Although I’m less then 5 minutes from the heart of the RNC action, and up until last month I would have been living in the middle of it - I just can’t tear myself away and go over there. As much as I wanted to document it all - my respect and loathing for the police is just to great.
I’ve been an ACLU spotter for a long time, I’ve been arrested in Illinois and WIsconsin multiple times. But I just couldn’t do it here. To much on the line these days.
But I highly recommend spotting once if you’ve never done it. You go where the protesters are, hand out ACLU information, and ’spot’ arrests and call the ACLU legal team to let them know what’s going down.
It can be rough, and you can be swept up with the fray, but at the end of the day, you do feel really good about making a difference.
Curious as to what kind of character Senator Barack Obama has? Listen to what Bill Richardson has to say.1
“I had just been asked a question — I don’t remember which one — and Obama was sitting right next to me. Then the moderator went across the room, I think to Chris Dodd, so I thought I was home free for a while. I wasn’t going to listen to the next question. I was about to say something to Obama when the moderator turned to me and said, ‘So, Gov. Richardson, what do you think of that?’ But I wasn’t paying any attention! I was about to say, ‘Could you repeat the question? I wasn’t listening.’ But I wasn’t about to say I wasn’t listening. I looked at Obama. I was just horrified. And Obama whispered, ‘Katrina. Katrina.’ The question was on Katrina! So I said, ‘On Katrina, my policy . . .’ Obama could have just thrown me under the bus. So I said, ‘Obama, that was good of you to do that.’”
One of the most fascinating sites I’ve found lately is Political Compass. Political Compass is one of many sites out there that tries to help you find which way you lean, but it does so with a twist.
The traditional left wing/right wing line is essentially based around economics. Political Compass adds another line to show the social dimension.
The test takes about 5 minutes, and is comprised of 6 pages of Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree questions. And they aren’t always black or white in nature.
A lot of the statements are things I’ve never read before, or really thought about. Such as “People with serious inheritable disabilities should not be allowed to reproduce.” and “In a civilised society, one must always have people above to be obeyed and people below to be commanded.“. While still other questions are almost tricky in nature, like “It is a waste of time to try to rehabilitate some criminals.” and “In a civilised society, one must always have people above to be obeyed and people below to be commanded.“. And still others which I see as being black and white easy answers, such as “Making peace with the establishment is an important aspect of maturity.”1 and “What goes on in a private bedroom between consenting adults is no business of the state.”2.
I took the test, and if you read on, you’ll get to see my results and where I fit in. Let’s just say I wasn’t all that surprised.
I must admit, when I first saw the headline I had assumed it was in the US. Here’s the article. I’m all for stopping terrorism, but this is an absolute outrage.
A 23-year-old former Heathrow shop assistant who called herself the “lyrical terrorist” and scrawled her extremist thoughts on till receipts has been handed a nine-month suspended jail sentence.
Samina Malik became the first woman convicted under new terrorism legislation after writing poems entitled How To Behead and The Living Martyrs.
The third to last taping of “In The Loop” happened yesterday - once again to another packed audience. So packed that we had turn several people away - I think it’s catching on!
The topic, quite timely mind you, was Flip Flopping. While based mainly on the current political flip flopping (Oh, hi Mr. Romney) it also covered personal flip flopping and when a flip flop can be good - including the ex-Catholic father whose entire life was changed when he left his small home town and went to college, and about a large and ‘evil’ corporation doing a few things that aren’t quite so evil.
The music was phenomenal as always, if not more so. The Smarts departed from their usual jazzy tunes and delved into the realm of Ska and the host Jeff Horwich even did some rapping.
Haven’t been to “In The Loop” yet? You’re seriously missing out! Dubbed the Prairie Home Companion for the Gen X crowd, it thrives on listener participation - each show is comprised of your ideas and features your words. The buzz is getting around, and you really should read the Loophole, the In The Loop blog and RSVP for one (or both) of the 2 remaining shows for this season. Feel like getting more involved? Join the insight network and get invites to our round table discussions where we tightly focus on topics and get your input and anecdotes.
And as usual, here are a few shots from the show - or check them out over at Flickr.
Come June 26th, I’ll be in Washington D.C. to help lobby the restoration of Habeas Corpus. Want to help fight? You can too - and the transportation is on ACLU.
Tonight though, I think it’s time for a new tattoo!
