Saturday, February 28, 2009

AS SEEN ON TV: RAOUL WALLENBERG

Today's Wall Street Journal has a story about the continuing search by the family of Raoul Wallenberg for answers into what happened to him near the end of World War II.

Here's what is known - or surmised - as chronicled in Wikipedia:

Raoul Wallenberg (August 4, 1912 – July 17, 1947?) was a Swedish humanitarian who worked in Budapest, Hungary during World War II to rescue Jews from the Holocaust. Between July and December of 1944, he issued protective passports and housed Jews, saving tens of thousands of Jewish lives.

His death has long been a source of dispute. On January 17, 1945, he was arrested by the Soviets after they wrested control of the city from the Nazis, and was reported to have died in March. In 1957, the Soviets announced that Wallenberg had actually died of a heart attack in 1947.

In 1991, Vyacheslav Nikonov was assigned by the Russian government to find out the truth, concluding that Wallenberg did indeed die in 1947, but by execution. However, a 2001 Swedish report said: "There is no fully reliable proof of what happened to Raoul Wallenberg".

It's well known that the tele-versions of real people can be idealized; just look at Ryan White's mom and H. Ross Perot (NOT the Skitlandian version!) for confirmation of that. And Raoul Wallenberg is no exception.

Based on his real photo, I'd say Joey Bishop would have been a better choice than Richard Chamberlain for playing him....

BCnU!

Toby O'B

Someone Else's Atrocious Stories


"What we seek we shall find; what we flee from flees from us."
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

A Kings Mountain View


Man...If I didn't hate pretty much "everything" about Cervelo and their douchebaggy culture, I really could see myself supporting the new Cervelo Test Team. They've got a great mix of riders, and are already a serious threat in any Grand Tour for stage wins and GC podiums...And most importantly, my nominee for "Kit Of The Year".
Comeback cyclist of the year so far, Thor Hushovd, in the first of the Spring Classics, wins a very "crashy" Omloop Het Nieuwsblad...Formerly, the much easier to pronounce, Omloop Het Volk.

FABULOUS AND FANCIFUL!

I am on a new mission to try a more fanciful cupcake based on some traditionally named cakes. This one above gave me the idea! I have started you all off with my version of the German Chocolate Cake which by the way was never originally created by a German. I am happy to say that, even though I am German, this cake wouldn't make a German proud. I am not putting this lovely cake down...No! No! No! It has wonderful nuances that are working well together. Such as, the light and airy chocolate cake. It's as if I have actually recreated a chocolate souffle! I was almost afraid to top it with the custard pecan coconut frosting fearing that it would deflate! It needed a little bit more...so I added a mocha cream frosting to the edges an dsprinkled it with a few more shavings of coconut! I really do like this one and I can't wait to add more to fine dessert menu very soon! Stay tuned!

Friday, February 27, 2009

AS SEEN ON TV: BENNY, WILLY, AND UM... GALLY?

From the Tooniverse to Skitlandia we go now for the "As Seen On TV" showcase.....
This week on 'Important Things with Demetri Martin', a student named Steve was writing a paper about the three people from history he'd most like to have dinner with - shades of 'Meeting Of The Minds'! - when lightning struck his computer.
Steve found himself in a TGIF restaurant with William Shakespeare, Benjamin Franklin, and Galileo Galilei. But before he could fulfill the dream of asking them his important questions, the three luminaries proved themselves to be Class A jerks to their waitress Kathy.
H. Jon Benjamin played Franklin, John Oliver was Shakespeare, and Demetri [center] played Galileo.
BCnU!
Toby O'B

Just The Tip...Just For A Second


Bangers And Mash


Mongo may have found his new future wife. Continuing with my fetish/fascination for good looking, British, professional female cyclists, I ran across young Emma Pooley while I was perusing the Cervelo website.
Cute...Smart(Cambridge educated)...Talented(Olympic Silver medalist)...Where do I sign up?

Fifteen-year-old Chumash receives death threats in California town


Fifteen-year-old Chumash receives death threats in California town

Backlash to opposing mascots exposes racism in coastal California town

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
CARPINTERIA, Calif. – A 15-year-old Chumash youth received death threats because he urged his high school to eliminate sports mascots which are degrading and mock Native Americans and their culture.

After those deaths were reported to police in this small coastal town, 90 minutes north of Los Angeles, police took no action and said the death threats were not credible.

Mark Anquoe, Kiowa from Oklahoma and member of the American Indian Movement, said it is inexcusable for police not to take death threats of a student seriously.

Speaking on Red Town Radio, Anquoe said it is surprising with the number of shootings in schools in the United States, such as Colombine, that this death threat was not taken seriously.

“You would think a death threat made to a student would be investigated and disciplinary action would be taken,” Anquoe said of the youth, whose name is not published here because he is a minor.

“The Indian people in this tiny community are vastly outnumbered. You saw this one young person stand up when he felt his people were being dishonored and this was the price that is being paid for speaking up,” Anquoe said.

“It didn’t fall into their legal definition of what a threat is,” said Corine Fairbanks, Lakota and member of the American Indian Movement, living in Santa Barbara near Carpinteria.

Fairbanks said the high school here was one of the last schools in the area to be desegregated. “It has a history of being really resistant to change.”

The area is home to the Chumash people and the federally recognized Santa Ynez and state recognized Chumash near Malibu.

Fairbanks said the issues came to the forefront after the Chumash youth was disturbed by the mascot. When he received an assignment to explore “Be the change you want to see in the world,” he chose to take on the challenge of exposing the degrading images of sports mascots.

After taking the issue to the school board, the "Warriors" mascot was removed. However, what followed revealed that the racism in the United States which is often believed to be confined to pockets, like in the south or in bordertowns around Indian Nations in the west, was manifested in this central coastal California.

A fierce reaction followed from some residents in the city of Carpinteria, joined by some alumni and some of the students. They formed an organization, “Warrior spirit will never die,” and opposed the young man’s efforts and those who supported him.

The virulent opposition even went on to recall a school board member who supported the Chumash youth. The organization followed with intimidation and harassment of the youth, his family and those who allied themselves.

Anquoe said what happened in Carpinteria makes it clear that some people believe that Indians should be involved only as a matter of token diversity, and only so long as they keep quiet. Indians are seen as a “good luck charm,” for a sport’s team.

“As soon as a real flesh and blood Indian stands up and says, ‘I deserve to be treated like a human being.’ You see this huge crazy maniacal backlash from the citizens in this little town.”

Anquoe said the backlash to this one young man standing up in Carpinteria has rallied widespread support from the American Indian Movement and AIM California Indians.

Red Town Radio host Brenda Golden, Muscogee from Oklahoma, sent a message to those who want to honor American Indian culture: Don’t make fun of our culture.

Anquoe said young American Indians in public schools are affected deeply when they see signs that say” Scalp the Indians,” “Kill the Indians,” and watch Indians burned in effigy.

Fairbanks said some in the area attempt to say they are honoring Native Americans with mascot images. She points out, however, that the war bonnet and other symbols are primarily Plains style, while the Chumash in this area have a different culture.

Fairbanks said public schools receive tax dollars to teach the truth. It is time to put away the Hollywood images and mascots, she said.

“It doesn’t honor the Chumash people.”

Further, Anquoe said the backlash has been so serious that Indian people have been forced to move out of town and move out of school districts. Similar situations are happening all over the country, as people put forth the images of “clown Indians.”

Anquoe said one of the reasons that people in the United States put out these ridiculous images is because they do not want to deal with the “uncomfortable truths” of the real history of American Indians in this country.

With the image of mascots revealing this dark side of racism in America, Anquoe said Americans have to face and teach the real history of American Indians.
UPDATE: You can email the Carpinteria School Board at:
Terry Hickey Banks tbanks@cusd.net Lou Panizzon lpanizzon@cusd.net Alex Pulido apulido@cusd.net
Leslie Deardorff ldeardorff@cusd.net Beverly Grant bgrant@cusd.net
The 1st three board members still seem to be in favor of retaining the imagery; the latter two already voted for removal. It will be revoted on 3-17-09.

Listen to this radio show at Red Town Radio:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/RedTownRadio
Press statements by Mark Anquoe and Corine Fairbanks
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/search?q=Carpinteria

Obama: Stop the Peabody Mine Expansion on Black Mesa


By Bahe Katenay
Image by Black Mesa Indigeous Support
Ladies & Gentlemen, the Old, the Young, the Coming Generation, and Relatives:

As we speak, there exist a state of fear and anxiety in a traditional community at Big Mountain in the heart of Black Mesa. And as we speak, the federally deputized officers of the BIA Hopi Agency Police and Rangers are patrolling this region where a few traditional elders continue to live and also resist federal mandates to relocate. I want to bring your attention to one particular situation that is an example of the wide-spread acts of injustice, human rights violation, religious intolerance, and threats of property destruction.

Dineh resister and elder, Pauline Whitesinger, has stood her ground since 1977 when the BIA tried to build a range unit fence within the lands partitioned to the neighboring tribe, the (modern and progressive) Hopis. Pauline still believes in the old ways by upholding aboriginal rights and treaty rights and because of BIA-Hopi restriction on new contruction and her deteriorating ceremonial hogan, she replaced and rebuilt a new hogan. The BIA Indian police are constantly taken photographs of her residence, her neighbors that come to see her, her non-Indian volunteer helpers, and her grandchildren that come to visit. The police do not attempt to talk to her or answer to her concerns and requests.

This area known as the Hopi Partitioned Lands still has Dineh residents and has been made an isolated area, and this is allowing the federal government to do as they please with these last, traditional peoples. Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley, Jr. has even made numerous comments that the Dineh resistance at Big Mountain "a lost cause and a closed case" meaning that these Dineh are to never be thought of, again. Meaning that these Dineh, who are my Big Mountain relatives, need to be erased from the state of the Navajo Nation and perhaps, Pauline is right when she says, "we are in way of Peabody, profit, revenues, and industrial jobs."

The last few elder resisters and their few supporters (native or non-natives) will continue to provide the much needed humanitarian aide to our surviving history: traditional Dineh living and maintaining on their ancestral and sacred homelands. However, we all need to act in the best means possible and stop the daily Gestapo tactics and the potential demolishment of a sacred hogan or earth lodge. We all need to prevent any harm that may be committed on our elders or their helpers and most of all, prevent this growing hostility from getting out-of-hand.

All legal recourses are no longer an option since this is a challenge against a U.S. Executive Order, and The Peoples are the only option to bring about attention, focus and restoration.

I have attached a petition with addresses of officials and I am making a plead to you all, my relatives, to sign it and either send it directly to the listed officials or send them to the Black Mesa Indigenous Support. This situation is very urgent. These elders are very old now and they truly deserve much honor. They have lived in a way that, we or our future generations may never see humans live in this country. These traditional elders must live their naturally-given, old life in peace and harmony, Hozhon goh. Yaa'at'eeh goh.

I apologize for the long list of officials, but it has become long because of so many years of ignorance and because certain, minor sectors of society believed that these Elders would have been defeated already.

Thank you for your time.
Sincerely & In the Spirit of Chief Barboncito,
Bahe Y. Katenay (Naabaahii Keediniihii)
Dineh of Big Mountain

"A very great vision is needed and the man who has it must follow it as the eagle seeks the deepest blue of the sky."
The words of Crazy Horse (As remembered by Ohiyesa, Charles A. Eastman).

STOP THE PEABODY COAL MINE EXPANSION ON BLACK MESA IN THE TERRITORIES OF THE DINEH (NAVAJO) & HOPIS IN ARIZONA, U.S.A.
The Sovereign Nation of the Big Mountain Dineh
VIA Black Mesa, Navajo Indian Reservation, Arizona, U.S.A.
March 2009


Dear Mr. President Barrack Obama, and
Madame Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton,
Copies to:
Mrs. Katherine Smith & Mrs. Pauline Whitesinger, Big Mountain Sovereign Dineh,
Selected Kimongwis of the Independent Pueblo of Hotevilla,
Mr. William Means & Ms. Andrea Carmen, International Indian Treaty Council,
President Joe Shirley, Jr., The Navajo Nation,
Mr. Roman Bitsuie, The Navajo-Hopi Land Commission,
Office of the Hopi Tribe’s Office of Hopi Lands,
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Phoenix Area Agency
Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining


REPEAL “THE NAVAJO-HOPI LAND SETTLEMENT ACT OF 1974” (P.L. 93-531): IT ENFORCES THE METHODS OF GENOCIDE BY POPULATION REMOVAL AND COAL MINING EXPANSIONS
The Sovereign Nation of the Big Mountain Dineh is located in northeastern Arizona on Black Mesa and is part of ancient indigenous shared-territories. Members of this nation were affected by the 1974 legislation to relocate from certain partitioned areas, but have rather chose to resist this policy and try to: maintain their ancestral and treaty lands, keep cultural practices, value universal-granted freedom, conduct their ancient rights to ritual ceremonies, and preserve their sacred sites. The proclamation of these Dineh in 1979 states that through divine creation they were, “provided with the Ni’tliz’ (sacred stones) as offerings and the Dzil leezh (sacred mountain soil Bundle) representing the universe. With prayers and songs we offer the Ni’tliz to the trees, to the hills, to the wind, and the thunder beings in the sacred rain. The Dzil Leezh is our power to live close to our mother the Earth and father Sky. These are our sacred ways to survive in this universe and to communicate with the unseen forces in the Natural life.”
As you may be aware that, the relocation of thousands of Dineh (Navajos) and Hopis has been in process since 1977 after 1.8 million acres was partitioned and that, the Dineh elder leaders at Big Mountain began their resistance to U.S. government court orders to vacant areas partitioned to the official and federally-recognized, Hopi tribe. These traditional Dineh communities still
continue to resist the harsh relocation policies and coal mining encroachment to this day. Despite a few elders are now left, they continue to reaffirm their ancestral land rights which are contrary to all court decisions related to the fore mentioned communities from 1974 to 1998.
U.S. Judicial System has had a vital role in this land rights issue ever since energy companies of the southwestern United States became interested in exploring the coal reserves of Black Mesa in northeastern Arizona. In 1962, there was a well-orchestrated rush to establish an Indian Land Claims on the behalf of the Hopi tribe and which was guided by a Peabody Coal Company attorney, and this allowed Peabody to acquire mining leases. The U.S. courts and corporate attorneys eventually, thereafter, help created the relocation and land-partitioning policies which only made way for coal exploration. None of these court rulings were based on proving that an actual “land dispute” did exist between the Dineh and Hopis.
Big Mountain on Black Mesa is the only place in the United States where two Indian nations can still define cultural coexistence and shared territories, and now have become endangered aboriginal peoples. The U.S. courts have ordered continued pressure on the remaining traditional Dineh and keep the areas sealed and isolated. The United States is allowing this tragedy and genocide to be sustained under the guise that relocation are on voluntary basis and that Indian police are being used rather than state authorities to carry out enforcements. These traditional resisters hold great knowledge and wisdom of ancient information and natural existence that are irreplaceable, and it is the world society’s responsibility to stop the United States and its largest coal-producer, Peabody Energy, from executing this human and mega-environmental destruction.
Additional documentations (www.blackmesais.org) of human rights violation and religious intolerance are as follows:
 Limitation or complete denial of: crop cultivation and livestock husbandry, community and religious activities, access to or maintenance of water wells, and elder residents’ safety needs to attain wood fuels for heating and cooking,
 Forced relocation to foreign settings that does not support or replace loss culture and religions,
 Deliberate breaking up of family and clan structures,
 Controlled national media that portray the Big Mountain story as a result of legitimate and humane court decisions,
 Peabody mines create: daily detonation that causes micro-quakes, depletion of pristine aquifers that causes subsidence and fissure zones, and massive emissions of coal dust and engine exhaust.
We the undersigned hereof state our demand that the United States cease all forcible relocation enforcements on the Dineh, and reverse the decisions made for Peabody Coal Company’s Life of the Mine Permit on Black Mesa.
It will be furthered recommended that:
 Indigenous peoples’ inherent rights to their homelands be recognized and respected,
 Traditional tribal communities be allowed to reinstate and restore the inexorable ties to fundamental existence and spiritual practices,
 There must be serious reviews about the conclusion that Black Mesa coal is the primary source for energy, and that being reviewed in the context of global concerns for greenhouse gas emissions,
 Acknowledge that indigenous being has sustained all human cultures’ moral obligations throughout the ages, and it is much more crucial in this technological era that the demands and rights of indigenous peoples be received with greater human understanding.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
SIGNATURE
PRINT NAME
DATE
OCCUPATION
COUNTRY

OFFICIAL CONTACT INFO:
U.S. President Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Phone Numbers:
Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461 U.S. Secretary of State Clinton Public Communication Division: PA/PL, Rm. 2206 U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20520 202-647-6575 Bureau of Indian Affairs Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington DC 20240 Office of Surface Mining Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington DC 20240 PHOENIX AREA OFFICE: Bureau of Indian Affairs P.O. Box 10 Phoenix, AZ 85001 P: 602/379-6600 F: 602/379-4413 Hopi Agency Bureau of Indian Affairs P.O. Box 158 Keams Canyon, AZ 86034 P: 520/738-2228 F: 520/738-5522
Navajo Nation Office of the President Joe Shirley, Jr. Communications Director George Hardeen
georgehardeen@opvp.org Phone: (928) 871-7917 Cell: (928) 309-8532 Staff Assistant Gloria Bowman gbowman@opvp.org Phone: (928) 871-7915 Fax: (928) 871-7005 Administrative Assistant Desiree Etsitty Phone: (928) 871-7916 Fax: (928) 871-7807
Hard Rock Chapter P.O. Box 20 Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039 Phone: (928) 725-3730/3732 Fax: (928) 725-3731 E-mail: hardrock@navajochapters.org
Forest Lake Chapter P.O. Box 441 Pinon, AZ 86510 Phone: (928) 677-3252/3347 Fax: (928) 677-3320 E-mail: forestlake@navajochapters.org
Black Mesa Chapter P.O. Box 189 Pinon, AZ 86510 Phone: (928) 309-7056 E-mail: blackmesa@navajochapters.org (To traditional Dineh or Hopi Kimongwis, or other Communiqué to Sovereign Dineh.) ATTN: TRADITIONAL ELDERS
Black Mesa Indigenous Support P.O. Box 23501
Flagstaff, Arizona 86002 Email: blackmesais@riseup.net

The Universe has blessed me

My partner and I started to feel the heat this week when we recieved news that the product we were using to make our dress for the floral show would not be available.
cry.
***********
Then we got a little help from some people around us.
One made a call but told us to think of a new dress.
One told us not to worry he would take care of us and he would find it one way or another.
But then the universe blessed us and we received a reply to an email we had sent a wholesaler and not only did he have our product but he is donating it to us for free.
free?
As in no payment free?
As in I-want-to-kiss-my-gay-partner-in-the-mouth-for-writing-SUCH-a-good-letter-free??


My partner(My floral designer friend that is the other half of B&B)
left me a message and I came straight home to drink prosecco all night long, hehe.
So I just wanted to put it out there, that what will be will be and my fabo partner did a great job with the email he sent and I am sooooo lucky to have him and we are going to rock this show and I cannot wait to share pictures with you!

Here's a link to the
Bouquet to Arts

On the first little blurb about opening Gala Night is the info on the floral fashion show I am competing in and some great info about the program as a whole.

Indigenous Alliance without Borders Statement on Southern Border Indigenous Peoples Issues

Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras
P.O. Box 826 Tucson, Arizona
www.indigenasinfronteras.org

Contact: Jose R. Matus, Project Director, Tel: 520 979-2125, jrmatus@aol.com
Photo: Alianza 2008/by Brenda Norrell

Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras Statement on Southern Border Indigenous Peoples Issues

TUCSON -- The Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras (Indigenous Alliance Without Borders) located in Tucson, brought together individual members of the Tohono O'odham Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Gila River Indian Community, White Mountain and Lipan Apache, along with indigenous organizations from Tucson and Phoenix at a regional consultation and strategy meeting on Southern Border Indigenous Peoples issues. At this gathering, on Feb. 14, an indigenous led transnational initiative focusing on issues of the US-Mexico border region was launched, and strategic plans made to proactively promote recognition and respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras will spearhead the development of this first ever southern border transnational collaboration of Indigenous Peoples to collectively address the militarization of the US-Mexico border, to promote indigenous rights of mobility and passage, and pursue southern border rights legislation and recognition for traditional ceremonial leaders, language keepers and cultural ambassadors.

Working through the Alianza Indigena, the organizing initiative will collectively address anti-immigrant legislation and border enforcement policies of the region which have violated Indigenous Peoples rights across the borderlands of the southern US border with Mexico. The Alianza Indigena also commits to collectively support the current Lipan Apaches Woman Defense fight against eminent domain in the Texas-Coahuila corridor and opposes the building of the border wall.

Our goal is to create a strategic collaboration among southern border nations of Indigenous Peoples and unite with northern border indigenous Nations including the Dakota-Nakota-Lakota 7 Council Fires of South Dakota engaged in similar issues along the US-Canada border. The Alianza Indigena shall facilitate and intervene collectively to support efforts to preserve traditional intra-tribal and inter-tribal relations and practices across the region, looking to affect long term systemic changes in favor of Indigenous Peoples Rights along the US-Mexico border.

Acting as organizational hub, the Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras will serve to implement proactive strategies of the Indigenous Peoples regionally, collectively address issues in accord with the principles of Article36 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13th, 2007, which states:

Article 36
1. Indigenous peoples, in particular those divided by international borders, have the right to maintain and develop contacts, relations and cooperation, including activities for spiritual, cultural, political, economic and social purposes, with their own members as well as other peoples across borders.
2. States, in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples, shall take effective measures to facilitate the exercise and ensure the implementation of this right.
The Alianza Indigena further commits to bringing forward these issues to the appropriate agencies and venues of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples.

The militarization of the US-Mexico border which began in 1990, has threaten the survival of our indigenous culture, family ties and social networks, and our rights of mobility and passage have suffered restrictions and policies creating dangerous conditions. We are subjected to being turned away, stopped, detained and harassed by immigration officials on both sides of the border.

The cultural and religious ties between our Indigenous Nations and communities on both sides of the US-Mexico border precede the imposition of the international boundary between the countries by millennia. These ties present a cultural mandate that must continue and will continue in spite of the great difficulties of today's political climate and economic realities.

Currently, there are eight tribal nations that experience border crossing problems even if the US-Mexico border does not physically divide their traditional territories. As nations of Indigenous Peoples, the ability to conduct traditional ceremonies is essential for the continuity, healing and security of our mind and body, family and community. For some of these ceremonies to be held, it is necessary for participants and ceremonial leaders to travel and return across the nation-state boundaries in order to fulfill these spiritual obligations.

In the context of the continental movement redefining the relationship between the Indigenous People and government states in the hemisphere, Professor Jack D. Forbes, Powhatan-Delaware and Professor of Native American Studies at the University of California. Davis comments: "First, we can seek legislation which will amend the immigration laws of the U.S. and Canada so that First Nations People are able to have free movement everywhere in North America, as the
original nations of this continent."

The Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras, founded in 1997, was created by and for Indigenous Peoples to address border issues of the southern US border with Mexico. The Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras consists of individual tribal members from eight southern border indigenous nations with relatives in Mexico. We seek to increase public awareness regionally and nationally on how anti-immigrant legislation and border enforcement policies daily affect the lives of Indigenous Peoples.

The Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras also urges President Barack Obama and his administration to hold Indigenous Consultation Hearings in the Southern US-Mexico border region, in order to gain a direct understanding from indigenous Peoples regarding land and cultura.

Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras Supports the National Human Rights March to Challenge Sheriff Joe Arpaio

The United States government is failing to protect the human rights of Indigenous peoples to practice their own spiritual beliefs.

The Alianza Indigena is here in solidarity because people of color continuously face abuse of authority and violation of human and civil rights by current and proposed U.S. anti-immigrant legislation and border enforcement policies and practice.

The Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras, call on Maricopa County Government to stop Joe Arpaio racist tactic, abuse of authority and violation of human rights against people of color. No Human Being is illegal! Institutional racism is evident in the policing and enforcement of immigration laws, widely reported racial profiling and rampant law enforcement abuses of due process. Stop Arpaio.

The way and the only way, to stop the evil are for all people of color to unite in claiming a common and equal right to food and basic survival.
l issues, and dialogue in the traditional community setting about alternatives to present US border policies such as the wall.

Turn the tide in Phoenix: March against hate

Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine Calls on Fans to Turn the Tide Against Hate, Join March in Phoenix, Arizona.

Famous Lead Singer to Join Thousands to Denounce Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Out of Control Intimidation and Humiliation
Who: National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Puente Arizona, and Zach de la Rocha
What: March to Stop the Systematic Persecution of Migrants and Latinos in AZ.
Where: March Start Location for Feb 28th: 300 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012
When: March to Stop the Hate in Phoenix to be held 9:00 am on February 28.
"Recently the nation witnessed the ritual humiliation of migrants in a spectacle evocative of some of the most horrific episodes of human history," explains Pablo Alvarado, Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. "People across the country are outraged at the shameful violations of human rights perpetrated by the Maricopa County Sheriffs and they are being moved to action."
In the last month Sheriff Joe Arpaio intensified his on-going escalation of attacks against Latinos by segregating the county jail and parading undocumented migrants shackled in a chain-gang into "tent city."
He erected and surrounded the tent with an electric fence in a grotesque display of human degradation.Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine responded to the news by saying, "To witness what is happening in Arizona and remain neutral is to be implicated in human rights violations that are occurring right here on US soil against migrants. History will not be kind to Joe Arpaio. He will be remembered with other infamous sheriffs like Bull Connor who subjugated and terrorized communities for shortsighted political gain. I hope everyone will join me in protesting Sheriff Joe."
More details can be found at www.ndlon.org

Gift Wrapping

I love gift wrapping. And one of my staples is having white craft paper on hand. The flourish, then, becomes the ribbon and baubles I add. I think it always makes for a super pretty package.

Here are Jen's journals wrapped and ready to go. I used ribbon from Michael's, a felt/velvet/jewel flower that once decorated a little hand soap, and a postcard that was part of some Yahoo promo package that came to my office.

LINKS TO THE LEFT UPDATE

With my upgrade to the new Blogger template for "Inner Toob", it's a lot easier to deal with links - pruning away the dead ones as well as adding new sites.

I had to clean out the system because my Iddiot friend Brian-El discovered one of them led to a Japanese porn site. I cleared away the rot and have added these sites to the Toobworld Blogroll:

TV Tango - which replaces Mike's old Trivial TV, a great resource for research!
Television Obscurities
Bill Brioux's TV Feeds My Family
The Guardian's TV and Radio Blog
Classic TV History Blog
Remote Island
Television Tropes
Memory Alpha - a 'Star Trek' wiki

Check them out when you get a chance!

BCnU!
Toby O'B

Indigenous Peoples Day Phoenix, Saturday, March 14, 2009


Nahn-coh-Mahss O'otham Indigenous Peoples Day
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
In AFFIRMATION of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Adopted by the UN General Assembly September 13, 2007
Saturday March 14th, 2009
Steele Indian School Park
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Native American Heritage Coalition
Gathering of the Visions
Jean Chaudhuri Memorial
Memorial Hall
3rd Street and Indian School Road
12:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Continental Confederation of the Eagle and the Condor
Contacts:
Tupac Enrique Acosta: (602) 466-8367
Benjamin Chee (602) 930-6791
Shannon Rivers (480) 220-6766
Email: chantlaca@tonatierra.org
Links:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/declaration.html
http://www.cumbrecontinentalindigena.org

Indigenous Peoples Day
Saturday March 14th
Draft Agenda of Activities

Sunrise Ceremony at Smoadoag Doag
8:00 - 9:30 Xinachtli (Seed) Educational - Cultural Sharing at South Mountain Ecology Center
10:00 Spiritual Run from Smoadoag Doag to Indian School Park
12:00 Arrrival at Indian School Park, Reception by Native American Heritage Coalition
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 3:30 Gathering of the Visions, Memorial Hall hosted by Native American Heritage Coalition
1:15 - 4:00 Cultural Activities, Games and Arts for children and Youth in the park next to Memorial Hall
3:30 - 5:00 Webcast from Window Rock, North America Regional Indigenous Peoples Caucus, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Preparatory Meeting
4:30 Community Message of Affirmation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, via webcast to Window Rock, North America Regional Indigenous Peoples Caucus
5:00 Four Season of an Indian Woman's Life, a theatrical presentation authored by Jean Chaudhuri in Memorial Hall
6:00 Dinner
6:30 - 8:00 Video Presentations in Memorial Hall "The Day the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was Adopted" and "Protecting O'Odham Sacred Sites"
8:00 - 9:00 Closing Circle:
Farewells, Announcements, Commitments for the Future:
Indian School Park Plans and Oversight

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - Public Education Campaign
Indigenous Peoples Studies: Indigenous Peoples Geography Project
Local Community Campaigns
Continental Confederation of the Eagle and the Condor.
**********************
Good Morning Relatives,

We invite to participate in a community wide effort of Indigenous Peoples that will take place at the Phoenix Indian School Park Memorial Hall on Saturday the 14th of March, 2009.
This event, which is part of the sixth annual Nican Tlacah Ilhuitl - Indigenous Peoples Day activities organized by TONATIERRA will culminate with a community forum and feast in AFFIRMATION of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the General Assembly on September the 13th, 2007. Commemoration copies of the Declaration will be distributed to the community, traditional cultural activities such as games, singing and dancing, and arts for youth and children will be organized during the afternoon in the Indian School Park.
A traditional spiritual run from Smoadag Doag (South Mountain) will take place in the morning, and a special gathering of the Native American Heritage Preservation Coalition, which led the fight to preserve the Indian School property as a cultural and historic site of the Native American Nations will also be convened during the day. Native American Veterans are being invited, as well as Alumni of the Indian School, surrounding Native American reservation communities, and the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. The agenda for the event will include special cultural activities to commemorate and honor the special significance of the Indian School site for the Native American alumni, tribes and families.
The event at Memorial Hall will also coincide with the North America Regional Indigenous Peoples Caucus in preparation for the 8th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues which will be taking place at the same time in Window Rock, hosted by the Navajo Nation. A two way webcast video link via Internet is being set up to connect the two events to create a historic and unique local to global experience at the community grassroots level.
Please contact us to become involved in support of this very unique initiative of the Indigenous Peoples or if you have any questions, and all the best to you.
Tupac Enrique Acosta, Yaotachcauh
Tlahtokan Nahuacalli
TONATIERRA
Email: chantlaca@tonatierra.org

Thursday, February 26, 2009

AS SEEN ON TV: A FANTASTIC FOUR

We're wrapping up the theme of authors as seen on 'The Simpsons' with a group shot of Michael Chabon, Jonathan Franzen, Tom Wolfe, and Gore Vidal. Tom Wolfe did appear in a quick cameo on the episode "Insane Clown Poppy", as did the others we featured earlier this week for this theme (except for Alan Moore).

However, this picture is for the episode "Moe 'n A Liza". All four authors portrayed themselves... vocally, that is.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

30 grand in my hand

Ok.ok. so it's not really 30 grand in my hand
but I did slip over
30, ooo

hits last night just in time for my birthday!
I want to thank everyone who comes by my little site to check on my ramblings and my flicks of floral arrangements that I make. :)
My laptop is away for the week getting a new attitude....it was acting up so it went buh-bye.
I can't really post too much without my pictures ; (

HOWEVER!
I'm leaving to Vegas for the weekend, YAHOO! Wish me luck!
Have a great weekend :)

~B

THE HAT SQUAD: WENDY RICHARD

My friend Michael C. ordered me in no uncertain terms that I should pay tribute here to the memory of Wendy Richard, a British actress who lost her battle with breast cancer. I suppose while he was a student over in London, Michael saw her play Pauline Fowler on 'EastEnders'. But I know he's also a big fan of Britcoms, so he was more likely familiar with her - as I was - from the department store workplace comedy 'Are You Being Served?' (As a matter of fact, he named his new Russian Blue kitten "Tiddles", after Mrs. Slocombe's puss.....)

Although I would have given her the proper Hat Squad tribute anyway, I can't write a "Wendy & Me"-styled memorial for her, as I wasn't a very big fan of 'Are You Being Served?', although I've seen quite a number of them over the years. So there's not much I could say in tribute to her talents, but my blog buddy Ivan of "Thrilling Days Of Yesteryear" (the main link is to the left, good people) did a much better job at honoring her than I ever could. It can be found
here.

But I will quickly run down a number of other characters she has left behind; many of whom are still occupying Toobworld, even though she no longer is with us:

Marple: A Pocket Full of Rye (2008) .... Mrs. Crump

"Benidorm" .... Sylvia

"EastEnders" .... Pauline Fowler

Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time (1993) (TV) .... Pauline Fowler

"Grace & Favour" .... Miss Shirley Brahms

"Are You Being Served?" .... Miss Shirley Brahms

"Spooner's Patch" (1979) TV series

Are You Being Served?: The Movie (1977) .... Miss Shirley Brahms
[Miss Brahms is qualified to be inducted into the TV Crossover Hall Of Fame, as are most of the other members of the AYBS cast.]
"Not on Your Nellie" (1974) TV series .... Doris

"Hogg's Back" (1975) TV series .... Pearl

"Dad's Army" .... Shirley /Edith Parish

"Bowler" .... Greta

"Z Cars" .... Maureen Parker

"The Fenn Street Gang" .... Myrna

"Both Ends Meet" (1972) TV series .... Maudie

"On the Buses" .... Elsie
"Please Sir!" .... Rita

On the Buses (1971) .... Housewife

"Dixon of Dock Green" .... Barbara Walker / Jean Davis

Carry on Again Christmas (1970) (TV) .... Kate

"Up Pompeii" .... Soppia

"The Wednesday Play" .... Delphine
- The Voices in the Park (1967)

The Making of Jericho (1966) (TV)

"ITV Play of the Week"
- Plays of Married Life #1: A Catching Complaint (1966) TV episode .... Girl in Night Club
- London Wall (1963) TV episode .... Miss Bufton

"Pardon the Expression"

"No Hiding Place" .... Janet /Linda Hooper /Smiler

"The Newcomers" (1965) TV series .... Joyce Harker

"The Likely Lads" .... Lynn

The Day of Ragnarok (1965) (TV)

Don't I Look Like a Lord's Son? (1964) (TV) .... The Girl
"Danger Man" .... Sue
[It always amazes me, since I began keeping track of the Toobworld Hat Squad, how so many of those who've died will have a connection to someone else who died in that particular year. In this case, Ms. Richard passed away just over a month after the star of 'Danger Man', Patrick McGoohan.]

"HMS Paradise" .... Genevieve

"ITV Television Playhouse" .... Brunette factory girl
- The Wedding Dress (1963)

"Hugh and I" (1962) TV series .... Daughter
"Harpers West One" (1961) TV series .... Susan Sullivan

Sammy Meets the Girls (1960) (TV) .... Girl
That's far from a complete list, as made evident by the inclusion of a picture of Ms. Richard in 'Bless This House' (with the "Godspell" poster in the background.)

Wendy Richard also provided her televersion to Toobworld's citizenry with appearances in two pseudo-variety and talk show format series. She showed up at Number 42 to be a guest on the Kumar family's talk show ('The Kumars At Number 42'), and on an episode of 'Roland Rat: The Series', she probably took part in a sketch called "RatEnders".
When Ms. Richard left 'EastEnders' finally in 2006, her character of Pauline Fowler was killed off; I believe that for many it would have been unthinkable for anyone else to come along to play the role. But I'd like to think that Shirley Brahms is still with us in Toobworld, perhaps still helping to run that bed and breakfast manor in which the Grace Brothers sank her pension fund...... As Red Skelton would say, Good night and may God bless.....

BCnU.....
Toby O'B This tribute would not have been possible had it not been for my liberal theft of pictures from the Wendy Richard Appreciation Page. Please visit them to see more about this dear lady.......

Keyser Soze


The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world that white bar tape could be kept clean.

Giveaway Journals

Jen won my one-year-blogging giveaway and chose Italy as the map she wanted me to craft her journal with. I wound up making three of them. I used bolder paint colors than I usually do for the spines; when I think of Italy I think of colorful window shutters and narrow cobblestone streets, and so I chose colors that departed from the pastels of past journals.

At a thrift store this past weekend I bought a HUGE box of junk that I knew I could use for my crafting. The entire bottom of the box was littered with old postage stamps from different countries, and so I glued a couple of Italy ones on the journal covers.[Click on the pix to see the details]

An Award

Tiffany over at Songbirdtiff gave me the Lemonade Award. This award is given to bloggers who exhibit great gratitude or attitude as determined by their blogging peers. Thank you Tiff for the sweet words. (And please know how much I appreciate you acknowledging my gratitude and attitude. I certainly try on a daily basis to be grateful and to have a good attitude, but often times I fail miserably at both, and so this award is encouragement to not let my steps backward hinder the journey toward being a better person.)

Bea De O'Campo passes to the Spirit World

Bea De O'Campo passes to Spirit World
Bea was the sister of our friend, Wounded Knee on the Longest Walk

Memorial Services for Bea De O'Campo will be held on Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 @ 2:00 @ 1525 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo, CA. Directions: Take 80 East and take the first turn off after the Carquinez Bridge which is Sonoma Blvd. Go down until it crosses York Street, across from the Harley Davidson Store and the Armory where the memorial will be held is located there.
Elizabeth "Bia" DeOcampo
Sept. 8, 1944 - Feb. 19, 2009
Elizabeth "Bia" DeOcampo, Native American activist and community leader, made her journey to the Spirit World on February 19, 2009, after a long illness at her home surrounded by loved ones. She was born in Fairfield, California, and was one of eight children. Bia graduated from UC Berkeley with two bachelor's degrees in Native American studies and social welfare. She went on to receive a master's degree in social work from San Francisco State University and a master of public health from UC Berkeley. Bia leaves behind four children, Robert "Bobby-Boo" DeOcampo and wife Kristina Ercole, Cari and husband Monte Robinson, Polee Tiburcio and husband Dauntay Johnson, and Osati Tarbell- DeOcampo and companion Brandon Bledsoe, and seven grandchildren as well as one sister and five brothers and numerous nieces and nephews. Her kindness, sweetness and gentleness will be deeply missed by family and friends. A Native American spiritual ceremony for family and friends will be held in her honor on Friday, February 27, at 2 p.m. at the USA World Classics Event Center at 1525 Sonoma Blvd. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Osati Tarbell-DeOcampo at P.O. Box 4103, Vallejo, California 94590. Arrangements by Skyview Memorial Lawn, Vallejo, CA. MITAKUYE OYASIN - All My Relations

International Friendship House in Oakland Events
Friday, Feb. 27th "Liberation Day" AIM West & IFH fundraiser 4:00 pm to 12 midnight LIBERATION DAY Benefit Concert commemorating Wounded Knee 1973 featuring: Dr. Loco and His Rockin Jalapenos, The Bob Young Project, and local Hip Hop artists, suggested donation $10--benefits AIM-West and Intertribal Friendship House.
Saturday, Feb. 28th "All Nations Parent Circle" 12 noon to 2:00 pm
Saturday, Feb. 28th Permaculture Group 10 am to 1:00 pm
Saturday, Feb. 28th 6:30 PM Palestinian Film Gaza: The Killing Zone Length: 52mins SYNOPSIS: British report on Israeli violence in Gaza against not only Palestinian civilians, but international aid volunteers and foreign reporters as well.
Sunday, March 1st IFH Clean up Day 11 AM-2 PM. Volunteers needed! Lunch will be provided.

LOST IN THOUGHT: THE WIDMORE LOOP

Okay, this isn't a spoiler... unless of course it proves to be correct. This is just a theory I have about what may happen before 'Lost' has run its course......

The show's producers are racing to splain away a lot of the show's mysteries before it all comes to an end in 2010. One long-standing puzzle has been the identity of the two skeletons in the cave found in the episode "House Of The Rising Sun". According to Jack's analysis of the rags on them that had once been clothing, the bodies had been in that cave for probably fifty years at least. Since 'Lost' has whole-heartedly embraced the concept of time travel this season, I'm thinking that ultimately we'll find out that we already know who these two people had been when they were alive. And since they're male and female, it'll turn out to be someone we know as a couple, somehow thrust back into the past.

The assumption first goes to a coupling from the show's eternal triangle - Jack and Kate or Sawyer and Kate. But I'm thinking of another, more beloved, couple from the show; one of whom has not yet even been on the Island.

I think it's Desmond and Penny. In the episode "316", we learn that Ben has gone off to "fulfill a promise to an old friend" before joining the others for that Ajira flight, which leads us to believe that he's gone to kill Penny Widmore Hume, Desmond's wife, as he threatened to do when he confronted her father, Charles Widmore. And later, when we see Ben all bloody phoning Jack from a marina, we fear the worst.

But we don't know yet what happened.

I'm hoping that Ben failed in his mission; that he found Desmond far more protective than anticipated, and so Ben got the bleep kicked out of him.

But now Desmond is pissed and he feels the need to save the others who are going back to the Island with Ben. Penny, however, won't let him go alone - she lost him once to that Island for four years and she won't let that happen again.

So I'm thinking that they go to Ms. Hawking to get new course directions for reaching the Island and plan to sail to it on the Searcher, Penny's yacht. Of course, they'll have to take along their son Charlie (named for Charlie Pace and not for her father, most likely), who in the "present" day is about 3 years old.

When the Ajira flight passed through its set of coordinates, most of the Oceanic 6 found themselves back on the Island in the 1970's. With a new set of coordinates, I'm thinking that Desmond and Penny would end up on the Island at some other point in Time. And I'm thinking it'll be around 1937, the same year that Amelia Earhart vanished during her around the world tour. (Because of my earlier post about Julie Adams as Amelia in 'Lost', I've got the famed yet doomed aviatrix on my poor excuse for a mind.)

Here's why I picked that date - their son Charlie.

Trapped back in that Time on the Island, Desmond and Penny make the best of it in a "Swiss Family Robinson" way, raising their son and building a life for him centered on those caves. However, I think that eventually they'd be discovered by the "natives", perhaps Richard Alpert among them, and absorbed into the community like Cindy the stewardess and the two kids were years later. I think Charlie was raised among those people on the Island and came to think of them as HIS people. And something about that life hardened him, darkened his soul, certainly not the young man his parents would want him to become.

Could it be somehow involved with the death of his parents? Could it be that Penny and Desmond are those skeletons in the cave?

For some reason, I think Charlie took the name "Widmore" to be his new last name after the death of his parents.

That's right. I'm claiming that Charlie Hume - like they say in the song - is his own grandpa! This is why I think the Humes arrived on the Island at some point around the year 1937. Charles Widmore told Locke in the latest episode that they met in 1954 when Widmore was 17 years old. Because of the actor playing him, he looks a bit older. So although his life began - as far as the Island is concerned - in 1937, he was already three years old by that point. I think he was more like 20 when he met Locke and the other time-bouncers.

Like I said, this is only a theory, but what a kick in the head for a storyline, huh?

BCnU!
Toby O'B

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

LOST IN THOUGHT: FROM THE LAGOON SHE RETURNS

"People will tell you where they've gone
Theyll tell you where to go
But till you get there yourself you never really know
Where some have found their paradise
Others just come to harm
Oh Amelia, it was just a false alarm"
Joni Mitchell


If you haven't watched tonight's episode of 'Lost' yet, come back later......

In the beginning of "The Life And Death Of Jeremy Bentham", Caesar was flipping through a 1954 issue of Life magazine. And one of the pages inside shows a publicity shot of "The Creature Of The Black Lagoon". I'm sure a lot of people will come away from that small scene thinking the more important nugget o' trivia was the headline on the cover about "Color Pictures From Hydrogen Test", especially after we met "Jughead" a few episodes ago. However, I think it's more important that we focus on Ricou Browning's most famous role......

In the picture, the Creature is carrying actress Julie Adams. Ms. Adams appeared on 'Lost' in the episode "A Tale Of Two Cities", as a member of the Island's book club. And she also appeared in the "Missing Pieces" webisode "The Envelope".

Both times I thought it odd that they would bring a recognizable actress of some fame out to film what was basically a throwaway role that could have been done by a local actress, or at least by someone who wasn't as well-known. I figured that there had to be more to her character, which we would learn later.
In putting together this post, I've seen some online theories that her character of Amelia could in fact be Amelia Earhart! The idea being that living on the Island since her crash in the 1930s has prolonged her life; maybe not in the same way as it has for Richard Alpert, but still....

I'm more convinced now because of this apparent in-joke that Julie Adams will return to the show for a more expanded role before the series ends.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

AS SEEN ON TV: ALAN MOORE

Because the greatest graphic novel ever created has been turned into a movie opening on March 6th, "As Seen On TV" continues its theme of authors as drawn for 'The Simpsons' with Alan Moore: The author of "V For Vendetta", "The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen", and "The Watchmen" appeared as himself, toon version, in the episode "Husbands and Knives". He was seen reading the comic book "Little Lulu" in a sub-plot that had the Android's Dungeon comic book shop closing up shop when a new comic book store opened.

Funny thing is.... I can picture Moore actually reading "Little Lulu". And not just for the inspiration it would provide his dark genius.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

Concrete Jungle


"Troubled with the affirmation
Longing for the validation
Finding space in tight formation
Holding maps with no location"

TVXOHOF, 02/2009-D: THE MONTECITO

Our inductee into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame for the final week of February has nothing to do with Black History Month, unless you're letting it all ride on Black.....

During the fourth week of every month this year, we're saluting TV locations; it's all part of our celebration of the TV Crossover Hall of Fame's 10th anniversary. And for the location to be honored in February, we've chosen the Montecito Hotel & Casino from 'Las Vegas'.

But other NBC TV shows found their way to the Montecito while the show was on:

1] Employees of the Montecito spied on some shady characters from the soap opera 'Passions' while they gambled at another casino.

2] Medical investigators from the Boston coroner's office worked with the staff of the Montecito while they investigated crimes that connected both cities, as seen when 'Las Vegas' crossed over several times with 'Crossing Jordan'.

3] When a psychic 'Medium' Allison DuBois dreamed that she was a killer on the hunt in a Las Vegas casino, she could "see" that the chips being used had the Montecito logo.

4] Hiro froze time while in the Montecito so that he could cheat a bit to make some much-needed money on an early episode of 'Heroes'.

5] Escaping from some bad guys, the new KITT of 2008 roared through the parking complex of the Montecito on 'Knight Rider'.

6] During one 'Las Vegas' episode, we learned that the Dunder-Mifflin Corporation was having a convention, so that ties in to 'The Office'.

7] Joe Rogan finished gambling at the Montecito and then strolled out of that series over to another casino in his reality show 'Fear Factor'

So this time, seven pays off..... Not a bad haul for a location, making it prime real estate in Toobworld!
And because a chief rival to the Montecito is the Tangiers, we have an unspoken link to 'CSI', where that casino hotel also appeared.

Some enterprising fanficcer could make the case for links to 'Vega$', 'Dr. Vegas', 'Lucky', and Vegas-themed episodes of 'Hu$tle', 'The X-Files', 'The Twilight Zone' and 'Monk'. (Thanks to Andy for that one!)

BCnU!
Toby O'B

Censorship and the heroes of our generation


Along with the loss of their jobs, many people who provide information for Censored News have been hungry, homeless, sick, arrested, jailed and beaten over the past two years.

Article and photo by Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

In today's column, Roberto Rodriquez describes the blatant racism by Lou Dobbs on CNN. In a slightly more subtle form of manipulation and control, Indian Country Today has a large ad for CIA Clandestine Services -- CIA spies -- on its website today. The ad has been revolving there for months. This means that ICT is funded by the CIA.
When I was a staff reporter for Indian Country Today, the managing editor in 2005 demanded that I not write about "grassroots people or the genocide of American Indians." I continued to do so and was terminated in 2006. But, before I was terminated, my articles were censored and the wording changed, over my objections. The non-Indian staff members responsible continued at the newspaper over the past years in various positions.
Today, unless one reads a great deal on the Internet, because of the censorship, it is possible to remain unaware of current events.
The most underreported news includes the Zapatistas Digna Rabia gatherings in Chiapas; American Indians support for Palestinians; the discovery of US-made white phosphorus munitions used by Israel on Palestinians; the digging up of the graves of O'odham ancestors, 69 at one site alone, in Arizona for the US/Mexico border wall and the secret removal of the remains of O'odham ancestors by Boeing while constructing the border wall on O'odham land.
The rapes, murders and drug smuggling carried out by US Border Agents on the US border are among the most concealed facts, even in the alternative media, because the crimes are concealed. (Although dozens of US military soldiers, with a police officer and prison guard were convicted and sentenced in Arizona for smuggling cocaine last year, border agents carried out the sting and were not exposed.)
The smuggling of weapons into Mexico, which fuels the current drug violence, is also censored. Ultimately, it is the people in the US who buy the drugs and provide the weapons for this wave of violence. The US even trained some of the most brutal murderers in this drug war, the Zetas, formerly as US Special Forces. The privatization of US prisons, and media fueled racism toward migrants, has resulted in profiteering for politicians and corporations like GEO Group (formerly Wackenhut) and resulted in abuse and murders in prisons.
The issues in Mohawk Nation News are widely censored, including land theft and oppression by a wide range of security forces. The exposure of mass graves of Indian children at Canadian residential schools was among the most censored articles. The hoax of carbon credits, to enrich the World Bank and corporations, is also censored.
Another censored fact was that Leonard Peltier was recently beaten by a gang in a Pennsylvania prison, and transferred. The question of why so many American Indians in some Indian Nations are living in poverty, while millions of dollars are pouring into their casinos, is largely censored. Peabody Coal, along with a long list of corporations in collusion with the Navajo Nation government, continues to produce disease and pollution, even in the area of the Navajos' place of origin, Dinetah, in what is now New Mexico. On Western Shoshone land, and around the world, Barrick Gold, and other coal, gold, silver and copper mining corporations, continue to oppress the people and destroy Indigenous lands and water. In Guatemala, there have been assassinations, and in New Guinea, rapes and murders of villagers.
To expose all of these issues, many people have lost their jobs and positions, including Kevin Annett, a minister in Vancouver who continues to expose the murders and mass graves in church residential schools. In the US, Native Americans have been removed from their positions on tribal councils for demanding justice at the US border, while others have been detained and threatened by border agents and tribal police.
Kahentinetha Horn, publisher of Mohawk Nation News, and Katenies, MNN editor, two Mohawk grandmothers, were beaten at the Canadian border by border agents and Kahentinetha suffered a heart attack. Others continue to struggle for justice, like Angelita Ramon, Tohono O'odham, whose 18-year-old son Bennett Patricio, Jr., was ran over and killed by the US Border Patrol in Arizona.
Along with the loss of their jobs, many people who provide information for Censored News have been hungry, homeless, sick, arrested, jailed and beaten over the past two years.
They don't receive a salary from CNN, but they remain the heroes of our generation.

Censored articles by Brenda Norrell, 2004 -- 2006:
http://bsnorrell.tripod.com/

Photo: At San Xavier on Tohono O'odham land, crosses in memory of migrants who died in the desert. Walkers from Tucson to San Xavier included supporters of Derechos Humanos, No More Deaths, Humane Borders and Samaritans. Photo Brenda Norrell


Rodriguez: 'Face of the New American Bigot, Part II'

Face of the New American Bigot, Part II

By Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez


In writing about CNN’s Lou Dobbs and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio recently – readers rightly asked about why CNN continues to carry an obsessed bigot in its daily lineup?
The question is the same for other media outlets that have for years carried Dobbs and others whose careers seemed to be based on an obsession with immigration (illegal or otherwise), the border and the Spanish language.
Unquestionably, it is an unhealthy obsession, one in which during difficult times leads to un upsurge in hate crimes, discrimination, harassment and scapegoating. In this case, the scapegoats are Mexicans primarily, but also Central and South Americans. Many of those
targeted are in fact either legally here or U.S. born citizens.
This is not news to CNN. Virtually every media outlet, every media watch dog group and every human rights organization has noted Dobbs’s obsession.
The Southern Poverty Law Center – the premier human rights organization that monitors hate nationally, regularly features Dobbs (http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intpro.jsp). It regularly questions his incendiary work, his accuracy, and his penchant for relying on white supremacist sources. They have also written to CNN’s top management about this. (Incidentally, the SPLC has been reporting a major increase in hate crimes against Latinos every year since 2000).
The media watchdog, Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR) – which is dedicated to challenging media bias and censorship – regularly Dobb’s daily obsession, always noting his brazen xenophobia, his habitual misreporting and his reliance on an all-star cast of
extremist sources (http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=100).
Recently, another media watchdog, Media Matters for America(http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/immigration), featured and documented more of Dobbs’s fabrications. On Jan. 29, Dobbs falsely claimed that “illegal aliens” would be able to take advantage of the massive economic stimulus bill; the bill specifically precludes this
from happening. On Feb 4, Dobbs’s nightly report asserted the same about the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), signed that day by President Obama. The banner during his newscast read: “Healthcare for Illegal Aliens.” CNN correspondent Lisa Sylvester
reported that the SCHIP would make it likely that “illegal aliens” would be able to access the program. But as FAIR noted: “The SCHIP bill also explicitly states in Section 605 that ‘[n]othing in this Act allows Federal payment for individuals who are not lawfully residing
in the United States’:”
CNN’s president Jonathan Klein has long been aware of Dobbs’s obsession and his habitual misstatements and misreporting, telling the New York Times (3/29/06), "Lou's show is not a harbinger of things to come at CNN,” adding that he is “one of a kind." Yet, CNN – “the most
trusted name in news” – has continued to carry Dobbs and has made available its vast financial resources, including the use of its “trusted” regular reporters to help push his xenophobic agenda.
One has to wonder whether CNN would tolerate a show on crime and welfare by Dobbs that daily featured black welfare queens and black street hoodlums? Dobbs’s defense would be that he is not concerned with race, but rather, cheats and criminals. Would CNN carry a show by
Dobbs that daily railed against Jews for cheating and embezzling Americans out of their hard-earned dollars? The claim would be that the concern is with illegality, regardless of who was doing the cheating and embezzling. What about a daily show dedicated to the extermination of American Indians… or that daily denigrated women or the LBGT community? (Witness what just one racial episode – the chimpanzee/Obama cartoon – at the New York Daily Post (2/19/09) – has rightfully generated.
If Dobb’s obsession is transparent, why then indeed do CNN and other media outlets carry his show? Why does the media in general do the same with other documented hate-mongers?
The answer is two-fold. “Illegal aliens” are not considered full human beings. Officially, there are no [racially identified] faces associated with them, though in reality, we know that thanks to the
bigots in our midst, illegal alien is code for brown, which generally equals Mexicans. Similar to the debate over the official language in this country, it is a coded debate about the racial and cultural future of this nation.
Secondly, with its competition with the “fair & balanced” FOX Network, one can only ascertain that CNN’s decision to continue to carry Dobbs, tells us volumes about its ethics and responsibilities. They apparently mean little in the face of profits. Yet with the 2008
elections now over, perhaps it can soon regain the trust it has otherwise earned.
Rodriguez can be reached at XColumn@email.com
* CNN can be reached at (404) 827-1500 or on the web at:
www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html?39