ShowMeBlog

Update on the food stamp shooting

  I have seen very little about this on the news.  You would think that would be major news.  I would think it would be something that everyone would be talking about.

 

“LAREDO, Texas -- In one of the poorest counties in the U.S., neighbors still pitied Rachelle Grimmer and her children. Grimmer would walk down the highway after midnight and beg closing crews at restaurants for food they planned to throw away.

Her children, 12-year-old Ramie and 10-year-old Timothy, didn't go to school. They bathed outside the family's trailer with the garden hose. Timothy wore the same camouflage shorts day after day.

Grimmer didn't have a job, and the state had denied the family food stamps and emergency help despite repeated requests. Tragic shootings sometimes come without warning, but interviews with family members and neighbors show there were many signs of frustration before Grimmer entered a state welfare building with a .38-caliber handgun earlier this week and shot herself and her children after a seven-hour standoff.

Ramie died Wednesday night at a San Antonio hospital; her brother was taken off life support Thursday and died. They led a miserable, nomadic life leading up to the standoff – which Ramie live-updated on Facebook with an eerie mix of detachment ("im bored") and dread ("may die 2day").

The children's father, Dale Grimmer, had tried three times since his divorce about six years ago to have them removed from his ex-wife's custody while they were living in Montana and Ohio, said his mother, Mary Lee Shepherd. She claimed her daughter-in-law had a history of mental illness that authorities ignored…”

 

  Since I last posted about the story the two children have died.
 
  The story has a lot of details.  See Huffington Post story

National ‘motel kids’ problem

  I just read California chef feeds children for free on CNN. 
The “hero” Bruno Serato feeds more than 300 children each night in Anaheim, California.  
 
  We should not have hunger in America.  But most of all we should not have children in the United States going to bed hungry.

  NPR has some information on Hunger in America. 
 
  I suspect that politics is part of the problem.  I am sure the evil empire (the Republican Party) will say that we can not afford to feed American children.  I am sure the evil empire will say well they need to get a job.  The evil empire will say that the problem is that we give foreign aid to other nations.  I am sure that the evil empire will say it is all the wet back Mexicans here in the United States. 
  The Republicans will say if we would just cut the taxes on the rich people that somehow that would feed the children. 

  We have so many problems here in the United States that we need to work on.  I just do not see how we can get anything done with the evil empire in Washington.
 
  To tell you the truth I did not think about the problem of “motel kids” but I am sure that is a real problem. 
  Thank God for people like Bruno Serato.

National Day of Action - November 17th

“Dear Coffee Party community,

To mark their 2-month anniversary — and more importantly, to show the world that ideas cannot be extinguished by force — the Occupy movement is calling for a national day of action today, November 17.  The Coffee Party is doing its part by making sure this vital conversation penetrates the walls of Congress.

You can help by taking a few minutes to remind Congress that the 99% also includes you, your family, and people in your community.

Please CALL CONGRESS today and say:

"I'm calling to let you know that I am your constituent, I am part of the 99 percent, and I want to see the national conversation spurred by the Occupy movement reflected in the actions of Congress."

• U.S. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121
• FIND your Representative's direct number
• FIND your Senators' direct numbers

When we say "the 99%," we mean our nation as a whole, and that includes everyone, even the 1%.  Help us let our elected representatives know that from this point on, America will be asking a crucial question of every policy and every politician put before us — does it serve our nation as a whole, or does this serve only the wealthiest 1%?

If we are successful today, Congress will be forced to approach the Nov. 23 debt reduction deadline with the knowledge that this new framework is not going away.  We are calling in a new era of American politics where movements are not built to follow political parties.  Political parties will follow movements instead.

Please CALL CONGRESS today:

U.S. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121

FIND your Representative's direct number

FIND your Senators' direct numbers

Sincerely,

Eric Byler

Coffee Party USA

PS:  To support Coffee Party initiatives in 2012, please become a member and/or make a contribution.  Coffee Party T-shirt's will be sent to those with contributions or membership sign-ups of $50 or more.”

Ohio voters bitch slap GOP Gov. John Kasich

  Well great news out of Ohio.  Voters repeal the anti-worker law that limited union rights.  The Republican Gov. John Kasich was so happy with himself that he passed a law to limit collective bargaining rights for public workers.
  The bill is like the one passed in Wisconsin in March.
 
  See the CNN story:  Ohio voters repeal law limiting union rights

  In Wisconsin workers are going to attempt to remove Republican Gov.  Walker from office.  He passed the anti-work anti-union law and was so happy about it and you could see that he was thinking that it was going to make him another Regan and that he would move up in the GOP.  Well when he is removed from office after serving only one year in office that should put an end to his ass kissing of the Koch brothers.

  I think these Republicans have gone to far and the American people are pushing back.  The right has such hate for workers.  The Republicans hate workers, hate teachers and just hate everyone except for the 1% bankers and Wall Street people.

  If we can send a message to them they might be a little more careful.

  The American people have won in Ohio and now we just have to hope that they can remove the scab Republican Gov. Walker in Wisconsin.

  But great news from Ohio.
Thank you voters of Ohio.

Abolish Corporate Personhood

The national campaign to Abolish Corporate Personhood and Defend Democracy.
Sign the Petition: http://MoveToAmend.org/motion-to-amend

* * *

 

Last night Boulder became the second city in the nation to pass a ballot measure
calling for an amendment to the US Constitution that would state that corporations
are not people and the legal status of money as free speech! At midnight, with 93%
of the ballots counted, the measure was handily winning with 74% of voters in support.

Boulder’s campaign is the latest grassroots effort by Move to Amend, a national coalition
working to abolish corporate personhood.

“From Occupy Wall Street to Boulder, Colorado and every town in between, Americans are
fed up with corporate dominance of our political system,” said Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, a
national spokesperson for Move to Amend. “Local resolution campaigns are an opportunity
for citizens to speak up and let it be known that we won’t accept the corporate takeover
of our government lying down. We urge communities across the country to join the Move
to Amend campaign and raise your voices.”

Earlier this year voters in Madison and Dane County, Wisconsin overwhelmingly approved
similar measures calling for an end to corporate personhood and the legal status of money
as speech by 84% and 78% respectively. Next week voters in Missoula, Montana will have
an opportunity to vote on a similar initiative in their community.

Move to Amend volunteers in dozens of communities across the country are working to place
similar measures on local ballots next year.

“Working on this campaign was electrifying,” said Scott Silber, a local Move to Amend organizer
in Boulder. “We had such an outpouring of enthusiasm from our community. Folks were so thrilled
to finally have an opportunity to have their voices heard and resoundingly call for an end to
corporate corruption of our democracy. From here we’re taking the campaign to Denver, and then
on to Washington, DC.”

Move to Amend’s strategy is to pass community resolutions across the nation through city councils
and through direct vote by ballot initiative. “Our plan is build a movement that will drive this issue
into Congress from the grassroots. The American people are behind us on this and our federal
representatives will see that we mean business. Our very democracy is at stake,” stated
Sopoci-Belknap.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Help Move to Amend get on the Daily Show with John Stewart and the Colbert Report!
  With both John Stewart and Stephen Colbert talking about Corporate Personhood a lot these days,
  we think that a Move to Amend spokesperson would be perfect for these shows! Help us
  make the case by writing to the Daily Show and the Colbert Report and urging them to
  contact us. Include the link to our press release about Boulder!
  
  • Email the Daily Show [thedailyshow@comedycentral.com] - Let John Stewart
    know you want to see him interview MTA!
  • Email The Colbert Report [colbertweb@gmail.com] - Let Stephen Colbert know
    you want to see him interview MTA!
• Pass a resolution in your town! Click here to get started. We'll be offering a special
  webinar soon with organizers from Boulder so they can tell you what they did to get it
  done - stay tuned!

FOR PRESS INQUIRIES ABOUT THE BOULDER CAMPAIGN

Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, National Field Director, (707) 362-0626 , Move to Amend,
kaitlin@movetoamend.org

Scott Silber, Boulder Move to Amend, (510) 485-6586 , scott.silber@fouryearsgo.org

OFW pack up your tents and go home

  I went to the Occupy Fort Worth protest today.  I was thinking they might have about 50 people at the protest.  I was thinking that would not be very good but what do you expect it is Texas after all.
  Well there was less than 15 protesters.  To add insult to injury the police did not even have one officer at the protest.

  The Occupy Fort Worth protesters need to pack up their tents and go home.  OH, I forgot they do not have any tents.

Mocking foreclosure on homeowners!

 

“On Friday, the law firm of Steven J. Baum threw a Halloween party.The firm, which is located near Buffalo, is what is commonly referred to as a “foreclosure mill” firm, meaning it represents banks and mortgage servicers as they attempt to foreclose on homeowners and evict them from their homes. Steven J. Baum is, in fact, the largest such firm in New York; it represents virtually all the giant mortgage lenders, including Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo…”    New York Times

 

Occupy Fort Worth

  Yes, there is an Occupy Fort Worth movement.  I have not been down to the park yet.  But it is at Burnett Park and I can get to it by bus.  This is the time of the month that I am broke so I will wait until I get my Social Security money and then I can buy food and something to drink and make a donation when I go down to the park.  I will take photos and videos. 
  I will make every effort to not get arrested.  My Social Security money would not be enough to post bail.
 
  The group has agreed to some rules, I think that is very smart of them, there will be a General Assembly at 1030, 1500 and 1930 hours.  They will have Marches at noon and 1800 hours.
  Poor Bank of America is right across the street from Burnett Park. 

Message from the Coffee Party

“In February, Eric and I wrote that America is at the tipping point of a great awakening to the corruption of our democracy and the need to do something to fix it.  Eight months later, the contagious spirit of the Occupy Wall Street movement has emboldened our nation’s silent majority to organize similar actions in over 1000 cities and towns across the country. We are writing to ask you to play a role in a movement that is sweeping, not just this country, but the world with a simple demand: a real democracy.
Many of our members are already participating in this awakening through Occupy Together.  We encourage you — and all Americans regardless of the cultural or political background — to attend an Occupy Together event near you and experience a level of energy and commitment unlike any we have seen in this country for a generation.
This creative and surprisingly disciplined movement is changing the cultural ethos in America by placing the core issues — money in politics, Wall Street regulation and tax code reform — at the center of political discourse.  This is absolutely amazing, and absolutely necessary.  In a word, it is historic.
Saturday October 29, 2011: Citizens Intervention at the US Capitol
The Coffee Party is doing its part to further the cause of democracy in America by hosting a national dialogue on the front lawn of the US Capitol on Saturday October 29th.   We intend to culminate what we believe is one of the most significant months in American history with a marathon demonstration of free speech that begins with We the People.
Citizens Intervention is offering an open mic to any person who wishes to speak, with time slots beginning at 12 noon and going until after midnight.  
We the People: Citizens Lobby
For anyone who wishes to participate in directly engaging members of Congress — in their offices as opposed to on the Capitol’s front lawn — we are facilitating appointments with your representatives in Congress and providing fact sheets for a Lobby Day on October 31st, during which we will visit congressional offices in groups of 4 to 6 people.
Enough Is Enough! Citizens Intervention has these updates for you:

• Travel & Lodging Information for #Oct29
• FAQ-Frequently Asked Questions for #Oct29
• Join the Citizens Lobby on Oct 31
• Write a hand-written letter
• Make an intervention statement
• Blog:  Why Not Join Occupy Together?
• Become a Citizen Sponsor

How has the corruption in Congress affected you?  Tell your story by speaking at the rally.  There’s still a few spaces left.  Sign up today.

We welcome everyone in the Coffee Party community.  If you are willing and able, we invite you to become a memberby October 13 so you can participate in the first Coffee Party election for the 2012 Board of Directors.  Memberships start at $10 annually and recurring memberships, which renew automatically and provide planned, predictable income for Coffee Party, start at $5 monthly. 

Thank you for your participation.  Most of all, thank you for caring.
-- Annabel Park”

‘Electron Boy’ Erik Martin dies

  The world has  lost a super hero with the death of Erik Martin.

 

“Credit: Make-A-Wish Foundation

As Electron Boy, 13-year-old Erik Martin of Bellevue grabs his "lightning rod" and prepares to do battle with the evil Dr. Dark and Blackout Boy on Thursday, April 29, 2010.”

 

“SEATTLE -- A Bellevue boy who got his wish last year when he was turned into a superhero for a day has lost his battle with cancer and other health problems.

Erik Martin died Friday morning at Seattle Children’s hospital, The Seattle Times reports. He was 14.

In April 2010, the Make-a-Wish foundation granted Erik’s wish by making him a superhero. As Electron Boy, Erik was escorted by police in his superhero DeLorean back and forth across Lake Washington, saving civilians and battling the bad guys.

The Seattle Sounders FC, Puget Sound Energy and "Deadliest Catch" stars Edgar Hansen and Jake Anderson got involved.

The story went viral and made Erik an instant celebrity. A Fans of Electron Boy fan page on Facebook has more than 11,000 fans.”

 

“Uploaded by MakeAWishFoundation on May 17, 2010

Erik, 13, wished to be a superhero. When a dark cloud descended upon Western Washington on April 29, he sprang into action as Electron Boy. Electron Boy spent the day using his powers of good to defeat the evil mayhem created by Dr. Dark and Blackout Boy. More than 350 people from the community helped the Make-A-Wish Foundation® make Erik's wish come true. Thank you, Electron Boy!”