Meet Bill Owens

Fishing on the Farmington
Pleasant Valley, CT - Two boys fishing on the Farmington River
by Bill Owens

Meet Bill Owens

I'd like to introduce you to Bill Owens, whose blog I luckily stumbled upon while blog-surfing.

I think he's a gifted photographer and a marvelous tour guide. At his New England Photo Blog, he takes you on a trip with him through many New England towns.

Bill's only been blogging for a short while, and I expect we'll see and hear about many more of his Yankee travels in the future.

Welcome to the blogosphere, Bill!

I especially appreciated his photo of abolitionist John Brown's birthplace, which is in Torrington, Ct. As David would tell you, I am fascinated with the tale of John Brown. David took me to the courthouse where John Brown was tried in Charles Town, West Virginia. We also visited Harper's Ferry, where the infamous raid on the armory took place. (my Harper's Ferry photo) Sometime between Jan. 27 and Feb. 16, 1857, John Brown had traveled to my own city of Syracuse trying to raise money for his cause.

Many times, I have made the trip to John Brown's farm (and site of his grave) in the Adirondack Mountain town of North Elba, N.Y. Adirondack singer/songwriter Peggy Eyres wrote a song about Mary Brown, the wife of John Brown. Eyres wrote in her recording "Cloudsplitter's" liner notes:

"As usual, history barely mentions his wife Mary, who was equally devoted to the freedom of the slaves. So when {historian} Monica McGaughey gave me her research, including a couple of Mary's letters, I jumped at the challenge to give voice to another Adirondack woman."

Cloudsplitter was also the title of the Russell Banks novel based upon the life and times of John Brown.

John Sears

This is a photo I took of John Sears and Charlie Daniels.
John took a photo of me with Charlie, too - I'll have to dig it out of my piles of pictures.
Why am I posting it now?
John had something very unusual happen to him last week here in Syracuse.
Very unusual.
Congrats on your 15 minutes of fame, John. ;)

Found the picture- -

Headlines

Headlines


In Tombstone....
photo by Jude Nagurney Camwell

There are vigilantes who recently converged upon Tombstone, Arizona, and I'm afraid they're going to hurt a lot of innocent people. We are a nations of laws. We forgot the rule of law in the recent Schiavo case because of high emotions, and I see this vigilante case as the same thing. Citizens taking it upon themselves to administer law and justice with high emotion should be unacceptable to law enforcement officials in Arizona state. Innocent folks are going to be hurt.


photo by Jude Nagurney Camwell

This isn't nineteenth century Wyatt Earp-ville - this is the United States of America.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IHT Online: Abu Ghraib Gets Hit Again

MSNBC: A group of moderate Republicans hold the fate of President Bush’s judicial nominees in their hands. Some GOP senators appear to be hesitant about supporting the nuclear option - doing away with the Senate filibuster for judicial nominees - knowing it could be used against them in the future. GOP Sens. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, John McCain of Arizona, Olympia Snowe of Maine, John Warner of Virginia and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island have either said they oppose changing the rules or have declined to promise to support the change.


From MoveOn.org: $82 billion more for Iraq? Demand an exit strategy.

"Congress must insist that America have an exit strategy from Iraq with a timeline, that we do not construct permanent bases and that we end war profiteering by corporations."

Impeachment Ahead for Schiavo Judges?

The House majority leader, Rep. Tom DeLay, blamed Terri Schiavo's death on judges who refused to order her kept alive, and said he would consider bringing impeachment proceedings against judges involved in the case. His comments drew scorn from Senator Kennedy, a Democrat of Massachusetts who accused Republicans of assaulting the independence of the judiciary. He suggested DeLay's commentscould lead to violence against judges. DeLay signaled yesterday that the battle was not over.
(Full Story -
http://www.cwa-cope.org/news/e-Politics/050404.asp#Impeachment)


Guide to DeLay Scandals

Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), the man Republicans have chosen as their Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, is at the center of a bewildering array of investigations into corruption, abuse of power, and ethics violations. As the courts and committees investigate DeLay's misdeeds and hand down indictments, keeping track of all the scandals can be a full-time job. So we thought it would helpful to offer folks this quick and easy guide.
(Full List of Scandals -
http://www.cwa-cope.org/news/e-Politics/050404.asp#Guide)


Lebanon bombings stir up anxiety not felt since war (Star Tribune)

Syria, Iran stress stability in Lebanon

Syrian Foreign Minister, Farouk Al-Share, and his visiting Iranian counterpart, Kamal Kharrazi, have agreed that security and stability must be maintained in Lebanon. The two foreign ministers also said during talks that the factions in Lebanon must reach national reconciliation to resist interference from outside forces, before it can over come the current crisis.Kharrazi said after the talks that the present situation in the Middle East is worrisome, as some political forces try to capitalize on the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Do It Again

"All of the Edwards supporters are hoping he’ll do it again."
- Joy Lowe, 76, of Waterloo, Iowa

-----------------------

"I think what most people are looking for in leaders in this country is strength, conviction and a core set of beliefs that the leader is passionate about. They want to know what drives you every day; what you get up believing in and fighting for. People who are arguing that the Democratic Party has somehow lost its way and doesn't know what it believes or stands for and that the solution is changing and nuancing our positions - I think those people are probably dead wrong.

I think we should stand up and fight for the things that we believe in. That's where we show strength."

- John Edwards in an Iowa Press Interview

In Wisconsin:

In Wisconsin, John Edwards Sees How Madison Helps Its Poor . He told Wisconsinites that alleviating poverty is his priority. He said, "My belief is that it says a lot about the character of a country as to how they treat those who are struggling." The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel pressed him about Election 2008 and missed an opportunity to speak at length with Edwards about the issue for which he is fighting - which is Poverty.

In Iowa:

There are video, audio, and transcript versions of John Edwards' interview with the Iowa Press. The interview lasts 28 minutes.

Video: Iowa Press [iptv.org]

Audio: Audio Interview [iptv.org]

Transcript: Interview Transcript [iptv.org]

In Maryland

Edwards in Maryland

The Window

The Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.



As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

Loss

When the heart grieves over what is has lost, the spirit rejoices over what it has left.

- A Sufi Epigram

I am lately facing a lot of loss in my personal life.
Dealing with it is not easy, and I know we must all face loss at some time in our lives. In order to care for others, we have to have experienced the pain of loss ourselves. It helps to know I am not alone. I treasure the friends and loved ones who've been there for me. I suppose you can find meaning and purpose in almost any experience, even when it's the bitter disappointment and sadness that comes with loss.

That's what I like about the quote above. The human spirit should never be overcome by even the deepest grief. Something, even the smallest of things, always remains for which we can hope. I suppose I'm telling you this because I'm hanging on to the hope for the glimmer of those smallest miracles myself. Perhaps someone landing here, whether intended or by chance, will be in need and will take heart from having read these simple words.

Billy's First Blogging Poet Laureate Election

Billy's First Blogging Poet Laureate Election

Billy the Blogging Poet wonders, if we live in a democracy, why can't we elect a Poet Laureate? Well, thanks to Billy, now we can. Go to the link and find the World's First Blogging Poet Laureate nominees!

The nominations thus-far, for the World’s First, Blogging Poet Laureate are listed below:

- Anitha Murthy of Creative Stuff

- Jordan Stempleman of Growing Nation

- Reyes Cardenas of Alivianate El Coco

- Augury Doggerel of Eeksy-Peeksy

- Jack Kimbal of Pantaloons: Tykes on Poetry

- Mr. Sun of Mr. Sun - Billly's only question is how will we ever get a photograph of him wearing the Laureate's Crown?

As others find out about the election, Billy says he's sure the list will continue to grow so please check back often so you can make up your mind by the time voting begins on April 30th. Bloggers, if you want to link to this contest then please link here.

I saw it in the sky

I saw it in the sky

I saw this in the sky yesterday.
Is it anything? Just a cloud?
I don't know.
I do know that death has come to visit Pope John Paul.
Perhaps I caught death's angel on his way to Rome.


See blogJosh on the death of the Pope from one individual perspective: Blogging the Death of the Pope.

Anonymoses bids the gentle angels to cradle him home.

Congratulations, Illinois!

Congratulations, Illinois!

My Dad and Benny will be ecstatic!

Bora on Regressive Politics

Bora on Regressive Politics

There are times we have to take a step back and look at ourselves in a different light..through someone else's eyes. We are not being untrue to ourselves by taking such action, for it is in the hope of examining ourselves for the goal of improvement. We must see our democracy in the same light, for we are the people who are represented in the halls of Congress. Taking a step outside our geographic isolation to listen to the views of well-educated people who have spent a good part of their lives in other lands is one of the best ways to improve the health of democracy and the protection of our own natural freedom.

Bora aka Coturnix has compared Bush to Milosevic in the past, but he now says he thinks Bush may be more dangerous than Milosevic because of a growing atmosphere of anti-intellectualism and miseducation in the U.S. He comments that he saw a quick slide into fascism and civil war in his native country (once Yugoslavia), where he says, "if you go to a dim smoky bar and sit next to a local drunk, he is likely to have a book with him." He thinks it can happen even more quickly here because "the Right is unified in many ways: politically, financially and emotionally." His post is well worth the time to read.
See my own post on the "F-Word".

Another post I recommend by Coturnix is a question about what we should call Republicans, if we wish to accurately frame their political goals for America. His answer is to call them 'regressives', which he admits may "invoke the idea of developmental regression (i.e., something like a potty-trained child pooping in his pants again), or even retardation." (Great wording, Bora).

If the orthopedic shoe fits, why allow them wear it while telling you it's a priceless crystal slipper?

Dead Wrong

Dead Wrong

I was asked why I haven't commented on the WMD Commission report that shows that intelligence was "dead-wrong" on Iraq. I'll tell you why. We have known it all along. What I would like to know is when we'll see an official report examining the role of the White House, particularly Dick Cheney and his band of NeoCons, in massaging the data on WMD. The Commission's report did not deal with that subject matter at all.

Martisco Station

Martisco Station
by Jude Nagurney Camwell

"Train travel gives one time to think without the stress of making plane connections, weather and equipment delays.."

-Frank Romano, professor-emeritus of Rochester Institute of Technology

Women's List

Women's List

Someone e-mailed and asked me to point them in the direction of my list of women in political blogging.

Photo/Onondaga County Spring

Onondaga County Spring
by Jude Nagurney Camwell

Ted Koppel Leaving Nightline in December

Ted Koppel Leaving Nightline in December

He will be missed.
I really hope that John Donvan takes his place. A graduate of Columbia School of Journalism, he's been with Nightline for seven years and often substitutes for Ted. I think he's the best candidate for Ted's replacement.

Here's my vote!

Terri Schiavo's Body Has Died

Terri Schiavo's Body
Has Died

The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has aid that, despite fervent and sincere action on the part of the family of Terri Schiavo and Congress, "the time has come for dispassionate discharge of duty." The court has formally criticized certain politicians in Congress, saying they are "acting in a manner demonstrably at odds with our Founding Fathers' blueprint for the governance of a free people our Constitution."

It's all over now. Terri is dead. Her body has died. I'm not sure what became of the fullness of spirit she once possessed. No one does.

Terri's parents had wanted to care for Terri, as she existed after her heart failure which was brought on by an eating disorder. I believe, if they'd placed a great value upon the life she had left within her, quality notwithstanding, that Michael Schiavo should have agreed to somehow contract with the parents to let them take over all legal responsibility for their daughter's care. She wouldn't have lived forever, and she was not in any pain. The marriage vow that includes the contingencies "in sickness and in health" obviously didn't mean as much to Michael as it might have to other spouses in his position. He wanted to move on with his life, and I'm certainly not going to judge him for that. When it comes to the life or death of his wife, however, we were thrust into the judge's seat, weren't we? All eyes were upon Michael Schiavo. Most people I speak with do not trust that his motives are based in love. No one knows what's in a person's heart, though. I will say that his respect for Terri's family's wishes is not what I would view as particularly healthy or postive. I suppose you could say the same thing about the parents' respect for Schiavo's wishes, if you believe his motives were based on his caring for his wife's wishes.

The bottom line is this: You cannot expect that a court of law could force a family to agree with one another. That would eliminate our freedom to choose on family matters of life, death, and dignity, wouldn't it? The government does not belong in our houses and in our hearts.

This has been a great interpersonal tragedy for the family, but it should never have been made into a political show.

Michael Schiavo has never budged on the issue. The standing law is what it is. You cannot blame a judge or a court or a law for what the family could not work out amongst themselves.

We must not lose respect for the rule of law, through all of this. We are a nation of laws - not men or women.

Jon Stewart in Harvard Political Review

"If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane."
- Singer/Songwriter Jimmy Buffett

Jon Stewart in Harvard
Political Review

Perhaps mainstream media has been reduced to self-selecting choices based solely upon ideology. That would mean old-fashioned, balanced investigative journalism on cable networks is dead as a doornail and we are freely admitting it - and some of us have decided to laugh as long as we're getting a bit of news we think we want.

If you ask me, I'm glad Jon Stewart is there to wrap the insanity into a shitball of delight. I know a lot of young people out there agree with me. I don't know what we'd do without Stewart, Colbert, Corddry and crew.

In an article about Stewart in the current Harvard Political Review (HPR), Harvard professor of government Barry Burden comments:

"..in the last few years, with things like Fox News rising on the right, people are self-selecting into media outlets that are merely reinforcing their preexisting ideas. People are looking for facts, arguments or even humor that agree with what they thought ahead of time."

"It is ironic that satire offering criticism of politics has the power to get people politically involved. Perhaps there are some youth who are cynical about politics, not particularly informed, but still feeling some connection to what is going on, and are tuning into Comedy Central and are coming away a little less cynical and little more informed."

Julie Hinds of the Detroit Free Press has written a feature (Entertainment) article about Stewart. In it, she writes:

Stewart insists he had nothing to do with the fact that CNN announced plans to drop "Crossfire," the long-running show where conservatives yelled at liberals, from its schedule. (The show is still on the air.) In October, Stewart went on the show and told the co-hosts what he really thought: that scream fest political shows were hurting America. And he called co-host Tucker Carlson a, well, colorful name. Not too long afterward, the president of CNN told the press Stewart had a point.


"Look, as much as these guys talk, if Pol Pot's talk show was doing really well in the ratings, he'd still have a talk show," says Stewart.

Happy 1st Anniversary, Franken/Air America!

One year ago at Iddybud

Happy 1st Anniversary to Al Franken and Air America!

Two years ago at Iddybud

From Dublin to Brooklyn, 1903

From Dublin to Brooklyn, 1903

From Aggie of Dublin, Ireland
16 October 1903

To Ada Harte, Brooklyn, NY

Dearest Ada,

Glad to see you have arrived safe and hope you had a pleasant voyage. Did you get my letter at Queenstown? I saw Annie today, looking very well and got your address from her. I have not got over my disappointment at not being able to say goodbye to you. Mama and Nellie join in all good wishes in your new home, and of course I do! Write when you have time and let us know how you are getting on. I will be wondering. With lots of love, believe me, always.

Yours very sincerely,
Aggie

I wonder if Aggie ever saw Ada again.
I wonder how Ada liked America.
Did she have any regrets?
I wonder why she decided to come to America.
What became of her?
I'm certain she is no longer be alive to tell her story today. Somehow, that saddens me. I feel that something is lost. There are so many stories each immigrant would have to tell us, if only we had time to listen. I purchased this postcard at a collectibles show. For some reason, the words haunted me and I couldn't put it back in its neat place among the other carefully categorized and organized cards. It came alive, and to put it back would have meant the memory of the love and good wishes Aggie had conveyed to Ada would have been put back to sleep.

Edwards Interviewed by Colmes

Edwards Interviewed by Colmes

John Edwards was interviewed by Fox News' Alan Colmes for last night's broadcast. Ther transcript can be seen here.

He said he doesn't believe he would have voted to confirm Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State if he had still been in the Senate, nor would he have voted to confirm Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General because of the role that he played in U.S. torture policy and the infamous torture memo.

When asked what thought about the Terri Schiavo case, Edwards said:

"I think — I think first of all what's happening in the Schiavo case is a terrible tragedy... it's just painful to watch. I mean, I respond very personally to it. It's an awful, awful thing. But here's what I would say: This is something that as a moral issue should be left to the family. And when we have what we're seeing now with this family, that's what the courts are there for, to determine what the right thing is to do and what the wishes of the patient were. I think it is wrong to have a bunch of politicians in Washington getting involved in this."

Edwards stressed that his own personal cause is doing something about poverty in America.


Edwards will be in Iowa this week, and the Internet is buzzing about 2008.

One of Greensboro's News-Record editorials this week suggests that governments and private-sector initiatives should promote better avenues to economic progress in at least four ways: higher education, homeownership, small-business development and retirement security. They believe that Edwards may be positioning himself for another presidential campaign, but "he'll spend his time well in the interim if he reshapes the debate about helping the poor."

The Daily Tar Heel has a brief article about John Edwards'lecture at UNC Law School yesterday.