this needs addressing today also...

So, I was over at Liberty Belle's blog and reading about how she feels about the "fat cats" that are getting away with millions and million of dollars since our whole economic situation started smoking and making awful grinding noises.

As you know it's April 15th, and it's the last day to file your taxes. So patriots across the nation took it upon themselves to use today for Tea Party protests. I love it!

But I don't believe in not paying taxes- I just get all riled up at the idea of taxation without representation. Maybe we expect this to mean something different than it did 200 years ago, but our point is a good one.

I don't like the bailouts. Some people have lost their life savings and others (who made grave mistakes) walk away richer than ever.

People who took out loans they couldn't realistically afford are being helped, and those who live withing their means will continue to scrape by, on the sweat of their efforts. I wager those who made bad choices aren't learning much from this, except that CRIME PAYS?

However, I have some beef with Liberty Belle's crowd.

1) Obama did not create these problems. I see a lot of folks blaming the dude, and waxing poetic about their beloved Republican party, but seriously. Come on.



2) Our endearing ex-Pres spent the next generations tax dollars on a ridiculous war. Thanks a heap. At least the stimulus package is intended to fix our own problems, which is what we should have been focused on all along.

Victory Gardenz

I was thinking about the garden project, Meet Molly (a children's book), and WWII when it occurred to me that history does sort of repeat itself. Sort of. There are a great deal of things that are vastly different now than they were in the 1940's, but maybe the American psyche has a providential gardening gene that "kicks in" during hard times.


Sure, it might just be economic (less income + higher prices = move towards gardening), but I think this is more about needing to feel human again. Dirt on your hands, wind in your hair human.


Victory!! Wooo!

video clip

I can't even tell you how this feels. Watching this brief and wordless event makes me feel like I've been granted with a second coming-of-age. My roommate and I are still marveling at it all.

You see, we were 17 when George W. was elected the first time, and it was awful to feel so powerless.

And then, 9/11, and the subsequent "reign of terror", erupted on us when we were 18.
I lost all hope for the future for a little while. The Patriot Act was too reminiscent of Orwell's 1984. And I was so guilty of thought-crime. We were careful on telephones. We were terrified, because of the insanity we were living with.

I made sure to get out and vote, though, in both the local and national elections. And I cried when he was re-elected. As the 2008 election neared, we feared W's insanity would result in a cancellation of the election (in the interest of 'national security', of course).

However, Helen pointed out this week that as the years went on it became more and more apparent that he wasn't that crafty or maniacal, just dumb.

I feel so thankful for this new chapter that has begun, even though things are scarier now than they were 8 years ago.

Oh, WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME Obama family! And bon voyage, Dubya.

banksy, the most ill

"We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves." -Banksy

"Sometimes I feel so sick at the state of the world I can't even finish my second apple pie." -Banksy

(this is the wall separating Palestine and Israel)


(so wrong, I know)

"Some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the world a better looking place." -Banksy

THIS IS IT- the culmination of the past 8 years

The sky is grey in a smooth way today, and it feels patriotic, to me.

Each time I've been in D.C. it was like this outside, and personally, I think it suits the day.

Cora and I got up early and celebrated Election Day by making pancakes and watching videos online about what kids across the country think of the whole process and the candidates. Cute!

As you know, Tuesday's are my busy day, but I am very excited to be hitting the polls in a bit, and will be anxiously/optimistically staying tuned to the outcome.

I do have a night class, but I'll try and convince the professor that access to the electoral updates is unequivocally pertinant to our well-being. It's an American History class, for crying out loud.



hastily and with love(!),
yours,

Gladis

PS. Core urges you to vote for Obama. her reasoning: "John McCain wants to make more war, and we don't need more war".

let's clear this up,once and for all

Sure, I sometimes come across as a freaky semi-socialist, but I promise you:

I'm bipartisan.


I'll hug your elephant, if you kiss my ass.

Naw, seriously, I'm nonpartisan. But despite my utter disdain for the party system, there is something to be said for men who work themselves ragged on political campaigns. It's sexy. (Like Lewis and Clark exploring the American West, but hopefully with less mental illness.)

Just like being a philanthropic genius Jew. Alright, can you tell somebody's got a crush? lol.

Ok, next topic!

No one could ever say Brian is a bad friend (even if he did make me cry yesterday!). We went to our appointment at Mean Machine and because of MY gaff (and Harry's issue with picking up the kids at the appointed hour), Brian couldn't get tattooed, although Tom Kiernan was adament to still do mine. I felt so guilty and awful. Just AWFUL. The kicker is that in addition to coming out to Oldsmar (might as well be Egypt) and watching, Brian brought me a new BIKE :) New to me, anyways. And he brought tools and his work-stand.

I'm a happy girl, today, but I feel I don't deserve it.

Pictures to come, I promise.

so much good news, it's like the gospel 'round here

- I did not get fired... YAY!!! Lin was wondering if I could cover some of her hours when she goes out of town in Nov. LOL!! Yes, I realize I am extremely insecure; one serious voicemail away from having a breakdown. Because I think of voicemails as a serious thing- sort of a last resort when you have something very important to say.


- Tonight, Barb's coming over for sushi and beer. Well, I'll be drinking, I don't know if she will be, haha. And we are going to watch the debate, online, since there's no television in my living room. But it will be fun either way.


- I'm starting a Critical Mass group for Clearwater. Can you believe there is none here? There's Tampa and St. Pete, sure, but I wanna ride here ;-)

So- If you are interested in joining us, post a comment or send an email. I'll definately have all the specifics in the next week or two... I do know I intend for it to start at SPC Clearwater and head downtown (4.5 miles), and then around... somewhere.

I intend to hand out a flyer to the cyclists I see at school, and to friends. Maybe make a myspace page for it, too.

In times like these, I wish my dad was around

He was not only a lawyer/genius/artist/philanthropist... he was an economist, too.

I would really like some answers re: economic theory, and cause & effect.

In lieu of his corporeal presence, I will be popping in on Rick Penberthy, an old favorite teacher, that I'm sure I've blogged about before. He taught my high school psychology classes, economics, and also was our Academic Team coach/faculty sponser. He was the only person (besides the other members of the team) that made me feel like knowing the difference between Albert Durer and Alberti tiles was worthwhile.

I hear they don't ask about them much on that FCAT... but that's neither here nor there.

Anyways, I'm going to pay Mr. Penberthy a visit this week, when I get a chance.


Do you know what was being touted as newsworthy on Yahoo today? I know, because it's my homepage, so I can see my emails and stay abreast of these important stories (rolling eyes). There were 4 that got top billing:

1) "Latest Dancing Celeb Got The Boot"

2) Jennifer Hudson's engagement ring

3) Best times of year to purchase cars

4) What DOES $700 BILLION dollars compare to


Am I the only one feeling nauseated?

Why don't we, a generation of Americans who have more access to networking and information than ever before, feel more compelled to give a shit?

I will agree that this election (the past few, actually) have been bringing people out of the woodwork, but I suspect that's partly because it's so dramatic and heavily advertised on the shiny TV. What about the other issues we don't get in an uproar about? I'm not saying WHO we have for president isn't important, but that if the people sit back to WATCH the president, no matter who it is, we have surrendered. Even if Obama wins, I hope the Democrats stay on top of him, bust his chops a little. And not with the drama, please. Just keep him working.


Last night, in my American History class we covered the demise of the Articles of Confederation and the writing of the Constitution. This stuff always gets me all worked up (can't you just see me crying on the 4th of July? LOL you think I'm joking).

Outside on break, I was chatting up one of the hot guys in my class.

me: So, how d'you like this class so far?

him: Oh, it's alright. He's funny sometimes. [the professor IS funny sometimes] How about you?

me: It's social sciences, pertains to my major, so I enjoy it, you know? It's interesting to me.

him: Oh, it doesn't have any practical application for me, I just needed the credit. [in his defense, hottie is an engineering major]

me: Well! It's still applicable; you are American!

--we both laugh, and then I wonder if he probably thinks I'm psychotic now or something--

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I rode 9 miles yesterday, and I broke my personal record (!!!) for how quickly I got TO school (it's uphill).

Since I'm REALLY NOT in the mood to recount the story of the bet I lost (argh!! Shel Silverstein!!), and and how I got my car back last night, instead I will blog to you as I watch Palin's speech online. No, I didn't see it televised. I am watching it right now, right this very minute.


min 5- Will the audience ever stop screaming and clapping, and let her get a word in edgewise?

min 10- Damn, she is likeable. The comment about special needs families needing a friend in the White House moves me to shed a tear.

min 14- Oh, I just joined PTA! Man, I just wish this woman (who is so likeable) and who seems to support my right to have guns (woohoo! yes, I'm a "bad" liberal) didn't want to take away MY right to choose (a safe and legal abortion on MY terms). Both of those things seem like inalienable rights to me.

min 15- Ooh, a liberal just got removed from the convention room, lol! I didn't see what happened.

min 18- I feel enamoured by her line about the duty of politicians to leave the country better than they found it. That is sort of my way of approaching everything. I like the bit about going to the White House with a "servant's heart".

min 22- Oh, yes. Back to the oil-talk. She makes herself sound like one of the good guys. I am scratching my head now.

min 25- How about we become energy self sufficient by FIRST reducing use and then by drilling to meet the need that remains? There's an idea.

min 28- Shit. Am I a Republican? I also agree with Palin that the government needs to be smaller, with all the unnecessary nonsense weeded out. I am 100% for programs that BENEFIT Americans (ie; Medicaid, foodstamps, Pell grants) but how, in good conscience, can taxes be spent on bureaucracy that gets in between the people and the resources intended for them?

min 34- Feeling conflicted. Feeling confused. Feeling torn. Why is it that I am so misrepresented by every candidate. Who is the one that represents me?? No, I'm not a Dem, I've always been staunchly NON partisan, however I don't see a smart candidate meets me on the issues that matter most to me are environmental and economic responsibility, equality (yes, I mean gay marriage), truth, and protecting personal freedoms.

min 40- More applause. I'm going to go have a bowl of cereal now, as I ponder this.