Honoring Rhett S. Jone: Nov. 1. 2008 -- Details!

Thanks to the facebook group, Rites & Reason Theatre,
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=9954814611 I can provide more information:

Please Come Together to Honor

Professor Rhett S. Jones

on

Saturday, November 1st, 2008

Opening Ceremony
Manning Chapel - 11:00 am

Buffet Lunch
Faunce House - 12 Noon

Forum
“Dreams and Nightmares: Reflections on Leadership”
Rites and Reason Theatre - 1:15 pm

Inman Page Induction Ceremony and Reception
Rites and Reason Theatre - 2:30 pm
Reception - Lower Level Churchill House


Details or Clarifications?
Please contact the Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life - 401.863.2344


Africana Studies/Rites & Reason Theatre, the Chaplains and Religious Life,
the Multicultural Program Committee and Inman Page Alumni Council, collaborating

I'm dreaming of a white Halloween (from wednesday 10/29/08)

It's 37 degrees outside. It's 48 degrees inside. This is what happens when a bad knee slows down the renovation process. This project is taking longer than I would like it to for a number of reasons, but the knee is definitely an impediment.

Oddly enough, I view this situation with considerably more aplomb than I do a lot of other challenges in my life. I also find that it makes me much more aware of the plight of the homeless and others who have somehow not made the $250K necessary to gain entry into the McMiddleclass. I mean I'm sitting here eating my Generi-O's with a banana and some raisins and drinking a nice hot cup of coffee, my jeans are heating up on the portable radiator and I'm waiting for 8:00 AM to roll around so that I can start making noise. I'm not toastee, but I'm okay. I have a full belly (well, maybe a bit more than that) pretty decent health (no insurance, though), relatively acute mental faculties and a shrinking but still visible cash cushion.

On the one hand:

I am not wearing $300K's worth of nomination duds or even $150K's worth of campaign couture; flying around on an executive jet; being courted by the movers and shakers of american business and religiopolitics or lionized/demcnized by the various news and fauxnews organizations.

OTOH:

I am not sleeping under a bridge; driving a busted down shopping cart; being rousted from a heating grate by the cops; being vilified/pitied by the various news and fauxnews organizations or being used as an object lesson/cautionary tale for the young and impressionable. Okay--I'm not so sure about that last one. But, hey, I'm a big boy, I'm doing what I said I wanted to do these last many years. As usual, per my brilliance, I have elected to walk the highwire, blindfolded, on crutches while someone shakes the pylons. But I CHOSE this. Many of the poor, the uninsured sick, and those yearning to breathe free (I'm speaking about non-violent offenders in overcrowded prisons,here) did not choose to be born into their situations and "fail" in life anymore than a gay person chooses to be gay; It just happened. So for that we should hate and fear them? Apparently so, if you're a reptilican.

I am sick and disgusted to hear the GOP's candidates campaigning, as usual, with the only two tools which they seem to know how to use--fear and hate. I guess they are limited in their selection of tools by the fact that they have no coherent policy for changing the downward direction of the economy or the nearly eight year long train wreck of Bushco policy, both foreign and domestic. They hate "the other", they hate science (except that related to fast food and weaponry), they hate non-KKKristians and, it appears, they hate black americans with the temerity to run for the highest office in the land.


Fuck them. Fuck their attitudes, their platitudes and their false "GODLY" gratitude. If Jesus were to suddenly show up at a mPALINccain rally and start preaching his gospel of love and forgiveness he would be evicted, arrested, beaten or worse. The GOP has been reduced, by it's association with the religionationalists to a shrill, keening shell of the party that once had room for Rockefeller, Goldwater, Eisenhower and a host of other men/women who actually cared about their nation and its people and not just fulfillment of their own delusional dreams of conquest and rapture.

GOP, God's Own Phobics.

Real McCain/Palin Sign With Fetus and Flag (Photo)

Professor Deana Pollard Sacks snapped this picture with her cellphone at at the corner of Fries Road and Inverness Park Way in Houston, TX. The McCain/Palin sign features a fetus waving an American flag overtop of the word LIFE. It doesn't look like official McMerch, but it's no joke.

read more | digg story

Say "No" To Carcieri's Latest Plan

RAPID RESPONSE:
THE GOVERNOR SAYS "TAX CONSUMPTION, NOT INCOME"
>
Come tell the Governor:
We won't stand for more tax shifting from the richest to the rest of us!
Tomorrow, Thursday Oct 30th
8am-8:30am
stop by on your way to work
State House steps
Smith Street side

Yesterday, Governor Carcieri went on right-wing radio host John DePetro's show yesterday morning and said that he would "love" to eliminate the Rhode Island state income tax. The Governor made it sound like this would help everyday Rhode Islanders, but when asked how he would make up the $1.1 billion in revenue that would be lost, Carcieri said he would rather tax "consumption".

In other words, Carcieri would increase the sales tax, which takes a bigger percentage bite out of working- and middle-class people's incomes than it does the wealthy, in order to cut the income tax. However you slice it, the end result will be a more regressive tax system, with a smaller portion of taxes paid by corporations and wealthy Rhode Islanders, and more paid by the rest of us.


For more information call Ocean State Action at (401)463-5368.

Rhett Jones' Memorial: November 1, 2008

My understanding is that there will be a lengthy memorial for Rhett this coming Saturday. It will begin at Manning Chapel at Brown at 11:00 a.m., according to the person I spoke with at Africana Studies.

http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Africana_Studies/

" Justice Must Not Only Be Done, But Must Be Seen To Be Done "

Bus Drivers in North Smithfield (RI) Vote to Unionize!

I have just received some cheerful news from one of my wobbly friends!


It's official. North Smithfield School Bus Drivers & Aides have just
voted to be
represented by SEIU district 1199.

There were two unions on the ballot [SEIU 1199, Amalgamated Transit Union
local 618
(ATU), along with a choice of No Union.]

No run-off is necessary since SEIU 1199 received over 50% of the vote.

58% voted for 1199, 70% voted for a union.



North Smithfield drivers & aides now join in solidarity with Lincoln &
West Warwick
drivers & aides represented by 1199.

Happy Birthday, democommie !!

Well, I may have missed it or it may be tomorrow or Sunday or even next week, but why limit our recognition to one day?

Dear democommie, a beloved contributor to this blog and commentator on many, and YES: the author and proprietor of his own, POLRANT: IF BEING A DECENT HUMAN BEING WERE EASY THE REICHTARDS WOULD HAVE FIGURED IT OUT LONG AGO
http://polrant.blogspot.com/
is celebrating a birthday !

And the francosphere (as General JC Christian calls it) has reason to rejoice!

Dear demo, I hope this week brings you joy and peace and hope. There are many of us on the internet tubez enjoying your wit and wisdom...Thank you.

Iraq War Veteran and Resister, Camilo Mejia Will Speak In Providence October 30

WAR RESISTER CAMILO MEJIA TO SPEAK IN PROVIDENCE

Contact: Brian Chidester, 401-525-1957

(Providence, RI)—Iraq veteran and war resister Camilo Mejia will speak
at two engagements in Providence on Thursday, October 30. Mejia will
give presentations at Rhode Island College at 12:30pm in the Student
Union, room 307; and again at 7pm in List Art Building room 120 at
Brown University. Both events are free and open to the public.

Mejia gained prominence when he became the first U.S. soldier to refuse
deployment to Iraq. Mejia, whose family came to the U.S. from
Nicaragua in 1991, served a six- month tour of duty in Iraq, during
which time he turned against the war. As he writes in his memoir, Road
from ar Ramadi: the Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejia
(Haymarket Books, 2008), “I would find myself riding in the back of a
truck through the dusty streets of war-torn ar Ramadi...I was supposed
to be giving all my attention to watching out for the insurgents...But
then I would catch sight of the children running to the front gates of
their homes to watch our vehicles rolling by and they would remind me
of the children I had seen back in Nicaragua.”

Mejia refused deployment in October 2003, filing for conscientious
objector status and going AWOL. He was convicted on a charge of
desertion and served nine months in military prison. Since his release
in February 2005, Mejia has continued to speak out against the
occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. He is now on tour to promote his
memoir as part of the Resisting Empire Tour, a project of Haymarket
Books. His appearance in Providence is one of dozens of tour events
happening around the country in October and November.

The Resisting Empire Tour is sponsored nationally by Haymarket Books
and the Center for Economic Research and Social Change, as well as by
Iraq Veterans Against the War, Alternet.org, and Nation Books. It is
sponsored locally by Operation Iraqi Freedom (the student antiwar group
at Brown University), the Rhode Island Mobilization Committee to Stop
the War, the American Friends Service Committee, and the International
Socialist Organization. For more information, go to
www.resistingempire.org.

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama

Today, I watched Meet the Press, and had the opportunity to hear and see Colin Powell endorse Barack Obama. In listening to his conversation with Tom Brokaw, Powell was very thoughtful in his reflections saying that both Obama and McCain were qualified to be president. However, Powell admitted he was disappointed in recent weeks with the tone of McCain's campaign, as well his belief that McCain would carry out the same Republican policies.

Powell also felt that Obama is an inspiring and transformational figure (loosely quoting Powell). He said that Obama is presidential material, and will surround himself would good people. Colin Powell also felt that it is time for a new generation to lead. I agree with him wholeheartedly, especially as it relates to helping to restore America's image and place in the world. I know that some people are excited about Powell's endorsement, but others' don't feel the same because they believe he dropped the ball on the Iraq situation. I also had someone tell me that he dropped the ball on the Granada situation as well. I believe overall that even if Colin Powell helps Barack get over the hump in the presidential election just a little bit, his endorsement is well worth it.

What benefit(s) will Barack Obama gain from Colin Powell's endorsement?

Rabbis For Obama

My prolific emailing friend, David McReynolds, sent me an article from HAARETZ about rabbis supporting Obama. Here's an excerpt:

A group of liberal American rabbis have denounced Republican presidential candidate John McCain's campaign as leaning toward "hate speech" in its treatment of Democratic rival Barack Obama.

"The manner in which Senator McCain, Governor [Sarah] Palin and their supporters refer to Senator Obama is creeping toward hate speech," Rabbis for Obama said in a statement on Thursday.

"As leaders of the Jewish community we are well aware of the dangers of using inflammatory political language to marginalize individuals and groups. Increasingly those speaking on behalf of the McCain campaignhave been demonizing Senator Obama as not being like us."


Here's the article:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1029326.html

Mazel Tov, Red Sox!

OK, I admit I was asleep when they pulled off the victory last night. I recommend reading, "The Damndest Thing Everybody Has Ever Seen" from Everybody...

http://godsofolympia.blogspot.com/

Everybodyis worth reading on a very regular basis.

"the forgetting machine" a Rites And Reason Theatre production

Davey Lopes: An Unsung Rhode Islander Coaches The Phillies

Oddly, I "remembered" that Davey Lopes had played briefly for the New York Mets some time after I began to root for them (1974 + ). When I look on the internet pages, I don't find anything to back that up. The Mets and Dodgers played more often in those days. There were two divisions and no inter-league play, save for the post season.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davey_Lopes

Any way, I have been hoping to meet Davey Lopes ever since I moved to RI (August,1982). I have met more than a few cousins. My dear friend Billy Sylvia was his half brother, I believe. I've driven past the Rec center with his name countless times.

Rocco Baldelli and Dan Wheeler are getting attention in the sports pages for representing our fair state. The ProJo has neglected Davey Lopes.

Davey Lopes has a long and rich history. As hard as it is for me to root for the Phillies -- I will always root for Davey. I'm glad his health is strong enough for him to return to coaching. And I hope he has another chance (or many) to manage.

And Davey, we're all pulling for your sister's health too.

Dean Smith Former UNC Basketball Coach Endorses Barack Obama

I just read that Dean Smith the former head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina is endorsing Barack Obama. Although, on the back of Smith's biography John McCain is one of three people who write glowing remarks about Dean Smith. Dean states that he has a lot of respect for what John McCain has done for this country, but he believes that Barack Obama is the one capable of leading the United States at this time. Dean Smith said that this is not the time to stand on the sidelines. It is important to remember that Dean Smith has been a man who has helped to set a more positive tone regarding race and equality in his corner of the world by letting it be known that he would not eat at places where his players of color were not welcome. Dean Smith represents the things that are right about America. His endorsement of Obama could be significant in the state of North Carolina where polls show Obama with a 1% lead over McCain. North Carolina tends to vote Republican when it comes to the President of the United States. The last time that North Carolina voted Democrat for the presidency was 1976.

John Cleese's Poem

This is all over the internet, so why not here, too?! I've long appreciated John Cleese.


Ode to Sean Hannity

Aping urbanity
Oozing with vanity
Plump as a manatee
Faking humanity
Journalistic calamity
Intellectual inanity
Fox Noise insanity
You’re a profanity
Hannity

John Cleese

Marriage Equality Reaches Connecticut

Matt Jerzyk posted the Connecticut Supreme Court Decision on RI Future. Check it out!
http://www.rifuture.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=4262

This is what we need in Rhode Island.

"If we break, you own it"

YahooNews has this headline:

"US government may take ownership stakes in banks"

(read more, here--http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081009/ap_on_bi_ge/financial_meltdown;_ylt=ApDC0q8Ac4shPo6ZdfrxeEN34T0D)

about the Bushco WH's announcement that the government is looking at taking an "ownership stake" in several banks, in order to calm the financial markets.

Nice, for somebody, I don't think for us, though.

Finally, the prodigal son is going to justify the faith of his father and his father's rapacious friends in the financial sector. The Idiot-in-Chief was bailed out several times, in his various business ventures, by deep-pocketed people who had an interest in his welfare--a selfish one. He has, at long last, returned the favor--in spades! They only gave him some millions, he's done a bit better. He's turned the U.S. Treasury into the personal pinata of WS investors who have already screwed the American public (and foreign investors) out of $T's (that's $x,000,000,000,000's).

Do you remember the Bush rhetoric about an "ownership society"?

This:

"...if you own something, you have a vital stake in the future of our country. The more ownership there is in America, the more vitality there is in America, and the more people have a vital stake in the future of this country. - President George W. Bush, June 17, 2004

We're creating... an ownership society in this country, where more Americans than ever will be able to open up their door where they live and say, welcome to my house, welcome to my piece of property. - President George W. Bush, October 2004."

from here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ownership_society

might refresh your memory.

And this excerpt:

"Woodward says that the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, was keen to impress upon President George Bush the long-term dangers of invading Iraq. To make his point clear, he invoked what he and his deputy, Richard Armitage, describe as the rule in the Pottery Barn chain of stores: "If you break it, you own it.""

from an article by Richard Glover (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/23/1082616326327.html)

might also be illuminative.

It appears that the pretendsident has managed to synergize those two ideas into one.

The economy is badly broken, in fact it's really, really badly broken and now? WE own it. Us, the American people. Unless of course it turns around. If that should happen the government--if the republicans are still in power--will simply hand the reins (and the property) back to the morons who drove the team over the cliff in the first place.

I'm almost happy to have very little money.

democommie

October 11: Unite for Justice and Peace!

http://www.oct11.org/pdfs/Oct11_protest-RhodeIs.pdf

Alas, my attempts to copy this flyer have failed, but I think the link works...

Smoke filled rooms

Good Morning, Nomi and others:

I crossposted this from my house.
___________________________________________

I went to a "Cigar Dinner" last evening with some friends. I do not smoke unless I am with one particular friend who smokes good cigars and is a great conversationalist. Going to the dinner was just a way to get together. I smoked one cigar and gave him the rest of my "goodies" bag to enjoy.

What was interesting is that of about 12 people there, there were two, maybe three democrats in the room (I'm an independent). No one there had a high opinion of either McCain or Palin. All said they would not be voting for him. If they were being honest, if they vote for Obama, or just don't vote at all, it would seem to me that Obama just might be able to win in November, in spite of all the shenanigans that the GOP has engaged in to make a "voting machine malfunction" produce their desired result.

While I don't know if the reptilicans could pull off a fraud of such staggering proportions, I have no doubt that Karl Rove, that toxic waste of human flesh, would attempt to do it.

I know it's hoping against hope that Obama, if he is elected, will begin the herculean task of righting what's wrong in so many aspects of the electoral process, but...

Another thing that I got from the folks at the dinner last night; to a person they pretty much despised Sarah Palin. They did not cringe when I told her that I had labelled her a "hooker". The woman is poison, to them.

Poli Tsk Tsk Tsk: Sarah Palin: One on One with Poli Tsk Tsk Tsk

Poli Tsk Tsk Tsk: Sarah Palin: One on One with Poli Tsk Tsk Tsk

the Grace Paley Organizing Fellowship

I'm a little late in noting this, but the Jews for Racial and Economic Justice have launched a fellowship in Grace's name.

http://www.jfrej.org/index.html

There is a facebook group, "Grace Paley Organizing Fellowship" which is open to all, and seems freshly created.

General JC Christian Illustrates the Palin Branches of Government

Friday, October 03, 2008
Branches of Government by Sarah Palin

I'm very happy with my debate performance. John seemed to like it too. He didn't call me a "cunt" once tonight.

But a lot of people are asking me about that government branch thing. It seems complicated, so I sent Bristol over the Vice President Cheney's office and the came up with this super-neat diagram. The only thing it's missing is Jesus, but I gave it a good rebuking so it's OK.

$$$$$$$$$


The above is lifted from my Patriotic, Not Homosexual, Very Manly General. Please send him money.
http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/

Dump DePetro Today !

From RI Future [ http://www.rifuture.org/],
I've just learned of an excellent new group whose name is the title of this post.

Here's their site:
http://dumpdepetrotoday.com/index.html

DePetro left RI originally for the larger market of Massachusetts. They wised up to his bigotry and dumped him. It's our turn now.

Happy Birthday, Rod Carew !

I've been a fan of Rod Carew for as long as I can remember. He always struck me as honorable and likable, although my knowledge of him is based on newspaper articles and radio and tv sportscasters' reports.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Carew

Rod Carew, wherever you are, I hope your health is strong and your spirit stronger! Thank you for your many services to the communities...