Inside the Belly of the Beltway Beast

In less than 11 hours it will be 2011. I am convinced 2011 will be better than 2010 for progressives and Americans in general. The economy will not fully recover, but more and more people will begin to realize they are being lied to by many powerful folks in government and in multi-national corporations. This increased awareness is healthy and greatly needed. I am hopeful because more people realize the current mainstream lifestyle of outrageous oil consumption is unsustainable and that this will require a major shift of resources and a complete redesigning of the way we live our lives. Many newspapers, magazines, broadcast outlets at this time of year review the top three stories or trends that marked 2010 and a preview of the coming year... So, I've got three lists of my own. Top 3 Local Stories for progressive activists 1. 135, mostly veterans (including Daniel Ellsberg), arrested at White House fence demanding end to wars and occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq AFP article on ...

Happy holidays to everyone! Bruno and I are packing to go over to G'town very soon... Here's the show -- special thanks to Max from Baltimore. Listen to internet radio with GreenTeaParty on Blog Talk Radio

My most recent Internet Radio show. I think it went really well. What is Fracking and why did Pittsburgh ban it?

Sometimes you just need to escape reality, and sometimes you have a hankering for a good game. It's great when these two wants collide. For me that's been fantasy role-playing. My Pathfinder (sometimes called D&D 3.75) campaign has had more than two dozen sessions, and that's what I would consider a long-running campaign. The makeup of the game has changed a couple times, and I think we are settling down to the five players we have now. I am pleased with the gaming troupe we have. I mentioned in a previous blog posting about Mike and how he came late into the campaign and was playing a disruptive character. Honestly I think it was more Mike as a player. I have played several fantasy role-playing games with him in the past -- and as a player he is usually very impulsive and makes poor decisions. Overall, he's a better DM, but even that is not saying much... But anyhow, yes, he was asked not to return to the group. And this last session just had a better feel to it. H...

Many thanks to Julia Willebrand for joining me for an enlightening conversation... Listen to internet radio with GreenTeaParty on Blog Talk Radio

My new job is going well, and it appears our contract is being expanded. That means that my co-worker and I will be overlooking other contractors from our firm arriving within the next month or two as the project moves into the next phase. Today I am home on a paid holiday! I don't think I've ever had Veterans Day off from work before. Bruno is doing well, and it seems that he is gaining much better bladder control and his listening skills are improving, as well. Later this morning we are going down to the lake! Anyhow, let me dive into a couple things. I love cooking! And a few weeks ago I made this delicious and nutritious soup for myself and my housemates. Here's the recipe I created. First make the chicken stock -- I stole this from the cool cookbook my sister Ellen bought me. It's "Japanese Hot Pots" by Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat. 1 pound chicken bones and wings 12 cups water, plus more for boiling the bones Place the bones in a large stockpot, fill it ...

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Five more days until my next Internet Radio show! I promise to write more very soon. I will share some info about cooking, fantasy role-playing (the non-kinky kind), and updates about Bruno... But here is the link to the show Tuesday evening: BDS: Movement for a Free Palestine

It has been a while since I wrote anything on this blog of mine. Well, I have started my new job at the Library of Congress! Very happy with that development, as poverty got real old. Can't really claim to be an activist currently, but I can say I am a proud former activist. I am considering pulling together a big fundraiser for heroic whistleblower Bradley Manning, but other than that -- no real activism/organizing. I am focused on doing my job and spending time with my best friend: Bruno. How was that for an introduction? OK, every morning, I am exposed to Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano urging commuters to report any suspicious activity they may witness within the Metro system. It just has a very eerie and paranoid feel to it -- Big Sister is looking out for us, and watching us. It's also a blatant reminder that this country has changed a lot since my childhood (the national anthem still mentions "home of the brave," right?) This as news reports of peac...

I knew James Lee, the one the media is calling an environmental extremist, and who walked into Discovery Channel's HQ yesterday with a gun and some explosive devices. He came to many Washington Peace Center and Code Pink protests and events, and he liked to go by his last name only. In November 2008, he posted a video of the now late William Thomas (at his 24-hour anti-nuke vigil across from the White House) in a drunken state on the Washington Peace Center's blog (at that time it was open to the public). This video certainly did not help Thomas or his wife Ellen. He also posted extremely random and outrageous posts, clearly stating that he had the answers for world peace (drastic population reduction was a central one) and all of us at the Washington Peace Center should follow his instructions. It was a bit of an ordeal. He protested the small Washington Peace Center office for three or four days with a bullhorn, and then we entered into an informal mediation with him. Not muc...

Really glad to have done this show. I think eventually Mountaintop Removal will be abolished! Special thanks to Bo Webb and everyone at Coal River Mountain Watch. NoVa Greens Talk: Ending Mountaintop Removal

I told myself I was going to write a huge blog entry on all things going on with me personally, professionally, and activism-wise. I am at the end of significant relationship and will be moving into a fun home in College Park in August. I get to keep the dog, my number one canine -- Bruno -- and my new housemates are enthusiastically welcoming him! The resident feline, however, does not seem to enthused. I think the two can still warm up to each other, and frankly I doubt Bruno even really understands all things cat. In regards to my profession, I have been studying a bit for the certified archivist exam on August 11th. Although I have been told by some that since I have a master's degree in library and information science with some archives classes (and work experience), I don't really need this certification. Personally, I think it will strengthen my candidacy as I continue to job search (which has been a long and often disappointing process). However, I am very close to land...

It was sort of a test run, but it actually is a pretty good introduction to our local political group, Northern Virginia Greens. We plan on making this a monthly 30-minute effort! An introduction the Northern Virginia Greens

First there was Shamai Leibowitz receiving the longest jail sentence in U.S. history for a whistleblower earlier this year, and now there is the case of Australian-born investigative journalist Julian Assange actively being sought by the U.S. Government -- and the arrested, but not yet charged, 22 year-old Pfc. Bradley Manning. Manning should be a hero for exposing war crimes. However, he is being treated as a dangerous criminal and held indefinitely in Iraq. According to an Internet chat with a convicted felon who subsequently betrayed him, Manning explained why he allegedly gave whistleblower site WikiLeaks two massacre videos (the first released, the second coming very soon) and reportedly 260,000 diplomatic cables: "I want people to see the truth… regardless of who they are, because without information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public." This is evolving into a fascinating case of freedom of the press, and the right of the people to information in a democrac...

May we all take up the cause as Steve did, and perhaps more importantly in the *manner* that he did. I spoke with Steve by phone a week before he passed. He was in a whole lot of pain and the drugs were not helping. I forced back tears, as I was talking with him. The conversation was too brief, as was the time I knew this great guy. As I ended the conversation, I said "Steve, you know what? There's a whole lot of us in D.C. who love you." He just responded that he loved all of us, as well. I had been arrested with Steve a handful of times, as we resisted the empire's wars and its unjust detaining and mistreatment fellow human beings. He always arrived in DC with a smile and open arms for a hug and a kind word, or two, or three. Steve never had an unkind word for anyone. He became very involved with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance over the last four years, and that's how I got to know him better.He always provided this wonderful source of positive e...

Anti-War Group Peace of the Action led by Cindy Sheehan Refuses to Leave and Will Expand Anti-War Encampment, Camp OUT NOW, While Permit Runs Out Press Contacts Robby Diesu 631-241-5966 robby@peaceoftheaction.org DC Coordinator Polly Miller 202-595-5892 polly@peaceoftheaction.org DC Coordinator www.peaceoftheaction.org Monday, March 22nd at 11:30 am Camp OUT NOW (between 15th and 17th on Constitution NW) parking is available on Constitution. Cindy Sheehan has spent the weekend in jail and will be arraigned on Monday. Directly following her arraignment she will join with fellow members of Peace of the Action, and follow through on the plans to continue the camp after the permit runs out. The group is planning on staying in there current location, between 15th and 17th on Constitution NW, and from there moving to directly in front of the White House (Lafayette Park side) after the police force the shut down at their current location. The group will continue their encampment until the...

Peace of the Action swung into action today, setting up Camp Out Now. Cindy Sheehan, who I am quite happy to have gotten to know, has no plans of leaving until the War OF Terror begins to end. Please stop by and visit Peace of the Action on the north side of the Washington Monument. Hard to miss, as the tents are directly across Constitution Avenue from the back of the White House. This morning as we were setting up camp, we did a sun dance with some drumming, the rain stopped, Ann Wright joined us, and Obama flew over in his helicopter -- Cindy was the first one to react waving the peace sign! Weather should improve during the week, and there will probably be more chances to interact with the president. Reports coming from camp this evening is that more tents have been set up next to the larger communal tent and the police are not happy with this. We shall see how this plays out. From CNN's Shannan Adler Washington (CNN) - Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, who became a household na...

The first meeting of the now revitalized Greens Party of Fairfax County was held yesterday at the Oakton Public Library. I am glad to be working with Green veterans Jim Lowenstern and Paul Hughes. Jim has run for House of Delegates in the past. Paul started the meeting with a presentation on corporate personhood, which has again become a hot topic in light of the Supreme Court's disastrous decision stating that money equaled free speech and that corporations are entitled to the same First Amendment rights that we as human citizens of the U.S. enjoy. We had a larger turnout than expected at this meeting. A couple Greens moving to the area from other states, and three folks who are new to the Green Party but expressed an interest in becoming involved. I truly believe we can make a difference on the local level, and I hope more progressives will become actively involved in their own communities. Our next meeting in March will continue where we left off in deciding which local issues w...

I promised myself I would write this for a while now. Dissatisfied with the pace of change and lack of cohesion and supportive community within the peace and justice movement, I decided to return to my own life and focus on building my career and having a good life with my partner. I knew I would be taking a long break from activism and organizing before I even went to jail (Dec. 18-21), but my time in there simply confirmed this in my own mind. I realized that leaving this "movement" was the right thing, but at the same time I was annoyed that people I cared for were sacrificing a great deal more than 98% of the rest of the peace and justice movement, and were getting precious little support. I wanted to make a point about this. This fact exposes a major injustice. I also was not getting hardly any support for my own ordeal. Furthermore, a few I had considered good friends had already turned against me. They were angry that I would challenge them, and be so completely honest...

Lindsay is a great young Catholic Worker. She has already impressed me with her always cheerful demeanor, and quiet and strong spirituality. I thank her for this powerful letter, which reminds me what it's all about. Lindsay Hagerman , New York, NY Friday, January 15, 2010: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday Dear Roman, Simone, Greg, Phil, David, and the rest of the people who shared a table with me at John Yoo's talk this afternoon: I wish I had enough foresight to hand you a note when I left our table. Since I did not, I am left to pray that this letter reaches each of you. This afternoon at twelve o'clock, I joined your table in the center of the banquet room for John Yoo's book signing and luncheon/talk. We chatted for about a half an hour until the speaking began. Soon after John began to speak, my friend Bob stood up by his table behind us. Some of you looked back and saw him standing silently with a black hood over his head, holding a sign that read ...

Do you agree with these? Ecological Wisdom Whatever we do to the web of life, we do to ourselves. We advocate stewardship of our resources for the continued health of our communities and our planet. Social Justice Everyone should share in the fruits of our society regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, class, age, or disability. We work for a world in which all can live free of fear and discrimination Grassroots Democracy Citizens have the right and responsibility to participate in the environmental, political, and economic decisions that affect their lives. Nonviolence We reject violence at all levels of society, from the family to the nation. We promote peace by working for justice and by advocating non-violent resolution to conflict. Decentralization Concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the few contributes to social and economic injustice as well as environmental destruction. We call for the return of local decision-making so individuals and communities may act...

By Jean Athey Gaza Freedom March Fourth Letter: December 31, 2009 Over 1300 people came to Cairo this week from all over the world, hoping to join Palestinians today in a nonviolent Gaza Freedom March to end the blockade. Since we were prohibited from going to Gaza, we decided to march in Cairo today instead. We hoped to step off at 10 a.m., the same time as the march in Gaza was to begin. Many people managed to make it to the location selected for the march—near the Egyptian Museum-- but they were quickly and forcibly removed from the street; a few were injured and some had their cameras destroyed. Once off the street and onto the sidewalk, protesters were surrounded by riot police, and there they remained all day. I was one of those who didn’t manage to get to the march. Egyptian police surrounded the Lotus Hotel early this morning, where many people are staying, including me, and they prevented us from leaving. The government also cut off Internet access to the hotel. We were able ...