Blog Title: From a Perch in Maryland Suburbia

Jeremiah A. Wright. for President!

Pres. Stooges

 

awesome.

The Angel Oak

 (alternat huge beautiful photograph of the Angel Oak)

The link above goes to a really amaizing picture of this tree in South Carolina.  Here's the wiki article:

The Angel Oak is a Southern live oak tree located in Angel Oak Park, in Charleston, South Carolina on Johns Island, one of South Carolina's Sea Islands. It is estimated to be over 1500 years old, standing 20 m (65 feet) tall, 2.47 m in diameter, and the crown covers an area of 1,580 m² (17,000 square feet). Its longest limb is 27 m (89 feet) in length.

In the spring and summer there are numerous artistic events, including the "Evening Under the Angel Oak" series, which feature music, dramatic presentations, and various other activities, especially during the Spoleto Festival in May/June.

See also:
List of famous trees

Cong. Arts Caucus

Last  letter of the day.  This time I just completely used a form letter, so I'll post the action alert that I was responding too.  I'm not journaling these so much to boast as to encourage folks to write letters too.

 Earlier this month, the Congressional Arts Caucus co-chairs circulated two separate letters to all House members asking them to support an increase in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and an increase to the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education. We ask for your help in contacting your Representative's office and urging them to "sign-on" to these Dear Colleague letters. 

Mental Health Bill

Mental Health Parity Bill  H.R. 1424

To: 
George W. Bush (R)
Secretary Michael O. Leavitt
Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD)
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD)
Representative Chris Van Hollen Jr. (D-MD 8th)

Thank you for supporting this bill.  I happen to not like the continued methods of mental health treatment using drugs and therapy to band-aid mental illness instead of helping the patient to become independently healthy.  However, considering the number of health problems which are not covered by insurance because they are caused by mental health problems, and considering the cost of treatment, and the many ramifications of untreated mental health problems which this country is currently facing, I support the Mental Health and Addiction Equality Act.

Allow Cameras in Supreme Court

They call this bill the "Sunshine in the Coutroom Act."  Cute huh?  I noticed this one a while ago, because Cardin is on the Justice Committee which approved it last week.  Still trying to find transcripts of their mtgs so I can know if he voted for it there.

Support S.352
To: 
George W. Bush (R)
Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD)
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD)
Representative Chris Van Hollen Jr. (D-MD 8th)

As long as the witnesses have the power to remain anonymous (meaning not just their faces and voice are distorted, but their names are bleeped out), and the judge has the power to turn them off, I encourage the support of this bill.

It would do a lot for civil participation if court proceedings, especially those in the Supreme Court, were televised.  Not only could people watch the entire proceedings, but the news media would also be more likely to cover the issues around court cases if they had video footage.

Sincerely, 
Elizabeth Schwartz
(with pic)

Bush Vetoes Anti-Torture Bill

Override veto of H.R. 2082
To: 
George W. Bush (R)
Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD)
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD)
Representative Chris Van Hollen Jr. (D-MD 8th)

Let's change our reputation for breaking treaties, shall we?  Please vote to uphold the Geneva Convention, which also protects American POWs.

While overriding vetoes can be difficult, it should be at its easiest now, while the President has the lowest approval rating in history.

Senate Immigration Bill

My letter to congress/the president via congress.org around bill S.2717 which gives local law enforcement authority, training, and recourses to enforce immigration laws.  Please go to the site and write your own letter.  If you look at the letters people have shared, there are many more supporting the bill than opposing it.

To: 
George W. Bush (R) 
Michael Mukasey, Attorney General 
Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD)
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD)
Representative Chris Van Hollen Jr. (D-MD 8th)

 I am concerned that this legislation encourages a mentality of demonizing a group of people based on nationality and ethnicity, especially since the legal status of any immigrant is only a matter of concern to the federal government. 

If there is an interest in providing local resources to help with immigration, it should be in the form of bureaucratic agencies to aid in cleaning up the procedural side, not law enforcement agencies.

Although I don't really understand why immigration is illegal at all for otherwise innocent people, for those who consider it a real problem, the most obvious solution seems to me to be repealing NAFTA or enact some other form of trade benefit for Mexico.  If we can boost Mexico's economy so that it is self-sustainably strong and has a surplus of jobs for its people, there would be far less immigration to the US.

Sincerely, 
Elizabeth Schwartz
(incl. pic)

Obama Ice Cream!

awesome Fark.com headline of the day:

Ben and Jerry's introduces a flavor for Barack Obama, "Cherries for Change." It's light brown chocolate, smells like victory, and heals all sins 

I have a feeling it's actually pink, but still that's a funny take on it.  Could have gone all sorts of wrong with licking references...

Before Dollar Dizzy Disney

Who else in lj-land has been to Epcot Center?  I went when I was little and I remember it sucking pretty bad.  You can't really set up a futuristic theme-park area in 1983 and not expect it to need upgrades every few years to still look impressive.  Star Trek understood that.

Anyway, I was talking to someone recently about how truly creative Disney labs once was, as evident from Fantasia DVD extras, showing them doing brainstorming via elaborate pastel pieces and working to figure out how to convey the same art through the medium of animation.  Further evidence of this creative atmosphere can be found looking at what Disney originally intended EPCOT to be: an imagination commune.

From Wikipedia:

The name Epcot derives from the acronym EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow), a utopian city of the future planned by Walt Disney (he sometimes used the word "City" instead of "Community" when expanding the acronym). In Walt Disney's words: "EPCOT... will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of American industry. It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed, but will always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and systems. And EPCOT will always be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise."[1]

Walt Disney's original vision of EPCOT was for a model community, home to twenty thousand residents, which would be a test bed for city planning and organization. The community was to have been built in the shape of a circle, with businesses and commercial areas at its center, community buildings and schools and recreational complexes around it, and residential neighborhoods along the perimeter. Transportation would have been provided by monorails and PeopleMovers (like the one in the Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland). Automobile traffic would be kept underground, leaving pedestrians safe above-ground. Walt Disney said, "It will be a planned, controlled community, a showcase for American industry and research, schools, cultural and educational opportunities. In EPCOT, there will be no slum areas because we won't let them develop. There will be no landowners and therefore no voting control. People will rent houses instead of buying them, and at modest rentals. There will be no retirees; everyone must be employed." The original model of this original vision of EPCOT can still be seen by passengers riding the Tomorrowland Transit Authority attraction in the Magic Kingdom park; when the PeopleMover enters the showhouse for Stitch's Great Escape, the model is visible on the left (when facing forward) behind glass. This vision was not realized. Walt Disney was not able to obtain funding and permission to start work on his Florida property until he agreed to build the Magic Kingdom first. Disney passed away before the Magic Kingdom opened.

Spaceship Earth illuminated at night.

The landscape of Epcot includes lots of water, grassy slopes, and many trees.

At Least Obama's Uniting Someone's Country

This is awesome:


"The excitement around Barack Obama's campaign is especially moving because it has united Kenyans as the country emerges from a violent and disputed election.

His relatives are from the minority Luo tribe, but Obama-mania has gripped all Kenyans.

"If there is one thing that we can all agree on here, it's that Obama is the man," said Geoffrey Wachira, watching primary results in a bar in the capital of Nairobi.

(emphasis mine)
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/01/12/2008-01-12_barack_obamas_kenyan_relatives_cheer_his.html

Starting to Hate Commuting

The DC Metro Trains are deplorably expensive.  I put $50 on my metro pass Feb.1, and used it for a round trip plus parking on average once a day since then, and today, Feb. 7,  I have to add more to get home.  That's going to come to about $200 a month, which is insane for public transportation.  IMO.

Parking would be $10 a day if I get in before 9am, $12 if I'm late.  Monthly parking is $230, which is $30 more than it would be paying daily.

Damn, living in the city, all I paid was $1.35 for the bus!  That's $37.80 a month!

... looking at the metro website, they sell a weekly pass for $40, which I guess would save me about $60, so I guess I should just start using that.  Oh wait.  I don't think that covers parking.  In fact, it would probably double my price for parking since they charge extra when if you didn't use a metro pass on the train.

They better make me permanent at this job soon so I can afford the commute.  Or so I can move to a co-op house and pay $500 for rent + $37 for transportation.

Punk Rock Robots??!!

Chuck E. Cheese meets MST3K meets Gwar. Behold the musical weirdness and genius that is Captured By Robots:






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B0t_v8NYjI

My Polite Conversation with a Council Woman

 So one of the folks at my parents' Super Bowl party last night was a UU member of the Montgomery County Council who is friends with my mom.  I've never liked her much, but I made small talk after she sat next to me:

Me:  "So how are things going with the County Council these days?"  
Her: "We'll that's for you to tell me."  
Me: Uhhh, wtf kind of disempowering answer is that?  My question makes it pretty obvious I'm uninformed about what's going on, so are you trying to make me feel like shit for that?  Well, maybe it will make you feel better if I get over my embarassment about it and say that's the case.
Me actually: "Oh, well I guess I don't keep up on that like I should, so I'm asking you."
Her: *ignore*
Me: Uhhh, k, is that really all you're gonna say bitch?  Condemn me to further ignorance because I don't track what you do every day? ... *deep breath* ...   ok, ok, I'll be the pro-active one then.
Me actually: "How are things going energy-wise?"
Her: "Well, haha, people sure do seem to have a lot of energy don't they?"
Me: So I'm confused.  Are you making a pun and not answering my question at all, or are you just being jovial about over-consumption of energy?
Me actually: "Well, I mean in terms of an Energy Plan, I mean does the county have one?  Are there goals or something?"
Her: "Oh there are a lot of Energy Plans.  The thing is it's hard to get people to cut back on energy use."
Me: No shit, so that means you're doing nothing?
Me actually: "It sort of reminds me of WWII when people were encouraged to give things up."
Her: "Yes, I think people are willing to sacrifice if they believe in what's behind it.  But people don't seem to be there yet."
Me: I don't think you've fucking asked them to go there yet.
Me actually: "Yeah, I guess so."

Yeah, I'm a pussy coward.  Maybe I'll actually look into what the county is doing, and then write her/them an informed letter/piece of my mind.

More Primary Stuff

 If it comes down to Clinton, McCain, or Nader, and no one proves to me that McCain is terrible, I'm voting for Nader.

I hope those college students in Virginia who research and predict the primaries are finally wrong about this one and Obama wins.

And where has Oprah gone?  I even forgot about her endorsement.  She needs to get out there, maybe with Toni Morrison and remind people that being a woman doesn't mean you gotta vote for Clinton.

I can't wait for the Primary to be overwith so I can get on with my life.

Hello Media: What Counts in a Primary?

So it turns out, if you look at delegates won -which is what counts towards winning the Primary, and not percentage of voters -which doesn't count, especially in florida, where there will be zero delegates won either way, then the primary results are VERY DIFFERENT from what we hear in the media!

Obama WON Nevada and tied in New Hampshire!!!!!  So even before his win yesterday in South Carolina, he was ahead!

Did he even give a victory speech in Nevada?  He should have.

MSNBC has a delegate tally that they don't seem to be referencing much: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22419475

Delegates won:

Obama: 16 in Iowa, 9 New Hampshire, 13 Nevada, 25 South Carolina (0 Florida) = 63 delegates
Clinton: 15 in Iowa, 9 New Hampshire, 12 Nevada, 12 South Carolina (0 Florida) = 48 delegates

A protest cage on the mall like in NYC?

So, first of all, if you haven't heard:

Government attempting to restrict use of National Mall
Sunday, January 20, 2008

Take action now to defend free speech rights!

At a public meeting called by the National Park Service on Saturday, January 12 in Washington, D.C., representatives from the Partnership for Civil Justice, ANSWER Coalition, Nicaragua Network, Grassroots America, ImpeachBush.org and others demanded that there be no new restrictions placed on the right of the people to access the National Mall for free speech activities.

The National Park Service (NPS) is undertaking an initiative similar to that launched to exclude protests from New York City's Great Lawn. It will be used to further restrict or ban protest on the Mall from current levels. This is a component of a nationwide campaign of corporate-sponsored organizations working in partnership with government entities that claim that protests, rallies and demonstrations harm grass or "green space" or "natural resources" and must therefore be restricted or banned or shunted off to designated protest pits.

Secondly,
Go send a letter: http://answer.pephost.org/site/News2?abbr=ANS_&page=NewsArticle&id=8763

here's mine:
I am writing to you to express my opposition to any proposals to restrict the use of the National Mall for demonstrations. The Mall is vitally important for expressions of political protest in this country, and I demand that its use remain unrestricted for such purposes.

Martin Luther King often initiated nonviolent civil disobedience by leading protests without a permit.  It has been a long standing tradition for large protests to be able to get permits to use the National Mall as a stage for voicing dutiful opposition to the government.  I have attended several protsts and marches on the Mall, two against the Iraq War, several on AIDS and one for Pro-Choice.

Please do not allow a repeat of the caging and silencing of protests at the Republican Convention in New York.

I am proud to be from the United States of America primarily because our government has a history of respecting the citizens' duty to challenge the decisions of that government.  It is my hope to continue to witness this respect.

THIRD

So I went to the National Mall Website, and they have a random trivia question, so the one that happened to be up when i went was "Which of the following was not defended as a freedom by FDR: speech, opinion, fear, religion... answer: opinion."

I smell dubiousness.

The Dangers of No TV

So, last weekend, I heard this story on NPR about how the media lowers crime, essentially by keeping people occupied.  They were specifically talking about the irony of this occurance with violent movies.  It made a lot of sense, and got me thinking, it's even more true about television... which has me worried about the digital switch-over February 17, 2009.

From Wikipedia:

To assist consumers through the conversion, the U.S. government will take requests from households for up to two $40 coupons for digital-to-analog converter boxes^[24] beginning January 1, 2008 via a toll free number or a website.^[25][26] 

come on, let's talk about feminism

In response to mmmmtino's post about identity politics and the presidential campaign:
I've also been thinking more about Hilary recently, given the various articles written in the importance of her campaign.  It's helping me to see that part of my not liking her persona has to do with the paradox of how a woman has to act to be powerful in a man's world (or as the Senate is referred to, a "good old boys" club) vs. judgment laid on her for being that way.  My mother is her age, and I think for their generation, Hilary is the epitome not only of their ideal for women, but she has the persona familiar to that generation as a match for that ideal.  For more recent feminists, you might call us the "Legally Blond" generation because that movie, moreso its sequel, represents a very different type of woman in a position of power.  I understand this has been called "Lipstick Feminism" and I suspect others  who know a lot more about feminism can speak to whether this is another example of a clash between two feminist philosophies. 

This was sort of addressed in an Ainsly Hayes episode of West Wing, although ultimately I didn't like how they handled it because basically Sam became suddenly worried he might be a sexist, but was essentially reassured, "no, don't worry, she's a Lipstick Feminist.  She wants you to come on to her."  The situation was further watered down by the comment in question being that she looked good in her dress and not really an example of oppression. 

Anyway, my point is I'm starting to wonder if Hilary's uncompromising nature and emotionless front are what is necissary today for a woman in washington, and that by arguing she shouldn't be that way, I'm essentially discriminating against her and joining the chorus of the good ole' boys of wanting her to be more submissive which conflicts with being powerful.

Perhaps the same way I'm holding back my vote for Kucinich because it's too idealistic to expect him to win, I should also quit being too idealistic about what a woman needs to be like to be president.  I've said before that this country isn't ready for a woman president.  But perhaps they're just not ready for my ideal woman president.  Perhaps they're ready for one like Hilary.  Am I?

Lao Tzu's the shit.

tao te ching
verse 31.
Armies

Armies are tools of violence;
They cause men to hate and fear.
The sage will not join them.
His purpose is creation;
Their purpose is destruction.

Weapons are tools of violence,
Not of the sage;
He uses them only when there is no choice,
And then calmly, and with tact,
For he finds no beauty in them.

Whoever finds beauty in weapons
Delights in the slaughter of men;
And who delights in slaughter
Cannot content himself with peace.

So slaughters must be mourned
And conquest celebrated with a funeral.

awesome website: taoteching.org

2007 Top Censored News Stories

Top 25 Censored
news stories of 2007
(Read each of these stories at: Project Censored)

#1 Future of Internet Debate Ignored by Media

#2 Halliburton Charged with Selling Nuclear Technologies to Iran

#3 Oceans of the World in Extreme Danger

#4 Hunger and Homelessness Increasing in the US

#5 High-Tech Genocide in Congo

#6 Federal Whistleblower Protection in Jeopardy

# 7 US Operatives Torture Detainees to Death in Afghanistan and Iraq

#8 Pentagon Exempt from Freedom of Information Act

#9 The World Bank Funds Israel-Palestine Wall

#10 Expanded Air War in Iraq Kills More Civilians

#11 Dangers of Genetically Modified Food Confirmed

#12 Pentagon Plans to Build New Landmines

#13 New Evidence Establishes Dangers of Roundup

#14 Homeland Security Contracts KBR to Build Detention Centers in the US

#15 Chemical Industry is EPA’s Primary Research Partner

#16 Ecuador and Mexico Defy US on International Criminal Court

#17 Iraq Invasion Promotes OPEC Agenda

#18 Physicist Challenges Official 9-11 Story

#19 Destruction of Rainforests Worst Ever

#20 Bottled Water: A Global Environmental Problem

#21 Gold Mining Threatens Ancient Andean Glaciers

#22 $Billions in Homeland Security Spending Undisclosed

#23 US Oil Targets Kyoto in Europe

#24 Cheney’s Halliburton Stock Rose Over 3000 Percent Last Year

#25 US Military in Paraguay Threatens Region

Carl Sagan's "Flatland" expanded

Imagining the 10th dimension:

A Letter from Kucinich

New Hampshire, Iowa and Edwards

Tired of the election, and yet...

Things will be very interesting if Edwards wins Iowa. I've been reading about him in Newsweek, and after the hearing the dim light cast on Obama this morning by Democracy Now considering his forign policy advisors being the same old same old, and Edwards' still being unclear...

After all, I could see Edwards talking more substance than Obama and with more authenticity than Clinton (and being prettier -well prettiest- but prettier than Kucinich) and not old like Gavel... and who's in fourth? I forget. Biden? Whoever.

Interesting. I become more undecided all the time. Maybe I'll just vote Kucinich and be true to my beliefs like a good voter should.

Update: I've posted the Democracy Now transcript excerpt in the comments below. I think if I asked him about it, I'd put it in the context of the Fareed Newsweek article  which applauds Obama's abilities granted by his life-experiences, to see the world from a non-American point of view.  In this context, the question becomes, would you join the rest of the world in embracing the customs set by war crimes tribunals in which the US was always involved, and apply it to how you choose your foreign policy adivisors.

Nichiren Buddhism Politics

ok, i need to vent a little about the state of Nichiren Buddhism in the US. I find it truly tragic that Soka Gakkai split from the head temple 10 years ago. At least in the US it's tragic. Because SGI is much bigger and has all the community centers and a bunch of the temples.

Personally speaking, it's frustrating for me because SGI has the community of people that is really missing at the temple and is a lot like the UU community I was used to before. But having done the research on them, I could never become a member because, unbeknownst to most American members, the split happened in Japan because of the organized crime associated with SGI. Basically the President of SGI did a better job than the High Priest of coaxing members. As a result, SGI is alot more like UUism, creating a religion that's more open and mixed of various asian religions. NST is still following the 700 year old doctrines solely.

Anyway, maybe I'll visit an SGI group. I sort of have this dream of the two groups coming back together again. The temple is understandably afraid that if anyone associates with SGI they'll loose more members to them. But I think my instincts are right on this.

Especially after today's beautiful article in the post on them:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/31/AR2007123102214.html

Like I said, it's tragic because the religions are, like 90% similar in practice and beliefs, and I could totally see my self being more compelled towards them.

I sort of think of it like if Yoda had a religion, and a bunch of people were like, screw Yoda, he doesn't consider other religions enough and he's too strict, so we'll tell people about the Force and use his teachings but tell people not to go to him.

heh. i'm such a geek.