On San Juan Island

History of San Juan Island in Two Parts

2010-06-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

Glacial Granite Beaverton Valley

Faithful Reader, On San Juan Island was my first blog and is now retired yet I leave it here because it contains my history of San Juan Island that so many of you have been kind enough to let me know you enjoyed. You will find the links to my history posts in the right hand column here in 2 parts: History of San Juan Island Part I, then scroll down to find History of San Juan Island part II. Part I starts with the first post, Birth of an Island with a quick overview of the Island's geologic history and continues to The 49th Parallel Meets the Salish Sea which describes how the vaguely worded Oregon Treaty of 1846 set the pieces into place for the infamous Pig Incident.

Who Was Juan de Fuca?

The History of San Juan Island Part II explains how Native Women Saved Society, includes the effects of Gold!, and leads up to Charles Griffin's Response to the shooting of his Most Notable Pig.

Lee Bave in Front of The Pig War Museum

Three New Baby Orca!

2009-03-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

New Baby J-45 with Mother Samish (J-14)
photo credit: Ken Balcomb Center For Whale Research

What a great birthday present! This year what we thought were two new Orca calves turned out to be three! Two of them in J-pod and so far all looking healthy and active. That is very good news especially with the recent loss of seven whales missing and assumed dead. This does not solve the problem the whales are facing of a diminished food supply but is a hopeful sign.

Check out OrcaCam on the Center For Whale Research website
Link to: The Whale Museum

Late Snow ~ February 26

2009-02-26T10:49:00.000-08:00

Fir Bough Out My Bedroom Window

I watched the fat rain come down last night but sure did not expect to find a snowy morning. Not that I mind. I have a peaceful association in the reflected light off the snow that brightens an overcast winter day.

An excerpt from The Four Seasons of the Year
by the first American Poet, Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672)

Moist snowie February is my last,

I care not how the winter time doth haste,

In Pisces now the golden Sun doth shine,

And Northward still approaches to the Line,

The Rivers 'gin to ope, the snows to melt,

And some warm glances from his face are felt;

Which is increased by the lengthen'd day,

Until by's heat, he drive all cold away

Volunteers of America

2009-02-20T11:07:00.000-08:00

There is a big call out for volunteers these days. President Obama is asking us to give service time to our communities. Whenever I hear a call out for volunteers I hear the voice of Grace Slick on the Woodstock Album when she says "Good Morning people! Now you will hear morning maniac music, believe me..." and then Jefferson Airplane blasts into Volunteers of America...

Jefferson Airplane - Volunteers of America

Look what's happening out in the streets
Got a revolution Got to revolution
Hey I'm dancing down the streets
Got a revolution Got to revolution
Ain't it amazing all the people I meet
Got a revolution Got to revolution
One generation got old
One generation got soul
This generation got no destination to hold
Pick up the cry
Hey now it's time for you and me
Got a revolution Got to revolution
Come on now we're marching to the sea
Got a revolution Got to revolution
Who will take it from you
We will and who are we
We are volunteers of America

Wish Upon A Star (If You Can Still See One)

2009-02-19T13:02:00.000-08:00

There are some people with businesses in town who would like to leave lit-up signs on all night in Friday Harbor. Currently this is against our Town Ordinance. Leaving lights on all night is not only an irresponsible waste of resources but would be a blight to our night sky. Please attend this evening's public hearing and let town council know that this is an unacceptable proposal.

Starry Night ~ Vincent Van Gogh

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that the Council of the Town of Friday Harbor, Washington will hold a PUBLIC HEARING to consider revisions to Title 14 of Friday Harbor Municipal Code regarding sign regulations at 5:35 PM, February 19, 2009 at Town Hall, 60 Second Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

Proposed revisions are to allow signs to be illuminated after businesses are closed.

No More Falsehoods or Derision

2009-02-17T09:40:00.000-08:00

Princess of Cups ~ Druid Craft Tarot

A reader asks...

Anita: When you say the 1000 day countdown starts today, does that mean that the Age of Aquarius won't really be here for another three years?

Me: That's right Anita. As I understand it we have made it through the cusp period between the Piscean Age and the Age of Aquarius and are now in the "Dawning" of the Age of Aquarius. The Age of Aquarius starts officially in 2012, or in 1,000 days minus a few now. See the countdown widgit in my right-hand column. This is of course in sync with the Myan calendar running out. So we are into the transition which they say will cause some tumult but by 2036 things should be really groovy.

Anita: I heard a "anti-snarking" story on NPR this morning, maybe the no more derision part is already starting.

Me: Right again, I think we are all going to have to do our part. I know that with Bush no longer in the White House I do feel quite a bit less snarky already.

The Dawning of the Age of Aquarius Starts Now!

2009-02-13T23:10:00.000-08:00

The moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter is aligned with Mars. You know what that means. It is officially the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. Come this morning, February 14, 2009 at dawn the moon in Libra enters the seventh house, the house of relationships, and Jupiter and Mars are aligned in Aquarius in the twelfth house, the house of spiritual transformation.

The official 1,000 day countdown to the Age of Aquarius begins today. To usher in the Aquarian Age with a fitting mantra link to: Meditation for an Invincible Spirit in the Aquarian Age.

AQUARIUS

Johanofsweden

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
The age of Aquarius
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

Valentine's Day Concert on Lopez

2009-02-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

Cindy Kallet & Grey Larsen

Feb. 14th, 7:30 PM at the Lopez Island Grange Hall, $10
Unique Tapestry of Contemporary Folk and World Music

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than to take your sweetie to a Home on the Grange concert on Lopez Island. I hear from my friend Sue DuMond on Lopez that Cindy Kallet & Grey Larsen will be playing. Here is what Sue has to say...

"Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen, each well known and loved for their decades of music making have joined musical forces in a new duo. Cindy is a superb singer, guitarist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Grey is one of America's finest players of the Irish flute and tin whistle, as well as an accomplished singer and concertina, fiddle, piano and harmonium player. As composers each has contributed to the unique tapestry of contemporary folk and world music as it exists and flourishes in America today. Together, they weave songs and tunes of vibrant color and rich texture.More info: link to: Home on the Grange, or call: 468-2753.

Lopez Grange Hall

Friday Harbor Centennial 1909~2009

2009-02-08T22:37:00.000-08:00

Friday Harbor Waterfront Late 1950s

Today, February 9th, Friday Harbor turns 100 years old.

There will be celebratory goings on at the Grange Hall, the Fire Station and the Yacht Club all day. Link to: Friday Harbor Centennial

What's New Pussycat?

2009-02-04T14:53:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a perverse thought that you tried to banish from your mind but the more you tried to resist it the more it persisted?

I watched the Superbowl last weekend, or at least parts of it. Having been a fan of Bruce Springsteen since his early days I looked forward to his half-time show. It was when he went out onto a part of the stage that jutted into the crowd that it struck me. Bruce Springsteen was twins-separated-at-birth with Tom Jones!

Bruce Springsteen ~ Tom Jones

Signed Sealed and Delivered.

2009-01-21T13:28:00.000-08:00

Yes, we can and we did.

Obama Taking the Oath. ~ Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times

Throngs Watch the Ceremony. ~ Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Concert On The Mall

2009-01-18T22:40:00.000-08:00

Jill & Joe Biden, Barack & Sasha Obama

Pete Seeger was a rickety old man over 20 years ago when I saw him at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. He must be at least 100 years old. What a hopeful omen for the country that he was there at the Lincoln Memorial today singing Woody Guthry's This Land Is Your Land, yes, with all the verses.

Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, will.i.am

Beyoncé - America The Beautiful

I feel a little corny but can not stop my eyes from watering while Beyonce leads the crowd in singing America the Beautiful.

Here They Come...

2009-01-17T11:21:00.000-08:00

Michelle Obama - Our New First Lady
At Train stop in Wilmington, Delaware to Pick up the Bidens

Taking the same train route that Abraham Lincoln took to his inauguration, President Elect Obama is undertaking the final leg of his inaugural journey to the nation's capital. Stopping along the way aboard the vintage 1930s Georgia 300 coach Barack Obama is speaking to the American people pledging to reclaim America's spirit as he warns of steep the challenges facing the country.

In Philadelphia Obama said, "Let's build a government that is responsible to the people and accept our own responsibilities as citizens to hold our government accountable... Let's make sure this election is not the end of what we do to change America, but the beginning and the hope for the future."

Barack Obama Waves to Crowds in Claymont, Delaware

Mini Mac Lives!

2009-01-11T10:15:00.001-08:00

Mini-Mac Lives! with my deepest and sincerest thanks to my neighbors Lee, for sending Roger over, and Roger for performing the resurrection. I may be turning into a droid but when my computer crashes I do too.

Its not just because of my blog habit/obsession but I use my Mini-Mac for so many things including aspects of my jobs not to mention making up flyers and emailing them out. Here is my most recent, a flyer inviting folks to the upcoming Inauguration Day Potluck at the High School. Obviously I owe a debt to Shepard Fairey, the designer of the now iconic Obama poster.

One thing that may have put my Mini-Mac over the edge was my attempt to make a few cents off my blog by advertising books/music/film through an Amazon book carousel. In particular I wanted to feature the book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid by Jimmy Carter and the DVD, Gaza Strip by filmmaker James Longley. Longley, the talented son of my neighbor Roger who brought Mini-Mac back to life, was nominated for an Oscar for this documentary that gives a rare view into life in Gaza under the Israeli occupation.

Carter’s book and Longley’s film are both available at San Juan Island’s public library. San Juan Island Library, the last refuge for the internet addicted during a crash. God Bless the public library.

Peggy Sue Unplugged

2009-01-10T13:55:00.000-08:00

Here I am posting at the public library. God bless public libraries! My mini mac has crashed and I have no immediate funds to fix/replace it. If you have a spare Mac laying around that you would be willing to let me use or buy real cheap please call 360-370-5210. I will be able to answer the phone now that I cannot get online. Until then, I hope to be back soon!

People lived for centuries without computers. I myself spent some of the happiest years of my life living off the grid. This is going to be OK.... except I have to get off now because another library patron is waiting....

David vrs Goliath

2009-01-09T00:47:00.001-08:00

Israeli Tank

Photo: Ariel Schalit/Associated Press

Gaza Resistance
Photo: Muhammed Muheisen/Associated Press

Condoleezza Rice blames Palestine's democratically elected Hamas for bringing Israeli violence down on Gaza. Hamas has fired rockets into Israel. With this rationalization Israeli tanks roll into Gaza. What Rice neglects to acknowledge is that Hamas has very good reason to resist the murderous Israeli occupation of its people. Israel imprisons Gaza in a death grip controlling everything including information going in and out of the occupied territory. With complete disregard for human rights Israeli forces have targeted even clearly marked humanitarian aid vehicles killing not only many hundreds of Palestinian civilians but international aid workers as well. What irony that Israel would turn Gaza into something even worse than the German occupied Warsaw Ghetto.

Link to: U.N. and Red Cross Add to Outcry on Gaza War
Link to: Statements of the Free Palestine Alliance
Link to: Live From occupied Palestine

New Year's Resolutions - A Healthy Future

2009-01-01T21:54:00.000-08:00

If getting healthier is on your New Year’s Resolution to-do list here are a few tools you can use to help you along the way.

Eat Tomatoes for Longevity

BLUE ZONES: Go to the Blue Zones website and fill out the Blue Zone Vitality Compass questionnaire to calculate your life expectancy and find out what simple steps you can take to add vitality to you life.

Dan Buettner founded Blue Zones after a National Geographic funded study of world wide populations. Buettner discovered key common practices to living a long and healthy life. Here are the top ten.

1. De-convenience your home – lose the remote, buy a light garage door and lift it yourself, use a shovel instead of a snow-blower.

2. Eat Nuts – Have a can of nuts around your office or home, eat a handful daily.
3. Drink Sardinian wine – Sardinian canonau wine has the world's highest levels of antioxidants. Drink a glass or two a day.
4. Play with your children – this is excellent low intensity exercise and will strengthen a family. Both associated with longer life expectancy.
5. Grow a Garden – This proven stress reducer will put your body through the range of motion and yield fresh vegetables.
6. Hour of Power – Downshift daily with a nap, meditation, prayer or a quiet walk, de-stressing is a proven way to slow aging.
7. Eat Tofu – Arguably the world's most perfect food, eaten by the world's longest lived women. Contains a plant estrogen that makes skin look younger
8. Get a Tan – Doctors are rethinking the notion of slathering yourself with sunscreen. Up to half of Americans are Vitamin D deficient--a condition that can double your chance of dying in any given year. A tan not only looks healthy, it is.
9. Donate your large dinner plates – eat off 9 inch plates as the Okinawans do and reduce calorie consumption at dinner by 20-30%.

10. Write Down your Personal Mission – Know and putting into practice your sense of purpose can give you up to a decade of good life.

Still Life with Teapot and Fruit ~ Paul Gauguin

LIMBA SLIM: Dovetailing nicely, just in case losing weight figures into your New Year's plan for a healthier future, is a helpful new product designed by San Juan Island's own Rebecca Barnard. Limba Slim combines aromatherapy with hypnosis and uses your own limbic system, the most ancient part of your brain by directly accessing it through your sense of smell.

The Limba Slim system comes with a Limba Sniffer, Limba Scent and a 10 minute guided meditation that will gently take you to a beautiful beach where you are guided to make healthy food choices. This is how it works, first dab the scent under your nose and then listen to the meditation. Throughout the day carry the Limba Sniffer with you to bring you back to that relaxed place of luscious, healthy food preferences.

Rachel Maddow vrs The Patriarchy

2008-12-26T12:39:00.001-08:00

Rachel Maddow

I have been following Rachel Maddow's lively critique of Pastor Rick Warren, the preacher chosen by Obama to give the invocation at his inauguration. The choice of Warren has caused quite a stir on the left due in large part to the mega-church preacher’s support of California’s proposition 8 banning gay marriage and his likening of gay marriage to incest and pedophilia. Maddow, herself a lesbian, isn’t going to let this slide by without notice.

Pastor Rick Warren

Warren however, isn’t the only Christian leader to make audacious statements about gays lately. Pope Benedict, who not surprisingly, is opposed to gay marriage, recently likened homosexuality to the destruction of the rainforest saying, "The tropical forests do deserve our protection. But man, as a creature, does not deserve any less." According to Reuters, the pope called behavior beyond traditional heterosexual relations "a destruction of God's work." The pontiff warns that blurring the distinction between male and female could lead to the "self-destruction" of the human race.

Pope Benedict

To thinking people who do not have a stake in upholding the patriarchy, homosexuality and gay marriage are no threats to the human race. In fact, less thoughtless breeding by humans could come as a relief to the rest of the planet and benefit the human race as well. The only thing that is truly threatened by gay marriage is the patriarchy. Homosexuality makes male chauvinists like the pope and pastor Rick Warren squirm. Christianity is a patriarchal religion. If you want to keep women firmly in their place you do not want any blurring of gender distinctions.

Rachel Maddow on msnbc set

Obama has said all along that he wants to bring all Americans together. Choosing Preacher Rick may be a peace offering to all the Americans who loved Sarah Palin. Like it or not a large segment of the American population are bigots. At the same time this choice is a slap in the face to the gay community and an unhappy choice for civil liberties. I for one am enjoying watching the brilliant Rachel Maddow poke holes in the patriarchy with her sharp wit.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

Mele Kalikimaha!

Obama Emerging from the Sea

(photoshop - with my apologies to artist Christian Riese Lassen)

Six Random Facts Meme

2008-12-17T00:58:00.000-08:00

Naturalist, photographer and blue-haired roller hockey goalie Monika Wieland of the blog, Orca Watcher tagged me for the Six Random Facts meme. You can read more about memes right here. This one is like a party game to get to know fellow bloggers.

Here are the rules to the Six Random Facts Meme:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.
2) Post the rules on your blog.
3) Write six random things about yourself.
4) Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5) Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

A while ago my sister Patty sent me my old Girl Scout Badge Sash. I referred to the merit badges earned in my youth to pick out six random facts about myself.

1. Hey Look! I earned a merit badge for Witchcraft! Actually, I think this one was for outdoor cooking. Those outdoor cooking skills came in handy at the Earth First! base-camp by Dixie, Idaho where I was known to rustle up some grub.

2. I’m not sure what this one was for but it seems to be about the changing seasons. For 20 years I practiced rituals based on the changing seasons with a group of women called Earth Rising.

3. Here’s my happy camper badge. Before my outdoor cooking adventures in Idaho, I left my home on Lopez Island thinking that I was going on a camping road trip for a few weeks. It turned out to be a few years. I called it the camping trip of no return.

4. Ah, the sewing badge. I don’t sew much anymore but at the height of my Luddite back-to-the-land days I sewed my clothes by hand with needle and thread. Those were the best clothes I’ve ever had.

5. The sculpture badge: when I went back to school to complete my bachelor's degree in Fine Art I had to take a sculpture class as a requirement. After I carved my first piece of stone I was hooked. I ended up getting an MFA in sculpture and painting.

6. Finally, the book badge. Two unwritten novels live in my head, Confessions of a Barbarian Priestess, an action adventure revision of Euripides, Medea told in Medea's own voice and Land of the Free, a sweeping saga and historical romance set on San Juan Island during the Pig War era.

Blogs I've Tagged:

Sue at: Gleanings Radio Show
Steve at: My Dog Ate Art
Susan at: Susan Wingate, Writer
Anita at: Thornbush Report
Annie at: Daily Paintings
Mike at: A Bagpipe Journal

Feng Shui for Prosperity: The Lakshmi Report

2008-12-14T18:20:00.000-08:00

Day five of my Prosperity Grounding & Mantra practice and I'm not rich yet. However, the wolves are staying on the other side of the door and maybe for now that is good enough.

Luxury is more than just money. Today I had the luxury of a snow day at home. The same woman who advised grounding and the Lakshmi Mantra for financial well-being also recommended I try Feng Shui for prosperity.

If you stand in your doorway looking into your home the far left corner is your prosperity corner. Things you want there to attract wealth: flowing water, the colors green, red & purple, gems, coins, goldfish, lucky money cats, horses, healthy plants, symbols of prosperity. What you do not want: dirt, grime, broken things, symbols of poverty, kitty litter or clutter.

Yes, she said clutter. My prosperity corner is in my guest-room/art-storage room. Talk about clutter. Today I cleaned this room and set it up as my yoga room, something I've been meaning to do for a long time. I still have a few piles to go through but I'm thinking I should be in pretty good graces with Lakshmi who, according to wikipedia, "Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped by those who wish to acquire or to preserve wealth. It is believed that Lakshmi (wealth) goes only to those houses which are clean and where the people are hardworking. She does not visit the places which are unclean/dirty or where the people are lazy".

In the very corner of my prosperity room I made a prosperity altar. Beach glass and glass floats to symbolise moving water, (flowing energy), Ganesh, the Hindu elephant god to remove obstacles, My footed replica of an ancient Egyptian offering bowl with agates, turquoise, crystals, jade and coins, and my "Keep the Money Coming" post card.

Lucky Jade

Christmas Wars: News From the Front

2008-12-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

Billy-Bob Thorton as Bad Santa

“You’d better watch out, get ready to cry,
You’d better go hide, I’m telling you why
‘cuz Santa Claus will take you to hell.
He is your favorite idol, you worship at his feet,
but when you stand before your God
He won’t help you take the heat.
So get this fact straight: you’re feeling God’s hate,
Santa’s to blame for the economy’s fate,
Santa Claus will take you to hell."

Feeling God's Hate? That's Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church's Santa song which also includes the line "Santa's to blame for the dead soldier's fate." The Kansas group has applied for permission to put up their "Santa Claus Will Take You to Hell" sign, where else, but the Washington State capitol rotunda in Olympia. The group, also known for protesting at the funerals of Iraq war soldiers because they believe the war and the deaths are God's punishment for the U.S. condoning homosexuality, held a protest in Olympia on Sunday against the infamous atheist sign currently on display at the capitol along with a Nativity scene and a Holiday Tree.

Kansas Baptists Protesting Atheist Sign at Washington State Capitol
photo JOHN FROSCHAUER / AP

Meanwhile, the Department of General Administration, which oversees the Capitol grounds, declared a moratorium Friday on any pending and future requests to put up displays in the Capitol building. According to Janet Tu of the Seattle Times, "The moratorium applies to Westboro's application, along with pending requests for a Buddhist display, a Jewish banner, a mannequin of Satan holding a statement against atheists and wishing them a merry Christmas, an aluminum pole in celebration of the invented holiday of Festivus, and a "Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Display."

A menorah is still scheduled to go up Dec. 21, since that application had already been approved.

Car Magnet for the Church of the Flying Spagetti Monster

Money and Prayer: The Lakshmi Report

2008-12-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

The Lakshmi Report - Day 2

I got an email this morning…

Greetings from Amazon.com,
We're writing to let you know that we are having difficulty processing
Visa (exp.xxxx/xx) payment for the above transaction.

A few Christmas presents I was actually going to buy I have now canceled. Having been raised a Christian I wondered momentarily if I was being punished for not shopping locally. Instant Karma? Well no, I’m sure there is a perfectly logical and mathematical reason why my debit card was rejected.

I am so fucked.

Can prayer help?

I remember reading once in the book, Adventures in Prayer, by Christian writer Catherine Marshall that prayer is not some fancy ornate thing. "Prayer" she said, “is a delivery truck”.

Oh Lord, please put the pedal to the metal.

later that morning...

My great fear this morning was a horror of the dreaded cascading bouncing check syndrome. With fear worming around in the pit of my stomach I forced myself to do the grounding meditation and the Lakshmi mantra all 108 times before I went to the bank to check on my account. My prayers were answered! I was not over-drawn! Plus I was able to pick up 50 more of my Christmas cards from the printer on credit until Tuesday. And I still had $17.00 in cash! I went to the market and bought a bunch of bananas and some blueberry jam feeling quite redeemed and prosperous. But I still can not tell...

Is this working or not?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

2008-12-10T16:11:00.000-08:00

Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Price of Silence

The track, donated by Aterciopelados and arranged by fusion music guru Andres Levin, combines the voices of Hugh Masekela, Julieta Venegas, Stephen Marley, Angelique Kidjo, Yungchen Lhamo, Aterciopelados, Yerba Buena, Natacha Atlas, Rachid Taha, Kiran Ahluwalia, Chiwoniso and Emmanual Jal with those of U.S. artists Natalie Merchant, and Chali 2Na of Jurassic 5. Introduction by Lawrence Fishburne.

Happy Birthday Emily Dickenson

2008-12-10T14:47:00.000-08:00

Emily Dickenson ~ Oil on Canvas
link to artist: Marjolein Vandersluis

I DIED for beauty, but was scarce

Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
“For beauty,” I replied.
“And I for truth,—the two are one;
We brethren are,” he said.

And so, as kinsmen met a night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.

Emily Dickenson

Youtube Prosperity Practice

2008-12-09T22:14:00.000-08:00

Prosperity Practice: Update

I found everything I need for this practice right here on youtube.

First, Ground with Starhawk then say the Lakshmi Mantra while watching the images of the goddess of wealth and beauty at full screen on youtube. You have to play the Lakshmi youtube 4 times to get a whole 108 (the magic number) repetitions in. It goes faster without the youtubes but I enjoy the voices, music and images.

Grounding Meditation

Starhawk

Lakshmi Hindu Goddess of Earthly Wealth

Aum Hrim Shri Lakshmi Bhyo Namah

Charm for Attracting Wild Money

2008-12-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

Poet Marge Piercy

Charm for Attracting Wild Money

You are the green of Elm leaves in summer.
New you are crisp as filo dough.
Old you are soft as well worn leather.
I will rub my hands with honey
and run through marble lobbies of banks.
I will dance for you strung like a jester with bells tinkling.

Come to me, come to me, come!
I will not keep you in a dark trust fund.
I will not chain you to labor at a mortgage
or harness you to clanking stock issues
but will let you wander free
as an alley cat through the city.

I will turn you out of your cage
to sing arias in the tree tops.
I am not mean but foolishly kind.
You would speedily rejoin others of your species.

Come, oh murmuring swarm,
build your wasp nest in my empty purse.

Marge Piercy

legitimate work worthy of compensation?

2008-12-09T15:51:00.000-08:00

I've been wondering lately how I'm going to manage through January & February while I'm laid off from the Whale Museum. I will have no income and as I have been living paycheck to paycheck that means (barring miracles which I am actively encouraging) no money. I really do not want to scrounge around for servant work. I already hate the rich. If I have to pick up their used dental floss from their hairy bathroom floors just to maintain my current level of poverty I fear my resentment will impair me as a human being with a soul.

I decided to surf the internet for artist's grants with full knowledge that even if I found one it is too late to help me through this winter. I didn't find much except I did find some data to support my theory that artists get no respect in terms of work. This from a survey taken by United States Artists.

Lee Krasner ~ Self-Portrait ~ Oil on Canvas

"In a survey of attitudes toward artists in the US a vast majority of Americans, 96%, said they were greatly inspired by various kinds of art and highly value art in their lives and communities. But the data suggests a strange paradox.

While Americans value art, the end product, they do not value what artists do. Only 27% of respondents believe that artists contribute "a lot" to the good of society.

Further interview data from the study reflects a strong sentiment in the cultural community that society does not value art making as legitimate work worthy of compensation. Many perceive the making of art as a frivolous or recreational pursuit."

Decking the Halls

2008-12-06T00:42:00.000-08:00

Capitol Holiday Kids Tree

Here in Washington State everybody likes to participate in decorating this time of year. At the capitol in Olympia tonight they celebrated lighting the Holiday Kids Tree. The tree, sponsored by the Association of Washington Business, is related to a charity drive for needy families and has been a tradition for 18 years. A few years ago a Jewish group added a Hanukkah menorah to the decorations. Following that, a local real estate agent sued when his request to display a Nativity scene was denied. He won his case and the cedar creche with Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus was installed. (Hey, where are the shepherds and the wise men and the donkey?) This year the Freedom From Religion Foundation contributed a sign to the holiday decor. The sign reads:

At this season of
THE WINTER SOLSTICE
may reason prevail.
There are no gods,
no devils, no angels,
no heaven or hell.
There is only
our natural world.
Religion is but
myth and superstition
that hardens hearts
and enslaves minds.

The sign caused considerable comment including from Bill O'Reilly of Fox News who said that "Washington State is ground zero for just about every nutty secular cause on earth." Yeah! I have never been so proud to be a Washingtonian! O'Reilly posted Governor Gregoire's phone number on TV and encouraged people to call her and complain and many have but our governor has defended the atheists' right to display their sign in the Capitol. Then, this morning the sign was stolen only to turn up later at a country radio station in Seattle. The atheists sign is back now, secured and has a slight addition, "Thou shalt not steal."

All the hub bub has generated a new slew of applicants wanting to put their own holiday symbol in the capitol rotunda. Among other applicants, carpenter Jim Buenzli has applied for permission to add a Festivus pole which he plans to install next week.

My only complaint about the atheists sign is that it is not very festive. Yet, I confess I'm not sure how a person would express atheism in a visual metaphor bright and festive enough to cheer us Washingtonians through our dark winter days.

George Washington Bust Flanked by Atheist Sign and Nativity Scene

Google Is Messing With Me!

2008-12-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

Wow, I'm not even sure how I managed to get into my blog just now. I've been relying on the premise that if you put a hundred monkeys in a room full of typewriters something will eventually get written. Somehow I managed to monkey around with my keyboard enough to blunder onto my blog... in spite of Google!

Google has taken over Blogger. But Google does not recognize my username and defaults to a username from a place where I no longer work that I briefly set up a gmail account for. They will send significant information to an email address I no longer have but not to the email I use. Not helpful. When I try to sign in or reset my account I can't because although Google will not recognize my username when I am trying to sign in, when I try to reset my username it tells me, somebody is already using that username. Yes, well, that would be me! That is, if I could sign in..... AAARRRGGGGGG.

I've spent way too much time monkeying around with this. I will now be taking a little break from blogging until Google gets the bugs worked out of taking over Blogger.

Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Ball Gown?

2008-12-03T11:53:00.000-08:00

Isaac Mizrahi sketch for Michelle, Sasha and Malia Obama.

What will Michelle wear to the Inaugural Ball? For a fun look through fashion sketches as designers vie for the honor and prestige of designing the gown go to Women's Wear Daily for a slide show of fashion drawings.

Check Out all 35 fashion sketches at: WWD

Chado Ralph Rucci sketch for Michelle Obama.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T22:23:00.002-08:00

Hand Print Turkey

In gratitude for our bountiful harvest and in contemplation of the food we are about to enjoy I offer this poem by Judith Morely from the book Earth Prayers.

By what miracle
does this cracker
made from Kansas wheat,
this cheese ripened in French caves,
this fig, grown and dried near Ephesus,
turn into Me?
My eyes,
My hands,
My cells, organs, juices, thought?

Am I not then Kansas wheat
and French cheese
and Smyrna figs?
Figs, no doubt,
the ancient Prophets ate?

Judith Morley

Orca Holiday Cards For Sale!

2008-11-26T12:37:00.000-08:00

Orca Mandala ~ Reproduction from Original Watercolor
by Peggy Sue McRae

This holiday card was designed by me to sell at The Whale Museum (hence the requisite charismatic megafauna). I placed the Orca inside of the Tao symbol of yin and yang thinking about their winter journey out into the ocean. The full title, Orca Mandala: Safe Journey Safe Return, wishes the whales well through their winter journey and looks forward to their safe return.

These cards will be available at The Whale Museum starting next week or you can purchase them directly from me. From me they are a $1.50 a card (with a $3.00 shipping charge if you'd like me to mail them to you). They $2.00 at the Whale Museum but when purchased at the Whale Museum they will help support Whale Museum programs. When purchased directly from me they will help me survive January and February when the Museum (my place of employment) is closed.

contact me through email: pmcrae@rockisland.com

Rock n' Roll 4 Ever!

2008-11-23T22:13:00.000-08:00

John Lennon ~ Beatles White Album Photo

John Lennon must have been rolling, maybe even rock n’ rolling in his grave this week. It seems the Vatican has just now found it in their smug, patronizing, holier-than-thou hearts to forgive him for saying in 1966 that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

What Lennon said was, “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I do not know what will go first, rock n’ roll or Christianity… We’re more popular than Jesus now. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.” This was said to a British journalist and friend. Months later the quote was picked up in the American Bible belt causing bonfires of Beatlemania. This on top of the frantic pace and screaming hysterical mobs led to the end of the Beatles live tours. Later Lennon wrote, “I always remember to thank Jesus for the end of my touring days."

Imagine ~ John Lennon with Yoko Ono

The Vatican condemned Lennon at the time but now say that Lennon’s comments were “showing off, bragging by a young English working class musician who had grown up in the age of Elvis Presley and rock and roll and had enjoyed unexpected success.” They dismiss Lennon’s comments as a youthful joke. But to anyone who has listened to the Imagine album as many times I have it’s no joke. As the title song says, “Imagine no heaven. It’s easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us only sky.”

So roll over Beethoven. Don’t underestimate the power of rock n’ roll. Lately I’ve been surfing the net to follow the exiled Tibetan Diaspora’s big gathering in India. The Dalai Lama’s “middle way” approach is not working because the Chinese see no reason to concede anything. What gives me the most hope was finding an emerging Tibetan rock scene including, among others, Punkanana (Punk Girls) an all girl punk rock band inside of Chinese occupied Tibet. Rock n' Roll can be a potent non-violent cultural force. John Lennon wasn’t on Nixon’s enemies list for nothing.

Punkanana (Tibetan for Punk Girls) in Occupied Tibet

Star Spangled Banner

2008-11-20T00:12:00.000-08:00

Jake Shimabukuro at Wrigley Field

The Star Spangled Banner

Here's a song for Barack Obama and all who worked to get him elected. It is performed by Jake Shimabukuro, from Obama's home state of Hawaii. Shimabukuro is playing his Ukulele at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

On election night young Judy Moon Finn from Friday Harbor was dancing in the streets of Seattle with fellow students from the University of Washington. She told her Mom, my friend Therese, that as they moved out into the streets people came out of their houses, some people in pajamas, free drinks were liberally served and a whole crowd of people linked arms singing the Star Spangled Banner. Wow. It sounds a little bit different to me now.

Inspired by The Whale Museum

2008-11-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

Upper Window in The Whale Museum

(photoshop filtered photo)

When I’m in the process painting requires the same kind of concentrated focus that meditation does. When it is going well the passage of time disappears. The problem is that when I come out of my painting bliss state I realize, Oh shit! It’s past midnight and I never got around to that vicious to-do list that is still drumming its fingers impatiently and snorting.

The paintings I’m working on now are to enter in a juried art show celebrating Friday Harbor’s Centennial next year. They follow the criteria: Subject of the artwork must be within the historic district town limits of Friday Harbor.

Having lived and worked within the historic district of Friday Harbor most of my adult life my inspiration sprang unbidden from my working life. The paintings I’m working on are inspired by the Whale Museum, where I work.

The Whale Museum is in one of Friday Harbor’s historic treasures. The building was originally the Island’s Oddfellows Hall where my Dad was a member. What did they do here to attract all these whale bones? Without becoming a surrealist I’m looking for some of the Oddfellows mystique to come through in the work.

The Artist's Dilema

2008-11-18T10:31:00.000-08:00

The Artist's Reality ~ Mark Rothko

We tend to think of Van Gogh as the quintessential artist who was a total failure in his lifetime only to be vindicated by history. Mark Rothko is another. His name and work is all over the place now but in his lifetime, though he did have some success, he was almost as wretched as Van Gogh. I am reading his book The Artist's Reality, compiled by his son from collected notes. Here is a quote from the book under the heading, The Artist's Dilema...

"What is the popular conception of the artist? Gather a thousand descriptions: the resulting composite is the portrait of a moron."

White Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose)
Mark Rothko, 1950

Mark Rothko committed suicide in 1966. In May 2007 his painting White Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose) sold for $72.8 million dollars at Sotheby's New York.

Painting: Is It Fun Yet?

2008-11-17T10:44:00.001-08:00

Crow ~ Oil on Board ~ detail

I was down to the wire working on my thesis show in grad school when I went into the campus bookstore to buy a tube of paint. The cheerful clerk at the cash register ask me if I was painting. I said I was and she exclaimed "Oh, how fun!" This shocked me and I think I mumbled something like, "Uh, its way beyond fun at this this point".

I am an artist. I have my MFA degree framed and hanging on my wall just in case I forget. And I do forget because sometimes I feel like I am a clerk, a house cleaner, a dog sitter, a dishwasher or one of the many other things I have had do to pay the bills. Is being an artist fun? If I were not an artist on my days off from my day jobs I'd actually have real days off. As an artist, what would otherwise be days off are windows of opportunity to pursue my "true calling". Sometimes these opportunities are wasted doing the things most people do on their days off like getting the dishes done or doing the laundry or having a social life. If I do these things I don't get much painting done. And of course, I spend a crazy amount of time blogging and reading blogs.

If I'm blogging less right now it is because I'm painting more. If I could just give up the notion that I am an artist I might actually enjoy my days off. But somehow, I just can't totally give it up. Painting is often not valued as real work because it is suppose to be fun. Whose crazy idea that was I don't know. It can be very gratifying when it is going well. It can be hell when it isn't.

Paints

Life Imitates Art

2008-11-14T14:47:00.000-08:00

“Art is not a mirror held up to reality,
but a hammer with which to shape it.”
Bertolt Brecht

Obama ~ Alex Grey

alexgrey.com

After eight years of vigorous opposition to the Bush administration and two years of increasingly obsessive support for Barack Obama suddenly Obama won and the pressure is released. My initial euphoria has given way to strange malaise and I have been adjusting to the new reality gently by finally catching up with the last two seasons of The West Wing.

When I began watching The West Wing it served as a soothing parallel universe, a happy fantasy with smart democrats in the White House. Now, finally, watching the last two episodes it seems more like a voodoo spell to really put smart democrats in the White House. Alan Alda who plays an elderly republican running for president against Jimmy Smits who plays the young Latino democrat were, according to a writer for the show, actually modeled on John McCain and Barack Obama. This was of course before anyone knew they would be our candidates. I heard Alda and Smits interviewed on NPR recently and Smits said it was "a little spooky" sometimes how reality ended up mirroring the show.

Alan Alda, Bradley Whitford and Jimmy Smits
on NBC's "The West Wing

Art and the Obama Campaign

2008-11-07T11:41:00.001-08:00

Yes We Did ~ Shepard Fairey

MoveOn.org is offering the above image as a free sticker, "These commemorative stickers mark Barack Obama's historic victory and were designed by groundbreaking artist Shepard Fairey—the same artist who designed the world-famous, iconic "Hope" poster for Obama. We're also offering 5,000 numbered, limited edition full-sized prints of this work. They will be available on Saturday at 12:30 p.m."

Link to: Free Yes We Did Sticker

Los Angeles street artist Shepard Fairey developed his iconic style as a contemporary urban artist yet what strikes me most about his work is its legacy in the silkscreen posters produced by WPA artists during Roosevelt's New Deal. If the medium is the message the strong images created by layers of bold color together with the nostalgia of the WPA artist programs generate a potent and progressive visual message.

Victory by Shepard Fairey ~ Victory Concerts WPA Poster

Link to: Posters from the WPA, Collection Highlights, The Library of Congress

Fashion and the First Lady Elect

2008-11-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

OK, sure, there is the economy, the wars and a planet in peril but let's get down to the real important stuff. What is Michelle Obama wearing? Her election night dress has received mixed reviews:

Favorable: Virginia Smith of Vogue magazine, said, "I think she looked great. ... It shows she has confidence and knows what she likes."

Michelle Malia and Sasha Obama Election Eve

Not So Favorable: "It was brave and bold of her, but I didn't like the dress. She looks like a human lava lamp," said stylist and fashion personality Robert Verdi.

The dress on the runway ~ The dress on Michelle

by designer Narciso Rodriguez

Perplexed: "Never one to play it safe fashionably, Michelle Obama can go from fabulous to well ... that's the risk you take as a fashion risk taker". The Black Snob

google said...

For what its worth, I think she looked hot.

November 7, 2008 9:26 AM

Peggy Sue said...

Me too! In fact I think she would look great in a flour sack but I liked the dress. There are many reasons why I welcome our new first family. Watching the style of this gorgeous woman is the icing on the cake.

November 7, 2008 9:46 AM

The Celebration!

2008-11-05T09:02:00.000-08:00

As news broke last night that Obama won the presidency people cheered and danced in the streets. Crowds cheered with exuberance in Chicago, New York and Seattle to name only a few American cities. All over the world people celebrated the end of the Bush era and the beginning of a new and hopeful day. Said Washington State’s Senator Patty Murray, “Party tonight because tomorrow the work begins”. I think we are ready to take our country back. Let the healing begin.

Barack and Michelle Obama Last Night

Cheering Crowds in Seattle

In Kogelo, Kenya Obama's step-grandmother Sarah Obama

YES WE CAN!

2008-11-04T22:27:00.000-08:00

Obama Wins!!!
Our beautiful new first family

The Crowd in Chicago

From Sea to Shining Sea

2008-11-04T16:15:00.000-08:00

AMERICA VOTES

In California

In Pennsylvania

In Florida

Election Day!

2008-11-04T12:41:00.000-08:00

ELECTION DAY

The Economist's
Global Electoral College: What if the whole world could vote.
See what the rest of the world thinks.
And be sure to VOTE!

Barack & Michelle Obama cast their votes in Chicago

Drums and Dogs For Obama

2008-11-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

Singing Bowl

It's been a long campaign not to mention a long eight years. Buddhists for Obama and friends met at South Beach to generate some positive energy for Obama, the nation and the world.

Kate and Gretchen Om for Obama

After a short silent meditation Kate started us chanting with an OM chant. Wendy recited a Tibetan Buddhist prayer and mantra. We drummed and chimed and rattled and rang and the singing bowl sang.

Dogs & Drums for Obama

All Saints Day OM for Obama ~ Nov 1st

2008-10-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2008-10-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

Happy All Hallow's EveTibetan Dharma Protectors ~ Andy Weber
Andy Weber Studios

Yes We Carve!

2008-10-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

Yes We Carve!

Link to: Yes We Carve

Find stencils, post or find a Barack-O-Lantern carving event, submit your photo and enter to win a 4th generation 8GB ipod nano.

Seattle Fish Throwers For Obama

2008-10-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

Seattle Fish Throwers For Obama

VOTE HERE!

2008-10-27T20:13:00.000-07:00

The Ballot Box at the Court House
Vote Early ~ Vote Here

Link to: Washington State 2008 Election
contact your local election office
view an online version of the voters pamphlet
view voter information in different languages
check you voter registration status
view videos of the candidates

Link to: San Juan County Elections
San Juan County
55 2nd Street, Suite A / PO Box 638
Friday Harbor, WA 98250-0638
Phone: 360-378-3357
Fax: 360-378-8856
Email: elections@co.san-juan.wa.us

VOTE EARLY! - Obama in Denver

2008-10-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

OBAMA IN DENVER

Barack Obama Rally in Denver Sunday - Photo: Getty

With nine days left until E-Day Barack Obama spoke to a crowd that according to the Associated Press, Denver Police estimated as well over 100,000 people. He advised the crowd to vote early. They can vote early in Colorado and we can vote early here in Washington State too with our mail in ballots. On San Juan Island you can put your ballot directly into the ballot box on the Vic's side of the courthouse. You will save a stamp and your ballot will be less likely to encounter hanky-panky.

Barack Obama in Denver

Will the Real Socialists Please Stand Up?

2008-10-23T14:53:00.000-07:00

Socialists For President

Gloria La Rive Addressing Peace Activists

As Obama keeps moving ahead in the polls the McCain campaign is reaching deep into their smear bag looking for something gooey and sticky to throw at him. Terrorist didn't stick so they might as well try calling him a socialist. But Barack Obama is a Democrat.

However, if you had your heart set on voting for a socialist president you do have a choice. James E. Harris is running for president on the Socialist Worker ticket and Gloria La Rive is running for president on the Socialism and Liberation ticket.

James E. Harris talking to Mariott Workers

Link to: National Conference on Socialism
Link to: Socialism and Liberation Party
Link to: International Socialist Review
Link to: The Militant

All About ACORN

2008-10-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

They did it in Florida in 2000. They did it in Ohio in 2004. We all know that Republicans cheat and they are doing it again. Obama needs to win by a landslide to get around the cheaters. ACORN, a community organization that registers voters is being vilified by the McCain campaign as committing voter fraud. But we've seen voter fraud on a grand scale the last two presidential elections. We know who the real cheaters are.

The truth about ACORN

John McCain does Yoga?

2008-10-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

Reuters Photo by Jim Bourg

Commenter Buck Mountain did not want us to miss this photo of the candidates. Apparently after shaking hands with Barack Obama, John McCain almost headed the wrong way off the stage and reacted with a big whoops. But wait, maybe Senator McCain was doing yoga. The yoga pose Simhasana or Lion pose, literally meaning "powerful one" involves extending the tongue as demonstrated below by Swami Satchidananda. One more gesture in McCain's voluminous repertoire of body language.

Swami Satchidananda from Integral Yoga Hatha

Obama Takes the Lead

2008-10-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

Obama with Daughter Sasha

Senator Obama keeps moving ahead in polls as the last debate wraps up. In last night’s debate McCain referred to “Joe the Plumber” from Ohio 26 times and sneered while making quotation marks with his fingers around “women’s health”. According to one viewer McCain grimaced rolled his eyes and blinked over 3,000 times. McCain looked like a grumpy and mean old man while Obama stayed cool, kept coming back to the issues and flashed his winning smile.

First Americans Appreciation Day

2008-10-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

Susan Point ~ Salish Artist

Let's not even go into what a lying disease ridden murdering thief Christopher Columbus was and just leap right to the transformation of this bank and post office holiday by renaming it First Americans Appreciation Day.

On this day I would like to honor Salish Artist Susan Point and her work. Susan created the "Portals of Welcome", the carved set of Coast Salish house posts that welcome visitors to the Port of Friday Harbor. Her work maintains the integrity of her cultural traditions while exploring contemporary application of her broad base of technical skill.

Link to: Susan Point Website
Link to: Arctic Raven Gallery

Symphony of Butterflies ~ Serigraph ~ Susan Point

Artists for Obama

2008-10-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

Wild Animal Circus ~ Walker Evans 1936 WPA photo

Always an optimist (except when I'm being cynical) when asked if I was worried about the possible coming depression I said no, I hope to be employed like Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Alice Neel, Dorthea Lange and Walker Evans were during the great depression of the 1930s making Art for America. During the New Deal painters were paid $26.86 a week, by the government, a salary equal to a Woolworth’s salesclerk at the time, to paint. Photographers were hired to document America. These programs gave America its best art of the time. Mid-century Art of the 20th century would have been a bleak story without this support. It is doubtful the Abstract Expressionist Movement in New York could have existed without it. But my dream can only come true if Barack Obama is elected. Obama’s consistent interest in and support of the arts and art education, especially compared to McCain’s record, (McCain voted to terminate the National Endowment for the Arts) gives me all the more reason, as an artist, to support Barack Obama. Only Obama understands that Art is not an expendable option for a culture but ever since human beings painted patterns on cave walls Art has been the glue that holds human culture together.

The Truth About The Bailout

2008-10-09T13:39:00.000-07:00

Wanda Sykes On the Bailout with Jay Leno

Bardot takes on Palin

2008-10-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

Brigitte Bardot

Former French film star and life long environmentalist Brigitte Bardot has written an open letter to Governor Sarah Palin calling Palin "a disgrace to women". Says Bardot, "I hope you lose these elections because that would be a victory for the world". Bardot criticized Palin for supporting Arctic oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge threatening sensitive species and for dismissing protection of Polar Bears. "This shows your total lack of responsibility, your inability to protect or simply respect animal life."

"By denying the responsibility of man in global warming, by advocating gun rights and making statements that are disconcertingly stupid, you are a disgrace to women and you alone represent a terrible threat, a true environmental catastrophe," wrote Bardot. In reference to Palin's quip about the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull being lipstick, Bardot implored Palin not to compare herself to a dog. "I know them well and I can assure you that no pitbull, no dog, nor any other animal for that matter is as dangerous as you are," said Bardot

Foundation Brigitte Bardot: For the Welfare and Protection of Animal

The Boss For Obama

2008-10-05T20:30:00.000-07:00

Bruce Springsteen ~ The Rising

Bruce Springsteen yesterday at the Vote For Change rally in Philadelphia in support of Barack Obama.

Obama Suspends Campaign!

2008-10-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

Ready For His Date

Today is Barack & Michelle Obama's 16th wedding anniversary. Back in Chicago for a quiet romantic dinner in an Italian restaurant Barack Obama purchases flowers and suspends campaigning to keep a date night with Michelle.

Barack & Michelle 16 Years Ago

Sarah Palin, The "Evita" Effect?

2008-10-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

Is Sarah Palin the New Evita Peron?
"Ambitious, Beautiful, Ruthless,
She Began in Obscurity and Rose to the Heights."
The New York Times, July 27, 1952
Saga Of Eva Peron: 12 Years To Power, Obituary

According to Naomi Wolf in an article posted on Huffington Post, The Battle Plan II: Sarah "Evita" Palin, the Muse of the Coming Police State, Sarah Palin is the new Evita Peron. Says Wolf, "Please understand what you are looking at when you look at Sarah "Evita" Palin. You are looking at the designated muse of the coming American police state."

Naomi Wolf continues to describe similarities between societies as they close down suggesting Governor Palin, not John McCain, as the heir to Rove/Cheney tactics. Says Wolf, "I believe the Rove-Cheney cabal is using Sarah Palin as a stalking horse, an Evita figure, to put a popular, populist face on the coming police state and be the talk show hostess for the end of elections as we know them." Wolf goes on to describe the heavy-handed police tactics including "pre-arrests" of members of the alternative press during the republican convention and the use of "agent provocateurs" in legitimizing a crackdown on protests.

Wolf describes ways in which modern technology gives more power to the police state than even the worst examples from history. "Make no mistake: Sarah "Evita" Palin is Rove and Cheney's cosmetic rebranding of their fascist push: she will help to establish a true and irreversible "fear society" in this once free once proud nation. For God's sake, do not let her; do not let them."

Naomi Wolf's Article: The Battle Plan II: Sarah "Evita" Palin, the Muse of the Coming Police State

Don't Cry For Me Argentina ~ Madonna

Obama's Secret Weapon

2008-09-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

As soon as the first debate between Obama and McCain ended and the wives came onstage everyone where I was watching the debate stood up and started talking. Damn, I missed the best part. I missed John McCain’s discomfort as he shook Obama’s hand not even wanting to look him in the face (which I heard about later on the radio). Plus, I missed catching a view of our potential first ladies.

While we Obama fans felt happy and confident that he had won, an excellent thing since the foreign policy debate was a "have to win" for McCain. At best all they can possibly claim is a tie. On the Huffington Post relationship experts Kathlyn and Gay Hendricks write, The Obama Relationship: A Major Benefit Nobody’s Talking About, and suggest that Obama has an asset that we’ve been neglecting.

“For example, Michelle and Barack do something we've never seen before in a presidential couple: they actually look directly at each other when they're speaking to each other. They also laugh at each other's humor, and they allow their sexual attraction for each other to be visible. Contrast that with other presidential marriages, in which the sexual attraction to each other was not visible but their sexual attraction to others became highly visible. Michelle and Barack talk openly about their feelings for each other. They're real.”

Kathlyn and Gay Hendricks

More great photos: The Black Snob

Hasta Siempre ~ Che Guevara

2008-09-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

Recent events involving the economy remind me that Che Guevara once said he envied the revolutionary youth of America because we lived in the belly of the beast.

Why is it that we have trillions of dollars for Wall Street and we have trillions of dollars for war but we have nothing for health care, education or housing?

Here is beautiful Nathalie Cardone singing the Cuban song honoring Che Guevara, Hasta Siempre, Until Always.

Nathalie Cardone - Hasta Siempre

Polar Bears For Obama

2008-09-22T23:11:00.000-07:00

Keep those polar bears on

the endangered species list or I'll shoot!

Here I am in the great north. I nearly forgot I was a gun totin' Alaskan woman myself at one time. I spent the summer of 1980 in Alaska working in the Salmon Industry. Not to worry, its not a real gun. The picture was taken in the Anchorage Woolworth's on my first day in Alaska. Honest, I did not kill the wolf whose skin is hanging on the side of that cabin.

Polar Bears For Obama Buttons Now Available from Cafe Press

A Poem For the First Day of Autumn

2008-09-22T22:46:00.000-07:00

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

AUTUMN.

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.

A Musical Observation of Autumn Equinox

2008-09-22T21:36:00.000-07:00

Eva Cassidy's Autumn Leaves, is melancholy but lovely. It does not exactly reflect the feeling of welcome relief I feel when the hot weather and tourists dissipate and crisp days of fresh fruit and bright leaves arrive. Yet I welcome her poignant song of remembering love and loss as another year swirls past me like leaf on the air.

Eve Cassidy ~ Autumn Leaves

Live at Blues Alley

The Obama CD

2008-09-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

The Obama Campaign has Just Released a CD

It is available to purchase or download
from the Obama website store.

"artists supporting Barack Obama teamed up to create a new CD that taps into the campaign’s universal themes of hope, unity and change. The disc, titled Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement, includes a collection of artists from across genres, including such renowned performers as Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Adam Levine from Maroon 5 and John Legend. Through their musical contributions, the artists seek to mobilize voters in the final stretch before the November election. Many of the artists involved will also be volunteering their time to promote voter registration."

1. Eternity - Lionel Richie
2. Signed Sealed Delivered - Stevie Wonder
3. Waiting On The World To Change - John Mayer
4. American Prayer - Dave Stewart
5. Battle Cry - Shontelle
6. Make It Better - Los Lonely Boys
7. Pride In The Name Of Love - John Legend
8. I Have A Dream - BeBe Winans
9. Am I All Alone - Suai
10. One Is The Magic # - Jill Scott
11. Love & Hope - Ozomatli
12. Looking East - Jackson Browne
13. Out of Our heads - Sheryl Crow
14. Promised Land - Malik Yusef with Kanye West and Adam Levine of Maroon 5
15. Hold On - Yolanda Adams
16. America The Beautiful - Keb' Mo'
17. America - Ken Stacey
18. Wide River - Buddy Miller

Keb' Mo America The Beautiful

Keb' Mo appearing in the last episode of West Wing

Barack Obama is Already President!

2008-09-18T23:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a positive approach from Dr. Susan Corso as found of Huffington Post. I've never been very good at doing anything at a regular time every day but I think she has a point. OK everybody take a deep breath and resist giving in to fear.

Barack Obama is Already President!

This election is not about the woman who could be president, it's about the man who will be president. It's time to put down the fear.

At various times of crisis in the history of this country, people have gathered in spiritual agreement to help make a particular desire become a reality. Here's my vision:

It's January 21, 2009. High noon. The capitol of our nation is breathtakingly cold, but pristine clear. Blue skies. Not a cloud in sight. Those gathered are humming with joyful energy.

The 44th President of the United States of America is about to be sworn in. The stunning Michelle Obama stands proudly holding the Bible. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, stands to administer the Oath of Office. Right hand raised, left hand on the Bible, the 44th President says:

"I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God."

At 9/11, during Hurricane Katrina and the California wildfires, Americans were of one heart and miracles happened.

If you want this particular man to be No. 44, from now on gather nightly between 10 and 11 PM and join with the rest of us who want the same thing to see the change we wish to make real in our world. ~ Dr. Susan Corso

John McCain ~ Johnny Rotten

2008-09-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

John McCain ~ AP photo

But enough about Sarah Palin it is John McCain we need to defeat. Years ago I thought that if we got stuck with John McCain at least he might stop torture. Alas, he has voted along with George Bush on using torture. When I really lost all respect for John McCain was when I heard the speech he made in support of George W. Bush at the Republican Convention in 2004. He licked Bush's shoelaces. It was disgusting.

John McCain

Alaskan Women Against Palin

2008-09-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

Smart Alaskan Woman

I know, I know, I said I was going to stop blogging about Sarah Palin but this is too good. The women of Alaska came out enforce in Anchorage Saturday (in what turned out to be possibly the largest protest in the history of Alaska) to show that Sarah Palin does NOT speak for them.

Alaska Women Reject Palin Rally

And She Calls Herself "Pro-Life"?

2008-09-13T22:18:00.000-07:00

I'm going to have to quit blogging about Sarah Palin before a have an apoplectic fit but before I do here is just one last tid-bit from the Defenders of Wildlife. This shows her real commitment to Life and the living.

Defenders of Wildlife: Brutal

Plus Palin does not believe in global warming and is suing to get Polar Bears off the Endangered Species List.

abc news photo

Women Against Palin

2008-09-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

I just joined Women Against Palin. Some say that Americans like Palin because they identify with her. They feel like she is "one of us". When they say that do they mean she is "like us" because she is white? or because she is a liar? a Jesus freak? against women's rights?

To Join go to: Women Against Palin

September 11 ~ New York New York

2008-09-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

New York, New York ~ Frank Sinatra
with Gene Kelly and Jules Munchin

To commemorate September 11, 2001 here is a song among the 166 songs that radio conglomerate Clear Channel asked its stations NOT to play after September 11, 2001. Click here for other relevant but banned songs arranged as a playlist: September 11 ~ The Rock Opera.

Or Did They Mean This Version?
New York, New York ~ Frank Sinatra

Lipstick on a Pig

2008-09-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

Obama "Lipstick on a Pig"

Following the above remark, the McCain campaign demanded Senator Obama apologise for calling Palin a pig. Obviously, as she herself claims, she is not a pig, she is a pit bull. Obama responded, "Enough," he said, "I don't care what they say about me. But I love this country too much to let them take over another election with lies, phony outrage and swiftboat politics." Senator McCain himself used the phrase "Lipstick on a pig" to describe Hillary Clinton's health care plan.

The Fabulous Miss Piggy

Young Turks Direct From The Death Star

2008-09-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

Cenk Uygur Wraps Up RNC

The Press has been scaring me lately by pretending that everything is normal and OK at the republican convention. The only real commentary seemed to come from Peggy Noonan when she thought the mic was off. She said, regarding the choice of Palin for VP, "The most qualified? No! I think they went for this -- excuse me-- political bullshit about narratives --" and Chuck Todd said, "This is cynical, and as you called it, gimmicky". We can only wish the press would be as frank on the air as the Young Turk's Cenk Uygur.

Heart Attack!

2008-09-05T17:10:00.000-07:00

HEART ~ BARRACUDA

When I heard the Heart song 'Barracuda' played at the Republican Convention after Sarah Palin's speech I could not imagine that Seattle's own Anne & Nancy Wilson had given the McCain/Palin campaign their permission to use the song. Sure enough, I was right. Thursday afternoon the rockin' women of Heart sent an email, "The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission, We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored." But, the Repuplicans played it again after McCain's speech when Sarah "Barracuda" Palin came out just like it was still her theme song.

Here is what Anne & Nancy Wilson have to say, "Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image. The song 'Barracuda' was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The 'barracuda' represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there." A cease and desist notification has been sent to the McCain/Palin campaign. Said Nancy Wilson of Heart, "I feel completely fucked over."

Cops Go Nuts in St Paul

2008-09-03T17:41:00.000-07:00

St. Paul Cops in Cloud of Tear Gas

Protests continue in St Paul the site of the Republican National Convention. Protesters marching toward the convention are being met by tear gas and cops in riot gear. According to CNN about 2,000 people participated in an anti-poverty march today. The police also used pepper spray to control the crowd.

Yesterday houses were surrounded and activists were arrested "pre-emptively". According to Amy Goodman over 10,000 protesters including many Veterans for Peace marched peacefully. A small group of anarchists broke off causing property damage. Journalist Amy Goodman and her producers from Democracy Now! were arrested. Even the Permibus was pulled over and impounded leaving its occupants on the side of the road.

Police Seize Sustainable Living Bus

How Abstinence-only Sex Education Works

2008-09-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston

As far as 17-year old Bristol Palin’s pregnancy goes, I might agree with Senator Obama that children of candidates are off the table for discussion except that both Governor Palin and Senator McCain have opposed funding sex education in schools and both favor teaching abstinence-only as the way for young people to avoid pregnancy. I could not resist pointing out just how well this method works.

Freedom of the Press Under Fire

2008-09-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

Excerpt From Statement by Democracy Now!

Amy Goodman

Democracy Now! stands by Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and condemns this action by Twin Cities law enforcement as a clear violation of the freedom of the press and the First Amendment rights of these journalists.

During the demonstration in which they were arrested law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force. Several dozen others were also arrested during this action.

Amy Goodman is one of the most well-known and well-respected journalists in the United States. She has received journalism’s top honors for her reporting and has a distinguished reputation of bravery and courage. The arrest of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar is a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists from the nation’s leading independent news outlet.

from Democracy Now!

Amy Goodman Arrested!!!

2008-09-01T19:35:00.001-07:00

Journalist Amy Goodman Arrested in St Paul.

If Barack Obama’s Speech in the Denver stadium was reminiscent of the recent Olympic games in Beijing the Republican Convention in St. Paul also reminds us of the Chinese big event with a crackdown on the independent press and brutal intolerance of protest.

Allison Kilkenny reporting on the Huffington Post "Goodman was arrested along with Democracy Now producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. As of 9:15 PM EST, the Ramsey County jail has charged Goodman with "conspiracy to riot" and released her, but is still detaining Kouddous and Salazar. No charges have been pressed against them."

On Salon.com Glenn Greenwald reports, "Beginning last night, St. Paul was the most militarized I have ever seen an American city be, even more so than Manhattan in the week of 9/11 -- with troops of federal, state and local law enforcement agents marching around with riot gear, machine guns, and tear gas cannisters, shouting military chants and marching in military formations. Humvees and law enforcement officers with rifles were posted on various buildings and balconies. Numerous protesters and observers were tear gassed and injured."

"Perhaps most extraordinarily, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now -- the radio and TV broadcaster who has been a working journalist for close to 20 years -- was arrested on the street and charged with "conspiracy to riot."

Hurricanes & Beauty Queens

2008-08-31T23:26:00.000-07:00

After the Democrats rode the mile high love train in Denver and Oprah “cried my eyelashes off” I guess John McCain figured he needed to lively up his show and he has. He chose Sarah Palin, the totally unqualified moose-huntin’, oil-drillin’, bible-thumpin’ runner-up beauty queen Alaskan governor for his VP. Asked on Fox news if she was really the best choice McCain replied, "Oh, yeah. She's a partner and a soulmate."

McCain & Palin (Now That is a Flag Pin)

OnSanJuanIsland.com Reader Nalton cautions, “This woman is a real threat, because the right-wing will identify with her values and her persona. It won't go any deeper than that, and she'll motivate and energize the wingnuts to go en masse to the polls.”

I agree. Heck, she’s prudy and she kin shoot. Some folks don’t need more than that. Barack Obama said, “She has a compelling story.” And so she does, Arianna Huffington warned Democrats, “Picking Sarah Palin was clearly a Hail Mary pass. But the McCain campaign is tapping into an archetype that resonates deep in the human psyche.” Maureen Dowd, called it, “a Cinderella story so preposterous it’s hard to believe it’s not premiering on Lifetime.”

Governor Palin on Vogue Cover

Add to this unfolding drama a class 3 hurricane spinning toward the Gulf Coast. Conveniently it is suppose to hit on Monday somewhere between eastern Texas and western Mississippi just when George Bush and Dick Cheney were scheduled to be at the Republican Convention. McCain now is spared their appearance. McCain may even deliver his acceptance speech Thursday from the devastation zone if the storm hits the U.S. coast with the ferocity feared by forecasters.

Democrats can take nothing for granted.

Hurricane Gustav

McCain Picks Pistol Packin' Mama VP

2008-08-29T23:13:00.000-07:00

McCain Picks Alaska Governor Sarah Palin For VP

“I tell ya, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers
for me: What is it exactly that the V.P. does every day?”
Gov. Sarah Palin

"Palin is like an Evangelical Geraldine Ferraro
with an NRA membership”
The Black Snob

National Organization of Women ~ Kim Gandy

"Sen. John McCain's choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate is a cynical effort to appeal to disappointed Hillary Clinton voters and get them to vote, ultimately, against their own self-interest.

Gov. Palin may be the second woman vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket, but she is not the right woman. Sadly, she is a woman who opposes women's rights, just like John McCain.

Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund

“Senator McCain’s choice for a running mate is beyond belief. By choosing Sarah Palin, McCain has clearly made a decision to continue the Bush legacy of destructive environmental policies.

“Sarah Palin, whose husband works for BP (formerly British Petroleum), has repeatedly put special interests first when it comes to the environment. In her scant two years as governor, she has lobbied aggressively to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, pushed for more drilling off of Alaska’s coasts, and put special interests above science. Ms. Palin has made it clear through her actions that she is unwilling to do even as much as the Bush administration to address the impacts of global warming. Her most recent effort has been to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the polar bear from the endangered species list, putting Big Oil before sound science. As unbelievable as this may sound, this actually puts her to the right of the Bush administration.

“This is Senator McCain’s first significant choice in building his executive team and it’s a bad one. It has to raise serious doubts in the minds of voters about John McCain’s commitment to conservation, to addressing the impacts of global warming and to ensuring our country ends its dependency on oil.”

Garling Gauge

"She’s a pro-life, anti-gay, pro-creationism in schools, lifetime NRA member, and an advocate for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She also owns three homes (totaling 13 for the GOP ticket) and has a large enough family to take on Joe Biden’s numerous family members in case this election descends into a brawl. Her children are named Bristol, Piper, Track, Willow, and Trig (seriously).".....

"And oh, by the way, she's under investigation for abuse of power as governor, so she certainly fits neatly with the Republican mold."

Signed Sealed and Delivered

2008-08-29T11:58:00.001-07:00

OBAMA ACCEPTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY NOMINATION

Barack, Sasha, Malia and Michelle Obama after his acceptance speech at the
Democratic National Convention ~ Photo Ron Edmond/AP

“America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise, that American promise, and in the words of Scripture, hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.”

excerpt from Barack Obama’s acceptance speech

Man Waves Flag Over Crowd at Invesco Field
during Obama Speech ~ Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Image

Preforming at Invesco Field
Signed, Sealed, Delivered ~ Stevie Wonder

Clean Energy Now!

2008-08-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

WE CAN SOLVE IT
MESSAGE
TO OUR LEADERS

The We Campaign is a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort founded by Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. The goal of the Alliance is to build a movement that creates the political will to solve the climate crisis -- in part through repowering America with 100 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources within 10 years. Our economy, national security, and climate can’t afford to wait.

from the Alliance for Climate Protection

The Black Snob

2008-08-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

The Snob Herself

If like me you are enamored by our presumptive first lady’s fabulous sense of style I must refer you to the blog, Black Snob: Politics, Pop Culture and Pretentiousness, not only for all things Michelle (including lots of photos) but for some great insightful and entertaining commentary.

Thanks Snob! You are fabulous!

Just a few photos snagged from Black Snob.

Code Pink Clubbed by Denver Cop

2008-08-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

Code Pink Clubbed to Ground by Denver Cop

Recreating 68?

"Recreate 68" is not a slogan embraced by peace activist group Code Pink but I'm sure the Denver cops have heard the slogan and were primed and ready for just such a reaction reminiscent of the clubbing of protesters by the Chicago cops during the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968.

Iraqi Veterans Against the War
Leads Protest March

Rage Against the Machine gave a free concert in Denver. The concert was followed by an anti war protest march to the Pepsi Center. Iraqi Veterans Against the War led the march.

Commader in Sheath

2008-08-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

Michelle Obama addresses

the Democratic National Convention.Photo: Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times

The frustrating thing about listening to Michelle Obama's speech on the radio was that I could not see what she was wearing. The NPR commentators seemed fixated on whether or not Hillary supporters were going to be disruptive and didn't even mention that Mrs. Obama was wearing a lovely aqua three-quarter length sleeved sheath with an empire waist, V neck and back set off with a cheerful sunburst brooch and classic black pumps.

Will Hillary supporters be disruptive? They will give Hillary a roll call vote Wednesday so I guess we will find out.

“All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won't do - that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.

That is the thread that connects our hearts. That is the thread that runs through my journey and Barack's journey and so many other improbable journeys that have brought us here tonight, where the current of history meets this new tide of hope.

That is why I love this country.” Michelle Obama

Soul Artist John Legend teams up with the Agape Choir from
California at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

John Legend ~ If You're Out There

American Prayer

2008-08-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

Don't I always bring you the best new Obama music videos? Here is a new one with a song by Dave Stewart. And so my brethren, let us now commence to pray...

American Prayer ~ by Dave Stewart

Secret Service Dispatch Breaks The News

2008-08-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

Young Turks Announce
Joe Biden for Obama's Vice President

Jeff Hogan - Killer Whale Tales

2008-08-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Whale Museum is thrilled to present orca photographer, storyteller and educator Jeff Hogan. Jeff is the founder of Killer Whale Tales, a program that brings the field of orca research into the classroom with a unique blend of teaching science and conservation through storytelling.

Jeff takes all of his orca photographs from shore, many from San Juan Island's Limekiln State Park. He promises to share with us how his program Killer Whale Tales came to be plus how anyone can get amazing photos of whales from the shore.

This event will take place Friday August 22 at 7:00 pm at the Whale Museum.

American Values & The Pursuit of Happiness

2008-08-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

I have joined People of Faith on the Barack Obama website and have been answering a weekly values question. This week's question is one that Reverend Warren asked both Obama and McCain, What is America’s Greatest Moral Failure? This is how I answered...

Norman Rockwell ~ The Golden Rule

Values Question #9
What is America’s Greatest Moral Failure?
Failure to live up to the ideals of
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

The Declaration of Independence, our nation’s founding and self-defining document states,” We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I believe our greatest moral failure is the many times we have failed to live up to our nation’s founding ideals of equality by respecting the rights of others to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Images from the past come to mind like Wounded Knee and the Cherokee Trail of Tears, the bloody slave ships, the slave auctions, Suffragettes ridiculed and beaten for seeking the vote or the labor riots like the Haymarket massacre. In the twentieth century Japanese Internment camps, Jim Crow laws and the blacklisting of McCarthyism haunt our national conscience.

Today respecting other people’s rights endowed by their Creator to life, liberty and happiness relates directly to issues of immigration, poverty, health care, privacy and educational opportunities. We are guaranteed in the declaration of independence not only our life and our liberty but also our right to pursue happiness. The pursuit of happiness reaches beyond the basics of food, shelter and basic health care. These are the basic requirements of life. For liberty we need to vigorously exercise our freedoms of speech, religion and the press and protect ourselves from undo government intervention in our personal lives. Excellent public education with equal opportunities, a fostering of the arts and greater leisure time for the workforce would, I believe greatly benefit the pursuit of happiness.

Peggy Sue McRae
Buddhists for Obama

Stop By Democracy Corner

2008-08-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

Stop by Democracy Corner also known and the Democratic Headquarters. Here you can chat with democrats or register to vote while checking out the Islanders For Obama T-shirts that just came in, plus Obama hats, a great variety of buttons, bumper-stickers and yard signs.

Democracy Corner is in one of the Islands most significant structures, this Pig War era building was moved to town from American camp over 100 years ago.

VOT*E

2008-08-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Don't Forget To Vote!
Ballots must be postmarked today.
Women's Suffrage Parade ~ Pennsylvania Avenue 1913

McCain Committed to Anti-Woman Policies

2008-08-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday both Barack Obama and John McCain were interviewed by Reverend Rick Warren at Saddleback megachurch in California. Here is McCain on a women's right to choose.

McCain Against Women's Rights

Here is the deal breaker right here. The thought of McCain appointing Superior Court judges ought to send a horrifying chill down the spine of anyone who cares about women and women’s rights.

Obama Answers The Same Question

Tibetan Flag Unfurled in Beijing

2008-08-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

Tibetan Flags Protest Beijing 080808
from Students for a Free Tibet on Vimeo

Preparing For The Beijing Games

2008-08-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

Chinese Police in Beijing ~ Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Lhadon Tethong is a spokesperson for the Tibetan independence movement and Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet. Here she addresses the Olympic Torch Relay right before it went through Lhasa the capital of Tibet. See Lhadon's blog at: Beijing Wide Open.

ON THE TORCH RELAY THROUGH TIBET

Lhadon Tethong

FREE TIBET BANNER ON MOUNT EVEREST

Team Tibet - Banner Hanging

2008-08-05T23:47:00.000-07:00

TEAM TIBET
SCORING POINTS IN BANNER HANGING

Under Chinese occupation, Tibetans are denied their right to sovereignty and have been barred from competing in the Olympic Games on behalf of their country. Team Tibet represents the national aspirations of the Tibetan people for freedom and independence.

Four Students for a Free Tibet activists detained after dramatic Free Tibet banner protest outside Beijing’s ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic Stadium

Six Free Tibet activists hang a banner on the Wall.

Barack Obama's Birthday

2008-08-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

It is Barack Obama’s birthday. Born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii that makes him a Leo, the regal lion of the astrological signs. According to the Neptune Café his horoscope indicates success. "On November 4 (election day) transiting Saturn and Uranus will be forming an exact opposition, pitting elements of the status quo (Saturn) against the forces for dramatic change (Uranus). With Aquarius Rising and transiting Uranus in his first house, Obama clearly personifies the Uranian element. Obama's progressed Sun will be very favorably sextile his Midheaven in 2009, which represents a natural assumption of power.”

"Go Tell Mama - I'm For Obama!"

Music and video by Doug Plavin