Maybe, maybe not, you decide.  I recently was sent an editorial that had been sent to a friend of his by another friend, so apparently, it is making the rounds in the "it's Friday and I am tired of working" crowd, anyway. The article, entitled "Prius Outdoes Hummer in Environmental Damage," by Chris Demorro, a staff writer at The Recorder, a Central Connecticut State University paper makes a pretty audacious claim.  Is it true?  Please help me out on this one.

If the Food and Drug Administration has its way, unlabeled cloned meat and dairy products could soon find their way onto our supermarket shelves, ending a long moratorium on the commercial sale of cloned meat and dairy, and thus giving the United States the dubious honor of being the first and only country to sell it.  Relying almost exclusively on data provided by Via-Gen and Cyagra, the two big cloning companies which stand to gain fininacially from its policy, the FDA is now poised to approve such a measure, stating that it is safe.  I'm not convinced.  

Five governors from western states agreed today to fight greenhouse gases.  The governors from Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington, have announced today, the day after Al Gore won an Oscar for his incredible documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, about global warming, that they cannot wait for the Federal Government to take action on this matter.  The agreement is said to be similar to an earlier initiative by 9 Northeastern states, using a cap and trade system, setting emission limits while allowing those that can't meet the limits to buy credits from those that can.        

Yesterday, it was the front page story in my newspaper, the Arizona Republic that first turned my attention to the subject of water shortage.  The article was written about the newly released report from the National Research Council, that told of the combination of growing threats from not only population growth and drought, but climate change as well.  

The NRC's news release tells a grim story, especially if, like me, you are one of the more than 25 million people spread over seven states that rely on the Colorado River for water and/or power.  

Earlier today, on Daily KOs, I had read about how early exit polls were showing a slight advantage for Pederson (Dem for Senate.)  This got me excited and even cautiously optimistic about Arizona.  So, I decided to vote early too.  

After reading through and deciphering the many ballot measures, I made a cheat sheet to bring along to the polls.  I then put on my best "Republican costume" and headed out to the closest of 16 satellite election centers set up for early voting in Maricopa County (Phoenix area) Arizona.  (Thanks to all, especially biscobosco, for helping me find this information.)  My election costume consisted of nice tan pants, plain brown shirt, cute cowboy boots and a conspicuous jeweled cross necklace.  Even in this getup I doubted anyone would really doubt that I was a Democrat.  It just oozes out of my every pore.  Still, I wanted to make the attempt.  It can't be a good idea to show your hand in this Red State of mine.  

On a day when I could use a little sunshine, I just got a lot of it.  Do you ever feel frustrated, downhearted, disgusted?  Why am I even asking?  Of course you do.  You are all members of the reality-based community.  How could you not have these feelings at least some of the time?  It is as a result of having these feelings (almost all of the time) that I began volunteering for MoveOn.Org, making phone calls to people all over the country.  While sometimes I get rude answers or people who hang up in my ear, many people have been answering in the affirmative that they are going to vote for the (Democratic) candidate in their district.

More after the fold...

Thank G-D it is Friday, once again.  Tonight, after watching Markos on the Premier of Real Time with Bill Maher, I will be watching one of my new netflix selections.  Not sure yet which one, although the documentary "why we fight" sounds really interesting.  Might be a bit much for a Friday though.

What are all of you doing/watching tonight?  Any good movie recommendations?  I have read reviews of Little Miss Sunshine.  I like Greg Kinnear and hey, it features my favorite vehicle, a VW bus.

I don't know about you folks, but I am sure glad it is Friday.  What a Hell of a week.  Instead of complaining about it though, I thought I would write an unusual diary, unusual on dkos anyway... a diary of what I am thankful for... and hopefully you will share what you are thankful for too.  Oh, come on, it isn't that hard...  

I will begin.  I am thankful that my birthday is coming up, although I don't know why I should be thankful for that anymore... getting a bit old for "birthday excitement" these days.  (BTW, don't bother asking, I am not telling.)  I am also thankful for...  

Maybe I am wrong here, I certainly hope I am wrong but it seems that the actions of Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah and with the Palestinians are likely to fuel anti-Semitism, the kind that may have been lingering beneath the surface in some, or even to ignite it where it hadn't already existed.  Thus, it's so called self-defense may lead to its eventual self-destruction, or at least to its further alienation...  and to prejudice against American Jewry.  

I personally am sickened by the indiscriminate killing of civilians in Lebanon.  No, I don't think Hezbollah's actions are any better, yet I do hold Israel, and the U.S., to a higher standard, sorry.  If we (U.S./Israel) are going to call these groups "terrorists" then maybe we/Israel should be careful not to act as such.  Two wrongs do not make a right.      

This week I have enjoyed reading and viewing videos, graphs and images on the Los Angeles Times website about the state of the world's oceans, a five part series called Altered Oceans.  The journalism and the extent of sound research and work that went into this project was amazing.  I found it heartening that there are still journalists and publications out there using their power to inform and educate the public on important and underreported issues, such as this one.

What I did not find heartening was the findings of the reports.  They paint a grim picture indeed.

I have been watching this newest conflict in the Middle East with an increasing sense of a mix of dismay and horror.  Though fairly uneducated about the whole long and complicated history of the region, I have formed an opinion, not infallible, but mine at this point.  I am a person who is prone to choose the "underdog" and is always skeptical about anything the Bush Administration supports so fully.  With my very independent personality and background combining with a lack of personal connection to Israel, my sympathies lie with the Lebanese/Palestinian people.  You may disagree, many will I am sure, but it is better just to be open about where I stand from the start because this can get to be such an emotionally and bitterly debated issue.

More after the fold...  

I am angry, I am frustrated and I am tired of feeling helpless.  I am watching the news, listening to NPR, reading horrific diaries detailing the truth about what is happening in the entire Gulf region, but I still don't know what I can do.  I want to help.  I have given money to the American Red Cross, but I want to (and can) do more.  

I know I am not alone in this.  Almost everyone wants to help, but we are woefully uninformed.  If our government can't be relied upon to help, we must step in.  How?  Please give information and ideas to share here.  Thanks!!!

Okay girls, I have put this second edition off for far too long.  For those of you who were here last time, welcome back!  For those of you who weren't around, it is so nice to see (read) some fresh faces.  And for those of you who are men, shooo!  Hit the Road, Jack, if you know what I mean.  Nothin' to see here.  Move along now.  Take it somewhere else.

Dailykos is a community and like any community, we need a place where girls can be girls.  This is that place.  When I was growing up, often that place was the kitchen.  At family gatherings, the women would all gather casually in the warmth of the sunny kitchen and talk, usually while preparing some elaborate, delicious and more than likely fattening foods for the men (and us too, of course.)  We would catch up on each others lives and find out about each others interests, dreams, goals, secrets.  These are times that I look back on fondly.

Join us...    

Welcome!  All are welcome here for our first meeting of what I hope becomes a successful and thought provoking monthly chat about books with a progressive theme.  For the first month, I have selected George Lakoff's, "Don't Think of an Elephant!" an important, even essential IMHO, read for any serious progressive.  Much has been written about this book and its topic (framing) on daily kos, but for those without much background knowledge, a free pdf download of the first chapter is available at Chelsea Green.  

But why has so much been written about this book?  Why is it considered essential reading?  Who is this George Lakoff guy?  For answers to these questions and/or, for those in the know, a discussion of the book, please follow me over the bump...

More...

[editor's note, by bittergirl] Note Big Change to this diary after the bump... Food is a subject never far from my mind.  I love it.  It brings joy when very few things can.  Food accompanies all of the major events in our lives.  Birthdays, Holidays, Weddings and Anniversaries, Bar Mitzvahs, each have specific foods associated with its traditions.  Family get-togethers (at least in my family) are always used as excuses for grand meals.  It is difficult for me to think of a social occasion in my recent past that wasn't in some way related to food.  The smell of certain foods can take me back in time...  (Gosh, maybe I have a problem.)  

So, you may say, who cares?  What is your point?  

More...

A few minutes ago, I received in my inbox my regular newsletter from Sojourners, a progressive Christian group with the honorable goal of spiritual renewal and bringing social justice.  Each week, I find it fulfilling to read spiritual quotes and poignant articles about current events from a progressive Christian perspective, a voice that is generally hard to hear over all the loud-mouthed Evangelicals these days.  

Next week, a new book by the President of this ministry, Jim Wallis, will make its major debut.  The book, God's Politics : Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It
 is already available.  I haven't read it yet, but am ordering it.  You can get your copy here (at Powell's Independent Bookshop.)      

This has been a big week in the film industry.  With the Hollywood Foreign Press announcing its nominations for the 2005 Golden Globes.  So, were there any big surprises?  More...  

Update [2005-1-18 22:39:0 by bittergirl]: The book club is meeting now to discuss Lakoff's, Don't Think of an Elephant! Don't miss out! Update [2004-12-20 13:49:13 by bittergirl]:I have selected George Lakoff's, "Don't Think of an Elephant" for the first month's title selection. In about a month, we should meet up again. Hope to see (read) you then! This is a diary to find out if there is enough interest for me to start a new, monthly book club here.  I would love it but need feedback, ideas.  It is a fledgling idea and it needs your help to grow.  As jugwine mentioned, the recommended book list might be a good place to start.  What do you think???