Saturday Service Spotlight: Nuestro Ahora

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday July 19, 2008 · 2:13 PM PDT

2008/07/19 · 14:13

I have been steadily writing more diaries lately and I have been trying to see how I can put some of them to good use during election season. Typically, with election issues I make my contribution by commenting leaving the fact finding and analysis to some of the great diarists we have on DKOS. With that in mind I have decided to devote my Saturday diary each week to placing focus on service organizations that I am familiar with.

Why read this diary? Maybe you are tired of only reading campaign diary after campaign diary. Or maybe you want to learn about some organizations doing some good right NOW, even with our current buffoon of a president. Maybe you are awesome and love me just because. (looking at you mom) I will admit many of the organizations will be located in the New England , where I am from, but not all of them! Like for example the organization I have chosen to focus on today; Nuestro Ahora- a non-profit which provides orphaned children of El Salvador the chance to attend an institution of higher learning.

Join me for more after the jump.

bbxcountry25

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday July 18, 2008 · 8:13 AM PDT

2008/07/18 · 08:13

These words were uttered over the phone by Cpl. Gunnar Zwilling in what proved to be his last conversation with his father Kurt. He was speaking about his upcoming mission to establish an outpost in Wanant. With only a few days left on his 15th month tour he and 8 of his fellow soldiers were killed in a battle against over 200 militants. It was the deadliest attack on U.S. troops in Afghanistan in three years.

I cannot even fathom having that type of courage. To be aware that you may be walking to certain death and to do it anyway. And he and his fellow soldiers do this everyday they are in the field. Beyond that what really gets me is the fact that his tour was almost up. That if he had just taken off a couple of days he'd probably still be with us right now. Of course he couldn't, but I do think he would have even if he had the chance. Our troops ...

bbxcountry25

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday July 14, 2008 · 3:44 PM PDT

2008/07/14 · 15:44

In my time mostly reading and sometimes posting on this site, I have developed a great deal of respect for this community. I have seen that we have experts in every field, people with amazing natural intelligence, and as many wide ranging life experiences as anywhere. I know that the main focus of the site is getting progressive democrats elected, but I have also come to enjoy how it truly has become a community where diaries of a more personal nature have been accepted as well.

With that in mind, I am about to embark on one of the most important phases of my life and have decided to come to people I respect for advice. I am currently going into my senior at year at Boston College where I major in History with a minor in environmental studies, and I am about to begin the law school application process. I figured there are a decent amount of lawyers and law students on the site who could provide valuable insight. If you feel like you can help in any way read on for my musing on the path I am thinking about and for some questions.

bbxcountry25

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday July 10, 2008 · 7:36 AM PDT

2008/07/10 · 07:36

Apparently after an interview with a fox news correspondant, Jesse Jackson (who thought his mic was off) said "See, Barack's been talking down to black people ... I want to cut his nuts off." Cnn.com

You can watch the video here.

You know you messed up when your son (Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois -- co-chair of Obama's presidential campaign) makes these comments

"I'm deeply outraged and disappointed in Rev. Jackson's reckless statements about Sen. Barack Obama," the younger Jackson said. "His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee -- and I believe the next president of the United States -- contradict his inspiring and courageous career."Cnn.com

Jackson put the remarks into context by saying

bbxcountry25

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday July 09, 2008 · 7:40 AM PDT

2008/07/09 · 07:40

Watch this awesome clip from Obama's speech in Raleigh, NC yesterday, in which he ties Bush and McCain together and destroys johnny on the economy all at the same time.

There are some great quotes in this,

The centerpiece of John McCain's economic plan amounts to a full-throated endorsement of George W. Bush's policies.

It is brilliant how Obama begins this section of the speech. He acknowledges McCain's so called "maverick" image by acknowledging his stances on earmarks and the environment and then he just brushes it aside. The effect is to say he may be a "maverick" on those things but on the things that really matter, like the economy, he is McBush.

This is all great but IMO the most effective part of the speech is the line. "We've been there once. We're not going back." It evokes images of a McCain presidency moving in lockstep with Bush policies.

Move forward with me below the fold.

bbxcountry25

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday July 08, 2008 · 8:23 AM PDT

2008/07/08 · 08:23

I often type in John McCain or Barack Obama's names into Google just to see what the top results are. I figure that this is a popular way that an average person gets daily information about the candidates, and I want to see what they see. Usually, its nothing out of the ordinary but today I was pleasantly surprised to see this story John McCain, flip-flopper by Michael Tomasky of The Guardian at the top of Google in news results for John McCain.

Its an excellent article in which he calls out the mainstream media for pouncing on all of Obama's so called "flip-flops" while ignoring those of media darling McCain. He notes

We've been talking a lot about flip-flops in the past week, some of them real, most of them imaginary. But I've been astonished at how few people have mentioned the obvious mother of all flip-flops in this campaign so far – John McCain's embrace of the Bush administration tax cuts.

He goes on to describe ..

bbxcountry25

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday July 02, 2008 · 7:40 AM PDT

2008/07/02 · 07:40

First FISA and now this. The political ticker at CNN.com is reporting that the Illinois senator refused to bump fists with a boy as he was touring the Eastside Community Ministry in Zanesville, Ohio. I am ashamed that Obama refused to take a strong stand on this. He has moved to the center by declaring his intent to only give handshakes and the occasional high five from now on. He has clearly turned his back on progressives who he constantly fist bumped with all throughout the primary. Rumor has it he will also ask all members of Moveon.org to stop using the gesture.

I guess we are finally seeing the "true" Obama here. I was fulling expecting to see him fist pounding other heads of state if he secured the presidency. Maybe he'll tack back to the left on this one after the general, but I'm not holding my breath. I was going to max out my donation for him today but now I refuse to do so until he comes to my house and gives me some dap. He still has my vote but it just won't be the same enthusiastic, fist jabbing vote it would have been.

Two Bear Stearns Execs Surrender to the FBI

bbxcountry25

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday June 19, 2008 · 11:00 AM PDT

2008/06/19 · 11:00

It is being reported on CNNMoney.com

Two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers, Ralph Cioffi and Matthew Tannin, surrendered Thursday to the FBI. The men face federal charges that they intentionally misled investors in two funds that collapsed last summer under the weight of wrong-way bets on mortgage-backed securities.

The case will be determined on what both managers actually knew, when they were advising investors. These are the first arrests to come out of the recent credit crisis. Even if it runs out these two managers acted illegally, Wall Street and the financials should have seen the dangers of the sub prime mortgage industry coming far in advance.

However, as the son of a former mortgage broker who was forced under threat of termination to give out loans that he knew in the long run would be detrimental to his own livelihood and that of his customers; I’m hoping more than a few of the big boys go down.

“Avoid the idea Iraq is like Oz.”

bbxcountry25

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday May 11, 2007 · 1:44 PM PDT

2007/05/11 · 13:44

These were the instructions of Tony Snow at a White House press conference yesterday. No shit Tony. Yeah the problem we have with the war is unrealistic expectations. We are SO optimistic about Iraq that we think once the surge is implemented Iraq is going to turn into the land of OZ. When everything doesn’t go perfectly we are shocked, and then we overreact. Everything has gone so well in the past, we just have no idea how even the slightest thing could go wrong. We really don’t understand how difficult it is over there. We really have no idea what an unmitigated disaster the area has become. Tony Snow, this has been said before, but you are an idiot.

Join me in Oz below the fold.

bbxcountry25

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday May 10, 2007 · 1:39 PM PDT

2007/05/10 · 13:39

I saw an article in the Boston Globe about a week ago whose subject didn’t seem to get a lot of publicity. A study ordered by the pentagon has found that rising oil prices and a shrinking supply of oil have made the United States military "unsustainable in the long term."

The study, produced by a defense consulting firm, concludes that all four branches of the military must "fundamentally transform" their assumptions about energy, including taking immediate steps toward fielding weapons systems and aircraft that run on alternative and renewable fuels. It is "imperative" that the Department of Defense "apply new energy technologies that address alternative supply sources and efficient consumption across all aspects of military operations," according to the report, which was provided to the Globe.

Join me below the fold for more.

bbxcountry25

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday May 08, 2007 · 5:15 PM PDT

2007/05/08 · 17:15

I came across an article in the Boston Globe today about two Representatives James McGovern- (D) Massachusetts 3rd District and Jo Ann Emerson- R Missouri 8th District who will live on the government allotted 3$ a day food stamp budget for a week. Although this may seem like sort of a gimmick, I think it is an excellent way to bring publicity to an important issue. The funding for food stamp programs has not increased in over thirty years. This "food stamp challenge" has been supported by religious and community groups nationwide.

McGovern said part of what he is trying to do is set the stage for a real discussion of what is an adequate benefit for poor people. He will write about his experience on a blog on his website. McGovern and Emerson have circulated a letter asking their colleagues to join them but so far no other representatives have signed on.

I realize its not exactly a pressing matter, but if you have time urge your representatives to join them. Personally I’m going to send an email to both to show my support for what they are doing.

As always, thanks for reading.

Jackie Robinson: An American Hero

bbxcountry25

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday April 15, 2007 · 9:19 AM PDT

2007/04/15 · 09:19

Cross Posted at Diatribune

Today April 15th is the sixtieth anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. I often hear people when explaining why they are not interested in sports say "well, its just a game." That may be true a lot of the time, but there are some moments that transcend the game, moments that become a part of the national cultural consciousness. These moments show us what sports, and life are all about. April 15, 1947 when number 42 Jackie Robinson, stepped in against Boston Braves pitcher Johnny Sain was one of those moments. Join me below the fold to celebrate the life of this extraordinary man.

Newer
Older

RSS

Saturday Service Spotlight: Nuestro Ahora

"Its gonna be a bloodbath."

Request for advice: On law school and on being an attorney.

Jesse Jackson said what?

"We've been there once, We're not going back."

John McCain: Flip Flopper, Right at the top of Google

BREAKING: Obama capitulates on fist bump!

Two Bear Stearns Execs Surrender to the FBI

“Avoid the idea Iraq is like Oz.”

Pentagon study says military “unsustainable in the long term.”

Two Members of Congress to live on food stamp budget for a week.

Jackie Robinson: An American Hero