State of the Union Drinking Game

President Obama's first State of the Union speech is this evening and The Huffington Post has a drinking game devised to go along with it.  Be warned!  LOL

27 January 2010

"Cute Beekeepers"

As a beekeeper, I can totally get behind this movement to objectify us on physical grounds!  LOL

27 January 2010

Vote Coakley Tuesday!

This coming Tuesday, January 19th, is election day in Massachusetts for the senate seat once held by Ted Kennedy.  I implore you to vote for Martha Coakley.  This race is ridiculously important to the nation.  Indeed, in thinking about it for the past few days, I cannot think of another special election during my lifetime that has been more important.  Which is odd, given the fact that it has flown under the radar even in Massachusetts until the past week or so.  This race is neck-and-neck.  Your vote WILL matter.  If you don't vote, it WILL matter.

I will be honest with you.  I am not enamored with Coakley.  Having said that, she is by far -- by far! -- the lesser of two evils.  Her Republican opponent, Scott Brown, would be a disaster, both for Massachusetts and for the country as a whole.  Should Brown be elected, not only will any form of health care reform be dead in the water, but many other battles may be lost.  The Democratic majority slipping to 59 really is that important.  For example:

• Many federal judges will either not be approved or the president will have to make appointments other than those he would have but for Brown being in office.  The federal bench has moved very far to the right since Bush II took office, a fact that has changed very little thus far in Obama's first year in office.
  
• Many US attorneys will either not be approved or the president will have to make appointments other than those he would have but for Brown being in office.  This will have a major impact on several fronts, especially privacy and civil rights.
• Bills protecting the rights of American gays and lesbians are making their way through Congress and have a real chance of passing as things now stand.  They would be dead in the water with a Brown victory.
• Even the relatively pitiful banking reforms and consumer protections that have thus far been proposed would be further watered down or shelved altogether with a Brown victory.  Corporations will be further rewarded and the individual American citizen will be further screwed over.

Several specific things to note about Scott Brown include:

• In a race that many have called a referendum on health care reform, the man who is championing the Conservative cause doesn't even offer health insurance for his campaign staff.  Every single member of Brown's staff, no matter how high or low, is an independent contractor, so that Brown doesn't have to provide the benefits that he would have to under the law if they were actual employees.
• Brown has been a part of the so-called Tea Party movement, speaking at their events and championing their causes.  Also, official Tea Party events have been held in Brown's honor.
  
• Brown has been on the fringe of the so-called birther movement.  He has stated that he didn't believe that President Obama's parents were married and that Obama was thus an illegitimate child.
• He posed nude for a Cosmopolitan magazine pictorial in June of 1982.  This really isn't bad, but how often do you get to write that in a political blog?
  

 You can find additional information about Brown on his wiki page.

Please vote on Tuesday and vote Martha Coakley.

 Thank you.


17 January 2010

Haitian Earthquake Relief Scams

I blogged yesterday regarding the Haitian earthquake and requested that you consider giving to a relief organization.  Now, I want to remind you to be vigilant in the face of those seeking to enrich themselves in the face of human misery.  There are a great many e-mails and websites already in motion that indicate they are for Haitian earthquake aid, but are not.  Some of these are made to mimic actual relief organizations.  Do not be fooled.  Verify that the method you are using to donate is secure and that you are donating to a legitimate relief organization.  Doctors Without Borders suggests that you use only the secure website form or the toll-free number of any organization to give at this time.  Moreover, unless you trust a linking entity, don't follow links to charity sites.  Find them yourself.

Thanks.

14 January 2010

Move Your Money: Bank Locally!

Since we have started the new year, I wanted to again call your attention to a rapidly-growing movement across the country.  Namely, having those with bank accounts at national banks move their assets to local institutions.  You can read about the movement, how it will positively affect the country, and how it can help you as well in my previous post here.

13 January 2010

Earthquake: Haiti

I spent part of the summer of 1985 in Haiti building schools in many smaller villages around the island nation.  Today, I'm wondering if those schools are still standing.  A massive 7.0 earthquake has struck Haiti and as many as 100,000 are feared dead.  I remember my time in Haiti fondly and found its people to be friendly and full of joy... in the face of crushing poverty and dictatorship.

Pat Robertson, dead soul and all-around moron, says that the Haitians brought this on themselves via a "pact with the devil."  (Does anyone actually listen to this nitwit?)  Haitian governments have long failed their people and the people themselves have made some questionable decisions, especially regarding their environment.  However, those decisions by the people stem much more from reacting to the day-to-day quest for their very survival than from stupidity or malice.  On a good day, Robertson should be stuffed in a toilet.  Today, that toilet should be flushed for good.

How can you help?  I can tell you that Haiti itself will need help.  They will be overwhelmed.  Check out this page of organizations at The Huffington Post.  Doctors Without Borders would be an organization that I'd recommend for their right-now impact.  If you can recommend a good organization for current or longer-term recovery efforts, please let us know.

God bless Haiti and those helping the nation now.

13 January 2010