Last week the Weekly was not delivered by fuse.net (cincinnati Bell) until I ch opped it in two pieces...then went through. Tech support couldn’t understand it. Creeped me out, I can tell you. Something about the file tripped off “this might be spam” filter, according to the techie. He fiddled with something. Just sent to myself, and it went through, so I guess the “Big Brother is Watching You” alarm was a false one. Whew!
Don’t miss article on Tony Blair’s speech this Aug. about the international situation, passed on by Prof. Ellis Rivkin. Very important.
Also, see notes from Black Box voting (hero Bev Harris’s research group) about your absentee vote and how to protect it.
Lots of good stuff this issue. Enjoy. Ellen
Come to the WEDNESDAY night salon. Now permanently on Wednesdays. ellen
Salon Weekly
~ In 4 Color-Coded Sections:
- Table Notes
- Announcements
- Articles
- Books, Reviews, Films, Magazines
A Weekly Email Publication of The Lloyd House: Circulation: 575. Growing out
of the Wednesday Night Salon For info about the Salon, see the bottom of
this email Join us at the Lloyd House every week of the year at 5:45 for pot
luck and discussion. 3901 Clifton Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio to Submit events
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lot of work that way. Send submissions by Thursday evening.
To: Friends on our Pot Luck Salon list (575 as of July 8, 2006... Now in our
sixth year),
(to unsubscribe see below, bottom of page).
...................................................................................
................................................... 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.)
See questions below asked at the table to our Weekly readers: any one know the answers? Please write.
At the table on Wednesday, 10/25/06
David Rosenberg, Steve Sunderland, Marvin Kraus, Gerry Kraus, Spencer Konicov, Himavat Ishaya, Ellen Bierhorst, Linda Gruber, Janet Kalven
ANNOUNCEMENTS
GERRY: Kim Hale is running for state rep 32 dist. Clifton, Northside, College, Hill, West End, Mt. Auburn, etc. Running against Dale Mallory. Dale was pres. Of W. end Community Council… I was at a public meeting where he refused to let 250 citizens speak on their issue about the City Link project.
Kim lives in West End. Read the article two weeks ago in CityBeat on Dale Mallory.
Steve: Muslim Mothers Against Violence met with Temple Beth Or near Dayton. Wonderful experience. Hope for more chances to connect Muslims and Jews.
Marvin for those who have not yet voted. I voted yesterday, absentee, so that there was a paper trail. You will have confusion over Issues 4 and 5. Vote Yes on 5 to preserve the City anti smoking ordinance. If 4 passes, it will disallow all such smoking laws.
Be aware that the ballot is two sides.
Note: Issue One has been eliminated. Don’t vote on that, never mind reading it.
David: I heard on the news there is a new diagnostic tool called a spiral scan, three seconds, can recognize tumors the size of a pea. A huge study was made and caught 600 lung cancers, and the folks got 92% survival as opposed to the previous 15% survival in 5 years. Extremely good news.
TOPICS NOMINATED
Gerry: two days ago a car owner shot and killed someone trying to steal his car. Was he justified.
Marvin: at the Fountain Square dedication there was a reading by Nikki Giovanni. We have reproduced cc of the poem. We could read and discuss.
David: Read from Alternatives to Economic Globalization information about how the US is handling the reconstruction in Iraq.
Steve: I would like to read Brave New World by Huxley. A 9 year world, with anthrax attack, persuaded the people to give up their freedoms hoping for safety.
David yes, and also Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four.
Steve: I will send Ellen Orwell’s “Politics and Language”. So powerful and timely.
==================
GIOVANI’S POEM
Marvin was it in bad taste “whore, Kenny Blackwell…j”
Steve I think the poem calls us to use our voices. It is what poets should be doing. What a city square should be doing. We are too sanitized. Use your voice for justice; say what you feel. I don’t like hurting other people. I do regret hurting the feelings of Ken Blackwell.
Spencer “I am not a scoundrel like Kenny Blackwell”. I would have chosen to say “I am not a son of a bitch like Kenny Blackwell.”
It is a lousy, trite poem, but I like the spirit behind it.
I wish a good poet would have said something like that, evoking spirit…
Gerry I compare it to “Old Ironsides” by O.W. Holmes, defending the preservation of the war of 1812 ship. She didn’t have to use the lang. that she used. While I agree with her characterization of Blackwell, I wouldn’t have said it in that venue. Don’t think it was that appropriate.
What accomplished?
Steve it accomplished that let people know There are people who are able to speak out, especially to the minority community, We see what Ken Blackwell is doing. I think it is a courageous poem, to be taking on Blackwell, and say, “You can’t ride to the state house on the shoulders of our black community; you can’t take advantage of being black for that.” We white people don’t like Black people yelling at us. She is saying Blackwell is trading in his skin color for money.
Did the city sell out free speech on Fountain Square to CCDD?
Marvin CCDD has the right of management.
We could find out the real deal by applying to the city building department to put up a menorah. … What does this mean, “I will not use the color of my skin to cover the hatred in my heart.”
Steve She is talking about Blackwell; because he is Black, he gets away with positions that would be called racist and classist.
Hates Blacks, poor people. … She is saying, don’t be fooled by his skin color.
Search Sunday Enquirer, and Cinti. Herald for the text.
Marvin I like what she said also about Marion Spencer, making a bridge between the island of segregation and the main community…
====================
David Reading from Alternatives…Globalization
(notes taken during reading) “Iraqi freedom corporate style” by Antonia Juhasz, from Int’l Form on Globalization:
the invasion was a test case, model for free trade…
Paul Bremer, chief of reconstruction, issued Bremer Orders: “New rules for foreign investment”. For instance:
- Privatization: allows privatization of all nationalized enterprises, including airline, cement, fertilizer, etc. The highest bidder gets to own them.
- Allows for 100% ownership foreign of these businesses.
- Gov’t may not require contracts be given to local contractors.
- Foreign investors may transfer abroad all investments. No delay.
- Foreign Corps. May own all the businesses, do all the work, send all the profits home abroad. No rights of workers must be protected.
- Banking sector becomes not a gov’t controlled service industry, but a for-profit one…
- 15% flat tax on corps. And individuals, favoring the wealthy, hurting the middle class.
- the manner of dealing with oil exports remains secret. Chevron Texaco got the first contracts and has reaped enormous profits.
- reconstruction contracts to Bechtel, Halliburton…
Steve these are examples of rape.
David yes, how corporate power linked with governments can exploit people, destroy a country
Marvin: so you go in an destroy a country, and then use government money to pay multinational corporations to rebuild that country.
Gerry We are the ones who are getting raped.
David the deal Mallory made on the Banks is the same thing. We raise public money; hire a company from Atlanta, and they don’t have to hire any locals. We spend millions of our dollars and it doesn’t help the city.
Gerry and the people who buy the bonds for financing the project benefit also.
So what are we going to do about it?
David I would like to hear if Smitherman still stands by the statement about how the city has done the Banks project. Same thing about Fountain Square: we don’t know if we have sold the public square. We may have also sold away the right of the public officials to determine who may speak on the square. These things are not in public view.
Steve the UC criminal justice dept. has a new contract to train all the police of Turkey! … china … I am sure that we have agreements with the gov’t of China to own the U.of C. in order to pay the bills, get the budgets we want, through grants, tuition paid of foreign students….
David For instance the college of Medicine, research professors, salaries paid by the pharmaceutical industry. They own it, in that they provide the grants that pay the salaries of the professors. Once they discover something, it is owned by the pharmaceutical industries.
Steve inroads into public life. A major public university; second in the nation most expensive university among public universities. China pays out of state tuition for a huge number of Chinese students. …We have a new V.P. of international relations who is on their way to China …
Marvin Wonder if the Chinese scholars will be allowed to get visas to come here, under the Patriot Act.
Spencer My friend Tom Deutschman who raises experimental mice, spends half his time not on research but in getting his scientists who are f oreign nationals, back in the country.
Steve we have a huge change in what goes on in the public sector. It is one thing to have secrets in corporations; it is another not to understand the budget of our public institutions like the University. When our tuition goes up it puts it out of reach of poor students. The Iraq example only reveals what this is all a bout…
Linda thinking about the Giovanni poem…David reading from the book. Complicated issues. Will anyone spend time to learn them. …Mallory as all good, Blackwell all evil. I don’t like to hear the personal attacks because you don’t learn anything, and then you don’t have the energy to learn anything.
Janet I am glad Nikki spoke up about the whole thing. What’s good, what’s awful about Cincinnati. What she thinks of Blackwell, Mallory. I am all for free speech on
Fountain Square. J
Ellen: choose love not fear. Swami Beyondannanda
Himavat: What are we going to do about it? Near to my heart. We get confused when we polarize, good-bad, right-wrong. Then we disempower yourselves. How am I going to be powerful in this situation? It is an unanswered question; everyone must find the answer in ourselves. It is critical. “I am not going to require these thieves to be accountable…
I like being here because you guys are paying attention to these things I don’t have time for.
Not right or wrong; just consequences. I am about freedom: to speak, to assemble…
Must be conscious of what is going on.
Steve: thank David for bringing this topic to the table. There was a meeting called at UC at the new sports arena. How we support diversity. There were only 12 of us showed up to discuss “diversity at the University of C.”
Half were non Caucasian. Most were 50 and above. We have nearly no black faculty at UC: of 2600 if we have 10 it might only be because they are including Indians.
Feels like U. of Arkansas c. 1957.
The president called for a meeting, for a change, and only 15 people showed up.
… We assume that in our University we would have a lot of black students and faculty…but we do not.
David: I am hearing that you are saying “I hope I am wrong that we have so few black professors… but I cannot easily get the answer to this question.” And that is sad! Right here in our own city: Who benefits from the Banks project?
Marvin These questions that have been raised, maybe someone among the 600 Weekly readers
Can answer:
-who benefits from the Banks project?
- How many full time African Amer. Faculty are there at UC
- Who decides who is allowed to speak and assemble on Fountain Square now that it has been “contracted” and “leased” to 3CDC.
Spencer I would also like to know the breakdown of African Amer. Students by department, major.
===================
SHOOTING IN KENNEDY HEIGHTS
David what were the circumstances?
Gerry: reading from paper: a teen attempting to steal a car, 6 am, the man who shot him had started his car to warm it up, then left it running to go inside a minute. A 14 year old got in the car and started to drive away. The car owner fired several shots. The boy was pronounced dead at UC hosp.
Janet Seems a clear case of murder. He killed the guy.
Spencer According to Jewish law, you can’t equate property to the value of a life.
Marvin different law applies if the thief invades your home.
Steve this is a ferocious act. The Amish have raised the bar on gentleness. What Would the Amish Do?
Janet He could have shot the tires.
Spencer It is illegal to leave your car idling for more than a minute or so; pollution.
Steve It is a tragedy.
Spencer: Himavat, do you think he should be prosecuted?
Himavat There should be consequences. He ought to be held accountable.
Ellen race?
Marvin We believe that the victim was Black. We have heard that the shooter was also Blacks but we don’t know.
Spencer I believe that there is no property as valuable as a life.
===================
David Yesterday Daisy went to the march against the jail levy. I learned that jails are local, are for misdemeanors and temporary detention for those awaiting hearing.
Prisons are for felonies.
The propaganda about the new jail levy is that it is for dangerous criminals.
That is not true.
Daisy is under the impression that Mark Mallory is against the jail.
It is being sold to the public as a way of containing all these horrible criminals, so we need more jail space.
…in jail, 40 degrees, but was not given a blanket. It was unbelievable. True story.
Marvin so as Himavat says, each should inform himself or herself…
David it is just shameful how difficult it is to get the information. We should have elected officials to help us understand the issues.
~ End of Table Notes~
Hugs to everyone, Ellen
Section Two: Announcements
WHAT IS SOCIALLY
ENGAGED BUDDHISM?
Dear Ellen,
Thank you for your newsletter, which I always look at.
Soccer practice for my son will be ending soon, so I
hope to be able to attend a Wed. night salon/potluck.
Attached and below is a newsletter item about a
visitor, Maia Duerr, who will be speaking about
socially engaged Buddhism on Sunday night 7pm October
29th at the Dharma Center in Northside [Moline St.]
Thanks,
David Loy
WHAT IS SOCIALLY
ENGAGED BUDDHISM?
An evening with
Maia Duerr,
Executive Director
The mission of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF),
founded in 1978, is to serve as a catalyst for
socially engaged Buddhism. Their purpose is to help
beings liberate themselves from the suffering that
manifests in individuals, relationships, institutions,
and social systems. BPF's programs, publications, and
practice groups link Buddhist teachings of wisdom and
compassion with progressive social change.
Through a worldwide network of 4,000 members and 45
chapters, their vision is to bring peace where there
is conflict, to promote communication and cooperation
among Buddhist communities, and to alleviate suffering
wherever possible.
For More information: http://bpf.org
WHEN: 7:00 PM Sunday October 29, 2006
WHERE: Buddhist Dharma Center
15 Moline St.
Northside, Cincinnati
SUNDAY 29 Oct
Friends & Colleagues,
US Labor Against War, The Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center and The Intercommunity Justice & Peace Center invite you to a Free Screening of Robert Greenwald’s latest film:
Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers.
Sunday, October 29th, 2006 at 7:30 PM
The Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center
1415 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, OH 513 621-5991
We expect an interesting discussion will follow the screening and copies of the DVD will be available for purchase ($15.00 each). Please RSVP by clicking the link below (we need to know how much corn to pop):
http://iraqforsale.bravenewtheaters.com/screening/show/7725-cincinnati
Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers is the story of what happens to everyday Americans when corporations go to war. Acclaimed director Robert Greenwald (Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, Outfoxed and Uncovered) takes you inside the lives of soldiers, truck drivers, widows and children who have been changed forever as a result of profiteering in the reconstruction of Iraq. Iraq for Sale uncovers the connections between private corporations making a killing in Iraq and the decision makers who allow them to do so.
-http://iraqforsale.org/
In “Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers,” Mr. Greenwald compiles a horrifying catalog of greed, corruption and incompetence among private contractors in Iraq, focusing primarily on Halliburton, Blackwater Security Consulting and CACI International. Leading off with the infamous torture and murder of four Blackwater employees in Falluja in 2004 — men whose families contend were callously placed in harm’s way — the movie goes on to trace connections between the contractors and the Republican Party, assert the buying of influence and explore what it says are questionable accounting systems that encourage exorbitant waste of taxpayer money. And that’s just the first 30 minutes.
-New York Times Review by Jeannette Catsoulis, September 8, 2006
We hope you can join us. ICJPC
MLK chorale now morphed into Voices of Freedom chorus
Still under the
direction and inspiration of Cathy Roma (of Muse, of St. John’s, etc.) and
Bp. Todd O’Neal of House of Joy church in College Hill. Rehearsals : 2nd and 4th Tuesday of Nov, Dec,
plus Jan 2 and 9
at 6:30
(Nov 14, 28, Dec 12, 26, Jan 2, 9)
Rehearsals in the Tubman theater at the Freedom Center. Go down Walnut street, cross over third. Freedom Center is on your right. Park on Walnut...there are spaces at that hour. Free. Put “Freedom Chorus” sign on your dashboard.
It’s beautiful down there. A blast singing together.
Singers needed! No audition! Men
singers especially needed.
This is a fantastic opportunity to build
interracial healing bridges in our city AND have a marvelous time as well.
I have sung in the chorale for many years. The group will perform at the
MLK Day celebration at Music Hall, of course, and also will sing in
March at the Freedom Center on Internat’l Women’s Day, March 8. Then off for the spring and summer. Parking: at the very foot of Walnut street. Carpooling is great. Cincinnati has
historically been a city of singing, thanks to those old Germans and to the
Black folks and the Appalachians. And the hispanics and the Italians and...
It is one of our strengths as a city. Cathy and Todd are wonderful to sing
for and with, and the spirituals music will lift your heart. Come give it a
try. Great fun, important piece of civic activism. Ellen.
Get this: The FREEDOM CENTER (NURFC) is FREE on the second Tuesday of every month f rom 2 to 5. This means you can pack your bag dinner, go down at 4 on the second Tues., get in free and see the Center, eat dinner, and be right there for the chorus rehearsal. Is what I’m going to do on Nov. 14. ellen
==============================================================================================================================
READ IN BLUE SECTION BELOW THE ARTICLE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOUR MAIL IN VOTE! BEV HARRIS OF BLACK BOX V OTING (ONE OF OUR HEROS!)==============================================================
On The ballot this November will be two issues concerning smoking in public places in Ohio. One is a meaningful ban on smoking, and I am for that. The other is a “smoke screen” confusing deal sponsored by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. that looks like a smoke reduction measure, but really would be the reverse. I am o pposed to that. Read the article below in the blue section about the difference between Issue 3 and Issue 4. Don’t be fooled! Ellen
Read on candidates and all issues on your ballot at league of women voters site:
http://www.lwvcincinnati.org
V O T E
You can now vote any weekday up to and including Nov. 6, Monday, in person at the
BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO 824 BROADWAY CINCINNATI,OHIO
45202-1345 www.votehamiltoncounty.com
The ACLU recommends this to safeguard your vote.
.........
“Is identification required in order to vote?
America votes says: Volunteer! To get out the vote:
Yes. You must provide proof of your identity in the form of either a current, valid photo ID or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address.
If you do not have identification, you can provide the last four digits of your social security number and cast a provisional ballot.
If you do not wish to provide your social security number, you may swear an affidavit and cast a provisional ballot. However, you must provide identification to the board of elections within ten days of casting the provisional ballot for it to be counted.
To avoid problems on November 7
Vote early and in person before Election Day at your Board of Elections,”
Dear Ellen,
Ohio's elections are right around the corner and the stakes have never been higher. The choices that voters make this year will have an impact on everything from the war in Iraq to education funding to the price of health care. 2006 could be the turning point in the progressive movement -- and we need YOU to be part of it!
In non-presidential-year elections like this one, voter turnout is especially important. And that's exactly why America Votes needs you, your family, your friends and your neighbors to join us and get out the progressive vote on Election Day. Click on the link below to learn how you can get involved today!
http://www.gotvohio.org
With your help, we will mobilize voters who have never voted in a mid-term election or any election at all. In the past few months, we've knocked on thousands of doors, made phone calls and done everything we can to educate, register and mobilize progressive voters, but without your help in the final stretch, it won't be enough. Thousands of volunteers need to hit the streets and remind voters to go to the polls.
http://www.gotvohio.org
We have a choice; we can sit out and let others decide our future for us, or we can get active now and make a difference. This year's elections will have significance for years to come. Who do you want to cast the deciding vote?
Don't wake up November 8th wishing that you had done more. Join this historic effort today.
Sincerely,
The America Votes Ohio Team
People for the AmericanWay PFAW (a pro democracy group) has prepared voting guide for Ohio:
People For the American Way has prepared side-by-side issue comparisons of
the candidates in the biggest - and most competitive - races in your state.
Download Ohio's voter guide now using the link below. And remember, you can
print it out and take it into the voting booth with you when you go to vote.
http://media.pfaw.org/PDF/VoterGuide/OH.pdf
<http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M720971564886370336833965>
<http://media.pfaw.org/PDF/VoterGuide/CA.pdf>
People For the American Way also encourages you to vote early if you can.
Vote for Jennifer Brunner for Sec’y of State for Ohio. Not Greg Hartman, about whom we h ear nasty things. Julie Murray writes:
Ellen,Going through the League of Women voters’ newsprint h and out on the election (get yours at the l ibrary) here are the election picks by the Lloyd H ouse:
I am now convinced there IS in fact a conspiratorial plan....(see below)
this issue of the voting and ballots and Ohio Secretary of State is very
important...
I left all my material at the entry to the dining room last Wed. because
there was an intense dialogue going on and I didn't want to interrupt and had to
leave for the meeting I was due at.
This is what a friend wrote me:
"I'm not sure where to find documentation of greg hartman's background
either; unfortunately i'm sure you're right, they're sure not going to
put his ties to bush/cheney on his website (his father was the lawyer for
cheney when cheney was trying to prove he didn't actually live in texas,
at the time bush named him his vice-presidential candidate (because pres.
and VP can't be from same state). anyway, obviously, hartman sr. won
that suit for cheney, other ties too, i'm not sure of details. jennifer
doesn't put those details on her 'truthaboutgreghartman' website either
(i wish she did - maybe eventually she will?)...if i was good at internet
searches, i could probably find out more, but i'm not too good at that.
will let you know if i hear/find out more from any source.
Julie
Governor of Ohio: Ted Strickland
Lt. Governor: Lee Fisher
Sec’y of State: Jennifer Brunner
Att’y General: Marc Dann
Treasurer of State: Richard Cordray
Auditor of State: Barbara Sykes
State Senator District 7: Rick Smith
State Senator district 9: Eric Kearney
28th district State Rep:Connie Pillich
29th District State Rep: Brent Gray (I met Brent at a picnic for Todd Portune. Black guy. Handsome. Seemed nice.)
31st District State Rep: Steve Driehaus
32nd District: Kim Hale (she is a Republican. Gerry Kraus personally witnessed her opponent Dale Mallory as then pres. Of the West End Community Council refuse to allow about 250 people
The chance to talk at a public meeting, they had come to discuss the City Link proposal and h e said “it isn’t on the agenda” and wouldn’t let them air their views. Very bad. Maybe those nasty things said about him defaulting and under prosecution etc. are true.)
33rd District: Tyrone Yates (everyone says, a great guy. Smart. Afr-American.)
34th Dist. Steve Silver
35th Dist: Karen Adams
U.S. Senate: Sherrod Brown
U.S. Congress: 1st District: John Cranley
2nd Dist: Victoria Wulsin
JUDGES
Ohio Supreme Court: Vote for two according to Firooz Namei, salonista and attorney (although the League of Women Voters says vote for one. Then they list four candidates. Must be a typo.)
Firooz recommends William Michael O’Neill and Ben E. Espy.
He says Espy is a nice guy and he would be the first African American on the Supreme Court of Ohio. O’neill is a good guy. And, Firooz says the New York Times did a big article on Terrence O’Donnell, the incumbent. Over all the years of his being on the court he has always voted for the cause of those who have contributed to his campaigns, 100% of the time. Looks l ike a bad case of Justice for Sale.
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
G.R. Scloemer ... Endoresed by democrats, republicans, AND one of the teachers’ Unions. Also by susan Glas, a long time Cncinnati public school teacher: who writes:
I am voting for Sam Schloemer for State Board of Education. He is a sitting member of the Board. He voted against the insertion of intelligent design in to the state's secondary science curriculum. He has been critical of the state's charter schools because of the woeful lack of oversight. My father works on a school funding committee that regularly meets in Columbus, and he supports Schloemer. The Cincinnati Federation of Teachers also endorses him.
Hritz (the opponent) is in favor of "creative inquiry." On an October airing of Channel 12 Newsmakers, he failed to answer direct questions about intelligent design. He repeatedly referred to his support of "creative inquiry." He is a supporter of charter schools, and one of his backers is Phil Heimlich, who has a financial interest in a Cincinnati charter school.
Susan
JUDGE HAMILTON COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
No democrats running. All are unopposed. Is t his a disgrace or what?
JUDGE, 1ST DISTRICT OHIO COURT OF APPEALS
James T. O’Reilly: a great guy; came to the salon last year. U.C. Law professor. Was very active In the effort to free innocent people on death row whose DNA test proved them not guilty. A liberal.
Other candidates for Ohio supreme court running unopposed. O’Reilly is running against Dinkelacker.
HAMILTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER
David Pepper
COUNTY AUDITOR: Dusty Rhodes
Issues Issues Issues Issues
Issue 1 (about Worker’s compensation) was removed from the ballot.
Issue 2: Ohio Fair Minimum Wage Amendment: FOR the Ammendment
Sets min. wage from $5.15 up to 6.85 per hour.
This would benefit our poorest Ohioans. We are for it.
Issue 3: gambling: AGAINST
It’s ugly, it amounts on a tax against the poor, and it works like a regressive tax.
Issue 4: “Smoke Less” Ohio Constitution Ammendment: AGAINST
Don’t be fooled. This would allow more smoking in public places than the current Cinti. City smoking ordinance, and would as a constitutional deal, trump the local ordinance. If it passes, no local governmental body could pass its own ordinances or laws pertaining to smoking in public places. Second hand smoke has been found to be a cause of illness and death (surgeon general). Plus, this issue does not belong at the constitutional level. Vote against this ammendment, but
Issue 5: Smoke Free Workplace Act: FOR
Vote For this. ...”Prohibits smoking in enclosed areas of public places and enclosed arreas in places of employment, exempting most private residences, family businesses, tobacco stores, some hotel rooms, some private clubs, smoking areas for residents of nursing homes, some patios and incense at religious ceremonies. The Ohio Dept. of Health would educate citizens and enforce the law.”
NOTE: if both 4 AND 5 pass, 5 would be cancelled out by 4.
Issue 12: THE JAIL TAX ISSUE
We are against the tax to build new jail facilities. The hype makes it sound like dangerous criminals are loose because we have inadequate jails. Not true. Those in the county jail are almost entirely petty crime offenders, and a huge number of them are there for drug related offenses. Something like 80 or 90% are people awaiting hearing for arraignment so they can post bail and go home. If we had a night court it would empty out a vast number, as people could be arraigned immediately. We are in favor of that; also in favor of measures to counteract the drug problem i.e. Education and social services. It is a shocking disgrace that America has 7% of its popoulation locked u p behind bars. This is more than the Soviet Union had (6% ) at it’s highest levels during Communism. It is six times the number of other developed countries in the world. Are we a police state? Come on. Jails are big business. Like the drug trade, prisons ... Don’t get me started.
ISSUE 13: Renew tax levy for children’s services: We are FOR.
Issue 14: Renew Health and Hospitalization Levy: We are FOR. Pays for Childrens’ and University Hospitals to serve the poor.
Issues 20 – 24: to allow places like supermarkets to sell alcohol on Sundays. We are for.
Tri-State Treasures
Hey, I fnally met Jim Kesner at the Dervish Whirling workshop last Sunday. A great guy! Appears to be middle aged, friendly, warm. He does a great community service. Ellen
Tri-State Treasures is a compilation of unique local people, places, and events that may enrich your lives. These treasures have been submitted by you and others who value supporting quality community offerings. Please consider supporting these treasures, and distributing the information for others to enjoy. And please continue to forward your Tri-State Treasures ideas to jkesner@nuvox.net.
Information about Tri-State Treasures and how to submit Tri-State Treasures are at the bottom of this email. Please help me by providing all basic information and formatting your submissions as described below.
Sincerely, Jim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sports Fans & Non-Sports Fans - Click for Free Soup: Are you a Bengals fan? Or are you indifferent towards the Bengals. Either way, if you support quality life in Cincinnati, this promotion is for you! Click online for the Bengals at www.chunky.com/clickforcans.aspx. If the Bengals get the most votes, Campbell's will donate Chunky soup to the Cincinnati Free Food store: 1 can for every pound of the team's roster. Based on the Bengals web site, that's 13,039 cans of Chunky soup! Plus, the team that improves the most in the number of clicks from last year will receive 2,006 cans of soup. The Bengals are currently a close 2nd, only to the Pittsburg Steelers (hissss), & they currently are the Most Improved Clicks team. This is a great cause, free, easy, & takes only seconds of your time. Bookmark the site & vote everyday. Please support the local freestore foodbank by voting for the Bengals, & passing this on to all who would support Cincinnati, whether they are Bengals fans or not.
New Books/Local Lit Blog: Cincinnati.Com has launched a new blog by Enquirer staffer Sara Pearce. It's sole focus is books & the local literary scene. Sara is looking for news about area writers, book illustrators, lit magazines, writing workshops, poetry readings, awards, & web sites. In other words, any & everything book related - even marginally book related. Email her at SPearce@cincinna.Gannett.com.
Beauty Matters Art Exhibit [thru Friday 17 November @ 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM]: United Way hosts its 1st-ever, on-site art show featuring works in many media by 22 well-known Cincinnati area artists at a range of prices. All art is for sale; proceeds benefit the 2006 United Way Campaign. Show is curated by Daniel Brown & made possible by a grant from Vere Gaynor. Free & open to the public. At United Way, 2400 Reading Road (near McMillan/Taft), Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.762.7225 & deby.davis@uwgc.org.
Nature: the Song of God [Friday-Sunday 27-29 October]: A window on God’s relation to nature & nature’s relationship to God. Principal speaker will be Eva Fleischner, PhD, a theologian, professor emerita, Montclair State University, who has conducted workshops on the psalms nationally for over 40 years. Presentations by representatives of Jewish, Christian, Moslem, Buddhist, & Native American traditions will address critical issues of our environment from their religious/spiritual perspectives. Reservations required: www.grailville.org/images/pictures/Eva%20Psalms%201pg%20rv.pdf. At Grailville, 932 O'Bannonville Road, Loveland, OH 45140. More info & RSVP @ 513.683.2340 & www.grailville.org.
Insights into Consciousness [Opening Friday 27 October @ 6-10 PM; exhibit thru 4 November]: New work by artist C. Pic Michel explores consciousness through the abstract image. Special installation in the exhibit walks the viewer into one of the paintings. Free; coffee, tea, & crumpets. Dicere Gallery, 2853 Colerain Avenue, Camp Washington, Cincinnati, OH 45225. More info @ 513.541.3737, diceregallery@cinci.rr.com, & www.diceregallery.com.
theboysroom [Sunday-Tuesday 29-31 October @ 8 PM]: A 40-year-old advertising executive develops a relationship with a 15-year-old boy he meets on the Internet. Told in the structure of a business seminar 12-step program seminar. By Kevin Barry, featuring (salonista) Alan Scheidt & Ben Newell, directed by Michael Burnham. At the Underground (an intimate cabaret space on the building’s 1st floor), Know Theatre of Cincinnati, 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.300.KNOW, info@knowtheatre.com, & www.knowtheatre.com.
First Annual Hallow Woof Parade [Sunday 29 October @ 2 PM]: The Hallow Woof Parade just got better... Trick or Treat yourself & your dog to a great family fun event. Costume contests, ugliest/scariest dog contest, pet photos, treats for tricks, prize for spookiest howl, watch dogs bob for wieners, parade your pet in costume, agility course, clown making doggie balloon animals, Bark or Treat stations, & the "Kool Aid" man. Prizes for the costume party contest for canines & humans include entertainment center from Furniture Solutions, $100 Paw Spa package, $200 certificate from House Vets for House Pets, dinners from Carrabas & Friday’s, & prizes or certificates from Latitudes, Sole Necessity shoe store, Top Nails, Mathnasium, Frame & Save, Scrubs, Game Stop, & Quiznos. Presented by The Paw Spa & House Vets for House Pets. The Paw Spa is the premier outfitter for the Hallow Woof parade. At the Anderson Towne Center, 7500 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45255. More info @ 513.231.7297, margospawspa@zoomtown.com, www.housevets.com, & www.margospawspa.com.
Music of the Homeland: [Sunday 29 October @ 3 pm]: The Cincinnati Metropolitan Orchestra Fall Concert features Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien, Vysehrad from Smetana's The Moldau, Finlandia, Espana Rhapsody, and others. The CMO will also showcase a picture slideshow of their recent Jackson Hole tour while performing John Williams' Cowboy's Overture. Free concert; donations are welcomed; free parking. At Seton Performance Hall, 3901 Glenway Ave, Price Hill, Cincinnati, OH 45205. More info @ 513.941.8956, gharmeling@netzero.net, & www.gocmo.org.
Puerto Rican Power [Sunday 29 October @ 9 PM - Midnight]: World's best Salsa, Puerto Rican Power, will be performing live. Also featuring Final 4our, the Reggaeton sensation from Detroit, & Son del Caribe, Ohio's hottest Salsa band. Featuring the Midwest's 6 best Latin DJs. Dress code strictly enforced. At The Syndicate 18 East 5th Street, Newport, KY. More info @ 859.491.8000, Cincinnati-Internationals@yahoogroups.com & http://midwestlatino.com.
Special Halloween Screening: Bubba Ho-Tep [Tuesday 31 October @ 7:30 PM]: A delightfully well-made, original, & touching independent production starring Bruce Campbell as Elvis & Ossie Davis as JFK in Don Coscarelli's cult classic comedy horror-spoof. Costumes invited. Bubba sold out 6 screenings when CWC 1st brought it to Cincinnati in 2004. Prizes for the best "Elvis," best "JFK," & best "Ho-Tep" costumes. Presented by Cincinnati World Cinema. At Fath Auditorium, Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati,OH 45202. More info @ 859-781-8151, worldcinema@fuse.net, & www.cincyworldcinema.org.
Celebrating 20 Years of the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Program [Tuesday 31 October - Thursday 30 November]: Named for Robert S. Duncanson (1821–1872), the internationally renown painter of the 8 landscape murals at the Taft Museum of Art, the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence program recognizes outstanding African American artists. This year's celebration brings 17 of 19 past artists for 20 days of programs, school outreach, events, workshops, performances, & an exhibition. Programs are free & take place at Taft Museum of Art (TMA, 316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202) unless otherwise indicated. RSVP indicates reservations are required. More info & RSVP @ 513.241.0343 ext 39, ythomas@taftmuseum.org & www.taftmuseum.org/duncanson_society.htm.
Ÿ Gallery Talk [Tuesday 31 Oct @ 2 PM]: Frederick A. Wallace discusses conserving the Duncanson murals. RSVP. At TMA.
Ÿ Poetry Reading [Wednesday 1 Nov @ 2 PM]: Nikki Giovanni & Michael Harper read their poems & sign books. RSVP. Stratford Height Pavilion, 2634 Stratford Avenue, University of Cincinnati, 45220.
Ÿ Duncanson Honors: 20 Years of Artistic Achievement [Wednesday 1 Nov @ 7 PM]: Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence program with a concert featuring poet Nikki Giovanni, vocalist Kathy Wade, poet Michael Harper, soprano Sebronette Barnes, performer Dhana Bradley-Donaldson, jazz violinist John Blake, author & educator Sharon Draper, storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston, Dayton Contemporary Dance Second Company, jazz pianist William Menefield, spoken-word artist Annie Ruth. RSVP. At Greaves Auditorium, NKU, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099.
Ÿ Opening: 20 Years & Evolving [Friday 3 Nov @ 6-8 PM, thru 30 Nov]: This exhibition features works by visual artists Tyrone Geter, Tarleton Blackwell, Melvin Grier, & Thom Shaw. Free to TMA members; $10 general public. Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center, 1028 Scott Boulevard, Covington, KY 41011.
Ÿ Families Create! [Saturday 4 Nov @ 10 AM - Noon]: Spoken-word artist Annie Ruth offers a chance for adults & children to create art together. RSVP. At TMA.
Ÿ Film Showcase [Saturday 4 Nov @ 2 PM]: Showcase of work by filmmaker William Greaves. At TMA. (see below)
Ÿ Take Two [Saturday 4 November @ 8 PM]: An evening of jazz with vocalist Kathy Wade & jazz pianist William Menefield. Fairfield Arts Center, 500 Wessel Drive, Fairfield, OH 45014.
Ÿ Spoken-Word Performance [Thursday 9 Nov @ 6 PM]: Performer Dhana Bradley-Donaldson, author & educator Sharon Draper, & spokenword artist Annie Ruth present Three Voices: An Elegant Evening of Wisdom & Wit. At Fath Auditorium, Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati,OH 45202.
Ÿ Youth Studio-Digital Photography [Saturday 11 Nov @ 10 AM - Noon]: Youth ages 11–15 will work with photojournalist Melvin Grier to sharpen their vision & capture an image that tells a story. Bring a digital camera. RSVP. At TMA.
Ÿ Twenty Men & a Tabletop [Sunday 12 Nov @ 5-9 PM]: Twenty men of distinction display thematic tabletops, while guests enjoy dinner by the bite & great music during this fundraising event. $75. RSVP. At TMA.
Ÿ Adult Studio-Digital Photography [Saturday 18 Nov @ 10 AM - Noon]: Photographer Melvin Grier explores the difference between a picture & a photograph as participants take photographs around Lytle Park. Bring a digital camera. RSVP. At TMA.
Ÿ Taft Thursdays for Teachers: Printmaking with Thom Shaw [Thursday 30 Nov @ 5-8 PM]: Back by demand, Thom Shaw invites educators to join him in his studio to see & participate in his woodblock printing process. $8-10. RSVP. At TMA.
Pedigree Interiors' Fabulous Faux Fur Fun-Raiser [Wednesday 1 November @ 5:30-8:30 PM]: Marble floors, wood paneled walls & fabulous faux furs set the stage for this fun-filled event. Presented by Pedigree Interiors, a non-profit fine furniture consignment shop, to raise money for the United Coalition for Animals' (UCAN) Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic. $50 per person include complimentary bar & hors d'oeuvres, 20% off all faux fur purchases, & guest gift bags with a card for a 10% discount at Pedigree Interiors. The evening features informal guest modeling, a silent auction, & a raffle for a plush faux chinchilla throw. Bring your girlfriends or spouse & have a fabulous time while supporting UCAN's mission to reduce the number of homeless companion animals in Greater Cincinnati. At Donna Salyer's Fabulous Furs, 20 West 11th Street, Covington, KY, 41011. More info & RSVP @ 513.984.4566, 513.793.7387, jane@pedigreeinteriors.com, & www.ucancincinnati.org.
Jazz Concert with John Blake [Thursday 2 November @ 8 PM]: Internationally renowned jazz violinist John Blake performs with Erwin Stuckey (piano), Jim Anderson (bass), Art Gore (drums) & the SCPA Jazz Faculty. $10 for adults; $5 for students. This event is part of the new Partnership in Education between the Freedom Center & SCPA. Proceeds directly benefit the SCPA jazz studies students program. In the Harriet Tubman Theater, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati OH 45202. More info @ 513.333.7500, ETurner@nurfc.org, & www.freedomcenter.org.
Cincinnati Opera Chorus Auditions [Thursday-Sunday 2-5 November]: Audition for Cincinnati Opera’s 2007 Summer Festival Chorus; audition time must be scheduled in advance. Positions will be filled for productions including Charles Gounod’s Faust (in French; June 14 & 16); Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte (in Italian; June 28 & 30); John Adams’s Nixon in China (in English; July 12 & 14); & Verdi’s Aida (in Italian; July 25, 27, 29, & 31). Auditions will be heard by Cincinnati Opera Artistic Director Evans Mirageas, Chorus Master Henri Venanzi, Director of Artistic Operations Marcus Küchle, & Education Department Music Director Carol Walker. Singers should prepare 2 contrasting arias of their choice in the original languages. An accompanist will be provided. Applicants may be asked to sight-read. There is a separate application & audition process for the 2007 Young Artist positions, the autumn 2007 production of We Rise for Freedom: The John P. Parker Story, & the 2008 Cincinnati Opera Resident Ensemble. The Cincinnati Opera Chorus is a paid, professional chorus under the jurisdiction of the American Guild of Musical Artists. Rehearsals for the 2007 Summer Festival are scheduled to begin 22 May 2007. At Edgecliff Hall’s Long Recital Hall, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH 45207. More info & RSVP with Jared Doren @ 513.768.5568, jdoren@cincinnatiopera.org, & www.cincinnatiopera.org.
The Perfect Anomaly [Opening: Friday 3 November @ 5-7 PM; Exhibit thru 30 November]: This exhibit featuring Cincinnati artist & musician Cynthia Matyi will emphasize the artist's versatility in a retrospective of over 40 original oil paintings. The art includes loose, colorful landscapes & unique works with intricate patterns & intertwining elements that creatively depict spirituality, fantasy, humor & reverence for our natural world. Refreshments & live Irish music at the opening. Free. At Christ Church Cathedral, 318 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.621.1817, matyi@fuse.net, & www.christchurchcincinnati.org.
African American Film Showcase [Saturday 4 Nov @ 2 PM]: As part of the 20 Year Celebration of the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Program, two short films by William Greaves & four film trailers by April Martin will be shown & discussed. William Greaves has enjoyed success in a wide spectrum of the entertainment arts & is the dean of independent black American filmmakers for his documentary & feature films, which have earned more than 70 international film festival awards, an Emmy Award & 4 Emmy nominations. Two of his short films will be shown: "From These Roots" (1974, 28 min, winner of 22 Int'l film festival awards) a narrated montage of black & white photos chronicles the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920's through a description of its social & artistic leaders & major events. "The First World Festival of Negro Arts" (1968, 40 min) documents the landmark festival held in Dakar, Senegal that surveyed the Negro's contributions in music, dance, textiles, poetry, sculpture, & painting to create an awareness of Negro art & culture. April Martin is a Cincinnati native who directed the critically acclaimed film "The Color of Justice: A History of Cincinnati Race Riots from 1792 to 2001." Trailers for four of her film projects will be shown. Discussion follows the films with both filmmakers facilitated by James Kesner. Free & open to the public. At Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info 513.241.0343x39, ythomas@taftmuseum.org, www.williamgreaves.com, & www.taftmuseum.org/duncanson_society.htm.
"Promieniowanie" - play about Marie Sklodowska Curie [Sunday 5 November @ 7 PM]: "Promieniowanie" (Radiation) is live theatre performed in Polish about Nobel Prize winner Polish scientist Marie Sklodowska Curie. Starring Maria Nowotarska & Agata Pilitowska, & directed by Kazimierz Braun. Sponsored by the Polish Art Society of Cincinnati. At the Monmouth Theatre, 636 Monmouth Street, Covington, KY 41071. Ticket are $15. More info & tix @ 513.458.5244 ext 106 & joanna@mrcgene.com.
The Reincarnation of Abraham Lincoln - A Talk & Book Signing [Sunday 5 November @ 7-8:30 PM]: Attend an evening of fascinating revelation, a journey exploring the possible reincarnation of Abraham Lincoln. Richard Salva, author of "Soul Journey: From Lincoln to Lindbergh - Revealing the Mysteries of Karma and Rebirth," approaches the subject of reincarnation in a fresh & insightful way. His research & comparisons help explain how a translucent philosophy such as reincarnation could have happened right under our noses. An event for people with an open mind & interested in exploring the mysteries of existence. $12 in advance; $15 day of event. Presented by Ananda Cincinnati Yoga Meditation Group. At New Thought Unity Center, 1401 East McMillan Street, Cincinnati, OH 45206. More info @ 513.681.4792, geoff@roh-web-design.com, & www.anandacincinnati.org.
Le Trivia [Wednesday 8 November @ 6:15 PM]: Those marvelous folks from Alliance Française de Cincinnati are back with marvelous Franco-American fun, food, & trivia. While dinner is being served, teams will answer questions projected on a video screen. Le Trivia includes categories of entertainment, culture, sports, plus blind cheese & wine tasting. The entire game is bilingual: English & French. Create your own team of 8 with the best possible cultural mix of people, or register to join an existing table. Download & fill out the form at www.france-cincinnati.com/af/pdf_files/trivia06form.pdf, mail it in with your check, and voilà! At the Archway Ballroom, the Phoenix, 812 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.389.9100, eric.vespierre@unisys.com, & www.france-cincinnati.com/af/.
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Tri-State Treasures is compiled by James Kesner.
— Submit Tri-State Treasures, or request your email address to be added or removed from the list by sending an email to jkesner@nuvox.net; specify "Tri-State Treasures."
Activism Message from Working Assets
Increase Voter Turnout and Have Fun at the Same Time!
Organize an Election Day Party
You can help increase
voter turnout in
your local community.
It's easy and it's fun.
It's time to make voting fun again. Election Day is too often characterized by broken machines, long lines and exhausted poll workers.
It doesn't have to be that way. Hundreds of people, nationwide, have signed up to throw Election Day celebrations in their communities -- with free food, music, games and community pride. Energizing and effective, these Parties at the Polls will help increase voter turnout.
Will you put the Party back into Politics with a celebration at your neighborhood polling place?
Party at the Polls is a project to honor our democracy, build our communities and boost voter turnout. Across the country, volunteer hosts are organizing non-partisan neighborhood celebrations on Election Day at or near polling stations. Studies have shown these events to be effective and cost-efficient ways to bring new voters to the polls -- and the data suggests that this may be even cheaper and more effective than knocking on doors.
Will you increase your local turnout?
We need you to be the host -- you decide what type of party, where and when. Join a network of hundreds of parties around the country, celebrating Election Day this November 7th.
Please sign up today:
www.workingassets.com/PollPartySignup
Pass this on to everyone you know -- friends, family, and colleagues -- who is interested in helping their community members exercise their fundamental right to vote.
Thank you for working to build a better world.
Nicole Batdorf
Field Organizer
Working Assets
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If you're willing to spend a few minutes defending our democracy, then join our text-activist immediate response network by clicking here. We'll text you on election day if there's an urgent issue where your participation -- such as a phone call or carefully-targeted local action -- can make a big difference. Don't worry, we won't send you too many text messages. In fact, we hope we don't have to send you text messages at all. But it pays to be prepared, so sign up to protect the election with our immediate response network now!
Please share this message with everyone you know -- friends, family, and colleagues -- who is interested in helping protect the election this November 7th.
Thank you for working to build a better world.
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Section Three: Articles
Contents:
- HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ABSENTEE/MAIL IN VOTE
- Swami Beyondananda speaks
Permission to excerpt or reprint granted, with link to http://www.blackboxvoting.org
See work done by Black Box Voting in the new HBO special, "Hacking Democracy" - premieres Nov. 2, runs most of the month of November. Black Box Voting is supported entirely by citizen donations, which are tax-deductible. To donate: http://www.blackboxvoting.org/donate.html
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WITH MAIL-IN VOTING
Mail-in ballots are counted by voting machines. In some locations, they are actually entered into touch-screens! In most locations, they are counted by optical scan machines, and some of these (Diebold) have crucial checks and balances disabled.
This article exposes several problems with mail-in voting, and tells you what you can do to protect your mail-in vote.
Let's start with this: ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAY REQUIRE MORE POSTAGE THAN YOU THINK
In an election last year in King County Washington, voters were surprised to learn that they needed to affix two stamps, not one, to their absentee ballot envelope. This year Black Box Voting has seen anecdotal evidence that ballots in Florida and California require two stamps, not one, and this is not always clear to the voter.
WHAT'S THE REMEDY? Unless this is incredibly, indelibly, as clearly marked as it can possibly be, demand that your jurisdiction pick up the cost for any ballots mailed in with insufficient postage. They did this in Washington State and they can do this in your jurisdiction. And, check the postage required for your own mail-in ballot. If it requires two stamps and is not clearly marked, please propagate the information to at least five communications outlets: Local media, election reform groups, political parties, candidates, blogs, e-mail lists.
The best solution is probably to start insisting that your local jurisdiction go to Business Reply Mail for mail-in ballots. This would cost the county money for postage, but provides a very good tracking and a built-in accounting system that would solve other problems as well.
Next problem: VERY SERIOUS INCIDENTS CAN OCCUR WITH INCORRECT BALLOT INSERTS
In a California location where two different ballots are supposed to be inserted in each envelope mailed to the voters, some voters got only one, others got two of the same thing, and still others report ballots with some of the candidate names incorrect or left off. Why is this so serious?
It's a very sticky problem because the remedy is so difficult. Correctly implemented mail-in ballot systems protect the privacy of your vote, by using a privacy envelope inside the return envelope. While the return envelope has information so they can authenticate your right to vote, the interior envelope containing the ballots is then separated away from the authentication envelope as soon as your right to vote is verified.
Herein lies the problem when wrong ballot inserts are sent out: You can't check to see if people got the correct insert without violating their privacy, and you can't remedy the problem if you check after the vote is rendered anonymous.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT: In any location where incorrect ballot insertion is discovered, citizens and candidates should to document the numbers on the problem by observing the absentee counting process and also insisting that every one of the incorrect inserts be documented. (And this won't even be possible when ballots for the wrong precinct are inserted). Depending on the nature of the findings, this problem could justify re-running an election.
Next problem: WAS YOUR SIGNATURE ACCEPTED?
When voting by mail, the signature on your voter registration card is compared with the signature on your mail-in envelope. This is often done with software like VoteRemote, which pulls the signature from your voter registration up on a computer screen and pulls the signature on your mail-in envelope onto the same screen, showing them side by side.
The jurisdiction has the option of having human eyes compare the signature or having the software do the comparison. If the software compares, it can be set strategically to various tolerances of acceptance. Whether humans or machines compare the signature, how do you know whether YOUR signature was accepted?
This is a question we haven't gotten satisfactory answers to. We've been told that every rejected signature goes through a panel before ultimately deciding whether it will count or not, and one jurisdiction (Whatcom County Washington) told me they notify the voter if the signature isn't accepted, but I don't believe most jurisdictions ever tell the voter if the signature was rejected.
I think of my mother, who loves to vote absentee. She signed her voter registration card many years ago. Is it possible that every one of her votes in recent years has been discarded? If so, how will she know?
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT: You should contact your local jurisdiction and ask this question. E-mail the answer to Black Box Voting, and tell us what county or township you are in.
By the way, there is an interesting notation in some of the literature for VoteRemote signature comparison software, and there is also an interesting question arising in state database procedures. VoteRemote advertises that it can write data INTO the voter registration database, but doesn't specify what data is being written in. One notation I have seen indicates that a signature can be "updated" in the voter registration database with software for electronic signature checking, and/or software for electronic pollbooks.
Because the software is secret, written by private companies, we don't know the answer to this. If your signature can be "updated" or overwritten by software, that is a security problem. There should never be an instance of "updating" your signature without your express permission.
Next problem: DID YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT ARRIVE AT THE ELECTIONS DIVISION?
Some jurisdictions allow voters to confirm whether or not their ballot arrived (but this doesn't confirm whether their signature was accepted). In other jurisdictions, there is no easy way to find out whether the ballot you mailed in ever got to the elections division.
In Broward County, Florida, an extraordinary citizen named Ellen Brodsky spent months trying to track down over 50,000 missing mail-in ballots. In King County, Washington, bags of ballots were once found years after they were supposed to be delivered. Also in King County, incoming ballots were being taken from the U.S. Post Office to a private company called PSI Group, without an accounting of how many arrived at the Post Office, how many arrived at PSI Group, vs. how many arrived at the Los Angeles County Elections division.
WHAT TO DO: Call your local jurisdiction to find out the procedures for you to verify that your ballot was received. If your county cannot provide you with this information, contact Black Box Voting and also take action to change this policy (but that won't help you in the Nov. 2006 election).
Next problem: CHAIN OF CUSTODY OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS
Election officials have told us that this is one of their primary concerns. For example, after the ballots are separated from the envelopes that identify the voter, can new ballots be added or substituted? And what about the storage of absentee ballots as they are coming in, before they are counted? And transportation: In King County, Washington, as many as 60,000 ballots per day are received -- perhaps even more. Who's driving the truck, and what is protecting these ballots enroute?
WHAT TO DO: This is where extraordinary acts of citizenship are in order. We often find that what election officials TELL us is happening to protect the ballots is not the whole truth -- and sometimes it's not the truth at all. One valuable contribution you can make to election integrity in your jurisdiction is to organize a small posse to try and actually observe each step in the chain of custody. Here is a Citizens Tool Kit module with ideas for you:
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/toolkit-chain-of-custody.pdf
Report back on any problems you identify in the "Reports from the Front Lines" section of these forums, and/or propagate the information to at least five communications targets: A blog, a listserve, the media, some candidates, your local election reform group, a national elections watchdog group, and one of the incident reporting telephone lines.
Next problem: BALLOT PRINTER ACCOUNTABILITY
It used to be that all ballots were serial numbered. There was a careful accounting of how many ballots were printed, in serial-numbered order, and what happened to each ballot. The serial number could, of course, be used to tie a voter to a ballot, so it was affixed to the ballot with a perforation. The serial number was accounted for, then removed and saved in a separate secure ballot box. Not so any more!
Records obtained by Black Box Voting indicate that the Diebold ballot printing company located in Everett, Washington was budgeting to overprint by as many as 25 percent of what they delivered to the county. Employees of the ballot printing company asked US -- what happens to these extra ballots that are being printed up?
Well that's a good question. While counties and townships are expected to account for their ballots (though the accounting may or may not match -- that's another issue!) -- the ballot printer is usually under no obligation to account for what they do with extra ballots.
Having extra ballots floating around anywhere significantly jeopardizes the security of the election. It allows for back-room deals with insiders to replace ballots if a recount occurs, to make sure they "match" the results that were given out.
WHAT TO DO: Insist on a return to serial-numbered ballot printing with accurate, careful accounting by all parties.
Next problem: VOTING MACHINE ISSUES
Absentee ballots are usually run through an optical scan voting machine. These machines have, in the past, produced tapes that give the results. These voting machine results tapes can then be compared with the central tabulator.
Diebold, at least, has disabled this results tape in its absentee counting machines, so that the ONLY results are the data held in the GEMS central tabulator machine -- a system so hackable that we once taught a chimpanzee to alter its audit log; this is the system I taught presidential candidate Howard Dean to manipulate.
The absentee votes are at particular risk in the GEMS central tabulator, for the following reason: Many absentee votes are counted after Election Day. By this time, you know exactly how many votes are needed to win. The simplest way to manipulate the tabulator to tweak absentee votes for a particular candidate is this:
- Each candidate is assigned a number in the GEMS system
- By flipping the number, you effectively flip the vote.
- You can flip votes back and forth as often as needed simply by reversing the candidate numbers in the GEMS database.
Yes, that requires inside access. But we should NOT be required to "trust" our government. Instead, we need to trust but verify, and the only way we can begin to verify the absentee central tabulator is to get the actual computer data files for each time the results were run.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Request the GEMS computer files for each time a report was run. You can find out when reports were run by getting the reports themselves, and also by looking at the GEMS audit log -- that that can be easily edited. The computer file should be saved as a backup file each time a report is run. You should get a copy of each of these iterations of the backup files. It's circumstantial evidence, it's tamperable, but it's probably the best you're going to get.
And then, isn't it time to vote Diebold off the island?
Next problem: RECOUNTS ARE DIFFICULT WITH MAIL-IN VOTES
Mail-in votes are often counted in non-homogenous batches, and when candidates seek a recount, they are quoted exceedingly large sums because, they are told, it is impossible or very costly to sort out the ballots to obtain just their district.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT:
- One solution is to insist that the local elections division purchase an off-the-shelf scanner, scan all the ballots, and post the pdf or tiff files online so that citizens can look at all the ballots themselves. Or, allow citizens to get copies of all these ballot scans on CD or DVD.
This is an imperfect solution but would allow citizens to develop ballot-sorting programs themselves to sort those images so candidates could look at their own ballot evidence without forking out half a million dollars.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAIL-IN VOTING:
1. If you have any kind of a paper trail available in your location, vote at the polling place.
2. If you're going to do mail-in voting, treat democracy as a contact sport. Get in there and watch what's going on. Don't take anyone's word for what they say they are doing -- watch it yourself. Don't cede the right to oversee over to an assigned monitor or political party observer -- insist on the right to oversee it yourself, as a citizen, as the owner of your government.
VOTE:
If you are disenchanted with the current election system, go on the offense, don't retreat -- and that means, VOTE!
Put your vote into the record and then hunt down evidence that ALL votes were received and counted accurately.
* * * * *
Be very clear about your job as a citizen right now: It is to reverse the swing of the pendulum. It's been swinging away from citizen control -- your job is to take back your government. Start at the local level.
You own your government -- not the other way around. It is time to get out of your chair, step away from the Internet, and get involved in citizen oversight.
We salute the extraordinary citizens who are taking back America.
Bev Harris
Founder
Black Box Voting
* * * * *
Black Box Voting is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501c(3) elections watchdog group supported entirely by citizen donations. We refuse funds from any vendor or vested interest.
To support Black Box Voting: click to http://www.blackboxvoting.org/donate.html
Like A Course On Miracles teaches: It’s always about Love vs. Fear. Ellen
Swami Beyondananda
Swami Asks:
"Do We Go for ABunDance or Stay Stuck in ScareCity?"
By Swami Beyondananda
A great Yogi -- I think it was Yogi Berra -- once said, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." Well, here we are at the junction of love and fear, and if we stay on the all-too-familiar path of ScareCity -- we're totally forked. Yes, in a shrinking world that could definitely use a good shrink, we can do the same old
same old and get the same old results, or ... we can try something different for a change. Instead of ScareCity, we can go for ABunDance. That is when we get up off of our assets, move our buns, and dance together in rhythm and flow. Can it work? Well, consider what hasn't worked.
Goin' to ScareCity Where It's Two to One:
Two Fears for Every Joy
ScareCity is the way it's always been. The fear that there
isn't enough to go around has caused us to separate into "people like us" and "people who don't like us." No wonder we have nations at odds trying to get even, a dogma-eat-dogma world where misinterpreters have translated great spiritual teachings as "We're going to heaven, and everyone else can go to hell." But living at each other's expense can be expensive. Huge defense budgets, not to mention all the waste and corruption hiding behind defense, are bankrupting the world, financially and morally.
And in a world terrorized by terrorism -- and, for that matter, anti-terrorism -- it's important to understand that fear makes the body politic more susceptible to psychopathogens (i.e., opportunistic organisms with a poisonality disorder). And we all know that the fear-gnomes (little gnomes of gnawing fear) that the current Administration has injected into the mainstream are directly
related to the serious bout of Mad Cowboy Disease that we haven't been able to shake.
Now, of course, we don't want to eliminate fear completely.
That's why we have clanging bells and flashing lights at railroad crossings. And badness knows, there is plenty of badness in the world. But when we use evil to fight evil -- well, I'm not a math whiz but it seems to me we're increasing, not decreasing the evil in the world. And it's not just the math, it's the aftermath: A world stuck in greedlock, ruled not by the highest common denominator but the lowest common dominator.
In a world that seems dead-set on destruction, it's no wonder so many people have looked heavenward for divine intervention. But lately, more and more people are waking up to the notion that we humans cannot expect to be fed intervenously forever. Maybe we have to actually live those spiritual teachings we're willing to fight to the death for. After all, Jesus didn't say, "Now don't do a thing
until I return," did he?
Can I be blunt? Maybe it's time for all of us children of
God to become adults of God and finally grow up and take some responsibility. And if we're going to evolve and overgrow the current dysfunction at the junction, we will have to transcend the old nation vs. nation and build the one nation we have in common -- imagination. Yes, in a world of scarcity, the one thing we have in abundance is imagination.
Time to Get Out of ScareCity and Declare ABunDance for All!
Here's a wild idea: What if we applied our abundant
imagination to find ways we can be fruitful and multiply -- instead of staying stuck in fruitless division? What if we came to our senses and declared the current system illegally insane, and committed ourselves to making the world a sane asylum? Sounds crazy? Well, what could be crazier than spending so much of our precious livelihood on weapons of deadlihood? Is it any wonder the `hood is so deadly?
Seriously. What if we used our religions wisely and taught those old dogmas some new tricks? What if we decided that we're not here to earn God's love, we're here to spend it? Hey, even Republicans could relate to "supply-side spirituality," right? What if we changed the game from survival to thrival? What if we went for heaven on earth -- just for the hell of it?
Now of course, this is all easier said than done. But if we want to do it, first we have to say it. So I say we declare a state of emerge `n see. Let's emerge from our addiction to the old needy-greedy, and see that when we are all dancing together in rhythm and flow, there is no need for greed. So let us begin by using our imagination to imagine how we can create a world where we rise through the Golden Rule rather than fall to the rule of gold. What if we lifted our vision to see above the us vs. them mindset and
said, "Wait a minute ... I think we're all US!"
So it is time to ask each other, and ourselves what kind of world do we want to leave for our children and grandchildren? A world where we're all in this together? Or a world where it's every man for himself? (Hint: Jesus did not say, "Doodoo unto others before they can doodoo unto you.")
As we stand at this crossroads, I say it's time to make a
stand and stand by our stand. Time to choose ABunDance, the only true pro-life choice. Now I know what you're thinking -- no really, I do ... I didn't take that Evelyn Wood Speed
Mind-Reading Class for nothing -- you're thinking, how can
little ol' me make a difference? Well, the world is made up of 6.5 billion little ol' me's, and each of us chooses every day with our words, deeds, intention and attention. What is out-pictured in the world s the sum total of 6.5 billion in-pictures. By choosing to not choose, you are still choosing, and if you're already choosing why not
choose to choose instead of not choose?
It's either ABunDance or ScareCity, folks ... and if you're
still sitting on defense, ask yourself this: Which world do I want to live into?
ABunDance ScareCity
State of Emerge `n See State of Emergency
Live by the Golden Rule Live by the rule of gold
Holistic approach to Assaholistic approach
problems to problems
One Spirit, many paths We're going to heaven, you can
go to hell
Rule of law Overrule of law
Concern for justice Concern for just us
Liberties given to all Liberties taken with our
liberties
Wealth for the whole Wealth down the hole
A world growing in love A world shrinking in fear
Time to Weave a Web of Mass Construction
Sixty-something years ago, when we were battling Nazism,
scientists from everywhere were brought together in the Manhattan Project to develop the first weapons of mass destruction, nuclear power. Today, the enemy is "Not-Seeism" -- that is where people still choose to not see that we all have the most to gain from a win-win scenario, and that a win-lose scenario is really a lose-lose scenario.
It all goes back to the feudal feuds, where we got into the habit of getting even. Even if you start out even, one goes one up, and then up goes the other in one-upsmanshhip, and it goes one up, and one up, and one up, and finally it's, "Oh, yeah? Well one-up yours!"
That's why I say, "Don't get even -- get odd!"
Let's go for the odd solution that beats the heaven out of
getting even. It is time now to bring scientists (and everyone else, for that matter) together in a new Man-Helpin' Project to weave a web of mass construction and develop new clear power -- renewable, nonpolluting energy so abundant we don't need armies to defend it. It's time to abandon the old fission expedition, folks, and go for fusion instead.
Imagine -- a world-win campaign where the whole world can win. Time for all of us who choose ABunDance over ScareCity to address each other with deep reverence and respect and say, "May we have this ABunDance together?" Time to turn off the TV and tell a vision instead. Who needs reality TV when you have a reality game where everyone can play and everyone can win: Extreme Planetary Makeover.
Will we succeed? Well, that's what we're playing the
game to find out. But even if we don't win, one thing is for
sure. "The World Game" is a heaven-of-a-lot more fun to play
than the "end-of-the-world game
Section Four: Books/Magazines/Reviews
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Report: The Saturday Book Study group (David Rosenberg, Ellen, Daisy Quarm, Mike Murphy, Shari Able... And you?) 3:00 pm at Lloyd House. Today, 10/28/06, we read and discussed a speech by Tony Blair, the UK P.M. That was passed on to us by Ellis Rivkin (HUC Emeritus prof history) and touted by Ellis as hugely important for us all to read and understand.
(read it yourself at http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page9948.asp ) Because of my respect for Prof. Rivkin (What Crucified Jesus and many other books) I spent my time while stuck on the interstate yesterday for two hours just S. of the I-75/71 split in KY, reading and digesting it. ( YOU, too might be stuck on the interstate: make sure you have a cup to pee in.) Blair is saying the world struggle today is between the moderate/modernizing/democratic people, including moderate modernizing Islamic people, and on the other hand, the Radical Islamic people who want to roll back modernization, restore honor to Islam, wipe out Israel, and have semi-feudal religious oligarchic government.
He says that the Radical Islam people, (RI) including Hezbollah, Hamas, Bin Laden, and company, were not doing all that well because they were divided from the bulk of Islam who wanted modernization, in all issues except the Israel issue. All Muslims regard Israel as a stick in their eye. So those clever RI people pulled off 9/11 and transformed thereby the conflict from one of Muslim against Muslim, to one of Islam vs. The West. This is very bad. So, he says, we had to invade Afghanistan and Iraq, because it is a war of values: a new feudal dark ages, or a world of open economic competition and democratic governance.
I’m listening to all this, striving to have an open mind. We’ve been studying Alternatives to Economic Globalization by the anti-globalization progressive types from the Institute for Policy Studies et al, and learning that Global Corporatization is a big bad thing, unbridled corporate greed crushing national autonomy, enslaving populations of workers, raping the environment. This almost would have me “in bed with” the Osama BinLadens in their opposition to the World Trade Organization etc.
Can it be possible, as Blair and Rivkin would probably argue, to have a benevolent Global Capitalism? Or are we being gradually enslaved world wide by the “giant robots” of Transnational corporate power? If I had to throw my lot in with Tony Blair and Bechtel or else with the Taliban who would put me In a burkha, do I really want to choose the burkha?
Blair talks about Radical Islamic ideas as a world wide movement, our real threat.
Daisy says they are not such a threat. Global Corporatization is the real threat. And besides, she said, Blair’s speech doesn’t even mention oil, the real reason we are in the middle east.
Bottom line, as I read it, is that Blair thinks we should all understand that the Palestinian/Israeli conflict must be solved asap so that the Muslims can go back to fighting amongst each other instead of uniting against us.
He also says that the US has to understand that our model of American domination of the world is not as good for us or anyone as a model with free competition. He says we shouldn’t be afraid of free competition in the world...we’ll do fine. Also that we need to understand that China is emerging as another super power (and the implication is that our days are numbered as the world leader.) He says the manner of the world’s governance is up for grabs now, and it is very important that it go the direction of freedom. Is there more freedom with Tony or more freedom with Osama. I think I’d have to vote for Tony. Mike Murphy and Daisy Q. say, “Don’t be fooled into thinking this is the dilema. There are other alternatives. Like international openness, but with safeguards and protections for human rights and environmental sanity.
A very important discussion.
Also, we are about to begin reading as well, The War of Art by Steve Pressfield, about how to get off your ass and fulfill your dream and overcome “Resistance”. Terrific book, especially for visionary world-changers manqués like ourselves. ellen
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So, Nu? What are you reading? Watching? Seeing? Send it to me. ellen.
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.
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Our Salon blog is a promising interactive site: http:lloydhouse.blogspot.com
Also, we have an Interactive Yahoo 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 or 7. This tells me which sub-list your name is on so I can
> delete it. Thanks! ellen bierhorst
