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Howard-Empowered People Comments
Any peace symbol is better than any war symbol.
Just try to tell me God doesn't agree.
Howard Dean never supported the war in Iraq
so Howard Dean is First!
Hello folks,
mprov over at the BBB suggested that it might be a good idea to make my CD available for the Holidays, so I've taken him up on it. One hundred signed and numbered copies of "Love Songs From Ground Zero" are now available from my website. Send this excellent gift to friends and family, or order one for yourself. And have a wonderful Holiday season.
http://teocawki.blogspot.com
Good idea, Subway. I ordered one and really look forward to receiving it. Thanks for putting your songs on a CD.
Looks like some interesting stuff here
http://www.buynothingchristmas.o....org/
index.html
Thanks Susan,
I've included 3 songs that aren't posted at my website. I hope you enjoy the CD.
Renee in Ohio | Homepage | 11.27.06 - 5:03 pm | #
Yes, it is interesting. I'm a big proponent of Buy Nothing Christmas myself. It's one thing to celebrate Christmas, but it's another thing to get caught up in the madness of Cashmas.
my sister just called with some not so good news on my brother. the other day I showed my mom the candle page and told her how many of you were sending well wishes and prayers. she got on the phone for a minute and asked me to ask 'the bloggers' if they would keep on praying.
A "Buy Nothing Christmas" huh? What exactly is the purpose of that? To really celebrate the birth of Jesus, or just make it easier for the person buying nothing?
Personally I *like* shopping for my family. Putting quite a bit of thought in to which things I think each person will like.
And I do it on a budget, just like I do everything else. I usualy end up spending less than $100 for about 50 members of my extended family. You can actually find great stuff at the dollar stores, or make presents from inexpensive craft supplies.
2 branches of my family have suggested drawing names this year, and yeah, I find it kind of insulting since they're saying giving to your whole family is just not worth the effort.
Thankful's brother's candle page:
http://www.gratefulness.org/cand...?l=eng&
gi=T2T4D
Thankful's brother's candle page:
http://www.gratefulness.org/cand...?l=eng&
gi=T2T4D
Steve Howard For Mayor campaign update:
I'm like 1/2 way done with this stupid database now.
Our big announcement party is this Sunday.
The grapevine says a 5th candidate is going to run.
Steve's sister is going to take over doing the website, which is 1 less thing for me to think about. Yay!
BTW, here's the website, which desperatly needs updating!
http://www.howardforrutland.org/
♥ Thankful. As soon as I'm on a real computer, I will light another candle.
Jessica, I'm a big fan of the notion of 'take what you can use, and leave the rest.' I would not want to do a completely "buy nothing" holiday, but the site was suggested to me by a woman at church (who's also a deacon and a former mentor of my EfM group). I told her I was looking for things to do during Advent, so that the full focus of the holiday wouldn't be on the "stuff".
More later.
Jessica, shopping on a budget is not the same thing as what most people do. Which is buy things they can't afford on credit they don't need to run up.
The point is that Christmas has become all about the shopping. It's supposed to be a time of family, peace and joy. But I don't see that in the women I know. They hyper out, get stressed and snappish...all because they're trying to make a perfect Christmas.
Do what you enjoy. But is there anything inherently evil in making things easier on people who want it to be easier?
Just lit a candle for Rene. Wish I could do more.
But is there anything inherently evil in making things easier on people who want it to be easier?
SusanD | 11.27.06 - 6:50 pm | #
Evil, no.
I just think that in the spirit of giving, you should ummm give...and not only if it's easy to do so.
I don't need token presents in order to appreciate a gathering with my family. Which is all they'd come down to if the budget was kept low: tokens. (I will admit, however, that I am a horribly materialistic little man.)
If it's blowing off the budget, then even overlooking the "debt you don't need" thing, anything I really want I don't want to wait until Christmas proper to get. I want to open my toys and play with them promptly. (I also admit I lack patience and can be self-centered.)
Jess, as I'm sure you know, you can give without buying.
BTW, MC turns out to be my #2 son. 
Jess, as I'm sure you know, you can give without buying.
SusanD | 11.27.06 - 7:15 pm | #
Very true, although difficult if you don't live close enough to the recipient to give them time. Even homemade cookies or a scarf takes buying supplies.
If giving without buying is what people mean they want to do, then I think that's great!!!! But most people that say they don't want to buy gifts mean they don't want to give gifts.
SusanD | 11.27.06 - 7:16 pm |
Cool! Welcome, MC. 
Sometimes I *don't* want to give gifts. For example, when I realized all my kids had a way lot more money than I did and found myself thinking maybe I could give one of them a Big Mouth Billy Bass I knew it was time to quit.
There is no point whatsoever to giving a gift just because it's expected. I absolved my kids from giving me gifts too, and they confessed to being relieved.
When you're giving a gift because gift-giving is required it takes all the fun out of it and leaves only stress behind.
Thanks for the welcome, Renee, and now that I know I have "street cred" I can use my full handle and not the initials thereof. I'll get a Gravatar up and running once the site gets working.
There is no point whatsoever to giving a gift just because it's expected.
Agreed. And there are a lot of expectations wrapped up in Christmas. On my worst days, the whole Christmas season feels like a big sign made up of blinking multi-colored lights that reads "You're not normal, Renee!"
I resist those feelings, but on some stressful, low sunlight days in December, well...
Anyway, I remain convinced that there must be a better way.
Yipes! I've got to got watch Keith O. to see who he skewers tonight.
I don't think you guys realize how much you're hurting my feelings.
I'm going to work on my database.
Bob Petrillo just posted this at the bbb.
"I know you are such a caring and loving community of bloggers and so I personally ask for your prayers and good vibes not only for Renee (Thankfuls's brother) but for Thankful. She has been through so very much since last Tuesday, even though the Thanksgiving dinner went well last night with puddle, my son and daughter-in-law, their neice and myself. Se is a wonderful cook and puts out a helping hand for everyone in need. Thankful took puddle to miniapolis this morning and cameback here, but now has a migrane. I can't imaging how much that must hurt. the slighest light, sound or movement causes her pain right now. Sooo, please give her your good vibs, your energy and your prayers for her migrane and the strength she will need in the coming week as her brothers diagnosis becomes more clear.
I love you all and hope you will hold together in the tough times as well as the easy.
bob xoxo"
Sheesh, and a migraine too? Thankful can't catch a break these days. I've gotten to know Bob a little and I'm glad she's with such a caring friend.
Jessica,
As far as I know, Buy Nothing Day is a creation of Adbusters, an organization that does a lot more than deconstruct ads.
Buy Nothing Day is an alternative way to comemmorate Black Friday. It's against materialism, not gifts per se.
My Christmas shopping ended in October. As usual, I bought a few small gifts for some close relatives. I like giving people presents, and it's nice to have something to open Christmas morning. I spent about $40.
This crazed materialism is a disease of the soul. As somebody said on Alternative Radio last week, the sellers of material goods promise satisfaction and never deliver it.
You should know that, I get the messages. I GET IT!
I appreciate the gravity of the situation and I have a burning desire to “cross over.” I mean to meet with you and work with you in a search for the truth and beyond. I am willing to take that many steps further, and if I can assist the war on terrorism in any way—I would like to sign on. In truth, I feel like I have already “crossed over.”
I say so because I have made that clear to you, verbally on numerous occasions now. While I have gotten past this Step 1, I have been unable, however, to get to Step 2. It has not been for my lack of trying.
I understand that you have tried to get me to “cross over” in manifold ways. It is me. The problem is with me. By that I mean that, I have been unable to get to Step 2. This should not surprise you. It is not for a lack of commitment, desire, trying, or anything else. Rather, it is due to other very important medical issues.
First, I have nerve deafness in both of my ears. I played the drums for seven years as a teenager. This condition makes it difficult for me to decipher conversations from background noise. Often time, it all gets jumbled up and is unintelligible to me. What someone else may be able to easily hear is often times difficult for me to ascertain.
To make matters worse, I have a learning disability that is akin to Dyslexia. I have said this before. This learning disability affects a part of the brain that deals with cognitive functioning and gets in the way in many social situations. This same disability makes it difficult for me to parse innuendo from fact. Ask the wasp.
Don’t interpret these disabilities in a negative light. I am neither “callous,” “indifferent,” or in a “state of denial.” I understand the gravity of the situation better than most. Please know, in no uncertain terms that, I am looking to cooperate with you in the most desperate way.
I have told you that, I would be willing to answer any and all questions posed of me. I have said that there will be no hassles, no obstacles or limits to my cooperation. I have said that I would do so under oath. I have said that I would agree to take a polygraph. I am ready to do all of these things NOW!
I do not know much about criminal law and cannot appreciate the issues which may be at play here as they relate to establishing a meeting with you. I have no way of assessing what political forces may be at work here either. That is why I have suggested some work around’s.
I suggested that either me or my attorney contact Mr. Flower and tell him what I have said here or something different as you may suggest. There shall be no ambiguity. Likewise, my attorney can call the prosecutor identified by Mr. Flower—Mr. Pine. There shall be no ambiguity. Or, my attorney can call someone else of your choosing.
I have also suggested that I could fire my current attorneys if they are the obstacle. I would be happy to go in solo.
I have also thought about the possibi
Keith names the science teacher lady whose science teacher organization refused the 50000 DVDs of An Inconvenient Truth: Today's Worst Person In The World! WOOT
This is a little too much for me!
♥ Thankful ♥ Rene ♥
Jessica, I didn't know we were hurting your feelings. Please explain it to me.
Good thoughts wafting over from California to Thankful's brother, and to Thankful....
I think I go with Jessica when it comes to giving presents. It's very important, and reinforces social relationships; it is a pleasure, not an obligation. At the same time, I take it *much* too seriously not to be offended by the assumption that I would be willing to give or receive presents helter-skelter; a good example would be the thoughtless types who assume that one would be willing to participate in a drawing at work to see to whom one will give a gift (of specified maximum value). To participate on either end of such an exchange strikes me as thoughtless to the point of immorality. One has to be careful of whom one gives to, as well as who one receives from; it is not something to be taken lightly. I do not always succeed, but I always want to give something I believe the other person would like to receive.
And on another note, here is my favorite column for the day (well, more than that, I think):
Published on Monday, November 27, 2006 by the San Francisco Chronicle
Anti-War Movement Deserves Some Credit
Some call it marginal, but organized push swayed world opinion
by Tom Hayden
Although rarely credited, the anti-war movement has been a major factor in mobilizing a majority of the American public to oppose the occupation and killing in Iraq.
To many observers, the movement seems feckless and marginal, its rallies an incoherent bazaar of radical sloganeering. Yet according to Gallup surveys, a majority of Americans came to view Iraq as a mistake more rapidly than they came to oppose the Vietnam War more than three decades ago. So how could there be a peace majority without a peace movement?
Continued:
http://www.commondreams.org/view...s06/1127-
29.htm
Now to finish up some continuing education, then watch a movie (second in the Lord of the Rings trilogy). TTFN
Hi everyone!
I trust you all had a nice Thanksgiving. Wish the news was better about Thankful's brother. I lit a candle here in my apt, where it's a bit chilly at the moment.
So about the gift giving thing - our family, years ago, opted for a grab bag between the adults. The kids were all grown anyway (I have neices and nephews not too much younger than I - long story).
This year the family voted not to continue it next year. I guess some have a hard time coming up with suggestions, even though they have a year to think about it. Of course, this was decided without my voice, but I can see their point.
But I spoke to my sister on Thanksgiving and registered my opinion that, even though we don't have to do the grab bag, we should try to get everyone a "little something." I like giving gifts more than receiving them. Lord knows I have enough "stuff."
I tried the charity suggestion once, and will float it again. If they don't want to do it, at least the idea will be in their heads and maybe they'll do something on their own.
We aren't real commercial about Christmas - not like some I've seen. The displays just keep getting bigger and bigger. And the sentiment of Christmas tends to get lost.
We'll see what happens in our family.
Guess that's that!
Night all
Thank you all so much for the candles and prayers for my brother. We'll know more in the next day or two but it seems chances are slim he'll pull out of this. We've known this would come to pass sooner than later given the AIDS, and have had more years with him than expected, but I can't help not wanting to let go.
I think it prudent if I were able to meet the guy that spoke to me at the St John football game again. . . .I know what he looks like so my disabilities will not impair me. . .I will be able to speak with him about our collaboration and get to the step 2.. . I will be at the Shop and Save plaza at noon time. . .I look forward to seeing you there.
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