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Crooked River Hotel hotel

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With we help you find the best hotels in Crooked River, Victoria. For prices starting at just a night, you can book the perfect hotel room for your stay in Crooked River.

If you are looking for Crooked River hotels in a particular area, you can use the search feature at the top of the page to search by neighborhood, landmark, address or zip code, or you can search by using the built-in map feature. You can also browse hotels in Crooked River by type, amenities, and star-rating.

The location of your Crooked River hotel is important. If you are travelling to Crooked River, &StateorCountry for business, you may want to consider getting a hotel close to the airport or near your meeting venue. By doing so, you can really cut down on transportation costs and time. You may also want to book a hotel that offers free wifi just in case you need to get some work done.

Why use to book your Crooked River lodging & hotel?

We can help you to find the perfect Crooked River hotel room for almost any occasion. With our fast and secure hotel search you may compare different Crooked River hotels by:

  • - Price
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  • - Star rating
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For every hotel in Crooked River Victoria we provide:

  • - Up to the minute hotel rates & availability
  • - In depth hotel information and photos
  • - Detailed Crooked River maps showing the locations of your hotel in Crooked River and the nearest transport and landmarks
  • - TripAdvisor Crooked River hotel review score

If you are travelling for vacation, figure out which attractions or landmarks you want to see and book a hotel that is within close proximity. Although hotels near attractions might cost a little more, you may find that spending those extra few dollars is worth the convenience. You can even find hotels that align with your interests. For example, if you are looking for a relaxing vacation, a spa hotel may be the perfect choice for you.

You’ll also want to determine which type of hotels will suit your needs before booking a hotel in Crooked River. For those travelling for an extended period, booking a hotel suite with a kitchenette is a smart move and will feel a little more like home. If you are budget conscious and just need a place to rest your head, a hostel or motel may be all you need.

When you make a hotel reservation in Crooked River with we'll send you email and text confirmations with the reservation details of your Crooked River hotel booking along with contact details, directions, information on nearby Crooked River attractions, restaurants and even the weather - and if you get stuck, we're only a phone call away.

You can compare all of our Crooked River hotel rooms including the major Crooked River hotel chains using our 0 genuine guest reviews as well as TripAdvisor Crooked River hotel reviews to help find the perfect hotel room when booking your hotel in Crooked River. We also feature Expedia Crooked River hotels and reviews.

When you book your Crooked River stay with you may also earn free nights on participating hotels by joining the Rewards program. It's free to join and only takes 2 minutes to sign up and when you stay 10 nights you receive 1 night free*. So even a short weekend break in Crooked River can get you on your way to a free night.


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Rogeno Hotel hotel

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With we help you find the best hotels in Rogeno, Italy. For prices starting at just P4,892 a night, you can book the perfect hotel room for your stay in Rogeno.

If you are looking for Rogeno hotels in a particular area, you can use the search feature at the top of the page to search by neighborhood, landmark, address or zip code, or you can search by using the built-in map feature. You can also browse hotels in Rogeno by type, amenities, and star-rating.

The location of your Rogeno hotel is important. If you are travelling to Rogeno, &StateorCountry for business, you may want to consider getting a hotel close to the airport or near your meeting venue. By doing so, you can really cut down on transportation costs and time. You may also want to book a hotel that offers free wifi just in case you need to get some work done.

Why use to book your Rogeno lodging & hotel?

We can help you to find the perfect Rogeno hotel room for almost any occasion. With our fast and secure hotel search you may compare different Rogeno hotels by:

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For every hotel in Rogeno Italy we provide:

  • - Up to the minute hotel rates & availability
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If you are travelling for vacation, figure out which attractions or landmarks you want to see and book a hotel that is within close proximity. Although hotels near attractions might cost a little more, you may find that spending those extra few dollars is worth the convenience. You can even find hotels that align with your interests. For example, if you are looking for a relaxing vacation, a spa hotel may be the perfect choice for you.

You’ll also want to determine which type of hotels will suit your needs before booking a hotel in Rogeno. For those travelling for an extended period, booking a hotel suite with a kitchenette is a smart move and will feel a little more like home. If you are budget conscious and just need a place to rest your head, a hostel or motel may be all you need.

When you make a hotel reservation in Rogeno with we'll send you email and text confirmations with the reservation details of your Rogeno hotel booking along with contact details, directions, information on nearby Rogeno attractions, restaurants and even the weather - and if you get stuck, we're only a phone call away.

You can compare all of our Rogeno hotel rooms including the major Rogeno hotel chains using our 1147 genuine guest reviews as well as TripAdvisor Rogeno hotel reviews to help find the perfect hotel room when booking your hotel in Rogeno. We also feature Expedia Rogeno hotels and reviews.

When you book your Rogeno stay with you may also earn free nights on participating hotels by joining the Rewards program. It's free to join and only takes 2 minutes to sign up and when you stay 10 nights you receive 1 night free*. So even a short weekend break in Rogeno can get you on your way to a free night.

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Suno Hotel hotel

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With we help you find the best hotels in Suno, Italy. For prices starting at just a night, you can book the perfect hotel room for your stay in Suno.

If you are looking for Suno hotels in a particular area, you can use the search feature at the top of the page to search by neighborhood, landmark, address or zip code, or you can search by using the built-in map feature. You can also browse hotels in Suno by type, amenities, and star-rating.

The location of your Suno hotel is important. If you are travelling to Suno, &StateorCountry for business, you may want to consider getting a hotel close to the airport or near your meeting venue. By doing so, you can really cut down on transportation costs and time. You may also want to book a hotel that offers free wifi just in case you need to get some work done.

Why use to book your Suno lodging & hotel?

We can help you to find the perfect Suno hotel room for almost any occasion. With our fast and secure hotel search you may compare different Suno hotels by:

  • - Price
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  • - Hotel name & chain
  • - Theme

For every hotel in Suno Italy we provide:

  • - Up to the minute hotel rates & availability
  • - In depth hotel information and photos
  • - Detailed Suno maps showing the locations of your hotel in Suno and the nearest transport and landmarks
  • - TripAdvisor Suno hotel review score

If you are travelling for vacation, figure out which attractions or landmarks you want to see and book a hotel that is within close proximity. Although hotels near attractions might cost a little more, you may find that spending those extra few dollars is worth the convenience. You can even find hotels that align with your interests. For example, if you are looking for a relaxing vacation, a spa hotel may be the perfect choice for you.

You’ll also want to determine which type of hotels will suit your needs before booking a hotel in Suno. For those travelling for an extended period, booking a hotel suite with a kitchenette is a smart move and will feel a little more like home. If you are budget conscious and just need a place to rest your head, a hostel or motel may be all you need.

When you make a hotel reservation in Suno with we'll send you email and text confirmations with the reservation details of your Suno hotel booking along with contact details, directions, information on nearby Suno attractions, restaurants and even the weather - and if you get stuck, we're only a phone call away.

You can compare all of our Suno hotel rooms including the major Suno hotel chains using our 0 genuine guest reviews as well as TripAdvisor Suno hotel reviews to help find the perfect hotel room when booking your hotel in Suno. We also feature Expedia Suno hotels and reviews.

When you book your Suno stay with you may also earn free nights on participating hotels by joining the Rewards program. It's free to join and only takes 2 minutes to sign up and when you stay 10 nights you receive 1 night free*. So even a short weekend break in Suno can get you on your way to a free night.


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News » AIDS

Elton John AIDS Foundation Applauds California Governor Jerry Brown for Signing SB 239 into Law

Thursday Oct 12, 2017

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) applauds California Governor Jerry Brown for signing Senate Bill 239 into law.

This landmark piece of legislation reforms laws that unfairly criminalized people living with HIV and therefore made at-risk individuals less willing to be tested for HIV and receive lifesaving treatment that also prevents the further spread of the disease. The new legislation also serves as a model for other states to likewise revise their unjust laws regarding people living with HIV/AIDS.

The Foundation is especially proud of the bill's co-sponsors, including EJAF grantees Equality California Institute, Lambda Legal, and Positive Women's Network USA, as well as APLA Health, Black AIDS Institute, and ACLU, and all of the organizations supporting the coalition Californians for HIV Criminalization Reform.

"This coalition educated lawmakers, LGBT communities, progressive allies, and the public about the need to change punitive California state laws regarding people living with HIV," said EJAF Executive Director Scott Campbell. "We are committed to working with other organizations across the U.S. to continue educating about the need to modernize state and local laws that unjustly penalize people living with HIV/AIDS."

Most laws criminalizing HIV-positive people were passed in the 1980s when there was still limited medical knowledge about HIV, no effective treatments, and tremendous fear surrounding the disease and people perceived to be infected or at risk. Stigmatizing people living with the disease quickly became politically expedient.

Since that time, our understanding of the disease has greatly advanced, effective treatments not only extensively improve and prolong the lives of people living with HIV but also nearly eliminate the possibility of transmitting the disease when used correctly. In addition, HIV-negative people have access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a one-pill-per-day medication that prevents HIV infection. It is past time that federal, state, and local laws were modernized to reflect today's scientific realities.

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original music

Reopening a closed case to find great discovery

While composing the composition People of the Rain I realized I needed a different feel than I had from the guitars I’ve been playing on lately. For no particular reason I haven’t played my Menkevich guitar for a few years. The said guitar is very special to me; Carlos Rubio introduced me to Luthier Michael Menkevick. From that introduction came my first custom guitar. My guitar hero also strummed an A chord on it, signed the head stock and heard me play an Allegra while her tour manager danced (turned out the tour manager was a flamenco dancer). On a hunch a few months ago I reopened a guitar case that has been closed. I reintroduced myself, apologized, polished the wood and restrung; the rhythms and melody poured out.

Kevin Cope Destination Unknown Vol. 1; Debut CD Available

Kevin Cope Classical guitarist and composer has released his first CD of original compositions for the guitar.
This is music that should be in the collection of anybody who loves the guitar.
Artist website and purchase:  WWW.KEVINJCOPE.COM

Finding Beauty-Maria Corley Interviews Guitarist David Cohen

Written by Maria Corley 2018

kindred hospital south pholadelphia david cohen pipaPhiladelphia-based composer and multi-instrumentalist David Cohen is a cancer survivor who exemplifies the phrase “beauty for ashes.” While he never suffered from the disease himself, he watched his beloved wife, Tatyana, die of ovarian cancer, a process that nearly stripped him of his will to make music. While she was alive, he became an active advocate for patient-centered care, a role he continues today. After her death, he recorded a farewell to his life as a musician, which won an unprecedented award.

In the end, David never gave up music; the passion was too great, and, as he notes, his wife would never have wanted that. Instead, he takes his guitar into hospitals, playing for and talking with “amazing people.” He also took his guitar to the U.K, where he set up a tour that included a stop at the famed Troubadour in London, launching pad for storied artists like his idol and inspiration, Joan Armatrading.

To learn more about David’s amazing journey, please click here.

Never miss a story from Maria Corley, when you sign up for Medium. Learn more

Halloween Trilogy for Guitar

After a search for Halloween music for classical guitar to teach his students turned up nothing Keith Calmes did what a composer does; he composed what his students wanted and what he needed. Halloween Trilogy for Guitar Solo is the new series of student pieces written by Calmes.  The ghoulish trilogy offers a spooky selection of music that is fun to practice and nice to listen to while relaxing in your crypt over a bowl of eye of newt, toe of frog, wool of bat, and tongue of dog chowder. The cauldron of melodies are happy and innocent and they double double, boil without toil and trouble. The fire burns, and the caldron bubbles with their dark hints of European exoticism.

Sample and purchase Halloween Trilogy; available through Guitar Chamber Music Press.

Keith earned degrees in Classical Guitar Performance from California State University Northridge, The Juilliard School, and the University of Southern California. He also studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and Musica en Compostela in Spain. Additional studies with Leo Brouwer, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Eliot Fisk and Oscar Ghiglia were significantly formative experiences.
Artist website: www.keithcalmes.com

Chaos Theory by David Cohen

david cohen guitar chaos theoryChaos Theory is my 2nd studio recording of original pieces. The compositions are purely me living  in my world of rhythm and melody. The music was composed between July 2014 and December 2015; each peice written for and on an Ovation classical guitar. The guitar used in the Chaos Theory recording is an Ovation classical cutaway, model 1773AX.

Signals by David Cohen from Chaos Theory

Chaos Theory is six stories. Each story is rooted an individual’s fight for health and security. In the piece that closes the recording, A long Memory of Kindness, my inspiration behind the piece came from a brief period of time with a person that lost the ability of movement from the neck down. Slowly minor movement was visible in one arm.  When it was time to move on in the continuum of care the person told me that the goal was to write a letter to say thank you. The person went on to say, “I have a long memory of kindness. When I can, I want to write everyone who has helped me to thank them. People have been so kind.”

A long Memory of Kindness was written to close out Chaos Theory presenting the most fundamental premise; kindness.
Click link for more information


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How to Submit

All submissions should be sent to with the subject line “Design Submission.”

Design submissions should include a completed submission form and an illustration that clearly illustrates the structure and operation of the composter. Illustrations should be submitted as Sketchup models, CAD drawings, or scaled hand drawings.

Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges, who will select finalists. The finalists will be funded to build their designs, and local composting organizations will host each finalist build over a period of a few months to test out the concept. Judges will then confer with the host organizations to select a winner.


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Connect with us

Upcoming Mobiles

LG G6 Plus and G6 Pro Smartphones to Launch Soon in South Korea

At the MWC 2016, LG launched the LG G6 flagship smartphone as the successor to the semi-modular device, LG G5. While the LG G6 lacks any modularity, the company even ditched the removable battery feature to make it both water and dust resistant. The USP of the device is its 5.7-inch Quad HD+ display offering 2880 x 1440 pixels with an aspect ratio of 18:9. Now, the company seems to bring in more variants of the LG G6 called as LG G6 Plus and G6 Pro. While the exact changes made for these variants can’t be confirmed now, but leaks reveal a couple of changes.

The LG G6 Plus is said to come with 128GB of onboard storage and might support fast charging through Wireless charging. Samsung introduced the fast charging through the wireless charging with the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus smartphones. It might also come with the Full Vision display as seen on the LG G6. While there is no confirmation, we expect the company will pick the 10nm Snapdragon 835 SoC instead of the year old Snapdragon 821 SoC. This device is mentioned to cost KRW 999,000 (approx $890 / Rs. 57,500) in South Korea.

Talking about the LG G6 Pro, it will come with just 32GB of internal storage. It might even come with a lower resolution display and a smaller camera. Both these devices will be running on the latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box and should receive the Android O once it is publically released. Even the LG G6 launched at the MWC 2017 came in two variants, the U.S variant came with 32GB storage and wireless charging whereas the variant launched in Asia sports a Quad DAC and doubled internal storage of 64GB.

The LG G6 sports a glass back body and missed the removable battery. It is also IP68 certified making it the water and dust resistant. As said earlier, the device sports a 5.7-inch FullVision display with Quad HD+ resolution. There is are dual 13MP sensors on the rear with OIS 2.0 and super wide angle view. On the front is a 5MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture and 100-degree wide-angle lens. In India, the device was launched at Rs. 51,990 and is now retailing at just Rs. 41,990 after a discount of Rs. 10,000.

While the LG G6 Plus and G6 Pro are expected to launch soon in South Korea, there is no information about the global launch of these devices. Having said that, how many of you would like to opt for Snapdragon 835 powered LG G6 Plus/Pro instead of the Samsung Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy S8 Plus. Share your opinion with us by commenting down below or tweet us at @PhoneRadarBlog.

Comment what you think

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Twitter sweeps 'locked' accounts from follower tally

July 11, 2018
Twitter users may see reduced follower counts after changes made by the social network to stop tallying accounts which may have been compromised

Twitter said Wednesday users are likely to see "follower" numbers drop as the service stops adding in potentially dubious or fraudulent accounts.

The social network said it would make the change by removing from followers any accounts which have been "locked" after sudden changes in behavior, which may signal the people who opened them may no longer be in control.

"This week, we'll be removing these locked accounts from follower counts across profiles globally," Twitter said in a blog post.

"As a result, the number of followers displayed on many profiles may go down."

The San Francisco-based service said it reaches out to owners of locked accounts to confirm all is well and have them reset passwords.

In the meantime, locked accounts were kept in tallies of other Twitter users they "followed."

Twitter said most of these accounts "were created by real people" but that it locks accounts if it cannot confirm that the original person who opened the account is still in charge.

Twitter expected most users to see follower counts ebb by four or less, with "a more significant drop" for people with large follower numbers.

"We understand this may be hard for some, but we believe accuracy and transparency make Twitter a more trusted for public conversation," the San Francisco-based company said.

Reasons for accounts being locked include tweeting large numbers of unsolicited replies or firing off "misleading" links. Twitter said that it sometimes locks accounts if ranks of users block them, or if stolen passwords are posted online.

"Until we confirm that everything is okay with the account, we lock it, which makes them unable to tweet or see ads," Twitter said.

"In most cases, these accounts were created by but we cannot confirm that the original person who opened the account still has control and access to it."

The impetus for the update was that follower counts often serve as an indicator of credibility, according to Twitter.

Explore further: Twitter to confirm new accounts in spam fight

Related Stories

Twitter to confirm new accounts in spam fight

June 27, 2018

Twitter on Tuesday said it will begin asking for email addresses or phone numbers to confirm new accounts as part of a battle against manipulation, particularly by automated bots.

Twitter adds more safety tools, will curb abusive accounts

March 1, 2017

Twitter is adding more tools to curb abuse on its service as part of its ongoing effort to protect users from hate and harassment. Among other things, the service will attempt to identify offenders on its own, even if no ...

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September 18, 2018

New technological developments by UNIST researchers promise to significantly boost the performance of lithium metal batteries in promising research for the next-generation of rechargeable batteries. The study also validates ...

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September 17, 2018

Germany on Monday rolled out the world's first hydrogen-powered train, signalling the start of a push to challenge the might of polluting diesel trains with costlier but more eco-friendly technology.

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Discovery Phytomedicine is indexed in the following  databases:

Discovery Phytomedicine is abstracted and/or indexed in CAS, EBSCO Publishing's Electronic Databases, Google Scholar,Online Computer Library Center, RoMEO and Hinari. We are making all the efforts to be considered for indexing in ProQuest, Index Copernicus, PubMed, Pubmed Central, SCOLOAR, SCOPUS and other databases and search engines.


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Pilates DVD Library –all online!

At Pilates on Fifth, our fabulous instructors know just how to keep classes fun, interesting, and effective, and now we’re delivering the essence of Pilates on Fifth straight to your home computer with a full line of Pilates DVD’s… all available online at www.ultimatepilatesworkouts.com!  Whether you do Pilates Mat DVD’s, Pilates Reformer DVD’s or Pilates Chair DVD’s, you can be sure that your Pilates workout will engage your mind and your sense of fun, as well as the deep, core muscles of your body. One of the ways our instructors keep their mat classes interesting is the use of small equipment and props.

Props, such as stability balls, elastic bands, foam rollers, and arc barrels, improve our classes in a number of ways. First, small pieces of equipment help “level the playing field.” Advanced students will find that props like stability balls help keep their Pilates classes challenging. New students will find that props improve their understanding of the exercises. For instance, using a stability ball can help a client “find” the right muscles to use. Using equipment helps “fire your muscles” in exactly the right spot. Props are essential to Pilates workouts of all levels! Pilates for seniors, athletes, dancers, pregnant women, clients recovering from injuries, and the everyday Pilates enthusiast alike! That’s why we’ve integrated Pilates props into Ultimate Pilates Workouts! We’ve designed full-length Pilates DVD’s specific to each prop for a number of different conditions. Choose from Pilates DVD’s custom designed for the ultimate Pilates Stretch Band, Pilates Stability Ball, Pilates Small BallPilates Magic CircleBOSU and Mini Body Bar workout! You’ll never get tired of Ultimate Pilates Workouts with the variety of Pilates Stretch Band DVD’s, Pilates Stability Ball DVD’s, etc, etc, to choose from!

Firing your muscles correctly empowers you to do the exercises correctly. Our instructors are sticklers for good technique; the better your technique, the better your results will be. When you enjoy a Mat Pilates Plus class in our sun-filled penthouse studio in New York City, you will improve everything from your flexibility to your balance to your core strength. You’ll even improve your bone density. Pilates aids in the process of improving a number of different health conditions. At Pilates on Fifth, we advocate Pro-Health Pilates! Our Pro-Health Pilates program incorporates custom Pilates instruction for Breast Cancer Survivors with our Pink Ribbon Pilates and heart health with our CARDIOLATES® just to name a few! Our instructors are well equipped to design workouts specific to clients with osteoporosis, spinal conditions, hip/knee replacements, abdominal surgeries, torn rotator cuffs, and neck injuries. We strongly believe in Pilates for bettering the health of its followers. Ultimate Pilates Workouts offers a fabulous collection of DVD’s specific to special populations and injuries. Enjoy Pilates for Lower Back Care DVD’s, Pink Ribbon Pilates DVD’s, Pre-Natal Pilates DVD’s and more from the convenience of your own home!

We look forward to bringing quality Pilates workouts to the convenience of your own home! Visit www.ultimatepilatesworkouts.com to browse through our extensive and inexpensive Pilates DVD library today!

February 14, 2009. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Pilates on Fifth Postings, Pilates Posts, The Pilates Center of New York Postings, UltimatePilatesWorkouts.com Postings.

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Tuesday, 10 February 2015

I don't know about you, but I love a scrapbook page with a stand out frame. There's something classic and elegant about a good photo with a beautiful frame laid upon it. Your eye immediately knows where to look. But lately, I'm noticing lots of scrappers who have been using frames in really creative ways on their layouts.

Frames have been around forever and ever ... as long as there have been art or photographs to place inside them. But whether in the scrapbooking world or not, frames can be useful in all kinds of applications. There are certainly no shortages of creative uses for frames found on Pinterest. Just look at some of the ways these creative folks have used frames around the home or office.

I've scanned the PRD TLP gallery and found these inspiring pages where scrapbookers have used frames in unique and creative ways. Maybe it will inspire you to think twice about simply just placing that pretty frame over your photo and moving along?

First Up is a page by Mirjam [I have to admit, this page was the inspiration for this Trendspotting episode]. I love it when designers scrap and this page does not disappoint. The photo is framed in so many creative ways on this one page: the grey cut out frame, the JC, even the stitching grid is acting as a frame here. And I love the look of the cut out frame being titled a bit for visual interest!

Okay? page credits

Here, Sarah/PLM uses an elegant wooden frame that demands attention. However she doesn't simply place the photo neatly inside this beautiful frame. Instead she places it over her photo and leaves the edges of the photo visible underneath. Clever and adds such a subtle, interesting effect!

Take Note page credits

How about this geometric page by Shannon/Roboliver? I love her photo borders. She uses PRD's super cool Fold'em Frames. These frames come as PSD clipping mask files and make it so easy to create an edgey and fun look on your pages! And the framing around her title echos this cool geometric vibe.

That Face page credits

And how adorable is this dreamy page by Geraldine, which has the photo coming right out of the frame? A pocket frame is also used as a matte under the photo, adding some nice layering to the page!

Little Angel page credits

And Em/Justagirl uses a filmstrip with a series of photos for her page, but she takes it a step further and blended a photo into the background while also adding a frame over top the filmstrip to draw the eye in! So effective! Love this idea!

Make Sure page credits

Christa uses a fun circle cut out in her background paper to showcase her photo! She also does not stop there, but adds an overlay to really draw the eye in. It is such a clever way to make a clean page shine and a really unique use for photo overlays!

Friday page credits

One more from Anja using the Torn Treasures Vol. 2 frames by PRD. The torn frame and classic B&W photo are a perfect pair here. A simple kraft background as the foundation helps this image take center stage.

                Be page credits

Did you know that the Pink Reptile Designs store has a category specifically for frames?  You can find them all here: Pink Reptile Designs Frames. And here is a peek at what is in that category:

So what do you think? Inspired by these amazing pages and versatile PRD products to try to mix up the way you frame your photos on your pages? I hope so! And hint,hint ... come back on the 15th for the next challenge. I think there might just be a bit of "creative framing" in your future!

Either way I am excited to give you this coupon for a 25% discount on ANY of those pink reptile frames!

Happy Scrappin´!

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One year later: Have we moved from Michael Brown’s death?

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

On Sunday, hundreds joined the family of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri for a moment of silence, one year after the unarmed 18-year-old was shot by police officer Darren Wilson.

Since then close to 30 black men have been killed by police leaving the questions: Have we moved on? And if not, can we move on?

Founder of When it's Real, It's Forever founder Nicole Paultre Bell, managing editor for the Grio Todd Johnson and former NYPD lieutenant Dr. Darrin Porcher discuss more.


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Win Gaming Prizes with Matrix Warehouse

GeForce GTX 1080
Online Loan Application

Matrix Warehouse is giving away a GeForce GTX 1080 Graphics Card valued at R13,000 and two Steam vouchers valued at R1,000 in a gaming prizes competition.

The giveaway is part of Matrix’s “Your Best Play” Promotion, which is offering great deals on gaming tech products.

Other prizes in the giveaway:

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PJ Media encourages you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY.

Friday's HOT MIC

Here is our HOT MIC for the day.

McCabe's lawyers have weighed in on the DOJ IG's report and oh, the irony!:

Is the Left finally coming to grips with the calamity of Barack Hussein Obama?

It becomes clearer every day that Barack Obama, a historic president, presided over a somewhat less than historic presidency. With only one major legislative achievement (Obamacare)—and a fragile one at that—the legacy of Obama’s presidency mainly rests on its tremendous symbolic importance and the fate of a patchwork of executive actions.

How much of that was due to fate and how much was due to Obama’s own shortcomings as a politician is up for debate and is a question that emerges from Princeton historian Julian Zelizer’s new edited volume, The Presidency of Barack Obama.

With contributions from seventeen historians, the book bills itself as “a first historical assessment” of the Obama presidency. The overwhelming consensus, Zelizer writes, is that Obama “turned out to be a very effective policymaker but not a tremendously successful party builder.” This “defining paradox of Obama’s presidency” comes up again and again: the historians, by and large, approve of Obama’s policies (although some find them too timid) while they lament his politics.

"Overwhelming consensus." What policies? Libya? Climate change? Obamacare? Syria? Meanwhile, President I, Me, Mine was not a successful party builder? Do tell:

The politics were pretty disastrous. As Zelizer summarizes, “During his presidency, even as he enjoyed reelection and strong approval ratings toward the end of this term, the Democratic Party suffered greatly. . . . Democrats lost more than one thousand seats in state legislatures, governors’ mansions, and Congress during his time in office.” Zelizer could have gone further. According to Ballotpedia, more Democratic state legislative seats were lost under Obama than under any president in modern history.

Yet even with such political fallout, the overall tone of the book is surprisingly wistful.

"Yet"? They were in love with him then and they'll always be in love with him.

Long-time figure of fun in the Intelligence Community John Brennan opens his big mouth again:

Former CIA Director John Brennan on Friday went after President Trumpover his attacks on former FBI Director James Comey, tweeting that Trump’s “kakistocracy is collapsing after its lamentable journey.”

“As the greatest Nation history has known, we have the opportunity to emerge from this nightmare stronger & more committed to ensuring a better life for all Americans, including those you have so tragically deceived,” Brennan tweeted at Trump.

A kakistocracy is a form of government in which the worst persons are in power. Brennan has been a regular critic of Trump, warning last month that lawmakers who protect him will face "a reckoning."

Brennan, the worst CIA director in history, is long overdue for his.

The DOJ IG report on fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe not only found that he lied to two FBI agents under oath, the IG, and Comey about leaks to the WSJ --  he actually reprimanded two FBI executives for the leaks he had authorized!

From the report:

Two FBI Executives, NY-ADIC and the then-Assistant Director in Charge of the Washington Field Division (“W-ADIC”), told us that they each received calls

from McCabe admonishing them for leaks contained in the October 30 WSJ article about the CF Investigation. At no time did McCabe disclose to either of them that McCabe had authorized Special Counsel to disclose information about the CF Investigation to the WSJ reporter.

This is the guy John Brennan, Obama's dirty CIA director, defended after he was fired.

Former CIA Director John Brennan slammed President Trump on Saturday for firing Andrew McCabe days before being eligible for a lifetime pension, suggesting the president is a “demagogue” headed for the “dustbin of history.”

Just did a FB Live for the PJ Media page regarding lefty misery and Chick-fil-A:


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Posts Tagged ‘movie’

Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 9th:

Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 8, 2008.

Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 7th:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Publicity Still

  • Sneak Peek: First Look At New Harry Potter Film – The Harry Potter trio are back to save Hogwarts from dark forces in the eagerly anticipated sixth film in the series. A year after the last Potter film, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, JK Rowling’s creation is back in British cinemas in November.
  • Fred Barnes: McCain Better Step Up ‘Homo-Bashing’ As Strategy – Pam’s House Blend: I guess the talking heads on Fox just get right to the point — the GOP is bankrupt of any ideas or actual accomplishments to run on in 2008, so the flagging McSame campaign better drag out the tired homo straw man, according to Right S
  • Andrew Sullivan: A Long Way From The Green Iguana – It’s funny to watch the partisan right out-do each other to declare Obama a cynic while Charlie Crist gets engaged to a woman at the height of McCain’s veep search.
  • Study: Military Gays Don’t Undermine Unit Cohesion – Congress should repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy because the presence of gays in the military is unlikely to undermine the ability to fight and win, according to a new study released by a California-based research center.
  • A Major Speech in Berlin?: Obama Refines Plans for Germany Trip – Barack Obama’s planned European tour might make a major whistlestop in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The candidate’s schedule isn’t set, but a Berlin appearance before the end of July looks likely.
  • Borat’s Alter Ego Dupes Former Mossad Agent – It’s unclear whether his Mossad retirement benefit card will be confiscated, but former spy and current political analyst Yossi Alpher is certainly feeling sheepish after being fooled by actor Sacha Baron Cohen, aka Borat.
  • Federal Investigation Launched into Obama’s MD-80 – The National Transportation Safety Board said Monday that it is investigating what caused Senator Barack Obama’s plane to make an unexpected landing today in St. Louis.
  • Iraq May Set Timetable For U.S. Withdrawal – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki raised the prospect on Monday of setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops as part of negotiations over a new security agreement with Washington.
  • Webb Says No To Being VP – You can officially scratch off Sen. Jim Webb’s name from the list of Barack Obama’s potential running mates.
  • ABC News: Md. Plantation Attic Holds 400 Years of Documents – For four centuries, they were the ultimate pack rats. Now a Maryland family’s massive collection of letters, maps and printed bills has surfaced in the attic of a former plantation, providing a firsthand account of life from the 1660s through World War II
  • Miami Herald Covers Media Swirl Around Crist – And Avoids The Obvious – I’m not sure how you can explore Florida governor Charlie Crist’s shameless self-promotion for McCain’s consideration as VP (after all, the long-time “bachelor” is willing to get married to pass muster) without going into the ample number of stories about

The much awaited follow-up to Casino Royale, the 22nd James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, has been released online.

In the film, Bond battles Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a member of the Quantum organisation posing as an environmentalist, who intends to stage a coup d’état in Bolivia to take control of its water supply. Bond seeks revenge for the death of Vesper Lynd, and is assisted by Camille (Olga Kurylenko), who also wants to kill Greene.

The title was chosen from an unrelated short story in Ian Fleming’s For Your Eyes Only (1960).

more about “Quantum of Solace Official Trailer Re…“, posted with vodpod

Rolling Stone: Heads up: a thunderbolt is about to rip into the blanket of bland we call summer movies. The Dark Knight, director Christopher Nolan’s absolute stunner of a follow-up to 2005’s Batman Begins, is a potent provocation decked out as a comic-book movie. Feverish action? Check. Dazzling spectacle? Check. Devilish fun? Check. But Nolan is just warming up. There’s something raw and elemental at work in this artfully imagined universe. Striking out from his Batman origin story, Nolan cuts through to a deeper dimension. Huh? Wha? How can a conflicted guy in a bat suit and a villain with a cracked, painted-on clown smile speak to the essentials of the human condition? Just hang on for a shock to the system. The Dark Knight creates a place where good and evil — expected to do battle — decide instead to get it on and dance. “I don’t want to kill you,” Heath Ledger’s psycho Joker tells Christian Bale’s stalwart Batman. “You complete me.” Don’t buy the tease. He means it. CONTINUE READING


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Ifs And Thens

Posted on January 7, 2010. Filed under: Daily Update, Recipe | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

If you’re going to cook something for lunch that’s already going to make your breath smell bad…

Lightlife Savor Chick'n Smart Tenders

Then you might as well make the whole meal a stanky mess.

Savory Chick'N Tenders, Garlic Steamed Brussels, Sour Cream & Onion Popchips

A delicious, stanky mess, that is. That would be the tenders, brussels sprouts I steamed and then ground dried garlic on top of with sea salt, and a bag of Pop Chips which I got in the mail yesterday to review.

If you’re going to make a “healthy” potato chip…

Sour Cream & Onion Pop Chips

Then you better make them tasty. And boy do they! I think I’m in love with this flavor. This actually had me wondering: Who am I? Normally, I don’t like chips because they’re not really filling and poorly flavored. But THESE were absolutely delicious. And healthy? I’m still enamored about that last one. This was the first flavor I tried, but I’m 98% sure I’m buying a big bag of those from the classy Targe when I’ve had them all.

If you’re going to end a Thursday show with 2 cliffhangers, Days Of Our Lives, then you can expect I’ll be watching tomorrow’s episode.

If you’re going to make a healthy, vegan cookie…

Vegan Pumpkin Molasses Cookies

(Those would be my 4th or 5th batch of the vegan pumpkin molasses cookies adapt from Holly’s recipe made with erythritol instead of 1/2 a cup turbinado sugar) Then you should balance that with sugary maple cupcakes and dream of the cream cheese and butter you can slather on them.

Maple Syrup Cupcakes

I intended to make my vegan maple-apple morning cookies. Then I decided I didn’t want oats or apples in them. Then the flaxseed and wheat germ came out and an egg went in. Whoops. Then they magically poured themselves into lined cupcake tins and cooked for 16-18 minutes. Funny how that happens, isn’t it? I was drooling thinking about the maple cream cheese frosting or vegan maple buttercream frosting I could whip up(literally) for them, but after giving it thought I’m thinking these are going to hit the freezer and that would not work out.

If you’re going to be in the kitchen for 4 hours and not sit down…

Vegan Whole Wheat Cinnamon Roll With Smart Balance Peanut Butter

Then you need handheld carbs and fat to keep going. 2:30-6:30. I think at some point my mind skipped out and found a place to sit and still hasn’t came back(hence me going for a gimmicky post to bemuse us all).

If you’re going to be handling raw food…

Raw Chicken Breast

Then chicken is not the one to be tempted to lick the fork after working with. I was thinking of Twittering my perils, but didn’t know what to say/didn’t want salmonella on my keyboard.

If you’re going to dream of peanut butter, maple, and bacon for your entire life…

Hickory Maple Peanut Butter

Then you might as well make a hickory maple peanut butter. This was my final kitchen work-up, and I’m a little disappointed. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and this one’s all over the place with consistancy. Maybe it just needs to sit a while.

If you’re going to leave me in charge of dinner…

Cherry Maple Chicken, Killer Cornbread, Parsnip And Carrot Fries With BBQ Dipping Sauce

Then you know it’s going to be maple flavored something. The chicken came out amazing(totally tooting my own horn here). But seriously, it was juicy and cooked just for the right amount of time, with a delicate sweetness. I saw cherry chiken on Jess’ blog and thought it sounded good. The fries never really crisped up unfortunately. And the killer cornbread? Still killer.

If you’re going to be hungry after your plate of food…

Pink Lady Apple

Then a fruit or vegetable is a smart call. Not a smart call? Going back for more chicken. OK, this wasn’t exactly unsmart(kind of like how that’s not exactly a word). But I like to eat 3oz of meat and be satisfied with that. But when I was still hungry and there was no fries, the chicken was way more appealing than leftover cornbread, and I figured a little extra of really good meat that I cooked myself wasn’t going to kill. Still had to have an apple after that, and now it’s sitting in me like a brick. Joy.

If I’m going to be posting at 7:52pm, then I better get out of my work clothes, take out my contacts, and figure out what shows are still on this season.

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15 Responses to “Ifs And Thens”

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gah, so much catching up to do on your blog. i apologize for my slacker nature. ummmm i happen to love the stanky mess. on all fronts, that meal looks delicious. i just found out today there is a GARLIC PARMESAN POPCHIP…ummm, have you seen those because i want them!

and yessssssss for pumpkin molasses cookies. your batch is making me crave them, because i haven’t made them in far too long!

have a good night!

Lol, when I thought about what Pop Chips I should try first it entirely crossed my mind to ask you after recalling your snackdiction. I’m thinking BBQ are next!

love all the baking!

whenever i see maple anything on your blog it makes me want to embrace my canadian heritage and go guzzle some syrup straight out of a tree. i’m weird, sorry. i agree, if you’re going to go with something garlicky, might as well go all out!

ohmigosh. If you don’t want that amazing hickory maple peanut butter, send it my way! WHoa holy whoa!!!

psst! Costco sells a MEGA bag of pop chips, too!

Vegan Pumpkin Molasses Cookies look amazing and I LOVE molasses. PERFECT but i bet they have gluten in them, oh well, i can sub out.

the muffin creation. NICE!!!!

Hickory Maple Peanut Butter would pretty much be a mouthgasm i think too 🙂

thanks for the details about being popular. I always wonder about this from a guy’s perspective and if it matters. I think it matters for everyone. Period. No one is immune, well, I wouldnt think. Anyway, thx for the weighing in 🙂

What a scrumptious stanky mess! (There’s an exclamation I never thought I’d say)

Pop-chips really are the greatest thing since slice, sprouted grain bread. I love the sour cream and onion flavor. It’s a close 2nd to the BBQ variety.

Those cookies look amazing, and just the mere sound of hickory maple peanut butter was enough to get my mouth watering.

Happy belated New Year!

I’ve been wanting to try those pop chips. Thanks for the review.

Hickory maple PB sounds delicious! You have some good eats.

Vegan Pumpkins cookies? RIGHT up my alley.. Im growing fond of molasses lately.. I need to try these out asap!!

mmm those cupcakes look sooo awesome! and hickory maple peanut butter?? I think the reason that your consistency was off, is that maple is a syrup and thus when its mixed with peanut butter it tends to crystalize the nut butter….I know this happened when I tried to make my own rice syrup peanut butter, or honey peanut butter…the peanut butter companies must use something so this doesn’t happen when they make their versions…

Love the “go hard or go home” approach to lunch. If your breath is going to stink, enjoy every stinky bite!

dang, I still haven’t made those cookies! the nut butter SOUNDS good 🙂

I LOVE your blog! And pop chips. And chicken tenders. And Days of Our Lives. 🙂

I think you should forgo your next semester at college and come be my personal chef…haha! Everything you make always looks so yum!

Evan- There was probably too much moisture (maple syrup, and I’m assuming you used liquid smoke?) Try again with smoked almonds or smoked peanuts with minimal liquid add ins- see how that works for you!

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Memorial Day: Musings and Rantings

It is hot today. I think my brain has melted and I can’t seem to keep much in the way of “coherent” thoughts….still, I’ve been wanting to write something about Memorial Day since I talked about cakes with my friend Abby. This is one of those friends with a sense of humor “sick and twisty” enough to match my own. She was commenting on the plethora of cakes, cookies, and other goodies at the local stores all decorated in stars and stripes; red, white, and blue frosting, or little toothpick flags. “Wouldn’t it be more honest”, she commented, to have a big green sheet cake with little white crosses or small white slabs across the top. I mean isn’t it supposed to be about remembering those who have died.”

Okay, a bit morbid. I did say she has a humor sick and twisty enough to match my own. But she has a point. As Howard Zinn said “Memorial Day will be celebrated … by the usual betrayal of the dead, by the hypocritical patriotism of the politicians and contractors preparing for more wars, more graves to receive more flowers on future Memorial Days. The memory of the dead deserves a different dedication. To peace, to defiance of governments.”

Yes, we “celebrate” memorial day with picnics and BBQ, with sales and with consumerism run amuck, and if we remember at all the meaning of the day it is too often lost in the never ending waving of flags; blind patriotism and the glorification of those very wars that killed far far too many.

Is there not a way we can honor the dead without this glorification of war and patriotism? It seems to me that truly honoring those who have been killed means taking a hard look at ourselves. It means asking the question: have we allowed these humans to be sacrificed because we are unwilling to change our life-style? Are we willing to consume less, and to share more. Are we willing to challenge our governments policies of domination and waste? Are we willing to examine and to give up some of our unearned privilege? Are we willing to put our resources into building the real and viable alternatives to war and militarism that have been proven possible?   ( and Are we willing to take the time to look at our own attitudes about power and justice… and forgiveness and reconciliation? It seems to me that however each of us answer questions such as this taking the time to ask them, and for self-reflection and honesty — even when it is uncomfortable – is the only real way to honor those whose lives were taken.

And let’s pause for a moment here. It seems this may be the moment to clarify. Yes, I mourn the deaths of those US soldiers, but also those soldiers from “the other side”. All. From all sides in all wars. A US life is not worth more to me than the life of another. And what about the civilian deaths?  These men, women and children who are victims of wars are no less worthy and no less deserving of a moment to honor their humanity. No matter what their nationality. And the numbers are astounding.

At the same time, I understand the need to honor the soldiers. To honor the warriors. We pause to honor soldiers each Memorial Day because, regardless of our belief in the immorality of war we honor those women and men because they died for a cause they saw as larger than themselves. No matter whether they became soldiers to take care of their families or lost their lives defending buddies and comrades. No matter if they joined because they were drafted (legally or economically ) or if they believed in the mission, it seems right to reflect on those who lost their lives in this way.

But let us remember also that not all wars are military missions and not all warriors wear a uniform. And not all are willing to use violence. There are many ways to be a warrior. If memorial day is to honor those that died in the service of their country then those civil rights leaders, and labor leaders and those who have struggled for social change also qualify. Were not those that joined the freedom rides warriors? Were those that fought for an 8 hour work day and the right to form a union any less “in the service of our nation”?

There are so many people who have fought for our rights – fought for “liberty and justice for all” who did not carry guns and weapons into the battlefield but the tools of nonviolence and a willingness to give their safety, their comfort and at times their lives for these causes larger than themselves.

And so this memorial day I take a moment to honor Ferdinando Nicola Sacco, Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Diane Nash, Bayard Rustin, Harvey Milk, Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez, John Lewis, Howard Zinn, Shirley Chisholm, Rosa Parks and so many many more. Many nameless and unknown to our history books, but none the less courageous and inspiring.

And I know, as well, that those killed “on the battlefield” (wherever that battle field may be and however you may define it) are not the only casualties of war. And as labor and community organizer, Mary Harris “mother” Jones taught us we must “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living. “ According to Veterans for Peace “….. recovery from the trauma of military training and service is not automatic. There are estimates that 20% of veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Child abuse has been three times higher in homes from which a parent is deployed, for example, and police and courts are dealing with skyrocketing partner abuse rates, which are up 177 percent in Army families since 2003.The Veterans Administration estimates that 300,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Unemployment rates have been two percentage points higher among war veterans than civilians. The VA estimates that a veteran takes his or her own life every 80 minutes — 6,500 suicides per year. Approximately 30% of all homeless are veterans.” Want to honor veterans? Work for real health care reform, work to end homelessness, volunteer on a suicide prevention or GI Rights hot line. And fight like hell to put an end to the military industrial complex, stop wars, and support the real and viable alternatives we have!

It doesn’t always work out as you plan

Often when we tell a story of intervention in a training people will ask “weren’t you afraid you would get hurt?“ or “What if they turn the violence on you?“ or some variation. I always assure people no one is asking them to do anything they don’t feel okay about doing and that yes, we always assess the risk level. We do. But I think that lesson hit home for me on an emotional level only today.

I left the house this AM and it was still dark. Pulling to the end of the driveway I realized I forgot my glasses and left the car at the end of the drive to run up and get them. As I was about to get back in the car I heard  yelling from the apartments across the street. It sounded like a woman calling for help.

My house is one of 4 surrounded by a sea of apartments. A crowed mass of student housing and low to very low income apartments. Sometimes it seems like just too damn many people crowded into to little of a space, and as such we always see more crime and violence in economically challenging times. I have occasionally intervened in neighborhood fights or threats of violence so this turn of events didn’t surprise me.

Anyway, someone was calling for help so I raced over to see what I could do. Somewhat hidden behind the dumpster was a guy and it looked like he was grabbing the woman who was yelling for help. As I approached them I called out. “hey, can I help?“, or something to that effect (I honestly don’t remember what I said ). I stepped closer and as I got about an arms length from them he let go of her.

It turned out to be a trap and he pulled a knife on me. He moved to the side so that the dumpster was on my right, she was in-front of me and he was on my left. I could turn my back to them or walk backwards over the uneven curb in the dark.  He demanded I give them my money.

I didn’t have any money with me ( I had left my purse on my car across the street) so they didn’t actually take anything. Clearly this was both poor planning and poor execution of a plan on their part and I told them as much. “I didn‘t grab my purse. I heard someone in trouble so I quick came to help.”

It only took a minute to realize they weren’t really going to hurt me. More than anything the knife (a kitchen knife like you’d use to cut bread. ) seemed a prop. They wanted money – not to hurt me.

Still, it freaked me out. It also fucking pissed me off, so I yelled at her. (“you stupid shit , this is why people don’t go help when they hear someone yelling. How many women have been hurt because people were too scared to get involved. Way to reinforce that! What the fuck kind of solidarity is that.” )

Now, I know that the fact that I was way more pissed at her than him is totally sexist. But, in that moment I felt totally betrayed that a woman would do that. Really, how many women have been in dangerous situations yelling for help and no one has come forward. It seemed appalling to me that she would use that set up. What about sisterhood and solidarity and all that?

Also, I get  that yelling at someone is usually not the  very best de-escalation strategy. It is not a tool that usually comes to mind. It was all kind of on instinct. But, it seemed to work.

I think they were both so stunned that I was 1) yelling at her and 2) completely ignoring the man w/ the knife, that they didn’t know what to do. So she just grabbed his arm said, “let’s go” and they walked away.

I was going to leave it at that, I am always hesitant to put anyone into the criminal injustice system. But, after much much thinking and weighing the pluses and minuses I did go file a police report. Which, I think (I’m still not 100% sure) was the right thing.

Clearly the 2 had a plan (a bad one, but a plan) and someone could get hurt.

The cops were mostly very nice, but seemed stunned that I could describe the woman in so much detail, but not the man w/ the knife. I was looking at her (eye contact and all that) when I was yelling at her, but he was a bit off to the side and really was at some point kind of irrelevant. Like I said, it didn’t take long to realize they weren’t really likely going to hurt me. The police were also totally confused by this idea that he could have been irrelevant.. They also kind of snarked at me for putting myself in danger , that I “should call 9-1-1 and all that.

When it was all over I really just needed to say “AGGG” so I called my friend Laurel. I knew she would listen and not freak out. She was great and knowing that humor is healing had me laughing in no time! Especially my “man with a knife was irrelevant” comment. She kept saying “Hey, I have a knife. AND a penis. Why am I not the center of attention? ”  “I have my symbolic penis and a real penis, I am not irrelevant “

So, things don’t always work out as you planned. And yes, sometimes you end up in potentially dangerous situations, and yes… I would do it again. As I tried to explain to the police officers taking my report  (and as I have to friends recently ) that if I stop myself from getting involved, if I don’t try to help someone that may need it because I am scared – then I am a victim even if nothing ever happens to me because I have gone against my values.

It doesn’t’ always work out as you plan. But it often works out okay.

Reflections on October 2011 and the occupations across the U.S.

A few friends have asked me to write about my trip to DC, and I know I need to pull together a report for MPT and for the wonderful folks whose support made it possible for me to go (those who contributed $ for transportation, my beautiful co-workers who immediately made it clear they were willing to pick up my shifts at the clinic, my friends who offered support in case of arrest…. So many that I carried with me on my short trip.)

And yet, as I go to write, it seems difficult to find the story, challenging to express what I feel with the inadequacy of words.  So I guess I will start with some background and some general observations – see what becomes of it.

Some background: Last summer Michigan Peace Team members met Elliott Adams at the US Social Forum. He joined us on our team there and later attended our training for trainers.  On his recommendation Veterans for Peace invited us to join them in DC for the October 11: Stop the Machine Events  The idea was we would facilitate  at least one general nonviolence training and then facilitate a “peace team” training (or to use the term they use, a “peace keeper training”  for Veterans for Peace and friends who would be providing an alternative to typical “security” at the October 2011 occupation.  We readily agreed and a team of 5 of us headed to DC early Monday AM in a rental van filled with training supplies, apples, granola bars and other “protest food”.

Observations and such:
Our first training was Tuesday afternoon. A smallish group (20ish people to start w/ others trickling in as the day went on.) There are people from so many places: DC, California, Alaska, Ohio, NY. So exciting. A good chunk of them have tons of experience, but for many this is the first training they have ever attended for the first “protest” they have ever been a part of. A few folks have come directly from Occupy Wall Street and we are all eager to hear and learn from their experiences.

Tuesday night, unable to sleep I find myself in the middle of an intense discussion with some others who had been in NY at occupy Wall Street, and some who are new to all of this. We are discussing consensus. Its challenges and why it is so important. I appreciate their willingness to be self critical as part of the movement and think about how we can keep learning and doing this better.  I end up facilitating some quick decision exercises and a somewhat longer consensus role play.

Our training Wednesday is much larger. We start with a crowd of around 50 and more and more just keep arriving and squeezing in as the afternoon goes on.  We end up with around 75-80 participants. Again, the experience in the group ranges from those with no formal nonviolence training who have never been in a protest or a rally to those who are professional facilitators and trainers. Folks from Portland, OR to Portland, ME from Alaska to Hawaii and lots of places in between.  The training is challenging, but all in all goes well and we get tons of good feedback. I am stuck by the deep dedication to nonviolence in the group, and the commitment to see our opponents as human beings who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Thursday, and the first day of the occupation at Freedom Plaza arrive. The MPT team heads there early. We are not there to act “as a peace team” but rather to be support and a resource to those that are… empowering and widening the circle.  A few folks approach me about joining the peace team and I end up doing an impromptu “street training” in a corner of Freedom Plaza.  Around a dozen people gather for discussions, hassle lines, and other role plays. It’s energized and fun and people seem to get something out of it.

Later that day those in Freedom Plaza march to the Chamber of Commerce. Seeing the crowd approach the chamber closes before the action even begins — we had heard of a similar experience from “occupy DC” who shut down Bank of America. Elliott mentions Alinsky’s lesson that it is often the reaction to the action that is the action.

The evening brings the first general assembly for this group. A quick explanation of the consensus process is given and folks begin.  The agenda is short w/ just 2 main items. Still, we run out of time and have to table one until the following day. Facilitation is good, but it is clear many in the group have not used this process before. That is both challenging and exciting. The group is discussing the possibilities for sleeping/camping through the night; legal and other risks as well as goals and strategic targets. A man stands up to speak. He notes that until very recently he was homeless and living on the streets in DC he tells us “here is what you need to know about sleeping on streets and sidewalks in DC.” — he shares with us both information and his opinions about our options.  I find myself feeling hopeful because the crowd gathered recognizes his expertise and sees that a voice that would often be marginalized has much to offer the group.

Returning to the church for our last night I am both pumped and sad. I know things are just getting started and I don’t want to leave. For me this will all be more interesting and more important as the “formal” or “planned” events come to close and the community gathered /the action itself takes on a life of it’s own. But, I know we all need to get back, and I can’t help but think much of our work is really at home.

Unable to sleep again, I join a group gathered in the auditorium of the church. A few folks there have come right from Occupy Wall Street and are sharing their thoughts — willing to be critical of the movement they feel a part of in order that we all learn and grow. The talk centers on provocateurs and after some discussion I facilitate some role plays before heading to bed for a few hours of sleep before the drive home.

Some thoughts upon the return home:
Being a part of this was inspiring and did feel in some ways historic. Although, as originally planned the “Stop the Machine; Create a new world “ or “October 2011” movement was not planned in conjunction with the “Occupy Wall Street” movement, it is hard not to see them as all part of a piece. And, in fact, I believe it has become just that.  With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how things look in DC in a few days – or a few weeks. The October 2011 was a planned and organized event with definable leadership, a stage and a program. But, of course, the community gathered and the actions themselves took on a life of their own – a life that will be influenced by the Occupation of Wall Street and the Solidarity occupations occurring all over the country. Once the permit runs out on the evening of Oct. 9th what will happen?  It seems to me that in many ways how the community evolves and what tools are used become the action. A model of direct democracy and inclusion, a radical example of what can be.

There is opportunity here. And hope. I firmly believe that the more people standing up to demand justice and freedom for ALL the better. The greater the numbers demanding economic equality, corporate and bank accountability, an end to the wars that waste financial resources &  even more important precious lives, and that every voice is heard  the better off we are.  In DC, on Wall Street and in the hundreds of other cities and towns where people have come together to occupy there is opportunity. And our message is beyond important.

Yet the means is also the message and if we are unwilling to be self critical we risk a message that is hypocritical and marginalizing.

And let’s face it — we are not inclusive. While the crowd in DC was diverse in age and experience and in where we come from –  we were still the folks who could come. Yes, everyone’s voice can be heard at the General Assemblies — if you are present.

But, it is hard to be present, in DC, In NY or even in your own community if you are working multiple jobs to keep food on the table and a roof over your head.  It is far riskier to be present if you are undocumented.  I notice, the crowd in DC (and from what friends at occupy Wall Street have told me) is largely white. No, not exclusively – but still not truly representative of the 99% we strive to represent.

A friend of mine — who I have sat through many long and tedious meetings with – has joked that consensus sometimes seems like tyranny of those with the strongest bladders.  I believe in the consensus process, but know we need to work to be sure it does not become “tyranny of those who could take time off from work/ those who could travel/ those who have papers”

I am glad that the 99% are starting to realize we have far more common ground than not. That, as one poster said  “The patchouli wearing hippie liberals and the ATV riding, gun owning conservatives are starting to realize they are not one another’s enemy but share a common opponent “. That is something. It is powerful and important. But let’s not gloss over the fact is that among the 99%  inequalities do exist,  there are differences of wealth and privilege.  Denying that reality only adds to the marginalization.

I’m not suggesting we give up, or allow guilt about the privilege some do have to paralyze us or lead us to inaction. I am saying we need to talk to one another about our different experiences and we need to LISTEN. I am suggesting that we acknowledge both our privilege and our hurt histories and we strive to dismantle those systems of oppression, which means being willing to hear how we perpetuate these systems. We need to take care with our language, our symbols, our “targets” and our messages.

For example, one of the women who spoke noted that  we may not have media ready sound-bites and a list of demands because we are not there yet, “ we are the beginning of a movement”. Her overall message was beautiful — that the movement itself can be a message, that process is important and that this is not a stand alone moment.

But let’s be real…. we are not the beginning. The economic crisis did not begin with the bank bailout or even with the collapse of the Lehman Brothers. Poor and working class people know the “crisis” is not new but a direct result of how the system works — that capitalism has always only served the needs of a very small group. And that the group it serves is primarily white and often men.

Let’s not fail to recognize that countless actions have come before, that so many people have been engaged in this struggle for so long.

Solidarity means demanding accountability for the police brutality we saw visited on those protesting on Wall Street. But it also means recognizing that for far too many people of color police brutality is an every day fact of life.  Solidarity means demanding accountability there as well.

It seems we also need to acknowledge that where ever we choose to occupy — we are doing so on stolen land.  Our indigenous brothers and sisters deserve as much — and more.

And so, as I return from DC I am excited. I am thrilled and honored to be a part of something that could be real change. I love our commitment to nonviolence and the modeling of consensus as a part of an attempt to be truly democratic.  I am thrilled with the possibilities before us. We want to build a new world. I believe we can do it. But if we build the new without examining the materials we are using we risk using contaminated and broken materials. This will only leave that which we are building broken and contaminated.

We can do better. We must.

Mourning lives lost & Opportunites missed: why I can’t ignore 9/11

I wanted to ignore that today is 9/11.

That may sound cold and uncaring. I don’t mean it to be. I never wanted to ignore the pain of those who lost loved ones that day. Or of those first responders and eye witnesses whose lives were forever altered by trauma. I wanted to avoid the blind patriotism and cries for vengeance that far too often come with the remembering.

As Chris Hedges so astutely notes “the ceremonies of remembrance were skillfully hijacked by the purveyors of war and hatred. They became vehicles to justify doing to others what had been done to us. And as innocents died here, soon other innocents began to die in the Muslim world. A life for a life. Murder for murder. Death for death. Terror for terror.”

It is that justification for war and hatred I wanted to avoid by ignoring the day.

Regardless, I couldn’t ignore it. Lives lost to hatred, violence and intolerance deserve recognition.

Driving to a local coffee shop I pass so many American flags.  I settle in to a back table, coffee and lap top at hand I hop on  FB wanting to send a quick “thank you“, a “happy birthday” and a few “hellos” before getting down to the task at hand. More flags, and pictures of the twin towers replace the smiling faces of family and those I grew up with in profile thumbnails.

It seems that at the same time my heart will not let me ignore the day, neither will the world around me. So many posts of “we will never forget” mixed in with posts from friends in the peace and justice community noting the many innocent lives lost in the US response to the Sept 11th attacks. So many noting where they were and what they were doing when the planes struck the towers 10 years ago today.  Many asking if I remember where I was and what I was doing.

Of course I do.

I was working for the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice at the time, getting ready for folks to arrive for our steering committee meeting. The pastor of the church that housed our office came down to tell me what was going on. We turned on the TV and watched in horror as others from the steering committee arrived and joined us huddled around the TV — many of us trying to reach family, friends and loved ones to assure they were safe.

I remember my heart kept calling my brain to think of a young woman I had met in a racial justice dialogue group a few months before. An Arab American she spoke during our group about being a student when another terrorist attack occurred, the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995. She said that within  hours of the Oklahoma City bombing she was hearing racial slurs and threats. She wondered at the fact that when it ended up being 2 white guys home grown here in Michigan who were responsible no one at blamed “the rest of the white guys” in her school.

She was now a college student. Pulling myself away from the group gathered together I called her. She thanked me for calling, her voice quiet. She said it  had already started.  The name calling, the comments of  “go home” and assumptions about her religion and her feelings about America. She said she didn’t want to leave her dorm room.

I remember thinking “we all needed time to morn” — and feeling angry that there wouldn’t be time. If the racism, profiling and Islamaphobia we were already seeing and  if the fear that this woman was feeling within minutes was any indication of things to come there was work to be done. And it needed to be done quickly. It was work that couldn’t’ wait while we mourned.

And I remember feeling afraid. Not afraid of another terrorist attack, but honestly and deeply fearful of how our government would respond. Sick by the horror I was witnessing I was also sick at the thought of the horror that would follow if we (as I feared we would ) used this as an excuse for  more violence. More lives lost. More trauma. More victims. I was grateful to be in a room with others who felt the same way and although it felt like no where near enough I was glad when we drafted a statement calling for justice and peace rather than blind retaliation and vengeance

Sadly, my fear was not unfounded. In the past decade the US has embraced vengeance and multiple wars. We’ve seen attacks on our civil liberties, racism and hate crimes increase, surveillance of citizens considered part of the norm, and I‘ve learned a whole new vocabulary of things that as an American I am ashamed and angry about … the Patriot Act, debates about when (as if ever) torture is “justified”, waterboarding, drones, Abu Ghraib… We’ve seen the deaths of not only thousands of Iraqi and Afghani soldiers and  civilians but also senseless death of American military men and women in both in unnecessary  wars and by suicide.  It is heartbreaking. It is frightening. It is simply wrong.

Just think of the message that we could have sent . What would it say to the world if we would have said this nation will no longer target civilians, or accept any policy by any nation which targets civilians. This would mean an end to the sanctions that were then being used against the people of  Iraq, It would have meant holding accountable Henry Kissenger and graduates of the School of Americas responsible for another 9/11 attack. – the Sept 11, 1973 Chilean Coup in which President Salvador Allende was overthrown and hundreds of thousands of chileans were tortured and murdered – 3200 during the coup, countless others in the following decades . It would mean not only condemning terrorist attacks by Palestinians but also the terrorism of occupation, of assassination of Palestinian leadership, the settler attacks against Palestinians while Israel soldiers stand by and watch, the ruthless bombing and brutal blockade of Gaza.

What message could we have sent to the world if we “the most powerful nation” abandoned retaliation and violence and instead started down a difficult path to real justice and peace born of reconciliation and transformation. What lessons could we learn and teach if we, as a nation, had put our resources not toward more violence and horror but toward building real alternatives to militarism and war.

And so today, I remember. And I mourn. I mourn for those lives lost on 9-11, and for all those lives taken because of hatred, fear, greed, war, intolerance and oppression. And I mourn a missed  opportunity to change things.

Independence Day reflections: celebrating the hidden history of nonviolence

Ask about the American Revolution, or American Independence and you will hear about “the stamp act” and “no taxation without representation”.  You will likely also hear about the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the French, Spanish and Dutch all secretly providing supplies, ammunition and weapons. US citizens will speak with pride about the spirit of the militiamen who triumphed against the better armed and better trained British Military.

General Washington’s Christmas crossing of the Delaware River, sneak attacks, and fierce battles are a part of our collective narrative. The “Revolutionary war” gets all the credit for wining independence for the colonists and has been used as one more justification for military operations ever since.

Missing from this narrative, however, is a big piece of the story. Missing from this narrative is the effective use of nonviolence in moving toward freedom. Sure, many of us learned of the “Boston Tea Party” – where revolutionaries, dressed as Mohawk Indians boarded ships in the Boston Harbor dumping tea into the water. But, this usually gets noted as a random act and not as part of a well planned and wall coordinated campaign of nonviolence that included a boycott of tea.

A boycott of tea that turned Americans into coffee-drinkers, and with the Boston Tea Party an act of civil disobedience that included over 60 individuals boarding 3 ships in a busy harbor and dumping 342 chest of tea. An act of property destruction as civil disobedience that took place with no incidents of looting, and no vandalism.

But tea was not the only target of the economic boycott, cloth was also widely boycotted. We often hear about Gandhi’s spinning wheel and the movement in India to wear “home-spun” rather than support the British fabric industry, but this tactic was also employed in the colonies where Homespun was the fashion and spinning bees were patriotic gatherings.

I am not trying to repaint the history of the US as one of nonviolence. It is true – for better or worse — we were a nation founded on violence. Sadly that violence has stayed with us into today. Could we have done it without violence? Would our military policy look different today if we had? I don’t pretend to know.

But, I do believe, when we completely leave out the important role of nonviolent tactics in the struggle we loose an important part of out history. And worse still, we loose the lessons that show us nonviolence works.

As John Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson, “The revolution was in the minds of the people, and in the union of the colonies, both of which were accomplished before the hostilities commenced.”

Could we have won our independence without a violent war? I guess no one can know for certain, but as I read John Adams words I can’t help but wonder where we would be if “the hostilities has not commenced.”

Memorial Day ramblings

Memorial Day. Sitting here in a favorite café watching as folks stroll in to get a drink and a snack before the parade. Feeling disconnected. I won’t go to the parade. I don’t want the tiny flag to pin to my decidedly not red, white and blue T-shirt. Yes, I want to reflect and honor those that have given life and health in service. But I can’t stomach the celebration of militarism that passes for “remembrance”.

I guess practically every city, and small town has such a parade and has at least one memorial to fallen soldiers. And I guess, it’s good to have statues and parades to remind us that people die in war. But there is more than that. As writer Jose Narosky once said, “In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.” With that in mind perhaps Memorial day should be a time to demand we also remember those who did not die. Perhaps the best way to honor those that gave their lives (or had them taken ) is to fight for those that live.

For example; Veterans comprise one-fourth to one-fifth of the homeless population. 131,000 veterans were homeless in 2008. Really want to honor veterans ? Work to end homelessness. Or work for universal health care — including mental health care. An under funded VA, and a reluctance of military leaders to acknowledge PTSD and other war deployment health issues has contributed to an ever increasing amount of substance abuse, suicides and former military men and women in prison.

And we know, that those who sacrifice and lose the most have the least to gain from war. Those who call the shots, are those that benefit the most — and almost always sacrifice and lose the least. It seems we need to also remember that on this memorial day.

As we pause to remember those military men and women who have died let us also remember the civilian deaths. These men, women and children who are victims of wars are no less worthy and no less deserving of a moment to honor their humanity. No matter what their nationality. And the numbers are astounding.

According to a commemorative 2010 Memorial Day Bookmark Veterans For Peace issued

U.S. Military Deaths

Civilian Deaths

Civil War

It seems to me we must never forget these civilian deaths. Each of their lives is precious and sacred.

At the same time, I understand the need to honor the soldiers. To honor the warriors. We pause to honor soldiers each Memorial Day because, regardless of our belief in the immorality of war we honor those women and men because they died for a cause they saw as larger than themselves. No matter whether they became soldiers to take care of their families or lost their lives defending buddies and comrades. No matter if they joined because they were drafted (legally or economically ) or if they believed in the mission, it seems right to reflect on those who lost their lives in this way.

But let us remember also that not all wars are military missions and not all warriors wear a uniform. If memorial day is to honor those that died in the service of their country then those civil rights leaders, and labor leaders and those who have struggled for social change also qualify. Were not those that joined the freedom rides warriors? Were those that fought for an 8 hour work day and the right to form a union any less “in the service of our nation”?

There are so many people who have fought for our rights – fought for “liberty and justice for all” who did not carry guns and weapons into the battlefield but the tools of nonviolence and a willingness to give their safety, their comfort and at times their lives for these causes larger than themselves.

And so this memorial day I take a moment to honor Ferdinando Nicola Sacco, Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Diane Nash, Bayard Rustin, Harvey Milk, Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez, John Lewis, Howard Zinn, Shirley Chisholm, Rosa Parks and so many many more. Many nameless and unknown to our history books, but none the less courageous and inspiring.

With all this in mind, perhaps Memorial Day should really be a day to demand peace and justice, a day to demand an end to a military-industrial complex that eats away nearly half of the nation’s general funds, and along with those dollars so much more. Perhaps Memorial day should be a day to work for an end to the injustices that breed war and to commit to real alternatives to militarism and violence as “a solution”. A day to honor those that came before us and to (as Martin Luther King said so wisely) “rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter, but beautiful struggle for a new world.”

Mothers’ Day Reflections

Mothers’ Day has become a great day for florists, card shops, and those who sell lotions, perfumes, and other gifts to “pamper mom”. And don’t get me wrong who doesn’t love flowers, and I’m all about chocolate. Yet the origins of the day run far deeper.

Anna Reeves Jarvis and the women who originally celebrated Mother’s Day saw it as an opportunity to use their status as mothers to protest violence and injustice. In 1858, Anna Reeves Jarvis organized Mother’s Work Days in West Appalachian communities to protest the lack of sanitation and advocate for workers rights. During the Civil War, Jarvis urged women to care for the wounded – no matter which both side they fought for, and afterward she spoke out encouraging all men to stop the violence.

The movement took up momentum when in 1870 Julia Ward Howe a suffragist, abolitionist, pacifist and writer in Boston called for a special day for mothers to oppose war. Motivated by her witness of the bloody civil war she dreamed of the establishment of an international Mothers’ Day Festival dedicated to the cause of nonviolent resolution of conflict and international solidarity among all women.

Her “Mothers’ Day Proclamation” a testament to her witness to war and commitment to ending it.

Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.

Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.

We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”

From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: “Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.”
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.

As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace…
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God –

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask  –  That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

Mothers’ Day Proclamation: Julia Ward Howe, Boston, 1870

For approximately 30 years Mothers’ day was celebrated on June 2nd as an day of activism. It was honored as a day to commit to nonviolence and an end to wars. In 1914 – four years after Julia Ward Howe’s death – president Woodrow Wilson capitalized on the success of the movement she, Reeves Jarvis and others had started when he declared the “first national mother’s day:”

Now, Therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the said Joint Resolution, do hereby direct the government officials to display the United States flag on all government buildings and do invite the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.”(

Sadly, yet not surprising Wilson left out the true spirit of Mothers’ day. Neglecting to mention the spirit of international cooperation and solidarity, ignoring the hard won victories for improved working conditions, protection for children and improvements in sanitation and social welfare. Wilson left out of his proclamation a tribute the ongoing struggles to put an end to lynching, to militarism and other violence

And so today, if you really want to honor mom – in the true spirit of mothers day – get out of the florist and into the streets. March. Rally. Write letters. Support unions that support women.

Yes, unemployed mothers may enjoy flowers, and they also need child care, health care . Mom’s living in poverty might love lotion and perfume. At the same time, what they really need is a living wage. Most mothers I know who also work outside the home might enjoy some chocolate and might love breakfast in bed, and they also need parental leave, and to know their children won’t feel forced to join the military because school is too expensive.

Feel the need to give a gift? – how about a donation in mom’s name to a group working to improve the lives of all women and make this world a bit more peaceful and just?

We can create a Mothers’ Day filled with voices demanding justice and peace. Imagine a Mothers day honoring the work of women all creating a more sustainable future.

After all, the origins of the day demand it. And don’t we owe it to all mothers to make the world a more just and peaceful place for their children?


text:
Breaking Patriarchy: the Utopias and Discontents of Gilman, Atwood, Le Guin, and Burgess

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Carpenter, Milo
patriarchy; feminist utopias; dystopia; atwood; burgess; le guin; gilman; Literature in English, British Isles
thesis / dissertation description
The utopian/dystopian genre of literature tends to marginalize women into subservient roles to men. This Independent Study examines four novels that break these patriarchal expectations of utopian/dystopian literature, Charlotte Gilman's Herland, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, Ursula Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness, and Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange. Through these four novels I determine different areas of society in which women are oppressed and the consequences that has on society. Men use rape, sex, gender binaries, and gender roles to oppress women. Gilman, Atwood, Le Guin, and Burgess all present arguments for how these binaries are detrimental to society through utopian paradises without men and dark satires of societies that specifically oppress women. These four novels argue to discontinue gender oppression and show the improvements society would have if women were given positions of power. Finally, these four authors directly show the flaws in traditional utopian/dystopian literature that are rooted in patriarchal ideas.