Black Friday Ponderings

Maria Carey and Taylor Swift are at the top of the search engines again, and I don't really care. I'm not much for popular culture... of the country I live in anyway, but what I did find interesting is that in the number two spot for most searched is Black Friday.

Of course, I can fix your need to go out into the freezing cold before the crack of dawn with a Turkey-stuffed gut, but that comes later in the post. Please, read on. *smile*

Now, I'm one of those folks who is relatively miffed that the holiday decorations go up in the stores, often even before Halloween, and with so many others bemoaning it, I'm actually rather shocked to see that particular phrase at the top of the search lists so soon. I mean, seriously, if so many people were actually, honestly, upset about the holiday gift-giving season being marketed earlier and earlier each year, one would think that they would be careful not to send messages to the advertising companies that encourage the practice.

Ya know, messages to advertisers like thousands of people searching for Black Friday, simultaneously, in the first week of November?

Now, I know that these folks are just trying to get their shopping done early, and beat the crowds... No, let me change that; they're trying to join the desperate throng of early-morning shoppers the day after Thanksgiving in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, they will be close enough to the front of the line to get a chance at the one or two items they really want.

But I digress.

It's a bit worrisome to me that there are so many people risking their health this flu season, just to get a pretty, or a shiney for the ones they love. I'm a huge fan of gift-giving, and I do it whenever I get the chance. In fact, it's constantly on my mind, all year long. I eagerly anticipate any occasion when I can give a gift to someone and not be looked at funny for my inherent generousity. *chuckle*

For instance? I already have most of my holiday shopping done. I've had it done for the last several months. If I had my way, I'd also have all of my grocery shopping and everything else done for the next couple of months, so I wouldn't have to deal with the pressing crowds and tinkling, repetitive music every time I visited the market for a dozen eggs. That's not going to happen, but what is not going to happen, is that I will not be in the stores buying trinkets and doodads for my family and friends this year. No window-shopping, no last-minute thingies to finis off the perfect present, nothing.

But I'm giving gifts. Oh yes, I will be giving tokens of my love and appreciation to those closest to me. I'll just be a bit more reasonable, safe, and frugal about it than most.

Now, I don't want to let out any secrets, but I'm buying Tupperware for some folks this year, and honestly, it's the best, earth-friendly, frugal gift I could buy or give. With the lifetime guarantee, the cherished memories we all have of our favorite plastic-ware growing up, and the serious discounts you get by buying a set to break up into individual presents, it's the best deal around. Of course, then you get the bonus of saving your recipients money and time in their home, and it's a prospect full of win for everyone!

But I digress yet again.

I'm hosting a Tupperware fundraiser to raise money for my youngest daughter's needs. We're trying to make her a real, legal, part of our family, and get her some important medical treatments that aren't covered by our insurance.

Your holiday gift-buying can help us make that happen.

With products starting at a mere $6.50, and everything from toys and cookie-cutters to containers that can keep strawberries fresh for up to two weeks and the food storage containers that America has loved for generations, there's something for everyone in the exclusive fundraising catalog. I did say exclusive, the stuff in the fundraising catalog is not what you will see in the regular print or online catalog. In fact, it isn't available anywhere, at any time, except when you know someone who is having, or participating in a fundraiser.

So save your money, save your time, save your health, and help a little girl out in the process.

Visit our online fundraiser by clicking here now!

If you want something from the regular catalog, that helps too, just not as much as buying through our fundraiser, which gives us 40% of the item cost towards her needs.

We hope you have a happy, safe holiday season, and may all your gifts bring great joy.

Accused Child Molester Loose in Springfield !

New to me news

*Unregistered, accused** child molester, Clifton Junkins is again loose on the streets in Springfield.

After the News-Leader's full-color front page article on Saturday, April 4th of 2009, stating that he had "reportedly" confessed, and his subsequent arrest, he was held in jail, in protective custody for his own safety.

He was released from jail early this month on his own reconnisance, with restrictions to not contact any person under the age of 17.

He has been out and about, including places where everyone knows there are regularly a large number of children and teens.

As this male has not finished his court proceedings, he is NOT regulated by ANY of the sex offender laws. This means that he can legally live near your child's school and all of the other things that are prohibited for registered sex offenders.

Since the time of this picture, and his release from jail, he may have shaved his beard and cut his hair short. He is 5'3, and looks very young when clean-shaven.

*Only the facts of the matter have been reported in this article. Opinions and personal beliefs have been edited out to ensure clarity and accuracy.

**As he has not legally been found guilty at this time, I must say that he is simply "accused". When he is found guilty of his crime(s), I will be allowed to say "CONVICTED".

Urgent Community Freedom Opinion Poll

The Springfield News-Leader is hosting a survey today, in regards to the happenings at Sunday's Springfield Gay Pride fest.

The wording of the survey makes it sound rather ambiguous, especially if one reads the article in the opinion section first.

While many may think they are asking if Springfield needs a gay pride festival, Christians on the streets praying for others, or neo-nazis, the actual meaning of the poll is to ask if Springfield needs to encourage and allow free speech, and peaceful protests.

There will likely be a good many people in our area who misinterpret the meaning of the poll and say that we do not need gay pride festivals or hate groups, but we need to make it clear that freedom of speech in our town is a vital and important right, and that we must retain all of our rights of expression in our town, and everywhere.

You can vote multiple times if you use all of the browsers installed on your computer seperately to load the page and vote. Each different browser form the same computer counts as an additional vote. If you ave multiple computers, use them too. By voting multiple times, you are ensuring that you are preventing those who misunderstood the question from having a negative impact on our community, and their own freedoms.

Anyone can vote in the poll, regardless of where you live, so go and vote yes on the poll. If you vote to maintain freedom away from were you live, you will be more likely to retain those freedoms at home as well.

Vote yes to freedom of expression and freedom of speech! You will find the poll midway down the page in the center column, slightly to the right.

The original article about the Pride fest is here

Do You Abhore Hate?

Come one come all to protest against hate, and support your neighbors!

This Sunday, the National Socialist Movement's Springfield unit is arranging to protest the 2009 Gay Pride Fest.

The gay pride fest is a small festival for GLBT individuals, their families, and their friends to mingle freely without fear of discrimination, once a year. Loaded with costumes, friendship, acceptance, and neat crafts and products, I myself have participated as a face painter, and found it to be a safe and joyous place to take my children.

This isn't about what you think or feel about homosexuality, this is about what you think of hate and violence against innocent people and children.

"National Socialist Party" is the newest fasionable name for neo-nazis, skinheads, hammerskins, white supremacists, and other hate groups.

The man who murdered others recently at the Holocaust Museum In Washington D.C. was affiliated with groups like the one in our town.

These types of groups generally do not seem to think that the brutal and senseless murder of "lesser beings" such as GLBT individuals, Jews, Native Americans, Pagans, Mexicans, Muslims, African Americans, or anyone else different from themselves is wrong. They think of it as a purification, a cleansing; some sort of positive force that makes communities "safer" for "true Americans". They mean, of course, only people and families of direct white european descent.

In Germany, they came first for the Communists, I remained silent because I wasn’t a Communist;

And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;

And then they came for the Jews, And I didn't protest because I wasn’t a Jew;

And then... they came for me... And by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.*

There will be a strong yet discreet police force in place at the Pride day festivities, so individual safety at the event itself will be secure.

Do you want to keep our streets safe for all of the peopple in our diverse community, or do you want to sit idle and wait for them to come for your family once they've run out of other groups to victimize?

The NSM in the midwest are trying to make themselves look good by not getting caught breaking any laws, and adopting a street for litter cleanup, but they're still here, meeting regularly in our public libraries and spreading the toxic cancer of their malcontent troughout our community.

Here's what they say about their plans; "The Springfield Unit will be there along with other white nationalist and members of the community to let homosexuals know that they are not welcome in our town and we will not tolerate their "celebration"."

Erase the hate, silence the violence, and let peace blossom in the streets.

That's tomorrow, June 14th, from 1-9pm on Blane Street and Commercial next to the Glo Center. The address for MapQuest to the Springfield 2009 Gay Pride Fest is 518 E. Commercial Street, or click here for a Google map. The Nazis have not revealed the time they plan to come and form their wall of hatred against our GLBT neighbors, likely to prevent precisely what we are planning, but we will be there, en masse, all day long, and form a wall of loving acceptance for all of the members of our community in order to block the anger and intimidation they intend to aim at our neigbors.

To quote their own words; "Many complain about the NSM, but few are more active" They think they can do whatever they like, and fill our connunity with hate, making our streets dangerous for our children, and that we will not do anything to protect the safety of our homes and families except for saying a few pretty words.

Let's prove them wrong!

Let's get active and show them that Springfield is capable of enough comunity solidarity to drive out their hate!

Bring love and rainbows.

For full details from a supporter of these activities, click here.

*"First they came…" is a poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller about the inactivity of Germans following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group.

Don't Let it Happen Here.

Celebrate Freedom, Read A Banned Book

Saturday marked the start of Banned Books Week for 2008.

"Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read" is observed during the last week of September each year. This year's celebration (September 27 through October 4) marks the 27th anniversary of the event, and I want you to celebrate it with me.

Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. People challenge books that they say are too anything. Objections to profanity, slang, offensive portrayals of racial or religious groups, and even positive (or simply not negative) portrayals of homosexuals are the most common reason for a book to be challenged. Targets range from books that explore the latest problems, to books on natural animal behavior, simple fictional novels, and even the most classic and beloved works of American literature.

See, a challenge occurs when a formal, written complaint is filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. Challenges can be filed by individuals or groups, and it is estimated that for every challenge issued, about four others go unreported. A challenge is an attempt to ban or restrict materials, based upon someone's personal opinions. Successful challenges result in books being restricted, or even banned.

Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to choose and express one’s opinion even if it may be unorthodox or unpopular in the prevailing culture. Stressing the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to explore them ensures intellectual freedom for all. In times like these, freedom of thought is a sacred right, to be celebrated and embraced, not taken lightly.

“If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.” ~ Noam Chomsky

There are many events scheduled throughout the country to celebrate Banned Books Week. To see if your area has an event or display scheduled, visit the event listing.

As there are no book stores in Southwest Missouri listed on the event calendar as celebrating Banned Books Week, I invite everyone to come to the square for the First Friday art walk, this October the 3rd, from 5-7pm, and read banned books. Pick a book to read quietly, or simply gather to discuss censorship. Just come, and let's all support one another in standing up for the First Amendment right to free speech for ourselves, and all other peoples! Don't have a banned or challenged book to bring, no problem, there's a library right off the square. Pop online right now at the Springfield Green County Library's web site and reserve a book, or have one sent to the downtown branch, to check out there, and let's exercise our rights, and deny censorship, while expressing and encouraging community solidarity!

“If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.” ~ Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.

Below is the list of the most challenged individual titles and authors last year, as well as a link to the some of the best books in history that people have challenged, or actually succeeded in banning.

For a list of the banned or challenged books from the Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century visit here. Stop by your local library and check one out today in celebration of your freedom to read what you want!

You can also find Banned Books Week on Facebook & MySpace!

The “10 Most Challenged Books of 2007” reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:

1) “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
2) The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
3) “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes
4) “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman
5) “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain
6) “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker
7) "TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle
8) "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou
9) “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris
10) "The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky

The most frequently challenged authors of 2007

1) Robert Cormier
2) Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
3) Mark Twain
4) Toni Morrison
5) Philip Pullman
6) Kevin Henkes
7) Lois Lowry
8) Chris Crutcher
9) Lauren Myracle
10) Joann Sfar

Other links: The American Library Association

Banned Books Week ~ Because freedom of speech isn't just for those who share your opinions, it's for everyone!

* Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Library Association, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Association of American Publishers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the National Association of College Stores. Banned Books Week is also endorsed by the Center for the Book of the Library of Congress.

UnGuzzling

With the rising cost of gas gouging holes in everyone's budget, and the 5 cent off per gallon Kum&Go gift cards no longer reloadable, I decided it was time to tackle some of the methods you can use to cut fuel costs.

Our family just moved closer to the majority of our daily activities so that we could walk or ride bikes more often to where we needed to go. This alone has cut our fuel consumption by 75% in the last month.

The first rule of driving to conserve fuel is to drive as if you were riding a bicycle. A lot of the ways I drive a vehicle, I learned when I was taught how to ride a ten-speed. Now, many years later, I am truly surprised to discover that a lot of the methods I have been doing since I bought my first car are now being suggested by the people who vehemently encourage fuel efficient driving.

Hooray for instinct! *grin*

Find out if your town is flat or slanted. We were happy to discover that our entire town slants down hill towards the southwest corner. This means that traveling to run certain errands or visit some of our friends takes less gas than going other places, as we can coast almost the whole way in one direction. We've begun to plan our trips so we can take advantage of the slant more effectively.

There's a lot more conservation methods on my advice & services blog; Earthereal Guidance.

Since we're talking about saving money, the freebies have started back up over at Products & Places as well. It's just a weekly thing until I get the time on my hands to do more, but with the prices going up all over, every little savings means a lot!

What's Poisoning Your Family?

Almost all the info that's fit to print on the subject.

What's in the stuff you use, what it does, why it's there, and why it is (or may be) bad for you or the environment. Great listing (the whole site is pretty good actually), and it will help you have the information you need to make truly informed decisions regarding whether you want to use a product with a certain ingredient or not. Really informative.

Ingredients to Avoid

and

Their front page

A funny aside; you don't want to use some of the stuff they're selling on their site, because many of the products contain some of the things they are preaching about not using! Example; They say not to use anything with chlorine or any of it's derivatives in it, even to the extent of not using anything with "chlor" in the name. However, the majority of their dental products have what they call "stabilized chlorine dioxide".

Without an ingredient listing to check for allergens, I wouldn't buy from them anyway, but that's just me. I always do what they suggest doing, and read the ingredients label before buying anything, and since there is no listing on their site, I won't buy from them, no matter how much they say their products are healthy and natural. Like they say themselves, "natural" is an unregulated word in the health care industry, so it technically means whatever the sellers and manufacturers want it to.

Browse, learn, and enjoy!

UPDATE: Since I moderate my comments, I was able to catch and not publish a rather rude comment from one of the members of the company. What a fabulous way to ensure I will never buy from them!

Great sales technique, that.

Action Alert: Make High Speed Internet Access a Reality for All Americans

From Care2's Petition Site.

Access to the high-speed Internet opens up tremendous opportunities for improving the quality of our economic, civic and personal lives. Yet the United States is the only industrialized country without a national policy to promote high-speed Internet access. We spend less as a nation on Internet investment than many of our global neighbors, but as customers we pay higher prices. What's even worse, this technology is out of reach for millions of Americans living in rural areas!

In the 21st century, high-speed Internet should not be a luxury. It's a necessity. Click on "Begin Test" to see how YOUR connection speed stacks up.



Sign the Care2 petition here and tell the presidential candidates that you want every American to have affordable access to high-speed internet.

A Little Ditty For You

*Sung to the tune of Ren& Stimpy's "Working, Working, Working".*

Moving, moving, moving
All the day we're moving

Stopping just to eat and chat
then we all fall down!

---------

Thanks all who volunteered but couldn't quite make it to today's moving party, and to Faith and her family for pushing themselves to the limit to help us get as much done as possible today.

Tomorrow;

Once more with feeling!!!

We still have snacky goodness, cold beverages, and nanner popsickles, so whatcha waitin' fer? *wink*

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggitey Jig!

After a long time searching, and long time waiting, we received the call today that our application has been accepted for our new home, and we can begin moving in tomorrow!

It's a good thing too, as the 15th is the last possible day we can have anything of ours in my mother's garage. *chuckle*

As you may have heard me promise, tomorrow will be a moving party! If you know us well enough to have our phone number, then you're invited. Starting at 2pm, we'll have treats, snacks, goodies, beverages, and some gas money for anyone who wishes to attend and help us ferry stuff from my mother's house to our new abode.

If you've ever wanted to meet all these other people are I'm always talking about, or just wanted to attend a party or have a good meal at my place, come on over and join the fun.

We're finally on our way home!

Radishal Volunteerism

Working all day today on Radish stuff, both at the space, and here at my mother's place. Not much else happened, but lots of progress was made on my chosen tasks.

You can join the Radish Infoshop's Yahoo group here, and visit their Gather Profile here. Remember, on Gather, comments are points, and there's a lot a gift card and a little devotion can do to help make the new location into more than most people have ever dreamed is possible. (I've dreamed some things, but I'm not most people. *wink*)

Much more Radishal news is on the way in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out!

Tomorrow is a new day!

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The Radish Sprouts Anew

The Radish Infoshop has found a new location!

Where:

818 College Street

A Couple of blocks west of Grant Street on College

(Look for the familiar Radish sandwich board open sign)

When:

The Radish Infoshop will officially re-open at their new location on April 1st, 2008.

Yes, it's true! A cute little pale-green house on College street is soon to free the best radical lending library in this area from storage, and our big 'ole activist hearts from their slumber.

Everything we loved about the old radish, and nothing we didn't, with lots of new ideas and projects. A place to not only organize, but also to activate, and be active. Improving the community, one yard and one heart at a time, to make a better world, the new Radish currently has the following things in the works;

Provide free food, at least once week, along the lines of Food Not Bombs or the Burrito Project, hopefully in alliance with Project Brown Bag.

Produce organically grown heirloom food, that we have grown ourselves with the most effective methods of limited space urban gardening, and share it with the community.

Provide free clothing and fabric, 24/7, a more efficient Radish Free Store and sewing station for fashion altering and re-creation.

Create a “safe space” for children, so rad families can network, create, learn, and grow as a community with the help of structured (and de-structured) children's activities and family fun time.

Stop by and bring your creativity and willingness to pitch in. There are a lot of opportunities to help, and ideas are always welcome. The plans are evolving as the word is being passed about the reopening, and the art gallery and kids' areas already look fabulous.

We'll be glad to see you on or after the first of April. Share the vision, some ideas, and find out how you can help, if you're anything like me, you'll love what's being done so much, that you’ll feel compelled to leave a dollar (or two) in the donation box. *wink*

Map: Here [where: 818 W College, Springfield MO 65806-1804]

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Just Start

Our dreams are all we've got no matter who we are, and I'm dead serious about making ours come true. So serious that I've listed our dreams on websites, told literally hundreds of people, and worked my tush off towards what we really want.

I've told you of our dream of creating a working self-sustaining mini farm and community educational center for green living in the middle of the city, and about wanting to own and live in an RV. The hows, whys, logistics, and benefits of living our dreams have been explained multiple times in the history of my sharing here with you, so I won't go into it all again now.

But I've gone and done it again, forever running my mouth off towards fulfilling our dreams.

QuickBooks is having a contest called Just Start for small businesspeople or those who want to be. All you have to do is let them know what you would do to create or further your own business. The prize is $40,000 cash, and $10,000 in goods and services to help you on your way. You can enter via video or letter, but things being as they are, I don't have the time to make and edit a video, so mine was submitted in writing.

Since living in an RV isn't exactly what most would consider a business dream, and my plans for how we would do it and how it would further the family business aren't easily explained in 250 words or less, I instead shared with them my dream of running an inner city eco-educational facility and miniature Certified Naturally Grown (organic) farm.

The contest is partially based on popularity and votes, so I would be much obliged if you could take an extra moment out of your day to take a look at my entry and rate our dream and business plan. If you like it, please tell your friends. I can use all the help I can get.

The widget with the link is giant and green, and living on the left sidebar. It may take a few seconds to load our business dream once you click the link, even on high speed, as the page is entirely flash.

Everyone is welcome to join the contest and declare their goals, and all participants automatically get a free copy of some helpful business software.

Feel free to also check out our wishes and dreams by following the text link in the left sidebar. They are directly underneath the big green widget.

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Feeling a Bit of Affluenza

I went against it all, and looked at the Black Friday sales ads for the first time in my life. But I looked online, in order to save both time and paper from the ads I never care to keep, so that makes it better, right? *sheepish grin*

It is amusing to see what folks wake up at 3am for these days, whereas I simply haven't been to bed yet 'cause our visit with friends was so great, we stayed WAY too long. *chuckle* First showing of a new a movie I can understand standing in line for several hours for, but the vague possibility of a random goody at half-off if you are one of the first 100 people at the door? Nah, I can wait for the other loss-leader sales that happen at other times throughout they year.

If I'm desperate for a particular item, I have learned that I can likely buy online, without leaving the house, days before the sales start in the stores, possibly even having it in my grubby little hands with free two-day shipping several days before everyone else has a chance at it. Not that we have the cash to pull that off this year, but still, it's nice to know we could if we wanted to, had the money, and actually needed something that was going to be some sort of amazing, once-in-a-lifetime kind of deal.

Not likely though, everything that goes on sale today is some sort of frivolous non-necessity. I know, I looked. *wink*

There's lots of stuff we'd just love to have, if we suffered from Affluenza, and lived like what seems like 90% of the American public. But throwing ourselves deep into hawk to get pretty little possessions that will just weigh us down so we can look cool and have the neatest new gadgets, isn't how we like to live.

We'll spend this Buy Nothing Day the same way we always do. At home, with family, spending time together; laughing, singing, and eating leftovers. For one day a year, we consume nothing except for utilities and leftover food. "cept this year, I'll also be making phone calls around to apartments, always on the hunt.

May you have a joyous and loving anti-consumerist holiday.

Happy Buy Nothing Day!

I am a participant in NaBloPoMo.

*"Protest Turkey" was completely hand-drawn with a mini optical mouse in Paint Shop Pro 11/06. "Protest Turkey" is about 7x8 inches and took 30 minutes from start to finish.

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Commentary on Email Forwards: No Gas on the 15th

I'm sure you've seen this (or something similar) at least twice in the last two weeks:

*********
"NO GAS... On May 15th 2007
Don't pump gas on may 15th

*In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.

On May 15th 2007, all Internet users are to not go to a gas station in protest of high gas prices.

Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most places.There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the Internet network, and the average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up.

If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take$2,292,000,000.00 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil company's pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry for at least one day.If you agree (which I can't see why you wouldn't) repost this as a bulletin, or send to everyone you know via e-mail...''Don't pump gas on May 15th""
*********

Some people go for it full force, some guffaw, and still others, like myself, rarely buy gas on the 15th of any particular month, mainly because I get my paycheck on the first and have used up most of my cash paying bills by then.

But really, let's look at this logically... First of all, nobody buys gas every day. Let's get really generous and say the average person buys gas once a week. and let's do another generous estimate and say that 2/3 of the people who have access to the Internet even have vehicles (many people with email check it at a public place, a friend's house, or library/Internet cafe-type establishment). Now how about some math. The above estimate assumes every American on the Internet has a car, and fills up their gas tank to the tune of $40 or so every day. With my estimate, the "loss" isn't even a million. Definitely not enough for the big oil moguls to even bat an eye at.

Taking into consideration that if you want gas, you will buy it, even if you don't do so on a certain day, doesn't that mean that the gas companies aren't loosing anything due to you, no matter when you fill up?

If you really want to make a difference, go oil free. Bike, walk, or bus everywhere you go and let the oil companies know where they can shove their outrageous price hikes for good!

Second best is to pick an oil company or two to boycott, any will do. Do some research and decide for whatever reason makes you happy. Human rights records, bad eco-practices, irresponsible drilling, whatever. Don't ever buy gas from that company or it's subsidiaries ever again. It's a lot less random, and it can really get your point across.

The only real vote we have anymore is the one we make with our dollars. What companies will you choose to support?

Of course, not buying gas on the 15th won't hurt anything either, and if it makes you happy, then by all means, join right in.

InThe Land Where Valerian Root Is King

I sleep, restful sleep, and awake refreshed! Give thanks to whoever makes you happy, but I finally got a decent night's rest last night. *grin*

After waking, I worked around the house a bit, bossed the kids around, made chili, sold some seedlings for an unschooling friend, and visited with my Faith for a bit before checking the email and getting back down to work on the web site.

Even the daytime was more relaxed and calm.

Lordy how I love getting good sleep!

In other herbal news, the government is trying to make supplements and the like illegal, and they're only taking comments until the end of the month. If they get their way, even growing herbs that can possibly be used medicinally can get one tossed into jail. (spaghetti will never be the same without oregano) *sigh* Be sure to stop on by over where they are taking comments and leave one in support of keeping herbs, supplements, juices, vitamins, teas, and even certain foods legal.

Visit NewsTarget.com for further information and click the link to speak out directly to the FDA before it is too late!

I'm begging you, for everyone's sake. This is the single most important thing I have ever asked of you. Please, speak out before the deadline on April 30th. When you are done with that, contact your senator and congressperson via email (and telephone if possible) as well. You can never be too sure that your voice will be heard with only one action.

Virtual Town Meeting

MoveOn.org is organizing three “Virtual Town Halls” to hear from 2008 Presidential candidates on the issues MoveOn members say are most important: Iraq, health care, and energy. On April 10th, we're focusing on Iraq.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich, and Joe Biden will answer questions from you in the first of three unprecedented virtual town hall meetings.

Ask the presidential candidates the tough questions about their Iraq plans! The mass media won't be filtering our questions or filtering the answers—-MoveOn.org will be connecting candidates directly to the people.

Right after the virtual town hall meeting, MoveOn will survey our members to see which candidate they believe will do the best job of leading us out of the war in Iraq. We will also let MoveOn members know how they can get involved with the candidate of their choice.

Join a Virtual Town Hall house party near you or sign up to host your own.

Here is a one-page background document with more information:
http://pol.moveon.org/iraqtownhall/onepager.doc

I'd love to hear what you think of the event when it's over, so come back and let me know! :D

Action Alert: Speak Your Mind to the Dept of Agriculture! Deadline Tomorrow!

I just received this letter in my email from Downsize Dc.

"We weren't going to send any messages this weekend, but two things have happened that make it advisable to do so.

First, the Agriculture Committee wants your comments on next year's farm bill. This is a perfect opportunity to focus our pressure on the handful of people in Congress who really make the decisions in this area.

Therefore, it is also the perfect opportunity to oppose the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), which is going to cripple small farms with huge costs, to the benefit of the big corporate farms.

This opportunity is made even better because the Agriculture Committee has supplied their own online form for you to use to leave your comments. It's a very simple form, unlike most things the government does.

This is your chance to hit a few politicians with thousands of messages, whereas we usually hit hundreds of members of Congress with just a few messages each. Seize the chance!

Now here's the strange part . . .Even though they are seeking comments on next year's bill, the deadline for making those comments is TOMORROW!

Go figure.

And then go HERE and leave a message asking the Agriculture Committee to dismantle NAIS.

If you need more information on NAIS you can find it on our NAIS campaign page HERE."

Of course I used the opportunity to also mention the whitelist that is currently being considered, as well as their current information gaqthering practices using club memberships and onofficial channels, so you can say whattever you like.

Speak out now!

Faith-Based Homicide Supported by Walmart

I wrote about this issue previously here, and I beg you to please take action.

Have you heard the newest news?

I received an email recently announcing the release of the new hate and religious violence video game.

"Wal-Mart is promoting the religious right's extreme ideology this holiday season.
Just in time for Christmas, the religious right has released a violent video game in which born-again Christians aim to convert or kill those who don't adhere to their extreme ideology. Disturbingly, the game's apparent attempts at religious indoctrination are aimed at children and focus on violent, divisive, and hateful scenarios. While the religious right apparently has no problem pushing the product this holiday season, America's #1 video game seller should know better."

Now I usually edit the pre-written form letters provided by the activist folks, and that's what I did here as well. This is what I sent to the CEO of Wal-Mart (the nation's #1 video game retailer)regarding their decision to sell the most violent and hateful video game I have ever seen.

"Dear Mr Scott,
I am deeply offended by Wal-Mart's decision to sell the "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" video game, filled with religious violence, to our children this Christmas.

Up to this point, I have been very pleased with Wal-Mart's practices. Standing up for partner's rights, and providing health insurance for it's employees when no other minimum wage employer does, are great and admirable things. let's keep holding to the moral and ethical high-ground and take this violent filth off of the shelves and keep it off.

The game is based on an extreme ideology, and promotes the conversion or killing of those who do not adhere to a specific interpretation of "Christianity" - including Muslims, Catholics, Jews, and even Christians who beleive in the seperation of church and state or the teaching of evolution in schools.

"Left Behind: Eternal Forces" takes place in New York City, shortly after the rapture. Gamers are charged with creating "Christian" militias who roam the streets of New York City, looking to convert non-believers and killing those who they are unable to draw to their side while their "holy" and "God-driven" characters scream horrible and taunting things to those they are murdering in cold blood due to a disagreement of principle! In fact, after particularly bloody battles, players must use prayer to recharge their "soul points" that have been diminished by the killing.

I have no problem with Grand Theft Auto, but teaching a child (or adult) to kill others because of an ideological disagreement is akin to starting the next Jihad (holy war). Do you want that blood on your hands?

Remember, those who see a thing happening and do nothing to stop it are just as guilty as those who perpetrate the crime with their own hands. In a nation already violently divided along faith-lines, in a world where religion kills millions every year, what do you want to contribute to the efforts? Death, or peace?

Please, Mr. Scott, this divisive game has no place on Wal-Mart's shelves - especially this holiday season.

Surely the possible "bottom line" isn't important enough to insult and anger over 90% of your current shopper base. Is it?

I will be forwarding this information to my friends and family. The Pagans, the Catholics, the Evangelical Christians, everyone. May a mighy noise be brought forth to rouse you from your slumber of complacency. I can only hope it is enough.

Thank you for taking the time to read my words.
Sincerely,"

To send your own letter, click here. Protect the future.

Defeat the Affluenza Pandemic

"Protest Turkey" is completely hand-drawn with a mini optical mouse in Paint Shop Pro. "Protest Turkey is about 7x8 inches and took 30 minutes from start to finish.

Resist mindless consumerism and focus on friends, family, and community instead this weekend. This year, tell big business your family is more important than their profits. Put your money where your mouth is and keep your cash in your pants.

On "Black Friday", my family stays home and enjoys each other's company while stringing the popcorn and cranberries for the bushes outside, or goes out to visit friends. But we don't ever purchase anything.

For twenty-four hours starting 12am the day after Thanksgiving and ending at midnight that night, my family buys nothing in a protest against the rampant consumerism and the shopping lunacy that strikes our nation during the very time we should be sitting down with our families and friends and reflecting on the joys, pleasures, and blessings we have in the togetherness we share.

We refuse to participate in the wholesale slaughter of the economy and people's lives via retail massacre for those twenty-four hours. Love isn't about spending money or presents. Besides, we have the rest of the year to shop. We even changed the business website (ArtFoodFun.com) in honor of the occasion.

Take today to really consider your buying habits year-round and the global impact of the way you live. Is there something you think should change? How many things do you really need to be happy?

For more information, visit AdBusters.org and Wikipedia.com.

Need more? Get "Affluenza" the book. Get the movie or the other information on it too if you want, just don't buy it today.

In today's corporate-run economy, the only thing that matters is the almighty dollar. What message do you want to send? How will you vote on November 24th?

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