Apr 11

Responding to Failed Messiah Feedback on the Sholom Rubashkin Defense Article

Activism, Gregory Johnson - Journal, Lifeways, Politics No Comments »

Activism | Consumer Defense

Summary. I want to thank everyone who has read and responded to my article in defense of Sholom Rubashkin; even those with negative comments.

I value constructive feedback, as it helps challenge and shape my own views as well as offers insights into how I can clarify what I’ve written.

Below is a response to the publishers and readers of the Failed Messiah website where an early draft of my article was posted.

I’ll continue to update this page in response to reader comments on that page.

* * *

11 April 2010 | Sunday

Hello Friends,

I discovered that my article has been picked up and posted to a variety of websites, including Failed Messiah, Matzav.com, and Shturem.org. This page offers responses to comments posted on the Failed Messiah website.

For those interested, my original article is here:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item2734

Based on all the feedback I’ve received from many people about the article, I’ve tried to make clarifications as needed, so the current article includes some minor corrections, but mostly remains the same as the original.

Some good points are raised in the comments at Failed Messiah, and I’m interested to read more thoughts on this topic. To help the discussion stay grounded in the facts and not get off track with speculation or conspiracy theories, let me just correct and clarify a few things. Please don’t read these as defensive responses, they are just meant to be clarifications.

First, I should clarify for everyone, that I don’t work at Shturem.net (Shturem.org), and my sister isn’t Gloria Johnson-Smith, nor does she work at B&H Photo. I’m not a paid plant/fake/shill for the OU/Heshy/Hershy or anyone else. I appreciate the positive comments from those who accepted what I shared as genuine. I’ve not been paid off by anyone to write the article. Were I paid or compensated in any way, I would have disclosed that. You can read my disclosure statement here:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item2581

Now, some responses to the comments so far, in order of appearance above.

1. Shmarya Rosenberg commented, “Even a cursory reading of the vast amount of evidence against Rubashkin refutes much of what Johnson claims.”

  • Clarification. I’m not attempting to whitewash the Rubashkin plant or any other. I’m simply sharing my own personal eye witness account. My experiences and observations only when combined with others can convey a broader picture. I’m just adding my observations to the mix. If you read my full article on the plant visit, you’ll know that I don’t believe there’s any entirely “kind” way to kill an animal: http://www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item46

2. Shmarya Rosenberg commented, ”Johnson’s evaluation is based on a controlled tour given long after public and governmental pressure forced Agriprocessors to improve.”

  • Clarification. I agree with you here. Planned tours or inspections are undoubtedly a bit more tame than business as usual. However, I was not with a group of inspectors who might be considered a potential threat, and what I was primarily observing were machines, procedure, and aspects of the plant that can’t be easily changed in a day for a small tour group.

3. Shmarya Rosenberg commented, ”…he projects backward, alleging that PETA lied about Agriprocessors.”

  • Clarification. Not to get into a debate about PETA, but I was simply surprised that nothing really seemed to have changed two years later, and that what seemed to be the same procedure, produced different results in reality than what the video depicted. Also, the group I was with were not seen as ‘outsiders’ so, it seemed to me, that less was done to impress us. We weren’t inspectors nor were we considered a threat in any way. So, I would think they would be less likely to be on their guard. My observations and comments about the plant were primarily about the machines, mechanisms, and procedures being used. These are things that can’t easily be changed for a tour group. I was looking at the entire process and sort of ignoring things that a person can clean-up in a day prior to an inspection.

4. Shmarya Rosenberg commented, ”Johnson even claims the ‘procedure’ he saw in 2006 was exactly the same throat-ripping shown on PETA’s 2004 videos.”

  • Clarification. What I saw was the same room, the same equipment, and a quick cut to the throat that seemed to produce instantaneous death. There were no cattle hobbling around while bleeding to death, nor were throats being ripped out. Maybe I need to revise the article to make this clearer.

5. Shmarya Rosenberg commented, ”Rubashkin supporters do not have the facts or the truth on their side, so they often resort to lies. Those lies may help energize their base and help raise money, but they will not impress a sitting federal judge or law enforcement.”

  • Clarification. I’m not in touch with any Rubashkin supporters, so I can’t speak to this, you may be right there. I can only say that my story is genuine and truthful.

6. Harold and Dave comment about my article being posted on Failed Messiah.

  • Clarification/Comment. From their comments, I’m guessing my article presents a position contrary to what is normally found on the site. I applaud that. I try to do the same on my own website, and value that elsewhere on the Internet.

7. State of Disgust commented, “…just how many slaughterhouses has Mr. Johnson been in? How would he know what he is looking at, or what to look for? IS he a trained expert in slaughterhouse cleanliness? Is he familiar with the chemicals used in a meat packing plant?”

  • Clarification. In case it wasn’t clear from my article (although I think it would be), I’m not a slaughterhouse inspector. As a vegetarian and animal welfare advocate, most of my exposure to various kinds of factory farming and animal cruelty over the past 30 years has been from animal welfare groups. Perhaps that’s why the Rubashkin plant didn’t seem so bad in reflecting on what I’ve seen. I’ve also developed an opinion about factory farms and meat packing plants from watching videos like John Robbins Diet for a New America:
    http://www.amazon.com/Diet-New-America-John-Robbins/dp/0915811812

8. Justice Seeker states, “I can smell a plant….it might as well be by ‘John Smith.’ Its just more propaganda, and mis-information. Everyone knows there are no vegans in Iowa! Iowa is a state where PETA stands for ‘People Eating Tasty Animals.’”

  • Clarification. As I mentioned above, I’m not a plant. Please refer to my statement on disclosure link provided above. There are actually quite a few vegetarians, vegans, and people involved in animal welfare here in Iowa. We have many vegetarian restaurants in our town as well as a very popular restaurant that serves only vegan organic locally-grown foods; see TheRedAvocado.com

9. Yidandahalf commented, “This guy Johnson is a plant, a fake, a shill for the OU/Heshy/Hershey and the lot of them. How much did he get paid? By the writing style of just the first few paragraphs, he gives himself away. Also dude, you’re like four years too late. As the old saying goes, ‘Don’t quit your day job.’”

  • Clarification. As I mentioned above, I’m not a paid shill of the Orthodox Union and Hershey. What’s amazing to me, is that now it’s been four years, yet so many people just won’t stop persecuting this Sholom Rubashkin. For me, the story isn’t about what’s current news, but simply a matter of principle and justice.

10. AGRI-vated Angel responds to my claim that ‘the PETA video was gathered covertly over many weeks and meticulously spliced together.’

  • Clarification. This information was actually from PETA, not from me. They described that they had infiltrated the plant and captured a lot of video footage over a period of many weeks. So, it’s factual information provided from PETA, not me. I’ve already responded to the point about the tour being scheduled.

11. Concerned for the Postville Area asked also about my claims that the video was collected over many weeks.

  • Clarification. I’ve answered this above in #9.

12. AGRI-vated Angel commented, “I find it rather strange that Mr. Johnson was given a tour of the facility . . . However, while a group of nuns (during a visit to Postville) requested a tour of the plant, they were turned away. I wonder what ‘they’ didn’t want the nuns to see?”

  • Clarification. I went on the tour with some people who were essentially seen as ‘friends’ of the plant rather than inspectors. So, perhaps that’s why our group was allowed in. I’m not surprised that there might have been some resistance to various outsiders coming in, possibly for the sole purpose of finding something negative to write about.

13. State of Disgust comments, “The real question is why do the Rubashkins and/or Hershey feel it necessary to salvage the reputation of a failed firm at this time? Why try to lay a false trail now? Just speculation but perhaps because they plan to reintroduce the brand again.”

  • Clarification. Please don’t read into my article and conclude they are going to reintroduce the brand again. It’s just an article about my experience visiting the place. There’s no grand conspiracy here, at least not one that I’m aware of.

14. Neo-Conservaguy comments, “The writer is clearly ignorant about different approaches to kosher slaughter. The upside down contraption used in Postville is a disaster not only because it’s a terror for the animals, but even more so because it sets up bad slaughter. Concern about damaging the knife on the sides of the pen may explain much of what was seen in the PETA videos – ineffective cuts that clearly didn’t sever all of the veins, perhaps because they were not deep enough. Standing pens are the only reasonable approach for mature animals as large as the cattle involved.”

  • Clarification. As I stated above, I can’t imagine any entirely “kind” way to kill an animal. From the research I did, those who justify the hanging the animals upside down method say that the blood rushing to the brain causes the animal to be in a state where the pain of death and length of suffering is decreased. Maybe those sources are wrong. Not having spent my life studying how to kill animals, I can’t really speak too much on the issue.

As needed, I’ll follow-up with another posting below in response to additional comments on the Failed Messiah website.

* * *

12 April 2010

Friends,

There is now a response to my above clarifications posted on the Failed Messiah website that seems to conclude the discussion for now. Thanks to everyone who has participated.

~ Greg

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Mar 17

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot Featured on the Steven Colbert Report

Activism, Health, Politics, Relationships No Comments »

Activism | Health

Summary. Rebecca Skloot was interviewed on the Steven Colbert show about her book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The video of the interview is at the bottom of this page.

Book Description. The following description is from Amazon.

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If you could pile all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they’d weigh more than 50 million metric tons—as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the “colored” ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta’s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia—a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo—to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells.

Henrietta’s family did not learn of her “immortality” until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family—past and present—is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.

Over the decade it took to uncover this story, Rebecca became enmeshed in the lives of the Lacks family—especially Henrietta’s daughter Deborah, who was devastated to learn about her mother’s cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, who died in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn’t her children afford health insurance?

Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.

Video. Below is the Steven Colbert interview with Rebecca Skloot.

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Mar 12

University of Iowa – How to Evaluate Educational Value and Quality

Effective Living, Iowa City, Politics No Comments »

Effective Living

Summary. In difficult economic times, educational institutions, organizations, and businesses, need to closely evaluate and examine their budgets and look for ways to reduce costs while maintaining or increasing productivity without diminishing quality.

Goals. Such introspective exploring and self-examination should begin with a clear definition of goals, values, and desired outcomes. The metrics for quantitative and collective thought and collaborative decision making need to reflect the mission of the institution.

Metrics. The University of Iowa recently went through a self-evaluation. Some people in the UI community feel that the metrics used to evaluate departments and programs unfortunately resembled a corporate business model of decision making that looks solely at quantity rather than quality.

Factories Thinking. For factories, it makes sense to measure the number of widgets produced and look for ways to reduce the number of workers on the factory floor while increasing productivity and output. For many businesses, the quality of the widgets doesn’t really matter. Profit is the primary goal. The same metrics used to measure success and productivity in a factory, when applied to education result in disastrous and fatal decision making.

“The influence of corporate business methods on academic institutional thinking has educators thinking and believing that they are working in education factories. Students are no longer students but customers who are buying knowledge like a product. Sometimes it’s not clear whether it is knowledge or perhaps the students who are viewed as the widgets in these education factories.” ~ Anonymous

Grading Institutions. In an educational environment, quality, not quantity, should be the primary concern. Educational institutions are measured based on the quality of education they provide. Consider that, within academia, if a five page paper is due, the instructor doesn’t care that you provided 8 pages (three extra pages of quantity). They are looking at the quality of your writing not the quantity. The same methods used to grade students should be used to grade academic institutions.

Academic Institutions Aren’t Factories. The University of Iowa assembled a Task Force to consider which departments and programs should be considered for elimination. Some people feel the task force examined the University of Iowa as if it were like a factory instead of an educational institution.

Viewpoints. The following commentary is excerpted from the article The University’s Reason for Being by Rick Altman, Professor of Cinema and Comparative Literature, Director of Film Studies. The short and long versions of the article are available online.

“Judging from the criticisms leveled at those programs initially judged “Weak” (subsequently relabeled “Requiring Further Evaluation”), qualitative concerns such as the caliber of faculty and student research took a back seat to such quantitative measures as completion rate and time to degree.

Dean Keller notes that “The focus of the assessments was on graduate student outcomes.” What he doesn’t say is that the data furnished to the committee defined “student outcomes” in a particularly narrow way. Instead of focusing on the quality of dissertations, the number and quality of student publications, or the type of institution where students found jobs, the Task Force focused instead on easily measurable (but not necessarily pertinent) figures including “time to degree.”

The case of the Film Studies PhD program is instructive.

  • The fact that a recent Film Studies student won the national prize for best dissertation was not taken into account.
  • The number of Film Studies dissertations that have been published by prestigious presses was deemed less important than the amount of time it took those students to complete their degrees.
  • No attention was paid to the fact that recent Film Studies graduates are now in tenure-track positions at Catholic University, the University of Chicago (2), Fordham, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Trinity, the University of Iceland, and Yale. Or that earlier Film Studies graduates are now tenured at dozens of major universities, including Brown (2), Chicago, Cornell, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Harvard, Northwestern (2), Notre Dame (2), Texas, and Yale.
  • The fact that Iowa PhDs have been crucial to the development of Film Studies as an academic discipline, and continue to make major contributions to the field, is ignored in favor of time-to-degree data that make no distinction between a diploma mill and a world-class program.

This is a sad moment in the history of a great university. I feel a profound sense of shame when our university’s chief academic officers proclaim that restructuring should be based on something other than faculty and graduate student excellence. If we forget the university’s reason for being — its educational mission — we will have abandoned the very values on which the university is built.

Conclusion. As the above report shows, it’s important to have equal representation in institutional governance not just for equity sake, but also for reasons of effectiveness. It’s also important to clearly affirm an institutions goals, values, mission, and purpose before starting to cut away at non-essentials. One must be reminded of what’s important before trying to remove what isn’t important.

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Jan 27

The Urgency of Youth Representation, Action, and Activism in World Democracy

Activism, Effective Living, Environment, Health, Lifeways, Politics, Relationships No Comments »

Activism | Relationships

Summary. Imagine a person who’s brain is only partially operational. Their thoughts, words, decisions, and behavior would likely be impeded. So it is also true when a society does not have an open balanced democratic dialog and political system which includes all people of the society regardless of age or gender. If a segment of the society is ignored, it is like having a part of the brain that is ignored. In the world community, the opinions and voices of younger people are largely ignored except when it comes to marketing products to children. The world urgently needs the inspiration of young people and children. From young people come optimism, creativity, hope, energy, and forgiveness that is urgently needed in the world today.

“We never grow up. We only learn how to act in public.” (source unknown)

Twenty-six Percent of United States Citizens Denied Representation. Children represent 26% of the United States population. They participate in school and community activities and are responsible for over $170 billion a year in purchases. Despite this they are denied the right to vote or have meaningful representation in government. [Source: Youth Activism Project]

Adult Viewpoints on Youth Involvement. Conservative commentator Dennis Prager recently stated, “when youth get involved in politics in large numbers, it is not a good thing.” What he means is that youth involvement threatens the imbalance of power that favors the adult (mostly male) dominated society and worldview which promotes and perpetuates wars, the exploitation children, and the ravaging of the environment all over the world. In reality, youth involvement is good for people and for the planet. Some people and organizations embrace and support youth involvement in global politics and issues. Youth Action Net states: “In the face of urgent global challenges – poverty, climate change, HIV/AIDS, hunger, homelessness – young people are exercising their leadership potential like never before. Their energy and idealism propel them to take risks, to look beyond obstacles, and to develop innovative solutions. Youth leaders thrive in collaborative learning environments that emphasize the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to maximize their contributions.” [Source: Youth Action Net] The organization, Global Youth Action Network states, “GYAN believes that critical issues facing the planet now demand our attention and action; and that if we are to solve these problems in our life, then we must act, and combine our efforts to guarantee a future of peace, justice and sustainability.”

Youth Viewpoints on Race. As was demonstrated by the Promises Project, youth are typically able to cooperate and enjoy friendship despite differences of culture, race, or religion. “The interesting thing about the south is that we played together, black and white, when we were seven, eight, nine, ten, but then when you got to be a teenager, all of a sudden segregation set in.” – Andrew Young, UN Ambassador from the United States (quote from PBS American Experience special about Jimmy Carter).

When Children Speak Out. When children are given an opportunity to speak, they often exhibit great wisdom. An example is the video below of Severn Suzuki, who was at the time of the video, a spokesperson for the Environmental Children’s Organization (a group of twelve and thirteen year old children addressing global issues). This video is a message she deivered at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992. However, the message spoken is timeless. Note: Please click the play button only and ignore all other buttons and options which might take you to other YouTube content which may be offensive.

Ability to Solve Complex Problems. In this video, a four-year-old girl solves a Rubic’s cube.

Family Model for Youth Involvement. Imagine a family sitting around the dining table or living room. Decisions about where to go eat, what movie to watch, or where to go on vacation are almost always influenced by the children in the family. Loving parents want to respect and empower their children by listening to them and taking their wishes into consideration. The world community should be no different.

Resources. Below are resources for promoting global youth empowerment.

  • Aspen Institute – Ideas Festival. According to The Aspen Idea magazine (Summer 2008, page 23), “… high school students across the country … held their own mini Ideas Festivals on topics like discrimination and genocide.” Vince Blauser, principal of Todd Beamer High School near Seattle, stated, “I was reminded that there’s more to education than the standards we teach. We are developing humanity.”
  • Christian Science Monitor, “Taste is on the Agenda for Military Meals Ready to Eat” – In this Christian Science Monitor story, a panel of children were asked to provide their opinions of military rations. [video | article]
  • CompassionateKids.com – “An international, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping teach children compassion towards the Earth, People, and Animals.”
  • DoSomething.org – “We believe young people have the power to make a difference. It is our aim to inspire, support and celebrate a generation of do-ers: people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action. Our website is a community where young people learn, listen, speak, vote, volunteer, ask, and take action to make the world a better place. Currently, only 23% of this generation actively volunteers. Our hope is to create a do something generation: a world where more than 51% of young people are involved with community action.”
  • FreeChild.org – “The resources on The Freechild Project website are meant to encourage you to take action. This website offers a variety of tools for young people and adults, and provides details on the issues young people care about and the actions they are taking.”
  • GlobalKids.org – “Global Kids (GK) is committed to transforming urban youth into successful students as well as global and community leaders. Using interactive and experiential methods to educate youth about critical international and foreign policy issues, GK provides students with opportunities for civic and global engagement.”
  • Global Youth Action Network – “More than 1,000 organizations have applied for membership in GYAN. We connect over 10,000 in over 180 countries. Our mission is to facilitate youth participation and intergenerational partnership in global decision-making; support collaboration among diverse youth organizations; and provide tools, resources, and recognition for positive youth action. GYAN believes that critical issues facing the planet now demand our attention and action; and that if we are to solve these problems in our life, then we must act, and combine our efforts to guarantee a future of peace, justice and sustainability.”
  • Kiva.org – “Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.” Consider loaning money to young people through Kiva.
  • OneCountry.org – “At the UN, young girls voice concerns about grown-up issues”
  • Promises Project – When children are given an opportunity to address to create peace.
  • ShapingYouth.org – “Shaping Youth is a nonprofit concerned with media and marketing’s impact on kids. We have NO political, religious, or censorship agenda. Our focus is to shift harmful messages in a more positive direction with the help of industry insiders.”
  • YMCA – “We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities. Every day, Ys help children and youth to deepen positive values, their commitment to service and their motivation to learn.”
  • YouthAction.net – “YouthActionNet® invests in the power and promise of young social entrepreneurs around the globe. Launched in 2001 by the International Youth Foundation, YouthActionNet® strengthens, supports, and celebrates the role of young people in leading positive change in their communities. In the face of urgent global challenges – poverty, climate change, HIV/AIDS, hunger, homelessness – young people are exercising their leadership potential like never before. Their energy and idealism propel them to take risks, to look beyond obstacles, and to develop innovative solutions. Youth leaders thrive in collaborative learning environments that emphasize the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to maximize their contributions.”
  • YouthActivism.com – “This site aims to prove that MINORS can play a MAJOR ROLE. Everyone–especially teens and tweens–are invited to email or call our toll-free hotline. Also, our national nonprofit clearinghouse provides information and resources to youth workers, mentors, teachers, principals, policy makers, parents and organizations that want to support young advocates.”
  • YouthInAction.org – An organization fighting underage drinking. “Instead of targeting high school students with a message, Youth In Action looks at the whole environment that seems to condone underage drinking. From the store clerk who doesn’t check IDs, to the police officer who might pour out the beer and send teens home, to the adults who don’t mind buying beer for a kid who slips him an extra $10 — YIA teams look for community solutions instead of focusing their attention on their peers. Teams focus on laws and policies that affect people’s behavior, because that’s the best place to make changes.”
  • YouthForHumanRights.org – “Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) is an independent non-profit corporation headquartered in Los Angeles, with the purpose to educate people in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights so they become valuable advocates for tolerance and peace. YHRI holds events and produces instructional tools to raise human rights awareness such as the award-winning music video UNITED – a street-savvy, multi-ethnic, five-minute film in 15 languages – conveying the power of human rights awareness.”
  • Wikipedia – Youth Activism
  • WireTapMag.org – “WireTap is the Webby-winning news and culture magazine by and for young people interested in social change. Here, you will learn about political issues that matter to young people, and hear from young activists, as they articulate their vision and describe their work that turns individual hopes into collective, political possibilities.”

Video. Below are selected videos from YouthForHumanRights.org

Document History. This document was first published on 20080629@2007. On 20100127we1855, outdated content was removed.

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Jan 26

Maxine – The Economy is So Bad

Politics, finance No Comments »

Finance

Summary. Here’s a light-hearted look at our national economy and financial situation. The following Maxine cartoons were received via email. The source, authenticity, and/or copyright are unknown. The cartoon text is as follows (in order of appearance):

  • The economy is so bad, I got a ‘pre-declined’ credit card in the mail.
  • The economy is so bad, if the bank returns your check marked “insufficient funds” you call and ask if they meant you or them.
  • The economy is so bad, I ordered a burger at McDonalds, and the kid behind the counter asked, “Can you afford fries with that?”
  • The economy is so bad, Motel 6 won’t leave the light on anymore.
  • The economy is so bad, a truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.
  • The economy is so bad, Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.
  • The economy is so bad, parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children’s names.
  • The economy is so bad, McDonalds is selling the “Quarter-ouncer.”
  • The economy is so bad, Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than Chrysler and GM.
  • The economy is so bad, CEO’s are now playing miniature golf.
  • Congress says they are looking deeper into the Bernie Madoff scandal. Well ain’t that just great. The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear.

The economy is so bad, I got a 'pre-declined' credit card in the mail.

The economy is so bad, if the bank returns your check marked "insufficient funds" you call and ask if they meant you or them.

The economy is so bad, I ordered a burger at McDonalds, and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"

The economy is so bad, Motel 6 won't leave the light on anymore.

The economy is so bad, a truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.

The economy is so bad, Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.

The economy is so bad, parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.

The economy is so bad, McDonalds is selling the "Quarter-ouncer."

The economy is so bad, Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than Chrysler and GM.

The economy is so bad, CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

Congress says they are looking deeper into the Bernie Madoff scandal. Well ain't that just great. The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear.

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Nov 20

Building a More Effective Military Defense for Greater National and Global Security Through Humanitarian Relief and Sustainability

Activism, Environment, Good News, Lifeways, Politics, Relationships No Comments »

Activism

20091119th-us-southern-command-ussc-disaster-relief-el-salvadorSummary. In tough economic times, it’s even more essential to achieve the greatest value from money spent on defense and national security. A nation’s armed forces and military personnel must be fully trained and equipped to meet modern threats to national security. The threats we face today are like none we’ve ever faced before. For this reason, leaders in defense are redirecting resources and funding to humanitarian aid and sustainability efforts because such initiatives produce the greatest return on the investment.

Three-Pronged Approach. Natural disasters have now eclipsed terrorism as the greatest cause of death, damage, and injury. Scarcity of resources is resulting in conflicts, terrorism, and war around the world. A three-pronged approach is needed. The military establishment recognizes this and is taking immediate action in the following areas.

  1. Humanitarian aid and relief to those impacted by natural disasters.
  2. Sustainable energy solutions to reduce our negative impact on the planet.
  3. Economic development for creating communities of financial and agricultural abundance.

New Military. At this very moment, thousands of people serving in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, National Guard, and other special forces are being rapidly redeployed to build schools, build clinics, assist in disaster relief, offer support with agricultural development, deliver humanitarian aid, and develop sustainable energy solutions. Combined military forces are now working on campaigns to deliver humanitarian aid such as the disaster relief to El Salvador. Hundreds of thousands of tons in food, water, and clothing, are being delivered and various forms of shelter are being constructed.

New Marching Orders. In the winter of 2009, one of the top leaders of the elite United States Special Operations Command  (USSOCOM) located at MacDill Aif Force Base in Florida gave the following words as marching orders [source] for those in military service as well as civilians:

Maximize family time if at all possible
Renew old friendships
Do fewer things, but do them thoughtfully
Avoid the tyranny of the ‘hustle & bustle’

Look back to the history of our great national celebrations
teach the children

Rethink and Rediscover the truly valuable things of life

Try to recognize and accept family members as friends, just as they are

Be intentional in ‘random acts of kindness’

Choose to love, accept and forgive
Read the scripture
Pray for your military, your community, and your country

Sustainability. It seem that the armed forces and military leaders have accurately identified and responded to the greatest threats to humanity. Below is an image from the Army Sustainability website. The Army has placed Sustainability as a top priority because if humanity doesn’t survive due to scarcity of resources, then there’s nothing left to defend.

20091120fr-army-sustainability-website

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Nov 06

Open Access: Taxpayers Denied Access to Public Funded Research Materials

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Activism

20091106fr-open-access-logoSummary. Because education and the free exchange of information are central to a stable democracy, open access is an essential part of national security. Open Access Week is an initiative to increase public awareness about the importance of open access.

“Open Access is a growing international movement that uses the Internet to throw open the locked doors that once hid knowledge. It encourages the unrestricted sharing of research results with everyone, everywhere, for the advancement and enjoyment of science and society. Open Access is the principle that all research should be freely accessible online, immediately after publication, and it’s gaining ever more momentum around the world as research funders and policy makers throw their weight behind it. The Open Access philosophy was firmly articulated in 2002, when the Budapest Open Access Initiative was introduced. It quickly took root in the scientific and medical communities because it offered an alternative route to research literature that was frequently closed off behind costly subscription barriers.” [1]

20091106fr-scholarly-publishing-academic-resources-coalition-sparc-10-year-anniversary-200x200SPARC. The Alliance for Taxpayer Access is administered by The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), an international alliance of academic and research libraries working to correct imbalances in the scholarly publishing system. Developed by the Association of Research Libraries, SPARC has become a catalyst for change. Its pragmatic focus is to stimulate the emergence of new scholarly communication models that expand the dissemination of scholarly research and reduce financial pressures on libraries. Action by SPARC in collaboration with stakeholders – including authors, publishers, and libraries – builds on the unprecedented opportunities created by the networked digital environment to advance the conduct of scholarship. According to the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), “we do not get access to all of the over $60 billion of research that we, as students and taxpayers, pay for every year.” [2]

20091106fr-alliance-for-taxpayer-accessATA. The Alliance for Taxpayer Access is a coalition of patient groups, physicians, researchers, educational institutions, publishers, and health promotion organizations that support barrier-free access to taxpayer-funded research. [3]

ATA Campaign. The ATA TaxpayerAccess.org campaign is an effort to ensure and enforce taxpayer access to publicly funded research through the Federal Research Public Access Act.

Every year, the federal government funds tens of billions of dollars in basic and applied research. Most of this funding is concentrated within 11 departments/agencies (e.g., National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy). The research results typically are reported in articles published in a wide variety of academic journals. From NIH funding alone, it is estimated that about 65,000 papers are published each year. The Federal Research Public Access Act proposes to make manuscripts reporting on federally funded research publicly available within six months of publication in a journal. [4]

ATA Principles. ATA is directed by the Scholarly Publishing & Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), an alliance of academic and research libraries and organizations committed to the promotion of systems that capitalize on the networked environment to disseminate research. The Alliance for Taxpayer Access is committed to the following four general principles:

  1. American taxpayers are entitled to open access on the Internet to the peer-reviewed scientific articles on research funded by the U.S. Government.
  2. Widespread access to the information contained in these articles is an essential, inseparable component of our nation’s investment in science.
  3. This and other scientific information should be shared in cost-effective ways that take advantage of the Internet, stimulate further discovery and innovation, and advance the translation of this knowledge into public benefits.
  4. Enhanced access to and expanded sharing of information will lead to usage by millions of scientists, professionals, and individuals, and will deliver an accelerated return on the taxpayers’ investment.
  5. ATA advances these principles through advocacy of US Government-wide public access and other policies that support the sharing of science made possible by the Internet and taxpayer investments. [5]

Open Society Institute. The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, OSI builds alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. OSI places a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities. [6]

__________

1. OpenAccessWeek.org

2. ALR.org

3. TaxpayerAccess.org

4. TaxpayerAccess.org

5. TaxpayerAccess.org

6. Soros.org

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Nov 05

What Is The Spark – Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Spark Campaign Initiative

Activism, Iowa City, Politics No Comments »

Effective Living > Iowa City

20091026mo-servcie-sidewalk-chalk-IMG_2064-high-mediumSummary. The Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce has created a new initiative with a publicity website called What Is The Spark. The information page for the site is accessible only through a hidden link that becomes visible when a mouse hovers over it.

Sidewalk Chalk. The promotional campaign began in October 2009 with the somewhat mysterious appearance of chalk drawings on the sidewalks of downtown Iowa City. Colorful asterisks were drawn, sometimes accompanied by words such as Service, Knowledge, or Connect. The photo shown here was taken on 26 October 2009. The campaign inspires people to ask What’s the Spark? and search for more information.

Spark Leadership Award. On 5 November 2009, the ICACC announced winners of a Spark Leadership Award.

No US Bank Affiliation. Because a well known US Bank campaign refers to Five Stars of Service, it was thought that this campaign may have been something instigated by US Bank. However, it seems this isn’t true.

Official Website. The WhatIsTheSpark.com website (registered to the ICACC) offers the following list that describes what the Spark is and does.

  • Nurtures leadership in Johnson County
  • Represents all sectors of our community
  • Contributes to the vision of Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty and Solon
  • Equips leaders with skills to mobilize positive change
  • Reaches decision-makers and influences policy
  • Builds relationships to share innovative ideas, viewpoints and approaches
  • Promotes collaboration and resource sharing
  • Creates opportunities to champion a cause
  • Engages established and emerging leaders
  • Raises awareness of the critical issues and systems that make up Johnson County
  • Develops open-minded, proactive leaders
  • Provides dynamic, meaningful and relevant partnerships
  • Serves as an invaluable resource to your community
  • Introduces individuals to diverse community themes including arts & culture, health care, government, economics, agriculture, human services, education
  • Inspires participants to become actively engaged in their own city
  • Provokes intellectual curiosity and debate
  • Educates constituents about the power they have to make an impact
  • Encourages participants to get involved
  • Generates dialogue about key issues

More Information. If you have more information about the Spark campaign, please contact us so we can update this page.

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Oct 27

Pray for Your Leaders – Michelle Obama Has 22 Attendants or 26 Servants – Separation of State and Church – Canada Free Press

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Activism > Politics

20091027tu-deliver-us-from-obama

Anti-American Evangelical Religious Propaganda Slogan and Artwork by Canadian Free Press

Summary. This document addresses the accusation made by Canada Free Press that Michelle Obama has 22 Attendants or 26 Servants.

Background. During the George W. Bush presidency, evangelical conservatives would accuse liberals of being unpatriotic for criticizing the President of the United States. The following scriptures were among those cited as the basis for respecting those in authority.

“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God…” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)

Disrespecting the President and the Bible. Now that Obama, a Democrat, has become president of the United States, some evangelical Christian conservatives are disrespecting the Bible as well as the President when they verbally attack the President and disregard the scriptures they once affirmed. Their political affiliations and loyalties seem to be stronger than their loyalty to God and the scriptures. Some critics of the Obama administration use fear tactics, exaggeration, and negative spin to criticize the President of the United States and First Lady. These verbal attacks upon the President reflect very un-Christian-like behavior that is inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament.

The Separation of State and Church. We’ve all heard about the separation of Church and State. The implication is that, if given enough political power, the Church would legislate religion and force people to live according to one view of faith. However, not much is said about the Separation of State and Church. The Church is equally influenced by politics once intertwined with it. When evangelical Christians first landed on the beaches of the Republican Party (the GOP), they had high hopes of influencing the party and our nation. Soon, their boots became muddy. No longer were their “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:14-15) Instead of following Jesus, they became followers of George W. Bush and the conservative leaders. The following quote from a war criminal describes this phenomenon quite articulately.

“Naturally the common people don’t want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” – This quotation is represented to be from Hermann Goering, uttered during the post World War II Nuremburg war crimes trials set up by the victorious Allies.

Freedom of Speech Abused. The Freedom of Speech is an important part of Democracy that ensures a diversity and plurality of voices whereby our collective thoughts, voices, and actions will ultimately produce the greatest good. It is a perversion of the Freedom of Speech when media outlets become bullhorns for a handful of extremists. Just as a lack of diversity in agriculture can harm the land when planting only corn or beans, a lack of diversity in politics can harm a nation. The “Deliver Us From Obama” praying hands image shown above is available for sale through the Cafe Press Store of Canada Free Press. The Canada Free Press is just one example of how a narrow viewpoint is able to have a huge impact. It’s also an example of how the fusion of church, journalism, and state can cause problems. While the CFP represents a conservative viewpoint, the same is true for liberal media outlets. The media is supposed to be fair and balanced, but it’s become clear in recent years that many media outlets are simply propaganda machines for extremist viewpoints. One might point out that people are free to read news from both liberal and conservative sources. However, that usually doesn’t happen because most people have only a few biased news sources to shape (or support) their existing views rather than provide insight, facts, and education.

Michelle Obama Has 22 Attendants or 26 Servants. The Canada Free Press has reported initially that Michelle Obama has 22 Attendants and then, in a later update, reported that Michelle Obama has 26 Servants. The stories about Michelle Obama are misleading and deceptive for various reasons (some identified by Snopes). Here are some considerations.

  • The news story overlooks the fact that the 26 paid staff people cited are doing more than just assisting the First Lady.
  • The 26 people are also given employment, yet with a modest income (very little compared to the Corporate CEO friends of Republican leadership). The combined salaries of these 22 employees are about the same as a college football coach, yet nobody is complaining about paying football coaches too much. Many of them are paid under $40,000 per year which is close to poverty level considering the cost of living in that area. Yet, the news story states that this is a waste of taxpayer money. Should they work for free?
  • The reason that Michelle Obama can make use of so many people is because she is a highly motivated and has a busy agenda. The article claims that previous First Ladies only required a few assistants. Yet, it’s obvious there would have been others attending their needs. We should be thankful that Michelle Obama is involved and concerned enough about the country that her passion and purpose requires that work be delegated out to 26 people. If she only had three attendants, the story title would have been, “Michelle Obama is the laziest First Lady ever. She only has three attendants!“

Such news agencies aren’t reporting the news, they are manipulating information for purposes of defaming people. What is reported is largely infused with opinion, exaggeration, distortion, and hype to manipulate the reader’s perception of the facts. We need a renewal of Journalistic Ethics.

Canada Free Press Partners with Deceptive Advertisers. Beware when visiting the Canada Free Press website. At the time of this writing, a deceptive and misleading pop-up advertisement was consistently being launched. When you see a page with the title “News 3 Insider Weekly News” with links to Easy Google Profit, just close that window. It is not a news story. It is an advertisement. Not only is the Canada Free Press deceptive and misleading in their reporting, but they also seem to have partnered with deceptive and misleading advertisers.

Sep 23

Postville U.S.A: Surviving Diversity in Small-Town America

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Lifeways

20090923we-postville-usa-book-coverSummary. The Postville community in Iowa is a living example of diversity, vitality, longevity, and resiliency. The book Postville U.S.A.: Surviving Diversity in Small-Town America is a thoughtfully written multi-authored book with several perspectives on the community’s struggles and successes. [Buy]

Our Interest. Because of its cultural richness and historical significance, several stories and first-hand reports have been written and published on the ResourcesForLife.com website about Postville, including:

Who Should Read This Book. This most recent book about Postville offers an in-depth and thought provoking examination of many facets of life, religion, work, community, culture, and national identity. The writing style and stories are engaging. For this reason, just about anyone would enjoy and benefit from the book. It’s an excellent resource for anyone involved in community governance, and small-town revitalization. Learn more at www.PostvilleUSA.com

Video. Here is a brief video about the book.

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