The Koch Brothers - Keeping You Sick and Themselves Rich

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* Ralph Nader: Koch Brothers Led Fight to Defend Formaldehyde Despite Carcinogenic Evidence The government has added formaldehyde to a list of known carcinogens, despite years of lobbying by the chemical industry. Formaldehyde is found in plastics and often used in plywood, particle board, mortuaries and hair salons. The government also said Friday that styrene, which is used in boats, bathtubs and in disposable foam plastic cups and plates, may cause cancer. The conservative billionaire Koch brothers have led the lobbying effort against labeling formaldehyde as a carcinogen. Georgia-Pacific, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, is one of the country’s top producers of formaldehyde. We get reaction from longtime consumer advocate Ralph Nader.

The Koch brothers have committed crimes against humanity and the environment (as though the two can be separate...). And should be held accountable.

Toxic greed.

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Boo... Hiss...

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"Public anger is building over news that FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker is leaving the FCC to become a lobbyist for Comcast – just four months after she voted to approve the Comcast-NBC merger. It's no wonder the American people are disgusted by Washington."

More, more, more... Whether it's money, power, status... It'll never be enough for the desperate and delusional. Too much looking out, not enough looking in.

You know what, Ms. meredith baker? Greed just isn't cool anymore. In fact, it hasn't been since the 80's. You think it is, but it's not. You're among the blind who are so busy and concerned with how you look, you've lost attention of just who you are.

How you live matters.

Please sign, if you're so inclined: Demand that Congress investigate Baker’s conflict of interest.

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Even Cavemen Cared About Art...

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House Republicans Propose Cuts for Public Broadcasting, Arts and Humanities

It's estimated that the oldest cave paintings are 32,000 years old. Art has been making our lives bearable for a long time. It rises us up above our knuckles, quite literally. It's something divine, products of imagination that spark imagination. That gives comfort and solace, inspiration, invigoration, something to lift us up above a desperate, mundane existence. Otherwise, we really might as well be in a desert, dry-mouthed and parched, crawling, searching for shade and scratching for a few drips of water...

So, are we to devolve into what? Hillbilly shoot-outs at the O.K.-Fucking-Corral and Nascar?

Even cavemen cared about art, bishes... Even cavemen.

(Thank you for the above link, Deb.) **************************************

Greed Is Its Own Hell

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"I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

*** If you're so inclined, "Sens. Feingold, Franken, Brown, Boxer, Merkley, Whitehouse, Durbin, Harkin, and Schumer: You are our progressive heroes and we need you now. Please join Sen. Bernie Sanders and do everything you can to block the 'deal' to extend the Bush tax bailout for millionaires." Please sign the petition.

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Annie Leonard Is A Total Badass

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~ economic aid for Eisenhower, Victor Lebow **************************

The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Annie Leonard
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes 2010 Election March to Keep Fear Alive

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The Story of Stuff Project (The link shows a 20 minute movie of the whole damn mess in a nutshell. And it's worth every second. It certainly seems discouraging and overwhelming, but the video and site also offers things you can do to stop the relentless machine. After all, like Annie says, it hasn't always been this way.)

And if the above video and information isn't enough, to show you just where we're at, putting economy (grubby, dirty money) above respect for LIFE:

Hedge Fund Manager Escapes Felony Charges Thanks to His Job

A wealthy hedge fund manager in Colorado has avoided facing felony charges for a hit-and-run accident because the local district attorney felt the charge could impact his high-paying job. Martin Erzinger, a fund manager at Smith Barney, allegedly ran over a cyclist with his Mercedes and then fled the scene. The cyclist suffered spinal cord injuries and bleeding from his brain. To the shock of cycling advocates, the local prosecutor, Mark Hurlbert, decided to charge Erzinger only with misdemeanors. Hurlbert said, “Felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications for someone in Mr. Erzinger’s profession, and that entered into it." (source)

WWHHHAATTTT????? (That's suppose to be me slamming on the brakes and rolling the car yet once again. I seem to be doing that a lot these days.)

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And when it really boils down to it, if you're not happy without it, you're not going to be happy with it.

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Predators

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Environmental Groups Confront Oil Industry-Backed Attempt to Repeal California’s Landmark Emissions Law in Prop 23

Texas Oil money trying to continue wreaking havoc on California's environment (not to mention our own)... What a surprise.

These oil and fossil fuel companies remind me of someone...

Lurking... In the hunt for the sake of the hunt. Gripped by greed, sinking into an abyss, which only leads to gripping whatever is in reach, even if that consists of grabbing at throats, which it usually does.

And in this case, the health of Californians (and really, our own). How appropriate that that's the governator with those claws around his neck. Maybe all the practice has paid off and he'll say, "FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE", and sick Maria on them. TAKE 'EM, SHRIVER!

So yesterday, an old friend and I went back and forth about these oil companies and the power of OPEC. And he basically said that in his opinion, things are not going to change during our lifetime. That there's too much power and "wealth" involved. That the economics of the situation rule it.

I understand... I "get" it. I just wish that these wealthy mulit-national corporations had a conscience and were pouring their extreme profits into renewable, clean energy sources. Our environment is under such immense abuse, we're under an illusion (or delusion) that we have time. And we don't. And without a healthy environment, which literally is the very air we breathe, the very water we drink and the food that literally turns into US, jobs will mean nothing.

I don't consider my views unreasonable when you consider how very basic the notion is.

I'm not delusional to think it will change during our lifetime. I'm not stupid. But, the way my heart beats is not to the frenetic, empty tune of greed, but something a bit slower, something more quiet and peace-filled and full.

I've always, ALWAYS been for the underdog, and right now, that happens to be our very world. It's the way I talk, the way I walk, it's who I am. It gives me reason and purpose. I'm not so naive that I think it's going to change today, but if I don't work for it to change tomorrow, than kill me right now, 'cause it will feel like I'm dead.

Idealistic?

Absolutely. To my very core.

So, speaking of the world we share, here are some of our brilliant neighbors.

I've talked of river otters and adversity before, but I love the below video clip too much to not post it again.

"These waters can support even larger predators. And could easily take a single otter. But, TEAM play wins the day."

These fricking adorable river otters are total badasses.

There's strength in numbers, my friends...

*** What You Can Do To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Right Now

*** And of course, you could always bike to work (like one of my best buds, Pandora. You're an inspiration, Pandora!), use a rake this Autumn instead of a bullshit leaf blower, use a shovel this Winter instead of a piece-of-crap snow blower (because it would help if we weren't buying what they're selling. PLUS the stillness of nature will thank you and you'll get some exercise in the meantime. So, your heart and your body will thank you as well.), and don't sit in an idling car - you're polluting MY world too, no matter where you're parked. Even Ruby Tuesday has enacted green policies that prohibit delivery trucks from idling in their parking lots.

*** And if you're so inclined, please tell Congress to Support the EPA's Efforts to Regulate Coal Ash.

Silence is compliance.

HOW YOU LIVE MATTERS.

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Just Between You, Me and This Whole Internets Thing, Kevin Charnas Is A Total Fatty

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Don't Call Me Fat

Cleveland Public Theatre is honored to host this world premiere, created for Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) by internationally acclaimed Turkish writer and director Ozen Yula. "Don't Call Me Fat" follows one man's grasping attempt to go from obesity to celebrity (that'll be me, bishes). Onstage in the Gordon Square Theatre from October 7 - October 30 (Paid previews on October 7 and 8; Opening Night is on Saturday, October 9).

Ozen Yula has been in residence at CPT and Cleveland State University as part of Cleveland Foundation's Creative Fusion program, a multi-year initiative that brings accomplished artists from diverse cultures to Cleveland.

Yula is one of the world's most daring, avant-garde playwrights and directors. His collected plays have been published in 5 volumes and translated into more than 10 languages, including Bosnian and Arabic. His work is characterized as dark, comical, visually daring and at the forefront of controversial issues of social justice and human rights facing our global society. His other collected works, including novels, short story collections and essays, have been printed by several publishing companies. He has written 8 books and his works have been performed around the globe.

"Don't Call Me Fat" Centers around morbidly obese John Doe (me, bishes) who can't get out of bed, yet his spiritual self flies overhead in the form of a beautiful trapeze artist. John is driven to make a dangerous decision by his hypercritical Aunt Jane and his manipulating therapist. He will undergo a radical new surgery that will make him thin or kill him, and he stumbles into world fame as a reality show star...

Featuring a strong ensemble of performers, "Don't Call Me Fat" is a darkly funny commentary on excess consumption and our need for reduction and redemption. Don't miss this visually stunning world premiere event! (source)

So, TONIGHT, I get to try on my fat suit that will be looking something like this:

The character is 700 pounds. You KNOW you want to totally tweak and gnaw on his nipples. Don't lie. Me TOO! YUM! ME FIRST! OUT OF MY WAY!!

And when he goes out? (Which he doesn't) He would need this:

Yeah... Nice. Like the ball-cap makes things better.

I tried to talk Ozen into letting me be

an obese zombie, but he was having none of it.

Actually, an obese zombie would've been more my style, but no doubt, wouldn't have enriched me at all. Oh sure, I would've been able to eat all the babies and children and small adults I wanted, but really, that would've only filled my stomach, not my spiritual growth.

Rehearsals have been challenging. Ozen and the cast have been wonderful - extremely supportive. But, the depth of the content and attempting to grasp the character has shaken me. In a good way, though. It's taken me far out of my comfort zone and that's a good thing. If I'm honest with myself, I've never really grown from something that came easy. Not really...

So, that's what I've been consumed (heh...heh... get it? "Consumed"? Heh.) with the last 6 weeks... Learning how to be a nasty, bedridden, morbidly obese person. I've been modeling the character's personality after Dickhead Cheney, Tush Limbaugh, Glenn Speck-of-Shit, Donald Dumbsfeld and Newt Dingbitch all wrapped into one. He is grotesque, after all.

Hhhooooo... No, I dint.

Ooohhh, yes I did. Now hand me that side of beef and go fry me 20 eggs and 50 pieces of bacon.

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What Eeevil Lurks In The Depths of MONSANTO

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Percy Schmeiser vs Monsanto: The Story of a Canadian Farmer’s Fight to Defend the Rights of Farmers and the Future of Seeds

"The pesticide Roundup produced by the multinational concern Monsanto is the most widely sold spray in the world. Monsanto made its canola resistant to Roundup. This means Roundup kills every plant without exception. Only Monsanto’s genetically modified canola remains alive."

Monsanto Products to Avoid Purchasing: The pesticide "Roundup". And anything with Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal) - that means almost all "diet" soda.

Aspartame is banned in all childrens products in the European Common Market. Why not here? The List of what pharmaceuticals (children's included) contain aspartame.

List of Vanilla Yogurts containing aspartame

Statistics and Facts about NutraSweet, Aspartame and Equal (and other products)

So, besides the actual health of your body, know where your money is going. Know what you're supporting.

So, I know I get my panties in a twist about a lot of things... I'm paying attention after all. And while some others are concerned about what Kim Kardashian's ass looks like this week, I'm riled up about some other things that should be front page news. It's SO DISTURBING and it's NOT front page news! WHY ISN'T THIS FRONT PAGE NEWS???

MONSANTO's BULLSHIT has my head on backwards.

Which incidentally, I can see my ass from here. And it's kinda hot.

Except for all that hair...

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