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NewHampster's blog


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International Women of Courage Award sticky icon

 

The video of the ceremony won't stream so above is Shadi Sadr's Speech.

Secretary Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the annual International Women of Courage Awards at the Department of State, which was broadcasted live this afternoon.

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Granny D is gone sticky icon

GrannyLong Live Granny D

DUBLIN, N.H. -- Former U.S. Senate candidate and longtime political activist Doris "Granny D" Haddock has died. She was 100.

Gov. John Lynch spokesman Colin Manning confirmed Tuesday night that Haddock died.

Haddock gained national recognition when, at age 89, she walked across the country to call attention to the issue of campaign finance reform. The trip started in 1999 and ended in 2000.

She was the Democratic nominee for Senate in 2004, when she lost to incumbent Republican Sen. Judd Gregg.
http://www.wmur.com/news/22792574/detail.html

NH - I didn't know Doris Haddock, but like many Dem activists in NH, I held signs with her more than once.  She was always there for any good old protest in front of our Statehouse and that's how most of us will remember her. 

Her walk across country and her never give up spirit helped, in a big way, to change this state from a Republican stronghold to a fairly middle of the road place.

Thank you Granny D.  Thanks for being here.

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W.A.S.P. They was fighten' women who got their due. sticky icon


Watch CBS News Videos Online

This is a follow-up to BJ's earlier post.  The video was on CBS News this evening.

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Have we all run out of things to say? sticky icon

I sometimes know I have.  I almost said i think I have, but there does come a point when every blogger hits the old block.  Or in our case, maybe run out of energy.

Me.  I find it more and more difficult to fight city hall.  I also realize that my up front honesty periodically loses members here.  You see, I have never ever been a toe the line kind of guy.  My boss pulls his hair out because I'm the one who refuses to say yes, when he is wrong.

As a full fledged working member of the Democratic party, way back in 2007, I held onto my non-standard beliefs and let them be known to total shock.  They would cringe when I'd say "I'm a liberal but not a progressive".  Explain that and this father of two adopted angels would give my views on abortion.  Of course the "feminists" in the room would then lay into me with the mantra of you either support, 100%, a women's right to choose or you ain't a feminist.  I wonder what that has to do with women's equality in the workplace and society but instead change the subject to something more fun, like gay rights.

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International Women's Day sticky icon

Womenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day

Thank you to all the women in my life.

"Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet block. In many regions, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day and St Valentine's Day. In other regions, however, the original political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner."

The International Red Cross has  focus on women today http://www.icrc.org/eng

 

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Oscar Night Open Thread sticky icon

I do love the Oscars and like many, I get a kick out of the red carpet.

James Cameron and his lovely wife

Camerons

 

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Celebrate International Women’s Day at the Department of State sticky icon

Celebrate International Women’s Day at the Department of State

In honor of the Secretary’s 2010 International Women of Courage

You are cordially invited to attend an Open Forum with the honorees

Hosted by:

Ambassador-at-Large Melanne Verveer
Office of Global Women’s Issues

March 8, 2010

Session I: 10:00-11:30AM

Featuring honorees from: Afghanistan, the Dominican Republic, Iran, Republic of Korea, and Zimbabwe

Session II: 2:00-3:30 PM

Featuring honorees from: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Syria

Location: Loy Henderson Room
Department of State
23rd Street Entrance

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Cyborg in Chief sticky icon

Mediaite logo

http://www.mediaite.com/online/barack-obama-still-smoking-well-youd-be-to

Thank you once again Mediaite

by Drew Grant | 11:49 am, February 28th, 2010

The White House released the official report of Barack Obama’s medical exam this morning, giving the president his first clean bill of health since he went into office. So what did we learn from our look inside the body of our leader today?

• He might be a cyborg. Who has 20/20 vision at age 48?

• He has no past surgical history. None. Whatsoever. Again, cyborg.

• His efforts to quit smoking continue with “a self-use” “nicotine replacement therapy.” Our cultural discouragement on smokers might actually hurt Obama’s ratings more than the fact that he may be a terminator from the future with no history of eyesight problems or any surgery.

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"We Can’t Wish Away Climate Change" - Al Gore sticky icon

Al Gore, bless him, has an Opinion Piece in the Times today.  I believe Al.  I trust Al.  I listen to Al.

We Can’t Wish Away Climate Change

Published: February 27, 2010
 

It would be an enormous relief if the recent attacks on the science of global warming actually indicated that we do not face an unimaginable calamity requiring large-scale, preventive measures to protect human civilization as we know it.

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Tsunami sticky icon

tsunamiThat is an energy model of the power unleashed by the Chilean Earthquake this morning.

Wikipedia is all over this thing with some incredible images and documentation.  I don't know how they do it.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Chile_earthquake

Hawaii is due to get some form of Tsunami at about 4 EST.  Easter Island already had a small one but the balance of the Pacific basin is in for some battering.

And then there is Chile.  8.8!  The destruction must be horrible and we're all sorry for ourselves in our home heated by electricity from the generator.  Power will be back soon I hope as we've already had a 3 minute tease.

What is happenning to our planet?

Waves

The blue image is the wave projection as calculated by NOAA

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Open Thread - Love those Canadian Women, eh! sticky icon

Awe gee Mr. big bucks Olympics committee. Have the little girls upset your image of all things feminine? Tough shit. Winning Gold the hockey team celebrated on the ice with beer, champagne and cigars. WooHoo. http://m.npr.org/news/front/114545596

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The Healthcare Forum thingy sticky icon

I've only listened a little today but I have to say this takes stones.  He may be a crook and he may have sneaky political objectives, but I have to give President Obama props for doing this today.

Never have I seen a President sit around a table for 6 hours with a group of congress critters discussing an issue in public view.  That in and of itself is awesome.

t up

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Here we go again sticky icon

Today, The President put forward his own Health Care plan.  First time the White House has actually written a plan.

I haven't had time to look it over but I do know one thing is missing.  The one piece my spousal bot assured me would be included.  No public option.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33275.html

President Barack Obama released a $950 billion health care reform proposal Monday aimed at pleasing the warring wings of his own party and bringing along skeptical voters, in part by including a provision to put off an unpopular tax on high-cost health insurance plans until 2018.

One notable absence in Obama’s plan – a public health insurance option, a favorite of liberals, but a provision that became the most controversial part of the congressional debate on reform. Obama has long said he would sign a bill without it, and his own legislation confirms that.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33275.html#ixzz0gI9WDKid

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Announcing Women's History Month sticky icon

We Can Do ItMarch is Women's History Month and Partizane will be joining in the effort to make this month a meaningful one.

The National Women's History Project says the theme is all about Writing Women back into History.  That is a loaded theme we can all hopefully contribute to.  Whether by finding and referencing other sites or doing some research of your own to help write deserving women back into the history they have been left out of.

Beginning March 1, 2010, I ask that everyone try to contribute to this effort.  Don't stop the regular posts, but please try and focus at least some time to this effort.

Thanks and special thanks to BJinAmerica for reminding me.

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Love the Olympics - Open thread sticky icon

HannahI really do love them.  The Winter O's more than summer because I'm from one of those states with a boat load of awesome Olympians.  Our Gold medalist in the women's moguls may be from our neighbor, Vermont, but she skis at Waterville and we claim her.  I also, as a skier, can fully relate to what these kids do, plus my own son works on a mountain most of the year.

Here are a few of them:

Nick Alexander, Lebanon (Ski jumping: failed to qualify Feb. 12 for NH individual second round; LH individual, Feb. 19, 1 p.m.).

Kacey Bellamy, UNH; Hilary Knight, Hanover (U.S. women's hockey: Finland, Feb. 18, 5:30 p.m.; Feb. 22 and 25).

Jimmy Cochran, Keene (Alpine skiing: slalom, Feb. 27, 1 and 4:45 p.m.).

Dylan Ferguson, Waterville Valley (Freestyle skiing: aerials, Feb. 22, 9 p.m.).

Kris Freeman, Andover (Nordic skiing: placed 59th in 15k free).

Hannah Kearney, Waterville Valley (Freestyle skiing: won gold medal Saturday in moguls).

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Nucular Power is Back sticky icon

smileysPresident Obama has announced the return of Nuclear power with a government guarantee to the builders of the projects.

President Obama has announced more than $8bn of federal loan guarantees to help build the first new nuclear power stations in the US for 30 years.

Two new plants are to be constructed in the state of Georgia by US electricity firm Southern Company.

President Obama said the plants would be "safe and clean" and were needed to meet the country's future energy needs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8518670.stm

 

I for one am in favor of this.  I protested against our Seabrook plant but I have to believe that technology has advanced since the old plants were designed 50 years ago.  I know.  Trust is such a hard thing and here is Obama helping to put more money in the hands of big industry.

How about some more billions for Solar research.

 

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Open Hearts Thread sticky icon

Whatever.  My valentine and I are headed to a VD party.  Have at it.

heart in hand

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Holiday Weekend Open Thread sticky icon

heh

What holiday you ask?  According to that bastion of knowledge, Snopes, the holiday is indeed Washington's Birthday even though it will never fall on his birthday.

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/presidents/presidentsday.asp

There's also some other holiday this weekend and I'm being dragged to a Sunday afternoon party.  Tomorrow I make my low carb, key lime cheescake.

 

 

 

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Be well Big Dog - Bill Clinton taken to hospital sticky icon

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8511817.stm

 

Former US President Bill Clinton is in good spirits after undergoing a heart procedure in hospital following chest pains, a spokesman has said.

The 63-year-old had two stents - tubes that help the flow of blood to the heart - placed in a coronary artery at Columbia Presbyterian in New York City.

His counsellor, Douglas Band, said in a statement that he was in good spirits.

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I hope John Edwards NEVER goes away sticky icon

Now we hear from the Enquirer that he has proposed to Ms. Hunter.  Elizabeth is suing Andrew Young for ruining her marriage and well it just keeps getting soapier and soapier.

Good follow-up at Mediaite. http://www.mediaite.com/tv/new-john-edwards-rumors-make-andrew-young-as-...

Of course the Enquirer is where this keeps breaking. http://www.nationalenquirer.com/john_edwards_asks_mistress_rielle_hunter...

BUT, I'm not here to speak about the soap opera or continue it.

I want John Edwards to be a lesson to every, holier-than-thou, "progressive" Edwards loving supporter from the primaries.  All those hundreds of thousands of Daily Kos regulars who believed his bullshit lines and stories of being the son of a mill worker.  Some fairly savvy political operatives I know who voted for him in early primaries.  The voters of Iowa(or Illinois depending on what you believe), who almost made the guy President of the United States of America.

You were such good judges of the man's character, weren't you?  Does it ever even dawn through your rose colored glasses that you suck at character judging?  Especially where it comes to well groomed, highly trained, incredible speaking lawyers. 

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Tuesday Open Thread sticky icon

Because Tuesday is always my busiest day of the week.

More snow coming to Mid-Atlantic.  All due to El Niño and believe it or not, Global Warming.

http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/

It is damned warm in Vancouver.  So warm they have to truck in snow for the Olympics.  Warmest winter in 100 years.

On the Racist front.  I just received a racist email from an "Obama supporter" who has gone back to his roots.  The email has photos of Presidents and First Ladys back to Carter.  Two photos.  Day they entered the White House and day they left.

It of course ends with the Obamas depicted as Fred Sanford in the photo below. 

Sanford

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John Murtha - Dead at 77 sticky icon

MurthaHARRISBURG, Pa. — U.S. Rep. John Murtha, an influential critic of the Iraq War whose congressional career was shadowed by questions about his ethics, died Monday. He was 77.

The Pennsylvania Democrat had been suffering complications from gallbladder surgery. He died at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., spokesman Matthew Mazonkey said.

In 1974 Murtha, then an officer in the Marine Reserves, became the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to Congress. One of Congress' most hawkish Democrats,he wielded considerable clout for two decades as the ranking Democrat on the House subcommittee that oversees Pentagon spending.

Murtha voted in 2002 to authorize President George W. Bush to use military force in Iraq, but Murtha's growing frustration over the administration's handling of the war prompted him in November 2005 to call for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops.

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/rep-john-murtha-iraq-293937.html

 

He was a good man.  nh

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Open Thread sticky icon

Saints logoA little snow fell and more is due.  We up in the cold dark north wish some of it would come our way.  My usual cross country ski trails are getting rocky.

Hooray for the Saints and all of NOLA!  Watch the Bourbon Street happenings right here http://www.earthcam.com/usa/louisiana/neworleans/bourbonstreet/

What's up out there?

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200,000 DC Residents join Democrats in having no power sticky icon

That's what's being tweeted around today.http://twitter.com/peterdaou

;)

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Enjoy the snow my midlantic friends. Open Thread sticky icon

BlizzardNothing else you can do but enjoy it.  Have a blizzard party with neighbors and snuggle up with a good book.

Camping Headlamps are the best way to read in the dark.  Oil lamps are cool but very tiring on the eyes.

Have fun, stay warm and safe.  We'll see you on the otherside.

http://www.snowcity.com.sg/icebar/packages.html