Thursday, April 27, 2006
if you aren't too tired after sleeping in pioneer square saturday night for the invisible children global night commute (the film is showing at 10:30 tonight at the mission theatre--i hope to be there), feel free to join in the rally to raise awareness of genocides in Darfur. the rally takes place in Pioneer Square on sunday afternoon. here are the details (cut and pasted from an email i received):"For years, many of us have read reports of the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, and wondered why world leaders have failed to step in. As many as 400,000 civilians have died1 and over 2 million have been driven from their homes,2 and yet the United States and other leading nations won't intervene and stop the killing.
This week, we may have the best chance since the genocide began to capture national media attention and give our leaders a mandate to act. On Sunday, April 30th, thousands of concerned Americans, will gather in Portland, Washington DC, and in cities across America to demand a real multi-national peacekeeping force to protect civilians in Darfur and end the genocide—now.
Can you join us? Here are the details:
Portland Day of Conscience for Darfur
Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW Sixth Avenue, Portland
When: Sunday April 30, 1:30 PM—3:00 PM
In 2003, the Sudanese government launched a systematic campaign to massacre or drive out millions of Darfurians who happened to share the same ethnicity as a local rebel group.3 Since then, "Janjaweed" militias, armed and funded by the Sudanese government, have swept into thousands of rural farming villages with guns, machetes, and even helicopter gunships. They typically kill or rape anyone unable to flee, leaving every home and crop field burned to the ground.4
Responding to calls from thousands of MoveOn members and many other groups, Congress and the White House officially labeled the conflict a "genocide" in mid 2004.5 But nearly 2 years later, almost nothing has been done to actually stop the killing.
Experts agree that deploying a relatively small, armed and well-funded United Nations peacekeeping force could protect the civilian populations and allow a sustainable peace process to begin.6 We wouldn't even need to commit new American troops. But the UN won't act unless leading nations, especially the United States, step up and insist on it. So why haven't we?
As the Los Angeles Times reported, the Bush administration has been relying on the Sudanese government, who used to harbor Osama Bin Laden, for military intelligence—even sending a private jet to fly one of the primary architects of the genocide to Washington for secret meetings with the CIA.7 According to the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, the administration is concerned that holding these Sudanese officials accountable could "disrupt cooperation."8 This is simply an unacceptable trade-off.
To change things around, we must show President Bush and Congress that there's a real political reward for bold action—and a serious political cost for standing still. This week is our best chance yet to do just that: the DC rally will draw national media attention, and your names will be added to those the Save Darfur coalition has already collected in their "Million Voices for Darfur" campaign.
After our tragic failure to act in Rwanda, the world pledged never again to let a preventable genocide unfold before our eyes. The crisis in Darfur is the first great test of that pledge, and it's time to act."
(all those random numbers in there have to do with references they cited . . .)
here are links to more info and the references (i know, it's long):
The Save Darfur Coalition is organizing this weekend's main march in Washington DC. Learn more here
A basic fact sheet on the genocide prepared by human rights watch
Photos taken by Brian Steidle, one of three US Marines sent to observe the genocide can be viewed here
A video presentation on the current expansion of the genocide by the Pulitzer prize winning NYT columnist Nicholas Kristof can be seen here
10 ways to get further involved from the genocide intervention network
Sources:
1. "Darfur's real death toll" Washington Post, April 24, 2006http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1662
2. "5 truths about Darfur" Washington Post, April 26, 2006http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1663
3. Human Rights Watchhttp://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/05/05/darfur8536.htm
4. "The silence of bystanders" New York Times, March 19, 2006http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1664
5. The House of Representatives recognized the Darfur crisis as a genocide in July of 2004"US House calls Darfur 'genocide'" BBC News, July 23 2004http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3918765.stm
Then Secretary of State Colin Powell followed suit in September of 2004"Powell declares genocide in Sudan", BBC News, September 9, 2004http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3641820.stm
6. "Beyond strong words on Darfur, New York Times, February 22, 2006http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1665
7. "Official Pariah Sudan Valuable to America's War on Terrorism," Los Angeles Times, April 29, 2005http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1666
8. "Official Pariah Sudan Valuable to America's War on Terrorism," Los Angeles Times, April 29, 2005http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1666
9. "On tape, Bin Laden warns of long war" Washington Post, April 24, 2006http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1667
say it don't spray it 9:06 AM
6 i heard that
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
the "i want a dog, but i can't have one so i am living vicariously through my family" post
easter weekend, we went to visit our families and their pets. the husband's mom recently got a new dog. jon was anxious about meeting him (it's not the same to go home and have a new dog there after your childhood dog has died . . . ) but it turned out that he is fabulous and we both fell in love. his name is timber and he is perfect:
the cat, named useless, is still around:
he is skin and bones, but loves to be loved and keeps on truckin'. plus, his name cracks me up!
we stopped at my parent's house on the way back to pdx from eugene. they have adopted a cat whose meows sound more like quacks, so, appropriately, they've dubbed her duckie. she is officially one of the coolest cats of ever (with the most amazing green eyes).
my childhood dog, shanie, is still alive. she is about 15 years old in people years and doesn't move, hear or see as well as she did. but she still loves just as well as she did and i think i love her more every time i see her.
here she is (with all of her grey hair) next to my mother:
i want a puppy!!!
in other news: i still haven't sent in my application to take the massage boards. why not? i dunno. i am the procrastination queen i suppose. will you keep nagging me until i send it in? i need some motivation. and i need to start making money.
went hiking and to the beach this weekend and the weather was glorious! will post pictures of those events in a few weeks (knowing me . . . ).
peace.
say it don't spray it 1:23 PM
18 i heard that
Friday, April 21, 2006
invisible children
sorry for the lack of posts lately . . . i've been quite busy. i'll tell you about it all soon . . . with pictures probably.mostly i want you to go to this site:
invisible children
and learn about the horrible things that have been going on in africa (1000 casualties a week--of CHILDREN!) right now (re: the "lord's" resistance army)
then go to this link to find out what events are going on in your area and how you can get involved.
for my portland peeps there are showings around town on the 22nd, 25th and 27th . . . go to one. promise me you will.
peace to you all.
say it don't spray it 6:27 PM
5 i heard that
Thursday, April 20, 2006
instead of seeing ann lamott on tuesday, i watched birth videos with my best friend jamie. she is going to school to be a midwife and had this video on how to birth babies who are breech (come out butt first). we ate nachos while we watched it.huh.
say it don't spray it 9:54 AM
9 i heard that
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
deutschland!!!
jon bought our tickets today! we are really going to germany!the countdown begins . . .
we leave in 229 days (not counting today or the day we leave)!!!!
booyah!
p.s. ann lamott is here in town tonight . . . i don't think i'll be able to make it (b/c of work). tell me i'm not missing much.
say it don't spray it 4:25 PM
13 i heard that
Friday, April 14, 2006
happy friday!
spend some time with strong bad!see you next week!
say it don't spray it 5:55 PM
7 i heard that
Thursday, April 13, 2006
meh
i started doing pilates again . . .my solar plexus hurts.
windsor (or winsor . . . who is she anyway?) was annoying me and i got super busy so i stopped (plus i got lazy, but let's not bring that up) for a while. now i have this gaiam dvd that is better . . . still slightly annoying (mostly in the "oh yeah lady? its easy for you! come over here and try to do that move with MY abs!!" way) . . . but waaaaayyy better than some tai bo video or going for a jog (could be yogging . . . the "j" may be silent) and getting all asthma-like (not to mention sweaty).
anyway.
i saw/heard don miller's book reading last night at powells and got his autograph on a book for the husband. his book is a (comedic at times) look at growing up without a father . . . i had a father growing up (there is a whole other story about how involved or uninvolved said father was) so i only slightly resonated with the main topic, but don writes/speaks/thinks in such a way that makes him an amazing voice for the emergent/progressive/postmodern church/new generation of christ followers (man, i like using the "slashy" thing ["i am honored to receive this slashy award because it means you think i am the best actor-slash-model and not the other way around"]). --ahem-- plus, my favorite line (when someone tried to get him on the homosexuality/one man one woman (there's the slashy again!) bandwagon by asking "do you think a committed homosexual couple could raise a child better than a married man and a woman?") of his was "i think a committed homosexual couple could raise a child better than most people in america."
word.
i'm sorry (no, i'm not!) but i totally agree. children need committed, loving parents who are involved and invested equally (not just mom or just dad investing with the other on the sidelines) in their lives. period. if they aren't getting that (from hetero or homosexual parents) they aren't having their needs met (i say this from experience, so don't tell me i don't know what i am talking about).
you can disagree with same gender marriages if you choose to . . . this isn't what i am talking about right now (so let's not get into that debate).
i am simply saying "word" to don and that children need good parents.
reason #453 why i am waiting for a looooong time before i decide i'm ready to pop one out.
huh. i didn't really plan for this post to go this direction. but there you have it.
say it don't spray it 5:48 PM
23 i heard that
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
to own a dragon
anyone else going to this?Donald Miller
Wednesday the 12th of April @ 7:30PM
Powell's City of Books on Burnside
New from Donald Miller, author of the critically acclaimed Blue Like Jazz, and John MacMurray -- the man who taught Miller the things his dad never did -- comes To Own a Dragon, a gut-wrenchingly honest look at growing up without a father.
View this event on the powells.com calendar.
Preorder a signed edition of To Own a Dragon: Reflections on Growing Up without a Father.
say it don't spray it 9:38 AM
6 i heard that
Friday, April 07, 2006
he's gone again . . .
and he wont be back until late saturday night.he's at boise state university presenting a paper at a conference (very cool! i am very proud of him) . . . but i miss him.
and i need him to listen to me tell him about my horrible week at work (esp my horrible day today . . .)
i've just been listening to counting crows and moping around.
in unrelated news, on my way to work this morning i drove behind an oil truck that said "heil" on the dirt flap thingies. and i passed a car that said "la brown eyes" in cling-on stickers in the back window.
people are funny.
proof of my buddieship with james (and of his visit to the northwest) -- (that's my apartment with the blue trim behind him . . . i heart my apartment):
say it don't spray it 4:13 PM
10 i heard that
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
sahn diahhgo . . .
so, my girls and i (four of us in all) drove (17 hours straight) to san diego (in a two door hatchback) last week (and stayed for 2 1/2 days before driving straight back up to p-town).
we went to visit our friend who moved there (cause her husband is stationed there in the coast guard).
she didn't know we were coming. in fact, she thought she was meeting her husband for lunch and she showed up and we were there waiting for her instead!! SURPRISE!!!
the four of us at the beach:
we met up with my friend LJ (who i met through couchsurfing when i hosted her a few weeks before) and she showed us around the city (ocean beach, the sunset cliffs, coronado island and the hotel, etc). here are the four of us with LJ (while our friend we went to visit was at work):
here is the sunset on coronado island:
we went and saw balboa park, ate real mexican food, strolled through the outdoor markets, layed out by the pool (and everyone knew we were tourists, because it was too cold for them to be out--but it was waaay warm to us!), had thai food in hilcrest (served by the asian lookalike of billy bob thornton) and generally had a great time.
our friend called in sick friday and we went to the maritime museum (and had our picture taken with a pirate!! arrggh! i love pirates!). we got to tour the HMS Surprise (the boat used in master and commander):
we also toured some other boats and a russian cold war submarine . . . the best part was meeting the pirate for sure.
saturday morning, we went for one last dip in the ocean and a visit to a no-bucks coffee shop (our goal was to not enter a single starbucks on our trip) . . . and then we said goodbye and our whirlwind trip was over . . .
the fam:
the girls:
and . . . my battle wounds (not including the amazing hickey that my backpack gave me as i carried it into our friend's apartment). my foot where my flipflop cut me open while walking around old town sd:
my hand (i think i got this during our dance party in LJ's living room . . . but i can't be sure really) plus a bonus closeup of my wedding/engagement rings:
i did good!
all in all the trip was worthwhile . . . and was a much needed break from work . . . now if only i could get back into the swing of things here in the office.
school starts again on monday . . .
say it don't spray it 4:14 PM
14 i heard that
for bsc
don't kill the sheep, just tranquilize them.pictures from my trip to san diego will be posted today!!
say it don't spray it 10:48 AM
7 i heard that
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
i just got this in an email today:
On Wednesday of this week, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be01:02:03 04/05/06.
That won't ever happen again.
You may now return to your (normal ?) life.
say it don't spray it 10:24 AM
8 i heard that
Monday, April 03, 2006
hello! miss me?
so, i'm back.what happened was this: my girlfriends and i planned a surprise trip to san diego to visit a friend who recently got married and moved to sd (her husband is stationed there in the coast guard) . . . pictures from the wedding can be seen here . . . we drove down there in about 16 or 17 hours . . . stayed three days and drove straight back up (sorry tanya!!) . . . it was awesome and she was so surprised!!!
i'll post pictures of the trip when the computer comes back from the doctor. it's still sick. this is taking longer than i thought. drat.
so, i got back saturday night at about 2am (so, would that be sunday morning?). daylight savings time kicked my butt for sure. i hadn't seen jon since thursday the 23rd . . . it was so good to see him again! i missed my best friend. and he's leaving again this thursday. poopie. i mean, i am proud of him (he is going boise state university to present a paper . . . if you live in boise, you should check it out!!), but i just got him back and now he's leaving again!!
i start my advanced courses next week (thai massage, chinese acupressure and trigger point therapy) and i will also start studying for the boards and prepping to start my massage business (any pointers about small businesses?) . . . lots on my plate.
add to the plate the task of posting pictures on this blog and you've got one busy tabitha jane!!!
anybody else do anything fun for spring break?
p.s. did i mention that we have a sqiurrel living in our attic (again . . . when we moved in a year ago, there was one there . . . i wonder if it is the same one?) when we woke up this morning, we heard it scratching around . . . what do we do?
say it don't spray it 4:18 PM
6 i heard that
