Tuesday, May 20, 2008
How much food do we waste ?
Children are dying. People are starving. It isn't anything new , we've been talking about it since I was a kid. Isn't it time to really do something about it?
Sarasota County has lost its collective mind.
From the Sarasota Herald Tribune article :
SARASOTA — This is the most costly place in Florida to blast your stereo, with a new law that gives police the authority to impound cars if they can hear the tunes from 25 feet away.First-time offenders face a $74 fine for violating the city's noise ordinance, and a $125 towing fee to get their vehicles out of the impound yard.
End quote
Does anyone want to place a bet on how many Stepford wives who blast some Michael Bolton while driving their new Jaguars to the yacht club are going to get theirs cars impounded?
I'm going on the record with this number : none.
This bullshit law targets the young and the poor , pure and simple. How can this even be legal? I cannot begin to put into word how disgusting this is to me. Basically it boils down to the fact that a small but influential segment of the population has decided that if someone is "too loud" they deserve to have their freaking car impounded. I'm sorry, I thought this was America. I thought we believed in things like freedom and liberty and I don't know....the pursuit of happiness. I didn't realized that we have become such crybabies that if someone makes noise as they drive by our house they deserve to lose their freaking car, the car the use to get to work and support their family. They car they paid for. Are we going to start foreclosing on peoples homes if the don't mow the lawn? Since when do we make things that are merely irritating illegal?
This is nothing but legalized carjacking.
Another Quote :
Commissioner Fredd Atkins voted against the law, saying it would lead to discrimination against black residents in his north Sarasota district.
This year, police have issued 16 of 22 noise citations given citywide in the north Sarasota district that Atkins represents.
"I am trying to figure out why are we trying to impound their cars and put more financial strain on these people during the worst economic times," Atkins said. "It is excessive and punitive to the group of people already living under the strong arm of the law."
end quote
See, he gets it, unlike this tool:
"We live in a residential neighborhood, and it's all the teenagers with their stereos turned loud," said Robert Levine, who lives near the intersection of Bahia Vista Street and McIntosh Road. "But it's the bass that is the problem. Turned all the way up: boom, boom, boom.Levine said the bumping stereos have kept him awake at night, and that the city's existing noise ordinance is not enough of a deterrent."
end quote
Seriously? What about planes that fly overhead? Motorcycles? Diesel trucks? Ambulances? Fire trucks? Kids playing outside? Birds? Frogs? (the damn frogs by me keep me up all summer) What does Robert Levine do when there is a thunderstorm ?
Once the ploice have your car, can they search it? Will they use this as excuse to pull people over who "look suspicious"? You can bet your ass they will.
This same county just announced that they will no longer hire smokers. In fact, now people have to have a drug test for nicotine when they apply. Since we are slashing the budgets of everything this added expense makes perfect sense to me. I know smokers are horrible, shifty, lazy people who probably also drive with the car radios too loud, but I would like to point out that smoking is still legal . Are employees not allowed to have a personal life anymore? How about drinkers and people with unhealthy diets? Is Sar. county going to start enforcing excercise regimens? Maybe only hire 6 foot tall blue eyed blondes? Hmmm, hasn't that been tried already?
When we are through spreading freedom and democracy everywhere else, can we have a little here?
SARASOTA — This is the most costly place in Florida to blast your stereo, with a new law that gives police the authority to impound cars if they can hear the tunes from 25 feet away.First-time offenders face a $74 fine for violating the city's noise ordinance, and a $125 towing fee to get their vehicles out of the impound yard.
End quote
Does anyone want to place a bet on how many Stepford wives who blast some Michael Bolton while driving their new Jaguars to the yacht club are going to get theirs cars impounded?
I'm going on the record with this number : none.
This bullshit law targets the young and the poor , pure and simple. How can this even be legal? I cannot begin to put into word how disgusting this is to me. Basically it boils down to the fact that a small but influential segment of the population has decided that if someone is "too loud" they deserve to have their freaking car impounded. I'm sorry, I thought this was America. I thought we believed in things like freedom and liberty and I don't know....the pursuit of happiness. I didn't realized that we have become such crybabies that if someone makes noise as they drive by our house they deserve to lose their freaking car, the car the use to get to work and support their family. They car they paid for. Are we going to start foreclosing on peoples homes if the don't mow the lawn? Since when do we make things that are merely irritating illegal?
This is nothing but legalized carjacking.
Another Quote :
Commissioner Fredd Atkins voted against the law, saying it would lead to discrimination against black residents in his north Sarasota district.
This year, police have issued 16 of 22 noise citations given citywide in the north Sarasota district that Atkins represents.
"I am trying to figure out why are we trying to impound their cars and put more financial strain on these people during the worst economic times," Atkins said. "It is excessive and punitive to the group of people already living under the strong arm of the law."
end quote
See, he gets it, unlike this tool:
"We live in a residential neighborhood, and it's all the teenagers with their stereos turned loud," said Robert Levine, who lives near the intersection of Bahia Vista Street and McIntosh Road. "But it's the bass that is the problem. Turned all the way up: boom, boom, boom.Levine said the bumping stereos have kept him awake at night, and that the city's existing noise ordinance is not enough of a deterrent."
end quote
Seriously? What about planes that fly overhead? Motorcycles? Diesel trucks? Ambulances? Fire trucks? Kids playing outside? Birds? Frogs? (the damn frogs by me keep me up all summer) What does Robert Levine do when there is a thunderstorm ?
Once the ploice have your car, can they search it? Will they use this as excuse to pull people over who "look suspicious"? You can bet your ass they will.
This same county just announced that they will no longer hire smokers. In fact, now people have to have a drug test for nicotine when they apply. Since we are slashing the budgets of everything this added expense makes perfect sense to me. I know smokers are horrible, shifty, lazy people who probably also drive with the car radios too loud, but I would like to point out that smoking is still legal . Are employees not allowed to have a personal life anymore? How about drinkers and people with unhealthy diets? Is Sar. county going to start enforcing excercise regimens? Maybe only hire 6 foot tall blue eyed blondes? Hmmm, hasn't that been tried already?
When we are through spreading freedom and democracy everywhere else, can we have a little here?
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Quotes for today :
Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths.
~Lois Wyse
It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. ~Susan B. Anthony
There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women. ~Madeleine K. Albright
If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves? ~Mary Astell
Feminism is the radical notion that women are people. ~Cheris Kramarae and Paula Treichler
~Lois Wyse
It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. ~Susan B. Anthony
There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women. ~Madeleine K. Albright
If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves? ~Mary Astell
Feminism is the radical notion that women are people. ~Cheris Kramarae and Paula Treichler
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
S. 2433: Global Poverty Act of 2007
Quote:
S. 2433: Global Poverty Act of 2007
A bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
Sponsor: Sen. Barack Obama [D-IL]
To cite this information, we recommend the following:
GovTrack.us. S. 2433--110th Congress (2007): Global Poverty Act of 2007, GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation) (accessed May 7, 2008)
Because the government takes a day or two to post legislative information online, GovTrack is usually one legislative day behind.
Please call or email your Senator and urge them to support this bill. Our elected officials need to know that we , the voters, want to do more to help end poverty and starvation all over the world.
Not only do we need to help the less fortunate from a humanitarian point of view, I believe ending poverty and starvation will do as much for our national security as our military can do
S. 2433: Global Poverty Act of 2007
A bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
Sponsor: Sen. Barack Obama [D-IL]
To cite this information, we recommend the following:
GovTrack.us. S. 2433--110th Congress (2007): Global Poverty Act of 2007, GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation)
Because the government takes a day or two to post legislative information online, GovTrack is usually one legislative day behind.
Please call or email your Senator and urge them to support this bill. Our elected officials need to know that we , the voters, want to do more to help end poverty and starvation all over the world.
Not only do we need to help the less fortunate from a humanitarian point of view, I believe ending poverty and starvation will do as much for our national security as our military can do
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Click to give
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces
This is one website that will help *you* help someone else. You can "click to give" for free and it takes about 3 seconds. You can also learn other ways to help.
Every day I get emails forwarded about a 1000 times , most of them having to do with "being proud to be an American". Ninety nine percent of the time they suggest that if you are a real American you should be pissed off about either 1. the illegal immigrants or 2. the evil liberals that hate the sweet baby Jesus.
I can only imagine what would be accomplished by forwarding emails that encourage ending poverty instead , or emails that don't make you feel better about yourself by putting everyone else down.
Instead of sending me an email telling me how much you support our troops , go to anysoldier.com and actually adopt one (or several) .
If instead of emailing me about how Christian you are because you only want the Star Spangled Banner sung in english ( ONLY!!!) you felt the pride that comes from knowing that somewhere someone is proud of our country also, and though they are singing it in their native tongue they are singing it because they believe in what it stands for.
I love our country and I love what it stands for. I want to be part of what makes us great....and to me that is our ability to look back at where we've come from and keep moving forward, with Liberty and Justice for all.
This is one website that will help *you* help someone else. You can "click to give" for free and it takes about 3 seconds. You can also learn other ways to help.
Every day I get emails forwarded about a 1000 times , most of them having to do with "being proud to be an American". Ninety nine percent of the time they suggest that if you are a real American you should be pissed off about either 1. the illegal immigrants or 2. the evil liberals that hate the sweet baby Jesus.
I can only imagine what would be accomplished by forwarding emails that encourage ending poverty instead , or emails that don't make you feel better about yourself by putting everyone else down.
Instead of sending me an email telling me how much you support our troops , go to anysoldier.com and actually adopt one (or several) .
If instead of emailing me about how Christian you are because you only want the Star Spangled Banner sung in english ( ONLY!!!) you felt the pride that comes from knowing that somewhere someone is proud of our country also, and though they are singing it in their native tongue they are singing it because they believe in what it stands for.
I love our country and I love what it stands for. I want to be part of what makes us great....and to me that is our ability to look back at where we've come from and keep moving forward, with Liberty and Justice for all.
Quote for today :
“Our lives are to be used and thus to be lived as fully as possible, and truly it seems that we are never so alive as when we concern ourselves with other people.”
Harry Chapin
Harry Chapin
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Do something!
If this doesn't break your heart, you don't have one. Please help. Find a church or charity and get involved . Vote for the cantidate you feel will help this child the most, even if it raises your taxes. Who needs your 20 bucks more than these poor souls?Let our leaders (both religious and political) that we find this completely unacceptable for even one more hour.
Please help. Please.
What kind of world allows this to happen? What is the point of being the strongest, the mightiest or the richest nation ever to exist if we ignore the SOLVABLE problem of hunger.
All of the major religions in the world are fighting over who God likes the best. The answer is this : He who does for the least of me.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Quote for today :
At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.--Abraham Lincoln
More nuggets of wisdom from Hagee
From this article :
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5517
Here are some highlights from the brilliance that is Pastor John Hagee :
1. "Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling Doberman pinscher? The answer is lipstick. Do you know the difference between a terrorist and a woman with PMS? You can negotiate with a terrorist." - Pastor John Hagee in his book What Every Man Wants in a Woman (Charisma House, 2005)
Wow Hagee, you are freaking hilarious! Here's one for you .....Do you know the difference between a penis and a prick ? A penis is a male sex organ. A prick is you.
2.. "[Gay marriage] will open the door to incest, to polygamy, and every conceivable marriage arrangement demented minds can possibly conceive. If God does not then punish America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah." - Pastor John Hagee
I hope he turns you into a pillar of gay salt.
3. "Only a Spirit-filled woman can submit to her husband's lead. It is the natural desire of a woman to lead through feminine manipulation of the man...Fallen women will try to dominate the marriage. The man has the God-given role to be the loving leader of the home." - Pastor John Hagee in his book What Every Man Wants in a Woman (Charisma House, 2005)
Or, a marriage can be a loving partnership of two equals. Either way.
"It is impossible to call yourself a Christian and defend homosexuality. There is no justification or acceptance of homosexuality.... Homosexuality means the death of society because homosexuals can recruit, but they cannot reproduce." - Pastor John Hagee
I just want to note that Pastor Hagee seems to dislike women while simultaneously being obsessed with gay men. I'm just saying.
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5517
Here are some highlights from the brilliance that is Pastor John Hagee :
1. "Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling Doberman pinscher? The answer is lipstick. Do you know the difference between a terrorist and a woman with PMS? You can negotiate with a terrorist." - Pastor John Hagee in his book What Every Man Wants in a Woman (Charisma House, 2005)
Wow Hagee, you are freaking hilarious! Here's one for you .....Do you know the difference between a penis and a prick ? A penis is a male sex organ. A prick is you.
2.. "[Gay marriage] will open the door to incest, to polygamy, and every conceivable marriage arrangement demented minds can possibly conceive. If God does not then punish America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah." - Pastor John Hagee
I hope he turns you into a pillar of gay salt.
3. "Only a Spirit-filled woman can submit to her husband's lead. It is the natural desire of a woman to lead through feminine manipulation of the man...Fallen women will try to dominate the marriage. The man has the God-given role to be the loving leader of the home." - Pastor John Hagee in his book What Every Man Wants in a Woman (Charisma House, 2005)
Or, a marriage can be a loving partnership of two equals. Either way.
"It is impossible to call yourself a Christian and defend homosexuality. There is no justification or acceptance of homosexuality.... Homosexuality means the death of society because homosexuals can recruit, but they cannot reproduce." - Pastor John Hagee
I just want to note that Pastor Hagee seems to dislike women while simultaneously being obsessed with gay men. I'm just saying.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Hagee and McCain deserve each other.
Does anyone else think this guy is a complete assclown?
http://http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/5/1/11248/20491
From the article :
::begin quote::
In a sermon given at his San Antonio, Texas Cornerstone megachurch that was telecast and available in up to ninety million homes worldwide, controversial pastor John Hagee, who has endorsed the presidential bid of Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, Jr., claimed that American public schools provide abortion services. Hagee stated, "Your daughter can get an abortion in public school without telling you but she can't get an aspirin without your approval." The pastor also claimed that public school teachers can force their students to study a "precursor to witchcraft" and suggests that America has invited "satan" and demonic spirits into its public school systems by failing to display the Ten Commandments on classroom walls. Presidential hopeful John McCain, Jr. has said he is "glad to have" Hagee's support and "admires" the leadership of the Texas pastor - who has declared God has cursed and doomed America. :
:End Quote::
Somehow, the same people who are ALL over Rev. Wright are going to listen to this and nod their heads and murmur to themselves how right he is. Is McCain going to have distance himself from this nutball? Will the conservatives demand he "throw Hagee under the bus"? I suspect they will not.
But wait ! There's more :
::quote::
Presidential candidate McCain, who has said he "admires" Hagee's leadership of the pastor's San Antonio based Cornerstone megachurch, actively sought out and has said he is "glad to have" pastor Hagee's political endorsement. McCain has not disavowed Hagee's support regardless of growing public controversy over the pastor's speech and writing which has been characterized, variously, as anti-Catholic, anti-Jewish, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-gay and misogynist.
::end quote::
Somehow I'm not surprised that McCain hasn't disavowed Hagee. After all, he thinks women don't need equal pay,they only need education and training.
Psssssst, Senator McCain : Education is great, I personally am a big fan of it. However the issue isn't getting the job.....its being paid fairly for doing it. As far as the training part of your suggestion, well, I am not a monkey or a dog thankyewverymuch.
Lastly I would like to quote Senator McCain (referring to a vote in the Senate) :
“Anyone who had the misfortune of watching it will know how hard it is to do the Lord’s work in the city of Satan,” said McCain, who has served four-terms in the Senate.
March 2008
I am very uncomfortable with a politician who think he is doing the Lord's work. In fact Iraq sprang to mind as soon as I read this. I did get sort of a giggle out of the fact that he is campaigning to be the head honcho of the "city of Satan".
http://http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/5/1/11248/20491
From the article :
::begin quote::
In a sermon given at his San Antonio, Texas Cornerstone megachurch that was telecast and available in up to ninety million homes worldwide, controversial pastor John Hagee, who has endorsed the presidential bid of Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, Jr., claimed that American public schools provide abortion services. Hagee stated, "Your daughter can get an abortion in public school without telling you but she can't get an aspirin without your approval." The pastor also claimed that public school teachers can force their students to study a "precursor to witchcraft" and suggests that America has invited "satan" and demonic spirits into its public school systems by failing to display the Ten Commandments on classroom walls. Presidential hopeful John McCain, Jr. has said he is "glad to have" Hagee's support and "admires" the leadership of the Texas pastor - who has declared God has cursed and doomed America. :
:End Quote::
Somehow, the same people who are ALL over Rev. Wright are going to listen to this and nod their heads and murmur to themselves how right he is. Is McCain going to have distance himself from this nutball? Will the conservatives demand he "throw Hagee under the bus"? I suspect they will not.
But wait ! There's more :
::quote::
Presidential candidate McCain, who has said he "admires" Hagee's leadership of the pastor's San Antonio based Cornerstone megachurch, actively sought out and has said he is "glad to have" pastor Hagee's political endorsement. McCain has not disavowed Hagee's support regardless of growing public controversy over the pastor's speech and writing which has been characterized, variously, as anti-Catholic, anti-Jewish, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-gay and misogynist.
::end quote::
Somehow I'm not surprised that McCain hasn't disavowed Hagee. After all, he thinks women don't need equal pay,they only need education and training.
Psssssst, Senator McCain : Education is great, I personally am a big fan of it. However the issue isn't getting the job.....its being paid fairly for doing it. As far as the training part of your suggestion, well, I am not a monkey or a dog thankyewverymuch.
Lastly I would like to quote Senator McCain (referring to a vote in the Senate) :
“Anyone who had the misfortune of watching it will know how hard it is to do the Lord’s work in the city of Satan,” said McCain, who has served four-terms in the Senate.
March 2008
I am very uncomfortable with a politician who think he is doing the Lord's work. In fact Iraq sprang to mind as soon as I read this. I did get sort of a giggle out of the fact that he is campaigning to be the head honcho of the "city of Satan".
Quote for today :
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." --
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
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