A bed of nails or a bed of roses.
[Recent Entries][Archive][Friends][User Info]
[Winterdream]
[@Frappr]
[@MySpace]
[@LinkedIn]
[Avedon's Sideshow]
[Musing's Musing]
[NBJC]
[Black Amazon]
[Be Present]
[ACLU]
[Doctors w/o Borders]
[Cangleska]
[Last Chance Forever]
[Electronic Frontier Foundation]
[National Abortion Federation]
[LAMBDA]
Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "Daniel B. Holzman-Tweed" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
|
07:36 am
[Link] |
Swiss Cheese
Dear Switzerland,
A few years ago, we in the U.S. had the opportunity to reflect on how we could tell we were on the wrong track because the French thought we were arrogant and the Germans thought we were aggressive.
Now that you've banned the building of minnarets as an explicitly anti-Muslim measure, the French think you're inappropriately suppressing Muslim religious expression. This really, really, should give you similar pause. Look behind you, you'll see the line.
I hope you return to your senses without much further embarassment.
Love,
Me
|
|
08:45 am
[Link] |
Political rant regarding trying terrorists in NYC
Will someone please give these gutless Republican cowardsa hug? Or a security blanket to clutch at? Maybe a change of underwear?
It seems that the country’s right-wing talking heads think it’s the end of the world because we’re going to actually try criminals in a court! Why? Well, there seem to be two reasons turning weakening their knees and loosening their sphincters. First, there’s the Rudy Giulannis of the world who seem to think if we try terrorists in New York it might embolden terrorists to attack New York – as if terrorists would never have dreamed of NYC as a target.
Then there’s the John Boehners of the world who are afraid that if we put them in a real court for committing real crimes, they might beat the rap because evidence obtained under torture isn’t admissible. Yes, this is the same John Boehner who was among the crowd of Republicans assuring us that torture was A-OK, so much so that we shouldn’t muddy the issue by calling it torture, but merely “enhanced interrogation.” Think back to those days, these guys sure were stepping tall and talking up a whole storm of shit then, weren’t they?
Scratch a Republican leader, find a bully. Scratch a bully, find a coward.
Of course, we’ve also got James Inhofe, who thinks that trying criminals for crimes negates terrorism as a war crime. Someone should mention to him that war crimes are crimes, and that the allies tried the Nazis in a court, but I doubt it’ll make it through his sheer panic to register.
I’ve got news for these lily-livered, yellow-bellied whiners: Here in New York, we’re made of sterner stuff. We’ve been putting these motherfuckers into prison since the first time they attacked the World Trade Center, and we know we’re safer that way. Don’t let Rudy fool you, he’s paid to be chicken these days – there was a time when he remembered he’s a New Yorker and what that means. We’re bringing these guys here, we’re going to try them, if the evidence supports we’ll convict them, and they’ll spend the rest of their lives in little boxes while we go on with our lives laughing and singing. We don’t need torture, Gitmo, and bullshit tribunals to keep us safe.
Of course, the possibility that the whole country might remember that is exactly what has the Republicans so scared.
|
|
05:18 am
[Link] |
Sausage
Another morning at Detroit airport waiting for my plane home...
- Lazyweb: I have a friend in need of the best divorce lawyer that money can buy who is also admitted to the North Carolina bar.
- Becase Matthew Shepard Can't & I Can... and why you're on the hook with me if you don't too.
- It's a few days late, but my sympathies go out to those on my friends list living in Maine regarding the number of neighbors they have who fail to grasp even the most basic principles of justice, liberty, and equality.
- So coming to the airport this morning, unpacking my laptop the TSA guys asked me "Is that the new big Dell?" On the far side of the machine, they said, "Sir, would you open the laptop, please?" The next ten minutes were filled with geeking about which gamer boxes we each own and what games we play on them.
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) jadegirl and I will be at FaerieCon in suburban Baltimore this weekend.
- So the Republicans put forward their alternative to the health care plan now in congress, and it shows they're as qualified to handle running health care as they were Hurricane Katrina. Item 4,598,442,987 in the list of Reasons Government Should Never Be Run By People Who Think Government Is The Problem.
- Convicted Felon Bernie Kerik's guilty plea to two counts of tax fraud, making a false statement on a loan application, and five counts of making false statements to the federal government is item 4,598,442,988. New Yorkers may recall Bernie as Giulani's police comissioner. Out-of-towners may recall that Bush the Lesser wanted Bernie to head up Homeland Security. (And in a side note to some Guilani fans on my friendslist, Bernie is the avatar of much about why I'm not as impressed with Rudy as you are.)
- Kudos to Barbara Boxer for sending climate change legislation to the full Senate even though committee Republicans thought they could bring the process to a halt by simply not showing up. Here's a hint: When you're sharing tactics with Radovan Karadzic, you're probably on the wrong track.
|
|
12:34 pm
[Link] |
A Samhain thought
I never stop being amazed and amused at the movement among certain Christian churches to "depaganize" Samhain by emphasizing the All Hallows Eve festivities as a "harvest festival."
Tell the truth, now... there's some Wiccan version of Crank Yankers who called them all up and whispered it in their ear, yes?
|
|
11:58 am
[Link] |
Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes.
Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes.
Here's Sepultura covering U2.
|
|
12:55 pm
[Link] |
Reality Check
The attack that occurred eight years ago today was a tragedy, and it is entirely fitting and proper to commemorate the day and those who died upon it -- even if I no longer feel the need to participate in such activities.
An image of Kurt Cobain being a fully unlocked character in Guitar Hero, rather than only being able to play Nirvana songs, is not.
|
|
07:34 pm
[Link] |
Stuff.
Department of Small Victories for Humanity
Antioch College will be back in business as of midnight tonight, with the "keys" transferred from the University Board of "Trustees" who tried to kill it to the Alumni organization that raised the cold, hard cash to save it, as well as the spectre of drastic funding shortfalls to the University should the Bo"T" not play ball.
That is what they taught us to do at the Antioch I went to. Someone should really have known better.
Department of Gah
I'm writing this from the Detroit airport, waiting for my flight home. Bone tired, I am, but I realized that for the first time in my life I'll be in airports enough that it makes sense to pay the $10/month to Boingo for the network access.
It boggles the mind that there are people who have lived this lifestyle literally from the day they graduated college and consider it a fulfilling and satisfying career. It boggles me even more that many of these people have spouses and children.
Several other things boggle me, but I'm not at liberty to discuss them here.
Department of Republican MoveOn Fail
They've won the support of the all-important cannibal vote??? (I'm too tired to hunt up the reference, google "town hall bit his finger off" and you should see what I mean.)
[ETA: My thanks to docstrange for pointing out that I had misunderstood which side of things had the anklefingerbiter. I can only plead exhaustion.]
|
|
11:50 pm
[Link] |
Semi-online
I'm going to be very short on time for the rest of the year. I'll be scanning LJ at best. If you have something that you want to bring to my attention, best bet is to e-mail me.
|
|
10:36 am
[Link] |
Plug for The Age of Pisces
Raymond Rubye is one of my oldest friends. He's got a book out, The Age of Pisces. I'm still waiting for my copy, but let me suggest y'all give it a try.
|
|
10:29 am
[Link] |
Sadness
Hail and Fare Well, Senator Kennedy.
|
|
10:16 am
[Link] |
Happiness
This isn't only a place for me to bitch, there's nice things going on, too!
- My Grandmother is now receiving pet therapy. Gus the therapy dog rocks.
- I want to plug the Candlewoods Suites West Reading. Yesterday, I was contacted by the hotel because they had overbooked. That's not good, but these things happen. What's good is that Heather, their representative, acknowledged the error as entirely theirs and made good on it by offering to pay for my stay at another hotel in the area, plus a complimentary stay at their hotel the next time I come down. This required the specific approval of the hotel's general manager, Iris. I'd have been satisfied with the complimentary booking into the overflow hotel, the additional offer was above and beyond.
Better still, Iris called me back later to let me know that there had been a cancellation, and that I had a room waiting for me. And I still have a free upgrade on my next stay.
This is service. This is professionalism. This is all too rare, and it merits notice and compliment. I'll be writing to Candlewood's management to let them know they have a winning team here, but I want readers of my blog to know that if your travel takes you to the Reading area, you can certainly do far worse than to stay here.
Believe me, I have.
 |
|
07:43 pm
[Link] |
Health Updates
My Grandmother has had a full recovery from her stroke. After physical therapy, the expectation is that she will be in better condition than before the stroke. I would like to take this moment to thank the Gods and each one of you who sent what it is you sent.
My cat is entering renal failure. The good news is that we caught it early, and that means we can minimize the damage. We're now giving him subcutaneous electrolytes as needed. I would like to take this moment to thank jadegirl for a sharp eye on Zazen and good sense on when it's time to go to the overnight vet ER.
|
|
08:19 pm
[Link] |
Signal Boost
I've long appreciated Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, the first Western woman to be acknowledged as a reincarnate lama. icarusancalion has made a number of attacks on her, which she now recants. She asks people to link to it, so I'm boosting the signal.
|
01:39 am
[Link] |
Grandma update
My Grandmother responded well to the medication. There appears to be no damage to the language centers, and lost motion on her left side seems to have returned with good strength. She is in good spirits and talking.
As of today, she has been transferred from ICU to a rehab service two days earlier than expected. It's not clear how long she'll be there, but afterwards she'll be going home.
My deep thanks to everyone who wrote, thought, prayed, and magicked on this matter.
|
|
07:40 pm
[Link] |
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to my former co-spouse, starstraf!!!
|
07:33 pm
[Link] |
Mazel Tov, Rabbi!!!
Many years ago, it was my honor to be the first person to be Bar Mitzvah'd by a female Rabbi holding the senior position at a Temple. (Leah Kroll, above right.)
Rabbi Alysa Stanton will serve as Rabbi at Congregation Bayt Shalom in Greenville, NC. is the first African American female Rabbi. To get there, she's had to overcome anti-Semitism in the African American community and racism in the Jewish community. She is serving as Rabbi for Congreation Bayt Shalom in North Carolina.
Mazel Tov!
|
|
01:14 am
[Link] |
Regarding the current health care debate...
OK, it's time to deal on the deplorable state of health care in America.
Today, my Grandmother had a stroke. She was standing and fell. Because she has a live-in nurse at her retirement community who happened to be literally standing next to her, she was caught before she hit the ground and spared the complication of broken bones. Because she has a live-in nurse at her retirement community who happened to be literally standing next to her, she was brought to a hospital and admitted in a sufficiently timely manner to administer a medication that has a chance of undoing the clot and minimizing any damage, but only if it's administered within 3 hours of the stroke.
This is as it should be. This is how health care should function. However, this good and proper outcome is my Grandmother's outcome because my family is a perfect storm of privilege. My Grandmother has enough money to be in a nursing home and have a live-in nurse. Enough money to live someplace where she could be rushed to a hospital that administers tPA. My Uncle R. has a job at which he can tell his boss, "My mother's just had a stroke, I'm going to the hospital now" without having to worry about whether or not he'll have a job to come back to. My father is a physician with his finger on the pulse on damn near every drug that comes out even now that he's mostly retired, and was able to make a fast judgment about administering this drug. My Grandmother has enough money to either afford insurance that covers this drug or to pay for it out of pocket.
Some people freak out at the "P" word, so let me clear: I do not feel the least bit guilty that my Grandmother was able to get that treatment, or that there is a good chance that I will get that treatment if I -- Gods forbid -- ever have a stroke.
The outrage is that the woman who caught my Grandmother as she fell, who might very well not have health insurance in the first place, would probably not be able to get a tPA administered if it were her going into the hospital.[1] My father-in-law, who does have medicare, would have about 1 chance in 50 of getting it if he -- Gods forbid -- had a stroke. My mother-in-law, who is too young for medicare yet and was arbitrarily dropped from my father-in-law's pension-provided insurance would have about a 0 chance in 50 of getting it.
It doesn't have to be that way, and there is no excuse for it being that way.
[1] Most U.S. hospitals don’t provide powerful acute stroke drug to Medicare patients
|
|
08:51 pm
[Link] |
Nothing prepares you...
The bad news is that my Grandmother is in the hospital. The good news is that she is responding well to treatment, and a quick response is better in both the short and long terms than a slow one, or none.
I've spent years preparing for this -- she's 93, her health has been declining steadily, and I've been through this three times with my other grandparents. It turns out preparation only gets you so far.
Please send good thoughts and energy for whatever outcome is best for her.
|
|
01:08 am
[Link] |
Save The Date: Be Present National Conference on Race, Gender, Power, & Class
Calling women, men and transgender people of all ages who are ready to learn innovative ways to explore the issues of race, gender, power and class are invited to join us in a community of practice...
BE PRESENT NATIONAL CONFERENCE on
RACE, GENDER, POWER & CLASS
This Conference builds upon an 18-month quarterly facilitators' training where 22 people of all ages, races, and backgrounds came together to ask -- and answer -- some of the biggest questions facing every single one of us: Who am I in the world? How am I personally affected by my daily experiences of race, gender, power, and class? And how can I work collectively for social justice and systemic change?
Please join us on March 4-7, 2010 in creating an open forum in which to bring yourself, your voice, and your life to bear on these critical issues that affect every one of us so deeply. Together, we will share best practices on how to use the Be Present Empowerment Model (R) to transform ourselves, our workplaces, our organizations, and communities.
Register now!
For More Information or to Reserve Your Space Call the Be Present Office 404-296-4000
e-mail info@bepresent.org
website: www.bepresent.org
|
|
07:13 pm
[Link] |
Regarding the latest Republican whining on health care.
Now we're supposed to hold off on health care, leting more people lose coverage, postpone treatment and die literally every day that we do so, because the Republicans say they want to put up their own plan?
They seem to have forgotten who controlled the government from 2002-2006; to say nothing of who controlled congress from 1992 to 1996. Or they want you to. Read the paper, you're looking at the Republican health care plan. If they had any intention at all of putting anything else on the table worth considering, they had plenty of time to do so.
|
[<< Previous 20 entries] |
