For Portland, Or Area Readers

This week, many of the shelves at Community Warehouse are almost empty!

We are nearly out of the following items:

Pots and Pans
Baking Dishes
Toasters
Dishes
Cooking Utensils
BlanketsTowels
Can you help?

65 low-income households in need of essential items and furniture will visit us this week for assistance. Your donations are needed and appreciated! There's no need to buy new. We accept used items as long as they are in good condition.

We are open every day 10-4 to receive donations. If you need to schedule our truck to pick up furniture, please call (503) 235-8786.

Community Warehouse
2267 N. Interstate Avenue
Portland, OR 97227
(503) 274-4750
www.communitywarehouse.org

Community Warehouse is a local non-profit organization that receives donated basic household items and furniture from individuals and businesses, and gives them to low-income people recovering from crisis such as homeless or domestic violence. Over 65 households are served each week.

Portland's Moment to Remember

I finally got to the video I took on election night...tho almost a month later it still feels like it happened yesterday !

McSame protest today

No that many people there but it was at 3 PM and for that time it was a good turnout. We had signs and voices...








The only downside was that a certain political presidential candidate's supporters saw this as a chance to do their own thing by bringing campaign signs...


Bad taste - but what else can one expect from a campaign that is 20 million in debt and needs free TV time...[and I got a dirty look for suggesting that : - )] FYI - they were the only ones there who had signs and handouts for ANY candidate.

Women and Aging and Politics

I have begun to volunteer at a local community radio station [KBOO] and will be involved in the programming for International Woman's Day on March 8th. Although first observed in the United States, it has become pretty unknown here...You can read about the day here: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/default.asp.

At the brainstorming meeting we all put in thoughts as to the day of programming and how it might proceed. Many topics had to do with the fact that women are most often the caretakers of children, family, aging parents, pets, etc. But when women age, they are relegated to nursing homes where they are attended to by underpaid women in under staffed facilities and basically forgotten.

Back in October I was on a program at the station discussing Women and Power. I won't repeat my comment her as it was an hour long show. But my basic premise is/was that women have power which is why men have trouble allowing women to express that power and feel a need to suppress ALL women.

In the USA we have fewer women in government that most other nations. And from my point of view the women in power feel they have to act like men in order to retain their power. So they do not help in the ways that women are best at and that affects the aging of women in our society.

This discussion on Women and Power will continue on January 25 - this coming Friday at 6 PM PST [on KBOO]. You can listen via radio if in Oregon or online anywhere in the world by going to http://www.kboo.org and clicking listen live at the top of the page.

I will talk about our current election scenario as we have a woman running for president and she is subjected to all manner of nasty comments, the death of Bhutto, aging and lack of power - and as listeners call in, other topics will be generated.

Impeach Cheney ?

I got this from an Oregon Peace group member.....

House Resolution 333 for the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney is off the House floor, and has instead been sent to the Judiciary Committee for "further study."

This maneuver, organized by Pelosi and the Democratic leadership, is consistent with their mantra that impeachment is "off the table."

*But, we are told Nancy Pelosi is reported to have replied to the question of impeachment that if she received 10,000 hand written letters she would proceed with it.*

What are we waiting for?

Cindy Sheehan wrote this:

Dear Friends:

Instead of sending your impeachment letters for Dick Cheney to Nancy Pelosi's office, send them to my office so we can get an official count.

Please send them to:

Nancy Pelosi
c/o Cindy Sheehan
RE: Impeach Dick Cheney
1260 Mission Blvd
San Francisco, Ca 94103

Please only include the letter – nothing else .....
And send them today, Friday, November 16th , so they can be delivered to Pelosi’s office in San Francisco before Thanksgiving.

Change of pace

I have ranted this week - but it's been in my own home : - )

My art group is having a show this coming Sunday and I have been busy getting ready. What I have learned is that although I love taking pictures and doing other forms of art - I HATE the "getting ready for a show" part. I'll be back to more regular blogging next week.

But I must say that watching the Red Sox win last night made the matting process a lot more fun...and after I set up my space this afternoon - I will return for more matting while watching game 2 of the World Series.

Here is our Press Release

ORA: Northwest Jewish Artists
503.244.0794
info@northwestjewishartists.org
http://www.northwestjewishartists.org

CELEBRATION OF ART:
Portland, Oregon- October 28th, 9am-3pm
Neveh Shalom
2900 SW Peaceful Lane
Portland Oregon

The magic begins as you enter our Main Exhibit Hall. Live music by well known recording artists and performers will greet your ears, and a coffee house featuring fresh treats will tantalize your palate as you listen to the musical stylings of Stephanie Schneiderman (of Dirty Martini fame), George Fendel, jazz pianist, and Justin Jude, recently named "Oregon's Best Singer/Songwriter 2007!"

Stroll from exhibit to exhibit to experience a unique show that blends the best elements of a gallery opening with an artist colony tour -- with a coffee house of a forgotten age tossed in. Celebrating their second year as a collective, ORA artists invite the public to
discover their new work. Although the artists are Jewish, Judaic and secular works are available for purchase.

Members of ORA are: Rosana Berdichevsky , collage and multi-media; Lynn Dorman, photography; Leslie Elder water colors, Robin Esterkin, water color, acrylic and mixed media; Laurie Fendel, fabric construction; Diane Fredgant, silk painting; Sara Harwin, fabric construction, acrylic painting and serigraph prints; Julie Hockley, hand-cast precious metal jewelry & ritual objects; Esther Liberman, handmade bead work; Sharon Segal, acrylic and mixed media paintings and cards; Eddy Shuldman, fused glass; and Sabina Wohlfeiler, water color paintings.

You don't need to be Jewish to come look, schmooze with the artists, nosh a little, and buy art that speaks to you., Best of all, admission is free!

For more information please visit our website: www.northwestjewishartists.org

Accolades to Al Gore

President Al Gore won the Noble Peace Prize - sharing it with a UN Panel...all for his work on climate change.

So instead of being proud of him - the wingnuts are going crazy saying he's wrong - and besides his work has nothing to do with peace!

I say congrats and way to go President Al - and let's all ignore the wingnuts...

Ahh my weird sense of humor

I just love it when faux noise is skewered - and done so well : - )

Another gem from Robert Greenwald

Damn it - I'm angry

Why is that "health" care companies feel they have the right to scam Medicare clients and all others?

Why don't they do health care insuring [and assuring] and not "pick-your-pocket" and damn the consequences type of behavior?

From the Sunday New York Times

October 7, 2007
Medicare Audits Show Problems in Private Plans
By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 — Tens of thousands of Medicare recipients have been victims of deceptive sales tactics and had claims improperly denied by private insurers that run the system’s huge new drug benefit program and offer other private insurance options encouraged by the Bush administration, a review of scores of federal audits has found.

The problems, described in 91 audit reports reviewed by The New York Times, include the improper termination of coverage for people with H.I.V. and AIDS, huge backlogs of claims and complaints, and a failure to answer telephone calls from consumers, doctors and drugstores....The audits document widespread violations of patients’ rights and consumer protection standards. Some violations could directly affect the health of patients — for example, by delaying access to urgently needed medications. [emphasis mine - LD]

Full article here HERE

Call me whatever - but I'd rather have the government doing health care than these greedy , out-to-scam-everyone corporate types whose only interest is the bottom line and their shareholders.

The people buying the insurance? We are just pawns in their game. And I have seen the "game" both as a provider and as an insured! Believe me - insurance companies are out for your money - not your health!

My neighborhood v. the "big boys"

If you read this blog regularly you know I have no great admiration for king george or his cronies....

And now we in our neighborhood are being treated to repug tactics by the local drainage district.

Long story made short - our road is a levee - and someone or some entity has demanded all trees be removed. We can't get a truthful statement from the powers-that-be...[sound familiar?] At first we were told it was FEMA - I guess in it's post Katrina CYA mode.....but it's not FEMA..

The drainage district started leveling trees and the neighborhood got an injunction....
The hearing is set for Friday where our side is presenting current science and their side is using propaganda and threats.

One person told the big businesses that the neighbors were going to be responsible for the levee failing due to our trying to keep the trees and the big boys have threatened law suits against the neighborhood if damage occurs... One big boy was asked if he would he sue the drainage district if the trees were cut and that caused the levee to breach? No response.

Stay tuned for another people v. the powers-that-be saga from one small, very small, portion of Portland Oregon - a stretch of road that is less than 2 miles in length - but the road is a levee - hence the issues.

Check out more at my neighborhood blog: by clicking here