Movie Review - Sideways

When I first the movie Sideways I was intrigued by the film's treatment of masculinity. In the car on the way to work today, I tossed around the idea that the film was either homophobic or at least it reproduced a very traditional masculinity. The message is that when guys are alone together they mess things up (because it's "un-natural" to be alone with a guy) and also that men are worthless hapless losers without a long term monogomous relationship with a woman. Anyway, the blog needs content so I thought I'd post this. If anyone else has seen the movie I'd love to hear your thoughts.

MoveOn House Parties and SEPTA

In case anyone is curious, the MoveOn house parties decided that electoral reform was the big issue they wanted to concentrate on. Moveon.org has a petition up on their Web site urging a congressional investigation. That seems smarter than using the leftover Kerry money (let that go toward funding other democrats). I filled it out and sent it.

One issue that gets me riled is SEPTA funding. This year's crisis has Rendell threatening to take Federal highway money and use it to fund SEPTA. In this case there seems to be no action I can take--my reps are all dems and support SEPTA funding, it's the Republicans in other parts of the state who block the funding, so they aren't going to pay attention to an e-mail from me. Am I Right?

Ok Miles just walked in so I guess his nap is over.

Important info re: Holding Dems accountable for counting (votes)

Start spreading the word: This is from a lawyer who is working to get recounts in 4 states

Forwarded Message:
Subj: Your involvement encouraged
Date: 11/22/2004 11:18:33 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: athayer@silicondairy.net
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent from the Internet (Details)

The Kerry campaign still has some $15 million dollars in its coffers. There are serious questions about the validity of the vote reports from Florida, Ohio, New Mexico and North Carolina. Concerned citizens need to contact the Kerry campaign and Sen. Kerry's and Edwards' office immediately to ask, nay, to demand, that he ask for a recount in these states, despite the embarassment they may feel at having conceded precipitously be damned.

Here's various contact information. My sister thinks FAXes are better than emails. I think calls, emails, and FAXes are very necessary. If you want more info about election irregularities, let me know and I'll get you that info.
Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc.
P.O. Box 34640
Washington, DC 20043
202-712-3000
202-712-3001 (fax)
202-336-6950 (TTY)

http://www.johnkerry.com/contact/contact.php

Sen. Joh Kerry's office

Kerry, John - (D - MA)
304 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2742
Web Form: kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/contact/email.html
Washington D.C.
304 Russell Bldg.
Third Floor
Washington D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2742 - Phone
(202) 224-8525 - Fax

Boston
One Bowdoin Square
Tenth Floor
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 565-8519 - Phone
(617) 248-3870 - Fax

Worcester
90 Madison Place
Suite 205
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 831-7380 - Phone

Sen. John Edwards' office

Edwards, John - (D - NC) Class III
225 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-3154

Senator John Edwards
United States Senate
225 Dirksen Office Bldg.Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3154
fax (202) 228-1374

Web Form: edwards.senate.gov/contact.html

Also:
Democratic National Committee, phone 202-863-8000
DNC email form link: http://www.democrats.org/contact/

Senator Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader
528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3542 / Fax: 202-224-7327

FYI this is what I wrote to Sen. Kerry, to the Kerry/Edwards campaign office, and with modifications to Sen. Edwards and the DNC:

Dear Sen. Kerry:
It is now clear that you conceded precipitously. You promised us every vote would be counted and there is considerable question whether the results in Florida, Ohio, New Mexico and North Carolina have been counted and reported honestly.

You owe it to all Americans to ask for a recount in these states. Your campaign has the money to do so. Forget about being embarrassed about having conceded.

ASK FOR THESE RECOUNTS OF THE ENTIRE VOTE IN THESE STATES NOW. WE ARE DEPENDING UPON YOU! To fail to do so is to betray your supporters!

Sincerely,

Alexandra Thayer
2053 East Hill Road
Plainfield, VT 05667
(802) 454-1131
athayer@silicondairy.net

Apres blogluck

Dumplings were as good, as expected.

I guess the best way to figure out how we're going to use this blog thang is to just be bloggin'. As for making a URL hyperlink when you post -- use the "Link" button above the composing screen when you are writing a post (...duh...)

Here's a good article discussing Black voter disenfranchisment and the Democratic Party.
http://www.blackcommentator.com/114/114_cover_election.html

A link exploring another statistical study of the election results:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/112104E.shtml

A link to the "letter" from Kerry that was referred to during the blogluck
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/112004V.shtml

A link to MoveOn house parties tomorrow (Sunday Nov. 20), where they will be discussing the future direction of MoveOn (many of which are already "full").
http://action.moveonpac.org/future/selectmtg.html?zip=19144&distance=10&event_type=The%20Future%20of%20MoveOn%20-%20House%20Parties&sort=size

Blogging and activism

As we try to figure out how to use a blog, the Advocate has
this piece about the usefulness of blogs for GLBT activism.

An e-mail

Greetings fellow liberal malcontents! We received this e-mail yesterday. Please comment on these fascinating conundrums.

Dear,

As you may remember my musings from the weekend immediately following the election (that we watched together, thanks for the hospitality), I was quite perplexed by a few occurrences as reported by the major media. Not being an avid TV watcher (or owner, for that matter) may have contributed to my perplexity as I am not accustomed to the rampant inanities put forth by the talking heads every night. Nonetheless, some of these puzzling incidents have now developed into a full-fledged neurosis.

Some of the more major conundrums I was dealing with were: if the exit polls were so wrong on election night predicting the winner, why, only a day later, did all the infotainment people hold them up high as proof to their viewers that it was “moral issues” that decided the election.? Were these the same polls that were horribly inaccurate on election night that were now the pillars of truth a day later?

Along the same lines, I struggle with this new America where it is no longer “the economy, stupid.” For years we have been told that above all else, people vote according to their current economic condition. Did the millions who lost jobs under Bush’s economic policies vote for him anyway, because they were more concerned about gay marriage? And even if we listened to the Republicans, and believed that national security, in fact, was the one and only issue we should consider when casting our ballots, did that drop to a distant third in peoples minds, behind issues that were seldom, if ever, talked or written about?

One last conundrum I will bring up (though there are others). Historically, high voter turnout was associated with an electorate desirous of change. Did this tenet, like exit polling and “it’s the economy, stupid” suddenly become irrelevant in this last election? Have all the lessons of elections past suddenly lost their credibility, or is something else going on here? This question has lately kept me up at night. Why? Because NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO ANSWER IT!!!!! These are all legitimate questions, and I’m sure I’m not the only one with them, but ever since I left the comfort of your house and TV, I have not heard them addresse d much, or at all. At least not on NPR, which is my news source of choice (being TVless). And not in the paper, either. I have found some websites sympathetic to my cause. But we all know there are a lot of crackpots out there with websites. So if you get a chance, check out the links/attachments below. Or maybe your husband has done some investigating into this as well. He has access to the internet, right? Then you can let me know if my wishful thinking is turning me into a crackpot. I would hate for Miles’ favorite uncle to be that crazy uncle that no one likes to talk about.

Plus, you told me you were getting together with your sensible neighbors at some point to determine a course of action for sensible people to take. I’d like to be among the sensible people. So let me know if my pet issue has struck a nerve with any of them. And let me know what you sensible people decide to do about the frightening state of our democracy.



links below:

http://www.helpamericarecount.org/


http://www.blackboxvoting.org/