How'd the week go?
Oh yeah, stupid question I guess. Between the Massachusetts election, the Democrats' subsequent panic (which nearly resulted in the death of health care), the Supreme Court decision to all but guarantee America's transition to a corporate state, and (not insignificantly to some of us) the end of Conan O'Brien's tenure on The Tonight Show, this has been a pretty rough week. The weekend, it seems, came just in time to keep us from going out of our damn minds.
And what better way to start off that weekend with some soothing, uplifting ITEMS!
ITEM! What is the Bank of Oregon?
The Bank of Oregon is a proposal by Bill Bradbury, candidate for Oregon Governor, to create a new bank in which state agencies would deposit all their money (as opposed to depositing to US Bank, as they do now). This bank (which would be run as an actual bank, btw) would then lend that money out to Oregonians and Oregon businesses, in order to make a profit the old fashioned way. The money benefits the Oregon economy, and more significantly, doesn't get gambled on risky investments like mortgage-backed derivatives. Check out the presentation on this idea here.
Sound good? I thought so. I'm still not convinced that Bradbury should get the nomination over Kitzhaber, but I hope whoever becomes Governor runs with it.
Sound insane? Well, not so much .. North Dakota does the something similar, and that's what inspired Bradbury's idea. More here.
ITEM! What else have Democrats back-pedaled on this week? How about peace in the Middle East? More here.
ITEM! More on the plan to pass decent health care reform here. (Yeah, okay, it's FOX. It's also the only story out there that isn't hammering on the "HEALTH CARE DOOMED" meme that the useless media are parroting.)
This is the best shot that we have at passing meaningful health care reform -- and it's light-years better than just passing the Senate bill. I strongly urge everyone here to call their Congresscritters and tell them to support this deal.
ITEM! The Vice President says that the US is going to appeal a decision that dismissed criminal charges against Blackwater. More here. (See? Change is good!)
BABY MICE!
Sadly, not mine. Mine are grooming each other and working on a major construction project behind me.
ITEM! This song by my old friend Charles Danek brings back memories of hanging out with a completely separate group of people in Rogers Park. The mind is convoluted like that. Give it a listen:
January Sun
Of course, his career has been a lot more than just this song. More here.
"Charlie" is coming out with a solo album soon. Stay tuned.
ITEM! RIP Carlos Hernandez Gomez, a great Chicago reporter who covered Obama back in the day before he was a Big Name. Carlos passed away this week after a long battle with cancer. He was 36.
Carlos: I only spent a few moments here and there with you, but the impact you've had on my friends and family is profound. You would be embarrassed to know how much you are missed. Instead of words from our sponsor, I'm going to end this diary with two fitting tributes to you. Good luck wherever you are.