Unhappy Hipsters

A few days ago Morgan pointed me to a clever and witty website. They take photos from Dwell magazine and caption them. It’s called Unhappy Hipsters. In some ways it is the uber-modern, angst-ridden, minimalist, home decorating equivalent of Awkward Family Photos.

I had you at angst-ridden, didn’t I?
;o)

He’s Back!

But, then again, perhaps he never really left.


This evening, MSNBC aired a two hour special rebroadcasting the question and answer period from President Obama’s unprecedented meeting today with House Republicans, at their retreat in Baltimore, Maryland. (MSNBC broke the report up by questions. I believe this link will take you to the correct page so you can view each segment in turn.) Watching President Obama during Wednesday’s State of the Union Address I was buoyed and encouraged. But tonight I was reminded of exactly why I voted for Barack Obama. The guy is brilliant. He’s not as liberal as I wish he were, but he’s as liberal as anyone could be and still get elected president. He’s a policy wonk, which I like. He tends toward the professorial, which is fine. I admire his devotion to bipartisanship, even though there are times when I would prefer him to just strong arm his way through legislation. He has an easy grace when speaking extemporaneously. He can be casual and colloquial, but, unlike some of our politicians, is never crude. Yes, I know he is ridiculed for his use of tele-prompters, but no one can deny the man is extremely intelligent and articulate. Plus, he has a staggering depth and breadth of knowledge on all aspects of the government and the challenges we are facing as a nation. He also has a sense of humor, which I think is vital to the job. And he is the epitome of cool. Being calm, self possessed and not easily ruffled or riled ought to be a Constitutional requirement to be president!

Today, President Barack Obama faced off against House Republicans and hit for the cycle - - - with extra home runs right over the Green Monster!

Thank you Mr. President.

Patience

“Patience and fortitude
conquer all things.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson
(May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882)


We shall see Mr. Emerson.
We shall see...

SCOTUS Update

Chuck and I were speaking with a friend of ours today who is about the most right-wing, rock-ribbed a Republican person that we know. He’s also pro-business and against “big government”. Out of the blue he asked us what we thought about last week’s Supreme Court decision. Now, part of how we all remain friends is that we don’t get ourselves unnecessarily into heated political discussions. We hold fast to the values and interests we hold in common and let sleeping dogs lie. Well, we answered truthfully that we thought it was a terrible decision. We felt the Supreme Court over reached badly and needlessly. And we felt that it would be a devastating shift in the balance of power between individuals and corporations. Our friend shocked us when he said: “I agree with you completely.” He went on to say that he felt it could lead to the undermining of our democracy as we have known it.

So, it’s not just the liberals.

Look At Their Eyes

According to the Library of Congress, these children were protesting against child labor while marching in a labor parade. The photo was taken on May 1, 1909, most likely in New York City. One girl’s banner is written in Yiddish, the other in English. Both are holding American flags.

Look at their eyes; their slight, sweet smiles.

This was 1909. Real and lasting change in child labor practices would not be realized for twenty-nine more years. That was when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.


Original Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress. Adjustments by LMR/Pink Granite. Software: Apple iPhoto ’09 & Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Mac.

ShelterBox

ShelterBox strikes me as a brilliant idea! Vital supplies are bundled into a large, reusable 40 gallon storage box and shipped off to aid victims of natural disasters. The location and circumstances of each crisis helps determine what will be in the ShelterBoxes, but at least one ten-person tent is always included. The charity was created by Tom Henderson in 2000 in Cornwall, England. It began with Mr. Henderson’s Rotary Club in Helston-Lizard, but is now supported by Rotary Clubs and individuals around the world. You can read more about the contents of the boxes and see one in detail here.

I’ve been unable to find a rating and review of ShelterBox on Charity Navigator, but it is registered with the Charity Commission which regulates charities in England and Wales. Based on a few Google searches, fundraisers for ShelterBox are taking place all over the U.S. right now. More than 1700 boxes have already been sent to and are being deployed in Haiti.

Here’s a brief CNN video about ShelterBox.

Here’s the ShelterBox Flickr Photostream.

And you can find ShelterBox on Twitter.

I Still Wish...

I first wrote and posted this piece in 2007. I have posted it every year since. My feelings have not changed. I believe it bears repeating. Perhaps more so this year after the horribly divisive and violent year we have had. While there has been change in the membership of the Supreme Court, we still have the same balance of conservative, moderate and liberal justices. The Supreme Court is key to this issue.

Today is the 37th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court Decision known as Roe v. Wade.

In light of this anniversary I have a few wishes to state:

- I wish, that from this moment on, no woman would ever have to make the decision to have an abortion.
- I wish contraceptives, including the morning after pill, would always be readily available to all women.
- I wish that all young people would be taught age appropriate sex and health education.
- I wish that all young people would be taught that abstinence is a legitimate choice, at the same time they get clear information about all forms of contraception.
- And I wish that abortion would always be safe and legal and available to all women.

Houston, We Have A Problem

Hell, it’s not just Houston. It’s every state in these United States of America and every citizen therein.

Today, the United States Supreme Court totally screwed us - us human citizens that is. I have seen it referred to as “Judicial Activism”. Oh, the unmitigated irony! And judicial activism ain’t even close.

My summary: Corporations, unions, and other organizations can now pour their money into political campaigns - not a trickle from a dripping faucet; a freakin’ fire hose at full pressure.

But I am not a lawyer.
Nor am I a suddenly politically omnipotent corporation.
I’m just a human being.

Read more in multiple posts at SCOTUS Blog.

More still at Jonathan Turley’s blog. (Professor Turley is less upset than I am.)

A summary and editorial in the Washington Post.

President Obama’s statement on this decision.

And the Supreme Court’s 183 page Opinion in PDF - includes majority and minority opinions.

Thank You Mr. Parker

Robert Brown Parker, author, died at his desk Monday.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of his books.
I refer you to this report in the New York Times by Bruce Weber. He does a far better job than I ever could in summing up Mr. Parker’s life.
For even greater appreciation and background on Robert B. Parker, I recommend this article, also from the New York Times, by John Kifner.

Thank you Mr. Parker.
Your work will live on.
But you and the further adventures of all of your wonderful characters shall be sorely missed.


My earlier post on Mr. Parker

Happy Birthday!

”Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Gail
Happy Birthday to you -
and many more!
Wheeeeeee!!!”

It’s my sister Gail’s birthday today and it’s an important one - one involving a zero!
Yay Gail!

The Work Goes On...

Unfortunately, Republican Scott Brown defeated Democrat Martha Coakley.


“...the work goes on,
the cause endures,
the hope still lives
& the dream shall never die.”
- Senator Ted Kennedy first at the 1980 Democratic National Convention and again at the 2008 Democratic Convention


“The work begins anew.
The hope rises again.
And the dream lives on.”
- Senator Ted Kennedy at the 2008 Democratic Convention

This Is It!

Have I mentioned today is election day here in Massachusetts?
Good!



Turn HOPE into reality. VOTE!

It’s Time

Fired up!
Ready to go!

Tomorrow is the special senate election here in Massachusetts.
The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
If you need information about your polling place go the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website.

I’ll be casting my ballot for Martha Coakley.
I hope you will be too.


Live your values.
Love your country.
VOTE!

Pat Boone? Seriously?

Our telephone has been ringing off the hook the last few days. We’ve suddenly become “popular” with various political organizations and action committees. We’ve gotten so many “robo-calls” lately, that this afternoon, Chuck picked up the receiver on what the Caller I.D. showed as another “unknown number” and he didn’t even bother to say hello. Instead of the expected taped message beginning to play, a woman’s voice began saying “Hello? Hello?” Ooops! A genuine human being was calling to encourage us to vote for Martha Coakley!

Later, while I was on the phone with my mother in Rhode Island, another robo-call message was left on our voice mail. This one was from Pat Boone. Yes, that Pat Boone, the singer, Mr. White Bucks himself. He’s now a spokesperson for an extremely conservative right wing organization (60 Plus Warning: a video plays automatically) which claims to be working on behalf of senior citizens. In my humble opinion, scaring the bejeezus out of seniors is more accurate. Pat was calling to tell us to vote for Scott Brown.

Pat Boone has always been on the far right in his politics. But in the last several years he’s joined forces with “World Net Daily” where he has published several screeds. Yes, that World Net Daily, home planet of the wingnuts. One of Boone’s pieces published in August 2009, compared liberals to the “black filthy cells” of cancer. When you go to the World Net Daily website (They’re easy to locate. I won’t link to them.) to read any of Pat Boone’s “commentaries”, you’ll find multiple Scott Brown ads all over the pages. These ads were all paid for by “The Scott Brown for U.S. Senate Committee”.

That is Scott Brown’s target audience.

Electioneering

As a registered lower case “i” independent (unenrolled) voter here in Massachusetts I often get mailings from political candidates. Today I received two slightly different pieces of mail from REPUBLICAN candidate Scott Brown. I emphasize Mr. Brown’s party affiliation, because as Jim of Notes to Leicester points out, Mr. Brown likes to portray himself as an Independent. In fact, on both of today’s flyers, the only place the word “Republican” appears is in the small, light print over my mailing address. There you can find “Paid for by the Massachusetts Republican Party” and “Paid for by the Massachusetts Republican State Committee”. Unfortunately (Freudian-ly?), on the larger State Committee mailing, they list three dates: Black Friday, White Christmas and “Brown Tuesday”, referring rather inartfully to election day this Tuesday the 19th.

“Brown Tuesday”. Well, I know the first thing I thought of when I read “Brown Tuesday” and I don’t think it’s what the Republicans wanted me to think of. But I will check the bottoms of my shoes when I head to the polls Tuesday...

L'Union Fait La Force

One thing we know is that the need in Haiti is enormous now and will continue to be so into the foreseeable future. Haiti was the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere when the earthquake struck just before 5:00 p.m. Tuesday. Now it is in desperately worse straits.

There are many ways to contribute; many honorable, effective and efficient organizations are directing resources to Haiti. The Center for International Disaster Information, CIDI says “Americans Should Send Cash Donations to Best Aid Victims of Devastating Earthquake”. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI however, is warning folks to be cautious of scams. I’d suggest using Charity Navigator which provides very good ways to evaluate a charity. Their top rating is “4 Stars”, but each listing contains a wealth of information beyond that brief headline.

Here are some organizations which are accepting contributions to specifically help the people of Haiti:

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (4 Stars)



Partners In Health (4 Stars)



Habitat for Humanity International (4 Stars)



American Jewish World Service (4 Stars)


American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (4 Stars)

I am unable to find an on-line reference, but on the radio today, we heard a statistic that the majority of donations will come in within the first six days following a disaster. Haiti will be in need for months, most likely years. So you may wish to consider periodic or ongoing donations to a favorite charity which will be in Haiti for the long haul.

Haiti’s motto is “L'Union Fait La Force”, which translates into “Strength Through Unity” - a phrase we can take inspiration from.

Senator Coakley

Yes I was underwhelmed by all the candidates before the primary and I wasn’t alone in that. But push has come to shove. The Massachusetts Senate Election is Tuesday. I’ll be voting for Martha Coakley.

Lord knows I could never pull the lever for Scott Brown. According to his own issues page, he’s planning to vote against the health insurance and healthcare legislation - and it’s not because it doesn’t include a sufficiently robust Public Option! Brown defends waterboarding, saying it isn’t torture. And, in my opinion, doesn’t have enough faith in our legal system and our Constitution to endorse the prosecution of terrorists in our own courts. Even though we have been doing that successfully since the first World Trade Center Bombing in 1993.

Have I wrapped my mind and heart around the fact that Martha Coakley is not Ted Kennedy? No. But Senator Kennedy became the Liberal Lion of the Senate over time. Now it’s Martha Coakley’s time to start to walk down that same path.

I Have No Clue

As I headed back to the car across the grounds of the Big E on Saturday, the icy wind was whipping. It was in the low twenties F (below zero C) and I was well bundled up. But I’d been walking for more than hour and really wanted to thaw out. The nearer I got to the car, the more direct my route became. I ignored any and all interesting architecture, angles and shadows to cut through a parking lot outside the huge building where a wedding expo was taking place. That’s when I spotted this vehicle.

My first reaction was “Ah Ha! Dunkin’ Donuts = Hot Coffee = Perfect”. But as I got closer, I realized it was a giant cup of ICED Coffee! I immediately felt colder! I know New Englanders are a hearty bunch. And we are known for consuming a greater amount of ice cream, in winter, per capita than anywhere else in the United States. But Iced Coffee was just plain silly! I snapped one last photo and went directly to the car, which I had purposely left in full sun. Ahhh... Perfect!

Same Sex Marriage Is Good For Society

Jeff over at Wormtown Taxi posted about this earlier today and I wanted to share it over here. Newsweek Magazine has published a piece entitled “The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage” written by someone with impeccable conservative credentials, attorney Theodore B. Olson. Olson has made a logical, thoughtful, fully reasoned case in support of same sex marriage. He takes every specious argument and calmly refutes each one.

The Village That Never Really Was

Yesterday, Chuck and I drove out to the Big E in West Springfield. Chuck visited a woodworking show and I took the camera with me as I walked around the extensive grounds. The photos below are all from the Storrowton Village. Storrowton was created by Helen Osborne Storrow in the 1920s and 30s by purchasing buildings from around New England. They were dismantled and then reconstructed on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition, creating the museum which stands to this day.
The old Southwick Baptist Meeting House (c. 1822), which was modified and joined with the old Atkinson Tavern (c. 1789) to create the current Storrowton Tavern.


The steeple of the old Union Meeting House (c. 1834)


I love this tiny building! The old Zachariah Eddy Law Office (c. 1810), with its arched copper roof, would make a wonderful retreat or studio.


A window on the west side of the old Union Meeting House. I was instantly smitten with the old glass, the reflections in it, the candle with glass hurricane on the windowsill and the second window on the eastern side.