Video courtesy Forecast the Facts.
Category Archives: News
Humane Society Still Rescuing Animals After Hurricane Sandy
In the ongoing calamity that is Hurricane Sandy, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals remains determined to rescue vulnerable animals. Here’s where everyone can help. Text either ANIMALS to 20222 or PREVENT to 25383 to donate $10 to the ASPCA, or simply visit the ASPCA web site.
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November Is National American Indian Heritage Month
Since 1990, November has been marked as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Efforts to set aside at least a day to honor America’s indigenous peoples go back to 1915, when Red Fox James, a member of the Blackfoot nation, rode horseback from state to state calling for a day to honor Native Americans. The first “American Indian Day” was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, legislators enacted “American Indian Day” in 1919. Presently, several states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be a day observed without any recognition as a national legal holiday. It’s way past time for that to change. Meanwhile, please check out the “Native American Heritage Month” site for local activities.
Image courtesy “White Wolf Pack.”
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Saving the Animals, Too
Unlike Hurricane Katrina, there has been a concerted effort to save animals along with people in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. As many coastal residents evacuated ahead of the storm, they brought their pets with them to shelters. And, for those trapped in their homes by the floodwaters, their pets are being rescued along with them. This is in stark contrast to the Katrina debacle, when not only were animals refused entry into shelters, the Coast Guard and other rescue personnel forced people to leave their pets behind.
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More Statesmanship in Action
“It’s been very good working with the President. He and his Administration have been coordinating with us. It’s been wonderful.”
– New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, about President Obama, on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“I want to just let you know that your governor is working overtime to make sure that, as soon as possible, everybody can get back to normal.”
– President Obama, about Governor Christie.
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Write Off
For the scriptually-challenged – yes, that’s a real term – the month of November has been designated by “Saint Literature” as “National Novel Writing Month,” a month to challenge prospective writers to produce a complete novel in 30 days. The technical goal is 50,000 words, which is about 1,700 words, or 6 double-spaced manuscript pages per day. “NaNoWriMo” began in July 1999, when a group of San Francisco writers decided to see what they could do with the written word in a month’s time. As with any artistic endeavor, the purpose was merely to make a statement – whatever that’s supposed to mean. In 2000, they moved the challenge to November. Last year 256,618 people took part in the event, and 36,843 succeeded in writing a complete novel.
Some have criticized it as a waste of time and energy. Who, after all, produces a quality literary piece in 30 days? As with any art work, though, it’s all a matter of perception. Some people may read my stuff and think it’s crap. I respect their decision, as I light a curse candle at midnight on their behalf. Make of it what you will, but we writers are the voices of our respective communities. If we didn’t put words to paper or computer screen, children would go blind from masturbating too much and more people would vote Republican.
Image courtesy of “NaNoWriMo.”
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Movember!
Since 2004, “Movember” has sought to bring attention to prostate and testicular cancers and raise money to combat them. The “Movember” movement urges men to grow moustaches – a uniquely masculine characteristic – as a sign of support. Despite years of progress, unfortunately many men still don’t take their health serious enough. A number of men know more about their vehicles and guns than the workings of their own bodies. It’s part of the hyper-masculine persona that males – especially in the U.S. – are bred to possess; they’re raised with the belief that they must always be strong, both physically and emotionally, lest they be deemed weak and effeminate and therefore, absolute failures. Believe me – I’ve been there. Even I don’t like going to the doctor, and my first visit to an urologist a few years ago was fraught with suspicion. But, since I convinced my father to visit an urologist several years earlier, I figured I’d better live up to my own words. Still, male genitalia are often the subjects of bad jokes and worse comedy movie plots.
The first week in April is considered “Testicular Cancer Awareness,” and this past August President Obama designated September 2012 as “National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.” That pretty much proves how little attention this gets on the national level. But, as with any health issue, “Movember” doesn’t just want a single week or month out of the year dedicated to its cause. Everyone’s health is important, but people have to take decisive action on their own.
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Hypocrisy in Action
“One thing he’s gonna be asked is, why did he jump on [the hurricane] so quickly and go back to D.C. so quickly when in…Benghazi, he went to Las Vegas? Why was this so quick?… At some point, somebody’s going to ask that question…. This is like the inverse of Benghazi.”
– Former FEMA Director Michael Brown, criticizing President Obama’s rapid response to Hurricane Sandy as opposed to his alleged dismal response to the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Syria last month.
Brown was head of FEMA when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005, and of course, we all know what a stellar job he did with that mess. Aside from the blatant mendacity in claiming Obama reacted “too fast” to Hurricane Sandy, dragging the Benghazi attack into the debacle is the epitome of partisanship. But, I would expect nothing less arrogant and disrespectful from a Bush appointee.
Chief Writing Wolf 
More Stupidity in Action
“Obama’s making these phone calls, looking for somebody to play the role of a Greek column today, and he found Gov. Christie to do it. Christie’s the only Republican not just praising Obama . . . Let’s just put it this way: Is it wrong for one man to love another man? But that man-love out there is isolated in the state of New Jersey.”
– Rush Limbaugh on his radio show, condemning Chris Christie for working with President Obama on the Hurricane Sandy aftermath.
This is the downside of free speech: anyone with a microphone, computer or bullhorn can say just about anything they want – no matter how blatantly asinine.
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