Four peace activists Mona Shaw 57, Kirk Brown 25, Chet Guinn 80, and Frank Cordaro 61 were arrested and charged with trespassing when they attempted to place Karl Rove under citizen's arrest yesterday as Rove spoke at a Wakonda Country Club in Des Moines where he was scheduled to speak at a Republican Fundraiser. Iowa law contains reference to the obligation of citizens to place persons who have committed felonies under arrest until law enforcement can transport the person to a hearing before a Federal Judge.
The only problem is that these sort of people, people within the Bush administration who are guilty of treason or sedition, never step foot outside walled enclaves when coming out "in public" and walk very quickly between limos and heavily policed buildings. There is something wrong with this picture.
Shouldn't the police have assisted these patriotic folks, average age 62, who were only doing their civic duty (remember that phrase from your high school government class?) Instead they arrest citizen's doing what the law and a good conscience requires of them.
Cordara and Shaw had previously attempted a citizen's arrest of Rove in 2007. Last year these two were released without charge when detained by the police, this year they were charged with trespassing.
I hope this sort of thing happens more and more frequently. These criminals believe they are above the law. They are not. Condi had to dodge New Zealand Students as the Auckland University's Student Association is offering $5,000 reward for the citizen's arrest of Condoleeza Rice.
I like the way this is progressing. " If not us, who? If not now, when? "
"Yee Ha! Let's arrest us some war criminals!"
Read the press release from the Reverend and the Catholic Workers DesmoinesCatholicWorker.org has video, news coverage, and additional information for those interested.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Senate Hearing on FLDS/Polygamy and a personal rant on religious freedom and the separation of church and state.
I didn't catch most of this hearing as I didn't read my email that said that Terry Goddard would be testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary panel on the FLDS and Polygamy and that it would be on C-Span 3 as well as streamed on the internet. My sketchy notes are at the very bottom of this rant. :-)
Many women I know watched in horror as the abuse of children became evident when the FLDS compound in Texas came under scrutiny and massive media coverage a few months ago when hundreds of children were removed and again when they were returned to the compound.
The absolute authority of religious doctrine over how a family conducts its business, both private and public, if it wishes to remain within a congregation of a church is nothing new. I happen to have a couple of my ancestral family branches come from a group of people who attempted to leave the Catholic Church a few centuries ago in Switzerland only to meet with horrific torture and death before escaping the country and then continent. The FLDS may be a much smaller group than other larger organized religions within which the repressive doctrine of absolute servitude to a single person through whom God speaks is at the core of the religion but it is not the only one and certainly not the most sizable example.
This is why the men, with significant input from their wives and scholarly female friends, wrote the constitution to address the centuries of inequity in European governments and religions with which they were most familiar and which they were specifically addressing in the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution of the United States of America, and the Bill of Rights - the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. They addressed both the tyranny of monarchy and religion albeit they addressed it in a bit more diplomatic manner speaking of freedoms. The flip side of any freedom is the tyranny to which it stands in contrast.
People in the United States, especially in the Mid-West where I grew up, don't like to talk about religion or politics,at least not in "polite company." As far as I have been able to discern, "in polite company" means in the company of women, children, in groups of diverse background be they socially, ethnically, or economically diverse. In other words, don't stir up the rabble with potentially revolutionary thought. Ha! They don't know me very well do they? Obviously someone like me, questioning everything from the get go, did not fit in well with those folks who were interested in preserving or conserving the status quo. Society needs a few folks like me or we would stagnate and die. Too many folks like me and we would become unstable with a lack of integrative infrastructure. At least that is the simplistic view. Complex systems are way too hard to talk about, so we simplify and get the basics wrong from time to time. That is just the human condition.
Let me let you in on a little secret. Tories still exist. Monarchists still exist. Just because people are living in the U.S.A. doesn't mean they actually support the tenets of our Representative Democracy. Most of the folks who don't support democracy don't even know they aren't supporting it. Religious freedom (which can also be read as freedom from specific religious tenets,) equal protection under the law, and freedom of speech are the pillars of our fledgling democratic state. And yes, we are still fledgling. The United States is less than 250 years old. We allowed slavery until 150 years ago, and women have had the vote for less than 100 years. This is all transitory and very unstable. This is why every citizen of the U.S.A. has responsibilities as well as rights. If we don't exercise these responsibilities then everything will disappear. Poof. No more democracy. Anyone who attempts to impose his or her way of thought and belief on you is engaging in distinctly un-American activities. When people say that by not allowing them to impose their way of thought that I am imposing mine, well let's just say that a mind is a terrible thing to waste. I don't expect or want others to view the biosphere as a complex living system that holds special spiritual meaning for them. I like my own view of life and love.
Don't talk about religion or politics (or sex) in polite company. WTF? We have to talk about these things. Nothing gets me madder than a swarm of killer bees than perfectly competent women saying that they don't get involved in politics. Ick. Ptooey. Hack. Spit. That leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. Who is carrying their share of the political responsibility? No. NOT their husbands! Their husbands do not understand the impact of current policies on families in the intimate way that women do. Allowing men more political input than women pretty much guarantees that education, health and the general welfare of the common person will take a back seat to areas where there is a concentration of male power: territorial aspects of life like borders, both real and imagined, and large symbolic tributes to power and status. It's okay, that is just how they are, for the most part.
I simply wish women would look at where submission, deference, and allegiance to a centralized patriarchy leads... to Warren Jeffs and if allowed to become ineradicably entrenched in society and culture to the cruel and immoral domination of papacy as represented by many corrupt papal regimes throughout the ages.
We need equal access to education so that all children are presented with access to the best understanding of art, literature, science, and world geography and history that our country can offer them. These children have a right to be well fed before the school day starts, as well as well fed in the evening when they complete their homework. These children have a right to healthcare. These children have a right to childhood, adolescence and early adulthood that broadens their understanding of the world and opportunities that it holds.
Religious indoctrination cuts off these avenues of learning and opportunity at an earlier age than the age of consent, the age of majority, and the age of full adult citizenship. Anything that cuts off opportunity to full rights and privileges as an adult is decidedly not American in spirit if not in law.
The separation of church and state, equality under the law, and the right to freedom of expression are all being denied by religious groups in the United States. Speak up women. Speak up for our children.
----------
Notes from the last few minutes of the hearing
______
human trafficking -- it is not the travel - it is the servitude.
the land they purchase
income streams, laundry of money in Nevada and Wyoming through corporations
task force
centralization of property and power to the leaders of FLDS
Bryce canyon property sold for 8 million - probably to fund legal
members of the community regularly go without pay for work
businesses were expected in the 1980s to turn over ownership to the church
mid to late 1990s leadership determined not only who marries whom but also how long they stay married to whom. "shem dear you need to get dressed and meet me at uncle Rolands--- I've been released from your father. 3 wives of his father -- he was not worthy of three wives. sons were admonished to support the church. "the time is too short, there is no support
waren and roland. women were remarried to others -- home was taken -- financial support without visitation of children. 2000 - stop doing business with those who have left and remove any such employees. 1999 end of the world was immanent. This gentleman spoke of his father, himself, his brothers -- 70 year old father had to drive alone -- unlike usual practice of traveling with a family member which he no longer had -- and he careened into a ravine to his death later that day --- with no skid marks evident.
Many women I know watched in horror as the abuse of children became evident when the FLDS compound in Texas came under scrutiny and massive media coverage a few months ago when hundreds of children were removed and again when they were returned to the compound.
The absolute authority of religious doctrine over how a family conducts its business, both private and public, if it wishes to remain within a congregation of a church is nothing new. I happen to have a couple of my ancestral family branches come from a group of people who attempted to leave the Catholic Church a few centuries ago in Switzerland only to meet with horrific torture and death before escaping the country and then continent. The FLDS may be a much smaller group than other larger organized religions within which the repressive doctrine of absolute servitude to a single person through whom God speaks is at the core of the religion but it is not the only one and certainly not the most sizable example.
This is why the men, with significant input from their wives and scholarly female friends, wrote the constitution to address the centuries of inequity in European governments and religions with which they were most familiar and which they were specifically addressing in the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution of the United States of America, and the Bill of Rights - the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. They addressed both the tyranny of monarchy and religion albeit they addressed it in a bit more diplomatic manner speaking of freedoms. The flip side of any freedom is the tyranny to which it stands in contrast.
People in the United States, especially in the Mid-West where I grew up, don't like to talk about religion or politics,at least not in "polite company." As far as I have been able to discern, "in polite company" means in the company of women, children, in groups of diverse background be they socially, ethnically, or economically diverse. In other words, don't stir up the rabble with potentially revolutionary thought. Ha! They don't know me very well do they? Obviously someone like me, questioning everything from the get go, did not fit in well with those folks who were interested in preserving or conserving the status quo. Society needs a few folks like me or we would stagnate and die. Too many folks like me and we would become unstable with a lack of integrative infrastructure. At least that is the simplistic view. Complex systems are way too hard to talk about, so we simplify and get the basics wrong from time to time. That is just the human condition.
Let me let you in on a little secret. Tories still exist. Monarchists still exist. Just because people are living in the U.S.A. doesn't mean they actually support the tenets of our Representative Democracy. Most of the folks who don't support democracy don't even know they aren't supporting it. Religious freedom (which can also be read as freedom from specific religious tenets,) equal protection under the law, and freedom of speech are the pillars of our fledgling democratic state. And yes, we are still fledgling. The United States is less than 250 years old. We allowed slavery until 150 years ago, and women have had the vote for less than 100 years. This is all transitory and very unstable. This is why every citizen of the U.S.A. has responsibilities as well as rights. If we don't exercise these responsibilities then everything will disappear. Poof. No more democracy. Anyone who attempts to impose his or her way of thought and belief on you is engaging in distinctly un-American activities. When people say that by not allowing them to impose their way of thought that I am imposing mine, well let's just say that a mind is a terrible thing to waste. I don't expect or want others to view the biosphere as a complex living system that holds special spiritual meaning for them. I like my own view of life and love.
Don't talk about religion or politics (or sex) in polite company. WTF? We have to talk about these things. Nothing gets me madder than a swarm of killer bees than perfectly competent women saying that they don't get involved in politics. Ick. Ptooey. Hack. Spit. That leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. Who is carrying their share of the political responsibility? No. NOT their husbands! Their husbands do not understand the impact of current policies on families in the intimate way that women do. Allowing men more political input than women pretty much guarantees that education, health and the general welfare of the common person will take a back seat to areas where there is a concentration of male power: territorial aspects of life like borders, both real and imagined, and large symbolic tributes to power and status. It's okay, that is just how they are, for the most part.
I simply wish women would look at where submission, deference, and allegiance to a centralized patriarchy leads... to Warren Jeffs and if allowed to become ineradicably entrenched in society and culture to the cruel and immoral domination of papacy as represented by many corrupt papal regimes throughout the ages.
We need equal access to education so that all children are presented with access to the best understanding of art, literature, science, and world geography and history that our country can offer them. These children have a right to be well fed before the school day starts, as well as well fed in the evening when they complete their homework. These children have a right to healthcare. These children have a right to childhood, adolescence and early adulthood that broadens their understanding of the world and opportunities that it holds.
Religious indoctrination cuts off these avenues of learning and opportunity at an earlier age than the age of consent, the age of majority, and the age of full adult citizenship. Anything that cuts off opportunity to full rights and privileges as an adult is decidedly not American in spirit if not in law.
The separation of church and state, equality under the law, and the right to freedom of expression are all being denied by religious groups in the United States. Speak up women. Speak up for our children.
----------
Notes from the last few minutes of the hearing
______
human trafficking -- it is not the travel - it is the servitude.
the land they purchase
income streams, laundry of money in Nevada and Wyoming through corporations
task force
centralization of property and power to the leaders of FLDS
Bryce canyon property sold for 8 million - probably to fund legal
members of the community regularly go without pay for work
businesses were expected in the 1980s to turn over ownership to the church
mid to late 1990s leadership determined not only who marries whom but also how long they stay married to whom. "shem dear you need to get dressed and meet me at uncle Rolands--- I've been released from your father. 3 wives of his father -- he was not worthy of three wives. sons were admonished to support the church. "the time is too short, there is no support
waren and roland. women were remarried to others -- home was taken -- financial support without visitation of children. 2000 - stop doing business with those who have left and remove any such employees. 1999 end of the world was immanent. This gentleman spoke of his father, himself, his brothers -- 70 year old father had to drive alone -- unlike usual practice of traveling with a family member which he no longer had -- and he careened into a ravine to his death later that day --- with no skid marks evident.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Wooing the Blogging Mama Demographic -- my notes on Hybrid Media session
I am so amazed by the energy put into commercial support of this conference. That is both good and bad. Corporatization (is that a word?)-- changes the game.
----------------
Panel:
redbook, essence, bravo
Lisa Stone (moderator), Stacy Morrison, Lesley Inckney and Lisa Hsia
----------------
Bravo -- old media &. new media
revenues from this
also learning how to monetize and grow the audience
project runway (Hsia)
1-2 % respond in most interactive polls
98% respond to bravo and project runway
-------
Redbook -- diary of V. Diary of E. biggest draw. 2nd referer after giveaways. authentic -- comments have to
2nd largest web mag. property.
but if you like redbook please buy one once in a while.
--------
Time Warner/ Essence not as restrictive as they once work. have loosened up.
media is inherently is grassroots now
malest oldest rooms she's ever been in.
-------
fox & nbc
huloo (spelling?)
trying all the new ad models
kaboodle -- hearst
redbook
i only want to make the best mistakes
essence
try telling these old male folks that they will
never be dominant
never be perfect
-------
constant effort to tell personal stories
-----
sex life roadtest
take it to tv
----
shoot em up kill em
romantic comedies
oscar winners
-----
recruiting bloggers
creating an ad network
--
ivillage = nbc = fox
-----
innovation
corp. won't do quick......
time warner wants to own twitter not use it
smaller network and just do it
it's not don't do it
it is you have to wait
redbook reaches across the country evenly
except washington and oregon
not just shoes and cosmopolitan
thinks that redbook is a family magazine
change the font - lose the audience
she is a professional empath.
she represents an openness to every idea
but she has to censor 25 % of her self
-----
use versus be the media
-------
would be nice to have mega corps change from support incubation .....rather than just buy/own......
--------
big furry beard
snowboarder
mike dunn
if you see him at a meeting it is going to be big
---------
----------------
Panel:
redbook, essence, bravo
Lisa Stone (moderator), Stacy Morrison, Lesley Inckney and Lisa Hsia
----------------
Bravo -- old media &. new media
revenues from this
also learning how to monetize and grow the audience
project runway (Hsia)
1-2 % respond in most interactive polls
98% respond to bravo and project runway
-------
Redbook -- diary of V. Diary of E. biggest draw. 2nd referer after giveaways. authentic -- comments have to
2nd largest web mag. property.
but if you like redbook please buy one once in a while.
--------
Time Warner/ Essence not as restrictive as they once work. have loosened up.
media is inherently is grassroots now
malest oldest rooms she's ever been in.
-------
fox & nbc
huloo (spelling?)
trying all the new ad models
kaboodle -- hearst
redbook
i only want to make the best mistakes
essence
try telling these old male folks that they will
never be dominant
never be perfect
-------
constant effort to tell personal stories
-----
sex life roadtest
take it to tv
----
shoot em up kill em
romantic comedies
oscar winners
-----
recruiting bloggers
creating an ad network
--
ivillage = nbc = fox
-----
innovation
corp. won't do quick......
time warner wants to own twitter not use it
smaller network and just do it
it's not don't do it
it is you have to wait
redbook reaches across the country evenly
except washington and oregon
not just shoes and cosmopolitan
thinks that redbook is a family magazine
change the font - lose the audience
she is a professional empath.
she represents an openness to every idea
but she has to censor 25 % of her self
-----
use versus be the media
-------
would be nice to have mega corps change from support incubation .....rather than just buy/own......
--------
big furry beard
snowboarder
mike dunn
if you see him at a meeting it is going to be big
---------
Friday, July 18, 2008
netroots & blogher joint session
twitter as a support tool
gives reg. folks undeniable voice and reach.
it's been fun too
celebs and pol. change. -
how to reach nonpolitical folks -- what political social networking tools -- harry potter & sirius black - dumbledors army ---- dumbledoors army in the real world
myspace ---bands -- wizards rock the vote --
"voldemore can't stop the rock"
love of a mother for her child is the greatest force
36 million women on line and blogging and they are talking about politics
mommy bloggers aren't just about potty training
corporations?
twittering.... facebook...
streaming netroots blogher and live from the web and twittering
reflexivity on reflexivity
fractal communication
darfur tibet myamar/burma..... allow supportive action and giving
all this intersects.
we need to become the traditional media and have it take a back seat
world domination
2012!
gives reg. folks undeniable voice and reach.
it's been fun too
celebs and pol. change. -
how to reach nonpolitical folks -- what political social networking tools -- harry potter & sirius black - dumbledors army ---- dumbledoors army in the real world
myspace ---bands -- wizards rock the vote --
"voldemore can't stop the rock"
love of a mother for her child is the greatest force
36 million women on line and blogging and they are talking about politics
mommy bloggers aren't just about potty training
corporations?
twittering.... facebook...
streaming netroots blogher and live from the web and twittering
reflexivity on reflexivity
fractal communication
darfur tibet myamar/burma..... allow supportive action and giving
all this intersects.
we need to become the traditional media and have it take a back seat
world domination
2012!
What we believe: how to take names and be taken seriously as a political blogger.
Morra Aarons-Mele,Fausta ,Mona Gable, and Shark Fu (Pamela) are the panel members that will be speaking at this session of BlogHer '08 and I will be posting while in this session, probably about the session but maybe not.... who knows?
This is the "first" session I've attended. I was on a panel in SL this a.m.
Topics:
Anonymity and political blogging.
Comments versus getting out there.
The bias question.
What actually happened versus the take on it.
choose your battles
tone vs. true to yourself
authenticity
both news in one post and perhaps later doing a commentary on the same topic
dont think before you hit publish (Shark Fu)
Personal entries within a political blog
do you talk about your children brothers spouses etc.?
do you use your kids pics?
compartmentalize.
multi-sourcing
Facts. Do they exist?
Show, don't tell. Quote, reference.....
question on networks.... some don't network with comments at all. some do. some answer comments, most don't. but serial volunteerism is one persons network. one is cozy with sources.
you are a source.
This is the "first" session I've attended. I was on a panel in SL this a.m.
Topics:
Anonymity and political blogging.
Comments versus getting out there.
The bias question.
What actually happened versus the take on it.
choose your battles
tone vs. true to yourself
authenticity
both news in one post and perhaps later doing a commentary on the same topic
dont think before you hit publish (Shark Fu)
Personal entries within a political blog
do you talk about your children brothers spouses etc.?
do you use your kids pics?
compartmentalize.
multi-sourcing
Facts. Do they exist?
Show, don't tell. Quote, reference.....
question on networks.... some don't network with comments at all. some do. some answer comments, most don't. but serial volunteerism is one persons network. one is cozy with sources.
you are a source.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Gone to BlogHer
and I'm also at:
BlogHer in SL
So tired. Traveled to SF today on 2 hours of sleep. Wrote like a mad woman on the plane! Every other word in The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein set me off on a major scribble event in my ever present little black moleskine book with a pencil. I have my work cut out for me later to attempt to get it posted somewhere. Maybe here.
Took BART (much dirtier than I remember it being) to The Westin St. Francis -- Got settled in. Met some of the speakers and key BlogHer players. Woot! Woot! Great Roomie too! Amy from Ohio. She gave me a buckeye. Shoot. I should brought cactus spines. LOL. I also caught up with last years roomie -- Ann Marie -- she's on the BlogHer Speakers page.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Bush to be in Tucson July 18, 2008
Drat it all -- Bush buzzes into Tucson for a $1000 a plate breakfast fundraiser for Tim Bee on July 18, 2008 -- next Friday,
and I'm I'm going to be out of town pushing for the online women's peace cause. A large protest is being planned. Get your "Bush Be Gone" on!!! More details soon!
and I'm I'm going to be out of town pushing for the online women's peace cause. A large protest is being planned. Get your "Bush Be Gone" on!!! More details soon!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The Face of the Anti-War Movement Fires Back
The Face of the Anti-War Movement Fires Back - CommonDreams.org: ""
This article perfectly illustrates the problem with the core of the Democratic Party. I will probably vote for Obama, but after the 2006 elections rolled Democrats onto Capitol Hill with a massive mandate to end the war and get control over Bush, and they did nothing, I have little tolerance left. My earlier post today was about Obama potentiall showing mainstream namby pamby Democratic innards beneath his novel filled -with-change veneer. I hope it isn't true. But there are so many of us out there, just like Cindy, who are ready to leave the Democratic Party if there are any smoke and mirror tricks in the campaign that become clear as policies emerge.
It is well worth noting that at least one Cindy Sheehan basher has changed his mind about just who Sheehan is and what she stands for.
I've only met Cindy a couple times myself. She is a very serious person and not the type of person to seek attention for herself. God &/or Goddess bless her for being willing to speak out, continue to speak out, and most importantly, her willingness to act. Pelosi needs someone speaking truth opposing her in her own district. I am very impressed with Cindy for doing this.
Wal-Mart Defender To Direct Obama’s Economic Policy
This isn't a good sign. Folks who are nutso for Obama need to email the heck outta this link and say, no plastic crap from China, and no low prices built on the backs of the working poor.
This position appointment bothers me for so many reasons. If Obama turns out to be status quo per corporations in policy, well, then we will have to set him right.
Change and hope are not fueled by Wal-Mart supporting economics.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Bush & McCain in Bed Together
This morning three of us Tucsonans, Sue, Kim and I drove up I-10 to our State Capitol to help the Phoenix type folks unwelcome Bush as he came in to Mesa to visit the military contractors at visit to the company was probably only arranged so he could use Air Force One toSilverado Cable Company -- this come to Phoenix forMcCain fund raising events. A couple hundred folks gathered on S. Dobson Road at 1st Avenue.
Susan and I are holding the "Get the Balls to Prosecute War Criminals" sign. I had the pink balls, Susan had the lettering talent, and Kim had the attitude (as you will see further down the page.)
The crowd was quite diverse and included Phoenix CODEPINK, local folks, young and old people, folks from Flagstaff -- first time protestors and seasoned professionals.
It was difficult for me to get a picture of the lineup of a couple hundred people along the street as I couldn't get into the street or across the street due to the police presence.
Met up with Arizona Liz (here shown with Kim & the "Balls" sign.) Liz has been a busy little pinker in D.C. representing our state with other CODEPINK women from around the country. I've written about her being assaulted when Desiree managed to let Condi know that the blood of scores of thousands is on her hands.
Overall this was a good event with lots of people venting at the motorcade as it drove by so as to let Bush and Co. know that he isn't welcome here by regular folks and McCain is not being supported by most folks in Arizona now either. Liz walked out into the street with a huge sign that said "Pray for Insane McCane" as the motorcade was passing by on its way to the fundraiser that had been moved to an undisclosed location after they couldn't sell enough tickets to have the event at a large arena. I hear it was also because of the protests to some degree. 
The most disconcerting thing that happened was a cop with major camera apparatus who was filming every one in the crowd. When one young woman asked if that was going to get her on a list, the cop put his camera down and came over and got in her face and yelled, "What did you say to me?" She was quite taken aback and obviously a bit frightened. First, why are cops taking pics of people lawfully gathered together to send a message to the administration. Secondly, why did he have to act like and A**hole? Unfortunately my pic of him taking a pic of me turned out blurry. I'm putting it up any way.
Then is was on to Cesar Chavez Plaza in downtown Phoenix to Pink Slip Bush. I don't have any pics of that as I was one of the women who had to physically drag Bush away from the adoring cadre of Billionaires for Bush to that we could Pink Slip him.
You can see his back and one of the Billionaires in the pick I snapped as we were getting ready to grab him. I will have pics of that sent to me tomorrow and I hope to have them up tomorrow evening.McCain that was of course followed by a honeymoon in whichAfter that there was a marriage ceremony for Bush and it was clear that McCain is in bed with Bush as they were escorted in their bed through the streets of downtown Phoenix.
Then it was on to grab a bite to
eat at Rosie's (10th and Camelback) to refuel and hear a few words from Rae , CODEPINK 's national liason with local groups. There were Gilbert folks there who were PDA affiliated, and folks from various other groups affiliated with the Phx End the War Coalition. After that we then decided on the way to where we were crashing, that we would stop by and chat with Blair and his buddies who are all associated with 9/11 Truth. Bryce is fasting for the next few weeks to bring attention to our nation's "Hunger for Truth." If you go to this site you can find out about it. It is always good to connect with other groups who want the same end result as you even if you differ on the details and issues. 
The next post I will talk more about why all this was happening.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Off to Rally Against Idiocy and Fear-Mongering
Heading to Phoenix to protext Bush coming to Arizona to join with Insane McCain , the Manchurian Candidate, in a fund raising attempt. I say attempt as last week they had to cancel the planned venue for one of two reasons (and probably some of both)
Here's the info from the flier that was distributed about these protest events:
Sponsored by End the War Coalition - Code Pink Phoenix, Progressive
Democrats of America, Phoenix Women in Black, Arizona Alliance for Peace & Justice,
Phoenix Chapter 75 Veterans for Peace, Arizona Vietnam Veterans Against the War,
Arizona Green Party, Grandmothers for Peace, Arizona Christian Peacemakers and Arizona Democratic Progressive Caucus
I will post impressions and pics after these events tomorrow. Hasta.
1) the venue wasn't filling up, that's right in McCain's own State Capitol, Phoenix, Republican masterminds couldn't sell enough tickets to fill it upSo they changed the venues. The fundraisers are now just listed as "at private residences" and I would suspect that these residences are in walled against the riff raff gated communities. The Bush schedule for Tuesday shows him arriving at Silverado Cable Company in Mesa, AZ at 3:05 p.m. After King George and Prince John zip off to private residence land everyone will head for Chavez Plaza, downtown Phoenix, to rally together against any continuance of war, war crimes, and governance by war criminals -- there will be music, speeches, skits and general reconnecting and strengthening of the bonds and determination of Arizona activists, Democrats, and veterans groups as they seek to let the country know that Arizona people don't back McCain.
2) they also were worried about the number of protesters coming from around the state and even beyond Arizona's borders -- it would be really embarrassing for the party loyalists and corporate stooges to be outnumbered by protesters.
Here's the info from the flier that was distributed about these protest events:
We Turned Them Away –
Downtown Phoenix is a Bush-McCain Free Zone!
Downtown Phoenix is a Bush-McCain Free Zone!
Tuesday’s Phoenix Downtown Rally and March Still a go – 4:00 p.m.
Also, Big Protest Against Bush in Mesa- 2:00 p.m.
Please Distribute Widely!!
Bush and McCain
are on the run!
from OUR protest
of THEIR endless war!
Read all about it!
So,
PROTEST BUSH
IN MESA
at
Defense Contractor Silverado Cable Company
this Tuesday, May 27th
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. corner of 1st Avenue and Dobson Rd. (south of Main Street and Dobson Road) in Mesa
Parking available in shopping mail on Dobson between Main and 1st Avenue, Mesa
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&client=opera&rls=en&hs=dDJ&q=Mesa,+AZ,+USA&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=image
AND
Rally at César Chávez Memorial Plaza
in Phoenix
Music, speakers and a celebration!
Watch CodePink Phoenix “pink slip” the prez.
Washington Street at Second Avenue (in front of Phoenix City Hall)
http://virtualguidebooks.com/Arizona/CentralArizona/Phoenix/ChavezPlazaPhoenix.html
4:00 - 5:30 PM - Tuesday, May 27th
Join us at a rally where we anticipate a disconcerting sight:
McCain in Bed with Bush!
5:30 – 6:00 p.m. Tuesday May 27th
Help us chase embedded McCain & Bush out of Phoenix.
Help us chase embedded McCain & Bush out of Phoenix.
March down Adams Street to the Phoenix Convention Center
(Second Street between Adams and Monroe)
Park on the street (free after 5 pm) or in surrounding parking garages.
.
Bring water to drink and sun protection.
Sponsored by End the War Coalition - Code Pink Phoenix, Progressive
Democrats of America, Phoenix Women in Black, Arizona Alliance for Peace & Justice,
Phoenix Chapter 75 Veterans for Peace, Arizona Vietnam Veterans Against the War,
Arizona Green Party, Grandmothers for Peace, Arizona Christian Peacemakers and Arizona Democratic Progressive Caucus
For more information call 480-894-2024 or e-mail endthewarcoalition@cox.net, codepinkphx@yahoo.com, dan@pdamerica.org, or go to http://www.azpeace.org
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
This is the info that arrived from the Democrats:
Many of you have heard that President Bush's fundraiser for John McCain had to be relocated due to the promise of massive protests (and poor ticket sales!). They may be able to run, but they can't hide! Here's the most up to date info on where to be and when to get there.
Rally in Mesa
(Mesa) 2:00pm Protesters should begin to arrive at Rally location. (Rally participants wll converge on the SE Corner of Dobson and 1st Ave.)
Parking is available at the Main Street Market Place on Dobson between 1st Ave and Main St.
(Mesa) 2:30pm Rally participants must be in place. (Road closures take effect because of President's arrival)
(Mesa) 3:00 - 3:30pm Rally continues as Pres. Bush prepares to address a private crowd. (Demonsration is expected to be captured by media)
Rally in Phoenix
(Phoenix) 3:00pm Rally Participants may opt to arrive at Democratic Party Headquarters to be shuttled to Cesar Chavez Plaza
(Phoenix) 3:30pm Rally Participants Begin to arrive at Cesar Chavez Plaza (On Washington St and 2nd Ave -in front of Phoenix City Hall)
(Phoenix) 4:00pm Rally Begins (with Speakers and Special Guests)
(Phoenix) 4:30-5pm Downtown Protest March begins (towards the Convention Center)
(Phoenix) 5:30-6:30pm Arizona Democratic Party Shuttles begin shuttling back towards Headquarters (Shuttled participants will meet at Cesar Chavez Plaza to be shuttled back)
For more information on these events or to RSVP to the shuttle, please call 602-298-4200 or email Amanda Jaksich at ajaksich@azdem.org
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Precedent Setting Election Integrity Ruling In Pima County Superior Court.
Every once in a while our Old Pueblo manages to do something that impacts world history. A ruling on Friday addressed the right of the people to have access to election records and databases. The county had argued that releasing such records would be a security risk. Pima County Superior Court Judge Michael Miller ruled on May 23, 2008 for the release of databases for the primary and general elections in 2006.
Of course the Arizona Daily Star hid the information about this landmark ruling deep inside the paper even though this news made the Daily Voting News.
The Tucson Citizen reports:
Earlier this year Pima County Board of Supervisors decided to release the database records for the May 2006 Regional Transportation election.
The Pima County Democratic Party had brought suit last year against Pima County for the release of electronic voting records for the 2006 elections under the basic logic that electronic elections require electronic monitoring. Pima County Dems have more guts and good sense than the state level party as a whole I would say.
The judge has not yet ruled on a request that Pima County pay the Democratic Party's legal fees that reportedly run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
With the advent of Diebolt voting machines that can be easily hacked, election results locations in the United States have come under suspicion of tampering since before their adoption as voting technology.
Arizona is one of the places leading the way for requisite scrutiny of electronic voting databases, in my humble opinion, due to a few dedicated folks, such as John Brakey. Individual action does make make all the difference in the world between freedom and servitude. I think John's comment on a Tucson Citizen article from April of this year is worth republishing.
I previously wrote about related Arizona and political manipulation of voting records in 2005.
Arizona may have a reputation for a quirky libertarian streak, but we have Clean Elections and now a precedent setting ruling that helps to insure election record transparency. The western states gave women the right to vote before the nation did too. Yee-ha! Now if we could just translate this fierce patriotism into booting McCain and Kyl from office, well, then I would be downright proud to call myself an Arizonan.
Of course the Arizona Daily Star hid the information about this landmark ruling deep inside the paper even though this news made the Daily Voting News.
The Tucson Citizen reports:
Judge Michael Miller Friday issued his under advisement ruling declaring that the interests of the state and public outweighed unproven vote security concerns voiced by county attorneys and witnesses."All existing electronic databases must be disclosed," the judge ruled.It is the first time a judge has ordered any governmental entity to turn over all records from electronic elections and ballot tabulating systems past, present, and future to political party officials for scrutiny for signs of tampering."Everyone is going to be looking at this ruling and realize that electronic records are public records," said Vince Rabago, chairman of the Pima County Democratic Party.
The Pima County Democratic Party had brought suit last year against Pima County for the release of electronic voting records for the 2006 elections under the basic logic that electronic elections require electronic monitoring. Pima County Dems have more guts and good sense than the state level party as a whole I would say.
The judge has not yet ruled on a request that Pima County pay the Democratic Party's legal fees that reportedly run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
With the advent of Diebolt voting machines that can be easily hacked, election results locations in the United States have come under suspicion of tampering since before their adoption as voting technology.
Arizona is one of the places leading the way for requisite scrutiny of electronic voting databases, in my humble opinion, due to a few dedicated folks, such as John Brakey. Individual action does make make all the difference in the world between freedom and servitude. I think John's comment on a Tucson Citizen article from April of this year is worth republishing.
Arizona Fair Elections is another source of information on this topic.DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON WHAT “WE THE PEOPLE” DO!
Joseph Stalin said, “Those who cast the votes DECIDE NOTHING. Those who count the votes DECIDE EVERYTHING.”
Folks, Election Integrity is NOT about the RIGHT or LEFT. It’s about citizens challenging injustice, greed, and corruption.
Yesterday we stood together in court NOT just for our County; but as Americans concerned for our Country!
NY Times article 1/6/08 Can You Count On These Machines? “One might expect computer scientists to be fans of computer-based vote-counting devices, but it turns out that the more you know about computers; the more likely you are to be terrified that they’re running elections.”
Fact: Since then, Huckelberry's Election Department has been ILLEGALLY printing election summary reports of early ballots (WHO'S WINNING AND LOSING) way before Election Day.
Fact: County Manger Chuck Huckelberry has known about the back door to our voting system since 1996. That's when Huckleberry authorized Bryan Crane to use that “back door” to merge two databases. What Crane did wasn’t in the manuals.
Huckelberry and the country ridiculous delusional defense for keeping the databases secret -- that releasing them would result in "Mayhem and Chaos" – lost!
Casting secret ballots is essential in our democracy. Counting them in secret is contrary to everything our Founding Fathers fought for.
I’ve learned, after three years of investigating Pima County Government, that it's NOT JUST voting that makes democracy, its TRANSPARENCY IN COUNTING VOTES and we still have a long way to go getting it right in Pima County.
Vigilant Patriots, practicing the rights of citizenship in a democracy with civility, can make the Difference!
Hope, Peace & Democracy,
John Brakey, co-founder of AUDIT-AZ (Americans United for Democracy, Integrity, and Transparency in Elections, Arizona) & Co-Coordinator Investigations for Election Defense Alliance.
I previously wrote about related Arizona and political manipulation of voting records in 2005.
Arizona may have a reputation for a quirky libertarian streak, but we have Clean Elections and now a precedent setting ruling that helps to insure election record transparency. The western states gave women the right to vote before the nation did too. Yee-ha! Now if we could just translate this fierce patriotism into booting McCain and Kyl from office, well, then I would be downright proud to call myself an Arizonan.
"Chicago 10" Revisits 1968 Democratic Convention and the Festival of Life
Last night I went to see the Chicago 10 (2007) at The Loft last evening. Director Brett Morgan, a combination of historic footage and animation, this project has been panned by corporate media critics and surprisingly suggested as a potential educational tool for parents to use to instruct mature teens about history by other reviewers. Most film review sites seem to have a mixed review.
My original experience with the Chicago 8 (10 now per this movie's inclusion of defense attorneys Weinglass and Kunsler) is just as divergent from the mainstream as my critique of the movie. I won't say watch it or don't watch it although I definitely lean to the former. That is up to you.
What I find most compelling about the film are things that few if any of the "top" reviews choose to comment upon -- metacomentary, framing for a new generation, the ability to capture the essence of a very complex time. Actually, for me all the events of 1968, MLK Jr.'s assassination, RFK's assassination, the Chicago Democratic Convention, will always pale in comparison to my brother catching a gut full of shapnel as he lifted a mortally wounded buddy into a medivac chopper on his birthday on August 4th, 1968. I was 11 years old.
Of course there are the 2008/1968 parallels. War that the country no longer supports, a divisive Democratic party that could end up losing the fall election to the Republican nominee. A profound sense of hope and and equally profound sense of despair that pulsates just below the surface of every political discussion.
The use of now common academic/analytically informed protest tactics and the acute understanding of the role of the media in shaping political thought and dissent was brought to mid/late 20th Century U.S. by the Yippies. The contemporary grandfathers of Billionaires for Bush, CODEPINK, and YellowCakeWalk were Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin. (Be careful crossing the street all you street theater of today types.) My life partner in cultural critique says I should mention The San Francisco Mime Troupe.
The concept of "The Jester" who embodies the upside down analysis of things not spoken about in kingdoms and monarical courts is an ancient concept. Successful street theater is the stuff of intellectually trained and culturally astute critics of the powers that be. Laughter mixed with the possibility of death is edgy and illustrates that all humor comes from discomfort.
No other film of which I am aware of so effectively presents the layers of meta-messages that bombarded the TV watching U.S. population in 1968. The trial scenes in the film were exclusively presented as animation -- this perfectly addressed the surreal nature of the trial.... of course it also was necessary as there were no courtroom cameras allowed in the winter of 1969 and 70 the date of the trial.
I definitely think that Tucsonans of the activist stripe or anyone interested in the presentation of historic information to contemporary audiences would be rather negligent if they did not take advantage of the local showing of this film on a large screen and get over to The Loft between now and Thursday, May 29th, 2008.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Last Straw
What the hell was Hillary Rodham Clinton thinking?
This made my stomach pitch and tears well in my eyes. No one has the right to casually mention RFK's assassination. If you haven't already overdosed on the topic, watch Keith Olberman's special comment from his MSNBC show tonight, Friday, May 23rd.
This made my stomach pitch and tears well in my eyes. No one has the right to casually mention RFK's assassination. If you haven't already overdosed on the topic, watch Keith Olberman's special comment from his MSNBC show tonight, Friday, May 23rd.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Obama and the BlogHer Interview.
I've been working on a post that addresses my disappointment with the reception Clinton supporters gave the NARAL endorsement of Obama this past week. I have written a bunch on the topic, but it just hasn't come together. Now that I have seen this video of Obama talking with Erin of BlogHer I think I will be able to finish the post.
I sincerely hope that this interview will help clarify issues for you too. Even more important than his answers is that he accepted the offer from BlogHer while neither Clinton nor McCain have accepted the offer made to all three of them. Just the act of accepting the invitation shows that he values the opinions of women and respects the power of both women and the importance of emergent social media.
I sincerely hope that this interview will help clarify issues for you too. Even more important than his answers is that he accepted the offer from BlogHer while neither Clinton nor McCain have accepted the offer made to all three of them. Just the act of accepting the invitation shows that he values the opinions of women and respects the power of both women and the importance of emergent social media.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
I will post Tucson Freeway Blogging signs if you send em to me.
Even though Tucson has no freeways, I think it is time to start freeway blogging again.
People are getting complacent or burned out. I know I'm burned out, but I think it is time to start a new freeway blogging campaign for war crimes prosecution, impeachment, a truth commisson (a la South Africa) .... something. And I think we have to bring it to the people directly.
Here's how.
Find cardboard.
Paint white.
Let dry.
Get overhead projector.
Project word (in typeface) from overhead transparency onto cardboard.
Trace the word in pencil on the painted cardboard.
Fill in the traced word with black paint.
Allow to dry.
Load in vehicle.
Get bungie cords or thin metal coat hangers.
Put in vehicle.
Allow extra time whenever you drive.
Look for good spots to post signs on public thoroughfares (inside the mesh or well off the road so no driver vision is blocked).
Find access road to freeway vantage.
Put on orange vest to look like road worker if you like.
Get materials.
Post.
Leave.
It is all in video -- I just outlined it.
--
Send pics of what you have freeway blogged to me and I will post them here.
People are getting complacent or burned out. I know I'm burned out, but I think it is time to start a new freeway blogging campaign for war crimes prosecution, impeachment, a truth commisson (a la South Africa) .... something. And I think we have to bring it to the people directly.
Here's how.
Find cardboard.
Paint white.
Let dry.
Get overhead projector.
Project word (in typeface) from overhead transparency onto cardboard.
Trace the word in pencil on the painted cardboard.
Fill in the traced word with black paint.
Allow to dry.
Load in vehicle.
Get bungie cords or thin metal coat hangers.
Put in vehicle.
Allow extra time whenever you drive.
Look for good spots to post signs on public thoroughfares (inside the mesh or well off the road so no driver vision is blocked).
Find access road to freeway vantage.
Put on orange vest to look like road worker if you like.
Get materials.
Post.
Leave.
It is all in video -- I just outlined it.
--
Send pics of what you have freeway blogged to me and I will post them here.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Media Savvy Workshop -- How Peace and Justice Groups Gan Get Media Coverage
This morning I attended a workshop at the UU Church on 22nd St. to help social justice groups learn how to connect with media for better coverage of their events.
I applaud the representatives of the Media Companies and the Radio Station that were on the panel.
My impressions and thoughts and the usual bitch gripe grumble moan stuff follows my notes (or Live Blogging) from the workshop.
Workshop notes:
Leila Pine introduced.
There were handouts from KXCI & Tucson Citizen.
Star not invited. For sake of peaceful information flow. (hmmm......)
Assignment editor for KVOA Channel 4
Keith B.- previously news photographer and now assignment editor.
Everyone sends him everything on the desk.
Send him email.
Don't send 4 page email
make it short and sweet.
Here's someone we want to get in front of the news camera.
Be flexible. It is all about managing resources.
nonprofit who just wants to show yourself off to the local community.
Televisions aim is to tell a story.
They need a real person.
not just mayor and fire chief. It is about your friends and my friends. It is about people.
Loosely related national organization. If someone is coming through.
Tell him everything he needs to know.
Submit an event to their community calendar.
KUAT Channel 6 public media
Tony Paniagua
Aside: Tucson Protest "March on the 5th Anniversary went well in Tucson." NPR(picked up from KUAT) aired this before the march. LOL.
from Columbia, S.A. to Phoenix
1992 came to KVOA
Houston NBC. (left due to emphasis on crime and shooting and other bad news.)
Year off in Florida.
Then KUAT.
People don't watch boring stuff.
often hears, You are part of the corporate media.
No political guidelines from above.
They do not want to honor a board of directors in their pieces. They want people whose lives have been changed by the organization.
VISUALS --- need visuals
Have people with video capabilities. Be concise and focused. Good sound bytes. you will get labeled as good or bad.
Talk to real people.
passion, timely, available.
I want to talk to ----- about x in my neighborhood. No "To whom it may concern."
aside: KUAT is governed by the University of Arizona Board of Regents.
Cara Rene- Senior Editor for Tucson Citizen.
10 yrs. there
film degree art.....ms journalism u of a
oversees features, data desk marketing partnerships
1870 founded longest running (138 years) year older than star.
Tucson Citizen and Az Star owned by sep companies
TC owned by gannet*
joint operating agreement with Lee Media
sep. editorial. from star.
don't hold grudges. try again.
citizen is very very local.
changes -- in the past year. lots of hits on web site.
they are doing news 24 7
they will put up a single paragraph and add to it later in the day.
also do video, audio, slide show,
younger people are the target
know who we are.
be aware of who is with the paper
know the editors as well as the reporters.
reporters - editors - senior eds - managers.
DON'T SEND paper they want to be green. EMAIL. They don't like Faxes.
(anthrax changed everything about paper handling.)
It is IMPACT --
RPs real people
PRelease - follow up with phone call.
features will preview stuff.
news will cover events happening now.
can ask to visit with someone for larger issue
HAVE VISUALS
be proactive
upload your own press rel
tucson events calendar.com
letters to editor
blogs
Guest opinions
governor comes in for editorial board meetings. (mark kimball) asst. ed. oversees opinion part of paper
many ways to get coverage. they are tucsonans too.
city desk 8 - 5
bullet points
date and time in subject line
Amanda Shauger, is News Director at KXCI Community Radio 91.3
part time pd. position
penn state alum
cook at catering company
dj training class a few years ago
began subbing in music programming. 91.3
most produced by volunteers
grass roots media workshop learned lots of techniques how to do features
2004
3 years ago started doing "30 minutes"
is her own assignment editor.
can be 3 great things happening one week and more the next
does her own editing.
very limited time
new general manager is ryan bruce from wfhb (indiana)
website
160 pixel wide is the preferred size of jpg if you send any images to her
new effort - news with someone to direct programming
volunteer news can be difficult, sometimes a volunteer doesn't show, sometimes the equipment doesn't get returned....
democracy now at noon
no phone interviews please.
needs be gripping
not fun to be stalked
reminders are good -- in three days!
yerkes doesn't do email. he will do phone interviews.
other opportunities -- how to submit PSA (public service announcement)- 501c3
at any one time there are 7 psas in rotation
3 wks notice would be good
can't do call to action 501c3
put it on the KXCI website - upload it yourself
sponsoring / partner / benefit music are good,
Leila Pine (UU moderator) added (from her journalist experience in Madison Wisconsin:
for peace vigils --get the word out via
My comment: not mentioned today, but CNN aired Raging Granny arrest video of a local videographer.
end
---------
My comments:
These tips and tricks given today are all well and good for nice, pre-planned social justice events that are well planned far in advance as almost all of the entities participating today require for a chance of coverage.
The advice to get to know the journalists who cover "your" beat so that you have an ear in the specific media outlest is all well and good -- but at another level this bothers me as news should not have to have an "in" to get newsworthy events covered. But corporate media does seem to cover their friends.
Chris (the Film Snob) and I were talking about how people in corporate media do not see the frames that they use as they cover issues. Example... today when Cara Rene was asked why 10 counter-protestors (freepers) get the same coverage as 60 or 300 anti-war protesters she brought up how they have to cover both sides. What she didn't seem to realize or didn't admit in any case is that all of the corporate media covered the counter-protesters/Bush admin view with no other perspective given voice for four years or more, and only now occasionally covers anti-war news and views even though at least 70 % of the U.S. population is against the war.
My overall impression of today's panel is that it is good there are media corps that are willing to cover events by social actions groups. Your chance of getting news coverage if you happen to be a target of local or national police or feds and don't want to announce your "actions" ahead of time so these groups can plan out a technicality they can use to arrest you if they so choose. I was basically told "that's your problem."
In summary, I wasn't impressed... but I'm jaded. KXCI is the exception of course. They will cover local news that is outside the box/frame of what the powers that be dictate as world view.
* Gannet owns the Tucson Citizen as well as many other city and national newspapers. but it is worth noting that they also own most of the U.S. Military newspapers via the Army Times Publishing Company.
I applaud the representatives of the Media Companies and the Radio Station that were on the panel.
- Amanda Shauger, News Director of KXCI.
- Cara Rene, Senor Editor at the Tucson Citizen.
- Tony Paniagua, KUAT
- Keith Bem..... (somehow I misplaced his last name) Assignment Editor KVOA Channel 4
My impressions and thoughts and the usual bitch gripe grumble moan stuff follows my notes (or Live Blogging) from the workshop.
Workshop notes:
Leila Pine introduced.
There were handouts from KXCI & Tucson Citizen.
Star not invited. For sake of peaceful information flow. (hmmm......)
Assignment editor for KVOA Channel 4
Keith B.- previously news photographer and now assignment editor.
Everyone sends him everything on the desk.
Send him email.
Don't send 4 page email
make it short and sweet.
Here's someone we want to get in front of the news camera.
Be flexible. It is all about managing resources.
nonprofit who just wants to show yourself off to the local community.
Televisions aim is to tell a story.
They need a real person.
not just mayor and fire chief. It is about your friends and my friends. It is about people.
Loosely related national organization. If someone is coming through.
Tell him everything he needs to know.
Submit an event to their community calendar.
KUAT Channel 6 public media
Tony Paniagua
Aside: Tucson Protest "March on the 5th Anniversary went well in Tucson." NPR(picked up from KUAT) aired this before the march. LOL.
from Columbia, S.A. to Phoenix
1992 came to KVOA
Houston NBC. (left due to emphasis on crime and shooting and other bad news.)
Year off in Florida.
Then KUAT.
People don't watch boring stuff.
often hears, You are part of the corporate media.
No political guidelines from above.
They do not want to honor a board of directors in their pieces. They want people whose lives have been changed by the organization.
VISUALS --- need visuals
Have people with video capabilities. Be concise and focused. Good sound bytes. you will get labeled as good or bad.
Talk to real people.
passion, timely, available.
I want to talk to ----- about x in my neighborhood. No "To whom it may concern."
aside: KUAT is governed by the University of Arizona Board of Regents.
Cara Rene- Senior Editor for Tucson Citizen.
10 yrs. there
film degree art.....ms journalism u of a
oversees features, data desk marketing partnerships
1870 founded longest running (138 years) year older than star.
Tucson Citizen and Az Star owned by sep companies
TC owned by gannet*
joint operating agreement with Lee Media
sep. editorial. from star.
don't hold grudges. try again.
citizen is very very local.
changes -- in the past year. lots of hits on web site.
they are doing news 24 7
they will put up a single paragraph and add to it later in the day.
also do video, audio, slide show,
younger people are the target
know who we are.
be aware of who is with the paper
know the editors as well as the reporters.
reporters - editors - senior eds - managers.
DON'T SEND paper they want to be green. EMAIL. They don't like Faxes.
(anthrax changed everything about paper handling.)
It is IMPACT --
RPs real people
PRelease - follow up with phone call.
features will preview stuff.
news will cover events happening now.
can ask to visit with someone for larger issue
HAVE VISUALS
be proactive
upload your own press rel
tucson events calendar.com
letters to editor
blogs
Guest opinions
governor comes in for editorial board meetings. (mark kimball) asst. ed. oversees opinion part of paper
many ways to get coverage. they are tucsonans too.
city desk 8 - 5
bullet points
date and time in subject line
Amanda Shauger, is News Director at KXCI Community Radio 91.3
part time pd. position
penn state alum
cook at catering company
dj training class a few years ago
began subbing in music programming. 91.3
most produced by volunteers
grass roots media workshop learned lots of techniques how to do features
2004
3 years ago started doing "30 minutes"
is her own assignment editor.
can be 3 great things happening one week and more the next
does her own editing.
very limited time
new general manager is ryan bruce from wfhb (indiana)
website
160 pixel wide is the preferred size of jpg if you send any images to her
new effort - news with someone to direct programming
volunteer news can be difficult, sometimes a volunteer doesn't show, sometimes the equipment doesn't get returned....
democracy now at noon
no phone interviews please.
needs be gripping
not fun to be stalked
reminders are good -- in three days!
yerkes doesn't do email. he will do phone interviews.
other opportunities -- how to submit PSA (public service announcement)- 501c3
at any one time there are 7 psas in rotation
3 wks notice would be good
can't do call to action 501c3
put it on the KXCI website - upload it yourself
sponsoring / partner / benefit music are good,
Leila Pine (UU moderator) added (from her journalist experience in Madison Wisconsin:
for peace vigils --get the word out via
- moveon
- ufpj
- be list specific
- know folks on other list serves - put on 2 wks in advance then one week then couple days and last minute
My comment: not mentioned today, but CNN aired Raging Granny arrest video of a local videographer.
end
---------
My comments:
These tips and tricks given today are all well and good for nice, pre-planned social justice events that are well planned far in advance as almost all of the entities participating today require for a chance of coverage.
The advice to get to know the journalists who cover "your" beat so that you have an ear in the specific media outlest is all well and good -- but at another level this bothers me as news should not have to have an "in" to get newsworthy events covered. But corporate media does seem to cover their friends.
Chris (the Film Snob) and I were talking about how people in corporate media do not see the frames that they use as they cover issues. Example... today when Cara Rene was asked why 10 counter-protestors (freepers) get the same coverage as 60 or 300 anti-war protesters she brought up how they have to cover both sides. What she didn't seem to realize or didn't admit in any case is that all of the corporate media covered the counter-protesters/Bush admin view with no other perspective given voice for four years or more, and only now occasionally covers anti-war news and views even though at least 70 % of the U.S. population is against the war.
My overall impression of today's panel is that it is good there are media corps that are willing to cover events by social actions groups. Your chance of getting news coverage if you happen to be a target of local or national police or feds and don't want to announce your "actions" ahead of time so these groups can plan out a technicality they can use to arrest you if they so choose. I was basically told "that's your problem."
In summary, I wasn't impressed... but I'm jaded. KXCI is the exception of course. They will cover local news that is outside the box/frame of what the powers that be dictate as world view.
* Gannet owns the Tucson Citizen as well as many other city and national newspapers. but it is worth noting that they also own most of the U.S. Military newspapers via the Army Times Publishing Company.
Domestic Surveillance Talk Looks Interesting
This announcement rom an email announcement I received -- the topic of this talk looks like one a fair number of activists and folks who want to stay informed might want to attend and it is free and open to the public:
Tucson Community Forum on Domestic Surveillance
How is the Government spying on us now?
Government-sponsored fusion centers vary widely, but generally are centers intended to improve the sharing of anti-terrorism intelligence among state, local and federal government agencies and the private sector. To date, over 40 of these centers have been established around the nation, including Arizona.
Fusion centers are raising many questions about privacy and government openness, and must be carefully bounded and monitored to ensure that they remain a legitimate and effective law enforcement tool.
Mike German, Intelligence Expert, Former FBI Agent and ACLU National Security Counsel, will be leading an engaging discussion on the privacy implications of data mining and the war on terror.
"We all want our government agencies to talk to each other and share appropriate law enforcement information," said Mike German, ACLU Policy Counsel. "What we don't want to see is the emergence of secretive, out-of-control units that collect and sift through masses of personal information on innocent people."Domestic Surveillance in Your Backyard
What's Wrong with Fusion Centers?
A Community Education Forum on the Privacy Implications of Data Mining and the War on TerrorMonday, May 5th
6:00 PM
University of Arizona Law School
1201 E. Speedway, Room 146
(Corner of Mountain and Helen)
Tucson, Arizona
This event is free and open to the public.
Refreshments will be served.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Rice Is A War Criminal
The campaign to get the Presidential Candidates to call for Rice's resignation is one of best moves I've seen made on the public stage in quite some time. Rice chaired the meetings that explicitly designed and outlined torture procedures to be used on terrorism suspects.
I am personally outraged that individuals committed war crimes without batting an eye. They are the worst sort of monsters. Please sign the petition to have Obama, Clinton and McCain call for Rice's immediate resignation.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Are any of your views extreme? Then you are the enemy.
Robert Gates and Nancy Pelosi spout differing, but equally dangerous, falsehoods on Face the Nation this morning.
Robert Gates used a very dangerous new phrase as to who the U.S. military and mercenary troops are fighting in Iraq and elsewhere (such as in the U.S.?) this morning on Face the Nation. We apparently are no longer fighting Sadam (he's dead), nor are we fighting Al-Qaida in Iraq, and he would not say that we are fighting Shia militi or insurgents-- and most interesting of all he did not say that we were combating terrorists - what he said is that we are fighting extremists.
Please define extreme, Secretary Gates.
In my dictionary it defines it thusly:
This is the same sentiment behind the incremental "cleansing" used by the Nazis to which Martin Niemöller referred to when he spoke his oft quoted poem,
And if you want to talk about keeping quiet and complicity in global level criminality, don't forget to mention Face the Nation's second guest this morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
If Nancy Pelosi is concerned about the safety of the American People or the welfare of the troops as she said she was this morning or she really believed in forwarding the mandate the American People gave in November 2006 she would act to topple the Bush regime that mocks our constitution, sabotages the structures of U.S. life that support our population, and sneers at the American People, she would PUT IMPEACHMENT BACK ON THE TABLE. This morning on Face the Nation she tried to put all the blame on Bush, and yet she is the person who took the only option the House of Representatives has for reeling in the treasonous actions of this administration off the table when she unilaterally took impeachment off the table. The House Judiciary Committee has neither the balls nor ovaries to do what is their constituional duty and put Pelosi back in her place to speak for the House and not rule the House.
As Impeach Them says,
"Keep those calls for Impeachment coming in to Congress!
We hear they are making a huge impact!
Capitol Hill Switchboard: (202) 224-2131 , (800) 828-0498"
If we don't impeach Bush and Cheney now it will be nearly impossible to hold them to any standard of justice in the future for the war crimes, treason, and lies that have characterized their entire reign. The clock is running out. We must do this NOW. If not, well, then I guess I will see you in the camps. Check out how they are currently being used to keep women and children incarcerated in a prison that idenies access to U.N. human rights workers.
Robert Gates used a very dangerous new phrase as to who the U.S. military and mercenary troops are fighting in Iraq and elsewhere (such as in the U.S.?) this morning on Face the Nation. We apparently are no longer fighting Sadam (he's dead), nor are we fighting Al-Qaida in Iraq, and he would not say that we are fighting Shia militi or insurgents-- and most interesting of all he did not say that we were combating terrorists - what he said is that we are fighting extremists.
You know what this is don't you? This is another publicly audible click of the gears of the fascist propaganda machine pulling us toward the use of U.S. troops against the U.S. people. Language is a powerful tool and Gates use of this word "extreme" is the another shovel of dirt dug out to undermine the posse commitatas act which as of 01/19/04 in theUnited States Code
TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDUREPART I - CRIMESMajor Craig T. Trebilcock writes that "posse comitatus today is more of a procedural formality than an actual impediment to the use of
CHAPTER 67 - MILITARY AND NAVY
Section 1385. Use of Army and Air Force as posse comitatusWhoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly
authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses
any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or
otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than two years, or both.U.S. military forces in homeland defense."
Please define extreme, Secretary Gates.
In my dictionary it defines it thusly:
extreme |ikˈstrēm|We are all shit canned if it is the second meaning he intends, when it is used as an adjective, as I believe it was used by Gates, as an attribute.
adjective
1 reaching a high or the highest degree; very great : extreme cold.
2 [ attrib. ] furthest from the center or a given point; outermost
noun
1 either of two abstract things that are as different from each other as possible
2 Logic the subject or predicate in a proposition, or the major or minor term in a syllogism (as contrasted with the middle term).
furthest from the center or a given point; outermostSo we are fighting variance, diversity of thought, and view. This fight leads to a recursive self-cannibalism that eradicates the most divergent of views. After they are eradicated, then the more moderate view becomes the extreme and it is eradicated.
This is the same sentiment behind the incremental "cleansing" used by the Nazis to which Martin Niemöller referred to when he spoke his oft quoted poem,
- "In Germany, they came first for the Communists,
- And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
- And then they came for the trade unionists,
- And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
- And then they came for the Jews,
- And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
- And then . . . they came for me . . .
- And by that time there was no one left to speak up."
And if you want to talk about keeping quiet and complicity in global level criminality, don't forget to mention Face the Nation's second guest this morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
If Nancy Pelosi is concerned about the safety of the American People or the welfare of the troops as she said she was this morning or she really believed in forwarding the mandate the American People gave in November 2006 she would act to topple the Bush regime that mocks our constitution, sabotages the structures of U.S. life that support our population, and sneers at the American People, she would PUT IMPEACHMENT BACK ON THE TABLE. This morning on Face the Nation she tried to put all the blame on Bush, and yet she is the person who took the only option the House of Representatives has for reeling in the treasonous actions of this administration off the table when she unilaterally took impeachment off the table. The House Judiciary Committee has neither the balls nor ovaries to do what is their constituional duty and put Pelosi back in her place to speak for the House and not rule the House.
As Impeach Them says,
"Keep those calls for Impeachment coming in to Congress!
We hear they are making a huge impact!
Capitol Hill Switchboard: (202) 224-2131 , (800) 828-0498"
If we don't impeach Bush and Cheney now it will be nearly impossible to hold them to any standard of justice in the future for the war crimes, treason, and lies that have characterized their entire reign. The clock is running out. We must do this NOW. If not, well, then I guess I will see you in the camps. Check out how they are currently being used to keep women and children incarcerated in a prison that idenies access to U.N. human rights workers.
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