i don't like the idea of censorship

but i DO like the idea of people who are responsible. who treat women as equals. who treat people of all colors as equal. yes, people who have a sense of humor but also have a soul. when one is responsible for publishing a college newspaper, they really should think hard about publishing articles (even 'satirical' - their word NOT mine) stating rape isn't all that bad. especially for unattractive women (you know what happened earlier this year with THAT) AND about publishing articles about pissing on a young grrrl locked in a closet. (the grrrl in the 'cartoon' was latino. i am MORE concerned with the gender of the character than the ethnicity. of course that too is a factor). well think twice unless you go to kkk university. then i would understand (you know what i mean)

i want to know what these MEN are thinking. yes the person who wrote rape is fun had a dick (and IS a dick) and the person who is responsible for publishing THAT and THIS NEW 'cartoon' has a dick and IS a dick as well.

the cartoonist is unidentified (and NOT a student at ccsu) however, the EDITOR IS mark rowan and the RAPE IS FUN author is john petroski. i think we should ALL remember those names.
Cartoon Prompts Protests Against College Paper in Conn.
HARTFORD, Conn. The student-run newspaper at Central Connecticut State University is under fire for publishing a cartoon this week that critics call racist and sexist. The three-frame comic, titled "Polydongs," features two characters who mention locking a "14-year-old Latino girl" in a closet and urinating on her. It was published in Wednesday's edition of The Recorder, a weekly newspaper distributed free on campus. "We are outraged about this cartoon, which only dehumanizes women and especially Latino women," said Francisco Donis, a psychology professor and president of the university's Latin American Association. The Student Media Board met Friday to discuss the cartoon, and members of the Latin American Association and Latin American Student Organization planned to gather in a separate meeting to discuss their response. Some plan to seek the removal of student editor Mark Rowan and to take other steps to make the campus more welcoming to Hispanics and other minority groups. "A lot of Latinos don't feel very welcome here at Central," Donis said. "In the last few years, the environment here at Central has deteriorated." ..........

CCSU Student Paper Causes Stir With Comic
'Polydongs' Depicts Kidnapped Latina Locked In Closet

NEW BRITAIN, CT -- Central Connecticut State University students and faculty said Thursday they are livid over a controversial comic strip featured in the school newspaper, The Recorder.
The comic strip, dubbed "Polydongs," depicts explicit images surrounding the humiliation and degradation of a 14-year-old Latina girl. The paper printed a disclaimer saying it "does not support the kidnapping of (and subsequent urinating on) children of any age or ethnicity."
Said CCSU professor Katharine Hermes of the strip: "It's disturbing that it would appear as a cartoon, suggesting that there's something funny about this, although I couldn't find anything funny in it."


The comic is not the The Recorder's first brush with public outrage. Last February, an opinion piece was published detailing how less attractive and overweight women "may benefit" from being raped.
Many called for the resignation of the student paper's executive editor, Mark Rowan, though he is still at the helm./................

CCSU Cartoon Arouses Fury
By MATT BURGARD Courant Staff Writer
NEW BRITAIN - The campus newspaper at Central Connecticut State University, which came under fire earlier this year for printing a satirical article extolling the virtues of rape, is the target of angry protests again after it printed a comic strip this week that made reference to locking a teenage Hispanic girl in a closet and urinating on her.Francisco Donis, a professor at the university and president of its Latin American Association, said the group plans to submit a letter today calling for the ouster of Mark Rowan, the editor of The Recorder."I would like to see him removed from his position because he clearly does not understand how the things he prints hurt people," Donis said..............
...........Earlier this year, Miller convened a special task force after the Recorder printed a controversial satire in which student editor John Petroski likened rape to a "magical experience" that has been a benefit to society for centuries.The article - which defended rape as a way for "ugly women" to enjoy sex - sparked protests by dozens of students, including women's and gay rights groups.The task force, which included Rowan and other members of the Recorder staff, concluded that the paper had a right to print offensive material, but should strive to be sensitive to minority groups who have different perspectives than the paper's mostly white staff.................

THERE IS NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT BEING RAPED OR ABOUT A 14 YEAR OLD BEING LOCKED UP AND PISSED ON. NOTHING

mark your calendars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please cross-post.
2nd Annual Maple Farm Sanctuary Picnic Fundraiser
October 21, 2007 12p-5p 101 North Avenue Mendon, MA $10 admission fee includes:
Vegan food prepared by Dawn Herbele and Ken Yukimura of Fusion Cafe
Live music from vegan artists Joshua English, 27 and others
Special presentations by MFS founder Cheri Ezell and former political prisoner Peter Young
Silent auction
Guided sanctuary tours
and more...Maple Farm Sanctuary is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We are a farm animal sanctuary providing lifelong homes for abused, abandoned and unwanted farmed animals while promoting veganism and respect for all life through public information. Maple Farm Sanctuary has taken in a fraction of the billions of farmed animals that are bought, sold, tormented and slaughtered by the meat, dairy and fur industries. They live the remainder of their lives in peace, free to roam and meander the land.
www.maplefarmsanctuary.org www.myspace.com/maplefarmsanctuary

i worked very hard on this!

slide show

and i finally gave it to my friend nikki (as a wedding shower present). it didn't come out EXACTLY as the one on the cover of vogue knitting magazine's 25th anniversary issue. i used natural plant dyed cotton. it really was very easy to do, just time consuming. the part that took me the LONGEST was sewing the damn beads on AND then sewing each flower on individually. dang i HATED that (i do NOT sew)

oh i believe nicky epstein designed the scarf

free speech (especially for avery doninger)

this wrong MUST be righted

via cool justice report

Ten Poets & Writers For Avery Doninger At Free Speech Festival With Five Live Bands; Wally Lamb Tops Bill

FLYER ATTACHED; plz FORWARD at will
The Bistro East, Litchfield Inn1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007
Novelist Wally Lamb will be among 10 poets and writers reading from their works in a celebration honoring free speech freedom fighter Avery Doninger Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007 at the Litchfield Inn's Bistro East Ballroom. Also, other special guests might show up at the last moment.The event begins at 1 p.m. and includes live music by four high school bands. Hors d'oeuvres, cheese and fruit will be served and there will be a cash bar.Doninger, a senior at Lewis S. Mills High School in Burlington, has civil rights actions pending in the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City and U.S. District Court in New Haven. She and her mother, Lauren Doninger, sued Principal Karissa Niehoff and Superintendent Paula Schwartz after they removed Avery from the ballot for Class of 2008 secretary.Avery Doninger was among a group of four students who lobbied the community for support of an annual battle of the bands sponsored by the Student Council. Schwartz became very upset after taxpayers called her and she cancelled the event known as Jamfest. Doninger subsequently referred to administrators in a live journal blog as central office douchebags, and Schwartz's son found the posting a couple weeks later. While Avery Doninger was banned from school office, another student who called Schwartz a dirty whore was given an award and lauded for citizenship.School officials suppressed the write-in vote in which Doninger was elected by a plurality. Schwartz refused to accept Doninger's apology for her choice of words. During an assembly, Niehoff banned free-speech and Team Avery t-shirts and seized at least one shirt.The Doningers are seeking -- among other remedies -- an apology for civil rights violations, recognition of the write-in victory and sharing of the secretary position with the administration-backed candidate.U.S. District Judge Mark Kravitz denied a motion for a preliminary injunction and his ruling is being appealed to the Second Circuit...............

(more if you click the link above)

justice for billy

watch tv tonight and tomorrow morning

tonight during "without a trace" on cbs (hartford channel 3 regular and usually channel 2 on your cable box) there will be a very brief segment on billy smolinski, jr.
tomorrow morning on the early show (also cbs) at 7:18 am, the fbi will be discussing billy's case.



justice for billy

what ARE

you people thinking?

Perez wins Hartford primary

because not enough of our men and women are dying

da liebs wants to send more to their certain deaths (and worse)

Lieberman blames Iran for Iraq attacks, asks if invasion should be authorized

Nick Juliano
Update: Lieberman asks if Iraq war should be expanded 'in Iranian territory'
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, who is among the Senate's fiercest hawks, blamed Iran for the deaths of "hundreds of American troops," and claimed the US has evidence that Iran is training insurgents outside Tehran before sending them to Iraq. He asked whether the US should expand its invasion into Iran.
"Is it time to give you authority, in pursuit of your mission in Iraq, to pursue those Iranian Quds Force operations in Iranian territory, in order to protect Americas troops in Iraq," Lieberman (I-CT) asked at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee.......

YOU elected him, YOU reign him in

picture: www.fema.gov/kids/images/k2k/cfi01.jpg

a new website

connecticut for animals

if you are unsure

the person who is following you or trying to pull you over is a police officer, drive (SLOWLY) to the nearest police station (or hospital). then you can let the person approach your vehicle. of course if they are in a fully MARKED police car then yeah, PULL OVER. if they are not, use your head, use good judgement. always be safe.

Man impersonating Milford police assaults woman ,
Milford (WTNH) _ Police are looking for a man who sexually assaulted a woman while pretending be a Milford police officer.
Police say the impersonator followed the victim in a gray Crown Victoria, with tinted windows and police lights, before pulling her over on North Street in Milford.
When the victim got out of her vehicle he used physical force and touched her inappropriately, then took off southbound down North street. The victim followed the man to Boston Post Road, but lost sight of him there.
The suspect is described as being a white male, standing about 6' tall and weighing 160 lbs. He has short cropped brown hair, brown eyes and no facial hair. ..................

i leave work early on fridays

i stopped at my pop's house yesterday right after work. i had (yet another) eye doctor's appointment. i wanted to make a quick pit stop before continuing on to the center. when i walked in, popi had the tv on. it looked like some sort of accident. yes, avon mountain again. i've mentioned several times how i drove over that mountain for YEARS. i worked in avon park south and lived in west hartford. twice a day EVERY day. most days it was white knuckle driving even in good weather. it wasn't the 'mountain' as much as who else was driving around you. people are nuts. they speed, they follow too closely (even in horrid, snowy, icy or rainy weather) they put their makeup on or read the paper or talk on their cell phones. changes were made and they are GOOD changes but NOT enough changes. i still go out that way on occasion. my doctor is in avon and i have friends in that area. i want to be safe and i want everyone else to be safe too. oh another thing, you CAN'T keep trucks off of route 44. where are they going to go instead? they CAN'T all be sent through farmington center on route 4 (who the f**k decided to have a highway exit and entrance in farmington when everyone knew the town was NOT going to allow the 'historic' route 4 district through the center of town be widened??????). where else are they going to go?

Crash Brings Back Memories Of 2005 Avon Fatal Crashes

Friday’s crash on Avon Mountain has brought back memories from two tragic crashes nearby from 2005.
On Friday morning, a truck driven by Robert Rauch crashed into the Nassau's Furniture store near the intersection of Route 44 and Route 10.
Rauch was taken via Lifestar to Hartford Hospital, where is reported to be in guarded condition.
Mike Bondra, a witness to the crash, spoke with NBC 30's Tom Lewis and said that the recent crash brought back memories from the first crash in 2005.
"I couldn't believe it was happening again," he said.
Witnesses told NBC 30 that it is a miracle the truck did not hit any other cars.
Helen Silansky, a witness, said, "I Just saw all the commotion that was going on and then saw the truck going by and my son-in-law was in this accident that happened two years ago here, so I just got absolutely upset about the whole thing."
On July 29, 2005, a truck careened out of control down Avon Mountain Road, triggering a fiery crash that killed four people and injured dozens. The truck, owned by American Crushing & Recycling LLC of Bloomfield, had a history of brake problems..............

from what i've seen on the television news coverage, mr rauch is a hero. one person said she saw him driving on the mountain and he was proceeding cautiously. then when he realized his brakes went, he keep blaring his horn. he also went out of his way (obviously) to avoid the many cars all over the bottom of the mountain. i wish him well.

the first thing i did when i was at my popi's was to call my friend mark, at work. he was in the FIRST accident and was brought by life star to the hospital. mark is a very special person. he's writing a book about the accident (the FIRST one) with NONE of the money from that book going to him. i was privileged to read the first four chapters and it was amazing. i have to keep after him to FINISH though.

"In a split second it all happened" -- Witnesses describe latest Avon Mountain crash

Avon (WTNH) _ A big crash and a big puff of smoke -- that's what Mark Guimond heard and saw on Avon Mountain this morning as a tractor trailer crashed into the Nassau's Furniture store on Route 44 and Route 10.
"We looked to our right and there was buried, when the smoke cleared it was buried -- a tractor trailer. There was maybe 10-15 feet left of him hanging out of the building. It looked to me like he was carrying shingles," said Guimond, who works for a landscaping company.
The truck, driven by Robert Rauch of New Jersey, indeed was transporting roofing materials from Baltimore, Maryland to Canton.
Tammy Burns had just dropped her kids off at pre-school and was in traffic at the stop light when she saw the truck coming right at her............

welcome back!

to the men and women of the 1048th transportation company! thanks for serving BUT i'm sure glad y'all are HOME. safe

National Guard troops returning after year in Iraq

--A National Guard unit is heading back to Connecticut after spending the last year in Iraq.
Members of the Stratford-based 1048th Transportation Company are due to arrive 6 a.m. Thursday at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Windsor Locks.
The 120 troops operated dozens of tractor trailer trucks to transport cargo, bulk water and fuel. The unit was also called to help out in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in September 2005 by transporting food and water to parts of Louisiana.

anyone need a babysitter?

just ask connecticut dcs for a reference!

Woman charged with leaving 2 youngsters alone at Foxwoods

WATERBURY, Conn. --A Waterbury woman supervising two children for the state Department of Children and Families has been arrested on charges of leaving the youngsters alone at Foxwoods Resort Casino
Louise T. Andolina was charged with two counts of leaving a child unattended in a place of public accommodation.
"I thought it was safe there because it was occupied," said Andolina, who was supervising the girls, 9 and 11, for the state agency over the weekend. "I gave them $5 apiece to play."
Andolina, 78, said the girls were in the casino's arcade for 20 or 30 minutes Saturday night and said she did not know the casino closed at midnight. Other unaccompanied children and a security guard also were in the arcade, she said..............

and some people thought i was..................

(different....................)

from extreme craft via deputy dog (or deputy dog via extreme craft)

comes the top ten physically modified peeps

because west hartford center isn't crowded enough

(can there BE any more SUVs in any other town???) - on september 12th, the second cow parade will begin.

ok ok, i LIKE the cows. they're cool. i go VERY early in the morning before anything opens up.
(and i had no idea the inventor was from west hartford)
and if you click the link, besides the rest of the article, there is an interactive cow painting graphic!

There's Moola In Them Thar Cows

By JANICE PODSADA Courant Staff Writer

WEST HARTFORD - Who would think Connecticut is home to a herd of globe-trotting cows?Beaded, bejeweled, bronzed, sometimes even be-winged, these painted ladies have popped up on six continents.Since 1999, more than 50 cities have held cow parades. Typically sponsored by the local business community, the parades - really outdoor exhibits - feature lifesize, fiberglass cow sculptures that have been fancifully decorated by local artists.
But whether the cow parade is in New York City, Moscow, Paris, Istanbul or Harrisburg, Pa., it originates in West Hartford, home to CowParade Holdings Corp.Founded by Jerry Elbaum, 67, a West Hartford lawyer, the privately held company's business consists of selling the licensing rights and providing expertise to people who want to hold an official cow parade in their city.A cow parade is a deceptively simple event: A city contracts with CowParade Holdings and the company joins with a local partner who then solicits local sponsors and artists. A year later, the whimsical cows make their debut........

the man IS living in a fantasy world

really he is. he's, at this point, delusional

Sen. Lieberman talks about progress in Iraq

By Chief Political Correspondent Mark Davis
......................"To me there's some significant progress happening in Iraq militarily. Al-Qaeda is on the run, Sunni tribal leaders have become our allies, death caused by sectarian assassination in Baghdad has gone down more than 50 percent," Sen. Lieberman said.Lieberman says he's frustrated by the limited progress made by the Maliki government but does not favor pushing him out."It is a choice that we have now in Iraq between this elected government struggling to make its way forward on the one hand and Al-Qaeda and Iran on the other hand.Lieberman is suggesting the U.S. should push for new provincial elections instead of trying to oust the current Iraqi government."The Sunni's, who boycotted the last election, are ready to come out again. Let let democracy work," Sen. Lieberman said........

does he think THIS is progress: Plane Carrying 4 U.S. Lawmakers Is Fired On in Iraq

an apology

i was minding my own bid-nez as everyone who knows me knows i am want to do. (yeah right). i wanted to get some shots of my sunflower. every year i plant sunflowers at the half door. (i did miss last year but that was a fluke). anyway, after i planted them this year, a person who shall remain nameless (romo) covered the area in mulch. i was livid. only one flower came up. i planted all types, big, small, gigantic and tiny. only ONE came up, the GIGANTIC one. it slowly grew and grew (and i do mean slowly). it's well over 6' tall with a sturdy thick stalk. it does have a flower on the top, BUT it's not yet bloomed. i'll keep my eye on it

anyway, as i was saying..........i need to say i'm sorry............

i went back inside and was enjoying a lovely beverage when i turned around and saw THIS:

(i'm told it's now well over 255,000 safe man person hours. it's, i believe he said 500,000)

of course i couldn't resist gently sharing my thoughts on black and blue square with the two nice gentleman seated at the table in back of me. i let it all out. in my own defense i DID preface my tirade with 'i know YOU'RE not responsible for this travesty. i know YOU are just working and feeding your families'. i am certain they were becoming uneasy and wondering who this nutjob was. i was making my own self uneasy.....i shut up (which is a rarity) for a bit and sent them over a drink. they were both very good sports and i do apologize. working on a project and being responsible for the idea of the project (or the TOWN GIVING THE PROJECT 50 SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS WITHOUT THE TOWNSPEOPLE'S PERMISSION) is a totally different thing.

this is rather surprising

not that i don't like senator dodd. i do. i wish he'd grow a bigger three piece set though AND get tougher with king george and his court. DEMAND they stop. i know the senate can't impeach unless congress starts impeachment proceedings first, BUT senator dodd could certainly bring charges of crimes against humanity............

Fire Fighters to back Dodd in surprise move

By Sam Youngman
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) President Harold Schaitberger told The Hill Monday that Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) has won the union’s coveted endorsement.
In an exclusive interview with The Hill, Schaitberger said Dodd was the candidate who had “earned their support,” and that his long legislative record on labor’s behalf was the key to winning the endorsement.
Schaitberger declined to comment on why other candidates, particularly those considered to be frontrunners, came up short. He said the Democratic field was strong but added that Dodd separated himself from the others by going beyond support for their legislative agenda and being “the guy who really carries our water” dating back to 1976......

is this a possibility?

yes, of course it is. i don't think it has high odds of happening though. but one never knows, do one?

da liebs! i haven't done a posting on his highness (he IS a member of king george's court after all) in a while.

where's the barf bag when you REALLY need it?

Say It Ain't So! Is Lieberman In the Running for Attorney General?

Posted by GottaLaff

This post, written by GottaLaff, originally appeared on Cliff Schecter's Blog
That's what Marjorie Cohn is saying on The Thom Hartmann Show. The talk started a few hours ago, from what they're saying. (not that it didn't occur to any of us earlier, but it's going around now) Per Cohn:
* It would stop the Senate investigations dead in their tracks.
* It would guarantee a Senate confirmation.
* It would change the balance of power in the Senate, in favor of the Republicans.
* And it smells of Karl Rove.
Her advice? Barrage the Senate with calls. Make sure this doesn't happen. It would be an unmitigated disaster.
CLIFF NOTE: On the bright side, if I am correct in my understanding of CT law, if this were to occur the GOP Governor gets to put in a placeholder Republican until 2008. Then there is a special election, and no GOPer is winning in CT with one year as an incumbent (expecially considering their choices).
We will get a real progressive like, I don't know, some guy named Lamont. And the Senate organizing arrangement does not change, so the miscreants do not take over. And Lieberman is then irrelevant forever. Just food for thought. ..........

i want to do

THIS

i just sent my boss and his boss the link

i really can't think of a BETTER team building exercise!