Mid-Terms: 6 Days Away

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Do you feel like this kid? Is the hand a help or hinderance?

When Joe Biden said Democracy is on the ballot he got it right. Wish I could come up with something funny like Stephen Colbert, and his writers, but while I lack his talent am eternally grateful for his wit. He keeps it in perspective.

Every night his monologue empties the angst. Thanks, Stephen.

We are in serious trouble if more clowns get in power. The Maddow Ultra Podcast describes a similar incident which happened in the 1940’s when our legislators were infiltrated by Nazi spies sending citizens propaganda using our tax money to do it. Good people came forward, the system worked and we survived, so have faith we will again.

While I believe we will survive living through the process will continue to be a nightmare. When Clinton was in office I recall him contacting the news outlets as people were becoming terrified over the reporting of tsunamis. Maybe we should do the same with the political tsunamis, however, I think we need to be aware of every legislator’s actions.

We need to know what these people in power are doing, and keep them accountable.

Please don’t destroy Social Security. I thought I already paid for it???

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Something else.. make campaign season only 3 months, and do this process a different way. Have town halls with the candidates stating what they plan to do, or have done. Cap the spending on campaigns, repub have spent $770 million as of several weeks ago – oh, what this money could be better spent on.

Have these folks out with their peeps – face us. Isn’t that how the orange prez got his power – take a lesson if anything from this. And while I am a devout Democrat I have even gotten, (in error), emails from the florida senators. While this reinforced they are against everything I stand for I read it.

We need to be informed on what these players are up to.

and

We need a winning season where we all come together.

Iranian Women: Enough!

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The 40 day mourning period for Masha Amini, the 22 year old beaten to death by police for not wearing a hijab appropriately, has ended. However, the women of Iran persist in their actions, and are bringing the men along in this fight. As one commentator stated, “the women of Iran are the heartbeat,” and have galvanized their anti-regime movement. To date 300 have died along with 29 children in the last 5 weeks.

Support from the rest of the world has been welcomed by this group, even including the U.S.sanctions against Iranian officials. Women believe, this revolution will occur without war or military intervention. And since Iran’s only ally, russia, is already involved in a loosing war it is doubtful any assist would be offered from putin or elsewhere.

There is a 98% literacy rate among Iranian women, and in many cases women are better educated than their male counterparts. They have and continue to hold positions of power within the government, and firmly believe now is the time for revolution.

And all this occurred because of a scarf.

Next Step: Banning School Newspapers

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After writing the book ban blog NPR had an interesting expose on a Nebraska High School which closed its student newspaper after the board became aware that an issue with information on LGBTQ was to be published. The Viking Saga is no longer after winning 3rd in the State as school newspaper.

Because of a 1988 Supreme Court decision schools can censure.

Sad, as ignorance only breeds hate.

Photo by Alexander Grey on Pexels.com

Banning Books – Get A Life

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As I read about this issue I become enraged. The parents who are supposedly protecting their children are the ones who were hiding under their blankets with a flashlight reading these same books as a child. Banning books is the first step in the loss of freedom and democracy.

The rep candidate for gov in Michigan spoke out on this issue at her debate with the current Governor. Thank goodness this gal is 17 points behind as she came across as a nut case in her argument to ban books. If children are not educated how are they to effectively operate in the real world?

The more educated our children are the more able they will know how to choose right or wrong.

Isn’t that what freedom is about?

Think these holy rolling parents and grandparents need to wake up, get a life, and let educators educate.

Americans Forgot..

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With the Biden approval rating at 42% think Americans have forgot what this President’s administration has accomplished:

  • DACA – finalized a rule to protect 600,000 “Dreamers,” from legal challenges
  • The American Rescue Plan – long term changes which will effect our economy and environment
  • COVID – enormous changes to protect citizens, greater than 300 million “shots” under Biden
  • COVID Hate Crime Legislation
  • Juneteenth National Independence Act
  • Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act
  • Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
  • First female black Supreme Court Judge
  • Chips Bill Legislation
  • Veterans Burn Pit Exposure Recognition Act
  • Rejoined Paris Climate Change Agreement
  • Ended Afghanistan War
  • College Loan Debt Relief Program
  • Gas Prices Down
  • 10 Million Jobs – greatest job creation by any President’s administration…

These decisions will make our lives better.

republicans complain, but have no plan, only to destroy Social Security, impeach Biden, and destroy all that has been done.

Aren’t you tired of complaints, divisiveness, and hate? It’s time to come together and move forward.

Remember this, and

for those with children – bring them in when you vote. Teach them the importance of voting and citizenship.

I guarantee they’ll always remember receiving their sticker.

Dia de Muertos: Day of the Dead

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My daughter and beau are currently celebrating this holiday in Mexico. November 1st is All Saints Day, and November 2nd is All Souls Day in the Christian Church calendar. 3,000 years ago this holiday began in Central Mexico as a way to celebrate through food and drink with deceased relatives souls. Masking is a big portion of this festival as is decorating Mexican cities.

Some pictures of the city adorned for this festival..

More of Mexico City visit, sorry don’t have the name for this site, but sure looks great..

Looks like it was quite a 40th birthday!

Halloween 2022

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Halloween began over 2000 years ago with the Celts. Thanks to the Irish for this holiday! It was known as the Festival of Samhain which honored and worshipped their ancestors. It is now observed in countless countries with parties and costumes. Some Christians celebrate through church services and light candles on the graves of the dead. Others celebrate by eating vegetarian foods.

Halloween is also known as:

Hallowe’en
All Hallowe’en
All Hallows’ Eve
All Saints’ Eve
O

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And…whatever you do to celebrate – Have Fun! Stay Safe! and Enjoy!

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Haunted House – St. Augustine County Jail

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For the last several years there has been a haunted house at the former St. Augustine County Jail. Built in 1953, this jail replaced the former jail in downtown St. Augustine which is on the city trolley tour.

Always fascinated by jails and prisons, (as in a former life I was a NYS Prison administrator), couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit this facility. Even though it was decked in Halloween attire remnants of bathrooms, cells, and the like were still visible.

The facility incarcerated hundreds of demonstrators during the 1960 Civil Rights Movement, and while no longer in use for its stated purpose it has become a pivotal player on the St. John’s County Freedom Trail.

The jail is next to the elections office where I was doing poll work. So.. after my enjoyable 12 hour day assisting close to 900 citizens to vote decided to stop by. Have you voted? Let’s hope so! Democracy is in the balance.

The area outside the haunted house had many costumed characters, jumping booths for children, decorated sheriff cars, and food venues.

Some fun and scary characters…

The haunted house allowed no photos with 6 to 7 customers entering every 2 minutes for a 10 minute romp guided by sheriff staff. It was a very creative and scary with ghosts and goblins hiding around every corner, and occupying each cell.

Once the visit ended there were even costumed characters outside to chase patrons on their way.

Fun for all!

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Wanted to know what good cause the $20 fee was going to so inquired. The gal said most of the money would sponsor the sheriff’s police dogs. They need bullet proof vests, and special training. I mentioned how Bedford Hills Correctional Facility has a program where the female inmates train these dogs. Said thiswould be a good idea for a program for Florida inmates. She was aware of the program, and I went on my way not wanting to offend. Because as the bumper sticker states –

“We don’t care how you do in the North.”

Later as I walked away I began to sadly think how important it is for sheriff officers to have a police dog and why would they have to have a fund raiser for this rather than a designated budget item? Then I thought of how governor desantis spent $12 million on shipping Texas immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard, and another $5.7 million on voter police in Florida, for few voter irregularities.

Wouldn’t the money be better spent on dogs to protect the sheriff’s?

and

Isn’t the republican party the law and order party or so they say?

Something to think about.

proud boys ain’t that proud.

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In November 2020 my daughter, her beau, and I visited Washington D.C. for an early holiday visit. To our disappointment we stayed in the same hotel as the proud boys. In fact they were on the same floor as my daughter and her beau. Watching television with them proved problematic as these individuals were screaming, and running up and down the pungent marijuana filled hallways. One wonders where the money came from to get these individuals to DC, pay for a hotel, marijuana?.

Needless to say it was not a pleasant stay.

When my daughter spoke with them she lied stating she was pregnant and needed quiet. They eventually returned to the hotel’s outside bar. While they continued their antics outside the noise rafted up to our hotel floor. The next day we were told there was a stabbing outside the hotel and were grateful to be leaving that day.

Started to think about this group after reading how Penn State students invited the founder of the proud boys to a comedy show. Things became violent and all was cancelled,,,.

Where was the administration of this college when plans for this were underway???

Internet facts about these boys from Google:

1. The Group Considers Themselves a Multi-Racial  ‘Fraternal Brotherhood’ Who ‘Disavows Nazis’ & Racists

2. The Proud Boys Say There Are 10 Ways to ‘Save America’ Including Giving Everyone a Gun, Abolishing Prisons & Legalizing Drugs

3. Proud Boys Are Only Allowed to Masturbate Alone Once a Month & They Revere the Housewife While Maligning the Feminist

4. 2 Members of The Proud Boys Are Serving Prison Time for Attacking Anti-Fascists Protestors

5. A Proud Boy Meets the Highest Status Degree if They ‘Engage in a Major Conflict for the Cause’ & Their Anthem Is an Omitted Song Written for Disney’s Aladdin

There are 119 proud boys in 46 states.

Scary – isn’t it?