A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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Good morning Kogs and Kossacks in Dailykosland!
Let's start the working week with a Moral Monday.
Do you listen to audiobooks?
For various reasons I can't sleep if it is too quiet. My mind races. I think about what I didn't get done that day and what I have to do the next day. I think about regrets and mistakes and lost loves of the past. I can't quiet myself down. Maybe I think too much.
When I was a teenager I used to listen to the radio all night, but that didn't really work well. My mind pays too close attention to music. As a young adult I tried listening to all-news stations instead, but disturbing news coming into your dreams is not very restful. At least WBUR did not have crazy commercials. As soon as TV started staying on all night I used to fall asleep listening to the news on TV (but sometimes I woke up when Barry sang the World News Polka).
When VCRs came out I was able to tape favorite shows and listen to them all night. I spent years falling asleep to Star Trek tapes from which I painstakingly removed all the commercials (I taped the show by sitting right there as it was broadcast, hitting pause at the beginning of every commercial). I had 6 hour and 8 hour "sleep tapes" that I played until they practically wore out. After I got cable, I taped favorite movies on channels that were commercial free—I fell asleep to All The President's Men and The Sting for months.
A few years ago, someone gave me an audiobook of some random off-canon Star Trek story read by Jonathan Frakes. I remember nothing at all about the plot of the story, because it was like taking a sleeping pill! Frakes' voice was pleasant and I didn't have to actually listen closely to what he said. It was perfect.
Shortly after that, Keith Olbermann started reading James Thurber stories on Countdown. Oh YEA babe! Several were uploaded on YouTube and I put them in a playlist and listened to them on my phone at night. I love KO's voice and listening to him reading Thurber, even the weird essays, was a very pleasant way to fall asleep. It was like having Keith read me a bedtime story!
Eventually dawn broke over Marblehead and I realized that instead of fooling around with cobbling together YouTube playlists I should just get some audiobooks read by men with voices I love.
Now I own several audiobooks that are stored in the cloud and downloaded to my smartphone so I can play them without using data while I am on the bus and subway. I can also listen on line when at home, but for some reason I almost never do that. Maybe while I am avoiding politics on TV (still licking my wounds from last Tuesday, and will be for a while until they start focusing on 2016 instead of 2014) I will listen to audiobooks while working at home in the afternoon and evening instead of listening to MSNBC.
my favorites:
I Am America and So Can You (Have I said lately how much I love Stephen Colbert?) There are a lot of other actors helping to read the book, but most of it is Stephen, especially at the beginning when I am most in need of settling down. The guy at the end singing the national anthem off key and screaming about the baseball game always wakes me up though.
I also have the audiobook of I Am A Pole and So Can You, even though it is only a few minutes long, just to hear Tom Hanks and Stephen Colbert together. Hanks and Colbert donated their royalties from the book to veterans' charities, and that is cool, but there is one moment of an insulting Native American stereotype that almost ruins it.
I did buy Olbermann's James Thurber Audio Collection but I like the original less histrionic versions from Countdown much better, and I was disappointed that the audiobook collection did not include The Catbird Seat. Unfortunately most of those have been removed from YouTube. Sigh. Can't you get the rights to package those original versions together, KO?
I love me some Neil de Grasse Tyson and I recently discovered he has an audiobook that is part of the Great Courses Collection called The Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries.
I would listen to Tyson read the phone book. I would pay money for a recording of him counting backwards from 1000. His voice is smooth and sweet as butter mixed with maple syrup and better than a lullaby in soothing me to sleep. I also think I am sleep-learning something about astrophysics! Ask me about why Pluto is not a planet!
Just yesterday I came full circle and bought a Star Trek audiobook read by John de Lancie, the actor who plays "Q" on NextGen. I love deLancie's voice on its own, and his voice characterizations of well loved Star Trek figures are superb, especially of Picard. He even did one voice for a somewhat obscure OldTrek character that I recognized before the character was even introduced by name! I can't listen to it for a bedtime story until I have heard the whole thing while awake, otherwise I'll hear spoilers in my sleep.
So audiobooks distract my brain and help me fall asleep (although I still listen to YouTubes of Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews and lectures too). Switching back and forth between the books I already have and bought recently will definitely hold me until spring!
Do you ever listen to spoken word recordings? For educational purposes? Because of visual impairment? While commuting, or taking long road trips? Do you listen to them in the background while working? Or to fall asleep, as I do? Did you ever own them in other media? Record albums, cassette tapes, CDs? Or have you never heard one? And if not, do you have any interest in them? What kind of subject matter, or what narrator's voice, would inspire you to try one?
Do you listen to audiobooks?
start up soundtrack
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by cooper888 ♥ for Sacramento Kossacks
We heard from navajo and Meteor Blades about the initiative by Daily Kos to have active Kossack groups in each of the state capitals. DK is looking for engaged Kossack's ready to roll up their sleeves and participate in many different types of activism/advocacy. For example, delivering petitions to the state capitol, participating in various protests, marches, rally's at the capitol, etc. As Meteor Blades pointed out this won't happen over night and is a long term strategy but I think if we all take the lead in our respective states we can make this dream happen sooner than DK leadership expects.
L-R: Front row: Sychotic1, tgypsy, tb92, trevizolga, Mrs. side pocket. Second row: Arundsdel (sp?), Laurel in CA, Kestrel, Meteor Blades. Third row: Kestrel's two friends, smileycreek, paradise50, Dave. Back row: Clif, Mr. Arundsdel, Neil, cooper888, side pocket, Left foot forward, got mooned & Nate
Please visit cooper888's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Sacramento Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to cooper888.
by John Crapper ♥ for Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks
On Saturday 10/4/14, the Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks had the chance to have lunch with Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant.
...In 2012, Kshama ran as a Socialist Alternative candidate for WA State Legislature and surprised everyone by winning 29% of the vote. The momentum continued in her campaign for Seattle City Council where she boldly ran on a platform of fighting for a $15/hr minimum wage, rent control and taxing the super-rich to fund mass transit and education. In November she defeated a 16-year incumbent Democrat to become the first socialist elected in a major US city in decades.
Kshama Sawant now chairs Seattle City Council's Energy Committee which covers Seattle City Light, alternative energy sources, energy policies and air pollution regulations.
bleeding blue videotaped the address and the Q&A session that followed:
Please visit John Crapper's diary for more details and photos of the event. You can still REC it. You can join Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to John Crapper.
by randallt ♥ for DKos Asheville
The Dkos Ashevillites got together again to take a break from registering people to vote. A special thanks to Gordon20024, who drove in from Roanke, for providing all the food!
All the attendees went around the table and talked about what they're involved in at Daily Kos. Details about this on each attendee can be read at randallt's diary. Out-of-state special guests were Land of Enchantment and jnhobbs from Nashville! Love that kind of support!
Dkos Asheville is setting a great example of how to Connect, Unite and Act! Kudos to the whole group that is making this team strong!
Please visit randallt's diary for photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join DKos Asheville by sending a Kosmail to randallt.
by susans ♥ for Los Angeles Kossacks
At the monthly meeting of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners, SEIU, airport workers and Daily Kos (represented by susans and Joshua Bloxom) presented them with a 48,000 signature petition demanding safer working conditions. Also present were representatives of CLUE, Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice, who submitted a letter of support to the board.
[...]
The SEIU organizers led a short rally outside of the building at One World Way after the meeting. SEIU represents people who do a lot of different jobs at LAX: they work in the terminals as wheelchair pushers, door openers, janitors, various other positions and on the ramp (outside). Some of them spoke at the rally, again in English and Spanish. They asked me to speak, something I was totally unprepared for. I briefly told them about DK and that I would be writing about the event and posting it online.
A special thank you to Josh, who took multiple trains up from Orange County to support airport workers and represent Daily Kos. It was great talking to you and I look forward to another opportunity to spend some time together.
Please visit
susans's diary for more details. You can still REC it. You can join
Los Angeles Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to
susans.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Wednesday, November 12th
Colorado COmmunity Meet-up with Drinking Liberally
John Erhardt hosts
TIME: 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Three Dogs Tavern
32nd Ave & Julian • West Highlands
ORGANIZER: Send Leftcandid a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Leftcandid
2.
3.
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Maybees:
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Saturday, November 15th
Colorado COmmunity Meet-up with Caffeinating Liberally
TIME: 9:00 AM
LOCATION: Common Grounds Coffeehouse
44th & Vallejo • Sunnyside
ORGANIZER: Send Leftcandid a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Leftcandid
2.
3.
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Maybees:
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Latest diary: DENVER: Drinking & Caffeinating Liberally "Well, F***" Editions Next Week
Sunday, November 23rd
SFKossacks & Silicon Valley Kossacks Support Native American Netroots Protesting the Washington R*dsk*ns Mascot Use
TIME: 10:00 AM
LOCATION: Levi's Stadium
4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way • Santa Clara
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. bahesmama
2. navajo
3. Meteor Blades
4.
5.
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Maybees: |
Saturday, December 13th
SF Kossacks Holiday Party at Daily Kos HQ
The usual Pot Luck drill - sign-up list posted soon
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Daily Kos HQ
Address given privately by kosmail • Berkeley
Near Ashby BART
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Markos
2. Will Rockafellow
3. Susan Gardner
4. Meteor Blades
5. Faith Gardner & Roxie!
6. navajo
7. side pocket
8. Mrs. side pocket
9. smileycreek
10. paradise50
11. remembrance
12. Glen The Plumber
13. TLO
14. jakedog42
15. edrie
16. dharmasyd
17. catilinus
18. boatsie
19. liberated spaces
20. citisven
21. kimoconnor
22. susans
23. maggiejean
24. 714day
25. Steven Payne
26. scaboni
27. skywriter
28. jpmassar
29. jotter
30. aha aha
31. jeremybloom
32. norm
33. Lorikeet
34. cooper888
35. got mooned
36. Hunter
37. elfling
38. Cassia
39. Friend of elfling
40. Friend of elfling
41. Friend of elfling
42. Friend of elfling
43. tmservo433
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Maybees:
Thinking Fella |
Sunday, December 28th
Koscadia Meet-up with navajo
TIME: midday?
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • Portland
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday & Sunday, January 17-18, 2015
Dkos Asheville 24-hour Meet-up
This is what community is about; sharing, giving, creating together. And this is what being a progressive is about; working for social, economic, and environmental justice.
Each day we start from where we are now; and we move forward from here. -davehouck
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...we have built ourselves a network of like minded brothers and sisters who are in this fight for life. A place we can come to find inspiration, power, solace and community.
-randallt |
TIME: 1:00 pm Saturday till 1:00 pm Sunday
LOCATION: Crown Plaza Resort Asheville
One Resort Drive • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Gordon20024
4. SteelerGrrl
5. LamontCranston
6.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DKos Asheville Open Thread: January Meet up Announcement
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.