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Bye-bye Bad Bush, Hello Obama!
2009-01-17 18:16:00
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Say Good-bye to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy for Gays in the US Milit
2009-01-15 15:59:00
Once upon a time, there was a new president. He felt unsure of his powers. He worried about getting mired in a problem that might become too big for him. He did not like the no gays in the military thing and knew in his heart of hearts that it was unfair. But did he dare make a stink about it? Nope. He caved. Well, a little. He and his team came up with a compromise. It became known as the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. If you were an officer in any of the U.S. armed services, you were not allowed to ask another service member about sexual orientation. If you were gay, you were silenced. If it became known you were gay, you'd get the steel-toed boot. Ugh.Thus, by a roundabout way, gay service men and women were allowed entree. It was a big improvement over the longstanding ban on gays in the military, but it was a fuzzy policy at best. That president was Bill Clinton, and the year was 1993.Fast forward to today. New president coming in, one who is blessedly realistic about the m...
More About: Policy , Gays , Good

Gay Rights Leader & Bishop, Gene Robinson, to Recite Inauguration Prayer
2009-01-12 20:10:00
After much ado about Obama's stinky pick of anti-gay pastor Rick Warren to conduct the Inauguration invocation, Obama did the yin-yang thing. He chose a renowned gay bishop, Gene Robinson , to perform the Inauguration opening prayer.My first thought was, oh, Obama is throwing crumbs to the LGBT community. But on second thought, you know what? I'll take the crumbs, however they may come. At least Obama made the effort. Put on a little lipstick before heading out the door. I'll take it. In fact, I feel downright jubilant about it. So I wanted to find out more about Bishop Robinson. Here's a quickie run-down:His parents were poor tenant farmers in KentuckyHe was severely ill and partially paralyzed at birth, but overcame his disabilitiesHe was married to a woman and then ordained an Episcopal priest shortly thereafterHe has two daughters, with whom he is closeHe and his wife divorced, but remain good friendsHe has been with his current partner, Mark Andrew (whom he later married), f...
More About: Rights , Prayer , Gay Rights

Renowned Sculptor, Robert Graham, Beloved Husband of Anjelica Huston, Dies
2009-01-08 17:17:00
Robert Graham , Mexican born sculptor, whose work graces public spaces from Central Park, Detroit, Missouri, to Washington, D.C., was memorialized in L.A. yesterday. Graham was married to actor, Anjelica Huston, where they lived happily together at Venice Beach, California.When Graham's death, at age 70, was announced last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he and his wife, Maria Shriver, were "deeply saddened." Attendees at the funeral included family friends, Sharon Stone, Harrison Ford, and Jack Nicholson.[Above left: Graham's sculpture of Frankin Delano Roosevelt at the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C.Below: Charlie "Bird" Parker sculpture at the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, Missouri]Artist Robert Graham's Website
More About: Celebrities , Robert , Husband , Dies

Eight U.S. Citizens and One Foreign National Kicked off Plane. Their Crime?
2009-01-02 14:00:00
Update: AirTran apologized, 01/03. Just when things look litigious, they belatedly cough up an "I'm sorry."Three kids, ages seven, four, and two. An anesthesiologist. A lawyer. Mothers. Nine people total were forcibly removed from an AirTran flight from Washington, D.C. to Orlando, Florida yesterday. What did they do to deserve such treatment? Talk about bombs? That's one taboo subject that will get anyone the boot from an airplane. Threaten the pilot or flight crew? Heck, no. This family did the same thing you and I have done over the course of our many hours of flight time on airplanes. They discussed which seats were safer. And they appeared to be Muslim.I can tell you honestly, my husband and I have had the same kind of conversation numerous times. Well, if you sit in the rear, you are more likely to survive a catastrophe. No, if you sit close to the jets, you'll do better. And on, and on. Who hasn't speculated about these things? Normal conversation and part of the patter o...
More About: National , Crime , World Cultures , Foreign , Plane

Good-bye, 2008 and Bring on the Happy Baby of 2009
2008-12-31 16:21:00
Good-bye, Republican administration that administrated Hell across the world, from Iraq to polar bearsGood-bye greedy Wall Street companies that milked Main Street like a cash cowGood-bye despairHello, HopeMay 2009 bring us much to be grateful forWishing you and yours a peaceful and healthy 2009[Photo: My daughter, Jaclyn, when she was six months old]
More About: Personal , Baby , Happy , Good , 2008

Merry Chrismas from Tumerica and Her Family
2008-12-24 19:26:00
Artwork by my five-year-old daughter.
More About: Family , Merry

A Cappella Christmas Cheer
2008-12-22 22:27:00
This will cheer you up if nothing else will . . . the famous a cappella group, Straight No Chaser, singing a mashed-up 12 Days of Christmas . Brilliant! And safe for work.
More About: Personal , Cheer

Our 2008 Christmas Tree: Harbinger of our Financial Outlook
2008-12-17 22:14:00
As my hubby brought in and stood our new Christmas tree in the living room, it dawned on me?our tree, as in so many years past, perfectly symbolizes our financial outlook. This year, it's slightly crooked, has some holes in it, is ungrounded, and definitely humble. On the other hand, it's a lush, healthy green, and it optimistically smells like a pine forest and is covered with the most brilliant and fun, mostly handmade ornaments. Could be worse, really.Now where is YOUR tree this year?
More About: Personal , Outlook , Financial , Tree

This Shoe is for Bush
2008-12-17 19:32:00
When mere words cannot express . . .
More About: Bush , Anti-War , Progressive Politics , Shoe

Christmas Party Fancy Apparel
2008-12-15 20:15:00
Ta-da! Here I am in my fabulous 1950s vintage holiday dress (thanks to eBay, it cost a whopping $18.50), and my $50 sparkly shoes. The black, beaded handbag is also vintage, and cost around $20--also on eBay. When you troll eBay for bargain party clothing, don't forget to check for vintage--you can get a LOT for your money and get a look no one else will have. (I usually buy one holiday dress each Christmas , and wear it to every party I go to. This one is a keeper, though.)
More About: Personal , Party , Apparel , Christmas party

"This Is a Goodbye Kiss, You Dog!"
2008-12-15 01:56:00
Who among us has not wanted to do the same thing? Lob a gratifying dirty shoe at the President of the United States of America? Surprisingly, Bush turns out to be a good dodge (or maybe not surprisingly--he has loads of dodging experience, doesn't he?). Still, mighty embarrassing for the POTUS to get snubbed by the leaders of foreign nations one month, and shoe-whacked the next. Even if you've seen this before, it's fun to watch it again.
More About: Kiss , Progressive Politics , Goodbye

Rest in Peace, Betty Page
2008-12-12 18:50:00
The gorgeous goddess of pin?up has passed away today at age 85. Her look inspired millions and she became a cult legend, starting in the 1950s. Page was a pioneer of her time, and was photographed in her prime by thousands of amateur photobugs, taking 10s of thousands of black-and-white photos of her. Said painter Olivia de Berardinis, who painted portraits of Page,There was a passion play unfolding in her mind. What some see as a bad-girl image was in fact a certain sensual freedom and play-acting - it was part of the fun of being a woman.Bless you, Betty . We will miss you.
More About: Peace , Rest In Peace , Celebrities

The Opposite of Manglish: Asian Text as Art Background That Might Bite
2008-12-10 16:28:00
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More About: Language , World Cultures , Text , Asian , Background

What's Sexy in a Man
2008-11-18 19:25:00
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Top Ten Best Ways to Annoy a Brit
2008-11-10 16:09:00
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National Hope Day!
2008-11-05 17:43:00
Let's declare today, November 5, 2008, as National Hope Day. The day when we threw off the old, scary, dare I say evil cloak of the past eight years, and look toward a future of hope and betterment. For the United States. For the world. Nation Hope Day. Hurray!
More About: Election 2008

Elizabeth Dole Loses Her Seat in NC: Smear Tactics Cause Backlash
2008-11-05 02:35:00
Elizabeth Dole, long a favorite pol in North Carolina, my home state, ran a senatorial campaign as dirty and smear-ridden as McCain's. She got burned by it, though, as North Carolinians voted in her challenger Kay Hagan, revolting against the dreadful "Godless" campaign ads. Hurray!
More About: Tactics , Seat , Elizabeth Dole , Election 2008 , Elizabeth

"Obama Wins!" Declares The Sun News
2008-10-29 19:55:00
Let me be the first to congratulate Sen. Barack Obama on his hard-fought victory in the United States presidential election for 2008. I know it must be okay to do so preemptively because Obama has been declared the victor by The New Mexico Sun News , a bi-weekly news source (that you have never heard of?but still . . .) whose next published issue is due out three days after the election. The editors had to decide for the current issue?jump the gun and risk being wrong about the election results, or be squashed flat by timing. After hearty research and deliberation, they have become the first official print publication to declare Sen. Obama's victory. Three cheers for Obama and for the editors of The Sun News. May their bold prediction become a reality.
More About: Election 2008 , Wins

Palin's Buddy and Co-conspirator Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens Guilty on All Coun
2008-10-27 23:52:00
40 years in the U.S. Senate could corrupt just about anyone, but in this case the corruptee still insists he is innocent. Alaska GOP Senator Ted Stevens was convicted of all seven corruption charges against him and is now classified as a felon. Despite that, like Florida Rep. Mark Foley (still under "investigation" for child predation, despite being caught in the act) and Idaho Sen. Larry Craig (convicted of sexual solicitation), these gentleman are eligible to simply return to their jobs and get back to work on their projects of defrauding, predating and soliciting. Couldn't there be a law that those who are elected to make the law should abide by it or risk AT LEAST losing their much coveted jobs?Back to Alaska, Gov. Sarah Palin made her name politically by running Sen. Stevens' 527 corporate fundraising group back in 2005, he did quid pro quo by helping her during her run for governor, and they made a commercial together of his endorsement of her for the 2006 race. She won, in ...
More About: Progressive Politics , Buddy , Election 2008

Steal Back Your Vote Posts a Nifty Comic Book You Can Have and Give Away
2008-10-24 19:03:00
Award-winning investigative columnist Greg Palast has teamed up with Robert Kennedy Jr. to create the site StealBack YourVote .org, and produced this nifty comic book on the same topic. You can drop by their site to make a donation and you can share this comic book with folks who might be feeling disenfranchised by the obstacle course that is the current Byzantine voting system in the USA, circa 2008. But whatever you do, make sure you vote and that you encourage and enable others to vote, too. Remember, Neo-Cons hate it when we vote. The more voters who vote, the more Democrats get elected.
More About: Comic , Book , Progressive Politics

"Palin Is a Little Trigger Happy. I Should Know."
2008-10-24 00:56:00
This new ad by MoveOn.org kicks Palin's scrawny butt.
More About: Happy , Progressive Politics , Election 2008

Tumerica and the Tiger
2008-10-23 18:36:00
A tiger and I pose together at the Crocodile farm, outside Bangkok, Thailand, in the late 1980s. I liked the tiger and tried to pet it. The handlers said, "No."
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Homelessness a Growing Problem in Lock Step with the Sinking Economy
2008-10-21 22:21:00
Normal 0 false false false st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} What does a homeless person look like? It may not be what you think: · 39% of all homeless people are under the age of 18 · 42% of homeless children are under the age of five · Families with children make up 33% of the homeless · Homelessness is mostly caused by poverty and lack of affordable housing, with substance abuse or mental illness making up much smaller percentages · About 50 percent of the ...
More About: Economy , Progressive Politics , Problem , Growing , Step

If Dems Ruled the USA
2008-10-17 18:35:00
This quote was so choice, so juicy, so life-affirming, I had to share it with you. It is political columnist, Robert L. Borosage's answer to the question, "What will happen if there is a Democratic president and a Democratic-controlled House and Senate?""Voters will be registered. Workers organized. Banks regulated. Health care provided for all. Government investment will drive a green revolution that generates millions of jobs. The wealthy will pay more in taxes. Guantanamo will be shut down; torture will end. Net neutrality will be mandated. Citizens may even be able to sue corporations that negligently do them harm. And that doesn't even mention ending the war in Iraq."Scary, huh? How will big-business survive without it's vampires?
More About: Progressive Politics , Election 2008

Fresh Debate Voices at C-SPAN's Debate Hub
2008-10-16 16:14:00
Where do you go for the freshest blogging about the Debate s ? Why C-SPAN online's Debate Hub. You can find any choice quote from the entire series of debates. Plus, what is really being said by bloggers all over. And hey, Tumerica is there, too.CNN's Debate Hub
More About: Election 2008 , Fresh

Live-blogging the Domestic Policy Debate in NY: Joe the Plumber
2008-10-16 04:00:00
[Photo at left shows the actual Joe the Plumber, referred to throughout the debate.]Like the format with both debaters seated and fairly close to each other, talk-show style, almostMcCain said his first congenial utterance over the microphone to Obama, "Good to see you again." He also maintained eye contact. Clearly, he's been reprimanded for his contempt-laden body-languageMcCain said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac caused the bad housing market. Either he has bad information, or he had a senior momentObama said tax breaks for those making $200K or more--he meant to say $250K or moreObama said our energy policy gives our wealth away. Wish he would expand on that. Surely he's referring to oil.McCain brought up the "Joe the Plumber" reference to make Obama look heartless, but Joe the Plumber, who would get taxed under Obama's plan, would have to be making $250K a year. Would he be more correctly labeled, "Joseph, the Plumbing Business Owner, Who Makes Good Money"? Not a great example.T...
More About: Debates , Blogging , Debate , Domestic , Policy

Nobel Prize-Winner, Paul Krugman: An Economic Prophet
2008-10-13 15:28:00
Paul Krugman, much-loved liberal blogger, economist at Princeton, columnist for The New York Times, author, and now, Nobel prize-winner for economics, clear-sightedly predicted our current market meltdown. Writing in mid-2005,"The U.S. economy is currently suffering from twin imbalances. On one side, domestic spending is swollen by the housing bubble, which has led both to a huge surge in construction and to high consumer spending, as people extract equity from their homes. On the other side, we have a huge trade deficit, which we cover by selling bonds to foreigners. As I like to say, these days Americans make a living by selling each other houses, paid for with money borrowed from China.One way or another, the economy will eventually eliminate both imbalances."Congratulations to Dr. Krugman and would that we had all listened to him and acted on his warnings sooner.
More About: Prophet , Paul Krugman , Paul , Winner , Economic

Do You Want President Palin? If Not, Let's Talk McCain's Age
2008-10-11 14:51:00
By age, John McCain has a one in seven chance of dying in office. I repeat, one in seven. Actually, as we all know, his chances are worse than that: as a former POW, who had suffered years of poor nutrition and lack of medical care during his internment, his odds must be worse. According to Bob Burnett of the Smirking Chimp, McCain,has survived several plane crashes and skin cancer. His paternal grandfather died of a heart attack at age 61 and his father succumbed at age 70. But hold on just a second, it gets worse: Given his health history, there's a significant possibility McCain will suffer a debilitating stroke in office. Writing in "Free Ride: John McCain and the Media," David Brock and Paul Waldman document McCain's explosive temper. Recently, observers have noted his erratic conduct on the campaign trail. CNN reporter Jack McCafferty observed: "[McCain] no longer allows reporters unfettered access to him aboard the "Straight Talk Express" for a reason. He simply makes too m...
More About: President , Progressive Politics , Election 2008

Tumerica on Vacation in the Mountains of North Carolina
2008-10-09 23:42:00
Hello, from Tumerica. I'm perched in a treehouse-like house on stilts, four stories suspended over the road, deep in the mountains of western North Carolina . The leaves are just beginning to turn colors. The air is crispy and the mountains so green and three dimensional, as they come toward you, you feel yourself flying through them, as though aiming for the puffy clouds and gorgeous blue sky. As Wordsworth said,My heart leaps up when I beholdA rainbow in the skySo was it when my life beganSo is it now I am a manSo be it when I shall grow oldOr let me die!The child is father of the manAnd I could wish my days to beBound each to each by natural piety.May your days be bound each to each by natural piety, too. Living as I do in the central coast of California, coming to western NC, where the pace is slower and easier, I have to remind myself, breathe, just breathe and be present. I did live-blog the debate this week, and will do so with the final debate, but you will notice not much ...
More About: Personal , Mountains , Vacation