Keith Olbermann's Comment on Sept 11th

Crooks and Liars has the video and the transcript:

Keith Olbermann's Special Comment on Bush Who Has Left This Hole In the Ground -- We have not forgotten, Mr President, you have. May this country forgive you

Goosing Your Muse by JoAnn Braheny

My wonderful friend and original muse gooser, JoAnn Braheny, has a wonderful blog for all of us creative types. Can't get started with a new song, story, idea, looking to get the creative juices flowing? Go here: Goosing Your Muse by JoAnn Braheny

South Dakota Legislature Passes Criminal Ban on Abortion

The reality of Roe v. Wade is in quite a shaky state. A few years ago I saw a poll that showed that most college girls take Roe vs. Wade for granted as 'choice' has always been an option for them. The irony of how little emotional and financial support the U.S. has for single mothers and working mothers is most inhumane when one sees how countries like France do it.

The recent S. Dakota votes on abortion are really well discussed here in a very real way here on the blog of a friend of my friend -- The Queen and her royal family: Sad Days Ahead .

Ok, mad yet? What are you going to do about it? If you feel like clearly my voice and view is supported why are my rights flying out the window? Take a positive action. Go log on to http://naral.org and donate some money and sign a petition and call your representative/ senators.

Molly Murphy - Artist

My wonderful, talented friend is showcasing her beautiful beadwork. Enjoy by clicking here: Molly Murphy - Artist

Personal mission statements

The corporate structures of this country that have come to dominate this planet are huge ships that turn very slowly. The reality is that we are not going to take over the world by boycotting Snapple just because Rush Limbaugh plugs it. An old reference, I know, how bout stop eating at McDonalds to protest the destruction of the Brazillian rainforest?

The tower of lies at the top of the government and corporate structures are starting to be exposed but they are hardly starting to tumble. Its funny how the sense of ethics in this country is now about abiding by whether its our team or theirs. I love the bumper sticker -- When Clinton Lied No One Died. But how much newstime is A Million Little Pieces going to take up when the daily messages change on Pennsylvania Avenue and met with only shrugs. There is protest in the papers that the average Joe ain't reading. People are angry at Enron and Tyco? Why? They lost their pensions. This is not an emotional shift but a uniformed sigh -- ah, more liars -- they will always be among the rich and powerful.

Unfortunately, the fissure between rich and poor is becoming quite a canyon and I'm hoping that when the housing bubble breaks, some of the apathy out there will break too not unlike the New Orleans levees. The hopelessness of the American public about futility in changing the rich infrastructure of this country is a sad state.

In business, companies use mission statements to help them to make their toughest choices -- if their mission statement is to do what's best for customer, then they dont do things that will jeopardize the customer down the road. What about a personal mission statement? Where do I want to go? What kind of person do I want to be? How do I plan to get there? Once that is in place -- the questions about ethics are not so difficult. I don't steal becuase I want to give back to my community. OF COURSE, I don't steal because that's not who I am but the same thing goes for lying -- I don't lie because to keep my truths simple is an easier way to live and relate to people. The mission of the Republicans and of the heads of companies like Tyco, Adelphia, Enron? Get rich. Get rich quickly. Get rich by any means necessary. That is the sensibility that our country is reinforcing as the key to happiness. When the WTC was hit... our leadership said "Go shopping, it'll make you feel better" Money will save America. Having money is fine but if that is one's personal mission statement for life, but the pursuit of happiness for me can not rest in finanical pursuits. I have to get more happiness from family, relationships, a good book, and most importantly, a clear conscience. Otherwise I can't enjoy any of it.

Of course, I've had enough money in my life to know its not the solution to all my problems. Tell that to the people who lost their homes in Katrina. Reality television is extremely popular because its full of devices to convince people that their souls, their credibility their integrity can be bought -- because once the check is delivered, the Hummer is bought, their problems will be solved.

I volunteer in political non-profits where I can, I give blood when I can. Its not perfect, its not daily and its not enough but at least its part of a personal mission statement to take the next right action as a member of the global community. While I was working on my degree I was certain I would find an artistic way to 'stick it to the man' but found that I can be much more influential by working from the inside out. You'd be amazed by how many of us liberals work on Wall Street and in the financial sector. Everyone's hands are dirty but at least I'm starting to take one little action at a time.

Alito opposition goes a long way!

This moderate act that everyone knows and sees through simply by Bush appointment is just the beginning. We have a debate going on our side of the aisle about who do we think we can get if we oppose them all ...Al Franken? Thurgood Marshall back from his long winter's nap. . . Ah that he could? Its not like Bush will tire and appoint Al Franken because we knocked down all of his conservative choices. But here's the thing -- this fight is so important that we just have to keep knocking them down. All of our choices suck. But with a history of classism, racism and sexism so pointed an agenda in his past, we have to demand that he doesn't get by just because Americans are getting tired of watching the proceedings.

MoveOn has a great ad going. Watch it and then call your Senator and say I Oppose Alito! Then do it for every racist, classist, right-winged agenda toadie they march down until... until... until....

Here's the ad:
https://political.moveon.org/donate/alito-QT.html

A rock star is two!

My two year old boy is in love with music. We gave him this guitar for his 2nd birthday and he started strumming immediately. Soon enough he'll be singing about the injustice of my generation and how lame we are and how he's not one for the rules -- wait he's already doing that at 2! He's so my boy! And his Grandma's boy! A generational revolution is on the rise -- We Shall Overcome! This Land is Your Land! The Kids Are Alright! Heck he's already thrown his guitar down the stairs! I wish I could say I cheered... I did inside.

Give blood

I have been struck by how many opportunities there are for spending money and it is unfortunate that it takes a disaster for people to reach deep in their pockets to pay for their compassion because the number of people falling below the poverty level in America has increased 17% since Clinton left office. As one Nicholas Kristof's Sept 6 NY Times op-ed, "The Larger Shame" showed that more infants died last year in Washington DC due to poverty than in China's capital.

No one is discussing blood. In some ways it is more valuable than money.

My husband and I went to give in our local Red Cross and learned that the LA
blood bank is critically low already and is so most of the year. In case of
an earthquake, we would be in dire states due to blood levels alone. On this anniversary of 9/11 when many of our fellow New Yorkers (my hometown) ran out to donate blood (I remember my mother talking about the line around the block at the Red Cross on 10th avenue) but many have never donated their blood since then. There are a lot of reasons people don't give:

• Most people don't think about the fact that blood is the only commodity to human beings that can not be bought or created(like medicine or food).

• Some people go to donate and they are turned away and never try again. Last time my husband went to give blood they turned him away since he had spent more than 6 months in Europe. But now it's a total of 5 years in Europe and he happily donated blood with me last week.

• For those who can not give blood there are other ways to assist, like volunteer to give out juice and cookies at the center. One of our friends has a blood disease that keeps her from giving, but she went with us and watched our son so we were both free to do so. For those who don't think they have the time, you can go to http://www.givelife.org/ and find a local blood drive or set up an appointment. I e-mailed a contact from the site and they called me back in a matter of minutes. Since we had an appointment it took less than an hour to go, give, drink our juice and cookies and go.

• Some think it doesn't help that much. I've been told that one pint of blood can save as many as three lives.

Vagabond Scholar

My friend, neighbor, and highschool classmate, has begun a blog to address many of the political (and otherwise) missteps that I, too, get crazy about. So, drop on by and enjoy: Vagabond Scholar

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Ethan River is a toddler!

Yes, it's true. I'm still trying to fathom how I became the mother of a toddler while I was still becoming familiar with the idea of mothering a newborn. I have a cousin who marvelled at how there are so few efforts we put into learning as when we learn to walk. There are guaranteed scrapes, bonks, and bruises but we get up and try, try, again. Imagine if we had to learn math that way, or a new language. Many of us never become fluent in our own language (let alone how to figure 15% when dining out) and there are no bruises to bear.

Anyway, he took his first steps on April 4th and by April 6th he was walking far enough that his Grandpa proclaimed that it was time for a proper pair of shoes. Today he is toddling as the wind blows him and it is as if someone just hit the fast-forward button on him and, therefore, me (physically chasing him and emotionally as I am in awe of how fast he's progressing).

We're here!

We're here and ready to blog!