"Although the right to vote was a condition had existed for 16 years on the day my mother was born," blogs Mitch Mulhall in comment #1, in response to reckless G, " I nevertheless join you in your end-zone dance over this achievement. That said, to me, one of the most troubling aspects of your activism is that you carry a torch for a people who do not extend to women anything like this status--this inalienable right (equality, not voting)--you care enough to write about. Your position on a Palestinian State would make so much more sense to me if you could draw a concrete connection between a Palestinian State and the liberation of women in Middle Eastern culture... but you never go there."
Post blogger reckless G reminds us of the relevance of the day in 1920 when women finally got the vote. "On Aug. 26, 1920," she blogs, "the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was declared in effect. My husband and I had an argument just this morning concerning whether activism really works to effect change and whether it really even matters. As an activist myself, I’m personally invested in the belief that it does work and it does matter. My husband is of the opposite opinion. In these all too frequent arguments (usually spurred by the publication of one of my letters to the editor) I often cite the women’s suffrage movement along with the civil rights movement as examples of how grassroots activism leads to changes in social attitudes and government policy."
Post blogger Amanda Boxtel, a pioneer patient, has some help from new friends in Basalt. "Is a pain in the ass worse than a pain in the neck?" she blogs. "That seemed to be the question of the minute, hour, day and week as Dr. Jung dug her elbow deeper into my nervy-hypersensitive bum for the umpteenth time while Dr. Choe pressed hard on two points at the back of my neck. Tears flooded my eyes and trickled down into the pillow as I lay face down on the floor. Last week my tears were a steady flow like a dripping faucet. Despite his remarkably youthful appearance Dr Choe celebrated his 79th birthday on Sunday, August 17th. He is agile and strong, and is well respected around the world. On the morning of our first day of treatment, Dr. Choe was confirming dates to work on Nelson Mandela within the next month in South Africa. I felt very privileged to have a doctor of his caliber work on me in my little condo on the river in Basalt."
Posts filed under 'Women'
On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was declared in effect.
My husband and I had an argument just this morning concerning whether activism really works to effect change and whether it really even matters. As an activist myself, I’m personally invested in the belief that it does work and it does matter. My husband is of the opposite opinion. In these all too frequent arguments (usually spurred by the publication of one of my letters to the editor) I often cite the women’s suffrage movement along with the civil rights movement as examples of how grassroots activism leads to changes in social attitudes and government policy.
Continue Reading August 26th, 2008
The Con Man welcomes the premier rock 'n' roll photographer Lynn Goldsmith, then segues into a discussion of Thomas Friedman, and a visit by the Cancer Babes from the Pathfinders survivors group.
Click here for the complete "Con Games with Michael Conniff" for Monday July 7, 2008.
July 7th, 2008
Just today, I heard somewhere on one of the news channels that doctors are advocating that kids as young as 7 start taking cholesterol-reducing meds and that parents should start getting their kid's cholesterol levels checked by the age of 2!
I took care of my disabled mom during the last 10 years of her life. Her main problems were arthritis and heart disease. While doing my duty as a caretaker, I did a lot of research on how to help her. I found the "Life Extension Foundation" to be my most valuable resource on different nutritional remedies and the latest research on various illnesses and/or longevity. I/we were using things like shark cartilage, melatonin and glucosamine long before the general public even knew such things existed.
Continue Reading July 7th, 2008
There is something about the name Cape Foulweather that fascinates me. My mind races with thoughts ranging from the history of the area and wanting to know the facts, to images of a full length feature film of mystery and suspense starring Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Jack Nicholson. I wish there was an actual town of Cape Foulweather. I would consider renting a house there while I wait to purchase my sloop or ketch.
The name itself, Cape Foulweather, doesn’t bring the idea of a warm sunny day to the average tourist. The truth is that Captain James Cook discovered and named the Point in 1778 when he first sighted the mainland of North America on the Oregon Coast, and one of the sudden fierce storms, which greeted his arrival, almost put an end to his historical expedition. Captain Cook never set foot on land at Cape Foulweather and couldn’t wait for the storm to pass so he could set sail again and leave this area. I have just the opposite draw to Cape Foulweather, even if there are winds up to 100 mph a few times each year.
I leaped at the opportunity to sail to the Point after we scrapped the idea of our Wednesday Night Regatta in Yaquina Bay in Newport, Oregon when there wasn’t even the slightest hope of a breeze strong enough to fill the sails for us to race. We placed our bets on the wind currents out at sea, as unpredictable as they always are, once we left the bay under power and raised the sails heading north a few miles to Cape Foulweather. The sea was as flat as I have ever seen it. Barely a ripple slapped against the boat. We were under power while we tried to catch some wind. Finally a whisper of wind became just strong enough for us to cut the engine and use full sails. It was slow going and unusually quiet. Seagulls were passing us the way a Lamborghini zips past a Geo Metro with an 8 watt blow dryer motor.
It was a short trip, even at our slow pace, but it was enough time spent on the sea to remind me that I don’t really care much about regattas and racing as much as I do spending quiet time in reverie on the sailboat. Since 1965 I have had my share of fast cars. But that’s another story for another blog. Boats are in a different category for me when it comes to speed and purpose.
Maybe it’s the fact that I’m older, wiser, and no longer in a hurry for my days to pass by quickly. Time seems to stand still when I’m sailing. I forget that there is already an influx of tourist traffic on Hwy 101. I don’t think about how long it takes me to drive home from Newport to Lincoln City. The sun doesn’t set until after 9pm here in the Pacific Northwest. It isn’t dark until well after 10pm, so my days are longer and my nights are very short. I don’t get much sleep and I can use all the siesta time kicking back on the boat, listening to a sail flap when it loses its wind now and then, and I have to do some quick tacking to avoid turning the engine back on.
One of my co-workers who has been sailing for over 25 years here told me he became a little bored with sailing. He said, “What can you do? You leave the bay, you go straight for a little while, then you either turn left or turn right. There’s nowhere to go.” I reminded him that it’s not the destination that matters. It’s the journey. Even if that journey only takes you a few miles to the left or the right. It’s a journey filled with valuable time that rejuvenates the heart and soul of expatriated Woody Creek dreamers like me.
July 2nd, 2008
It’s like finding home. When I thought of home I thought of Aspen. We spent a lot of summers here, and came out for Christmas. Smoo was larger than life. My parents didn’t say: “Do you know who your grandparents are?” We didn’t have an inflated sense of who we were. It wasn’t up for discussion. I was so oblivious as a child of the [Smoo] myth, not the myth, the whole persona, and part of who she was. To me we were going to Aspen and it was this great space. We got to ski for free. I would nod my head. I knew there was a park, an auditorium with her name on it. Now we spend three or four months a year here. Every school break, spring break, winter break, and part of the summer. Nick wants to spend the whole summer here. And Emma, when we bring her back to school, she takes a leap every time.
Continue Reading June 30th, 2008
Big Russ is known for saying "What a country"...here in Aspen it is "What a lifestyle"! Last night I met a friend at Brunelleschis in Aspen. I haven't been to the place since winter and this summer Brunelleschis has open aired the place by getting rid of the windows and offering patio seating. The place was packed last night with locals and tourists alike. It was a fun crowd and the staff was quite entertaining. After explaining to our waiter that I could not take a second glass of merlot as we had three concerts to attend last night he came back with an espresso martini and stated "If you don't like it I will drink it"...well for a non-martini drinker it was wonderful!! It tasted like chocolate milk and kept me awake till 2 a.m.
Continue Reading June 21st, 2008
Hauenstein email to Mayor Ireland and Council June 11
From: Ward Hauenstein
Sent: Wed 6/11/2008 7:34 AM
To: Dwayne Romero; J.E. DeVilbiss; Jack Johnson; Mayor Mick Ireland; Steve Skadron
Subject: Last night's work session
Greetings Council members,
Thank you your dedication to your duties. I fear I must write in private to express how stunned I was at the dressing down or spanking of Marilyn Marks at last night's work session. I have been working with Marilyn for the past few months now on the Housing Subcommittee. I suspect the public remarks attacking MM were a venting of steam from previous and numerous emails from her. I know what my inbox looks like with multiple Marilyn emails. I also know how much she drives her beliefs. In my position as chair of the Housing Subcommittee I sometimes feel like the parent telling the kids to just get along. The above remarks notwithstanding I was still embarrassed for her and for CC.
Continue Reading June 19th, 2008
As soon as the food was gone, the chicks would immediately fall silent and settle back down to sleep. And I’d go back to work. I quickly became addicted to observing the new family, picking up my binoculars a dozen times or more each day. I cherished this routine and the rare opportunity to observe nature’s wonder at such convenience.
Within a week, the chicks began to develop their adult feathers, or ‘fledge’ as it’s called in the birding community. I anticipated watching them learn to fly; jumping out of the nest onto the thickly needled branches of their spruce abode, awkwardly testing their new wings as mom and dad encouraged them to explore the outer branches and eventually take that big leap. But it didn’t happen that way at all. One day they were there and the next day, they were gone.
Continue Reading June 18th, 2008
I have made a very difficult decision to resign from the Task Force and Subcommittee. I deeply regret that I cannot continue the good work we have started together. I have learned so very much and most importantly, made new friends in the process.
The work of these two bodies is of critical importance to the community at this very crucial time. Future Burlingame plans and the future of our affordable housing are in question today. The community needs your strong, independent, and credible voice for information and guidance, and to rebuild confidence in the financial policies of the City. The City Council needs your objective input as well.
Continue Reading June 15th, 2008
On my score sheet Obama already has three strikes, and I cannot in good conscience vote for him, despite the possibility of inadvertantly promoting a potentially disastrous McCain presidency.
Continue Reading June 10th, 2008
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