Credit to Occupy Democrats

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Indiana GOP Curt Nisly, R-Goshen proposes total abortion ban in Indiana This guy reps an area just a few miles from me. From the article.

INDIANAPOLIS — A Hoosier lawmaker hoping to permanently end abortion in Indiana could get an assist from a U.S. Supreme Court reshaped by Republican President-elect Donald Trump. State Rep. Curt Nisly, R-Goshen, said Tuesday he plans to file a “Protection at Conception” proposal when the Republican-controlled General Assembly convenes in January.

 If enacted into law, it would prohibit all abortion in Indiana in all circumstances and authorize the criminal prosecution of any doctor or woman who participates in an abortion. “It’s time to bring the Roe v. Wade era to its logical conclusion,” Nisly said. “My goal is to deregulate abortion right out of existence in Indiana.”

Good Read

Nice people made the best Nazis. 
 Or so I have been told. 

My mother was born in Munich in 1934, and spent her childhood in Nazi Germany surrounded by nice people who refused to make waves. 

When things got ugly, the people my mother lived alongside chose not to focus on “politics,” instead busying themselves with happier things. 

They were lovely, kind people who turned their heads as their neighbors were dragged away. I don’t remember the first time I heard the stories my mother told me; I feel like I always knew them. 

She’s dead now. If she were alive, I imagine she would be quite sanguine; all her anxieties would be realized, so there would no longer be anything left to fear. More goodness at link.

Farm Bill Compromise Cuts Food Stamps For 850,000 Families

From By Elissa Gomez via The National Memo. Congressional negotiators announced on Monday that they’d reached a deal on a farm bill that saves $24 billion over the next decade and includes an $8 billion cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – the program responsible for providing food stamps to millions of Americans nationwide. Yep. There's the ticket cut more aid to the people who need it most. Please sign this petition to tell Hoosier senators Joe Donnelly and Dan Coats ABSOLUTELY NO MORE CUTS TO FOODSTAMPS!

Will Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion Continue?

From the National Memo: Again, I don’t want to make more of this than the evidence can support. But for what it’s worth, early evidence supports the liberal optimist (and conservative pessimist) view: that where it’s in place, Medicaid expansion is here to stay. If that’s truly the case, then sooner or later Obamacare’s Medicaid component will expand to all 50 states. Eventually, every state will have a governor who is willing to embrace it. Provided that trend is not counteracted by reversals in states that were in the first wave of Medicaid expansion, we’re talking about a one-way street. The only question is how long it takes.

I sure hope this is the case. Kind of hard to believe Mike "right-to-life" Pence will continue to refuse the medicaid expansion here in Indiana when so many Hoosier lives are at risk.

My Recent Healthcare Experience....and I have "EXCELLENT" Insurance

Rally with Community Coalition 4 Immigration Reform. With South Bend Mayor @PeteButtigieg Fri~June14th~4pm

This was on my car tis morning.

There are some ugly people out there. My grandmother was a daughter of the American  Revolution

TED Blog | All of our survival is tied to the survival of everyone: Bryan Stevenson at TED2012

TED Blog | All of our survival is tied to the survival of everyone: Bryan Stevenson at TED2012:

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How to Cover Everyone: Vermont’s Single-Payer Success by Amy Gluckman — YES! Magazine

It can be done!
The state’s progressive health care model has already bolstered campaigns in more than 20 other places. 

Reform took a different path in Vermont. In 2010, the state hired a Harvard economist to recommend a cost-conscious system of universal coverage. The result, unveiled in early 2011, was a single-payer plan to be run by an independent, quasi-governmental board, with private insurers’ role limited to contracts for claims processing and other administrative tasks.

In the meantime, Vermonters elected a strong single-payer supporter, Peter Shumlin, for governor. But the state had seen good single-payer plans and supportive governors before (think Howard Dean). One difference this time around was a huge popular mobilization. As the legislature deliberated, supporters of single-payer turned out in large numbers, including a “People’s Team” clad in bright red T-shirts that became a fixture at the State House. The Vermont Workers Center, which had been working to build grassroots support on the issue for two decades, can take a lot of the credit. “It would be a shame,” the center’s James Haslam emphasized, “if the lesson people took from Vermont was that the win here was all about having … a sympathetic governor.”

How to Cover Everyone: Vermont’s Single-Payer Success by Amy Gluckman — YES! Magazine

How to Cover Everyone...

http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/9-strategies-to-end-corporate-rule/how-to-cover-everyone-vermonts-single-payer-success

Senator Bernie Sanders calls for shared sacrifice

Tax Time? Not for Giant Corporations

Sanders compiled a list of some of the 10 worst corporate income tax avoiders.
1) Exxon Mobil made $19 billion in profits in 2009. Exxon not only paid no federal income taxes, it actually received a $156 million rebate from the IRS, according to its SEC filings. (Source: Exxon Mobil's 2009 shareholder report filed with the SEC here.)
2) Bank of America received a $1.9 billion tax refund from the IRS last year, although it made $4.4 billion in profits and received a bailout from the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department of nearly $1 trillion. (Source: Forbes.com here, ProPublica here and Treasury here.)
3) Over the past five years, while General Electric made $26 billion in profits in the United States, it received a $4.1 billion refund from the IRS. (Source: Citizens for Tax Justice here and The New York Times here. Note: despite rumors to the contrary, the Times has stood by its story.)
4) Chevron received a $19 million refund from the IRS last year after it made $10 billion in profits in 2009. (Source: See 2009 Chevron annual report here. Note 15 on page FS-46 of this report shows a U.S. federal income tax liability of $128 million, but that it was able to defer $147 million for a U.S. federal income tax liability of $-19 million)
5) Boeing, which received a $30 billion contract from the Pentagon to build 179 airborne tankers, got a $124 million refund from the IRS last year. . (Source: Paul Buchheit, professor, DePaul University, here and Citizens for Tax Justice here.)
6) Valero Energy, the 25th largest company in America with $68 billion in sales last year received a $157 million tax refund check from the IRS and, over the past three years, it received a $134 million tax break from the oil and gas manufacturing tax deduction. (Source: the company's 2009 annual report, pg. 112, here.)
7) Goldman Sachs in 2008 only paid 1.1 percent of its income in taxes even though it earned a profit of $2.3 billion and received an almost $800 billion from the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury Department. (Source: Bloomberg News here, ProPublica here, Treasury Department here.)
8) Citigroup last year made more than $4 billion in profits but paid no federal income taxes. It received a $2.5 trillion bailout from the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury. (Source: Paul Buchheit, professor, DePaul University, here, ProPublica here, Treasury Department here.)
9) ConocoPhillips, the fifth largest oil company in the United States, made $16 billion in profits from 2006 through 2009, but received $451 million in tax breaks through the oil and gas manufacturing deduction. (Sources: Profits can be found here. The deduction can be found on the company's 2010 SEC 10-K report to shareholders on 2009 finances, pg. 127, here)
10) Over the past five years, Carnival Cruise Lines made more than $11 billion in profits, but its federal income tax rate during those years was just 1.1 percent. (Source: The New York Times here)

Shame, shame, shame on Komen

This is for all the anti-choice, anti-women people out there.
Listen up.

You can spend every minute of every day trying to force the rest of us to live by your ideology. You can go after federal funds for health care and pressure private organizations like the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation to stop funding breast cancer screenings for poor women. You can try to make it impossible to get birth control.

But you know what you can't do? You can't win. You can't break us. Planned Parenthood isn't just a family of organizations. It's a movement. It's women and men of all ages who believe that health care — including reproductive health care — is a basic human right. We are millions strong. We are everywhere. We act, we give, and we do whatever it takes to make sure that Planned Parenthood is there for the women, men, and teens who rely on them.

Know this: When you go after Planned Parenthood and the people they serve, you go after ME. I stand with Planned Parenthood. I stand with them against anyone who wants to stop women from receiving the health care they need. I stand with them today, tomorrow, and for as long as I need to.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Working Class Hero-John Lennon

NFL players statement: 'No to RTW'

NFL players statement: 'No to RTW'
As NFL players, we know our success on the field comes from working together as a team. We’re not just a team of football players—we’re also the fans at games and at home, the employees who work the concession stands and the kids who wear the jerseys of our favorite football heroes. NFL players know what it means to fight for workers’ rights, better pensions and health and safety in the workplace.

To win, we have to work together and look out for one another. Today, even as the city of Indianapolis is exemplifying that teamwork in preparing to host the Super Bowl, politicians are looking to destroy it trying to ram through so-called “right-to-work” legislation.

“Right-to-work” is a political ploy designed to destroy basic workers’ rights. It’s not about jobs or rights, and it’s the wrong priority for Indiana.

The facts are clear—according to a January 2012 Economic Policy Institute briefing report (“Working Hard to Make Indiana Look Bad”), “right-to-work” will lower wages for a worker in Indiana by $1,500 a year because it weakens the ability of working families to work together, and it will make it less likely that working people will get health care and pensions.

So-called “right-to-work” bills divide working families at a time when communities need to stand united. We need unity—not division. We urge legislators in Indiana to oppose “right-to-work” efforts, and focus instead on job creation.

As Indianapolis proudly prepares to host the Super Bowl it should be a time to shine in the national spotlight and highlight the hard-working families that make Indiana run instead of launching political attacks on their basic rights. It is important to keep in mind the plight of the average Indiana worker and not let them get lost in the ceremony and spectacle of such a special event. This Super Bowl should be about celebrating the best of what Indianapolis has to offer, not about legislation that hurts the people of Indiana.
###

Indianawontbackdown.wmv

MS, Vitamin D and Viruses...a MUST SEE!

George Carlin - Pro Life, Abortion, And The Sanctity Of Life

Central Indiana JwJ Presents Carols to Brian Bosma

We Are The Many - Makana

Indiana State AFL-CIO - HOOSIERS WON’T FALL FOR “RIGHT TO WORK” FALLACY

Indiana State AFL-CIO - NEWS RELEASE: HOOSIERS WON’T FALL FOR “RIGHT TO WORK” FALLACY:

'via Blog this'
For Immediate Release: Monday, Nov. 21, 2011
Media Contact: Jeff Harris, Indiana State AFL-CIO, 317.632.9147
GUYOTT: HOOSIERS WON’T FALL FOR “RIGHT TO WORK” FALLACY
Out of state corporate interests push bill designed to destroy unions, reduce worker wages
INDIANAPOLIS – In reaction to the announcement by Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate Pro Tem David Long that they would make passing the called “right to work” bill their top legislative priority in the 2012 legislative session, Indiana State AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott issued following statement this morning:
“It’s laughable that Republican leaders in the Statehouse actually have the gall to cite “freedom” in their renewed push for the so-called “right to work” law given that its already the law of the land that no one can be forced to join a union. In reality, this legislation isn’t about giving Hoosier workers and employers more freedom, it is about taking away existing freedoms and choices.
If passed, this bill would restrict a private business’ ability to freely enter into an agreement with a union. And, it forces organized labor to represent workers who refuse to pay for services, thus severely depleting their ability to effectively represent dues paying members in fights for better wages, working conditions and needed safety precautions.
Anyone who has followed this debate in Indiana in recent years knows that this isn’t being pushed by Hoosiers, but by out-of-state corporate interests. As they have done in other states, they claim it’s about workers’ freedom, economic development or jobs – but can never produce verifiable information to support their arguments. That’s because the “right to work” bill isn’t about those things, it’s about money and power. Big corporations and their elected friends want to bust up unions, eliminating the last group of people standing in the way of unfettered corporate control. They want to drive down wages and increase profits. They want to eliminate the voice of working people in the political process.
And while this Wall Street re-branding effort is amusing, like our neighbors in Ohio, Hoosiers know that this is just another attack on working families”
The Indiana State AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is a federation of 800 local unions across the state belonging to 50 International Unions. In total, the Indiana State AFL-CIO represents more than 300,000 working Hoosiers.
For more information on please visit www.in.aflcio.org or call 1-800-433-8423.

Indiana State AFL-CIO - All Workers Lobby Day at the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday (11/22)

Indiana State AFL-CIO - All Workers Lobby Day at the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday (11/22):

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With the so-called "right to work" legislation back on the table for consideration in the 2012 General Assembly, it's time for all working Hoosiers to come together again and stand in opposition to this radical anti-worker measure.
The Indiana State AFL-CIO, along with our affiliates and community partners, are encouraging all working Hoosiers - union and non union alike - to join us for a "Workers' Lobby Day" on November 22nd at the Indiana Statehouse. On that day the Indiana General Assembly will convene for its Organization Day. It's a great opportunity to speak directly with your state senators and representatives about how the falsely labeled "right to work" bill would negatively impact you and your families as well as other issues facing working Hoosiers.
Please make every effort to attend and bring as many people with you as possible.
WORKERS' LOBBY DAY AT THE INDIANA STATEHOUSE
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
11:00 a.m. *
Indiana Statehouse
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, Indiana
*The Indiana House of Representatives will convene at 1:00 p.m. and the Indiana State Senate will convene at 1:30 p.m. Please be sure to get there before the start of session to ensure you have the time to talk to your legislators and to allow time to get through security at the doors.

Mr. Dieter & Occupy South Bend

In the past I've helped organize and have protested at many events in SB and our police have always been more than respectful and very protective of us in lots of ways. However, I see that it's not like that in many places around the country, and an interesting intersection to that point and almost on cue here in SB, is that the first politician to discuss dismantling the camp and cracking down on the protesters in front of the Morris at Occupy South Bend is a policeman on the Common Council, Dereck Dieter. It's been posited around this here internet thingie that there's a concerted effort among police admins to crackdown on the protests:

The cop group coordinating the Occupy crackdowns

…a little-known but influential private membership based organization has placed itself at the center of advising and coordinating the crackdown on the encampments. The Police Executive Research Forum, an international non-governmental organization with ties to law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has been coordinating conference calls with major metropolitan mayors and police chiefs to advise them on policing matters and discuss response to the Occupy movement. The group has distributed a recently published guide on policing political events.

Speaking to Democracy Now! On November 17, PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler acknowledged PERF's coordination of a series of conference-call strategy sessions with big-city police chiefs. These calls were distinct from the widely reported national conference calls of major metropolitan mayors.

Mr Dieter might want to remember that we’re fighting for his public employee pension too and we all need to remember who comes dressed for riots at the protests.

Move on is asking people to contact Officer Pike. As always, please be polite.
The officer who sprayed the students was UC Davis Police Lt. John Pike at (530) 752-3989 or japikeiii@ucdavis.edu.

Mary Chapin Carpenter w/ Vince Gill and Kathy Mattea - Wall 'Round Your ...

Beautiful Lyrics.

Save our Sorting Center | Occupy Indiana!

On Thursday November 17 at 7pm, the U.S. Postal Service will hold a public hearing at South Bend’s Century Center about the future of the major Postal Service building on Michigan Street in downtown South Bend. This building houses the USPS South Bend Processing and Distribution Center–the formal name for this sorting plant. It is one of the 487 such sorting plants located at strategic points across the country. Claiming that the Postal Service budgetary problems compel it to do so, the hearing is intended to hear the public’s input on this proposal to close down this sorting plant along with 252 others around the country.This is a call to action to show for this meeting!

Direct Action Called November 17! | Occupy Indiana!:

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Dr. Oz: Fight over Health Care Law Is Killing Americans

Wow. Just wow.

Dr. Oz: Fight over Health Care Law Is Killing Americans:

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The smell was unmistakable. I recognized it immediately – a fungating infection. It’s what happens when a cancer breaks through the skin and the puss oozes out and aerosolizes, producing an unsurprisingly foul odor. This is what late-stage cancer looks like if left unchecked, like many cancers were 100 years ago and still are today in the developing world. But I encountered this case this month, and Yvonne, the woman who sat crying before me, lives in Los Angeles. She lost her job two years ago, and when her insurance expired, she was too ashamed to seek help for a mass she felt in her right breast. Now the tumor had replaced her entire breast and blasted through the skin. Being cared for now — so late in her illness — was surely not what she would have wanted; and just as surely, it could have been avoided. How did we let this happen in America?

Read more: http://ideas.time.com/2011/10/31/enough-is-enough/#ixzz1cVflaN5n

1000 Americans Spell Out "TAX THE 1%" on San Francisco Beach

So Awesome!
1000 Americans Spell Out "TAX THE 1%" on San Francisco Beach:

'via Blog this'

Occupy Indianapolis: News Coverage

Occupy Indianapolis: News Coverage: It is Occupy Indianapolis’ goal to violate no laws in our upcoming actions. During an interview on WTHR-TV, channel 13 in Indianapolis, Occuin our upcoming actions. During an interview on WTHR-TV, channel 13 in Indianapolis, Occupy Indianapolis spokesman Joh Padgett did not say the organization would block access to any building.

It was reported Padgett said we would “Block” entrances to buildings. That is a violation of law, and Padgett at no time stated we would block any entrance or exit from any building. The “People mover” strategy is a continually moving, single file line of people. This is within the confines of local law. We will, at no time, prevent anyone from entering or exiting any building, nor will we at any time interfere with vehicular traffic along our route

Occupy Indianapolis

Home base for #occupyindianapolis

Occupy Indianapolis:

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It's All In The Game - Tommy Edwards - YouTube

One of my Mom's favorites. Bye,Bye Blackbird was her most favorite!
It's All In The Game - Tommy Edwards - YouTube:

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Republicans rewriting state election laws in ways that could hurt Democrat - The Washington Post

Indiana, where older nuns aren't allowed to voter.

Republicans rewriting state election laws in ways that could hurt Democrat - The Washington Post:

'via Blog this'

Supporting Unions is critical....I'm there!

Seen on the Twitter Machine this morning...

The only way to fight organized greed is with organized labor.

Smile or Die - so pertinent

RSA Animate - Smile or Die - YouTube:

'via Blog this'

U.S. expands probe of News Corp: Wall St. Journal

If they can hack the royal family they can hack anyone.

U.S. expands probe of News Corp: Wall St. Journal - Yahoo! News

Oh, and if I ever have a bloodhound I'm naming him Rupert.

Indiana Leg Loonies who love some Grover

List of Hoosier Legislators who think signing a loyalty oath to Grover Norquist who said “We’re going to crush labor as a political entity.” –Grover Norquist, founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform.

INDIANA
3 Senators of 50
Dennis K. Kruse (S-14)
Greg Walker (S-41)
John Waterman (S-39)
24 House members of 100
Jeb Bardon (H-25)
Robert Behning (H-91)
Timothy Brown (H-41)
Woody Burton (H-58)
Robert Cherry (H-53)
Wes Culver (H-49)
Jeff Espich (H-82)
David Frizzell (H-93)
Craig Fry (H-5)
Tom Knollman (H-55)
Eric Allan Koch (H-65)
Don Lehe (H-15)
Winfield Moses (H-81)
Timothy Neese (H-48
Gerald P. Torr (H-39)
P. Eric Turner (H-32)
James R. Buck (S-21)
Jim Tomes (S-49)
James Baird (H-44)
Steven Davisson (H-73)
Bob Heaton (H-46)
Jud McMillin (H-68)
Rhonda Rhoads (H-70)
Timothy Wesco (H-21)

Source http://fredericacade.wordpress.com/2010/12/31/list-of-your-states-signers-signed-to-grover-norquist-controversial-americans-for-tax-reform-pledge/

Great RedicuList video from Anderson Cooper

Don't mess with Matt Damon!

Matt Damon's headliner speech at the Save Our Schools March in DC, 7/30/...

Thank you Matt Damon.

Matt Damon Says Stop The War On Teachers

Thom Hartmann: How Corporations Created the Tea Party Zombies

Great stuff.

NYC 2nd ave subway construction worker, Gary, Official, Original video

This made my day!

Matt Damon: Stop The War On Teachers

Matt Damon: Stop The War On Teachers: "pThinkProgress filed this report from the Save Our Schools March in Washington, D.C. Actor and activist Matt Damon spoke at the Save Our Schools rally today. Before he spoke, Damon granted ThinkProgress an exclusive interview. We asked him about how teachers unions are being demonized in much of the media and teachers are being blamed [...]/p"

Religion and Politics....

A Great Post on Politics and religion....From Cab Drollery...

SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Tiresome
Here's the thing: ultimately, I really don't care what religion a politician holds, or even if s/he holds any religion. That shouldn't enter into the mix in a country which has declared freedom of religion and which has traditionally kept intact the separation of church and state. Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, Christian, Rastafarian, Pagan: it shouldn't matter.

It shouldn't, but apparently it now does. I thought that with the election of John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, we could finally put the religious test behind us. I clearly was wrong.

See my home town being sued for giving money to the church here.

Scarlet Letter

A friend and fellow Hoosier with whom I have been commiserating regarding Mitch Daniels and the Legislative Loonies in the Hoosier house and Senate destroying Planned parenthood just emailed me this: "I agree about living/being from Indiana, it is like wearing a big A on your chest for Asshole." The scarlet letter....and our leading university's colors are red and white. Just an observation.

This is good on a cool, cool evening.

We had some rather Autumnal weather Thursday so I raided the pantry for supper. I googled canellini beans +sausage and adapted some quantities into this. It was very, very good.

Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound cooked smoked sausage with skin (I used the ubiquitous Eckrich), cut into 1/4-inch slices (bite size is best)
1 can chicken broth
2 cans (15-1/2 ounces) canellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Dash hot pepper sauce to taste

Directions
In a large skillet or dutch oven, saute onions and garlic in oil until tender. Add sausage; cook and stir until lightly browned. Add broth, beans and seasonings. Cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Toss the bay leaves.

Serve it with crusty bread. Mmmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmmmm.

A quick note: I would not use garbanzo beans next time just because I like other types of beans better...... butter beans, Limas or even some read kidney beans.

Doghouse Riley

Doghouse Riley
I just really, really love the way this guy writes. Our own Hoosier Molly Ivins......with testosterone and ON STEROIDS. Too much fun with Sat morning coffee on the balcony:

The name of Indiana's governor--Mitch or Mark or Mike Somebody--came across the local news crawl last night. He was shoehorned into a story about Planned Parenthood shutting operations as a lawsuit proceeds over the bill he signed last month defunding all its services, because the inmates of the Indiana General Assembly had Shorty by the shorties.

Daniels has been invisible in the month since he announced his wife wouldn't let him run for President.

Rebuild the Dream

On Thursday, June 23rd, Van Jones will be joined by The Roots, artist/DJ Shepard Fairey, and other celebrity guests in New York City to kick off the movement to rebuild the American Dream.

Rebuild the Dream

9 Countries That Do It Better: Why Does Europe Take Better Care of Its People Than America?

It makes you want to move to Iceland.

9 Countries That Do It Better: Why Does Europe Take Better Care of Its People Than America? | | AlterNet

The Grand Rapids LipDub (NEW WORLD RECORD)

So cool

Peeps Show V - WaPo

Peeps Show V - The Washington Post:

My favorite part of Easter....the Washington Post Peeps Diorama winners slide show! My favorites this year "Peep Bun Tiki," "Peep Cake Wars," "Peep Hoarders," and for sentimental reasons "The Muppeep Show." A runner up would be "Peepie Sheen Receives His Daily Transfusion of Fresh Tiger Blood"

Past favorite: Political Peeps.

Under Proposed law Foster Kids would be allowed to get clothing only from second hand stores

Foster children would be allowed to get clothing only from second hand stores | Michigan Messenger

Mr. Bumble is alive and well and serving in the MI Senate.

Casswell, a Republican representing Branch, Hillsdale, Lenawee and St. Joseph counties, made the proposal this week, reports Michigan Public Radio.

His explanation?

“I never had anything new,” Caswell says. “I got all the hand-me-downs. And my dad, he did a lot of shopping at the Salvation Army, and his comment was — and quite frankly it’s true — once you’re out of the store and you walk down the street, nobody knows where you bought your clothes.”

Under his plan, foster children would receive gift cards that could only be used at places like the Salvation Army, Goodwill and other second hand clothing stores

Senate votes to give Daniels power to pick secretary of state replacement

Senate votes to give Daniels power to pick secretary of state replacement | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com

SIGH, IOKIYAR.....as a friend on Facebook says....Why even have elections and rules? We can just have the Republican majority write laws that determine our elections for us. Voting is so 1700s.

"The Senate voted today to change Indiana law so that Gov. Mitch Daniels would appoint a new secretary of state if Charlie White is found ineligible to have been on the November ballot."

A Scandal

Reposting this link to Bernie Sanders.

Rep. Crowley (D-NY) - Speechless

Best speechless ever.

Here's How We Can Fight Back and Win | Environment | AlterNet

Our Lives Are Under Threat From Some of the Most Powerful and Richest Entities -- Here's How We Can Fight Back and Win | Environment | AlterNet

By Naomi Klein & Bill McKibben

We need to rebuild the kind of mass movement that marked 1970: bodies, passion, and creativity are the currencies we can compete in. It's not impossible.

YouTube - A Scandal

I'm think I'm moving to Vermont when I retire. I want Bernie to be my senator. YouTube - A Scandal

New Research on Vitamin D, Part 1: Vitamin D is Unique | WholeFoods Magazine

New Research on Vitamin D, Part 1: Vitamin D is Unique | WholeFoods Magazine
The vitamin D precursor in our skin is 7-dehydrocholesterol, which is made in the body from cholesterol. Ultraviolet-B (UVB) energy converts 7-dehydrocholesterol into cholecalciferol, which is the name of natural vitamin D. Cholecalciferol (pronounced koh· luh· kal· sif· uh· rawl) is then carried in the bloodstream to the liver, where it is converted into the prohormone 25-hydroxy vitamin D (calcidiol). Some of that 25-hydroxy vitamin D is then transported to the kidneys where it is hydroxylated further to form 1,25-hydroxy vitamin D (calcitriol). This form is the physiologically active form of vitamin D. The calcitriol made in the kidneys is to fulfill only one of vitamin D’s functions: its endocrine function, which is to maintain the calcium economy.

Technically not a “vitamin,” vitamin D is in a class by itself. Its second metabolic product, 1,25-hydroxy vitamin D (calcitriol), is actually a hormone, a key that fits binding sites on the human genome. The human genome contains more than 2,700 binding sites for 1,25-hydroxy vitamin D; those binding sites are near genes involved in virtually every known major disease of humans.

Thom Hartmann: Life-long Republicans are leaving their party

It used to be a really good party with good people in the party. I'm a lifelong Dem but there are so many people I admire in the "real" GOP...Dwight Eisenhower, Dick Lugar (breaks my heart to see him pandering to these jerks) Teddy Roosevelt, Lincoln. Heck, even Nixon and Reagan when it came to middle class issues. But the new GOP is the party of billionaires and the Kochs. It is not your mom's GOP.

The Revolution Starts Now

Steve Earle~!

Indiana Workers Continue Monthlong Capitol Vigil | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

Indiana Workers Continue Monthlong Capitol Vigil

Today marks the 23rd day Indiana teachers, public employees and other workers have been at the state Capitol protesting more than 30 bills backed by Republican lawmakers and Gov. Mitch Daniels (R). The legislative package includes bills that slash public school budgets, defund women’s health care and eliminate public-sector unions.

Indiana Statehouse Protests to Protect Worker Rights - Week Two

I was in Indy yesterday, 3/10/2011.....good day to be Hoosier, a rare thing for me.

Wisconsin crowd reacts

Main Street Movement Erupts As Thousands Across Country Protest War On T...

What Have The Unions Ever Done For Us?

Five Things Unions Have Done For All Americans

ThinkProgress » REPORT: Five Things Unions Have Done For All Americans

1. Weekends

2. Income Equality & Fair Wages

3. Ended Child Labor

4. Employer based health care

5. Family & Medical Leave

St.Joseph Valley Project-Jobs with Justice support Wisconson Workers and...

Our rally in support of Wisconsin Unions and our own Hoosier workers. South Bend, IN 2/26/2011

Rally to support IN Dems & WI Union Workers

SUPPORT OUR HOOSIER DEMS

Time	Saturday, February 26 · 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location	Morris Civic ( outside ) South Bend, IN
More Info	Rally to support our IN Representatives who are fighting for our teachers, our unions, and our right to bargain collectively We support WI Senators, too ! We Love You All - Democratic Representatives who are trying to protect worker's rights ! Please wear RED in support and solidarity with Wisconsin Unions.

WI Capitol: This Land, Star Spangled Banner, USA

Wow, major goosebumps. Go Wiscosin.

Right Dosage Of Vitamin D For Autism | LIVESTRONG.COM

Overview

While the link between vitamin D and autism is not confirmed, an article published in the January 2010 issue of "Medical Hypotheses" reports that Harvard researchers support a theory of autism in which vitamin D deficiency is a possible cause

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/378297-right-dosage-of-vitamin-d-for-autism/#ixzz1E1mSzEVA

Right Dosage Of Vitamin D For Autism | LIVESTRONG.COM

Researchers in Belgium recommend another look at older treatments, especially vitamin D.

Autoimmune Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Vitamin D - EmpowHER.com

So far, expensive immune modulating drugs have provided disappointing results in clinical trials. Researchers in Belgium recommend another look at older treatments, especially vitamin D.

Tim Wise » An Open Letter to the White Right, On the Occasion of Your Recent, Successful Temper Tantrum

So good.....read the whole thing at the link.

For all y’all rich folks, enjoy that champagne, or whatever fancy ass Scotch you drink.

And for y’all a bit lower on the economic scale, enjoy your Pabst Blue Ribbon, or whatever shitty ass beer you favor.

Whatever the case, and whatever your economic station, know this…

You need to drink up.

And quickly.

And heavily.

Because your time is limited.

Real damned limited.

Tim Wise » An Open Letter to the White Right, On the Occasion of Your Recent, Successful Temper Tantrum

Republicans Hate Public Education

So true. The dumber people are the more likely they are to vote for them.

Ryan McLaughlin's Shine on Scotland campaign

TEENAGER OF COURAGE

He spearheaded a campaign to educate people on the importance of Vitamin D in combating MS.

The Pride of Britain Awards - Ryan McLaughlin

ACTUALLY, THE RETIREMENT AGE IS TOO HIGH

James K. Galbraith
ACTUALLY, THE RETIREMENT AGE IS TOO HIGH

The most dangerous conventional wisdom in the world today is the idea that with an older population, people must work longer and retire with less.

This idea is being used to rationalize cuts in old-age benefits in numerous advanced countries -- most recently in France, and soon in the United States. The cuts are disguised as increases in the minimum retirement age or as increases in the age at which full pensions will be paid.

Unconventional Wisdom - An FP Special Report | Foreign Policy

Political views 'hard-wired' into your brain - Telegraph

Scientists have found that people with conservative views have brains with larger amygdalas, almond shaped areas in the centre of the brain often associated with anxiety and emotions.

On the otherhand, they have a smaller anterior cingulate, an area at the front of the brain associated with courage and looking on the bright side of life.

The "exciting" correlation was found by scientists at University College London who scanned the brains of two members of parliament and a number of students.

They found that the size of the two areas of the brain directly related to the political views of the volunteers.

Political views 'hard-wired' into your brain - Telegraph

It's a Jolly Holi-dog Celebration!

As a public employee.....please stop the lies

PEGGY LEE - I Like a Sleighride (Jingle Bells) (1967)

My favorite Christmas song.

YouTube - PEGGY LEE - I Like a Sleighride (Jingle Bells) (1967)

Rescued Baby Hummingbird

Love, love, love this. Saw it linked at Cuteoverload.com

Turning it Around...

Really, really want Pete to be our next Gov. too. Pete in 2012!

Why Knowing Your Vitamin D Levels Might Save Your Life - Oprah.com

Great article from Oprah.com

Why Knowing Your Vitamin D Levels Might Save Your Life - Oprah.com

Greater resistance to viruses

During a recent study, researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine discovered that people with high levels of vitamin D got sick about half as often as people with low levels. And when they did fall ill, they recovered in fewer days. The reason: Vitamin D instructs your white blood cells to manufacture a protein that kills infections.

Less cancer

Specifically, a 30 to 50 percent lower chance of breast cancer, and a 50 percent lower chance of colon cancer. D regulates some of the genes responsible for cellular growth and survival, says Holick, and it does its job cleverly: "It helps shut down any out-of-control growth to prevent malignancy. If that doesn't work, it will help kill the cell. And if a tumor grows anyway, it will work to cut off blood supply."

Higher cancer survival rate

At the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, researchers found that colon cancer patients with high levels of D had a 39 percent lower chance of dying from the disease. And this might actually apply to all cancers, says Edward Giovannucci, MD, ScD, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.

More at link

Rep. Peter DeFazio Investigating Impeachment For Chief Justice John Roberts

Picture credit eastbaycitizen.com as far as I can find out. Love it, love it, love it.

Rep. Peter DeFazio Investigating Impeachment For Chief Justice John Roberts

I mean, the Supreme Court has done a tremendous disservice to the United States of America," Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) told The Huffington Post on Tuesday. "They have done more to undermine our democracy with theirCitizens United decision than all of the Republican operatives in the world in this campaign. They've opened the floodgates, and personally, I'm investigating articles of impeachment against Justice Roberts for perjuring during his Senate hearings, where he said he wouldn't be a judicial activist, and he wouldn't overturn precedents."

Changing Education Paradigms

Brilliant!

Changing Education Paradigms

Brilliant!

YouTube - RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms

Bodacious Tatas!

Fake (+)(+) Perfect (o)(o) Perky (*)(*) Cold (^)(^) and even Grandmas \./\./ ~~~Big(O)(O) or Small (•)(•) LET'S SAVE THEM ALL!!! PINK RIBBON

Vitamin D Linked to Childhood Obesity - Diabetes Health

Vitamin D Linked to Childhood Obesity - Diabetes Health

Vitamin D deficiency is a culprit that repeatedly comes up in the battle against obesity. Actually, vitamin D is not a vitamin at all. It is a hormone precursor found in cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), which is created when sunlight containing ultraviolet light (UVB) hits bare skin long enough to turn the skin pink, but not red. That length of time varies based on skin pigmentation.

Grand Jury Probes George Tiller Murder

Grand Jury Probes George Tiller Murder - News Story - KMBC Kansas City

At least one Justice Department civil rights prosecutor attended Roeder's trial, along with agents from the FBI. Shortly after Tiller's death, the Justice Department increased security around womens health facilities and opened an ongoing investigation.

Conservatives always talk about "smaller" government but then they want to barge into our doctor's offices anytime they please.

Jailed for not reciting the pledge

Scary, scary stuff.

From Jonathan Turley.....

Mississippi Chancery Judge Talmadge Littlejohn means it when he asks everyone to stand and say the pledge of allegiance. When attorney Danny Lampley of Oxford stood but did not recite, Littlejohn threw him in jail.

Littlejohn was just honored by the Mississippi bar for 50 years in public service.

Lampley was jailed from 9:40 a.m. and released about 2:30 p.m. on the judge’s orders.

The contempt sanction is, in my view, both injudicious and unconstitutional. Requiring an attorney to recite the pledge is a violation of his free speech rights. There is no question that an attorney must comply with court orders and that a judge is given considerable leeway in running his courtroom. However, that does not include monitoring pledge recitals.

http://jonathanturley.org/2010/10/07/mississippi-lawyer-jailed-by-court-for-not-reciting-pledge-of-allegiance/

We need new leadership at the state level

A great guy who lives our values every day vs. a jerk from DC who will never live in Indiana. How does this happen?

Poll shows Coats comfortably leading Ellsworth - chicagotribune.com

Forget Gibbs. Bring Back Dean as DNC Chair | The Nation

50 State Strategy! No more centrists. We need a true partisan.

Forget Gibbs. Bring Back Dean as DNC Chair | The Nation

Dance, Lizzie, Dance.

We need Universal Coverage now!

A new AP poll finds that Americans who think the law should have done more outnumber those who think the government should stay out of health care by 2-to-1.

AP Poll: Repeal? Many wish health law went further - Boston.com

Bayh Says Poverty Increase Means We Should Ignore 'Fairness' And Cut Tax...

Assholeyness in action.

Gingrich loses his mind...

And the establishment treats acts like he's not crazy...Obama Derangement Syndrome can take some strange people to some strange places. Disgraced former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), in all his pseudo-intellectual glory, has become so enveloped in his own garbage, he appears to have suffered some kind of severe head trauma.

Gingrich's trip to Crazy Town began quite a while ago, but in recent months, his unbridled hatred of the president has pushed him to the point of sputtering, incoherent rage. Earlier in the summer, Gingrich insisted that Obama and his allies represent "as great a threat to America as Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union once did."

G.O.P. Leader Tightly Bound to Lobbyists - NYTimes.com

I remember when he was passing out checks from the tobacco industry on the floor of the house. Real classy guy.

A G.O.P. Leader Tightly Bound to Lobbyists - NYTimes.com

Indeed!

John Hopkins study on Anxiety|depression in older adults

Johns Hopkins: Depression|Anxiety on vitamin D|depression in older adults

Low levels of vitamin D are common in older adults, often causing high levels of parathyroid hormone (hyperparathyroidism) -- and both may be associated withdepression in older adults, according to a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry (Volume 65, page 508).

Researchers in the Netherlands measured blood levels of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone in 1,282 residents ages 65 to 95 and assessed any symptoms of depression. Twenty-six participants had major depression and 169 had minor depression.

Researchers found that overall, 39% of men and 57% of women had insufficient levels of vitamin D. These levels were 14% lower in participants with either major or minor depression than in those without depression. In addition, parathyroid hormone levels were 5% higher in people with minor depression and 33% higher in those with major depression than in those who were not depressed.

One Nation Working Together

One Nation Working Together