Thursday, February 07, 2008

Weekly 2/7/08 - 5

Salon Weekly

~ In 4  Color-Coded Sections:

          • Table Notes
          • Events & Opportunities
          • Articles, Letters
          • Books, Reviews, Films, Magazines
          • (missing this week due to technical difficulties) Tri-State Treasures: events compiled by Jim Kesner


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Section One: Table Notes ............................................................................ (Note: these notes were taken at the table and have NOT been approved or corrected by the speakers.  Reader beware of inevitable misunderstandings and misrepresentations.  E.B.)
At the table Wednesday 2/6/08
Elaine Bradford, Bob Witanowski, Mary Biehn, Roger Pomplas, Rob Milton Nenbahwaab,  Sam Bach, Clarence Graves, Derek Lester, Mr. G. , Judy Cirillo, Spencer Konicov, Ellen Bierhorst, Mira Rodwan, Bill Limbacher, Linda Gruber, Julia Yarden, Sophia Yarden, Carolyn Aufderhaar, Karen Hahn

Spencer:
read the preamble.  
Announcements at table

Elaine Jim Borgman cartoon... So many other countries already have had female heads of state.  Many say misogyny is worse here than racism so Obama should be nominated if they want the Dem to win.

Bob: I am not concerned about the magnetic poles shifting if that should happen.  Only birds will be effected.  
May increase genetic mutation.
Mary  Reading Under the Banner of Heaven john Krackow about the Mormons.  Marvelous.

Roger:  I sense the media is biased towards Hillary.  Yesterday saw movie “Persepolis” about Iranian culture.  Esquire.  
A cartoon movie.
Mira  Fair Trade in Cincinnati ... Ben and Jerry’s is certified Fair Trade.  Also Brueggers fair trade coffee.  Costco, Trader Joe’s.  Ten thousand villages.  Etc.  pamphlet from the NURFC.  
    Economic Development Sat. March 15.  
    Super Tuesday.  Two things heartening.  I heard Obama does not accept money from lobbyists.  .. It is not true that Obama is only covering children in his health plan but it is not true.  I think Hillary has made some good presentations recently.  They must be very tired.  I have not made up my mind.  I am concerned about sustainability ...

Derek:  I have a sitar, seeking a sitar teacher.  Ellen and I are going to make a large veg. garden in the front yard.  
Mr. G. This election is driving me nuts.  In 2000 I was up until 5 am for weeks.  ... I am skeptical.  Been looking for guidance in this choice.  Two friends who are highly intellectual who believe that McCain would beat both Dem. Front runners.  Previously it was automatically Hillary.  Now... Ted Kennedy, I really like.  Hard to discount his Obama endorsement.  Gloria Steinem says feminism issue trumps the race issue in terms of impact and importance.  Makes me think; I have respect for Gloria.  Then I read another article, about why Obama has fundamental attributes that have to do with what it takes to change government.  Boomers are very resistant to even talking to Republicans, so wouldn’t be as good at change.  Hillary is a Boomer.  
    This Black right wing leader on TV, impressed me a lot.  Said white educated upper middle class folk want to be forgiven for their racism so badly that they want to make a deal unconsciously.  
    I want the next leader to be chosen for conscious reasons, not subliminal ones.
    So I am stuck.  I love both candidates.

Julia  Blacks got vote in 1863; women not until 1920.  
Clarence I don’t know a woman I can trust so I have no choice as to who to vote for. (joke).    I want a woman as pres because women go thru stuff men don’t understand, don’t listen to.  I want Hillary in the White house.  

Judy I wish I brought a copy of this email...research by Dan LaBotz on Cincinnati.  Controlled by a few wealthy families and big corps.  Done a lot of harm.  
Rob there was also an article in the Enquirer Sunday.  
    I already voted in Michigan.  Couldn’t vote for a dem. Because we were being punished.  ...
This campaign is going to use up a lot of money.  Fighting between Clinton and Obama will be harmful.  Close race.  Movie “No Man’s Land” a weird drama; on DVD from Library.  Highly recommend.  From Bosnia.  Subtitles.  
    Winds of Change is a weather, climate change book.  Highly recommend.  Says rapid climate change is the norm.  What people are doing may trigger a change.  We have no policies in place to deal with climate change.  
Sam:  I don’t see any true leader on either side; prob won’t vote this year.  
Spencer:  Election:  I am thrilled.  Reveling in all this chaos.  When I was 18, living KY.  First voting.  ... When JFK was nominated... It wasn’t until he was killed that his programs were put through by LBJ who was a seasoned manipulator, got things thru congress.  Kennedy was great because of wonderful speeches; handled Cuban missile crisis well.  ... We have a candidate who is inspiring young people to get active, to come and vote.  Politics is the most fun game in town.  
Karen  I am thrilled that people are believing their vote can count.  
Bill Today is the ann. Of Queen Eliz. Accession to the throne.  

Linda  Primaries... I think it was just great.  The pundits couldn’t predict, I love it.  I still don’t know who to vote for March 4.  That’s new for me.  The other talk last night was Will McCain appoint Huckabee as V.P.  But he doesn’t believe in evolution!

Spencer Judgment by Warren Bennis.  Read it.  

Clarence  This is the first salon I ‘ve ever been to.  Are there others?  
Mira  Lots of the Utne Reader subscribers do it.  
Rob another book, A History of God by Karen Armstrong.  Really good, historian, theologian. The three monotheistic relations.  
John:  all the other candidates dropped like flies.  (Spencer: it’s money.)  I like Hilary.  Whenever they interview... She really tells what she thinks.  
Lee:  within the races between the parties.  Regional.  Romney gets Western;  Huckabee gets Southerners; McCain gets Eastern region.  Democrats I seem open;  Hillary has solid base.  I share with John, Hillary has ore of a flare in saying things on the spot.  Has a track record of independent thought.  Who knows about Obama.  
Larry:  I find the Republican results interesting.  Ron Paul finished a strong second in several states.  Schism developing in the Rep. party.  The States rights republicans vs. the Bloated Behemoth of the current Rep. party. Strong exec. Powers; not respecting rights of congress...  Ron Paul is capitalizing on that schism.  Will see a split in Rep. party.  Might have a viable third party, Libertarian in the next 15 yrs.  I am rooting for Ron Paul or Huckabee.  I like both views on Small Government; intentions about the IRS and the taxes.  Huckabee is a better public speaker.  Connects with audience.  Is broader than the religious right.  Some of those southern states he gets 40-50% of the vote.  
    A third party would be healthy for our democracy.  

Mr. G.  Lee and Larry run the avant guard cinema at UC Mon and Thurs free.  Meyers Gallery Next to TUC.  “Reel cinema” Contact Yang Li : lit@email.uc.edu

Bob Ultimately the two parties will determine who is going to run.  We may have feelings, but it will be determined at the convention.  

Roger: When it comes to the Dem. Primary.  We have those good ole boys delegates, and the old guard of the political parties, smoke filled rooms.  ... I hope the Republicans don’t try to move back to Regan era; if they can’t face up to fiscal irresponsibility of the Bush administrations.

Rob  Republicans tend to characterize Dems. As “tax and spend”.  But at the end of Bush I we had a huge deficit ; Clinton era we had a surplus.  Now a much more huge debt.  So why call the Democrats “tax and spend”.  

Spencer: we have one party that believes “tax and spend” and the other party believes “borrow and spend”.  
Mr. G.  I am confused about one thing.  That Bush can obligate the next administration to maintain permanent bases in Iraq... This country is known to be fickle.  
Judy  I think it is that he’ll get  congress to pass legislation...

Clarence  I  have heard that the pres. Can commit us for 100 years....
Bill  They are trying to build enough stuff on the ground so that the next pres. Can’t leave for 10 years, can’t bring out all that stuff.
Clarence  the first thing is to get the majority of troops out, and whatever we need to protect our material, leave there.

Bob  how the rest of the world views us.  We put our rep. at stake when we change every election.  Europeans are very concerned about us changing all the time.  I t is not so easy to change long term commitments.  ... Then there is the strength of the dollar, and world trade.  

Roger re. Iraq.  Allegedly we have a coalition, but the other countries have honorably pulled out.  If Britain pulled out, we should be able to do so also.  
Mr. G.  what I meant was not that I like us being fickle.  The time to start being f aithful to commitments is after we get Bush out.

Clarence  Every country in the world has been  fickle when they fought a war and decided to get out.
Spencer  Every member of the coalition has pulled out.  Britain started reducing theirs as soon as their administration changed.  
Bob  How many know about sovereign hedge funds.   Money comes from a gov’t.  The world is effected by what happens in the US.  
... There is no draft.  The war is feeding the military indust. Complex tremendously.  These industries are invested in by other nations’ sovereign hedge funds.  Those countries invest in our stock market heavily.  One of the fears is of what political influence they might have on our political policies.  This isn’t talked about.

Clarence  The single most impt. Thing  Our soldiers went to Iraq thinking they were going for 1 duty.  They have since been forced to stay a second and third tour.  This is criminal!  Sinful!

Rob  The way this war has been run, Nat’l Guards have been pulled into this effort.  Mid level officers.  Out of West Point have a 6 yr commitment.  They are opting out like crazy.  Most Captains are opting out.
Karen on the news... A new recruiting campaign for the military.  Offered incentives, but catch is they don’t get the 20k or 40k until they are discharged.  Speaking of criminal!  

Spencer  Anybody besides me find it humorous that we are the biggest mercenary soldiers country anywhere.  
Bob if you’ve been in the military ... Anyone who has been an officer can always be called back to serve.  
Then there is the big issue of whether it is a declared war or not.  There are things that are unusual about this war.  
    then there is the Guns and Butter thing, from LBJ administration.
    It is not “criminal”, it is built into the system.

Roger When there is a draft, the nation either buys in or chooses to change.  But when it is a mercenary army, it is different; it is tragic.  
Rob  re. the defense budget, the soldiers’ pay is very poor.  It is the contractors.  Hammers that cost $600.  

Mr. G.   You (Clarence) said it was “criminal and immoral” what we are doing in the war. ... I would love to impeach Bush.  But the legal system is what is in power .. Legal system is not about justice, it is about money.  The criminal system is criminal.  

Clarence When the gov’t says to a soldier, “If you sign up for  this period of time...”  the gov’t is lying to that person.  
(Spencer, Bob, Ellen: when you enlist, you understand that they can keep you in the service if they need you.)

Rob  change subject.  I am amazed at lack of outcry at the erosion of civil rights.  Suspension of Habeas Corpus.  Posse Committals, where troops can take over  your town for any reason.  Those are changes under Bush and they scare the hell out of me.
Spencer  We have as a country allowed a bunch of religious zealots scare us that we need to go to war with everybody.  9/11 was a bunch of criminal zealots.  ... I see parallel with fall of the Roman Empire.

Larry  During Civil War Ab. Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus.  ... Now internet ... New frontier, no new laws or precedents set up yet.  
As far as the religious zealots... It’s good old fashion racism.  “brown people with rags on their heads!”

John  nobody understands our rights or how the law works so when they take away freedoms, people don’t know.  
Clarence  what I don’t understand... You mention 9/11.  How in the world did planes come in and crash into those buildings and not be shot down.  I've heard various theories.  In ‘93 there was an attack on World Trade Center.  There was an excuse that day also....  
Spencer nobody took the responsibility to respond to the scramble
Bob partly its a joke, but there is a long history .. Has to do with maneuvers that were observed by the Japanese many years before Pearl Harbor.  We didn’t learn from that, and it set a precedent.  I am not talking conspiracy... People did their jobs but were not heeded.

Bill ... I think one reason why those planes were not shot down might be that historically when planes were hijacked they were flown to Cuba, not flown into a building.  

Karen it’s like any emergency situation.  Tragedy.  But is a unique situation.  That’s the way emergencies are.
    And I wanted to say earlier re. racism etc.  did anyone see in CityBeat this past year, “Ignorance is a form of terrorism”.  Lack of knowledge incites fear.  Terrorism is a form of lack of knowledge...also racism.  This country, still grossly uneducated about a lot of things in the world.  The young  people are better educated and there is a lot less racism among them.
Roger:  I agree that the pres. Did terrorize the congress with lack of accurate info.
    but 9/11 ... Buildings collapsed that were not hit.  ... No record of the airplane that hit the Pentagon.
Frightening!

Rob I am amazed at home many people in this country are so ignorant.  A saying, “You may have been born ignorant but that’s no reason to stay that way.”
Bob  A disaster we need to be prepared for: a flu pandemic.  There are websites to give info.  If you needed to be quarantined for 2 weeks, what to do.  We should all prepare.
Karen  Check out site for Center for Disease Control.

Clarence  back to 9/11  How could a bad guy know our schedule so well, re. our practice runs and everything?  
Bob I don’t think it has anything to do with that.  

Spencer at 9/11 a series of unpredictable events.  .. Had the cockpit door been locked.  Had the pilot stayed in the cockpit.  ... Have to make a decision... The gov’t is a bureaucracy.  The first rule of a bureaucracy is “don’t make a mistake”.  They guys who planned 911 were brilliant.  

Larry ties into my point about racism.  Not giving enough credit to the brains of non-americans.  I am saying one of the reason conspiracy theories persist is latent racism.  
Mira racism and Xenophobia.  ... Apparently there was knowledge of the preparations of Al Qaeda and the info never gotten up  to the White House.  
Spencer  Clinton told Bush that Al Qaeda

Closing song “Building Bridges”

~ End of Table Notes~

Hugs to everyone,
Ellen




Section Two: Events & Opportunities

IMPORTANT CLINTON MEETING SATURDAY

The Key to Winning is YOU!
Greetings!
With Hillary Clinton's impressive Super Tuesday results, all eyes are now on Ohio.

Top Clinton staff from around the country are now on the ground here, and are putting together the  plan that will deliver a resounding victory on March 4.

With our new marching orders, we need ALL INTERESTED CLINTON VOLUNTEERS to attend a critical organizational meeting this Saturday. Here we will lay out our victory strategy and your role in it. We will need your energetic participation every step of the way.

We will be meeting:
Saturday, February 9
10:00 am
AFSCME Union Hall
1213 Tennessee Ave. #1 (in the basement)
Cincinnati, OH

Directions: Take the Norwood Lateral to Paddock Rd. (OH-4) exit. Go south on Paddock Rd. to Tennessee (about 1/2 mile). Turn left onto Tennessee. AFSCME is near the corner of Tennessee and Paddock.

Please call friends, neighbors and other potential supporters and bring them to the meeting as well.



See you Saturday!

Sincerely,

Roxanne Qualls, David Pepper, John Cranley, Thomas Luken, Catherine Barrett

p.s. if you absolutely can not attend, but want to take part in the campaign or learn more, please email us at: swohio4hillary@gmail.com

 




URSULA ROMA has a new art show up at St. John’s UU Church, Resor Ave., in Clifton, Feb. 1 – 29.  Very cool artist.  





Sat. Feb 9, Loveland Greenhouse, Granny's Garden Winter FunRaiser...Attention salonistas! Wanted to let you all know about this fun winter event, Saturday, Feb. 9 from 1-5 p.m out at Loveland Greenhouse.  There will be an auction w/ local auctioneer Jim Poe, a "hearts in bloom" cake contest, a section for heirloom appraisals, planted baskets for sale, a kid's crafting corner, food and fun!
 
Gardeners, families, educators, this is a fundraiser for Granny's Garden School, a non-profit working with Loveland's 3 K-4primary schools. The Garden School teaches children hands on about gardens and nature and ties it directly into the required public school curriculum. This program falls right in line with my vision for making gardening a public school initiative and building a more effective form of place-based, hands-on learning. For more information about the event or the program go to <http://www.grannysgardenschool.com/> and the info on the event and the school are right there.   
from Mimi Rook, an erstwhile salonista

Celebrate World Sound Healing Day Feb. 14 Thurs chez Betsy Lippitt


World Sound Healing Day
WHEN
: February 14, 2008, Valentine’s Day. WHAT: Thousands of people throughout the planet all tone an "AH" together for five minutes (or more) during that day. WHY: To project the energy of Light & Love throughout the Planet. What better way to celebrate this joyous day of Valentine’s Day than to project Peace to Mother Earth and generate peaceful energy throughout the planet with sound! Sound coupled with intention has the ability to heal and transform. We will sound an "AH" sending a Heart Wave of Sound that will resonate throughout the planet.
 
I invite you to join me at my house for the second Annual World Sound Healing Day Toning at Betsy's: At Noon and again at 7:00pm on February 14th.
4384 Innes Ave. (45223). You can call for more details…542-1577, or just drop by.

 
For more background on toning, sound healing, and Sound Healing Day you can go to Jonathan Goldman's Sound Healers website    
                    http://www.healingsounds.com/


call or email with questions or requests................
Betsy    542-1577    folkjazz@juno.com     


Food Not Bombs serves a free meal every Saturday down town at Maine and 5th at 2:30.


Music with Betsy Lippitt.  Friday, February 15th from 7:30pm-9:30pm at the College Hill Coffee Company; 6128 Hamilton Avenue (45223).  Come celebrate Valentine's Day with espresso, good food and sweet music. Hope to see you then.  Questions?  Call Betsy at 542-1577.




There is now every Sunday morning an open weekly Tai Chi practice session at the Lloyd House in the third floor zendo at 10:15 am.  Everyone welcome.  Group is led by Jackie Millay (sp?) and I finally made a class last week.  It was excellent!  Only three of us.  Come join us.  Raise the chi, warm yourself up this winter.  ellen


 

From the website of
 
www.investinneighborhoods.com <
http://www.investinneighborhoods.com/>
  
2008 6th Annual Neighborhood Summit at Xavier University
 
Free event......community connections
 
 
  
CLEAN, GREEN and SERENE

 

"Mark the Date
It's Clean, Green and Serene:

 

It's the Neighborhood Summit 2008.

 

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at Xavier University's Cintas Center. To read about it, please go to our Activities <http://www.investinneighborhoods.com/activities.html>  page, or go directly to the registration <http://www.investinneighborhoods.com/register.html>  page.
 
 
  
Dr. O'dell Owens is the guest speaker at the kickoff dinner on Friday evening. You can reserve a space at dinner here <http://www.investinneighborhoods.com/dinner.html> .

Use the above connections, or the connections that follow at the Invest In Neighborhood website to register for the following:
 
Friday night dinner with speaker Dr. O'Dell Owens.......
http://www.investinneighborhoods.com/dinner.html
<http://www.investinneighborhoods.com/dinner.html>

 

Saturday activities and free lunch (see the list of sessions and topics below that appear on the site):

 
http://www.investinneighborhoods.com/register.html <http://www.investinneighborhoods.com/register.html>
CHOOSE ONE FROM EACH SESSION TIME FRAME:


    • Session 1: 9:30am-1040am
    • Reducing Gun Violence: Two Approaches

    • Pitch in - Recycle

    • Fighting the Affects of Foreclosure

    • Grant Writing

    •  

    • Session 2: 10:45am-11:45am

    • Hamilton County and Crime Preventiuon: What Now?

    • Building Green to Renew a Neighborhood

    • Schools as the Center of Community

    • Liquor Licenses from the Bottom Up

    •  

    • Session 3: 12:45pm-1:45pm

    • Developing a Neighborhood Safety Plan

    • Preventing Crime by Changing the Environment

    • Zoning as a Neighborhood Revitalization Tool

    • City Budget Basics and Community Priority Requests

    •  

    • Session 4: 2pm-3pm

    • The Role & Power of Communities in Fighting Crime

    • Community Gardens

    • Engaging Officials at the State and Local Level

    • Engaging New Groups in Community Life


        See you at the 2008 SUMMIT!





        Section Three: Articles

        Contents:


            Julie Muray on the Pres. Race; paper ballots for Ohio Meredith Balgley for Obama

          • final paragraph of Lincoln’s second inaugural address.

          • Why Bio Fuel is NOT a good answer

          • Pres. Race: Which is  more of a deterrent, Misogyny or Racism?  Gene Bierhorst



              Julie Murray on Pres. Race; Paper Ballots
          You may have already read it, but if not, I wanted to alert you to a very
          thoughtful, thorough article in a week ago's issue of the New Yorker - the one
          with the cover of a cat lying in a big stream of sunlight in the middle of Grand
          Central Station....
          The lead article is a comparison of "both sides" of Clinton and Obama...what
          kinds of President each might be and their strengths and liabilities...I found
          it very well written and thought provoking. If you read it, I would love to
          hear what you think.
          Here's to "change" !!!  Looks like we are really going to get it.....in Ohio,
          each voter can request a paper ballot now, since the machines are so
          "leaky"...Thank you Jennifer Brunner, our new Ohio Secretary of State...
          Julie
          Meredith Balgley (lately of Cincinnati, now of Asheville NC):  for Obama
          Dear Friends and Family;
          In my "Yoga For Women Over 50" class Friday, a woman told me that she wants Hillary Clinton for president because she's a woman. She would not talk with me about whether it matters who that women is or not.
          I truly understand that we would love to have a woman leader. I am not willing to settle for this particular woman at this particular time. She is certainly not a feminist model for me. I am troubled by her standing by her publically sexually promiscuous husband because it was politically favorable for them both. (We see this time and time again. Now again, with Detroit's mayor). What kind of model is this for young women? I am troubled by her using her husband's experience as her experience. I am troubled by her political scheming of moving to Harlem, New York City to set herself up for her Presidential run.  I am troubled by the idea of having two Presidents and by people voting for Hillary because they liked BIll Clinton's presidency. What does that have to do with her experience and capabilities?
          And Bill Clinton's presidency is in the past. Yes, these were better times in a lot of ways, but it is a different time now and we need different ways to solve problems. Not to mention that we have had two decades of Bush or Clinton.
          I am even more concerned with the way her campaign has gone; that Bill Clinton has gone over the top to stump for her; the racism that was felt here in the South, the attacks, and the caucus lawsuits (in Nevada, and for Michigan/Florida votes).
           
          I have been working with the Obama campaign these past few weeks in South Carolina and now in Tennessee (our primary is not until May). I have seen Barack Obama in person. I have spoken to young and old, black and white, men and women who voted for him this past weekend in SC. There was a real excitement among different kinds of folks that we can have a different future. I do agree with Barack Obama that we are standing in a very crucial moment in our country's history and in the world. There are many difficult problems that are coming to a critical tipping point; economy, religion, environment, war, terrorism....you know the score.  At this time, it would be a huge gift to have a leader who is experienced in inspiring people and bringing them together to work together to solve these problems.
           
          Before these past 7 years, I don't recall people defining themselves or others by a political party. These past few years have polarized people along political lines, race, gender, and religion.  Bush's preemptive war and administration's policies have strained our relationships with the rest of the world.
          HIllary Clinton has been and continues to be a polarizing figure. People either love her or hate her. That doesn't bode well for working together across party lines or even within her own party. She does have good ideas, but how will she accomplish these with the polarization about her? In my conversations by phone or in person over the past weeks, I have found that the only Democrats who won't converse with me and who do convey animosity are older (40-70) white women who state that they want Hillary. Why is that? Others are willing to chat and enjoy talking about their views and hearing mine.
           
          Yes, Hillary has more of a certain kind of political experience but there is a lot of scandal and corruption in the Clinton's files that will make it very difficult to be elected. The Republicans have been salivating for years hoping for her nomination because they know the animosity and they have files of scandal and corruption to haul out about the Clinton's.
          (see Jan 27, New York Times, Frank Rich "The Billary Road to Republican Victory", sorry couldn't figure out how to link it)
           
          Barack Obama has a different kind of experience. His life story is all about learning to get along with different kinds of people. He has years of public service experience working with people so that they can find their common goals and work together for positive change.  Because of this, Obama could build a broader coalition than Hillary Clinton can. We can see that he has already brought many new voters into the process.
          And experienced people such as Ted Kennedy who work with him in the government are impressed with his experience and abilities.
           
          I don't think there really is much difference in Obama's and Clinton's views on the issues. I do think that they have different kinds of experience and that Barack Obama's experience and skills are needed NOW.
          To me this is also about human qualities and character. In watching last Thursday's debate,  I observed that Hillary Clinton appeals to the head. Obama appeals to the heart.  
          The USA and the World have a REAL need for us to reach with our hearts now.
          So, I am hoping you will vote for Barack Obama. He has the ability to get people involved across differences to work for a better future. I really want this for myself, my children, and humanity.
          Something has got to change in the way we do things to have a different future.
           
          I am probably preaching to the choir for some of you, but if you are undecided or would like to talk more, find me soon.
          I don't get to vote until May.
           
          I have never been so hopeful in my political life.
          Yours, Meredith Balgley  


          Final Paragraph of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address,
          March 4, 1865

          (Good affirmation today, just as it was at the close of the civil war 150 years ago.  Ellen)

          With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
          Salonista and Organic Farmer David Rosenberg forwards this from
          http://www.organicconsumers.org/

          Why Bio-Fuel is NOT the Answer
          QUICK AGRO-FUEL FACTS


            Increasing fuel efficiency by just 3% would reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil more than all of the agrofuels combined.
          • The amount of grain it takes to fill an average gas tank with ethanol would be enough to feed a person for a year (source: Foreign Affairs)
          • If the United States stopped growing food and converted its entire grain harvest into ethanol, it would satisfy less than 16 percent of its automotive needs. (source: Earth Policy Institute)
          • The majority of U.S. biofuels are produced from pesticide intensive genetically engineered crops (soy, corn).
          • Monocultures of soy and sugar cane in Latin America and palm oil in Indonesia and Malaysia have led to massive deforestation and the loss of invaluable biodiversity.
          • Current methods of industrial-scale biofuel production worsen global warming by increasing deforestation and degradation of peatlands and soils, while also creating more nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer use.


              Gene Bierhorst (my bro. in NY) on the Presidential Race:
              Misog. vs racism.:  I just think that out of every 100 misog. guys, all one hundred had mothers and so if she (Hillary) would just quit using the pronoun "I" and lower the tone from that of a stentorian man to that of a woman across the breakfast table, she'd convert 12 of those guys to her side.  
            But...when the TV starts showing picture of O. with his wife and kids, all of them darkened artificially by camera exposure settings, and the headline is "Do we really want him (read "them") in the (our) white house (in the beds, on the sheets)?" ...and   "Do we really want him (them) choosing our doctors (seeing us naked and helpless)?--when those ads start flowing, then out of 100 racists, I fear that 123 will appear.  That's just 2 of the "Do we want..." ad campaign I fear is coming.   There are a dozen.  
             I  imagine this is what  Hill.  might have been referring to when she said watch out, wait 'til the republican attack machine rolls out against him.  
             I hope I'm wrong.  But...I fear that racism is inherent.  We lust for tribalism, and manufacture it out of thin air.  When we see it pre-made, it's automatic, irresistible.  The nazis doing the jews was a hard slog compared to the pecking order based on skin color.  Hispanics have a different word for each of 12 shades of brown--cinnamon, coffee....   He'll have trouble with that group because they want you to know he's darker/they're lighter.  
             We were driving in Kenya near the  Tanz. border,  needed instructions, stopped and asked some Mbulu guys for directions, our guide,  Kikuyu, gets the info, we drive off.  He (the guide) was a bit darker than just about any American, tallish, slender (kind of my size and build. Not as tall or thin as Masai).  The Mbulu were darker than ink. Short.  Round.   If they closed their eyes and mouths, you saw into outer space.  Our guide says as we drive on, "Disgusting.  Mbulu. What do you expect.  Look how dark they are!"
             Hope...
          --gene
          ps, Monty, the chinese/plasticizer problem referred to below is from a series of emails from your kids to each other about how Chinese guys were being grabbed and plasticized.  For art shows around the world. Tighten your cilice.  Just a bit.
          Anna A. Sher (my dau. In Denver) wrote (to Gene):
                

            So Gene, on another note, you’ll need to duke it out with Monty about Obama vs. Clinton- he’s convinced that the polls and studies show that people are more misogynist than racist, and that there is yet more mud to rake on Hilary than Obama.  Anyhow, the people of Colorado have spoken loud and clear (no surprise, considering that 18,000 people showed up at DU to hear Obama last week, and we had a rep of Obama call us three times before the caucus).  I’m as confused as ever.  Took a quiz that is supposed to show you who your views align with and I was tied between the two. I’m hoping Dad is right…  
            Response from Anna’s Dad Monty (my ex.) Gene, put on your hairshirt for mortification and penance.  We have no choice but to support Obama.  Obama is not simply a good man.  Obama is inspired.  Watch him.  Listen.  Once you get that, you have to submit.  However jaded, deflated, cynical we have become, we cannot turn away from the real thing.  It may be futile, but we have no choice.

        Miss you,

          Monty


Section Four: Books/Movies/Magazines/Reviews
...................................
Send me a short blurb about books, magazines you are reading, or movies etc. you are seeing.  We’d love to hear about it. Ellen
....................................
   I WILL BEAR WITNESS 1933-1941 A Diary of the Nazi Years by Victor Klemperer.  This is horrifying. He was a scholar, an academician, and a Jew,nominally. His cousin, Otto Klemperer, a conductor stands out as the truest interpreter of the Beethoven symphonies.  Otto's son, Werner, is familiar to many as the commandant in the sitcom'Hogan's Heroes.' Victor survived the war and the holocasut through a series of fortuitous events, not the least of which was his non-jewish wife.  The journals are co-temporaneous with the descent of German civilization.  It is a wonderment to him.  There is no benefit of hindsight from the present, so the heart-breaking nature of the reader who knows what the journalist does not -how it will end, is hard to take.  I know how you used to avoid such things-which is why I am warning you. Some others in the Salon may be a little tougher than you are.
Jane Auer (Salon Weekly lurker in Lexington)

The Lloyd House Salon (usually about 12 people) Meets on WEDNESDAYS at 5:45,
EVERY Wednesday, 52 WEEKS/YEAR come hell or high water, as my mother used to say.

We of the
Lloyd House Salon gather in a spirit of
respect, sympathy and compassion for one another
in order to exchange ideas for our mutual pleasure and enlightenment.  

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Our Salon blog is a promising interactive site:   
http:lloydhouse.blogspot.com
  Also, we have an Interactive Yah
oo Salon group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LloydHouseSalon

For Pot Luck  procedures including
 food suggestions, mission and history visit
http://home.fuse.net/ellenbierhorst/Potluck.html   .

You are invited also to visit the Lloyd House website:  http://www.lloydhouse.com
> To unsubscribe from the Lloyd House Potluck Salon list, send a REPLY message
> to me and in the SUBJECT line type in "unsub potluck #".  In the place of  #
> type in the numeral that follows the subject line of my Weekly email.  It
> will be 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7or 8.  This tells me which sub-list your name is on so I can  
> delete it.  Thanks!   ellen bierhorst     



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