Le Taz Hot
Le Taz Hot's JournalIn praise of the younger generation.
I watched the Occupy Movement and it made my heart proud. Looked at all those young faces, listened to all those young voices. Vibrant. Alive. Enthusiastic. And smart as hell. They've educated themselves. Hell, they had to! The mainstream media sure hasn't done it. They cared enough to inform themselves. They're paying attention, they don't like what they see and they're doing something about it. They are much like we were when we were that age yet very much their own generation with their own unique perspectives, their own unique ideas and their own approaches.
I've got 15 of the 99Rise Marchers here at the house this weekend. Almost all of them under 40. Most of them WELL under 40. Good goddess are they organized! MUCH better than we were. So much of what we did was chaotic and the organization did not include minorities or women. Not so these guys. They grew up in a world that saw much more equality between the sexes and between ethnic groups (most of them are from L.A. -- a very cosmopolitan area). Exclusion would never occur to them. They are educating ME on what it takes to amend the Constitution. They've read the requirements. They know the history. And they're not limited to one or two topics. They've studied environmental issues, they're discussing urban gardening, aquaponics, so many issues I can't even remember them all. And you know what? I LOVE sitting here listening to them. *I* get excited all over again. And it gives me GREAT hope for the future.
To my fellow Boomers out there: We're in good hands.
99Rise Leads California March, South to North, To End Corruption Of Money In Politics
The last time I had been to Los Angeles City Hall was at night. Chalk dust rose off of asphalt and cops in military combat gear stood opposite tents surrounded by handmade signs. Occupy LA fizzled but the conversation it changed gave rise to countless grassroots initiatives and shifted the focus of many political non-profits and organizations. The new aim: End corruption. Get money out of politics.
One such organization is 99rise, co-founded by Kai Newkirk in 2012, which touts an impressive and continuing campaign of civil disobedience. The group's goal is to “build the nationwide movement waging nonviolent struggle to get big money out of American politics.”
<snip>
The march, due to arrive in the capital on June 22, has posed three tangible, legislative demands to California lawmakers:
1. Issue a formal call for a Federal Constitutional Convention to propose an Amendment that outlaws the corrupting influence of big money on electoral politics, by passing Assembly Joint Resolution 1 (AJR1).
2. Give California voters the chance to formally instruct U.S. Congress to propose such an Amendment, and the California legislature to ratify it, by passing Senate Bill 1272 (SB1272).
3. Start reigning in the unlimited, anonymous money pouring into elections by passing the DISCLOSE Act, requiring that top political donors be prominently revealed in every campaign ad they fund.
Much more here:
http://www.occupy.com/article/99rise-leads-california-march-south-north-end-corruption-money-politics
So, apparently my newest cat, Alaska, loves vodka.
This happened a couple of weeks ago. I had a leftover Salty Dog (vodka and ruby red grapefruit juice) that I had left on the table in the family room. I went back into the studio for a few hours and when I came out, found my newest cat, Alaska, lapping up my leftover drink like there was no tomorrow. The next morning I noticed Alaska, laying on her back, hind legs spread eagle and sound asleep. She even let me pet her which she RARELY does. She remained that way most of the rest of the day. I checked her for fever, for vomiting, diarrhea, etc. and nothing. She was OK the day after that so I can only surmise she had a hangover. 
Profile Information
Gender: FemaleHometown: CA
Member since: 2001
Number of posts: 22,271
