_blank' style='display:inline; float:left; width:60px; height:31px;'><div class='cc_home' style='float:left; border:solid 1px #cfcfcf; border-width:1px 0px 0px 1px; width:60px; height:31px; background:url("http://www.comedycentral.com/comedycentral/video/assets/syndicated-logo-out.png");'></div></a><div style='font:bold 10px Arial,Helvetica,Verdana,sans-serif; float:left; width:299px; height:31px; border:solid 1px #cfcfcf; border-width:1px 1px 0px 0px; overflow:hidden; color:#707070; position:relative;'><div class='cc_show' style='position:relative; background-color:#e5e5e5;padding-left:3px; height:14px; padding-top:2px; overflow:hidden;'><a href='http://www.colbertnation.com/' target='_blank'>The Colbert Report</a><span style='position:absolute; top:2px; right:3px;'>Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</span></div><div class='cc_title' style='font-size:11px; color:#868686; background-color:#f5f5f5; padding:3px; padding-top:1px; line-height:14px; height:21px; overflow:hidden;'><a href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/220649/march-04-2009/glenn-beck-s-war-room' target='_blank'>Glenn Beck's War Room</a></div></div><embed style='float:left; clear:left;' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:220649' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed><div class='cc_links' style='float:left; clear:left; width:358px; border:solid 1px #cfcfcf; border-top:0px; font:10px Arial,Helvetica,Verdana,sans-serif; color:#b9b9b9; background-color:#f5f5f5;'><div style='width:177px; float:left; padding-left:3px;'><a target='_blank' href='http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a><br /><a target='_blank' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></div><div style='width:177px; float:left;'><a target='_blank' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/220268/march-02-2009/michael-steele-gets-served<br />'>Rap Battle</a><br /><a target='_blank' href='http://www.jokes.com'>Joke of the Day</a></div><div style='clear:both'></div></div><div style='clear:both'></div></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Steven Colbert's DOOM Bunker.</span><br /><br /><style type='text/css'>.cc_box a:hover .cc_home{background:url('http://www.comedycentral.com/comedycentral/video/assets/syndicated-logo-over.png') !important;}.cc_links a{color:#b9b9b9;text-decoration:none;}.cc_show a{color:#707070;text-decoration:none;}.cc_title a{color:#868686;text-decoration:none;}.cc_links a:hover{color:#67bee2;text-decoration:underline;}</style><div class='cc_box' style='position:relative'><a href='http://www.comedycentral.com' target='_blank' style='display:inline; float:left; width:60px; height:31px;'><div class='cc_home' style='float:left; border:solid 1px #cfcfcf; border-width:1px 0px 0px 1px; width:60px; height:31px; background:url("http://www.comedycentral.com/comedycentral/video/assets/syndicated-logo-out.png");'></div></a><div style='font:bold 10px Arial,Helvetica,Verdana,sans-serif; float:left; width:299px; height:31px; border:solid 1px #cfcfcf; border-width:1px 1px 0px 0px; overflow:hidden; color:#707070; position:relative;'><div class='cc_show' style='position:relative; background-color:#e5e5e5;padding-left:3px; height:14px; padding-top:2px; overflow:hidden;'><a href='http://www.colbertnation.com/' target='_blank'>The Colbert Report</a><span style='position:absolute; top:2px; right:3px;'>Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</span></div><div class='cc_title' style='font-size:11px; color:#868686; background-color:#f5f5f5; padding:3px; padding-top:1px; line-height:14px; height:21px; overflow:hidden;'><a href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/220650/march-04-2009/doom-bunker---jack-jacobs-and-stephen-moore' target='_blank'>Doom Bunker - Jack Jacobs and Stephen Moore</a></div></div><embed style='float:left; clear:left;' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:220650' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed><div class='cc_links' style='float:left; clear:left; width:358px; border:solid 1px #cfcfcf; border-top:0px; font:10px Arial,Helvetica,Verdana,sans-serif; color:#b9b9b9; background-color:#f5f5f5;'><div style='width:177px; float:left; padding-left:3px;'><a target='_blank' href='http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a><br /><a target='_blank' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></div><div style='width:177px; float:left;'><a target='_blank' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/220268/march-02-2009/michael-steele-gets-served<br />'>Rap Battle</a><br /><a target='_blank' href='http://www.jokes.com'>Joke of the Day</a></div><div style='clear:both'></div></div><div style='clear:both'></div></div><br /><br /><br />When do we start referring to these people as crazy ass fear mongers who hate what the United States of America is REALLY all about? They only care about power and money. Wake up limbots! (previously known as republicans and conservatives)<br /><p><br /><p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-50981975630667275432009-03-06T20:18:00.004-08:002009-03-06T21:21:48.984-08:00Rebuilding our schools: the legacy of "no new taxes"We are cross posting this for a Tacoma activist that is working hard for our schools.<br /><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/3/5/205812/8751/576/705216">http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/3/5/205812/8751/576/705216</a><br />. . . . . . . . . . . .<br /><br />I am deep in the throes of campaigning for a local school bond election. Every year or two our school district has to undertake this ritual, the legacy of a state constitutional amendment that limited property taxes to 1% of assessed value, unless voters approve a bond levy by a 60% majority. "So what?" You say. "Shouldn't the voters have a say?" Well, yes, in theory, but in practice it means that necessary school construction projects are put off until our schools are literally crumbling around the kids. It also means that in times like these, when construction prices are low and construction jobs are desperately needed, voters balk at the idea of any additional property taxes.<br /><br />But all of that is just talk. It is easy enough to say "fine, but not now" to school construction until you see the reality of what some of our kids are asked to live with every day.<br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3326781101_1f2d87970a_m.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3326781101_1f2d87970a_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a hallway ceiling at Hunt Middle School in Tacoma, Washington. Large parts of the school feature water damage just as severe. Maintenance staff dutifully replace ceiling panels and repaint when they can, but the water just seeps right through.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/3327620404_871fc7359a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 298px" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/3327620404_871fc7359a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the roof that produced those leaks. When Hunt Middle School was built in 1957, I don't think school officials ever envisioned the days of sky high materials costs and 1% property tax caps. Faced with a booming student population, contractors used "imaginative" measures to cut costs, including a plywood based structure and a "California style" flat roof. 30 years of Northwest weather and no roof replacement funds have created the mold-laden environment its students have to learn in today.<br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3326781483_faf1b81d8b_m.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3326781483_faf1b81d8b_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today, Hunt's problems extend far beyond the roof, and school officials must ask voters to approve enough funds for complete building replacement.<br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3326783729_edcd40bd2e_m.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 147px" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3326783729_edcd40bd2e_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Across town at Stewart Middle School, a stately 1920s vintage building is a pleasant site to the casual observer. Inside, wires are strung along bare pipes, and students attend after school programs in rooms with missing ceiling tiles and severe water damage. (Caused by an electrical fire 2 years ago.)<br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3656/3329780958_4aca6a4344_m.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3656/3329780958_4aca6a4344_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3366/3330316854_d4035e4238_m.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3366/3330316854_d4035e4238_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />School districts face this problem throughout the State of Washington. Other states have also jumped on the tax cap bandwagon, creating massive system-wide disasters like the classroom trailer-ridden California schools. 30+ years after most of these laws were passed, school bond elections have become an annual tradition in many parts of the country.<br /><br />For the parents, teachers and school officials working on the school bond election, Tacoma's school building crisis seems obvious and urgent. Getting that message out to voters has been a nearly insurmountable task, however. School bond elections can't be funded by the district, and our total budget for promoting this 300 million dollar bond issue is about $20,000. (And much of that not materializing.) With the local press concentrating on the cost, our campaign strategy has come down to parent volunteers forwarding emails of school photos, late into the night. <br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3328946073_2d01871f74_m.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3328946073_2d01871f74_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Our complex system of school funding is a nightmare for school bond campaigns. Given the task of voting "yes" or "no" on the school bond, voters take this as an opportunity to express dissatisfaction with virtually any school-related issue, from the amount of school supplies teachers use, to larger more important issues like the state's persistent achievement gap. Their concerns can and should be addressed, but getting the message across that school bonds are only for buildings has been very challenging. The only state to expressly guarantee ample funding for basic education in its constitution, the State of Washington is charged with funding educational programming needs like teachers, textbooks, and curriculum. In the absence of a state income tax, that funding is rarely secure.<br /><br />Tacoma's school funding mess is not unique. Schools like Hunt and Stewart are a vivid illustration of the long-term consequences of tax caps, cost cutting, and the general nearsightedness of the past several decades of education funding. In Washington State we're working hard to change this myopic legacy, but a little more help from the federal government wouldn't hurt. As the Obama administration considers new education initiatives and asks the American public to accept the stimulus plan, please think of Hunt Middle School, and ask your legislators to vote yes for change.<br /><br />. . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><br /><blockquote>Please visit <a href="http://www.tacomacitizens.org"><strong>Tacoma Citizens for Schools</strong></a> on their <a href="http://www.tacomacitizens.org">website</a> and on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45545685804"><strong>Facebook</strong></a>.</blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-23472059695334697942009-02-28T15:20:00.004-08:002009-02-28T15:26:38.340-08:00What A Real President Looks and Sounds Like!<center><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3402933&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3402933&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/3402933">2/28/09: Your Weekly Address</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/whitehousevideos">White House</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a></center><br /><br /><blockquote>"I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy. Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington. I know that the insurance industry won’t like the idea that they’ll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families. I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable. I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries. I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight as we speak. My message to them is this:<br /><br />"So am I."<br /><br /><br />More here: <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/28/Keeping-Promises/">http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/28/Keeping-Promises/</a><br /><br /></blockquote>All I can say is WOW! It sure is nice to have a real President again!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Check out </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.recovery.gov/">Recovery.gov</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-53989910227710265612008-11-03T22:03:00.008-08:002008-11-03T22:33:04.848-08:00Have You Voted?! Can You Vote?<strong>If you have not voted yet, then Please Do So Now! </strong><br /><br />If you must wait until the polls open, then get there early! <br /><br />If you are voting by mail then please get it in the mail NOW or better yet, take it to your local elections office.<br /><br /><strong>Protect your right to vote. We have included some useful information below.</strong><br />The following is taken from a diary at <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/3/195755/757/353/651538">DailyKos</a>.<br /><br /><blockquote><strong>Time Off to Vote for Employees — A State by State Survey</strong><br /><br />Most states require employers to provide time for employees to vote on election day. While these laws vary in each state, they generally require employers to give employees time off to vote if the polls aren’t open two or three hours outside of the employee’s regular shift. <br /><br />Much more here:<br /><a href="http://employmentlawpost.com/theword/2008/10/15/time-off-to-vote-for-employees-a-state-by-state-survey-2/">http://employmentlawpost.com/theword/2008/10/15/time-off-to-vote-for-employees-a-state-by-state-survey-2/</a><br /></blockquote><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://employmentlawpost.com/theword/2008/10/15/time-off-to-vote-for-employees-a-state-by-state-survey-2/">Find your state and see what the law says</a>. If you don't like it, then put it on your list of things to CHANGE in future local elections! </strong><br /><br /><blockquote><strong>Sure you're registered?</strong> Check at <a href="http://www.canivote.org">www.CanIVote.org</a><br /><br /><strong>ACLU Voter Protection Hotline </strong>(1-877-523-2792)<br /><br /><strong>Lawyers' Committe Hotline </strong>(1-800-OUR-VOTE / 1-800-687-8683)<br /><br />or go to <a href="http://www.ourvotelive.org">www.OurVoteLive.org</a> to report or follow irregularities.</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>Some additional information from RFK Jr.:<br /><br />Heads up!!!!! RFK, Jr. Sends another warning!<br /><a href="http://www.progressiveblue.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3012">http://www.progressiveblue.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3012</a><br /></blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-23952763150683353542008-10-30T12:01:00.003-07:002008-10-30T12:13:59.367-07:00"The Ad"And what a great "ad" it is!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GtREqAmLsoA&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GtREqAmLsoA&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object><br /><br />This is not about I, me or you, it is about we.<br /><br />Often when you see great images and speeches that pull at your heart, they are laced with words and images that speak to a scary form nationalism and militarism.<br /><br />With Barack Obama you feel the pride of being an American and fighting for what is right and good about this country but you also feel the pride of being a citizen of this planet.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-64469146152609015912008-09-09T18:30:00.003-07:002008-09-09T18:42:34.475-07:00More Lies and More of the Same<div style="text-align: left;">Lies and Flip Flops.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KvyrLOjAP9o&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KvyrLOjAP9o&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Do we really want to continue down the path of 4 more years of George Bush and Dick Cheney?<br /><br />More of the Same?<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8xukbiS8q9s&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8xukbiS8q9s&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />John McCain is proud of voting with George Bush over 90% of the time. No.. really, these are his words. See and hear him speak them in the video above.<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-9821011556812877072008-07-06T20:41:00.006-07:002008-07-06T21:06:31.711-07:00"A cookout with some bastards" - by johnny venom @ MyDDA friend of mine just turned me on to a diary written over at MyD called: <a href="http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/7/6/205156/8422">A cookout with some bastards.<br /></a><br />This is one of the funniest and scariest diaries I have read in some time. His experiences with his conservative/republican friends and family are just amazing. I wonder how many of you have had the same experiences?<br /><br />It amazes me how dense people can be about the truths that stare them in the face. How ill informed so many people in the country are. What dittoheads and lock steppers the republican base is. It is like they do not have a original, true and genuine thought in their head.<br /><br />I will give you a taste of "johnny venom's" diary, but for the full experiance, you must visit <a href="http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/7/6/205156/8422">A cookout with some bastards</a> at MyDD.<br /><blockquote>Every year I attend a BBQ held by a friend of the family. Her name is Deborah and sadly is a big-time Republican, though oddly enough not so much a conservative (well socially at least). Now her late father and my father go way back, fought together in North Africa in WW2, so these people are practically family. Well, as mentioned, she holds an Independence Day BBQ cook out every year, and my father goes out of respect... and a free meal. Outside of me, sometimes, he's the only other non-Republican at these things.<br /><br /> Now, since 2000, since I started finding myself parting ever farther from Republican politics, my appearances at this cook out have been on and off. The reason being was that many of the folks there are die hard conservatives, and arguments tended to be twenty to one. You can probably guess who was that 'one.' Its a real turn about, considering, that Debbie was the person that got me into politics (particularly the GOP) when I was a young Johnny Venom. The folks at the BBQ were my political kin for a long time, and when I turned the other way, it came to them as a shock.<br /> You'd be amazed, once you change parties, how fast your "friends" can quickly become your enemies. Well, it's not like they wish me ill will, well most of them don't, just that they find it much better if I weren't voting ...<br /> .....<br /><br /> Now conversations ebb and flow on all sorts of things. So, instead, I'm just gonna break them down by topics. You don't really have to know their names, they're conservatives. And, for the most part, you've probably already got an idea on what they are going say for the most part. Still, allow me to irritate your senses a bit just to show you what kind of assholes we're dealing with who want more power or at least keep what they got ...<br /> .....<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Barack Obama"</span><br /><br /> Deborah finally came to our table. She saw my Obama button (fuck it, I wear that everywhere!) and she gave a sour face to me. Suddenly, she rubbed her forearm and then pointed at my button.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Deborah:</span> You see this John? Whit skin. You think he likes that? No way. I wouldn't vote for an anti-Semite, he hates Jews John. You know he's really a Muslim, don't you?<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Me:</span> Deb, that's a bunch of crap, and you know it. There is no way in hell I'm going to believe all that. Besides, the man's half white, for crying out loud!<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Female Plastics Lady:</span> But still a Muslim.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> No, he's not!<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Deborah:</span> How do you know? The media? They want a black person in so they can feel better about themselves.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> Because he isn't. And as for the media...huh?<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Old Male Conservative Engineer:</span> And how about that reverend? You telling me, for twenty years he didn't know what kind of church that was.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Me:</span> Wait a minute, if you're admitting he went to church, then you are in agreement he isn't a Muslim?<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Old Male Conservative Engineer:</span> No, because they can hide their faith very well.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> I think you're crazier than Janis (Middle Age Female Conservative)!</blockquote> ............<br /><br />This is just a taste, so please give yourself a treat and a headache and read the rest for yourself.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-44226669104792902922008-06-12T18:40:00.003-07:002008-06-14T15:32:10.455-07:00Afflicted by Manifest InjuryOn Monday Rep. Dennis Kucinich delivered a riveting, concise soliloquy that would rival a closing argument by Vincent Bugliosi. For nearly five hours Rep.Kucinich cited 35 articles of impeachment against George W. Bush on the floor of the House. It was nearly midnight in D.C. when he wrapped up. He had previously authored H.R 333 calling for the impeachment of Dick Cheney which passed in November but has since had no action taken. While it is doubtful that we will actually witness the impeachment of those who have committed the most impeachable of offenses, it is of great importance that Kucinich has documented this administration's numerous crimes and has them on the record. Perhaps it will open the door for action at a later time. It is refreshing to know that not only is someone who has been elected to represent We The People willing to stand up to those who have failed to uphold their Constitutional oath and who have committed crimes upon us and upon others in our name, but has been relentless in his perseverance to expose the emperor's lack of clothing - even if it would seem that his suit is made of Teflon.<br /><br />On Friday at noon Rep. Kucinich is expected to join us on <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://equaltimeradio.org/">Equal Time Radio</a> </span>to discuss his bill.<br /><br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/10/AR2008061003087.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/10/AR2008061003087.html</a><br /><br />To read his bill and to contact him to give thanks:<br /><br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=93581">http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=93581</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.invite2messenger.net/im/?source=TXT_EML_WLH_LearnHow" target="_new"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-27283684070836463352008-05-02T19:08:00.003-07:002008-05-12T17:52:48.125-07:00Tim Garon, R.I.P.Another loss to the inequity and absurd workings of the medical system of the United States. Here, in the only industrialized nation that does not consider health care a right to its people, the question must be asked - who merits the right to live? Should one be denied the right to life due to what is considered to be unacceptable extracurricular activity? If participation is prescribed from a doctor to relieve the pain and nausea from a hideous disease, is it still unacceptable? And if a person is of means to simply purchase any medical treatment necessary, would they still be denied? When does the withholding of such treatment to the person without means become unacceptable?<br /><br /><object height="373" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UJDihYn_fJA&border=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UJDihYn_fJA&border=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="373" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Tim Garon will never know the answers to theses questions. He died awaiting hope, only to be treated like a criminal. The world has lost a talented musical artist. May his death, and of others like him taken unnecessarily too soon, be a reminder of what's wrong within our borders. May it also propel others to work for what's right.<br /><br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.komotv.com/news/health/18475224.html">http://www.komotv.com/news/health/18475224.html</a><br /><br />Tim's <a href="http://www.timgaron.com/">website.</a><br /><br />Tim's <a href="http://www.myspace.com/timgaron">MySpace Page.</a><br /><br />Tim's CDs at CD Baby. There are links to other locations, to get his music, on the lower left of his CD Baby pages.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdbaby.com/cd/timgaron"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://cdbaby.name/t/i/timgaron.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdbaby.com/cd/timgaron2"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://cdbaby.name/t/i/timgaron2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div class="moz-signature"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdbaby.name/t/i/timgaron2.jpg"><br /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-17616324979194107252008-04-28T18:54:00.004-07:002008-05-12T18:00:22.346-07:00The Sick and Tragic - A Call For HelpThis is in regards to an acquaintance of mine and a friend of my dear, late friend Rose. Rose suffered terribly due to diabetes. She was followed in death by another close friend, Billie Jean, who died because she had no health insurance and wasn't able to afford her insulin and other diabetic supplies. She was in otherwise good health, but was unable to balance her blood sugar levels one fateful day.<br /><br /><object height="373" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_qAoc_UKS4Y&border=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_qAoc_UKS4Y&border=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="373" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />You may be as upset as I was to find out why Tim can't get the help he needs:<br><br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080426/ap_on_re_us/medical_marijuana_transplants">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080426/ap_on_re_us/medical_marijuana_transplants</a><br /><br><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/27/03629/6602/250/504192">http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/27/03629/6602/250/504192</a><br /><br><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=204896115">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=204896115</a><br /><br><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.rocketnews.com/topic/world/Timothy-Garon/">http://www.rocketnews.com/topic/world/Timothy-Garon/</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-25711623983850825492008-03-29T15:39:00.004-07:002008-03-29T15:56:43.872-07:00Earth Hour 2008 - What are you doing?<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I hope everyone that see this posting will or has participated in Earth Hour 2008.</span><br /><p>It is only an hour from 8pm to 9pm YOUR Local time.</p><p>For further information on Earth Hour, go <a href="http://earthhour.org/">HERE</a><a href="http://earthhour.org/"></a></p><p>Check out the Earth Hour video.</p><br /><p><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9_c5K7Jdw9E&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9_c5K7Jdw9E&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-67403304144451176912008-03-10T18:16:00.007-07:002008-03-11T14:48:03.309-07:00Is Green Energy Killing Us?Today as I was cruising the internet, I came across this unsettling story about Green Energy production that is killing areas of China.<br /><blockquote><b>A Dark Side Of Solar Power</b><br /><br />The growth of the solar power industry is poisoning land in China, according to the Washington Post.<br /><br />In the rush to make polysilicon cheaply for use in solar panels, a Chinese company reportedly is dumping toxic waste into the ground, killing wildlife and endangering human health.<br /><br />The newspaper describes green fields in the nation's eastern central Henan Province that have turned snow-white from the powdery waste of silicon tetrachloride, four tons of which result from every ton of polysilicon created. Toxic hydrogen chloride gas and acids waft from the waste.<br /><br />To blame is Chinese polysilicon maker Luoyang Zhonggui High-Technology, which supplies to rising solar power star Suntech Power Holdings, according to the Washington Post.<br /><br /><b>To read more about this problem, follow the link:</b><br /><a href="http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9889848-54.html">http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9889848-54.html</a><br /></blockquote>I have had reservations about some other versions of so called Green Energy, especially BioFuels and Ethanol. Both of these products, as of right now, rely way to much on "new crops" to make fuel. Much like using new trees for paper making instead of using 100% recycled paper or some mix of new and recycled.<br /><br />Using land to grow fuel instead of food seems short sighted and morally wrong to me. Cutting down diverse forest, such as the Amazon to grow a select plant for fuel or to raise cattle, also comes across as short sighted and morally wrong.<br /><br />Besides the stupidity of growing fuel on land that could and should be used to grow food, we also have this potential problem. Since they would be growing fuel instead of food, why bother trying to grow it organically? Why bother with doing things environmentally correct and sound? I feel they will, if they have not already done so, start using as many chemicals as possible to try and get the highest yield at the lowest cost with no regard to the environment or our safety. Thus polluting the ground, the water and the air all for the profit of making fuel.<br /><br />I believe that all commercially made biodiesel should ONLY be used for big rigs and other types of vehicles that typically use diesel as their fuel. If we increase the demand for consumer biodiesel, then we will be unwittingly increasing the negative environmental impacts causes by the production of these fuels.<br /><br />The only viable alternative fuels that I believe should be used for cars and light trucks, is hydrogen and electricity. Yes, these all need to be produced by something, but we have a wide array of choices in ways to produce these if we choose to make it happen. Such as, Solar (made cleanly), Geothermal (done with little environmental impact), Wind (with careful placement to diminish visual and noise pollution), Wave and Tide energy (new and looking promising) and many others.<br /><br />As much as I hate nuclear plants, I could see very very limited use of them (maybe by using the plants that exist) to help produce the hydrogen needed for cars and trucks (fuel cells, etc).<br /><br />Geothermal is the one energy source that I believe has the biggest potential to make the biggest positive impact, in the shortest amount of time and at the lowest cost.<br /><br />When it comes to Solar Cell production, I believe that this company is far ahead and looking in the right direction.<br /><br />NanoSolar - <a href="http://www.nanosolar.com/">http://www.nanosolar.com</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-39399630735815327422008-03-03T21:30:00.005-08:002008-03-03T22:06:00.043-08:00The Progressive 'Sphere' Grows with EENRRecently I came across a new Progressive Blog called <a href="http://www.eenrblog.com/">EENR Progressive Blog</a>.<br /><blockquote>Our acronym, "Edwards Evolution, Next Revolution," reflects the formation of the EENR group originally as Edwards Evening News Roundup for supporters of John Edwards during the 2008 presidential primary.</blockquote>Now I might have called it "EENR Progressive<span style="font-weight: bold;">s</span> Blog" or maybe "EENR Progressive Revolution" (partially playing on what EENR stands for that I quoted above), but that is just me.<br /><br />What strikes me as a positive, for this new place in the progressive 'sphere', is that they are encouraging more diaries to be written about issues, causes and local races rather than the presidential candidates. It is these presidential 'candidate' diaries that have taken over and ruined so many of the best progressive/liberal/Democratic blogs out there, mainly because of all the mean spirited infighting by supporters of candidates, trolls and freepers.<br /><br />This little place here, called Washington Woman, would like to one day achieve what EENR is and hopefully will continue to be. A sane place for discussion and action on important issues, causes, events and yes... candidates.<br /><br />One of the better diaries written at EENR, in my opinion, would be this diary:<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.eenrblog.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=146">Women's History Month: The 19th Amendment</a><br /><br />The author of this diary plans on doing a series for the month that are relevant to Women's History Month.<br /><br />Go ahead and check out the new EENR blog and let us know what you think.<br /><br />...<br /><br />As always, one of our FAVORITE places will always be the blog and website for <a href="http://equaltimeradio.org/">Equal Time Radio.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-49394398646140570832008-01-29T17:26:00.000-08:002008-01-29T18:13:37.290-08:00Martin Luther King, III Praises John Edwards<p>Martin Luther King, III Praises Edwards For Leading The Fight For Economic Justice In America.</p> <p>Following a meeting at the King Center in Atlanta on the afternoon of Saturday, January 19th, 2008, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Martin Luther King, III sent John Edwards a letter praising Edwards' commitment to fighting poverty and speaking out for those without a voice. </span>King, the first son of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the President and CEO of Realizing the Dream, said his father was a fighter and urged Edwards to continue the fight for justice and equality. <span style="font-weight: bold;">He also urged the other candidates to follow Edwards' lead.</span></p> <p></p><p></p><blockquote><p>January 20, 2008</p> <p>The Honorable John R. Edwards<br />410 Market Street<br />Suite 400<br />Chapel Hill, NC 27516</p> <p>Dear Senator Edwards:</p> <p>It was good meeting with you yesterday and discussing my father's legacy. On the day when the nation will honor my father, I wanted to follow up with a personal note.</p><p>[snip]<br /></p><p>So, I urge you: keep going. Ignore the pundits, who think this is a horse race, not a fight for justice. My dad was a fighter. As a friend and a believer in my father's words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, <span style="font-weight: bold;">I say to you: keep going. Keep fighting. My father would be proud.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">Sincerely,</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">Martin L. King, III</p></blockquote><p></p><p> </p> The entire text of the letter is <a href="http://www.johnedwards.com/news/headlines/20080121-mlk3/">Here at John Edwards site.</a><br /><br />A <span style="font-weight: bold;">PDF</span> copy of the actual letter is <a href="http://www.johnedwards.com/news/20080121-mlk-iii-letter.pdf">Here at John Edwards site.</a><br /><br /><p><strong>We are also having another grassroots fund raiser</strong>.<br />By using the link from the graphic below, it will take you to a donation page from one of the grassroots supporters. It is a legit page on the John Edwards website.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> The link is also here:</span> <a href="https://www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/mygrassroots/?page_id=MjkxNTg" class="extlink">https://www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/mygrassroots/?page_id=MjkxNTg</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/mygrassroots/?page_id=MjkxNTg"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/2224753027_1b7430bb85_o.jpg" /></a></p>You can also donate by going to <a href="http://johnedwards.com/" class="extlink">http://johnedwards.com</a> and clicking on the <strong>DONATE</strong> link.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Need something more to do? Need more ways that you can help John Edwards to help all of us?</span><br /><br /><strong>Please help out if you can.<br /><br />Look for the links at the top of the phone banking page, here:</strong><br /><a href="http://www.johnedwardsphonebank.com/">http://www.johnedwardsphonebank.com/</a><br /><strong><br />Here is a great tool to use for contacting the media and congress.<br /><br />Congress.org</strong><br /><a href="http://congress.org/">http://congress.org</a><br /><br /><strong>Media:</strong><br /><a href="http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/">http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/</a><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-52109473249632026272008-01-21T12:59:00.000-08:002008-01-21T13:24:14.551-08:00On This Day We Remember... MLK and more.On this day we remember Martin Luther King Jr.<br /><br />Our thoughts are drawn to the fight for racial and economic equality, but some of us may forget the other great things that Martin Luther king Jr. stood for and against, fought for and died for.<br /><br />He spoke out against the tragedy of the Vietnam War. The comparisons of the Vietnam War and the current tragedy known as the Iraq War, can be seen and heard in his words concerning the Vietnam War and our responsibilities as humans and as citizens of the United States.<br /><br />He died while fighting for the poor, the disenfranchised and the rights of all workers to unionize for the good of all not just the good of the few, the greedy and the powerful.<br /><br />This video gets to the heart of his feelings concerning the Vietnam War. These words can and should be used in our opposition to the current tragedy in Iraq.<br /><br /><center><object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KlM87dwYPjg&rel=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KlM87dwYPjg&rel=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="373"></embed></object></center><br /><br />For a more complete version of Martin Luther Kings Jr's speech about the Vietnam War, please check here:<br /><br /><span>Martin Luther King, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b80Bsw0UG-U">"Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam"</a><br /><br />Text of his entire speech can be found <a href="http://husseini.org/2007/01/martin-luther-king-jr-why-i-am.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>.<br /><br />Real Audio of his entire speech can be found <a href="http://www.africanbynature.com/Resources_2/mlk_vietnam-1967-speech.ram"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>.<br /><br />The following video is very haunting and sobering...<br /><br /><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q2uQRDZtnro">Great minds, Great speeches, Great men, Bad times</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">On this day and for all days to come, I wish you Peace.</span><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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<div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=223582&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10692465.post-52390625335244158052008-01-17T17:33:00.000-08:002008-12-09T04:51:59.207-08:00John Edwards Money Bomb! Can it Be Done?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/form/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPtOdQG0NBdXtKXo1zVDU6CwwwEOCAGNDWH6EX2wToo9UiSQA5sygpdNVdzGdz_EEZveuGr5Kc7D5MFCPY4KMtyXkVCWBIgTNPdD8L3n1P3afvcVgVzOxmq7VfWha3oNTdzEK/s320/Edwards1182008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156625000677437650" border="0" /></a>I totally agree with the grassroots putting together this "money bomb". I hope that we are not reaching to high, but what the heck, if you don't try you fail! So anything that helps encourage people to donate to <a href="http://johnedwards.com">John Edwards</a> is a good thing.<br /><br />This idea was originally put together by <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/13/171722/549/52/436243">KingOneEye at DailyKos</a> and it being kept alive across the blogosphere. Here is an <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/17/17235/8304/839/438507">example</a> from today.<br /><br />Can we make this happen? Who knows. Will it succeed in raising a large amount of money in one day? I really think it will.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click on the picture or go here:</span><br /><a href="https://www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/form/">https://www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/form/</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><style type="text/css">
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