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 exercise to music?
After a lifetime of avoiding any more than the minimum amount of exercise I needed to do to get where I needed to go, I have lately been doing a daily walking routine. I have worked myself up to 5000 steps a day, which may not sound like much since all the fitness people tell you to walk 10,000 steps a day, but there are people my size who don't even walk 500 steps a day, so I figure I am getting ahead of the game.
I walked on neighborhood streets until it got cold and then I broke down and joined a gym. I joined in early January with all the other folks making their New Year's resolutions, but there are still a handful of people who joined about the same time as I did who are still showing up on a regular basis. We give each other encouraging looks and high fives.
It's boring to exercise on machines, so there is a bank of 20 televisions along the far wall. The only problem is that the shows they have on TV at the gym are boring. I never realized how unusual my TV habits were until I was forced to watch mass market TV with a hundred other people half my age.
MTV? Srsly? Keeping up with the Kardashians? Dancing with the Stars? Two Broke Girls??? Food Network is on all the time too, which seems counterproductive for a gym. Sometimes I get by with watching CNN, but you know how their bias can drive a liberal crazy.
Sometimes I would recite my evening prayers, or go over lists of things I had to do, anything to keep my mind occupied while the 45 minutes clicked by step after step after step.
Then dawn broke over Marblehead and duh! I realized I should walk to music.
Exercising to music has been a big deal in the culture at large ever since aerobics classes first became the rage. But back when Let's Get Physical was the hit tune on all the workout tapes, I swore I would never get involved in a fitness program that required me to listen to pop dreck. Picking out my own music never occurred to me.
My walking pace is about 100 steps per minute, which is fortunate because a lot of popular music is set at 100 beats per minute. There must be something special about that pace because a whole lot of songs are right in that same sweet spot.
Walking to a beat is so much easier. With my list of 100 bpm songs the workout flies by. It's almost like dancing. In fact, sometimes I know I am bopping my head and playing air drums in a way that would be comical if anyone were watching me.
Fortunately everyone is focused on him or herself--eyes face forward at the bank of TVs, or eyes down at the counter on the machine watching the seconds and minutes and steps and miles and heart rates.
And with my playlist I always know where I am in the workout--how far I still have to go in time or distance. These are songs I like a whole lot so I probably won't get tired of them for a while, but if I do, I found several websites with songs ranked by beats per minute so that I can switch in some replacements and keep it fresh. I can also use this website to check a favorite song to see how close it is to 100bpm.
Now I have my own version of "Sweating to the Oldies"! My current list, in order, is in the start up soundtrack below.
Eminence Front—a mindless repetitive way to just get started. The only problem is that every time the car commercial featuring that song comes on I feel like I am supposed to get up and start walking!
If I Ever Lose My Faith in You—sometimes I feel I am singing about holding on to faith in myself.
Ain't Nobody—great dance tune I can't get enough of, and little bit wishful thinking :-D
Higher Love—more exercise and wishful thinking at the same time. Killing two birds with one stone, or baking two cakes in the same oven as the new non-violent metaphor would say.
Suit and Tie remix—actually a little bit faster than 100bpm, so by this time I am sweating and watching my heart rate closely.
Lose Yourself to Dance—if I am getting tired or my back is starting to hurt, this one keeps pushing me with "come on come on come on come on come on come on come on come on come on come on..."
Stayin Alive—anyone who remembers the iconic opening scene of Saturday Night Fever already associates this song with walking. Besides, I am trying to think of my fitness as a matter of life and death, so singing along with "ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin alive, stayin alive" makes form follow content.
Usually Stayin Alive puts me over the 5000 mark if I have done some walking before I get to the treadmill. If not, I continue through Beast of Burden and Put Your Records On either in time to the music or slower for a cool down period.
Do you walk or run or exercise to music? Do you have favorite songs to work out to? How do you select those songs? Is there a song you work out with now (or otherwise associate with exercise) so that just hearing it makes you break out in a sweat?
Do you have music to exercise by?
start up soundtrack
Prologue (If I Ever Lose My Faith in You) by Sting on Grooveshark
Ain't Nobody by Chaka Khan on Grooveshark
Higher Love by Steve Winwood on Grooveshark
Suit & Tie (Oliver Nelson Remix) by Justin Timberlake on Grooveshark
Lose Yourself to Dance by Daft punk on Grooveshark
Stayin' Alive by Bee Gees on Grooveshark
09 - Beast Of Burden by The Rolling Stones on Grooveshark
Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae on Grooveshark
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 John Crapper ♥ for Seattle & Puget Sound Kos
So John Crapper claims to have had a meet-up this past March 29th. Wull, there is no photographic evidence, so I'm skeptical. He claims that momomia, Flamingogrrl, MiddleEaarth, TBone Apollo, LarisaW, bleeding blue, notrouble, John Crapper S.O., and Michael Foster were in attendance. Hmmmmm.....
Kidding aside. ;) John's got a great vision to organize the Seattle area:
I brought people up to date on my progress in preparing to launch a new environmental communication's hub called Northwest Climate Voices. I've scheduled webinars for the second week in April to orient environmental activists to both the Daily Kos site and Northwest Climate Voices in preparation for the launch. If all goes well, NWCVs will regularly post on Sunday late afternoon.
His diary includes an environmental event calendar and those in attendance provided ideas for future meet-ups. Great job, John and all the Seattle and Puget Sound folks!
Please visit John Crapper's diary for more information. You can still REC it. You can join Seattle & Puget Sound Kos by sending a Kosmail to John Crapper.
Kossacks Receive Warm Welcome from Embassy Staff
by Thinking Fella ♥ for Four Corners Kossacks
Thinking Fella's doing everything right to grow his group in Durango. Regularly scheduled meet-ups. Exciting, might I say, EPIC meet-ups to draw much needed attention. A former Precinct Captain, he recently won a position on his local Democratic Party Executive Committee. He's charmingly endeared himself to all who attend his meet-ups and those he chats with online. Yep. Doing everything right. PLUS, he writes very entertaining diaries to enthuse his locals to attend, such as the one for this meet-up: Four Corners Kossacks Meet-up: International Diplomatic Outreach. Great job, Thinking Fella! Keep those Durgangotangs hopping!
Here's one photo:
L-R: Thinking Fella, red moon dog, relleno, Mrs. relleno, ERRN, Gary Norton, nzanne & HeroMachine
Please visit
Thinking Fella's diary for many MORE photos plus delicious food pr0n! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join
Four Corners Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to
Thinking Fella.
by Egberto Willies ♥ for TexKos
by Chrislove ♥ for TexKos
We had a fantastic meet-up that will energize me for months to come. We had 80 of the most intrepid Texans to date. They braved extremely rare ice storms north of Austin. Bridges and major highways into Austin were closed the morning of our event.
The extreme weather was truly a problem but it was nice to see those who were able to show up. And based on the comments of the two diaries below, many attendees were equally energized and empowered.
All and all, it was a great day! Thanks to nomandates and Chrislove for helping to organize.
FTR: I was in Austin at exactly the same time in 2013 for the inaugural Texas Kos State Meet-up. I got a sunburn at the Zilker Park Kite Festival the next day. It was a gorgeous sunny day.
Here's one photo:
TexKos-Messing with Texas with nothing but love for Texans
Please visit Egberto's and Chrislove's diaries for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC both diaries. You can join TexKos by sending a Kosmail to nomandates.
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!
Saturday, April 11th
Houston Kos Welcome Smoh
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Fadi's Mediterranean Grill in Meyerland Plaza
4738 Beechnut Street • Houston
ORGANIZER: Send Chrislove a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Smoh
2. Chrislove
3. cosette
4. |
Maybees:
nomandates
Deja
Mr. cosette
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Latest diary: Houston Area Kossacks: Come and Meet Smoh on April 11!
April 17th-19th, 2015
Democrats Abroad - Mexico, are having their Annual Meeting
Friday, April 17th: Reception in Ajijic
TIME: 5:30-7:00 PM
Tom Guild, a congressional candidate from Oklahoma, is the special guest.
LOCATION: [private residence] Lake Chapala
Saturday, April 18th: Annual meeting and elections in Chapala
TIME: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Cash bar at 2:00 PM, Lunch at 3:00 PM
TIME: 7:00 PM
Randy Noojan’s HARD TRAVELIN’ WITH WOODY GUTHRIE at the Club Exotica in Ajijic
Sunday, April 19th: Movie “Iron Jawed Angels” at the Cinemas del Lago in Ajijic,
TIME: 01:30 PM
Cost: $38.
LOCATION: Hotel Villa Montecarlo
Hidalgo 296 • Chapala
ORGANIZER: Send roberb7 a kosmail if you have questions
RSVPs:
1. roberb7
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, April 18th
San Francisco Kos Welcomes blue jersey mom to Town
Potluck style BBQ
We need volunteers for the following:
Compostable forks
Beer & Wine
tortilla chips
5-6 side salads/dishes of any type
Sausages including veggie type and buns
3 appetizers
2 desserts
Note: We have one severe nut allergy. ER visit severe. Avoid or label, please.
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: kimoconnor's garden
[Address given privately to RSVPs] • San Francisco
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. blue jersey mom [does NOT need to bring anything! Our guest!]
2. navajo - [2 bottles of wine]
3. side pocket
4. Mrs. side pocket
5. maggiejean - [polenta, mushroom and asparagus side dish & wine]
6. kimoconnor - [carne asada, tortillas & fixins]
7. dharmasyd - [creamy cole slaw]
8. norm
9. remembrance - [side dish]
10. Glen The Plumber
11. TLO
12. Lorikeet
13. dsb - [side dish]
14. FogCityJohn
15. boatsie - [kitcherie]
16. lineatus
17. LaughingPlanet - [non-alcoholic beverages]
18. EagleOfFreedom
19. ceebee7 [Greek salad]
Maybees:
slksfca
Ebby
Saturday, April 25th
Dallas Kos Meet-up!
Why: Margaritas, fajitas, burritos and other fine quality progressive company!
Part of the plan: discussing creating a "taskforce" of people ready to swoop down on the county courthouse when marriage equality reaches Texas to greet happy couples with roses and banners celebrating the new recognition of their unions!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Uncle Julio's Mexican Restaurant
4125 Lemmon Ave • Dallas
ORGANIZER: Send AndyT a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. AndyT
2.
3.
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Maybees:
tom 47
Chrislove
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Latest diary: Dallas Kossacks Meet Up April 25th
Saturday, April 25th
DAILY KOS CONNECTS KANSAS CITY
LOCATION: Alamo Drafthouse
1400 Main Street • Kansas City
Join us for a day of camaraderie and progressive strategizing with Big Orange flavor. In a day-long seminar, learn how our Connect! Unite! Act! team maximized the Daily Kos forum to effect change in Kansas state politics. We are going to duplicate that effort across the nation. Participants will focus on organizing from the ground up.
SCHEDULE:
8:00 AM - Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM - Presentations, panels and Q&A's begin
Noon - Lunch served
1:30 PM - More presentations, panels and Q&A's
6:00 PM - After Party at nearby Anton's Taproom & Restaurant. We've reserved their Beer Garden, you'll need a wristband from the day event to get in.
You'll also get a chance to meet the blog's founder, Markos Moulitsas and some of the Daily Kos staff:
• Meteor Blades, Senior Political Writer — The Value of Year Round Precinct Organizing
• Jen Hayden, Social Media Editor
• Neeta Lind aka navajo, Director of Community Building — How to Maximize the Daily Kos Forum
• Joan McCarter, Senior Political Writer — Online to on-the-ground Activism
• David Nir, Political Director — Midwest Politics and the Future
• Will Rockafellow, General Manager
• Monique Teal, Activism Team Member — Interview with Patricia Bynes
• Markos will give a preview of DK5, our new upgraded site plus an Ask Me Anything session
Special Guest Speakers:
• Patricia Bynes, Ferguson Township Committeewoman — The Next Steps Between Issue Organizing and Electoral Action
• Chris Reeves, Connect! Unite! Act! for Kansas & Missouri — Update on Kansas/Missouri Politics
• Jacob Wagner, Director of Urban Studies at UMKC — The Future is Urban: Kansas City Region and the Implications for State/National Politics
Benefactor level is also available if you plan to attend and buy a scholarship for someone, you and your attendee can have a front row seat. Angel level is also available if you can't attend but want to help someone else attend.
We've granted two scholarships! We have five more scholarships available thanks to our Benefactors and Angels. Please kosmail navajo if you need a scholarship to attend. |
Friday Night Pre-event party for Out-of-Towners and Interested Locals:
Location and time: TBD
Sunday Brunch for Out-of-Towners and Interested Locals:
Location and time: TBD
If you are at more than a 3 Hour drive, we have a discount on hotels for FRIDAY and SATURDAY night. Choose between the Park Place Ramada or the nearby Holiday Inn for $40 per night - a discount of approximately 66%. You must kosmail tmservo433 to reserve. Transport back and forth from event to Hotel is also included. |
Grow our network, unite our progressive communities, help win elections!
Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, 2015
DKos Asheville's Roadtrip and Two-Day Retreat to Roanoke, Virginia
From randallt:
After seven successful and engaging meet ups, DKos Asheville's core members decided to take our next gathering on the road. The first reason was that our chef and benefactor for all our meet ups has been Gordon20024 and we wanted say thanks by traveling to be with him instead of having him drive to be with us. We asked and he was thrilled and so the idea was born. Another reason is that it offers us the opportunity to meet more Kossacks from around the region including Virginia and parts of North Carolina to the north and east of us.
Grow our network, grow our community, help win elections.
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TIME: 1:00 pm Saturday till 1:00 pm Sunday
LOCATION: Hotel Roanoke, Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue • Roanoke
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. gordon20024
2. davehouck
3. randallt
4. Joieau
5. LamontCranston
6. Steerler Grrl
7. Steeler Guy
8. Otteray Scribe
9. DawnN
10. emmasnacker
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DKos Asheville: Open Thread
May 2nd, SAVE THE DATE
5th Annual Baja Arizona Kossacks Picnic
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Garfield Park
Tombstone Canyon Rd. • Bisbee
ORGANIZER: Send Azazello a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Azazello
2. ItsaMathJoke
3. rasbobbo
4. ramara
5. sneakers563
6. DaNang65
7. Bisbonian
8. itzadryheat
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Maybees:
pwoodford
Mother Mags
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Latest diary: Baja Arizona Kossacks Open Thread: 5th Annual Picnic
June 26, 27 & 28th, 2015
EPIC Glacier National Park Meet-up II
ACTIVITIES:
June 26: TBD
June 27: TBD
June 28:
Day - TBD
Evening - 5:00 PM, BBQ potluck with Jen Hayden at the lower picnic area at the Historic Tamarack Lodge, 9549 U.S. 2, Hungry Horse, MT 59919. Entertainment at 6:00 PM by Truckstop Honeymoon
TIME: 24/7
LOCATION: Exact location inside park TBD
[Address] • Glacier National Park
ORGANIZER: Send Ojibwa a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Ojibwa
2. state of confusion
3. Thinking Fella
4. side pocket
5. Mrs. side pocket
6. navajo
7. jakedog42
8. paradise50
9. Jen Hayden for 6/28 only
10. Joan McCarter
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Maybees:
woolibaar
NormAl1792
markdd
peregrine kate
mcmom
dharmasyd
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Latest diaries:
• A 2015 Glacier National Park Meetup?
• The 2015 EPIC Glacier Park Meet Up: Travel and Lodging
• The EPIC 2015 Glacier National Park Meet Up: Camping
• The 2015 EPIC Glacier National Park Meet Up: Tours
Announcing Asheville, North Carolina as the location
for our next Regional Event! 9.26.15
Asheville, N.C. is the destination for September 26, 2015! DKos Asheville, the In-Real-Life group under the leadership of randallt, has been setting the example for other IRL groups across the nation regarding registering people to vote, getting out the vote, having a state open thread and setting up strategy conferences for their region. Because of this impressive leadership we've asked randallt to be the State Leader for all of North Carolina. We've got important work to do on the ground there and randallt has shown he's the person to make that happen.
All states are welcome to attend this event and if you do you can expect to meet Markos Moulitsas in person, as well as some of the Daily Kos staff. More details regarding this regional event will be shared in the future so please stay tuned to Connect! Unite! Act!
For now, SAVE THE DATE and spread the word!
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.