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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Have you seen my friend Harvey the rabbit? Do you have one in your own life (or imagination)?
Like a "Harvey," the shadow of my grandfather follows me most places.He stays out of the bathroom though.
There are special friends and then there are "special" friends. I believe it is still more common for young children to have "special" friends than it is for adults. You know, the imaginary kind. The popular concept is that children who feel neglected or isolated without playmates will create an imaginary companion to join them in their games and pass times. I'm not a child (ymmv), I'm not neglected (though am recently an empty-nester), and I of late am not totally bereft of playmates (nevermind). Yet, I too, have an imaginary companion (please, no one file restraining orders). Something like my own private "
Harvey."
I love the 1950 move "Harvey." It speaks to me on so many levels. I like the idea of an individual who seems to stumble by in life nearly oblivious to the pitfalls that surround them...and yet manages to come out fine. I love the concept of the happy drunk (I've met very few actual happy ones in real life). What I think I love most of all about it is the mentor/companion theme represented by the invisible rabbit.
From imdb-
"Due to his insistence that he has an invisible six-foot rabbit for a best friend, a whimsical middle-aged man is thought by his family to be insane - but he may be wiser than anyone knows."
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Elwood P. Dowd: Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.
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Elwood P. Dowd: Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it.
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Wilson: Is he alone?
Mr. Cracker, the Bartender: Well, there's two schools of thought, sir.
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Elwood P. Dowd: You see, science has overcome time and space. Well, Harvey has overcome not only time and space, but any objections.
Dr. Chumley: Fly specks, fly specks! I've been spending my life among fly specks while miracles have been leaning on lampposts at 18th and Fairfax!
My grandfather in costume 1928. My own personal "Harvey."
My deceased grandfather sort of follows me around. While my mom tends to represent my political consciousness, granddad steps in as-needed for just about anything else. In the attached photo he's clowning it up as an assassin in 1928, but he was neither an assassin nor a clown. He was very talented, very complex and very much haunted by the memory of his wife who died giving birth to my mom. He did though have an extremely sharp wit and loved the humor he often displayed in his various jobs as a wordsmith.
Okay, I'm not as sure as Elwood P. Dowd that my own "Harvey" actually tramps about town with me, but I like to think he does. Who else could I blame for all the adventures I get into and the mishaps that befall me? I certainly don't want to blame those on my own alternate bouts of inspiration and idiocy.
Do you have a "Harvey" in your life? Who follows you around in your head? What invisible presence whispers into your ear?
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
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
Los Angeles Kossacks June 28th Meetup Report
by susans ♥ for Los Angeles Kossacks
The Los Angeles Kossacks ranks have increased by 40% in the last few months. New members attended the latest recreational field trip to see the retired space shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center in Exposition Park near downtown Los Angeles.
Back Row L-R: Vyan, Chiwere, susans, Otoelbc, mommyp00ka, Ducktape
Front Row L-R: Robin, 714day, Little Loner, Moody Loner, jakedog42 and grandaughter, SanFernandoValleyMom
Please visit susans's diary for details on the Space Shuttle. You can still REC it. You can join Los Angeles Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to susans.
by John Crapper ♥ for Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks
Organizer John Crapper completed another meet-up, from his agenda:
Next, I updated the group on our efforts to identify campaigns we would like to assist in the upcoming elections. There are three that have been under active discussion but nothing has been firmly decided. We all agreed it was important to pick races that would help Washington Democrats regain control of the Senate.
Next, I asked for ideas, suggestions and assistance identifying future guest speakers. In connection with that I urged all to invite their friends to become Kossacks and join us to enhance our clout.
Longtime Kossack
LarisaW, President of
Progressive Radio Northwest (PRNW), was in attendance. She is leading an effort to bring back progressive radio to the NW.
All photos courtesy of mlharges:
L-R: John Crapper - John Crapper, his SO & momomia - TBoneApollo - Piren
L-R: EagleKeeper - Flamingogrrl - doingbusinessas - momomia
Please visit John Crapper's diary for MORE photos and commentary! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to John Crapper.
by Avilyn ♥ for New Jersey Kossacks
The New Jersey Kossacks held their inaugural meet-up on June 14, 2014. Thanks so much to Avilyn for taking up the reins and leading this important group. She noticed in all of the Christy diaries that many New Jersey folk came out of lurking or signed up to comment. She was motivated by this to start this group. I'm glad because there's a lot of work to do in New Jersey. I also noticed in her start-up diaries that many people couldn't attend this event but wanted to be invited to the next event. She had 18 Kossacks sign up with her first announcement of the new group. This is excellent and I'm sure there are more New Jersey Kossacks out there.
Here's the group photo:
L-R: Christin, Mr. Christin, belinda ridgewood, zitherhamster
Please visit Avilyn's diary for many MORE photos plus food pr0n! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join New Jersey Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Avilyn.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Tuesday, July 15th
Nashville Kossacks Meet-up at a Music Venue
The Players featuring Brent Mason, John Hobbs, Paul Franklin, Eddie Bayers, and Michael Rhodes
Price: $10.00 [Tickets]
DINNER TIME: 6:00 PM?
SHOW TIME: 9:30 PM
LOCATION: 3rd and Lindsley Music Venue, Bar & Grill (menu)
818 3rd Ave. S • Nashville
ORGANIZER: Send ZenTrainer a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. ZenTrainer
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Nashville KosKats Meet-Up July 15th
Wednesday, July 16th
Annual Cheers & Jeers Dinner to Kick-Off NN14, Kossacks Only
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Vicente's Cuban Cuisine
1250 Library St • Detroit
A 0.6 mile walk from the host hotel, the Marriott
The blue dots represent the walking-on-foot route. The grey lines are the People Mover routes.
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to RSVP.
RSVPs:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. norm
8. maggiejean
9. Shockwave
10. a gilas girl
11. susans
12. Sara R
13. belinda ridgewood
14. sidnora
15. Mr. sidnora
16. thankgodforairamerica
17. brillig
18. mik
19. K1
20. loggersbrat
21. Dave in Northridge
22. 714day
23. NormAl1792
24. winifred3
25. texasdad
26. texasmom
27. peregrine kate
28. provokingmeaning
29. justiceputnam
30. tmservo433
31. Mark E Andersen
32. Son of Mark E Andersen
33. winkk
34. theRoaringGirl
35. shermanesq
36. Doggie269
37. shanikka
38. jakedog42
39. ramara
40. skohayes
41. DebtorsPrison
42. gmats
43. Adam Blomeke
44. LuLu
45. Chicklette
46. PerfectStormer
47. 4Freedom
48. DemSign
49. vicki
50. Cedwyn
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Daily Kos Staff:
1. Markos Moulitsas
2. Susan Gardner
3. Will Rockafellow
4. Meteor Blades
5. Joan McCarter
6. Faith Gardner
7. Laura Clawson
8. Chris Bowers
9. navajo
10. Jen Hayden
11. Elisa Batista
12. Denise Oliver-Velez
51. jotter
52. aha aha
53. Dennis Shreefer
54. ohmydem
55. Brainwrap
56. Mrs. Brainwrap
57. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
58. Anne Savage
59. BlueBarnStormer
60. sandiegodem
61. Pam Miles
62. TexMex
63. linkage
64. 2thanks
65. bunnygirl60
66. binkaroni
67. zenbassoon
68. nomandates
69. thepegster
70. Ooooh
71. figbash
72. TrueBlueMajority
73. tgypsy
74. slowbutsure
75. cooper888
76. gotmooned
77. Muskegon Critic
78. belinda's dad
79. ericlewis0
80. mideedah
81. sherman54
82. Larry Kestenbaum
83. ChemBob
84. Shenna Bellows (ME-Sen)
85. MI Sooner
86. Hope Despite All
87. Puddytat
88. pucklady
89. Ann Porter
+ Ten scholarship recipients
Maybees: Turbonerd
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Thursday, July 17th
Daily Kos Caucus
TIME: 1:00 - 2:15 PM Please note this time change to accommodate Vice President Biden's Keynote at 3:30
LOCATION: Cobo Center, Room 353
Caucus lead by Markos Moulitsas and staff
Plenary Session Tables during the rest of the Convention
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to have a seat reserved for you in the main ballroom of the convention center for the big events. These tables will be there so we can all find each other as a group. The seating is not assigned. You can float from table to table. I'm only counting to see how many tables I need to reserve.
Motor City Kossacks:
1. peregrine kate
2. provokingmeaning
3. ChemBob
4. Brainwrap
5. Mrs. Brainwrap
6. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
7. 2thanks
8. Sydneyluv
9. DoReMI
10. Mideedah
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Motor City Kossacks:
1. GwenM
2. dkmich
3. NormAl1792
4. tgypsy [Honorary]
5. gregsullmich
6. SharonRB
7. SharonRB's friend
8. Muskegon Critic
9. ICanDoThis
10. Mr. ICanDoThis
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SFKossacks Table:
1. navajo
2. Meteor Blades
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. Tim Delaney [Honorary]
8. maggiejean
9. Jeff in CA
10. Mrs. Jeff in CA
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SFKossacks Table II:
1. a gilas girl [Honorary]
2. justiceputnam
3. Dragon5616 [Honorary]
4. DebtorsPrison [Honorary]
5. tmservo433 [Honorary]
6. shanikka
7. aha aha
8. jotter
9. norm
10. figbash [Honorary]
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Los Angeles Table:
1. Shockwave
2. susans
3. Dave in Northridge
4. gmats
5. 714day
6. jakedog42
7. slowbutsure
8. cooper888 [Honorary]
9. gotmooned [Honorary]
10. zenbassoon [Honorary]
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New York Table:
1. sidnora
2. Mr. sidnora
3. belinda ridgewood
4. thankgodforairamerica
5. Denise Oliver-Velez
6. hayden
7. TrueBlueMajority [Honorary]
8. belinda's dad
9. MBNYC
10. ericlewis0 |
Seattle, Portland & Texas Table:
1. Lefty Coaster
2. Sara R
3. loggersbrat
4. Albanius [Honorary]
5. linkage
6. nomandates
7. texasmom
8. texasdad
9. TexMex
10. 4Freedom [Honorary]
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Cheers & Jeers Table:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. brillig
4. mik
5. K1
6. vicki
7. Cedwyn
8. Pam Miles
9. shermanesque and
10. doggie269
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Maybees:
kjoftherock, angry marmot, boran2, Turbonerd, northerntier, northerntier's SO,
Friday, July 18th
Daily Kos Detroit VA Hospital Service Project
Sara R delivers 65 quilts, hand knit scarves and hats, books, 65 teddy bears, hand made greeting cards, and phone cards from the DK Quilt Guild, WAYWO, the Readers & Book Lovers, IGTNT and individual Kossacks to the nursing home at the Detroit VA Hospital. This is a wonderful project that many people can be involved with even if they don't attend the convention. If you care about veterans in a nursing home this is your project. Please volunteer to help.
DELIVERY TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Volunteer Office of the Detroit VA Hospital
4646 John R St. • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a Kosmail to participate in making the gifts and/or deliver them.
RSVPs to help deliver gifts:
1. Sara R
2. NormAl1792
3. Winifred
4. linkage (videographer)
5.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DK Quilt Guild: What Inspires You?
Friday, July 18th
Rally from Netroots Nation to Sound Call: ‘Turn on the Water. Tax Wall Street’
Nurses, Activists, Cite Public Health Emergency Demand Moratorium End to Water Shutoffs
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Cobo Center, Washington & W. Congress St
RALLY: 1:45 PM Hart Plaza
Latest diary: New Protest re: Detroit Water Shutoffs--Fri. 7/18, 12:30 PM @ Cobo Center (NN14 site)
Sunday, July 20th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Meet-up with Lyon County Democrats & Governor Candidate Paul Davis
Paul Davis (D-KS) who is running against Sam Brownback will be present. Potluck Dinner format and short meeting for Kossacks/Democrats afterwards. There will also be several other candidates and a full meeting of the county party.
POTLUCK!
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Emporia Senior Center
603 E 12th Ave • Emporia, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Tim Huelskamp Asserts Benghazi is a Bipartisan Conspiracy.. And the Man who Could Beat him this year
Saturday, July 26th
Meet the Candidates in Hutchinson, Kansas!
• Jean Shodorf (Candidate for Secretary of State)
• Brian E Davis (Candidate for State House of Representatives)
• Jim Sherow (Candidate for 1st District US House of Representatives)
• Jill Docking (Candidate, Lt. Governor)
• Various County Party Leadership
TIME: 11:00-3:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyle Park
100 E. Ave. B • Hutchinson
BBQ, watermelon and other food provided. Bring a lawn chair.
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Major Kansas Events: Your Chance to Change a State
Sunday, July 27th
Phoenix Kossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for navajo
Event will be potluck, so please sign up here with food, beverages or booze
TIME: 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Mother Mag's Rooftop Terrace
(address given privately to RSVPs) • Downtown Phoenix
ORGANIZER: Send Mother Mags a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Mother Mags
2. navajo
3. Azazello
4. Mrs. Azazello
5. arizonablue
6. Mr. arizonablue
7. Kane in CA
8. puzzled
9. Late Again
10. Mr. Late Again
11. rasbobbo
12. DaNang65
13. Stripe
14. Sun Tzu
15. threegoal
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Maybees:
dewey of the desert
Mr. dewey of the desert
PSzymeczek
Skippah
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Latest diary: Arizona meet-up: Summer potluck with Navajo!
Saturday, August 9th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Picnic - Local Candidate Speaks
Meet at the Hays city park to enjoy a free hamburger/hotdog/watermelon feed. Jim Sherow along with other local candidates will be speaking.
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Municipal Park
1st and Main • Hays, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2. Skohays
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Major Kansas Events: Your Chance to Change a State
Saturday, August 9th
LA Kossacks Meet-up
With guest speaker Bill Zimmerman
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • Downtown Los Angeles
ORGANIZER: Send susans a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. susans
2. Shockwave
3. navajo
4. Meteor Blades
5. Knucklehead
6. SanFernandoValleyMom
7. Otoelbc
8. Chiwere
9. Vyan
10. 714day
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Los Angeles Kossacks June 28th Meetup Report
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.