Tears of justice served... A powerful poem that was contributed for publication on this site...

Poem Submitted and Published (Exactly as Submitted / With Permission) by One of This Blog's Readers / Posters:

-----------------------------------------------------------

"tears of justice served
are prisms of perspective unnerved
where the tiny lachrymal crystals
cleanse our souls and baptize our brains
out of attempted brainwashing basins
to the ether of eternity
in the uppermost mindful section
where the Almighty was conceived
in either of our respective images
whether we got the message from our Creator
and were endowed with sacred or inalienable rights

or if we invented this entire anthropomorphic notion

in created likenesses or icons or legends

in graven myths or in some misbegotten reality--
we as a nation not of sheep on the compost heap
but as sentient thinking humans must right the wrongs
left on our bloodstained hearts by Bush
by bringing him to court and letting the people decide

whether what he did was just or just another genocide.

So I say to our father who art an artist in heaven

hallowed be thy brush and please

relegate the former commander-in-cheek

to places where he’s only clearing brush

banished in another world in a spot where it’s

as de facto as it gets

and without him thinking he’s a factotum

this ex-commander-in-sheik in crony clothes

with no visions of a burning bush

or of him hanging Saddam-like

none of this will suffice for what he’s done

as we and the little children suffer right ahead

by each and every child left behind

as Iraqi, or Afghani or American orphans

who suffer endlessly needlessly

or as the widows on the streets internally displaced

are wandering through their nation’s occupation

without an occupation without a home in the world

predisposed to grief and sorrow and hunger

with thanks again to Bush—

so may all the shoes that fit the print in your crime scenes

leave their footprint-- their mark on your forehead

to distinguish you amongst your peers

as the worst of the worst

in the shadow of the best which is yet to come

because no one else could ever sink

to the depths where you’ve managed to crater

by thinking you were the administrator—

better as a caricature for the animator

or the bone yard obituary illustrator and on and on...."



by Paul Werbalowsky (alias Pinchas Werba)

------------------------------------------------------------

Respectfully posted (Thank You) by,

NS

TODAY'S EVENTS: LWV Brunch... Mardi Gras Celebration... KAPA Fundraiser... You Tube Videos... More...

["Abba - I Have A Dream"; as submitted by You Tube by bosanac76 on 6/23/07; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFHbwikzNds]

1. The League of Women Voter's of the Mid-Hudson Valley Region is hosting a "brunch meeting" at 15-21 Franklin Street {Everette Hodge Center} TODAY (2/21/09) from 10am -Noon. If you would like more information about the League, or would like to volunteer for the League's "observer corps" --- see the local League website at
http://midhudson.ny.lwvnet.org/

This is a non-partisan group. At today's meeting, the pros and cons of the Electoral College and direct voting will be discussed.

["Puppet Master Extraordinair New Orleans St. Performer Part 1"; "New Orleans Spring of 2004-Excellent Music & Puppet Show--Captures New Orleans flavor before Katrina...."; as submitted by JohnnyMcPhail on 1/25/07;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_9LT0Atd_0]

2. There is a Mardi Gras Celebration at the Maritime Museum today. Please see the "Daily Freeman" and/or your Ward Group to get more (updated) information!

If the festival is adhering (sans parade, I believe) to the original schedule, it will start around noon and continue into the evening - via some of the businesses and/or restaurants in the Roundout area.

["ABBA - Estoy Soñando" ("I Had a Dream"); as submitted to You Tube by amigosdx on 10/4/06]

3. TONIGHT --- at Keegan Ales --- from 7PM until ? --- the Kingston Area Public Access (KAPA; channel 23) Commissioners are hosting a fundraiser (Put on your dancing shoes!) and awards ceremony.

There will be food, music, dancing, FUN, good company, a raffle and more!

Tickets (This is a VERY IMPORTANT CAUSE!) are $40.

Please support YOUR Public Access station --- which allows you to get YOUR voice, YOUR views, YOUR questions, YOUR idea, YOUR local calender listings, and YOUR shows
--- should you choose to be interactive --- on the local airwaves!

You can contact the KAPA Commissioners for tickets and/or additional info.

And, I also believe (I could be wrong, so please contact the appropriate people!) some tickets will be available at the door.

["Let the People Sing - The Malleys"; as submitted to You Tube by dmiuist on 8/7/08; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhkdy0AOpaM]

FREEDOM
----- OF SPEECH

FREEDOM
---------- OF THE PRESS

FREEDOM
--------------- TO GATHER PEACEFULLY and ADDRESS GRIEVANCES

FREEDOM
-------------------- FROM POTENTIAL TYRANNY

FREEDOM (This is just a partial list, with add ons...)
-------------------------------------------------------- TO SING!

Peace, Love, Equality and Humane Justice,

NS

VISION QUEST SONG... You Tube

I think I might have posted this before, but right about now I need to have it upfront and center (where I can try to draw some courage, strength and faith from it) again...

["VISION QUEST SONG"; as posted by hawktana on 7/6/09; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ougBGt_k0Sc]

I wish I understood the Native American (I believe that is what it is) language.

Peace, Love, Equality and Humane Justice,

NS

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton... You Tube Videos

A couple of videos showcasing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - a woman, I believe - of remarkable class and courage:

"Hillary Clinton Takes the Oath of Office as the 67th Secretary of State [Source: U.S. Department of State ] [03-Feb-2009]...

["Hillary Clinton Takes the Oath of Office..."; as submitted to You Tube by SBARTSTV on 2/3/09; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElQLfxaV3_E]

["Hillary Clinton - Sustainability and the American Dream"; as submitted to You Tube by ForaTv on 2/19/09; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBphEC9ogZM]

Respectfully posted by,

N.S.

Some Interesting You Tube Videos...

From 2008:

["Countdown: Bush Dissolves The U.S. Constitution Today"; as submitted to You Tube by cmdrgmh on 9/17/08; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibpdwFjPMWE]

From Jan 9/09:

["Much Of The World See Bush & Cheney As War Criminals!"; as submitted to You Tube by VOTERSTHINKdotORG on 1/9/09; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7mVeWjW4JU]

From Jan 26/09:

["The U.S. Is Required To Bring George W Bush & Donald Rumsfeld Before A Court! U.N. War Crimes";
as submitted to You Tube by VOTERSTHINKdotORG on 1/26/09; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRAlqkPbjP0]

Respectfully posted by,

NS

Michael Moore's latest project You Tube... My Letter to the Editor...

["CNN: Wall Street 'Better Watch Out' for Michael Moore"; as submitted to You Tube by mmflint on 2/17/09; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7FfPrf-X_Q]

Letter to the Editor - sent out (one never knows who will actually publish it) to a number of different papers today [I also sent another one out, but I won't zap you with two :)

Bottom line, if I can do this stuff, You probably can (check out the links in the sidebar!) too!

Letter:

"Enough of this greed on Wall Street! Enough of this pathetic whining that banks need more bailout money! Enough of me having to go pawn old jewelry to TRY to pay MY taxes! I think the Vampires have sucked up quite enough of the people's labor, trust and blood - don't you? Let the big banks that have been exploiting (in my opinion) the American people (via unjust usury and all sorts of trickery) "go bust." Help out the smaller banks, if you must, but with serious accountability and low CEO incomes as part of the package! And - consider the people too! Because, as far as I'm concerned I'm (along with a whole lot of other people) owed some money by at least some of the big guys on Wall Street, simply because their unethical (at best) and corrupt (at worst) practices have been such an absolute and total (America is better than this!) disgrace...

If I want to donate blood, I'll go to the local blood-bank, thank you very much! At least they pass it on (as is expected) to others that are in need!

Come on folks! Get a grip! This is about humane principals, accountability, justice and the future of the United States of America! And there aren't any intelligent people that I know of - with the true facts in hand (and no greedy self-serving agenda up their sleeve...) that would support anymore big-bank bailouts!

In fact, I keep hearing from the wise and the weary (we are becoming anemic, I fear...) that it is the low to mid-income American people (just take a good look around!) that really need bailouts! That it is, in fact, the American family (Don't we deserve a break?) that represents the only TRUE "not-for-profit" institution in America - and that as this mystery of sad history continues to unfold... the Government might want to consider sending some of the monies exploited via the all-too-often abused not-for-profit industry (check their books too, will ya? Especially the "religious" non-profits...) on to the American people, as well!

Signing off... I have to go take my folic acid pill...

Anyone else having trouble just staying ALIVE?

[Perhaps vampires, like tics, tend to burst after gorging themselves like this?]

Ah, one can HOPE..."

NS

U.C. Registered Sex Offender Open Meeting and Associated Law Apparently Tabled... Does that Bother You... You Tube Videos... [Slightly Revised]

["Sex Offender"; as submitted to You Tube by drewsmithvideo on 2/26/08; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HXaJYlo3bg]

The children and/or parents become the reporters and/or enforcers? [Perhaps, as someone on the panel at a 2007 City Hall meeting on this issue, parents should have to keep their children inside? (I guess the pervs get to use the playgrounds, in that case; so do you still want to fund them?)

["Angry Neighbors Meet About (Convicted) Sex Offender"; as submitted to You Tube by wisn on 11/21/07;
November 21, 2007; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POOkRMB0mm8]

This statistic, that most sex offenders know their victims, is a "duh." After all, the perpetrator has been able - in many, if not most cases - to move next door, "befriend" the family, play with the kids at playgrounds - teach (sometimes) the children in school - and even (sometimes) serve the children wafers in church!

["Child Abuse, We need to fight it..."; as submitted to You Tube by moretea on 4/27/08; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM5lQWFb1nQ]

Local Issue:

In yesterday's "Daily Freeman" (2/18/09) there was an article titled, "Sex Offender Residency Rule Off the Table" (Patricia Doxey; PP. A1 and A6) - that I think folks should be concerned about.

I have immense respect for U.C. Legislature Chairman Donald Donaldson, based on my limited exposure to him; but I think (strictly my opinion) - in this instance - his legal counsel gave him some bad advice...

The issue is about restricting where registered sex offenders are allowed to set up residence. The "tabled" issue had to do with a proposal to hold a public meeting on the topic / a "proposed local law" - that would restrict "registered sex offenders" from setting up residence (This makes perfectly good sense to me!) within 1,000 feet of a day-care center, school or church.

Chairman Donaldson, apparently based on the advise of his legal counsel, has used a Rockland County case - that was reputedly declared unconstitutional - to table any public discussion of (and/or further action upon?) this proposed law...

Potentially placing (in my opinion) perpetrator rights (we are talking registered offenders!) ahead of child safety needs (We call this justice?) once again!

In the Rockland County case cited [which was reputedly similar to the one being discussed (at least amongst the "powers that be")] locally - it appears as if the law (initially passed) was subsequently declared unconstitutional - at least in part - because a lawsuit was pursued by a convicted sex offender that claimed he had to set up residence near a synagogue (within walking distance) - because he was an "orthodox jew."

Which makes about as much sense to me, as saying that because (this is hypothetical...) I am a drunk - and I lost my license due to a drunk driving conviction - I must be allowed to set up residence in walking distance of a liqueur store (and perhaps... to my church of choice, as well?)...

The article also addresses a rather worn-out weary (but apparently still getting a "bang for its buck") theory that if we don't allow registered sex offenders to live exactly where they choose ('tis a big world out there!) - they will (at least according to some mental health professionals and law enforcement officers) - "choose not to register" - go underground - disappear - making it more difficult to monitor them, etc....

But this makes NO sense to me either!

1. Why is it so important to registered sex offenders that they be able to live within 1,000 feet of a day-care, school or church - when LOADS of people (young, old, able, disabled...) have to get rides, take buses, take taxi's, etc. - to get where they need to go?

2. Isn't it the job of the parole board, probation officers, mental health professionals (when intricately involved) and law enforcement personnel to MAKE SURE that sex offenders who are placed back into society - FOLLOW THE RULES - OR - BE PLACED IN VERY STRUCTURED SETTINGS WHERE THEY CAN BE MONITORED - AND/OR (AS APPLICABLE AND CALLED FOR) BE SENT BACK TO JAIL AND/OR PRISON?

What good is the sex offender registry if the associated conditions are not enforced?

What exactly are we paying all of these people (parole officers, etc.) to do, anyhow? Practice (at the potential expense of our children's health, well being and future potentialities) "unconditional love" for sexual deviants?

Give me a break!

Maybe the law enforcement (et. al.) personnel that don't track their "clients" well enough should face penalties?

How about that?

According to this article, U.C. Legislature Minority Leader Glenn Noonan (who reputedly re-introduced this law in January 09) stands in favor of having a public discussion on this matter - AND in favor of placing restrictions (as noted above) on where (in regards to child safety) registered sex offenders are allowed to live.

And THAT is the boat upon which I float...!

Because I know, from personal experience (and extensive research) - that one sex offender can potentially damage tens or hundreds or thousands of young lives...

Because I know - based on simple LOGIC - that these folks CAN FIND another solution [on the tracking / enforcement end of the spectrum) for their perceived (selfishly?) monitoring problems!

According to this article - and the New York State Sex Offender Registry - there are currently 118 Level Three Offenders (considered the highest risk for re-offending) and Level Two Offenders (one step down / still known to have a considerable risk of re-offending) in Ulster County - many of whom are likely (This is a guess...) living in the City of Kingston, the Town of Ulster, the Town of Ellenville, etc.

118 Registered...

How many ('tis often very difficult to win a conviction in these cases to begin with) unknowns?

Pretty darn scary, I'd say - considering the number of children one sex offender can harm... much less the number of children that over a hundred sex offenders might harm (might we be talking thousands - or more - of potential child victims here?)

I mean really...

If the registered sex offender / Orthodox Jew needed a ride to his religious services, perhaps his parole officer, probation officer - or some such person - should pick him up and take him...

Rather than put - for one person - thousands and thousands and thousands of children (this issue is coming up all across the states) at a heightened risk of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or worse!

Please folks, contact your U.C. legislatures and state your views on this matter!

ALL of them, if need be; and particularly, Chairman Donaldson and U.C. Legislature Minority Leader Glenn Noonan...

Write letters to your local newspaper editors...

Discuss this amongst your own Wards / groups / etc.

Put together a petition...

And/or otherwise put the pressure (Protect our Children!!!!!) on!

Thank You,

Nancy Sue Smith

Signing Off this Day in PINK... You Tube Videos

"To all of you that have shared your stories, I send you my best wishes. Things can be hard, but don't lose yourself in what you cannot control. I've been through it all, I know how you feel. And I ... [This caption was posted with the following video...]

["Family Portrait - Pink {Lyrics}"; as submitted to You Tube by laylasdarkside on 11/26/07; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9c63tMU1qk]

Some things [although I don't like the word "stupid"] to think about...

["Stupid Girls - Pink (Lyrics)"; as submitted to You Tube by klkammiller on 12/28/07; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCgHEQuVtmw]

Outdated [PINK addressing President George Bush Jr.] --- but still pertinent ---

["Pink - Dear Mr. President (live)"; as submitted to You Tube by homann29 on 8/16/07; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKt81sbXYrI]

Peace, Love, Equality and Humane Justice,

NS

Cancelation Finance Committee Meeting... KAPA Funding Issue on Hold... Please Call and Confirm and Pin Down Future Date and Time

[Photo by NS]

Interestingly, KAPA Commissioner Bob Smith just received a phone call from Arlene at Kingston City Hall that the Finance Committee meeting that was scheduled for tonight has been CANCELLED - with no rescheduled date (ahem) settled upon yet...

This, immediately after my having posted notices about it (coincidence?) on this blog, the Kingston Citizen's blog and the Kingston Citizens Ward group (Wards 1-9) sites.

Please do call City Hall [334-3955] though, just to confirm this... and, if you are so inclined, perhaps (re the rescheduling...) your city Alderman, the Alderman at Large and/or Mayor Sottile, as well.

And please do check out the photos, videos, etc. below...

V
V
V

Thank You,

NS

Combo Post... KAPA... Newspapers... Cities and Towns and Hearts in Shreds... You Tube Videos

Who is claiming (Just one out of many such examples...) bankruptcy?????

"Trump casinos file for bankruptcy a third time - Road Runner" --- http://www.rr.com/news/economy/article/9004/6895842/Trump_casinos_file_for_bankruptcy_a_third_time



"Organizing for America Economic Crisis Your Stories" --- http://www.barackobama.com/displayer/pages/econ-stories.php



"Obama signs stimulus bill readies homeowner plan - Road Runner" --- http://www.rr.com/news/politics/article/9008/6894016/Obama_signs_stimulus_bill_readies_homeowner_plan



"Nadia of the 411 Show interviews Mike Trujillo of quote-unquote.org, Channel 27 in Albuquerque New Mexico, on the importance of public access television across the U.S. as a tool to help Youth lear...

["The Importance of Public Access Across America"; as submitted by 411show on 4/24/07; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO8Cf_YAquE]

"Hear commentary at the Media That Matters film screening held in August 2006, by Patsy Robles, producer for the 411 Show, which airs on public access television and as a videoblog, about how public...

"The Fight for Public Access Television Part 4"; as submitted by 411show on 8/17/06; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbbPhPxPpr0]

A Reprint of a Local Kingston Area Public Access (KAPA) Commissioner's "Letter to the Editor" of the "Kingston Times" (Friday Jan 23 2009) [A similar version was printed in the Kingston "Daily Freeman" close to that same date]

-------------------------------------------------------

"Reflections on KAPA

Congratulations to Channel 20, the new educational channel on Time Warner. I wish you every success!

Our long suffering Public Access Channel 23 remains a steady snowy screen into the new year, with little hope for change - barring a Federal bailout or a presidential pardon.

Figuratively, my bald head and fat neck swivel on my torso, like a special effect in a horror movie whenever I reflect on the latest state of our Kingston Area Public Access (KAPA) station. Let me state clearly that what is written here is not the opinion of the KAPA Commission, but merely the uncensored reflections of one of the Commissioners.

It is not so much a chicken and egg discussion (give us quality TV, and we'll give you funding). The dilemma appears to me to be more of a case of what I refer to as voodoo vision. It is a theory that the channel is either in a corpse or a zombie state. The mayor and city council seem most gleeful with the corpse when it is off the air. The regular rebels and loyal opposition, on the other hand, are elated when the zombie is up and running.

Poetic images aside, KAPA needs a minimum of $40,000 annually to function properly and serve the public interest. Unfortunately, the public interest in our community is not always what interests the public. Rosendale, the Town of Ulster and a few dedicated benefactors have kept KAPA on life support for the last few years. Thank you for that. The commission needs to be aware of the quote, from Eric Hoffer, "It is not in our best interest to bite the hand that feeds you, nor is it wise to lick the boot that kicks you."

The city will receive, in the 10-year Time Warner contract, over $3.6 million dollars in franchise fees - paid by 7,400 subscribers. However, in that period, certain city council members bring out their trademark objection that the city had to pay $4, 7, 10, 19,000 (depending on the source, this always seems to vary) for legal fees - and $2,644 in a misunderstood grant. So, at the maximum, for a $21,644 investment, $3.6 million in benefits accrued to the city. Would any investor turn that bonanza down? To put it in layman's terms, if someone offered you $365 for a $2.16 investment, would you be complaining? Yet there are about five politicians on the local power grid who are opposed to public access funding - denying about 40,000 local residents their public access station. This goes beyond being unreal to becoming anti-real.

To those few politicians and their tender egos, let me quote the famous Yogi Berra, who said, "Everybody knows that people who are popular are bound to be disliked." Along with that paradox, most fair-minded fans and reasonable people are able to appreciate the talents and skills of both teams on the field, no matter what the "uniform" - be it Democrat or Republican.

In conclusion, in late November I attended a talent show sponsored by the Pointe of Praise Church and Kings Kids that was a great community event, and would have been a tremendous show to put on Public Access - "if" I lived in Woodstock, Saugerties, Rhinebeck, New Paltz or any of the other 11,000 communities nationwide that offer support and funding to their local public access station. So, to the general public, please remember - when elections take place in November - the words of that old Motown song by the Undisputed Truth called "Smiling Faces." The verse that applies is, "Don't let the handshake and the smile fool ya, take my advice, they are only trying to rule ya."

With humor and hope for the future of Kingston Public Access,

Bob Smith

Kingston

KAPA Commissioner"

---------------------------------------------------------------

A referral to "A Need for Newspapers" at the "Kingston Citizens Blog" --- http://kingstonnavigator.wordpress.com/ [There is also a link in the sidebar >>>] for some important information on the shut-down of Newspapers - and (if my post there gets published) - more...

---------------------------------------------------------------

A reminder that KAPA funding issues are scheduled to come up (yet again) at tonight's City of Kingston Finance Committee Meeting [See sidebar for more info]

--------------------------------------------------------------

A reminder that YOU can contact your representatives - or start a petition about this issue!

--------------------------------------------------------------

A reminder that KAPA is hosting a fundraiser this month - the details of which are available in the sidebar >>>>>

--------------------------------------------------------------

Another "pretty" [with more to follow in the next thread] photograph:



--------------------------------------------------------------

And another pertinent (I think...) You Tube Video:

"The Sound of Silence(Live) - 2003"; as submitted to You Tube by yiump on 11/26/06; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdD52DAaFRs]

--------------------------------------------------------------

A Couple of Pertinent Quotes:

1. "Of course everything has been said that needs to be said --- but since no one was listening, it has to be said again" (Anonymous).

2. "Go to where the silence is and say something" (Amy Goodman; "Columbus Journalism Review"; March/April 1994)

-------------------------------------------------------------

And... a note to remind you that you can contact Kevin Cahill, M. Hinchey, Sen. Gillibrand, Sen. Cuomo, a host of others - and even the President of the United States (upload your stories!) via the links provided in the sidebar!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Truth, Love, Equality and Humane Justice,

N.S.