So, yesterday I was working out at the gym, listening to music on my nifty personal satellite radio and watching the TVs just for something to do. A local station ran a story about a political protest, 1000 Prairie View A&M students marching to vote in Waller County.
I thought it was a neat story, very inspiring and positive, so I went home and read a little more about it and did some slightly more in-depth research. I thought others should know, so I wrote a quick little piece.
Then, I posted it on dailykos (a liberal blog site) as a diary. People found it interesting...and started commenting. This piece started getting picked up and linked elsewhere.
First, on burnt orange report. And then on Texas Kaos. Both of these are Texas-based blogs, so it's very appropriate. But, somehow, this story had some legs, which I think is a good thing. It's a good, powerful story and I think those kids did a great thing. But, it's been odd today to watch my piece be picked up a bunch of places. It's now linked to from several national blogs, like one that's part of Time Magazine online. And then this afternoon by Politico.
I've had paid pieces published in national magazines before. But the time between writing, submitting, getting approval and receiving the magazine in the mail with my piece in it is many, many months. It's just been interesting for me to watch this story zing around in the space of a day. Some of it is uncredited, about which I care very little. The students are the story here. I'm thrilled by their efforts and their story should get out.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Early Voting
Well, early voting has started in Texas (runs February 19-29), so along with it come the calls. I was invited to a Bill Clinton rally today (at 9:45 pm...um, no thanks...I think I may be too old to even feign enthusiasm that late in the day), and have had calls in English and in Spanish reminding me to vote and suggesting which candidate to vote for. The score is Hillary robo-calls 4; Barack Obama calls 2. Add to that, one Rick Noriega call (he may be the kind of Democrat that can win state-wide in Texas, which is exciting).
I think early voting is great, but I don't like to do it. In Texas, anytime during the early voting run, you can go by centralized early voting spots and cast your ballot. It's often quick, very efficient, and it's easy. But still, I don't like to do it.
Why? Some of my earliest memories of elections are of Election Day. I would go with my mother and crawl around on the floor as she voted. In those days you went into a curtained booth and it had such an awe-inspiring feeling to be in the booth with her. I remember all the signs and the sheer pageantry of the occasion. I remember my mother sobbing great gusts of sadness when McGovern lost in 1972 (I was five years old). All of those memories are tied up in what I think of when I think of Election Day.
Now, as an adult, I love to take my card and participate in this great democratic opera along with everyone else. I know most of my poll workers, because they're my neighbors. I see the same poll workers year after year. So, I say hey, and I stand in line and chat with those in front and those behind. And I look at the posted numbers to see how many people have voted. I just love being a participant on THE DAY. I have voted early, and it's fine, but it just doesn't have the same solemnity or aura as voting on Election Day.
Kids today don't get election day off. They see participatory democracy at work in their schools, but it's hard for them to be as part of the voting experience as I was. When my kids were younger, they'd come with me, but now I usually go vote while they're in school.
So, this year for the primary and for the general, I'm considering voting early. My oldest son, at 10, is more interested in this election than he has been in any other. I want him to be able to go with me and vote. So, if I go early, we can go on a Saturday or another time and he can stand with me at the machine and together we can cast my ballot. Because I want him to have those same memories and that same sense of pride in the whole electoral process that I do.
That's why I may vote early.
I think early voting is great, but I don't like to do it. In Texas, anytime during the early voting run, you can go by centralized early voting spots and cast your ballot. It's often quick, very efficient, and it's easy. But still, I don't like to do it.
Why? Some of my earliest memories of elections are of Election Day. I would go with my mother and crawl around on the floor as she voted. In those days you went into a curtained booth and it had such an awe-inspiring feeling to be in the booth with her. I remember all the signs and the sheer pageantry of the occasion. I remember my mother sobbing great gusts of sadness when McGovern lost in 1972 (I was five years old). All of those memories are tied up in what I think of when I think of Election Day.
Now, as an adult, I love to take my card and participate in this great democratic opera along with everyone else. I know most of my poll workers, because they're my neighbors. I see the same poll workers year after year. So, I say hey, and I stand in line and chat with those in front and those behind. And I look at the posted numbers to see how many people have voted. I just love being a participant on THE DAY. I have voted early, and it's fine, but it just doesn't have the same solemnity or aura as voting on Election Day.
Kids today don't get election day off. They see participatory democracy at work in their schools, but it's hard for them to be as part of the voting experience as I was. When my kids were younger, they'd come with me, but now I usually go vote while they're in school.
So, this year for the primary and for the general, I'm considering voting early. My oldest son, at 10, is more interested in this election than he has been in any other. I want him to be able to go with me and vote. So, if I go early, we can go on a Saturday or another time and he can stand with me at the machine and together we can cast my ballot. Because I want him to have those same memories and that same sense of pride in the whole electoral process that I do.
That's why I may vote early.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Women I admire
When I was my oldest son's age (4th grade), I fell in love with the biography shelf at our school library. I LOVED those books and read them all (some over and over). I was particularly drawn to the biographies of women: Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, Clara Barton, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Marie Curie and more.
For the most part, their growing-up stories seemed ordinary, but there was something inside each of them that led them to do extraordinary things. By and large, people told them they couldn't, but they found out that they could. I found, and still find, their stories inspirational.
So, I thought I'd make a list, off the top of my head, of women who have inspired me for one reason or another. I'm sure I'll forget someone, but I don't want it to be too thought-out. I'd love it if you'd add to my list in the comments about which are the women YOU would chose.
Jane Addams
Barbara Jordan (the voice)
Molly Ivins
Eleanor Roosevelt
Katharine Hepburn
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Rachel Carson
Jane Austen
Mata Hari
For the most part, their growing-up stories seemed ordinary, but there was something inside each of them that led them to do extraordinary things. By and large, people told them they couldn't, but they found out that they could. I found, and still find, their stories inspirational.
So, I thought I'd make a list, off the top of my head, of women who have inspired me for one reason or another. I'm sure I'll forget someone, but I don't want it to be too thought-out. I'd love it if you'd add to my list in the comments about which are the women YOU would chose.
Jane Addams
Barbara Jordan (the voice)
Molly Ivins
Eleanor Roosevelt
Katharine Hepburn
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Rachel Carson
Jane Austen
Mata Hari
Monday, February 4, 2008
How to spot a mom at 30 yards
I cut my finger on a can of Spaghetti-os, so right now I'm sporting a bandaid.
A Blue's Clues bandaid.
My boys are long past the age of agreeing to wear such a bandage, but I'm not going to throw them out. So, until the box runs out, when necessary, I'll be showing off Blue and friends. Right now mine has Magenta, Shovel & Pail. It actually makes me feel quite nostalgic.
A Blue's Clues bandaid.
My boys are long past the age of agreeing to wear such a bandage, but I'm not going to throw them out. So, until the box runs out, when necessary, I'll be showing off Blue and friends. Right now mine has Magenta, Shovel & Pail. It actually makes me feel quite nostalgic.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Black out!
Next Wednesday, the first graders are trying a social experiment. The kids have been asked to go the whole day using as close to no electricity as possible. What a cool idea--to try and boost awareness of the ways we consciously and unconsciously use energy.
No TV, no Wii--okay, great idea, check, check. Cold breakfast--check. Parents, we're asking you to not use your coffee makers in the morning. Huh? What? Can I make it? Wait until Mr. Dewberry figures out he's going to have to take a cold shower.
It's actually a fantastic, thought-provoking idea...and maybe after that day the kids will actually learn to turn off the lights and the TV.
No TV, no Wii--okay, great idea, check, check. Cold breakfast--check. Parents, we're asking you to not use your coffee makers in the morning. Huh? What? Can I make it? Wait until Mr. Dewberry figures out he's going to have to take a cold shower.
It's actually a fantastic, thought-provoking idea...and maybe after that day the kids will actually learn to turn off the lights and the TV.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
There's a reason they didn't share
Amazon.com used to never give out its customer service phone number. Today, I found it on their website pretty easily, but I have to say that the rep was spectacularly unhelpful.
I have spent 3 hours today dealing with the fall-out from an usurped credit card number. My credit card company was great; all our other accounts checked out clean. But more than $3,000 was charged, in a sequential series of charges, from amazon.com payments to the main credit card we use. I haven't ever used that service and haven't activated a payments account. But clearly someone else did, using some of our personal information. My credit card company readily removed the charges, canceled the account and did so promptly, efficiently and expediently. All I wanted was for amazon.com to make sure that there wasn't an open account in my name and if there was, to terminate it.
After 40 minutes the upshoot is that I'll be getting an email at some vague point in the future updating me on the status. Compared to the swift action of my credit card company, this is rather wan.
I have spent 3 hours today dealing with the fall-out from an usurped credit card number. My credit card company was great; all our other accounts checked out clean. But more than $3,000 was charged, in a sequential series of charges, from amazon.com payments to the main credit card we use. I haven't ever used that service and haven't activated a payments account. But clearly someone else did, using some of our personal information. My credit card company readily removed the charges, canceled the account and did so promptly, efficiently and expediently. All I wanted was for amazon.com to make sure that there wasn't an open account in my name and if there was, to terminate it.
After 40 minutes the upshoot is that I'll be getting an email at some vague point in the future updating me on the status. Compared to the swift action of my credit card company, this is rather wan.
Culture of Dishonesty
Well, I said I'd get personal on this blog, and how much more personal can you get than politics?
I am not loving Bill Clinton these days. When he was President, I stuck up for him (sometimes vigorously). But I hated that his inappropriate conduct, half-truths and mendacities made that defense necessary. By the time he left office, I was ready for him to go. (Of course, I wasn't prepared for the level of lies to come...but that's another post). In the intervening years, I could remember Bill fondly as he ran around doing things like working on global poverty issues, tsunami relief and the like. Very dignified, very appropriate (of course he's raking in the big bucks as a speaker and Director-for-hire), at least in the public eye.
And now this...slugfest...where he has thrown off that post-office dignified mantle and gotten down and dirty in the trenches, seemingly relishing every minute of the spotlight as nasty vitriol spews forth. And you know what? Every time he opens his mouth, I'm transported to that era when I defended someone who I hated having to defend, whose great promise was just about negated through his actions. I don't want to go back there. And I become more disheartened about the concept of a Hillary presidency, which I was never that keen on anyway, but had come to accept.
After the last sixteen years of shaded words and too many outright lies, I want it to stop.
Note: This is part of a much longer draft that I've written, but not posted, about my ambivalent feelings about HRC as a candidate. Please feel free to comment--agree or disagree with me, I'm good with that. Keep it civil. I'll edit or delete posts that aren't appropriate.
I am not loving Bill Clinton these days. When he was President, I stuck up for him (sometimes vigorously). But I hated that his inappropriate conduct, half-truths and mendacities made that defense necessary. By the time he left office, I was ready for him to go. (Of course, I wasn't prepared for the level of lies to come...but that's another post). In the intervening years, I could remember Bill fondly as he ran around doing things like working on global poverty issues, tsunami relief and the like. Very dignified, very appropriate (of course he's raking in the big bucks as a speaker and Director-for-hire), at least in the public eye.
And now this...slugfest...where he has thrown off that post-office dignified mantle and gotten down and dirty in the trenches, seemingly relishing every minute of the spotlight as nasty vitriol spews forth. And you know what? Every time he opens his mouth, I'm transported to that era when I defended someone who I hated having to defend, whose great promise was just about negated through his actions. I don't want to go back there. And I become more disheartened about the concept of a Hillary presidency, which I was never that keen on anyway, but had come to accept.
After the last sixteen years of shaded words and too many outright lies, I want it to stop.
Note: This is part of a much longer draft that I've written, but not posted, about my ambivalent feelings about HRC as a candidate. Please feel free to comment--agree or disagree with me, I'm good with that. Keep it civil. I'll edit or delete posts that aren't appropriate.
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