Kucinich and New Hampshire. . .

As many of you know, the drama of the upcoming election is continuing to grow. The latest development is that Kucinich wants a recount (completely legal, though a little pricey) of the N.H. Primary. Nice! I hope Diebold isn't already starting their shit!


Why are we still using these machines for voting? Why are more Americans not pissed off about the way their RIGHT to vote is being exploited. There is a lot at stake with this election people. Let's make sure it is fair and accurate!

"Only 20% of New Hampshire's primary ballots were counted by hand. The
other 80% were counted exclusively by Diebold machines. Obama secured
his predicted lead on the hand-counted ballots, but Diebold-counted
ballots ended up giving the lead to Hillary. Stalin once said, "The
people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the
votes decide everything." Or was it John Kerry who said that after he
conceded the 2004 election? Well whoever said it, it's Kucinich who has
had the courage above his slighted contenders to request that the New
Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner recount Tuesday's
election......."

Vigilance!

Oh, Snap!

So, it's all over the news here in Amsterdam. Apparently, the FBI got handed its ass from the phone companies!

I guess the FBI is having a bad time making ends meet. They can't pay their phone bills! Because of this, the phone companies have "cut their service."

And we thought that our government was scary?

At least now we know who is really in control!

You can fuck with the CIA or FBI, but don't you DARE fuck with AT&T.

Pay your bills!

Vigilance!

I watched a CNN news report today (Monday) that said late Saturday night the U.S. Navy and Iranian warships had a conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.

Is this the beginning of the war with Iran? Why are we only hearing about this conflict on Monday morning? Damn! Damn Damn!

The news is changing. . .It went from being a 'conflict' to Iranians saying to US Navy "You will explode" to there being "no conflict" where Iranian ships returned to port.

Mmmhmmm.

The story can be found here.

My problem is, of course, none of the 'sources' of information could be identified. How is that possible? What kind of reporting doesn't ask "who are you and why are you telling me this story?" Ick!

We've got to be vigilant y'all. Another war? Hell no! Piss poor reporting? HELL NO!

Vigilance is the name of the game in 2008!

Picture and Lyric of the Week (week 5)

Eternal Frost


The place all frozen still [The glaze of frozen steel]
Upon the body laid still
Extracted by sorcery
Once there was a myth [Once temples of myth]
Rivers of fear run cold
Ice castle formation
Frozen tears escape eternal frost
Hope and desire fade
Fury in the emperor's eyes
Cast here for eternity
Season of the damned [dead]
Rivers of fear run cold
Ice castle formation
Frozen tears escape eternal frost
Forbidden land of sorrow
At last the winter winds sing
Scattered ashes of kings
Gaze at the fallen walls [fallen ones; fallen world]
Rivers of fear run cold
Ice castle formation
Frozen tears escape eternal frost

Picture and Lyrics of the Week (week 4)

Okay, I thought this doggie was cute! Had to post him. He's actually representing how I feel this week. I had such a great time ignoring the troubles of the world. Forgetting about the Evangelicals, the radical Right, the struggle for peace, the Iraq war. It did a body/mind/spirit good!

So, I hope everyone had a worry-free holiday! I hope we can take the spirit of the holidays and spread them throughout the year! I know this year, more than ever, I have realized the intrinsic connection I have to the world. The unbreakable bond of humanity, spirit and will. I have taken more time to understand death, life, -rebirth. Very important concepts to me these days.



Pagan Grace

There are many different varations of this song that have been recored over the years, below is but one of several that has been created.

V1

Amazing Grace, how sweet the Earth
That bore a witch like me
I once was burned, now I survive
Was hung and now I sing.

'Twas Grace that drew down the moonand
Grace that raised the seas.
The magic in the peoples' will
Will set our mother free.

We face the East and breathe the winds
That move across the Earth.
From gentle breeze to hurricane,
Our breath will bring forth change.

Turn toward the South and feel the fire
That burns in you and me.
The spirit's flame will rise again
And burn eternally.

V2

We greet the West, our souls awash
In tides of primal birth.
Our tears and blood, our pain and love
Will cleanse and heal the Earth.

Reach to the North and know your roots
Down deep ancestral caves.
We find the wisdom of the Crone,
"Of circles we are made."

Amazing Earth, enduring life,
From death unto rebirth.
'Tis Earth I am and Earth I love,
And Earth I'll always be.

Goddess Bless, so mote it be.
Our magic spirals on.
Merry meet and merry part,
And merry meet again.

V3

Amazing Grace, how sweet the Earth
That bore a witch like me.
I once was burned, now I survive
Was hung and now I sing.

'Twas Grace that drew down the moon
And Grace that raised the seas.
The magic in the peoples' will
Will set our mother free.

Amazing Earth, enduring life,
From death unto rebirth.
'Tis Earth I am and Earth I love,
And Earth I'll always be.

Goddess Bless, so mote it be.
Our magic spirals on.
Merry meet and merry part,
And merry meet again.

Peace!

A spirited letter against media consolidation. . .

So, as many of you know, the FCC secretly voted to allow for hte ownership of multiple media outlets in a single location allowing for the enhancement of media consolidation. I received this letter from a concerned American named Craig E.

___________________________________________________


Hi, For those of us who don't want a few big companies deciding what we see, hear, and read in the news, it's a bad day. The Bush-appointed FCC just voted to loosen media ownership rules so media titans like Rupert Murdoch can swallow up more local news outlets. They did this despite a huge public outcry--when the FCC asked for public comments, 99% opposed media consolidation!

The LAST thing our democracy needs these days is fewer independent media voices and more news outlets like FOX. We are allowing the insidious creation of "Big Brother" right under our sleepy, apathetic little noses!

Congress has the power to reverse this rule change, and I just signed this petition asking Congress to do that. This issue is very important. Can you join me at the link below?

I can't tell you how annoyed I am with both the government AND the corporate media. After being enlightened about our involvement in Iraq, I am so livid with "the system" that I feel there needs to be a grassroots revolution peaceful, of course) to kick this country in the ass and wake up in regard to how we are asleep at the wheel when it comes to staying fully informed about matters of national discourse and policy.

While I am a former military man, and supporter of our national interests, I'm an independent thinker with no allegiance to either political party. That said, I feel our country is being eroded from within. When I studied journalism in college, Woodward & Bernstein were my idols, along with Mike Royko. The way the media is being conducted today, guys like that would be muzzled, thrown out of work, or never hired in the first place. And we'd never have known about the corrupt hacks that we entrust with creating public policy on every level of the government--from Nixon to Vrdolyak.

EXAMPLE: The Chicago Sun-Times is losing money, and must save something like $50 million this year. Has anyone been reading this formerly great paper, once home to Mike Royko? Well, if you have, you're reading a paper that is filled with pre-written press releases, packaged news items, and National Enquirer-style pap. On the front page yesterday, I saw a headline detailing the squalid love life of a Chicago Bears player. WTF!!!!!!

I guess we can thank Paris, Lindsey, and Britney for that, but I digress. In an effort to stop the hemorrhaging and save the paper, they are cutting their news reporting staff to the bone.

Here's an idea to all the brain surgeons at the Sun Times and other papers like them. Get back to what made the industry great--report the NEWS! Get the best reporters who aren't afraid for their jobs, who can dig deep, make contacts, do the footwork, and make a difference by keeping valued readers informed about the things that matter locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Then, grow these types of reporters from within and cultivate a media culture of being professional, inquisitive, unbiased, and dogged in their pursuit of stories that MATTER.

Then maybe, just maybe, you'll have a product that is worth the investment of time to read every day, thereby increasing your readership and subscriptions. When that happens, your viability as a business increases exponentially, allowing ad revenues to go up. What does that do? It ensures success as both a business AND as a trusted source of news the public needs. DUH.

RRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

If you agree with me, visit
here
and get your opinion HEARD!

Picture and Lyrics of the Week (Week 3)

Lately, I feel disheartened. I feel like no matter what I say or think, the currently regressive regime in the US will be heard. Their spin will be put on their stories. I feel like we have lost. I feel like that the days when Americans wanted Peace are over. I though that was the whole point to all of this...PEACE. Not CAPITAL gain. Why aren't we working for Peace?

Don't get me wrong, I will not be giving up. I will continue to work for peace. I will continue to expose the Bush regime for the criminals and assholes they are! We will win in time, but now, I want to refocus some energy on the struggle for Peace.

So, here's the lyrics of the week!


Peace

You do not speak for me
When you say let's go to war
You do not act for me
When you go to kill some more

All I want is peace
All I want is peace

It's time to evolve
As a species, as a family
It's time to resolve
Our conflicts peacefully

When will you speak for me
When will you work for peace
When will our hearts be free
Of all this tragedy

All we want is peace
All we want is peace

It's time to transform
Our warfare into healing
May peace now be born
May we open, may we feel it

May all hearts open now
And grow in understanding
And teach our children how
To live in harmony

All they'll know is peace
All they'll know is peace

©2002 Eileen Hazel



Eileen Hazel - acoustic guitar, vocal
Recorded live on KPFA - March 8, 2003