Levees.org Video Reposted on YouTube

YouTube was forced to removed this video produced by NOLA high school students after being threatened with a law suit. Glad to find out today that the video is back.

I love this.....from the Times Picayune:

Levees.org on Friday reposted to YouTube a satirical video filmed by high school students that is critical of the relationship between the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Army Corps of Engineers, after the group was promised free representation by two local law firms in the event it is sued.

"We have something to say today to the president of the American Society of Civil Engineers," said Levees.org President Sandy Rosenthal during a news conference in a restored Lakeview home a few blocks from the 17th Street Canal. "We reject your threats and we will not stop publicizing our video." (my emphasis)

In a letter to ASCE general Counsel Thomas Smith III, one of the attorneys for Levees.org warned that any lawsuit against the organization might trigger Louisiana's "Anti-SLAPP" statute, which allows courts to weed out lawsuits designed to chill public participation on matters of public significance.

Here is the video now available at YouTube.... Take a look.

More later.

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Jody Foster Comes Out

Even though we've all known for years...

After guarding her private life fiercely for 15 years, Hollywood actress Jodie Foster has publicly acknowledged her lesbian partner.

The Oscar-winning actress thanked "my beautiful Cydney" after winning an award at the Women in Entertainment Power 100 breakfast in Los Angeles.

She went on to praise Cydney Bernard, saying the film producer "sticks with me through all the rotten and the bliss".

Despite more than a decade of speculation, questions over the paternity of her two sons and critics calling for her be “out and proud”, Foster has refused to discuss her sexuality.

Read more here.

More later.
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Gay Marriage: Obstacle to World Peace?

Yeah, that's what Benny said. We wield more power than we know, apparently.

Presenting the nuclear family as the "first and indispensable teacher of peace" and the "primary agency of peace," the 15-page document links sexual and medical ethics to international relations.

"Everything that serves to weaken the family based on the marriage of a man and woman, everything that directly or indirectly stands in the way of its openness to the responsible acceptance of new life ... constitutes an objective obstacle on the road to peace," Benedict writes.

Read it all here.

More later.

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Month Five - Still No Check

I received an email from someone who found the anonymous site last year and passed the info along to a male friend who was, unfortunately, going through a similar life upheaval and was in an emotional meltdown. I know the feeling. He’s doing better now. We stay in touch.

Anyway, she’s been following the story of my phantom rent refund and asked if I had received it yet.

The answer, again unfortunately, is NO. But I still have hope. I know that he’s still in his house because he refused mail sent to me at his address, which was forwarded to my new address. The handwriting matches that of the original note promising the refund. Remember the note?

The email friend was not pleased as she replied, “it’s not the amount of money at stake that pisses me off, it’s that he would promise anything to get you out knowing what you were dealing with emotionally and financially and didn't really intend to follow through. What a dick! You know, there is always Small Claims court.”

That is a possibility in the back of my mind, but I will wait this out for a while longer because frankly, right now I have enough on my plate and the holidays to get through. Somehow I still hope that he will make good on his promise. After all, he considers himself a Christian.

Yes, I know, I know.

That said, in spite of everything I am pleased that he has his house.

More later.

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Help Save NOLA Public Housing

Watch this video:

From Facing South...

Next Monday, Dec. 10, is international Human Rights Day. It's also the day when activists in New Orleans are calling for actions opposing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development plans to tear down more than 4,600 public housing units in four complexes across the city -- while replacing them with private, mixed-income developments that will set aside only 744 apartments for low-income people.
The decision to demolish these public complexes, which suffered only relatively minor damage [PDF] during Hurricane Katrina, comes as rents across the city have doubled since the storm -- as has the homeless population.

The activists are asking concerned citizens across the country to join the actions in New Orleans or to take action at home. According to a statement from Kali Akuno, director of the Stop the Demolition Coalition:

What is at stake with the demolition of public housing in New Orleans is more than just the loss of housing units: it destroys any possibility for affordable housing in New Orleans for the foreseeable future. Without access to affordable housing, thousands of working class New Orleanians will be denied their human right to return.

Although this situation is unique and urgent in the city of New Orleans, it does not occur in isolation. The plans for redevelopment here are part of a national assault on public housing, in which tens of thousands of homes have been demolished in the past decade.

Organizers are asking supporters from across the country to organize demonstrations at local HUD offices and other government buildings. They are also asking them to make calls to government officials demanding the reopening of public housing in New Orleans. Among those leaders they are asking people to call:

* New Orleans City Council Member Stacy Head, who has been a leading force in pushing for the tear-downs. Her number is 504-658-1020.

* New Orleans City Council Member Shelley Midura, who is being asked to oppose the demolitions and support the reopening of public housing. Her number is 504-658-1010.

* D.H. Griffin, the North Carolina-based contractor hired to demolish the Lafitte complex. For locations of the company's offices across the South, click here. The toll-free number is 888-336-3366.

* U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), who's blocking passage of the Gulf Coast Housing Recovery Act (Senate Bill 1668). Sponsored by his colleague, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), the measure would require any demolished public housing units to be replaced by other units available to low-income residents. Vitter can be reached in Washington at 202-224-4623 and New Orleans at 504-589-2753.

* Members of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, where SB 1668 is currently stuck. They are Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) at 202-224-6361, Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) at 202- 224-5941, Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) at 202-224-5623, Robert Bennett (R-Utah) at 202-224-5444, Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) at 202-224-2315, Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) at 202-224-4343, Tom Carper (D-Del.) at 202-224-2441, Robert Casey (D-Pa.) at 202-224-6324, Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) at 202-224-6142, Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) at 202-224-2823, Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) at 202-224-6342, Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.) at 202-224-3424, Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) at 202-224-4224, Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) at 202-224-1638, Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) at 202-224-3041, Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) at 202-224-4744, Jack Reed (D-R.I.) at 202-224-4642, Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) at 202-224-0420, Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) at 202-224-5744, John Sununu (R-N.H.) at 202-224-2841 and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) at 202-224-2644.

Send information about any solidarity actions to action@peopleshurricane.org with "Solidarity" in the subject line. If you have any questions, contact the Stop the Demolition Coalition at action@peopleshurricane.org or call 504-458-3494. For more information on the issues at stake and planned protest actions, visit the websites of Defend New Orleans Public Housing, Justice for New Orleans and the People's Hurricane Relief Fund.

More later.
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Huckabee is an AIDSphobic Bigot

No wonder he's the darling of the religious right today.

Shorter Huckabee on Fox News Sunday: "I didn't say we should quarantine people with AIDS, I just thought it was a bad thing that we hadn't done it. And I still agree with myself."

Mind you, he suggested this in 1992, a decade into the epidemic and he was still this stupid. And as the quote above clearly states, he'd be ready to do it today. What an ignorant bigot. I feel sick!

Follow the link and watch the video over at Think Progress.

More later.

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War on Greed

Just received an email from film maker Robert Greenwald of "Outfoxed" fame and this is one of his new projects. The film opened in NYC recently and he is sending out this short clip.



Go over to the War On Greed site to find out more.

More later.
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Snowy Update

The snow ended sometime overnight after dumping 2.5 to 3 inches here. Yes, much more than expected. Local schools are closed, businesses are opening late, and blah blah. Too many accidents overnight and this morning caused by people who have no clue how to drive in show or ice.

Temps got down to 24' overnight and today's forecast, mentioned in yesterday's post, changed during that time, as well. High expected in the low 30s, not the 50s, but the sun is back and there is a clear blue sky, as promised.

Now it's time to go out and clear the snow and ice off the car. Oh Joy!

More later.
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It's Snow!

On the radio this morning the weather critter announced that there was a good chance of snow today, but no accumulation until tonight when, we were told to, 'expect about an inch'. Well, the snow began about 2 hours ago.

I snapped this image about an hour ago (from the front door) and now there is about a half inch of "no accumulation" on the ground and it's still coming down. I am told that the sun is still shining about 40 miles north of here.

Fortunately, I did the chores and ran all errands before the snowfall, so no reason to tackle the roads again today.

Tomorrow's forecast (if we are to believe it!) calls for sunny skies with a high in the low 50s. We shall see.

More later.

Christmas City of God Appeal

I'm late to the party, and sorry to be so, but please read this and give as you feel led. This is truly one of the best things about blogtopia. And yes, skippy coined the phrase.
MadPriest:

My goodness, what can I say? I'm flabbergasted. After just three days we have already raised $1950 and we know there are cheques in the post on top of this, so I'm pretty certain we've smashed through the $2000 ceiling already.

I will leave the hyperbole to my American associate because she's so much better at it than me. Suffice to say: WELL DONE, YOU CHAPS!

The OCICBW... Community Christmas Appeal this year is raising money to help pay for the work being done by the Anglican Church of Christ the King in the City Of God district of Rio De Janeiro. Full details about the project and how to send your gifts can be found HERE.

And don't forget to

And if possible, advertise the appeal on your own sites as this belongs to all of us.

The whole story can be found HERE.

And visit MadPriest at OCICBW. If you feel that you don't belong, you belong at that site.

More later.
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Just in Time for Christmas

With today's revealing story the ongoing sad saga of Larry Craig in the Statesman, where they finally write the results of their months long investigation. Four men have come forward and the article includes audio files containing graphic descriptions of the sex acts. NSFW.

So, Stupid dot com has come up with the perfect, timely gift for the GOP closet case in your life. The Larry Craig Action Figure. No joke. The figure comes with a tee shirt, has bendable limbs for recreating his infamous "wide stance" and if that isn't enough when you press a button he talks!

More later.
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World Aids Day 2007

What’s happening where you are? Here’s what’s going on here.

Dec 1 • 6:15-6:30 pm Pre-Walk gathering and candle lighting at the Bandstand and the Boardwalk

Dec 1 • 6:30 pm Candlelight Walk of Remembrance and Hope begins at the Bandstand and the Boardwalk and snakes through the streets of town.

Dec 1 • 7:00 pm (or when the walk ends) Program continues at local Church. Program includes reading of names of friends/family members lost to the epidemic.

Dec 1 • 7:45 pm (or when the service ends) Light supper in the church hall, provided by a local Restaurant.

But most of all, remember those we have lost.

More later.

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