Autism - Poem

Autism

Unusual gift
Concentration on things
Others don't understand
Uniquely different
Perceived as a fault
But sometimes genius
Delving into complexities
Oft not understood
By those who consider themselves
Normal

Copyright � 2010 Cal Jennings

Pop-pop-pop

Calvin -- Do you hear that pop-pop-popping sound off in the distance? The good news is, it ain't gunfire. The bad news is, it's corporate lobbyists and their Republican lapdogs popping champagne corks and dancing on what's left of the Constitution. They're celebrating the Supreme Court's decision to allow giant corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to target any member of Congress who dares cross them. It's no exaggeration to say the very foundation of our democracy will be under attack once the tidal wave of corporate money floods into campaigns on the side of Republican candidates. Now is no time to throw up your hands. In fact, I say it's time to throw a few elbows. We will not accept this outrageous Supreme Court decision lying down. That's why I've committed to helping recruit 25,000 new grassroots Democratic members before President Obama's State of the Union Address Wednesday night. Renew your 2010 Democratic membership from the DCCC at the special rate of $25 and show the world that Democrats support strong, immediate action to block powerful corporate lobbyists from hijacking our democracy. More than 75% of the DCCC's revenue comes from grassroots supporters like you. So, your support is more important than ever. You're our only hope. We will never be able to match corporate America's billions. Get this: for less then ten percent of Exxon's 2008 profits, it could spend $10 million on every congressional race in America. And that's just ten percent of one company's profits for one year. Truly, the right-wing Supreme Court wants to put our Congress, our country, our very freedom on the auction block for the highest corporate bidder. And the far right wing of the Republican Party intends to be wielding the auctioneer's gavel. The Court's radical decision, overturning decades of settled law going back to Teddy Roosevelt, held that corporations can draw unlimited amounts of money from their general treasuries and spend it on "issue ads" to attack any candidate who challenges them. Renew your 2010 Democratic membership from the DCCC at the special rate of $25 and show the world that Democrats support strong, immediate action to block powerful corporate lobbyists from hijacking our democracy. For example, imagine that AIG executives may now take some of the billions in tax-payer funded bailout funds they received and target with a torrent of attack ads any Democrat who challenges their obscene bonuses. With absolutely no limit on their ability to spend money, oil companies, big insurance companies and powerful Wall Street banks will easily spend hundreds-of-millions of dollars trying to drown out the voices of the American people. Make no mistake, our freedom is under fire. Thank goodness it's not from machine guns. But as we say in Texas, a lawyer with a pen can steal more in a minute than a criminal with a gun can steal in a lifetime. But, we can fight back. Renew your 2010 Democratic membership from the DCCC at the special rate of $25 and show the world that Democrats support strong, immediate action to block powerful corporate lobbyists from hijacking our democracy. Thank you, Paul Begala P.S. We need to recruit 25,000 2010 members in the next 48 hours to show the world Democrats are standing up for middle class America against the powerful corporate lobbyists. Renew your 2010 membership today.

A Little Humor

The economy is so bad that...

I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

I ordered a burger at Mc Donald's and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"

CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them.

Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.

Mc Donald's is selling the 1/4 ouncer.

Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.

A truckload of Americans were caught sneaking into Mexico .

Dick Cheney took his stockbroker hunting.

Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.

The Mafia is laying off judges.

Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.

Congress says they are looking into this Bernard Madoff scandal. Oh Great!! The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear!

And, finally....

I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Lifeline. I got a call center in Pakistan , and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.

A Look at Money and Racism from Belgium

>

Quote of the Day

"Tis better to have loved and lost than to have been waterboarded, electrocuted, or reamed up the posterior with a red hot poker... but not much." ~ Cal Jennings

"Birthday Astrology Reading"

Well, I got a happy birthday email in my inbox that had a "free birthday reading." �It was, of course, an ad for Astorlogy.com. �Here's the "free sample reading:"

Section 1: How You Approach Life and How You Appear To Others

Forward-looking and progressive, you are a person who supports change, innovation, and human advancement, and you are often strongly committed to a humanitarian cause or social improvement. You are extremely aware of the interconnection and interdependence of all people, and are always relating personal issues to some larger framework. You see the political or social ramifications of personal actions, and you wish to contribute something of value to the world, or at least to your community or group. Find out more with your full-length reading...
Section 2: The Inner You: Your Real Motivation

You are a freedom-loving, strong-willed, and independent- minded individual, and you insist upon living your own life as you see fit, even if that means ignoring convention and tradition. In personal relationships you cannot be owned or possessed, and while you are willing to share yourself with another, you do not always adjust easily to the emotional give and take of a close relationship. Though intellectually open, you can be enormously stubborn, opinionated, and inflexible on a one- to-one level. You have strong convictions and feelings about fairness and equality, and you try to live by your ideals, but your ideals about how people SHOULD treat one another don't always take into account human weaknesses, differences, and needs. You probably dislike sentimentality and traditional gender roles and "games". Find out more with your full-length reading...

I can't say that I disagree with anything in it, but it doesn't take Astrology to figure that out about me.

Cal-el

A Supreme Act Of Judicial Treason Against The People Of The United States

Because of the gravity of the crime against the Constitution
committed by a gang of 5 right wing judicial outlaws on our Supreme
Court yesterday, we are launching two critical action pages at once

Action Page: Corporations Are NOT The People
http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum1029.php

Action Page: Impeach The Supreme Court 5
http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum1030.php

By any fair legal definition, the decision yesterday by The Supreme
Court 5 constitutes nothing less than an act of TREASON against the
people of the United States. Having read and analyzed the entire 183
page decision and all of its concurring and dissenting opinions
ourselves, we are fully prepared to support this accusatory
conclusion.

Having so grossly abused its jurisdiction by presuming to decide a
question expressly WAIVED by the petitioner in the Court below (p
12), this rogue Supreme Court ruled for the FIRST time that NO
corporation can be constrained from unlimited influence over our
elections. And even assuming that the Court intended the decision to
only apply to American corporations, the Court expressly DECLINED (pp
46-47) to reach the question of whether foreign ownership stakes in
American corporations should likewise be given carte blanche to put
their thumbs on the scales of our democracy.

Thus, until Congress FURTHER acts (and it must, though it could not
have escaped the attention of The Supreme Court 5 that the current
Republican minority has vowed to obstruct ANYTHING of consequence
that Congress might try to pass), there is now nothing to constrain
foreign nationals, even our most sworn enemies, from usurping what
even the most die hard Tea Bagger takes as an article of faith, that
the rights of citizenship of this country are ONLY for Americans.
This must be construed, within the four corners of our Constitution,
as deliberately and knowingly exposing the United States of America
to harm in the interim, by giving "aid and comfort" to our enemies
(Constitution Article 3, section 3), should our enemies now wish to
take advantage of this unprecedented and rash decision. In simple
Constitutional terms . . . treason!!

The fact is that we now live in a world of giant transnational
corporations, with allegiance to NO sovereign government, let alone
our own, sworn only to exploit the most vulnerable and desperate
workers they can find in any country of the world. How does The
Supreme Court 5 propose parsing which of these extra-national legal
artificialities should be allowed to corrupt our democratic election
process? Apparently in their minds, all of them.

Action Page: Corporations Are NOT The People
http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum1029.php

So what is it that we can and MUST do? The first and most prominent
proposal we heard yesterday, and which we of course support, was to
amend the Constitution to clarify that corporations have no such
rights as people (which is to say U.S. citizens). While this
certainly could not hurt, and would obviously help (assuming such a
proposed amendment could garner 67 votes in a Senate already
stalemated by obstructionism, let alone be ratified by 3/4 of the
states, including many "red" ones), what we must first assert is that
there is nothing WRONG with our Constitution, and demand that
Congress do whatever it can to protect it.

Action Page: Impeach The Supreme Court 5
http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum1030.php

Because just as importantly, we are on ominous and clear notice that
there is no further outrage these 5 gangsters in black robes are not
gleefully and arrogantly capable of. Indeed, in his dissenting
opinion (that the majority did not go far ENOUGH), Clarence Thomas
characterized the decision as only a "first step" (Thomas opinion p.
1). It is worth noting that the authorship of the majority opinion is
claimed by Anthony M. Kennedy, heretofore generally considered the
LEAST wing nutty of the 5. Therefore, the immediate and unavoidably
necessary recourse must be impeachment for all five, treason already
being a high crime, otherwise the horrors yet to issue from their
treacherous minds is too terrible to contemplate.

NEW FOUR COLOR BUMPER STICKERS

We will have much more to say on all this in subsequent alerts to
follow shortly, but for now we are making available for no charge
(not even shipping) your choice of one of two absolutely gorgeous
full 4 color process bumper stickers. Take a "Corporations Are NOT
The People" bumper sticker, OR a "Impeach The Supreme Court 5" bumper
sticker for free. Of course if you can make a contribution (or if you
want both), please DO contribute what you can, which is what allows
us to send these out for free to anyone who cannot make a donation
right now.

You can request your bumper sticker from the return page after you
submit either of the action pages above. Or you can do directly to
this page and get them there.

Bumper Stickers for no charge:
http://www.peaceteam.net/bumper_stickers.php

Facebook participants can also submit the action pages at

Corporations Are Not The People:
http://apps.facebook.com/fb_voices/action.php?qnum=pnum1029

Impeach The Supreme Court 5:
http://apps.facebook.com/fb_voices/action.php?qnum=pnum1030

And on Twitter, just send the following Twitter reply for the
Corporations Are Not The People action

@cxs #p1029

And this Twitter reply for the Impeach The Supreme Court 5 action

@cxs #p1030

Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed
to be ours, and forward this alert as widely as possible.

If you would like to get alerts like these, you can do so at
http://www.millionfaxmarch.com/in.htm

Or if you want to cease receiving our messages, just use the function
at http://www.millionfaxmarch.com/out.htm

usalone366b:3015

IMS Is a B*TCH!

We all know about menopause, but there is a similar condition which affects about 30% of us males... probably more to be realistic. �It's a hormonal imbalance called IMS. �It's very similar to PMS or menopause. �

In case you didn't notice, I was pretty much hating women yesterday evening. �Not just women, but people in general. �I was feeling like there isn't a person in the world who can be trusted to be honest, online or offline.

After all the crap last year being ripped off twice on the Woodstock events, then three women with whom I had talked seriously in the past all seemed to want to screw me over yesterday (at least that was my perception in the height of this hormonal swing), I was one click away from deleting all my Internet accounts. �Luckily, Nica talked to me just before I did and convinced me that getting a good night's sleep might help. �She was right.

Of course, I did get to thinking about the dishonesty and facades that people put on both online and offline. �I'm not feeling the hatred of mankind that I was feeling last night, but I feel that some of the conclusions I came to last night were correct.

I'm not one to put on a facade. �You get to see my good, bad, and ugly. �I don't hide it. �If you like me, fine, if you don't, that's fine as well. �I'm not going to put on some phony front to please anyone, not even for fame or fortune. �If you prefer to think me an old curmudgeon, that's suits me just fine.

I generally like to try to make people laugh and brighten their day, but some days, I just can't hack the bullsh*t that people give me. �I had thought about driving to an isolated desert and just disappearing, never to return, but I guess that isn't realistic. �I just needed a good night's rest to let my body get over the hormonal BS. �Even the bright red boil on my nose that was paining me so much yesterday has started to disappear. �I seem to generally get that when I'm on my "cycle." �Hopefully, today will be a little better.

Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Is With Us All,

Cal-el

Facade - Writer's Block Challenge #77

Facade

Once you get to know them

And things start to get serious

You see that all that is there

Is a facade

Just a pretty front

With no substance behind it

Steel barred windows

Kept you from seeing the real inside

But once you stepped aside

You could see the hollowness

Of their existence

Click here for more Writer's Block Challenge Entries

Copyright � 2010 Cal Jennings

More evidence county officials profited from Ike disaster

...and we couldn't get as much as a bag of ice at the FEMA station in Magnolia.

Ah Well

When shit hits the fan, it seems to do so all at once. �I guess that's just the way it is.

So long Folks...

Link

It looks like Mila is leaving us. �I will miss her. �She often inspired me and made me think.

This Seems to Be interesting

Although the text on this site is a little strange, take a look at the video. �The devices are pretty interesting.

http://www.noblefuse.org/

I got this in my email from Spirit One "Christian" Center

Roeder Trial -
Juror Selection -
The Religious Raping of Christians as Prospective Jurors

Christians Need Not Apply

Today, January 22nd, 2010, begins the trial of Scott Roeder in the shooting death of abortionist, George Tiller. There have been over 100 media credential requests to cover the trial.

On the same day as the "anniversary" of the Supreme Court decision known as Roe V. Wade. Providence anyone?

I have had the opportunity to visit and exchange letters with Scott on several occasions. Yes, Scott's method was wrong and his motive was right. The mother and father are the most culpable (though a pretty good case could be made that the silent, apathetic, crossless, its about me, Church of the Lord Jesus is even more so). Even so, all Americans have a fundamental right to a fare and just trial by a jury of their peers (not their ideological enemies.)

JUROR SELECTION QUESTIONS

I received a copy of the "questionnaire" given to the potential jurors. It has, not 10, not 50, not 70, but 88 questions. There is one section on "religion" alone. It has seven questions, just on religion.

What is your religious affiliation/denomination, if any?
Do you attend a place of worship, i.e., Church, Temple, etc.? If yes, state where and how often?
If applicable, do you participate in other activities in your place of worship? If yes, please state the type of activities and how frequently:
If married or living with a mate, please describe their religious preference:
If applicable, does your place of worship and/or particular denomination take an official stand on the practice of abortion?
How would you rate the importance of your religious beliefs in your day to day life? Utmost important, Very important, Somewhat important, Not important at all
Do you have any principles based on religious or ethical teaching or dogma that would affect your ability to serve as a fair and impartial juror? If yes, please explain.
If you are a Christian, and reading these questions and this does not make you blood boil, then check for a spiritual pulse.

Can you imagine any other case in which such questions would be asked? Can you imagine any judge allowing such questions to be asked?

These are 7 questions that all SHOUT the same thing, "CHRISTIANS NEED NOT APPLY."

In other words, if you are a Christian, you can not be a juror in this case. End of story.

So there you have it, in black and white. Christians can not serve on juries (at least in this case) simply because they are Christian.

In fact, they won't let you serve if your "mate" is a Christian. Can you imagine in any other scenario where you are asked of your "mates" religious affiliation?? UNBELIEVABLE!!

The last question, "Do you have any principles based on religious or ethical teaching or dogma that would affect your ability to serve as a fair and impartial juror? Did you get that? If you have "dogma" (i.e. your pro-life) then you can't serve.

They even have the gull to say that if you have ETHICS, you can't serve!


Where does all ethics come from? The Lord and His Word...is the only source!

So if you don't have religious (i.e. Christian) teaching and if you don't have ethics, then you can serve. And isn't that what we need in jurors, people without ethics?

Not only do they want to know if you are religious, and if you are ethical, and if you are taught "dogma," the want to know HOW religious are you? When does any government of a free people have the right or need to ask such a question of anyone for any reason?? I think the only reason they didn't ask how many children they have, or whether their belly button is an "inny or outy" is because they didn't think of it.

Think of it, all this for a man who has already admitted to the shooting!? Hmmm.

Judge Wilbert (reported to be a pro-life Catholic, kinda like Kennedy, Sabilius, Pelosi, etc., etc., etc., etc.) said, "This will not become a trial about the abortion issue." Yeah, and the NFL playoffs are not about winning, they are about male bonding.

Judge Wilbert, you will do your level best to keep it from being about abortion (the shedding of the innocent blood of little baby boys and girls) but it is about that, and everyone knows that it is.

Judge Wilbert, the world will speak well of you.

Judge Wilbert, you would obviously never allow a Spirit One Christian to serve on this jury. You see, we have ethics.

Pastor Mark
Spirit One Christian Center
We teach "dogma"

Attend your favorite, NON seeker friendly church this week. America will not survive if you don't. - Pastor Mark

Pastor Mark E. Holick
Spirit One Christian Center
Wichita, Kansas

I wonder if he's related to Alk E. Holick?

Fallen Letters - Poem

Fallen Letters



Fallen letters on the floor

Letters never sent

Off the nightstand they did slip

Near the trash can's lip

Words that I wanted to say

To the one I loved

Before an illness took her life

Engulfing darkness shoved

I wanted then to take my life

And though I almost tried

I knew that I was needed still

And let the thought subside

Time, I guess, to clean them up

And put them all away

For I have things I must do

Before the final day

I still have much love to give

To one who'll love me too

This part of life has just begun

Time to begin anew

It's time to clean the clutter up

And to replace the floors

It's time to get on with my life

And fix my heart's closed doors

It's time to open up the shades

That keep the light outside

To turn away from darkness' door

And live my life in stride

I've lived my life in solitude

For a couple years

And I finally managed to

Get beyond the tears

I've stood by my convictions and

I've cut out all the fat

Now I need to concentrate

And take some time to chat

Copyright � 2009 Cal Jennings

Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

Grab the book nearest you right now. Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual ... use the CLOSEST book.
Turn to page 56.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post that sentence as a Blog post title
Post these instructions in the Blog post itself

this is MrMadd's challenge for fun, I love it! LOL

After I do all that in the title, I wonder if it would be ok to wring my garments into my mouth. �All that work makes me thirsty. �haha

Earth - Help Wanted

Kucinich Continues To Fight For Single-Payer

Kucinich Continues To Fight For Single-Payer
Thursday, 21 January 2010

Dear Friends:

Forty-seven million Americans are without health insurance. Why? Because they can't afford it.

And what's Washington's solution? Require people to buy private insurance with the government providing a subsidy to the health insurance companies.

What a pathetic state of affairs that our national government cannot respond to the needs of the people and must first respond to the needs of Wall Street and the health insurance industry and their stock prices.

I am going to continue to fight for single-payer. And I'm going to continue to try to get in the final legislation a provision which will protect the rights of states to be able to move forward with single-payer health care plans of their own.

It is time that we broke the chains, which the health insurance companies have on our political process. It's time that we have a government that we can call our own. And it's time that Congress respond to the needs of the American people first, and recognize that health care is a basic right in a democratic society.

Thank you.

For those of you who don't understand what single-payer is, here is some more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-payer_health_care

State of the Union Speech Scheduled

State of the Union Watch Party: Wednesday, January 27th


We still have a lot of hard work in front of us to finish the job on health reform, restore our economy, create clean-energy jobs, and address all the other challenges we face. And these State of the Union Watch parties are an important way to play a role in what comes next.


No experience is needed to host a successful event. You may be surprised at just how easy it is to do. Just sign up online today, and a local OFA organizer will be in touch to answer any questions you have and support you through every step.

Dennis Kucinich - I Will Continue To Fight For Single-Payer

Dennis Kucinich to me

show details 1:15 PM (7 hours ago)

I Will Continue To Fight For Single-Payer Click here to view video. Dear Friends, Forty-seven million Americans are without health insurance. Why? Because they can't afford it. And what's Washington's solution? Require people to buy private insurance with the government providing a subsidy to the health insurance companies. What a pathetic state of affairs that our national government cannot respond to the needs of the people and must first respond to the needs of Wall Street and the health insurance industry and their stock prices. I am going to continue to fight for single-payer. And I'm going to continue to try to get in the final legislation a provision which will protect the rights of states to be able to move forward with single-payer health care plans of their own. It is time that we broke the chains, which the health insurance companies have on our political process. It's time that we have a government that we can call our own. And it's time that Congress respond to the needs of the American people first, and recognize that health care is a basic right in a democratic society. Thank you. Facebook Twitter MySpace Digg

PO Box 110475 | Cleveland | OH | 44111 | 216-252-9000

Forward email

Wisdom

"Be more concerned about finding the right way than in having it your way." ~ John Wooden

"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." ~ Thomas Jefferson

"It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf." ~ Walter Lippmann

"The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions." ~
Oliver Wendell Holmes

To be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom; and he that increaseth his riches, increaseth his cares; but a contented mind is a hidden treasure, and trouble findeth it not." ~ Akhenaton

"We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future." ~ George Bernard Shaw

"Wisdom is found only in truth." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it." ~ David Starr Jordan

"Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men." ~ Confucius

Proverbs 1:7 (New International Version)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,�
� but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Mickey Gilley visits Keith at Gilley's

While I was down and out, Mickey Gilley visited Keith at Gilley's. �It looks like Mickey has recovered pretty well from his injury.

Keep on keepin' on, Keith! �Glad you got to see your dad! �I hope he's doing better now!

Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Is With Us All,

Cal-el

Sexy Window Washers

Sexy Window Washers Prank

Break Dancing Baby

Breakdancing Baby

Could This Be the Dreaded Chupacabara?

Hurricane Ike Funds Fraud - ABC13 News

KKK Letter in Seabrook, TX - ABC13 News

Testing Mics

The first version I did with the ATR 20. �The second version I did with the ATR 30. �The third I did with both. �Which seems to sound better?

Testing Mics

The first version I did with the ATR 20. �The second version I did with the ATR 30. �The third I did with both. �Which seems to sound better?

The Beast - Creative Challenge #86

Creative Challenge #86 Jan 20, '10 7:50 PM
by dp for everyone


The phrase this week is: the beast

The rules:

Post a photo, story or poem that you have created using the word/phrase above as the inspiration (or theme).

Bring the link back here and post it in the comment section.

Visit the other entries (be respectful) and leave a comment about their work.

Above and have fun, that's why we are here!

dp

The Beast

Although he was a quiet man
When the moon was full
Something deep inside him
Would rise and seek the bull

Taurus was her sign, you see,
He could not overcome
The frightening beast inside him
'Twas in the cytochrome

On moonlit nights he'd stalk her
Through the forest dark
And if ever he found her
On her he'd leave his mark

Click here for more Creative Challenge Entries

Copyright � 2010 Cal Jennings

There Are Tornadoes In Bill's Area

Well, I knew ol' Bill looked familiar, but I just couldn't place him. �Finally, it dawned on me:

Pecos Bill Rides a Tornado

retold by

S. E. Schlosser


Now everyone in the West knows that Pecos Bill could ride anything. No bronco could throw him, no sir! Fact is, I only heard of Bill getting' throwed once in his whole career as a cowboy. Yep, it was that time he was up Kansas way and decided to ride him a tornado.

Now Bill wasn't gonna ride jest any tornado, no ma'am. He waited for the biggest gol-durned tornado you ever saw. It was turning the sky black and green, and roaring so loud it woke up the farmers away over in China. Well, Bill jest grabbed that there tornado, pushed it to the ground and jumped on its back. The tornado whipped and whirled and sidewinded and generally cussed its bad luck all the way down to Texas. Tied the rivers into knots, flattened all the forests so bad they had to rename one place the Staked Plains. But Bill jest rode along all calm-like, give it an occasional jab with his spurs.

Finally, that tornado decided it wasn't getting this cowboy off its back no-how. So it headed west to California and jest rained itself out. Made so much water it washed out the Grand Canyon. That tornado was down to practically nothing when Bill finally fell off. He hit the ground so hard it sank below sea level. Folks call the spot Death Valley.

Anyway, that's how rodeo got started. Though most cowboys stick to broncos these days.

Well, now that we know who Bill is, let's watch a show about him.

Well, that may or may not be our Bill, but just the same, I told him that if he heard a train, don't try to hop on it.

Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Is With Us All,

Cal-el

Demand a Public Option for Health Care

Last night, Democrats lost Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in a bitter special election. This is already a sad day for all of us who loved Ted Kennedy. But to make it even worse, conservative Democrats and Washington talking heads are claiming that the loss happened because Congress was "too far to the left."

They're wrong again -- and we can prove it.

We had Research 2000 poll voters immediately after the Election ended: Even Scott Brown voters want Democrats to be bolder and they want healthcare reform that includes a public option.

You read that right. By a margin of three-to-two, former Obama voters who voted for Republican Scott Brown yesterday said the Senate healthcare bill "doesn't go far enough." Six-to-one Obama voters who stayed home agreed. And to top it off, 80% of all voters still want the choice of a public option in the bill.

The message is clear, there is only one way out of this mess if Democrats want to win in 2010. It's time to pass healthcare with 51 votes in the Senate using the budget reconciliation process. And it must include the most popular piece of bold reform: the choice of a public option.

CALL ON DEMOCRATS TO PASS HEALTHCARE WITH 51 VOTES AND INCLUDE A PUBLIC OPTION

Budget reconciliation is a procedure that only requires 51 votes to pass a bill instead of 60 -- and with the loss of Kennedy's seat, it's the only option Democrats have to improve the bill and pass a public option.

Sure, Joe Lieberman and the rest of the conservative Democrats and blowhard talking heads who got us into this mess will keep claiming Democrats need to be more like Republicans. That's what conservative Democrats always say while working to destroy bold reforms.

Don't let Democratic politicians learn exactly the wrong lesson, tell them take control and lead. We need Ted Kennedy's leadership; we need a new FDR�-- not an entire party of Joe Liebermans.

ADD YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW

This joint campaign with the members of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and CREDO Action shows the path to victory in 2010.

It's up to us to make sure Democrats get the message. After you sign, ask your friends to sign. The more signatures we collect and deliver -- and the faster we do it -- the greater our chances of saving Democrats from themselves.

Thank you for never giving up and fighting for what's right. Thank you for everything you do.

-Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America

Democracy for America relies on you and the people-power of more than one million members to fund the grassroots organizing and training that delivers progressive change on the issues that matter. Please Contribute Today and support our mission.

Paid for by Democracy for America, http://democracyforamerica.com/ and not authorized by any candidate. Contributions to Democracy for America are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Troubadour Reunion - Second New York City Show Announced!

Jan 19, 2010

Troubadour Reunion - Second New York City Show Announced!


Carole King and James Taylor are holding over their Troubadour Reunion tour in New York City for an extra day! A second show has now been added on June 16 at Madison Square Garden. JamesTaylor.com has a limited number of Best Seat tickets available for purchase tomorrow morning, Wednesday, January 20, at 10 am EST. Go to tickets page here for your opportunity to purchase great seats.



Please note: there is a limit of four (4) tickets per order on all presales for the Troubadour Reunion tour. Also, tickets for all shows will be available for pick up at the venue's box office on the night of the show only. This procedure helps us to curtail tickets being sold on the inflated secondary ticket market. We're doing everything we can to ensure a smooth ticketing experience for you on the night of the show.

If you require wheelchair accessible seating, please email tickets@JamesTaylor.com.
�

James Taylor Still Giving to Haiti

Jan 19, 2010
Second Haiti Benefit Show Added


Tickets to James Taylor's just-announced benefit concert for Haiti sold out in 90 minutes this morning, raising $150,000 for Partners in Health, which Taylor and his wife, Kim, then matched, making the total amount raised so far to benefit the people of Haiti: $300,000. Upon hearing news of the sold out concert, Mr. Taylor volunteered to donate his services for a second show on Saturday, January 23 at 8 pm. "The need in Haiti is so great and our community in the Berkshires is so generous. Performing another concert is the least I can do and, fortunately, the Mahaiwe is free the next night," he said.

Tickets to "Help for Haiti: An Intimate Evening with James Taylor" are $100 (balcony), $200 (orchestra and mezzanine), and $1,000 (golden circle including private post-show reception with the artists) and will go on sale on Wednesday, January 20 at 9 am at Mahaiwe.org and in person at the Mahaiwe Box Office (14 Castle Street in Great Barrington, MA). No phone sales are available for this concert. Limit four tickets per person.

Mr. Taylor will be joined by his longtime singers Kate Markowitz, Arnold McCuller, his wife, Kim Taylor, and Boston Symphony Orchestra cellist Owen Young.

Partners In Health (PIH) has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years. The organization works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in nine countries around the world. The work of PIH has three goals: to care for patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world. Based in Boston, PIH employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, including doctors, nurses, and community health workers. The vast majority of PIH staff are local nationals based in the communities they serve.



downtown Great Barrington, MA 01/19/10
A Quick Reminder


Tomorrow, January 20, Carole King and James Taylor will appear and perform on The Today Show and The Late Show with David Letterman.

The Today Show airs on NBC, Monday through Friday from 7 am to 11 am EST/PST.

The Late Show with David Letterman airs on CBS, Monday through Friday at 11:35 pm EST/PST.

�

David Has My Mom Brainwashed

My good Christian Right brother-in-law has her singing his praises. �She and I had a bit of an argument just before she left to take some wood from our house to his house. �I know, I know. �"David needs it."

David, in his brick house with his big screen LCD TV, his new stereo, his new recording equipment, and every damned thing else he's bought new needs stuff from my house. �He did, though, let my other sister and their family stay for a couple days during the hurricane before he kicked them out and told them to go back home... even though they weren't letting people back into the area where their home was. �Don't ask him for help moving something... unless it's going to his house. �He can't be bothered. �He is a fine Christian man, though. �He doesn't cuss. �Just ask my mom.

Ok. �I'm finished with this rant.

Spanish Banks Charging Commission for Donations to Haiti

I received this twitter from Antonio_Jose_87:

"In Spain the banks receive from you 7 Euros if you do a donation for Haiti. They are taking advantage of the good people. I feel defrauded"

I decided to look and see if there was any news about it. �I was able to find this:

http://www.thespainforum.com/f188/spanish-banks-charging-commission-donations-haiti-big-news-network-217443/

"Some Spanish Banks are charging commission on donations to Haiti - big news network

This is a discussion on Some Spanish Banks are charging commission on donations to Haiti - big news network within the The News From Spain, Spanish news in English , Many consumers groups have issued warnings to the public Following reports that some Spanish banks have been charging commissions on donations for Haiti, several consumers associations, including Facu... [Only Registered ..."

Since I'm not registered there, I can't see the whole story, but the greed of the bankers does not surprise me.

James Taylor to Do Benefit for Haiti

Jan 18, 2010

James Taylor to Perform Haiti Benefit at Mahaiwe


James Taylor will perform a benefit concert for Haiti at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, MA, on Friday, January 22 at 8 pm. Proceeds from "Help for Haiti: An Intimate Evening with James Taylor" will benefit Partners in Health. The event will be simulcast on WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Mr. Taylor and his wife Kim will match proceeds from all ticket sales. Tickets are $100 (upper balcony), $200 (orchestra and mezzanine), and $1,000 (golden circle including private post-show reception with the artists) and will go on sale on Tuesday, January 19 at 9 am via Mahaiwe.org and in person at the Mahaiwe box office (14 Castle Street in Great Barrington, MA). No phone sales are available for this concert and there is a limit of four tickets per person.

"Our hearts go out to everyone in Haiti," said Mr. Taylor. "We need to do everything we can to help the country recover after this tragic earthquake. I'm grateful to do my part and hope my neighbors here in the Berkshires will join me and be as generous as possible."

Mr. Taylor will be joined by his longtime singers Kate Markowitz, Arnold McCuller, his wife, Kim, and Boston Symphony Orchestra cellist Owen Young.

Partners In Health (PIH) has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years. The organization works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in nine countries around the world. The work of PIH has three goals: to care for patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world. Based in Boston, PIH employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, including doctors, nurses, and community health workers. The vast majority of PIH staff are local nationals based in the communities they serve.






� 2010 JamesTaylor.com
2238 Dundas Street West, P.O. Box 59039 Toronto, ON, Canada, M6R 3B5
�

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Tribute

President Obama



James Taylor



Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech which inspired me when I was young because of his peaceful protest and his courage to speak out in spite of those who were against him doing so. �Rather than leading a violent protest like many wanted, he did the right thing and protested peacefully. �Although it may have ended poorly for him, it inspired many of all races.

He inspired me to maintain a peaceful course in protesting in spite of what others were crying for.

Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Is With Us All,

Cal-el

Psalm 112 (The Right Isn't Going to Like This)

Psalm 112 (New International Version)

Praise the LORD.�
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.

�His children will be mighty in the land;�
the generation of the upright will be blessed.

� Wealth and riches are in his house,�
and his righteousness endures forever.

� Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,�
� for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. �

� Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,�
who conducts his affairs with justice.

� Surely he will never be shaken;�
a righteous man will be remembered forever.

� He will have no fear of bad news;�
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

� His heart is secure, he will have no fear;�
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

� He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,�
his righteousness endures forever;
� his horn �will be lifted high in honor.�

� The wicked man will see and be vexed,�
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;

the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Rush Limbaugh Has Lots of Followers

Rush Limbaugh has lots of followers

But so did this guy:

Haiti, Airlines, and Corporate Greed

Haiti, Airlines, and Corporate Greed

Thanks to the twitter scam saying that American Airlines was giving free passage to doctors and the airline saying that they were not going to give free passage to any doctor who wanted to go there to help, we have seen corporate greed rear its ugly head again. JetBlue spokeswoman Alison Croyle said:

"We're not offering free transportation for just any doctors who walk up and want to fly there."

Corporate greed is pretty well known, but instances like this really stand out. What is ironic about this is that the publicity would have given people a warm feeling in their hearts toward the airlines, thus increasing their profit long-term. I would say that American Airlines really shot itself in the foot with this one.

Here's another alternative that could be considered a compromise. How about offering the doctors who want to go and help with the disaster a largely reduced rate. I, for one, would like to see a CEO donate one of his huge bonuses to helping make this happen.

Bush bailed out the airlines in 2001. It would be nice to see the airlines respond in some semblance of humanitarianism and do something that is right and good for people. We already know how bail-outs are used to pay CEOs obscene bonuses. There are many people who can barely afford to buy groceries who have donated to help the people in Haiti. Why can't a CEO put off buying something that he really doesn't need to survive in order to help some people?

By making at least some effort to help when people are in trouble and in need, it would not only be a wonderful thing to do, but would make people more willing to use your service in the future. An increase in patrons is going to translate into an increase in bonuses for the airlines. If the airlines would think things through, I think they would see that their choice of action has been unwise.

Coverage from Haiti on ABC13 News Houston

Grand Theft Sesame Street

Dang! �They're even pusing it on small kids! �haha

Good News

John 3:14-17 (New International Version)

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

�"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee - Making Wall Stree Pay Back

Vice President Joe Biden to me
show details 2:41 PM (1 hour ago)
Calvin --

Yesterday, President Obama announced our proposed Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee on the country's largest banks:

"My commitment is to recover every single dime the American people are owed. And my determination to achieve this goal is only heightened when I see reports of massive profits and obscene bonuses at some of the very firms who owe their continued existence to the American people...We want our money back, and we're going to get it."

The fee would recover every penny loaned to Wall Street during the financial crisis and stop the reckless abuses and excesses that nearly caused the collapse of our financial system in the first place.

But the banking industry -- among the most powerful lobbies in Washington -- is already launching attacks to stop Congress from enacting the proposal.

Barack and I aren't backing down. But to win, we'll need the American people to add their voice right away.

Thankfully, OFA supporters are already signing on to a bold statement of support: "We want our money back -- and we stand with President Obama to make sure we get it." You can add your name by clicking here.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/55c1011e/6c6abf00/c00b9f89/11886ab2/688379848/VEsE/

The proposal is expected to recoup billions from the big banks, most of it from the ten largest. As the President said, "If these companies are in good enough shape to afford massive bonuses, they are surely in good enough shape to afford paying back every penny to taxpayers."

There is much more work to do to reform the financial system and create a new era of accountability. But the Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee is a crucial step. And with the banks already working to tear it down, I hope that I can count on you to speak out to show that Americans stand with us as we take them on.

Click here to add your name to the statement:

http://my.barackobama.com/Banks

Change isn't easy, but it's certainly worth fighting for. I'm glad you're in this fight with us.

Thank you for making it possible,

Vice President Joe Biden


DONATE




Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee, www.barackobama.com. Authorized by Martha Coakley for U.S. Senate Committee.
�

Requesting Your Continued Support and Involvement

Dennis Kucinich to me
show details 1:24 PM (2 hours ago)




Requesting Your Continued Support and Involvement


Click here to view video.

Dear Friends:

I want to thank you for the help that you provided over many years to make it possible for me to be in the United States Congress. We're facing a primary election in a little less than four months. And, as you remember in the last campaign, we had a formidable challenge, which we were able to meet because of your support.

I ask that you continue to not just support this effort financially, but to reach out to your friends and in the community in which you live, to get more people involved in this effort to help me to continue to be the voice of people across the country who want Congress to stand for peace, for health care for all, for jobs, for financial integrity, for an America that we, once again, will be able to believe can truly be called our own.

We're facing many challenges in this New Year. But I'm confident that I'll be able to meet them as a member of Congress standing up on your behalf.

So wherever you live, whatever community you're involved in, I want you to know that I'm grateful to have the opportunity to represent your point of view in Congress. But I can't do it alone. And your help for this upcoming primary is going to be essential in making it possible for me to continue to stand up and speak out on your behalf.

Thank you very much.


Facebook Twitter MySpace Digg � � SIGN PETITION� �CONTRIBUTE






PO Box 110475 | Cleveland | OH | 44111 | 216-252-9000

Forward email

A Kingly Pun

MANY, many years ago, far away in a land where royalty was still an acceptable fad, THE KING determined that he had to leave the country for an extended business trip, to do whatever it is that kings do. Such a prolonged absence, of course, requires considerable planning for the orderly continuance of the country's business, so THE KING called into court three of his closest, most trusted noblemen. They were the Count of Amalgam, the Count of Whizzes, and the Count of Basie (they are identified here, so you can keep count). "I am going out of the country for the next few months on KINGLY business, and I am entrusting you with the keys to the treasury, so that regular country business can continue. I will require a complete accounting upon my return, and you will be severely thrashed about the head and ears with the executioner's axe if anything is awry!" So THE KING went away on his kingly business and came back several months later. THE KING called his three trusted counts to detail the royal spending. Down they all trooped to the castle's basement, down past the dungeon, down past the ghouls and ogres, down past those idiot gamesters picking up boxes and lockets and carrying wooden swords and poison charms, etc., finally down to the treasury. "Open the door, Count Amalgam", ordered THE KING. And so, Count Amalgam opened the door, and, lo and behold, the treasury was EMPTY! Not even a bit of gold dust in the corner! "We are not amused!", shouted THE KING. "Guard, take these counts to the executioner! OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" After the executioner sharpened the axe, he raised it in a mighty swing, and as the fearsome blade was descending, the first Count to receive the low neck shave shouted, "WAIT! I'll tell where the . . ARRGH!" Oops. THE KING was in a serious rage by now. "Let's torture the Count of Whizzee--maybe we can get him to talk and tell where the treasury went." Well, with several days of the most excruciating torture, including hearing fingernail scraping on chalkboards, being forced to use towels without fabric softener, and even worse. There was no progress, so the Count of Whizzee was taken to the chopping block. After the executioner sharpened the axe again, he raised it in a mighty swing, and as the fearsome blade was descending, the Count of Whizzee also suddenly cried out, "WAIT! I can tell where the . . . . ARRRGH!" Oops. Again. Now, THE KING was REALLY worried. His impetuosity in head-chopping had lost two out of three chances for locating the treasury, and only the Count of Basie was left. Again, more questioning, more torture. (I think they even made him ride in the back seat of a Yugo wagon!) Finally THE KING lost patience, - - - "OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!!" The executioner sharpened the axe a third time, he raised it in a mighty swing, and as the fearsome blade was descending, The Count of Basie also suddenly cried out, "WAIT! I can tell where the . . . . ARRRGH!" Oops. Again, again. "Oh me, oh my. What shall I do?", cried THE KING. Just then, a magic wizard appeared from out of a cloud of smoke. "I may not be able to help you, your majesty, in you immediate problem, but I have a bit of advice for you in the future . . . . . . .

"Don't hatchet your counts before they Chicken."

http://www.cloudnet.com/~renfest/king_pun.htm