Lately, The Peanut and I have been perusing the addictive habit known as "Seed Catalogs." Unfortunately for her, I appear to have passed on the lust for flowers during winter gene…in spades. And so, we’ve been planning our potential trips to the greenhouse, and possible perennials for our sunny front yard, and some vegetables and herbs to plant in and among them for cooking fresh food this summer.
But, for the moment, the earth is lifeless and cold, and a bit muddy after a week of rain and snow and ice. And no hint of spring can be seen anywhere around us. But there is a promise of spring…and so, we plan for it. We wait, and while we wait, we plan the seeds we will plant.
Which leads me to a video that I’d love (YouTube) for everyone to watch. It’s about a community plan to teach AIDS prevention in Zambia — and it’s amazingly uplifting in terms of what they have been able to do with very few resources, solely using the power of what interests these kids…and making information available through talking with each other about their lives and protecting that which is valuable to them — their future.
It occurs to me that, as a society, we have devolved from the social creatures that we used to be in terms of having folks over to the house for a dinner, or attending group meetings on a regular basis, or heading down to "the club" for a drink, or the "knitting circle" or "bridge club" or whatever else it was that brought folks together to socialize outside their immediate family. And that has diminished our conversation considerably.
Then, along came the internet, which allows for conversations among like-minded folks, but doesn’t exactly allow for a lot of cross-pollination between different belief systems because like tends to attract like in little clusters. Nor does it really allow for a human contact quality that you can truly only get from talking with someone face to face, to hear the urgency in someone’s voice, to see what and issue or event means to them as they speak about it with passion or conviction.
So, here’s my thought: well before we head into November, before the elections and the mudslinging get into full swing, before everyone divides into the blue camp and the red camp…what if we started trying to find a way to talk about the things that matter in person among others in our communities in a real sort of way. But how to do that? Ahhh…now, that is the question, isn’t it? How to get out from behind our computers and do some things that put us in direct contact with others so that we are walking the walk of our firmly held beliefs and letting others know what we think is important in a personal and direct way. How to do that?
I know from all of the doors I knocked on during the 2004 campaign, all the face to face conversations that I had along with the cold calls I made as well…those personal chats meant more, made more of an impact, gave people more of a context for who I was and why I felt so urgently the way I did about certain things. And that made a difference here and there.
So, here’s my question for everyone this morning: how do we start talking, really talking, to the people around us who don’t already agree with us? How do we reach out to the folks who may not be thinking about politics at all and get them to care, to understand how much of an impact it has on their lives and those of their children? Is it too early — is it impossible — is it something folks think is a good idea? To make change, it can take a simple step forward and a conversation, one person at a time. But how — and why — that conversation gets started is important. And finding common ground can be rare indeed.
Now is the time to think about this, not later in the Fall toward the harvest…for the early planning yields the better crop, and this year? I’d like us all to reap an abundance of change and better government. One bee can bring in a little pollen and a bit of nectar, but a whole hive working together can produce something pretty sweet. What do you think? Pull up a chair…
PS — A lot of you will remember TommyYum, who was instrumental in our fantastic "Have You Had Enough?" campaign tune and Blue America PAC commercials last campaign season. Many of you also know that Tommy’s young son, Esten, was diagnosed with cancer, and has been battling it and many other issues ever since. Jacqrat did a great post yesterday at DWT on Esten’s progress — yay, he’s in remission! — and the family’s subsequent fight with medical bills (ick!). And I thought folks would want a heads up and to maybe chip in a little if you have something to spare.
Time for the Blue America family to step up to the plate; pitch in again to help defray medical costs. We’re asking you to donate through the FDL paypal button and please make all donations out to end in .04, since Esten is four years old and we want to keep track of which donations are going to the Maxwells.
Because family isn’t just what you are born with, sometimes it’s the family you make along the way…
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Good morning, Christy. Speaking of seeds, Norway is building a seed bank to store all the species.
Christy!
Hello again from Paris this glorious afternoon– in Paris…
We just got three more inches of snow yesterday. The seeds are sitting in their packets, in the cabinet, waiting for the day we can get them started indoors.
Good Morning Christy and Scarecrow! THe daffodills are emerging in my backyard though now flowers yet. Glad to hear the news on Esten. And I hope Peanut is better and her mommy has gotten some rest.
Elliott -
If you’ve crossed threads, thanks for the heads up on Steglitz (sp?) now on Washington Journal. Will be interesting to hear caller comments on his presentation.
where you are isn’t exactly quite as cold as it is at Norway’s seed bank, but it’s too cold brrr!
love the daffodil
Good morning Christy! Bonjour Biodun! I can’t wait for spring…
Go Esten! Dont forget to target the donation to the little guy by adding $0.04 to whatever amount you can contribute. That’s how we distinguish from a regular FDL contribution. Thanks.
you’re welcome
and good morning everyone!
(((Yums)))
Envy is slowing rising. Ooooh to be in Paris! Covered in snow here and the only consolation is perusing seed catalogues.
It’s 2:30 in the afternoon in Paris and like any typical Frenchman can’t help wonder what Biodun had for lunch.
A young man in our community was killed 2 weeks ago in Iraq. This December he wrote to his high school and appealed to them to donate money so that he could buy soccer balls and school supplies for the Iraqi kids. He said when they were in school they were out of harm’s way and that when he saw them with soccer balls they were happy. He left a baby son and I donated to his education fund, but I’m thinking it would be wonderful to carry out his dream of soccer balls and school supplies for Iraqi kids. I think the widow may be too raw to talk to yet, and others I’ve talked to about it don’t think it’s a good idea. What do you think? Any ideas about how to get supplies for kids to Iraq? Egregious?
I’m leaving for a conference: Horticulture in the Heartland, so I’ll check in when I get back later today.
Light snow (again) in Boston this a.m. We get an inch or two every couple of days. Mild winter so far. Need to fill the bird feeder.
Just sent what we can afford (it helps when my wife is still asleep to say that). Hope the bad cells stay away!
As far as being cold here, it’s supposed to hit 29 today! I may snowblow without a jacket on.
Not very friendly of Biodun to rub it in—from Paris.
Good morning all. First weekend off in quite a while and loving it. Philly Flower Show has opened and we’re going on Monday. New living room sofa/loveseat/recliner arrived yesterday.It’s the color of the stripe on the bottom of this page. But it seems to work!
Really looking forward to the flower show. As for talking with people and doing the face to face, door to door we’ve got lots to talk about this cycle. My fear is that there is no candidate who is going to go where we need and want to go once elected. My energy will have to be focused on down ticket races on behalf of good progressive candidates.
I wonder if some of the people that Scarecrow and I talked to when we did our door to door for Ned are feeling sorry and guilty for their votes for Joe. I sure hope so.
you have a bird feeder? I thought you were supposed to shoo them away!
Give my love to Paris and pleeeeze eat a fresh croissant for me.
Have you ever been to the Musee de l’homme (sp?)? It’s been far too many years but I still remember the wonderful exhibits there.
We send supplies to my former students in Iraq/Afghanistan roughly twice a year. Having someone to send things to is the best route.
Let me see if I can come up with someone that could put what you have to use. About two years ago we had someone that was building schools, etc. in Afghanistan, but she’s been home for quite some time now.
Morning Christy,
It may be muddy but the days are getting longer. Sweet.
We, coalition for peace action, members are meeting with the editorial board of our local paper next week to encourage them to request letters to the editor on 3-19-08 in support or against the war. We will encourage them to state they will print every letter submitted to them,on that subject that day. It will cause people to think and reflect about their stance. It will also be a poll as to percentages for or against. I will also pass around to the board $900.00 to count in small bills to see if we can agree on the count but then point out to them each and everyone of us at that table spent that on this fiasco called Iraq in the last 365 days. We all have something to learn and need to find a way to include those who supported the invasion in the beginning but are only now beginning to see the truth.
As for what to plant I would advise more veggies to weather the coming storm. Peace now,Damn it
Thought I’d wake up to a winter wonderland here but it just rained. The sun shines now tho so no complaints.
Noonan, guess this time it won’t matter if your hair is wet.
And RevDeb have fun at the Flower Show. Anxious to hear your report on it.
My seed catalog of choice is Gurney’s from Yankton, South Dakota. Back when we were young marrieds, we started buying tree seedlings from Gurney’s because I figured if they could grow up on the tundra in N.D., they’d do just fine in Northern Illinois.
And I was right; never lost a tree. We also buy our vegetable seeds from them, and they’re very hardy, and productive.
My wife said she’s starting to look for snowdrops along the concrete fence in front of our house, but we need a bit more melt first; too much ice and snow this morning. Maybe by this afternoon. Always look forward to snowdrops…
RAMA
It sounds like a fine idea. But, as you said, the family might feel too raw to pursue it. But you can if you want and will surely get support here.
Good morning, everyone! I really appreciate these Saturday morning threads. They cheer me after a week of depression.
btw, Stiglitz is on Washington Journal (on C-span).
Disappointed that I won’t be here for Horton’s salon—really disappointed. His post at Balkinization back on Oct. 6 2006 about when lawyers are war criminals still haunts me.
But I need to feed myself with the jazzy fleurs. Can’t do everything.
Ain’t that the truth, Christy. Look, here in Paris I’ve spent as much time, if not more, with FDL online than I have with my biological family…and I really really love the latter–but not online…*g*
RAMA,
Thanks for the tip on Gurney’s. My wife and I are tired of all the snow and cannot wait for the melt. We also live in Ill. but are buried in snow right now.
It was raining with thunder and lightning in the middle of the night here earlier..and then when dawn broke, sky was overcast, then an hour later, voila! The sun broke through. I got out and spent an hour or so at a wifi hot spot cafe in the Latin Quarter, and now I’m back at my friend’s place getting ready to head out for the rest of the afternoon and evening…
Interesting, I just submitted my first comment in a long time. The comment was posted and then a message of “a database error has occurred please try again” NSA can you hear me now?
I can’t say I’ve done any of Christy’s seed planting among strangers. How does one start?
Spring & flowers:
Going to Savannah at end of March for their annual house & garden tour. And yes, we’ve made arrangements to have drinks with Marrion In Savannah. Looking forward to the warm weather, gorgeous gardens & houses, and meeting an online friend in person.
meeting online friends in person is the best!
Speaking of freezing my hair, I better get cleaned up before the family wakes up. Be back in a bit!
Friends are the family you choose…another variation on a powerful theme.
Talk about like minds, I’m planting seeds–literally–this weekend, mindful of getting a good start for them but not too early because of last frost timing. It’s still winter mode hereabouts with testosterone pickups flippin’ along the highways and black ice for the unwary wheels and walkers.
RAMA–if you have a current addy for the real original Gurney’s of Yankton I’d love to know it…last I knew the Gurney name had been sold to a company in Indiana. Gurney’s of Yankton was an icon of midwest gardening, fer shur.
A tad p.o.-ed this morning over at my place, yep, Prairie’s pissed.
Prairie Today: The Prince and the Paupers
yes! and the really nice ones give you chocolate.
Yep–many years ago when I was a student here…spelling OK.
OT – File away for later: from the LA Times
The goal posts are re-adjusted once again.
I wasn’t around for last night’s threads, but this hullabaloo about the WH aide resigning over plagiarism just takes the cake for me. THAT’s enough for someone to resign, but torture, perjury, rigging trials, stripping the Bill of Rights from the Constitution—that guarantees you a promotion.
Boggles the mind.
Morning, Christy and all other pups out there. My son and I shoveled the driveway this morning – not an unpleasant task, given that it was 30 degrees, sunny and no wind. The seed catalogs have made the rounds at my house as well and my eldest and I put together an order for seeds and plants. We have to be very careful about putting out tomatoes, et al. here – we can get surprise nasty frosts as late as June 10th here (it’s the geography). I thought the image of the bee was very fortuitous – my DH and I used to raise bees. He has not paid attention to our two colonies for a couple of years and frankly thought they’d probably died out, but last fall, he went out and took a good look and lo and behold, one of them was doing just fine. The hives themselves are a bit the worse for wear, so we’ll have to get some hive bodies, etc. to move all the workers to early in the spring and perhaps even order some bees and a new queen for the another colony as well. We have large open fields and abandoned farms around us. No big commercial farms, so I’m pretty sure we are not getting any pesticide drift or anything like that, which is probably why our bees survived, even with my husband’s rather negligent ministrations. So, we will have lovely wildflower honey in the fall. Yum.
Indeed.
Reaching out thoughts: letters to editor, but just striking up conversations with people matters. Booksellers call it handselling. The one-on-one contacts to “make the sale.”
Have you noticed how many people are using cell phones when they drive? People are starved for conversation…so give them some food for thought in a friendly way today.
Does anyone remember Pet Rocks and the instructions for training them? Because this administration’s continual lowering of the bar to measure ‘progress’ in Iraq reminds me exactly of teaching your pet rock to ‘come’. Short version: start with your rock a few feet away, start calling it by name. Edge closer to encourage it, while holding out your hand … keep moving closer to encourage the rock, and pretty soon you will see that it has come up right to your feet!
I have seeds from Fedco( no business with Monsanto)ready and onions sets were for sale at the local farm store So maybe I can get the onions in this weekend.
It is already 46 here in East TN and may get to 60 wow
It is a beautiful sunny day in Chapel Hill for the benefit for Esten, and I hope they have lots of success. I have an 8 year old son and am thankful for his good health every day. No plans to plant this year – house renovation in progress with a lot of upheaval and machinery. Plus 36 solar panels on our roof!
Christie, thank you and all of Blue America for supporting the candidate who gets my volunteer time, Jim Neal.
As for planting, I am lusting after the salvias … High Country Gardens is a terrific source of great plants for folks out here in the west.
Was off-line for most of the day yesterday and came home to find a one-day turnaround on *that* story. Agree on the mind boggling aspects of what this administration DOES ad DOESN’T get away with; do ya think it’s because the plagiarism was so obviously cut and dried that there was absolutely no way of lying their way around it? Gotta love them internets!
ooo . ahhh
I love the blue salvias, but you just expanded my world!
Spring? Are you sure that’s coming? Oh yes, we got an email at work reminding us of the early change to Daylight Savings Time next weekend. Guess the government is gonna bring it on. (from Chicago area where it not only snows every other day, but it has been very cold and dreary – I think I have my first case of bona fide SAD, but that could always be the news).
We use Johny’s organic seeds. Always excellent germination. We do onions from seed as they seem to last through the winter that way.
If you like salvias (I’m a fanatic), then I will also recommend the book by Betsy Clebsch.
Plant native plants! Use rain barrels.
I love Johnnys too but Fedco is about half the price. I have some squash seeds from Johnnys that are so delicious . Winter squash, ugly outside but bright orange and sweet when baked.
We ate the last onion two weeks ago.
now that just sounds delectable!
That’s a lovely bee story. Grandfather and uncle were bee keepers by profession so the little buzzers have an extra special place in my heart. Bought some sourwood honey from a local man last fall that was simply the most delicious stuff I’ve ever put in my mouth….really, truly honest to goodness sourwood and not just a word someone stuck on a jar label to get a higher price. Off to enjoy a spoonful of the golden elixir right this minute!
We moved into our new house here in north Texas last fall … I haven’t really started in on rearranging the garden yet. I’ve been eyeing the shrubbery out front … ligustrum, holly, photinia … BORING!!! That’s gotta go. I want color and lots of it. Flowering native plants, with a few immigrants. I have way too much grass … lawns are boring, take too much water anyway …
It isn’t easy to get people to talk about politics in social settings. In the south, people think it’s rude to discuss such things with strangers. When you raise the topic indirectly, there is frequently some blowhard who spouts off talking points from one side or the other (lefties are getting to be as bad as righties with the internets to help us get our points).
At the same time, speaking for myself, I am rarely in contact with people from the red team, or even independents. hmmm, tough problem for a pull up a chair thread.
Good Morning Christy and firedogs,
And I was just gonna say my good morning and quietly sit over here and enjoy being among y’all again – ha ! But this is the question nearest and dearest to my heart – engaging the People in the political process
with the cost of everything (gas, groceries, healthcare, and energy) going up, it is easy to broach the subject of politics and voting with the folks I wait on – “With the cost of groceries going up, ya might as well go out and have someone else do the dishes” and we’re off to the races
the majority of my co workers fall in to the most underrepresented segment of the electorate – single women/moms (all are registered and voting this cycle thank you very much)
and, our little town has undergone explosive growth the last 7 years – now flooded with first time home buying young families just starting out. our county has the highest percentage of foreclosures (they’re still doing $100 Move Ins -$@#&!$@!) in the state. further, we have been insulated for sometime now by our “regional economy” but like many elsewhere, it’s been fed by construction and with banks saying they’ll cut back on lending by $1 Trillion in the next 12 months, sooner or later we are gonna get hit hard
so yeah, the soil is rich and well prepared
I do my best to hint at –
the connection btw rising costs, declining wages and the beltway (bestowing personhood on corporations, deregulation, total lack of oversight, etc.)
how much of it has been accomplished bec DC knew we weren’t paying attention or were distracted with Red and Blue shiny objects
and no matter where the conversation goes, always remind them that per our beleaguered Constitution, they are still in charge, have a voice, and not just at the ballot box. “You’re the Boss, and they’re only Temps, pick up the phone, ya might feel a little self concious at first, but they have to listen to you”
all said with a great deal of charm of course :)
RevDeb is probably correct above that we need to concentrate on a progressive Congress, but both Dem candidates evince the ability to engage the People, challenge them to participate in their government, make it cool to pay attention and have some ownership – it is my one prayer for the years ahead
did I mention how much this matters to me ?
Spring is coming? Are you sure? We’re getting another foot of snow today and I already have 8 foot snow banks on both sides of my driveway. Where do I fling this new snow? LOL! My biceps are so big and strong now from throwning snow I could crack a walnut in between them. ;-)
Christy, if you have some extra spring on hand, I’ll take some please. Throw me a seed too. LOL
My husband learned the hard way that the stuff in the bee books is correct. He decided to take off the honey one day, but dawdled around until after dinner (broke rule number 1 – work the bes in the middle of the day when the workers are all out), and then the weather got bad (broke rule number 2 – don’t work the bees if it’s threatening). About halfway through, with it raining, he figured he’d been stung enough, but everything back and came down to the house and went into the bathroom. He did not look too good and took off his helmet and veil and I saw at least 12 stingers in his neck and called the doctor. The doctor asked, “How long has it been?” I told him about 20 minutes and he said, “Well, if your husband had been allergic, he’d have been dead by now.”
Lesson learned.
Enjoy your stay in the City of Lights. What’s the French take on the upcoming U.S. elections? I hear that the honeymoon with Sarkozy is over. Bon Apetit and let us know what you are up to.
Kay – I hear you plenty here in Upstate New York. We got 3-5″ yesterday. I just consider “snow throwing” my personal winter “wellness program” and try to wait it out. This morning, though, it’s sunny and in the 30s, so it’s not so bad…(cracking walnuts in your biceps – woman, you slay me..)
After leaving a startup dot com in 2000 (they were more interested in becoming rich through an IPO rather than developing a quality product) I went to work as a bookkeeper for a mom-and-pop real estate company. I had known the broker since moving into this small town 25 years ago. It was just before the election and it didn’t take long for the realtors to find that they had a radical amongst them. I think the long hair was their first clue. Anyhoo, it has taken this long to convince the majority of them that the way we, i.e., the United States, live and the way we interact with the rest of the world is not healthy. Having followed Cesar Chavez’s movement in the 70’s I knew that his way was the best. When asked how he was able to build such a vast movement he replied, “One person at a time.” Think it was easy? Think again. Every time someone brought up one of the Republican talking points they heard on whatever gawd-awful TV program I’d counter with facts and show them where they could find better information. I also made it a point to let them know when I was going to participate in an anti-war protest or other subversive activity, asking if anyone else would like to attend. After a year of protesting the clusterf**k in Iraq I began to see a change in attitude. Only one or two ever came to a protest but the rest were with me in spirit. I’ll take that as a plus. A couple of these guys are in their 80s so I know I’m not going to gain any ground with them. They’ve voted Republican for so long they wouldn’t know how to mark a ballot for a Democrat. But the rest are younger, have families to raise and are beginning to notice what’s really going on around them. They will be voting Democratic this time around. My broker friend/boss, who’s my age, is not going to change simply because he’s stubborn and thinks since he knows Jeb Bush he might gain some financial advantage by staying Republican. He made a point of stopping with some of his right-wing cohorts to talk to me while I was protesting the debate in St Petersburg FL. He does concede one thing to me, and his winger friends as well. He never hesitates to say that he respects my position but more importantly my sticking to my principles, not bending with the wind. The point of this little screed is to say talk to the people you see every day and anyone else who will listen. Not on that f’ing cell phone, but face to face. Know what you’re talking about and stand by your principles. The Gen Xer’s are deathly afraid of being left alone and use the cell phone to stay in constant contact with another human throughout all their conscious hours. That won’t work to change attitudes. Face to face is the only way it’s going to get done. There is no such thing as a stranger; they’re potential new friends, each and every one. It just takes a little work.
It’s the first Saturday of the month so we’ll be at BayWalk in downtown St Petersburg tonight. When we first started our protest down there in early 2003 (before the invasion) the place was packed with folks using their credit cards to buy all the high-end junk and go to the movies. We were there every Saturday night for almost 4 years. Now a number of shops have closed and the foot traffic is hardly noticeable. Some of the merchants blamed St Pete For Peace as the culprit. We wish we could have that kind of influence. We’d have turned St Pete Democratic by now if that were true. We do get more honks and positive feedback than we did 4 years ago but it’s still a rough row to hoe. BayWalk (owned by the notorious Mel Sembler) is now up for sale but methinks Mel baby is stuck with this lemon. Karma.
Peace Love Light
Biodun, how long can you go on with an hour sleep here and an hour sleep there! You were here when I went to bed; you’re here when I get up. And I feel sleep deprived!
I just had to say, I put on MSNBC mostly because my TV has a problem playing on certain channels when I first turn it on for about a half hour, and I’m disgusted. They had an interview with someone from Huffpost (didn’t know or catch her name) and someone from a “conservative” blog and questioned them regarding Hillary’s ad and Obama’s response. We really need better spokespersons. The woman from Huffpost said she thought Obama won because he pointed out that the Al Qaeda that’s in Iraq is not the same Al Qaeda that knocked down the two buildings on 9/11. OMG, how stupid is that! With spokeswoman like her, who needs enemies. She should be called a misinformation informer.
bom dia pups!
After heading over to the whale count, we are having a brunch of sorts (yes, raw foods) with french toast made in the dehydrator with lots of fresh fruit. Some friends and guests of friends that we haven’t seen in a while and i can’t think of a better time to talk about world events, concerns and the body politic than over a relaxing brunch.
Good morning, Christy and everyone else.
Christy, your concerns about the disappearance of ‘community’ for that is what has occurred, is spot-on. Almost everyone with whom I speak comments about the lack of communication, the loss of ‘front porch’ discussions and other venues for conversation and a sense of shared experience.
The future is a bit like a pet rock (thanks for the image, AirportCat @ 36), we may beckon it but it is ourselves who must move towards it.
When seeking to draw people into thoughtfulness, offering them a vision of an obtainable, sustainable and humane future works wonders.
All ‘progress’ arises from wondering what ‘it’ would be like. We all have a vested interest in the future. The ‘future’ does not belong to the whims and demands of the wealthy and powerful, whatever they may claim, threaten, or do.
Sorry it’s o/t but some days the laughs just write themselves:
“PA teen lauded by bush admits theft”
http://www.philly.com/inquirer…..theft.html
Community involvement is always important. Periods when you cannot do it for some reason can be isolating and somewhat painful. Reaching out to the other side is what good politics is all about. But this election cycle is showing divisions in the party at the local level that I have not seen since I have been politically active since the 1970’s. I have always maintained good relations with the local Republicans and have been able to work with them on many issues. They are very aware of divisions that are growing and should be addressed now but I know will not be until close to the convention in August. So when you are reaching out, consider reaching out to fellow Democrats who may not be as enthusiastic about your candidate as you are. The Republicans are already reaching out to them. Area Republicans are aware that I am on the local shit list and have already approached me. If a group does not want someone, they will go elsewhere.
cbl and southerndragon, so powerful what you say. Face to face. Handselling. Personal bearing witness.
Engage and connect. Engage with relevant personal point, then connect the larger dots. Citizen Activism Handbook power.
Engage…and connect.
Looked up her name; it was Rachel Skylar. I don’t know her, but I don’t want to know her now either. If she still thinks Al Qaeda had something to do with 9/11, and she has apparently repeatedly said this. So she’s continually spewing misinformation. This was not a one time slip of the tongue. Nothing like reinforcing Rethug talking points. Ignorant bitch! If I hear one more time “the Al Qaeda that attacked us on 9/11,” I think I’ll scream!
I ‘plant’ those political seeds wherever I go. I actually worry that I’m becoming obnoxious and am in danger of alienating everyone. It seems beyond my control, that it’s an obsession. But it’s so frustrating for me when people discuss things as if they’re happening in a vacuum.
I’ve told everyone before that many people I know got hit with higher payroll deductions for health ins. this year resulting in a lower paycheck. This was a big topic of conversation but they all acted like it was an unfortunate occurrance that was beyond anyone’s control. Well, I went off on a political rant and offerred them my copy of “Sicko”.
That’s just one example. My friends aren’t repubs, they’re just not interested. But, I can tell I’ve crossed the line on occassion and am in danger of alienating them. Not because they disagree but because they’d rather not hear about politics.
About 20 of us get together every year the week before Thanksgiving for our own feast. As we headed in, Mr.Solai said “Please, no politics tonight.” It was a struggle.
Forget everything I just said twice! Just got my first cup of tea, must not be thinking strait. Garbled this morning. Just so use to everyone not making the distinction between Iraq and Bin Laden. I going back to bed until I wake up.
One of the horrifying things we discovered about the college our son attends in NJ is the total lack of community in the dorms. I remember vividly the sense of community we had when I was in school in the 70s. Everyone knew the code: If your door was open, then it was fine to come in, throw yourself on the bed or the floor and start a conversation. It doesn’t matter what time of day or day of the week that we visit or pick him up/drop him off, all the doors in the hallway are closed. There is no tv in the lounge because all the kids have their own or watch dvds on their computers. If they want to talk to their friends, they either use their cell phones, IM, or email. No one “needs” to make friends or build community there. My son says that 40-50% of the kids leave the school on Friday to go home and do not return until late Sunday evening. I’m not saying all colleges now are like this, but one of my daughters found the same situation at RIT as well. She did not get along with her roomate and the only way they would communicate at all was through IM.
Hey Christy, I’m a gardener too, and I drool over seed catalogues the way some women drool over shoes! I get through winter by having a table by a window that is specifically for my winter garden. (And it’s a good place to start seedlings before the last frost, if your window is well-insulated)
You probably already know this, but for those who don’t – the secret of beautiful flowers in winter is bulbs. You have to chill them in the dark for at least six weeks before bringing the pots into the light, but if you time it right, and get them ready in November, you can have paperwhites and hyacinths – my two favorites for an indoor winter garden – blooming in January! It sure makes the gray skies and frosty ground outside easier to take.
Outdoors, I have to have crocus, since they bloom first. Talk about serendipity on a cold winter day, nothing makes me smile like walking to the mailbox and noticing pretty blooms where the last time I looked was only gray and brown. I already have daffodils coming up too, and they seem to handle the frost and even occasional freeze better than any other plant. The secret there is not to cut the greenery back when the blooms are gone (needed to store energy for next year’s growth), just plant something in front of it if an untidy bed bothers you (it doesn’t bother me). I’ve even heard suggestions of braiding the greenery – never tried, but hey, whatever cranks yer tiller!
I’m here in southern middle Tennessee. Our winter/spring transition time is between January and April, and we’ll get temps of almost 70 degrees for a few days, then we’ll get snow and have to cover everything that’s blooming. I call it “sprinter”.
Last year we got a late freeze. The neighbors driving by probably thought I was nuts – I ran out of plastic so was out there layering sheets and towels over my creeping phlox and tulips, trying to anchor down the edges with rocks, while the wind was blowing so hard it was snowing almost horizontally!
We’ve already received word that because of the ongoing drought, we will not be allowed to water flowers, grass, or trees after April 16. I’ve got some alternative sources of water, at least until the well and creek runs dry, but I lost three trees and some roses last year so I’m hesitant to plant anything that has to be watered frequently. Thank goodness there are no restrictions on watering vegetable gardens – I have four 50 ft soaker hoses that saved us last year. And I use mulch – lots and lots of mulch.
So, it’ll be 68 degrees tomorrow – and I’m trying to decide whether I should go out and add compost to the raised beds and get them ready to plant strawberries ..or restock the wood rack in anticipation of the next snow.
Think I’ll just have another cup of coffee and check out the seed catalogues..
Ever wonder what the purpose of the
banking cartelFederal Reserve? Why the symbiotic relationship with our government? Did you know that inflation is a giant tax on your money and it isn’t due to a increase in food/energy costs? This is a highly informative 7 part series about the birth of the banking cartel aka Federal Reserve, including Senator Nelson Aldrich, Abraham Andrew who was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Frank Vanderlip, Benjamin Strong; head of JP Morgan, Rockefeller, Paul Warburg; rep of Rothschild and Kuhn, Loeb & Company.Here’s part 1 of The Creature from Jekyll Island
http://youtube.com/watch?v=F3T…..re=related
hello all from a very gusty, windy, showery Dresden where there were bits of snow strewn up against the sides of stone buildings a ground level but nowhere else when i went to work this morning. my neighborhood is full of trees which will be flowering in the the next month or so but are yet still bare.
as for community and reaching out to all of the citizenry, i think it remains to be seen how well that can be accomplished. the progressive and liberal sector has been trashed and sucker-punched, insulted and sand-bagged so often over the past twenty eight years by the ever-so-genteel and considerate Republicans. i really think it can only happen if we have a massive victory in November. should this happen and the other side has no position of strength we can be gracious but wary. we should, even now, chastise those who are rude, crude and lack basic civility. we need to continue that regardless, and especially if we win big. if there is anything the Republicans have show us it is how to be ruthless, immoral, criminal, crass and selfish. hopefully we can do better. if so, the decent people in the Republican party, and there are some, will appreciate it and be willing to work for the common good. those are big ifs. let’s hope we get the opportunity to be gracious winners and not waste it.
Oh, Toby, how sad for these kids. They’re missing out on the best part of being in a dorm. I was ticked at my daughter’s RA when she started school. I remember my own RA had us all meet up every day to go to dinner together. It helped enormously.
When my daughter started, I called her around 6pm on her first night away. She hadn’t eaten yet because she had no one to go to the dining hall with. I reacted like a kindergarten mom, my heart was breaking.
Morning all — spent the morning wrangling on my half-dead laptop with a computer tech who was very nice, but couldn’t help me. So I’ll be shipping it out next week for repair (yay warranty). Everyone cross your fingers that it comes back to me before I have to leave for Take Back America…I don’t want to have to steal Mr. ReddHedd’s laptop when I go to the conference.
Arrrrgh…what a week! How is everyone this morning?
I think the disconnect between us was initiated by the “philosophy” of the Reagan years. The Republicans sold the country the idea of the “individual,” every man for himself. Women were relegated to being “barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen.” Selfishness and greed were the cornerstones of the agenda. Now we see the results in the children you describe. They may “talk” to their friends electronically but there is no real closeness there. There seems to be a lack of empathy among them. They have become self centered, defining who they are by what they own.
I once went to a conference at Colgate where the head of counseling said that he was ready to get the college to make a rule that all the incoming freshman had to be left off outside of town on Rt. 12B someplace and could only come to school with one duffle bag of clothing and bedding. No computers, no stereos, no tvs, no ‘nuthin’. He had a strong belief that all that “stuff” was helping the kids to stay in their rooms and remain isolated. He said that 90 percent of the issues he and his staff saw at the counseling center was based on some form of “I don’t have any friends..and I don’t know how to make them, either,” or, “I don’t get along with my roomate and I don’t have any experience with talking and working things out.” He said the kids were very bright and worked hard in school(that is something they know how to do really really well), but the whole day to day business of making friends, getting along, being able to express themselves to others reasonably and not get angry when people did not agree with them, etc. was just…in his estimation, a complete failure.
Carmen — one way is to take a peek at the AnySoldier website. A lot of the soldiers who sign up there for things from home are asking for things for the kids in the villages where they are stationed over there. Soccer balls, school supplies, etc. I wish I knew a specific charity organization there that was doing this, too, but I don’t off the top of my head — maybe someone else knows specifics on that and can share…
Oooooh — I love the Philly flower show. It’s always gorgeous. Enjoy!
I’m looking forward to the March 4 primary here … it’s one thing to like about being back in Texas. Not only do we get to vote, but we also have a caucus after the polls close. The caucuses are usually good places to meet interesting people, which I am looking forward to because we are new in the area.
if you’re looking for something to do – head on over to CBS News site – The McCain/Hagee hookup is the 3rd story. you don’t have to leave a comment but it doesn’t hurt when a story gets lots of on line hits
help !
need help with links – used to highlight in comment box, hit the link button and first, paste url and then it would prompt a 2nd time so we could call the link whatever we wanted – but now, I don’t get that 2nd box on my screen – is it me, or do we do it differently with this brew of Wordpress ? thx
Hmm. I have to talk to most of my friends via IM because majority of them aren’t anywhere close i can visit. The thing is, via our blogs and our once a year meeting in Chicago for the anime convention that has become our mecca. We keep in touch, and i’d say all of us are political in one form or another. I discuss politics nightly with my friend across the lake in Wisconsin, we’re pretty active on both our blogs. Another in Texas is enjoying the Obama madness and has already done her early voting. We’ve all been affected by it, and when i visit my family we all talk it. Blue Collar for several generations and on the american side? Democrats. The canuck side is blue collar too and despises the Shrub as much if not more. Makes visits interesting when politics DO come up.
I’m not sure if i’ll have time to do community work in my very red district this fall. There’s always something i can do though.
LOL Well, ask a walnut how strong my arms are because of this winter. Let’s put it this way…walnuts cower when I enter a room. ;-)
We are 40 inches over the normal snowfall amount for this time of year. Good gawd. I’m tired and I am going to admit right now (and hope the Universe hears me) that winter has kicked my ass, I am worn down, and I would love some spring now!
*cupping ear to see if the Universe is responding yet*
Here’s headline news from Bloomberg yesterday’s Friday dump, enjoy: Goldman, Bear Stearns Bankers Targeted in Muni Criminal Probe: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Bear Stearns Cos. bankers are under investigation in the U.S. Justice Department’s criminal probe of the municipal derivatives business, regulatory documents show…Lawyers in the municipal bond industry have said the criminal probe is the biggest in the history of the almost 200- year-old market, where states, cities and towns have $2.6 trillion of debt outstanding. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also raided three brokers that advise local governments and ran the bidding as part of the probe, which may involve transactions as far back as 1992.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/…..refer=home
Hmmmmmmm, I wonder how our illustrious Secretary of Treasury Goldman Sachs alumni Paulson is handling this? We all should send Governor of New York Eliot Sptizer thank you notes:)
My historic neighborhood association has a practice of distributing hay bales in the early summer to homes that ask for them. They’re placed in the front yard, with the understanding that any one passing by is welcome to take a seat and enjoy the view, chit-chat, or what have you. It’s been fun walking around and seeing how folks made them homey (some put fabric over theirs to make it less scratchy; other planted flowers around them. One couple built a large bench and arbor over theirs: the bale became more a symbolic foundation for their act of sharing with the community. It’s a gentle way of getting to know others in this very mixed-use community.
One thing I think is important to help teenagers and college students mix with others is community service. Is it a requirement where most of you all are? In my county, private and public high schools routinely require 40 hours a year. I love that my daughter is meeting and having to talk to all different sorts of people. Who’d have thought that with all these different means of communication conversation would become an endangered art!
On Friday evenings I occasionally wander down to my favorite watering hole. Because of the area of the world I live in, the watering hole is normally crowded with elephants. But, the old bulls normally open a spot for me to wet my snout and amusedly listen to me bray my jackassery. In return I have to listen to them trumpet the greatness of the man they love-Roneo. Back and forth it goes, all in good fun, sort of.
Of course, this is old school.
Today, with technology, it is so much easier to locate your own small atomized subgroup. Should a stray drop by, call them a troll and immdediately advise your ideological brethern not to feed them. And, so it goes, sort of.
Actually Ann, it was al-Qaida in the White House who allowed the attacks on the WTC/Pentagon to happen without interference. See? Maybe this is what the HuffPo author was referring to? Could be.
Yeah, we Democrats in Texas normally try to avoid forming up into clusters. It’s an old combat precaution. The caucus will be a rare occasional of vulnerability.
Biodun en Paris. Color me deep green with envy.
Avez chocolat chaud pour moi, s’il vous plaît, à côté de Chez Angelina le jardin des Tuileries, rue de Rivoi.
[sigh]
Just starting to get more excited about gardening. It looks like next weekend puts me about 12 weeks out from last frost date! Two weeks later, I’ll be home on Spring Break during the time most seeds can be planted indoors.
I first type (or paste) the text I want to be the title for the link, and then I select that text and hit the linky button. Then just past in the url. That should do it.
.
oh and darnit, rabbit rabbit
Some fun stuff coming up at FDL over the next few days:
– Our Blue America guest today is Jim Neal from NC (running against the toadious Liddy Dole) at 2 pm ET/11 am PT
– We have a Book Salon this afternoon on the last Molly Ivins book, that she wrote with Lou Dubose (while she was battling her cancer). It is an amazing read, and one that I hope everyone will pick up. And today’s discussion will be a really good one (she says hopefully as she puts the finishing touches on her post). It’s at 5 pm ET/2 pm PT.
– Tomorrow’s book salon (same time) also looks fascinating, and should be an intriguing chat as well.
– And then Monday afternoon at 3 pm ET/noon PT, we have Scott Horton here live to talk about Siegelman and the politicization of the DOJ, among other things.
Whew…we’re gonna be busy, aren’t we?
Speaking of scandals, how is the one with your WV Supreme Court Justice working out, the one in bed with the mine owner?
Agh. I just realized how rusty — downright bad — my French is. Maybe I NEED a trip to Paris.
Any rationalization in a storm, eh?
On the issue of community outreach: we are going to be starting a non-profit organization to provide several different opportunities to folks who need it most and may not be of the same political bent. We’re going to:
– recycle computer hand-me-downs from businesses
– offer disadvantaged kids a free computer in exchange for learning hands-on how to build and maintain their own
– offer micro businesses (mom-and-pop-sized businesses) IT services to help them become more competitive and profitable
– teach kids and adults alike how to do the kinds of IT services that micro businesses need
– provide a network for micro businesses to share learnings and opportunities, so that more money stays in the community in their hands
– provide a seat for development of effective policy creation that benefits both the disadvantaged kids and micro businesses, with the upside that we will provide a real test bed for such policy instead of the usual wonkery designed for mega-corporations.
Should be kicking off within the month.
He recused himself from the case, so it’s not really a scandal. The problem with working in WV is that it’s such a tiny legal and business community that everyone pretty much knows everyone. So you are constantly running into that sort of conflict of interest problem over time. There are only about 4,000 lawyers in the state bar at any given time (and that’s a generous estimate). It’s great on a lot of levels, because since it’s small and friendly, people who are assholes get marginalized or smacked down pretty quickly (our state bar takes ethics issues very seriously, and enforces the issues rigorously for the most part).
But, Spike is up for re-election this year, with folks running against him, so it ought to be interesting, to say the least… *g*
Wow Rayne, that’s community outreach. Best of luck. Wonderful ideas.
In the comments to Jane’s posting over at HuffPo, there’s a link to a terrific commentary by Susan Brooks Thistlewaite, President of Chicago Theological Seminary, about Obama’s speech that the IRS is now using as an excuse to investigate his church. Opportunistic political abuse of power by BushCo’s minions again, anyone?
Many, many weeds have been allowed to run rampant the past seven years. There is much cultivating to be done.
I would guess that he won’t get many votes from the environmental community.
Yes, and I have to think we must be pretty sparsely distributed up here because the caucus meting site covers about 6 voting precincts … still, I hope a lot of folks will show up.
Well, he wasn’t going to get them anyway. Spike’s a Republican and he’s always been a big friend to the coal industry. He didn’t exactly get the environmental vote last time around. *G*
Hang in there. It is raining on the coast now but a few more inches of snow are expected before it is over. A local lad came by yesterday and for $10.00 he shoveled out cars. walkways and made a passageway to my last cord of wood…. hooray for high schoolers.
this touches on something I have been waiting to hear more about -
at what point do we start hearing from all the cities and counties that invested in the Sub Prime CDO’s and are broke or close to it as a result ? Springfield, MA filed suit against Merrill Lynch for fraud ($13M) about 2 weeks ago but that’s it so far. no less than Krugman and Atrios are concerned the damage could make Enron losses to Instit. Investors look mild by comparison
remember San Diego fielded 11+ candidates in a crazy mayoral election a few years back bec some goooper had heavily invested and bankrupted the City’s Pension Fund in some crony’s fund and the city faced huge shortfalls
THANKS Elliot ! will test it out
Doesn’t look like anyone linked to the NYT op-ed about how local organic farmers are running into farm regulation problems that have been established at the behest of large crop growers. My Forbidden Fruits (and Vegetables)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03…..ref=slogin
Good morning!
Last night I was at a music venue, and I went outside where there are some little tables and a stone wall…there were 3 young guys 18-22 approximately, and I sat down on the wall…after about 3 minutes, I turned to them and asked if they were going to vote…2 of them said “We’ve already voted…Obama!!”…the third guy is a trucker, and he was laughing and pulled out a lame “Hussein” and they shouted him down, but they were all laughing…
It was pretty cool to see and hear their enthusiasm and to see that they are paying attention.
My friend has this huge fig tree that bears tons of figs. Last spring I cut off a shoot and rooted it. It is going gangbusters in its pot now, and I can’t wait to plant it outside!!
I had to laugh when I saw this story at the NYT. Can anyone be surprised by this given his support of Holy Joe Lieberman? Their idea of nonpartisanship appears the same: help the Republicans.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03…..rg.html?hp
ooooh, also at the NYTimes, judge reverses order on shutting down wikileaks
And thanks to the commenter upthread who linked to High Country Gardens [salvias]. A beautiful website in oh, so many ways.
Would this be the foreshadowing of the Bloomberg for Governor campaign?
Ah, the ego…it be boundless.
Feels like spring in PDX – despite a bit of rain today. And I’m feeling exceptionally springy.
Thank you Christy,
Last January you wrote about the Square Foot Gardner. That Saturday I went to the store and found the last remaining copy. Within a week I was finishing up my first 16 sq/ft box, and now I have carrots, peas, spinach, and several leafy greens crying for more water. From one stranger to another, your words got me started gardening.
Getting to your question regarding how to handle people of different minds, I have family experience. My Aunt and Uncle are evangelical Baptists whose home page on all their computers is Drudge. Bill O’Rielly is their favorite talking head. It is a waste of time to talk politics.
The only thing that makes a difference is talking about the news. That is, news based on the honest truth, as opposed to truthiness. Last year, it was so funny when my Aunt was visiting and asked if we heard about the lesbian gangs that were fomenting violence across the nation. Apparently, that was one of the stories on Bill O’Rielly’s show. We do not watch Fox, and never heard or read about the lesbian problem. In the end, they still love BillO, but know they could be a laughing stock if they fall for everything he says.
Michael Moore starts the conversation in Sicko with the honest truth and does it very well.
Tommy Yum’s family is mine now.
This is crazy. Big Farm and Big Farma are determined to keep people eating their chemicrops. Which all goes to remind me I have to order a delicious organic spring lamb today.
There’s a timing problem for Bloomberg as gov. I think there would be something like a 2-year gap between the end of his mayoral term (term-limited) and the end of Sptizer’s first term as gov. So Bloomberg would have to figure out a way of keeping the in the public eye without being in public office. He has enough money to do it, but it’s really more difficult than just money alone will buy. So we’ll see.
He could just buy the Neo York Times couldn’t he?
I’m hanging in there literally, Nomolos! The snow banks are getting very high!
Last night I sunk down in 4.5 feet of snow in the front yard to TRY to pull off the snow and ice on the roof right now. Fear of a collapse? I don’t know! It’s looking scarier and scarier up there right now. With 10-12 more inches on it after today’s storm, it will be interesting how she fairs. Tomorrow the temps are supposed to be in the mid 30’s, which means some melting and then freezing again! Can’t stand it. I’m tired of this vicious circle.
A question for those from Texas. It was reported that a lot of repubs are crossing over and voting for Obama although they will not vote for him in the general election. What are you hearing?
I fear that we progressives are in our own bubble and are underestimating the role that racism is going to play. Not feeling that way ourselves, we don’t realize it’s power.
Farmers sell water to cities
As shortage worsens, many find it’s more profitable than using it to irrigate crops: Fresno — In a state where water has become an increasingly scarce commodity, a growing number of farmers are betting they can make more money selling their water supplies to thirsty cities and farms to the south than by growing crops.
The shortages this season – among the most intense of the last decade – are already shooting water prices skyward in many areas, and Los Angeles-area cities are begging for water and coaxing farmers to let their fields go to dust.
“It just makes dollars and sense right now,” said Bruce Rolen, a third-generation farmer in Northern California’s lush Sacramento Valley. “There’s more economic advantage to fallowing than raising a crop.”…Essentially these farmers are getting water for a subsidized price and selling it to taxpayers at an elevated rate,” said Renee Sharp, senior analyst with the Environmental Working Group, an Oakland nonprofit organization that tracks farm subsidies
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/…..JUKG5O.DTL
The NYT publisher is not in the news very often, so no, that wouldn’t work.
Time to confront the work o’the day. Ugh.
Go forth, pups, engage and connect.
What part of Texas are you in? I’m in Denton, about 40 miles north of Dallas.
my mother used to make a wonderful roast lamb (but never the mint jelly)
it has been a long time since I’ve eaten it. I’ve never cooked it myself. Can’t be too hard I guess.
More comedy from the Times. There is an article on whether the press showed more favoritism in their coverage of Obama over Clinton on the campagin trail. But this is priceless:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03…..ss.html?hp
Straight from the pot’s to the kettle’s mouth.
My friend who manages part of my portfolio has been trying to figure out ways to invest in water. I’ll send her the link. Thanks.
Hmmm…I think that the enthusiasm for Obama in Texas is genuine. They like him because he’s different. The Republicans are embarrassed by Bush and are rebelling. That’s my take, but what do I know.
I hope you’re right.
Actually, he’s a Democrat.
Do it ! It’s the most wonderful thing and Costco has the very best lamb.
The turnout for early voting in Texas has been huge. In may county, it’s been at least 4 times that of prior primaries and 65 percent have voted in the Democratic primary. Texas-wide, the number is somewhere between 2 and 3 times a large as early voting in prior primaries, with over 60 percent in the Democratic primary. It’s hard to say how many may be new young Democrats, independents, or serious Republican converts, versus Republicans up to mischief. Among those up to mischief, some would be trying to insure that their most hated Democrat (probably Hillary) doesn’t stand a chance of reaching the Presidency and others would be voting to put the most defeatable Democrat (in their view) against the Democrat.
I tend to be skeptical about large numbers voting for any Democrat in November, but hope I am wrong.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
OMG — now that is hilarious. Pot, this is kettle…
Traveling back to California I sometimes take roads that lead through towns that have had Basque populations, especially Nevada, and look for Basque restaurants because they will have lamb on their menus. Grew up on a farm with a flock of sheep on it so always at good lamb.
Are you sure? I always thought Spike was a Republican. Having argued in front of him a time or two, his sympathies certainly hit that side of the fence…
My son decided to get a new xbox last summer with his birthday money and savings. He had it less than a week and returned it. He was starting a new school for his senior year of high school and said he wanted to be with people, not a machine. He also said he thought it would be too tempting when he gets to college. Plus once he got the basics, that would just be the start of continual spending on it.
Anyway, he thinks that plenty of people in the dorms will have all that stuff and he can get in a game now and then. I was sort of amazed and gratified. He’s just 17. The social situation for him is sort of okay, but it is really tough to start a new school at this age. He ends up putting in a lot of hours at work, because it feels comfortable to him there.
Of course, come to think of it, he comes from Mingo County which isn’t exactly a bastion of GOP registration. So he’s probably just a Republican in Dem clothing like any number of folks I know who register as Dems for political advancement purposes here. It’s been 6 years since we had to vote for him, so I just don’t remember which side of the ballot he was on (and, frankly, I voted for someone else so I wasn’t really paying attention to him at the time…)
Logic is something that seems not to reside in the mind of the EPA Administrator because his rational for deny California the waiver on emission control is crap.
From the LA Times -
Ya, I know that there are lots of politics behind this but this should embarrass anyone working for the EPA who not politically appointed.
I did not know that there were Basque towns dotted around out there,thanks. the Basque are a people unto themselves, their language and their genes.
Morning christy and pups,
We had another four inches of snow overnight, Montreal is still under it’s wonderful white blanket. More snow here than in the last 20 years.
Before the last Presidential election, I was recuperating from a massive ankle wound. I had a republican friend who was building himself a boat house in Mantoloking NJ. I could help on this build because of my prior experience in fiberglass. I reglassed his hull, sitting on a bucket… When my day was over, I’d drive to Marlin’s in Point Pleasant, to have crab cakes and Guiness. A lot of folks were talking politics, and you can well imagine that most around there, being rich white folks, were going to vote once again for that installed chimp. The personnel would introduce me to those who’d take a seat besides me, and curiosity would ensue.
“What do you think of this war”?
“What do you think of Bush and Cheney”??
My answer came in a question: “What news source do you use”???
Lots of Fox, MSNBC, ABC and CNN was the usual answer.
I would then tell them of the news we got in Montréal, through the CBC and BBC.
You can well imagine that what I had to say was truely news to these folks. I was telling them about the lack of equipment for the troops, informing them that Irak had nothing to do with AlQueda, that Bush really had deserted his post when he was in the military , how Cheney decided he was going to be vice-president and of his ties with the oil industry and how he managed the oil comission…
Those four points pretty much wiped the smiles from their faces, and I got invited to a few tables to continue the discussion. These folks were hungry for the truth (and surf and turf…). I was told by a few, that their votes were going to change. They were not that mad at Bush and Cheney, they were pissed off at the news they were getting, tired of being lied at.
Knowledge is a powerful tool. Being funny, polite and respectful helped a lot. But, I think my accent and honesty got to them more than anything else.
Have a good weekend, off to snowshoe this afternoon, ankle is much better now.
Yes, I’m sure. Check out the Secretary of State’s website:
http://www.wvsos.com/elections…..38;Type=CA
Depressing, isn’t it?
I’m thinking of helping out with Bastress’ campaign, but I’m heavily involved with a campaign for family court judge, 20th district, so it’s a matter of how much time, energy, etc.
Many Basque came into northern Nevada to herd sheep so in places like Elko you can find restaurants. In Reno there was one remaining in the downtown area but John Ascuaga’s Nugget Casino has one and Ascuaga is a Basque name.
I just read the NYT piece you linked to. To put it mildly, it was a poor article. Talk about mailing it in. Hell, you can find better analysis in our weekly Burnt Stump Bugle.
The Grey Lady has fallen on very hard times.
November can’t come soon enough. I voted early in TX and will be going Monday to train for the Caucus. I have never been involved in politics until this election. I voted for Obama. I have a sister in MN., she and her freinds are voting for Hillary. It’s the woman’s time. We don’t talk election stuff anymore unless it’s general or about Bush and the Repubs.
I’ve decided that I’m going to plant a bunch of moonflowers and morning glories…I love vines.
Moonflowers:
http://www.mygreengarden.ca/ga…..ers-04.jpg
Wow — it is POURING the snow down outside here. Sometimes, you look up from the laptop and…it’s a sea of white. No wonder the birdies have been huddling on our feeder all morning…
I worked with Bob Bastress on an ACLU project when I was in law school and had him for Con Law — he’s really sharp, and a very nice guy to boot.
Have to clean off the flat roof every time in snows. We are going to build out over it this spring so that is a task I shall be glad to see done with
Elliot. @120
Fresh organic lamb is wonderful, very quick to cook (do NOT overcook). Mint jelly is easier to buy than make I have found.. hey I am lazy what can I say. We serve stuffed leg of lamb when we have 6 or more to dinner. Tonight we are having lamb riblets with some brussell sprouts from last year’s crop. Now I am getting hungry.
you’ve got me hungry too!
Thank for the help and well the idea in the first place. :)
Good morning, Christy!
The sun is not yet up here in Hawaii, but I wanted to try to answer your question, “how do we start talking, really talking, to the people around us who don’t already agree with us?” Here are my thoughts:
* Start by asking questions. Find out what is important to *them.* If you can’t get interested in what is important to them, go home and work in your garden.
* Offer your own opinions sparingly, always using “I” language (I think… I feel…)
* Avoid using the words “should”, “must” etc., unless speaking in the first person singular.
* Avoid using the second person singular (”you”, etc.) unless you are asking a question.
That’s a start!
Bob in HI
On the practical side I begin with the subject of “VOTE”. I wear a pin that says just that. It usually leads to a conversation in which I often ask if someone is registered. If not, I tell them how to do it and check back later if I can. I’ve gotten a lot of people registered this way.
“VOTE” often leads to a discussion of issues. If I’m talking with an angry uninformed Republican type that shouts slogans at me and repeats FOX drivel, I listen a lot and eventually “suggest” another side. If I can come across as not personally hostile to their point of view, I can usually make inroads with some targeted factual info. and shake them up a little.
It’s a little bit, but I just gotta do something to change things around here.
Hi Christy,
I think the best way to walk the walk is to demonstrate what it is that defines the progressives (to me, at least): a genuine desire to save the world, and a genuine willingness to do the work necessary to save the world.
I’m a fairly young Independent voter from a Republican background. What drove me into the progressive movement? The fact that, when the chips were down and there were clear, moral choices to be made, progressives were the ones making them. Progressives are the ones that, in these dark times, are standing up for democracy, the Constitution, the rule of law. Progressives are the ones concerned with the health of our planet, the well-being of American citizens, and the well-being of all the citizens of the world. Progressives are the ones who lobby for truth, transparency, and fairness in government.
And conservatives are not. I was taught that the difference between Dems and Repubs was a political philosophy about the role of government in everyday life (big vs. small). However, these last few years have shown me that, when faced with a choice to do right, or wrong, only progressives have chosen right. I know that there are good Republicans out there. My parents are two of them. But the force of change that must happen for this country, and for the world, to move forward has come only from progressives.
Given that, I have a simple proposal. Continue to lead by example, and get public recognition for it by branding the generous actions of progressives as the logical conclusion of joining the progressive movement. I propose creating a movement-branded volunteer program, such as a grassroots “Progressive Peace Corps.” As a grassroots program, each person can make it their own. Some ideas:
Giving supplies to the troops in Afghanistan
Registering people to vote, regardless of party affiliation
volunteer teaching
driving people to the polls at all elections, including local
food banking
raising money for schools
These are all activities that progessives are already doing. What I suggest is to brand these disparate initiatives as progressive initiatives that are the logical conclusion of progressive ideals.
For this to work, it will need publicity from the blogs, maybe in the form of a regular diary in prominent lefty blogs reporting on the latest efforts in the “Progressive Peace Corps Campaign.” (Note: I am not advocating that name, it’s just an example.) It will also require explicitly stating why these activities that help the community are natural outcomes of progressive ideals. As in, “we provide this service that is vital to your community, because that is what it means to be a progressive.” That is key, because that is what makes the progressive movement so compelling.
Good morning everyone! I got my username & password from Firedoglake last night & it’s exciting to discover(underline) that there is a “constructive blog” worth reading.
I work for a wonderful couple who believe in “R” party. Husband listens to rush or bill kinds all day long at the office & he sometimes yells “liar” if there are any comments on “D”. sigh… When I first started there, I made a crucial mistake. I took on one of his so-called “justified explanation” on Iraq. He said we went to Iraq to scare Iran. Rightfully so, he said. I couldn’t believe & literally in shock for a moment. How could this gentle loving person who treats their pets with great care & honors veterans buy into this bs? Ever since then, I’ve been avoiding anything that is related to our politic & policies, well accepted advice from my hubby.
I’m living a American Dream. I came to this great country about 20 years ago from Korea. I still remember THE day when I became a US Citizen back in 1993. Everybody there cried, hugged each other & was so proud to be a part of this great nation. I’ve been working hard, married to a man of my dream who happens to be a handsome Irish:),moved away from CA to State of Washington about 4 yrs ago & bought a townhome we can afford . We don’t have much money so we try to get involved in local charities with our time & office skills that we have.
My hubby once told me that don’t get involved in politic because it’s lose lose situation. I’m very proud & excited to report that, that exact person is now a delegate! He’s writing to local news medias & informs people about what went wrong & more importantly what we can do together to make it better. God I love this man. I firmly told him that he’s married to me for next 5 billion years:)
Sorry for a long post but I got really excited:) I promise I’ll make it short from now on.
Hey ck4city,
Welcome to firedoglake! Hope to hear from you often.
Carrollton. Just down I-35E from you … and it was almost Denton, but I didn’t get that job.
Christy
Your post, that we need to communicate better, is right on, but comparatively few comments deal with communication. As for face to face communication, don’t think that’s realistic. We not only need communication, we need a way to decide on an action and take it, the action being non-violent and legal although we can’t take violence off the table, sad to say.
The writer’s strike was a missed opportunity. If millions of sympathizers didn’t go to the movies it not only would send a message to the producers, it would send a message to us about how powerful we the people can be. The tool to send emails to the newspapers was interesting and may be useful, but I doubt anyone here wants to receive thousands of emails. Eliminating repetion is a large part of the problem.
Some time ago there was a world wide memorial for John Lennon with groups of people meeting in places where organizers made it happen. We need something like that and we need lots of people to get out from under hierarchical thinking. Trouble is people like hierarchy. They think it relieves them from responsibility. Doubt if God buys the excuse “I was following orders”, but who knows. Maybe he or she does.
Thank you! I bookmarked this site & sent it to friends & famly members!