Jackblog

Subscribe

Hey from Portland!

I'm sitting here in my Portland, Ore., hotel room kinda bummed that I have to leave so soon. I've been here since Friday for AAN's national board meeting. We're having our next national convention here next June, so we met here to try it out. What a great city. I'd been here once before with Todd, but experienced a little more of the city this time with the guidance of the Williamette Week editor (the Pulitzer Prize-winning Williamette Week, I might add). Several things strike you about this city right away: (a) It is brimming with pride and self-confidence. (b) People believe in LOCAL. (c) The city has incorporated respect for the environment into about everything it does—and makes their "green" attitude" a tourist attraction. We all took th the MAX (light rail) to dinner Saturday, and there were lots of teenagers on their in Halloween costume with their bikes, which you can hang on the train. I loved watching a little fairy girl hop on her bike when she got her to speed to her party with her friends. (d) The people are very friendly—almost more friendly than in the South, it seems, if that can be possible.

In the U.S. Senate Race, Vote Against Everybody

California is currently considering Proposition 85, a bill that would require any teenage girl living in an abusive household to confront her abusive parents before having an abortion--even if her father was the one who got her pregnant in the first place.

The Saints are Coming

Q: What happens when U2 and Green Day get together and do a video to help fund the rebuilding of New Orleans? A: I don't know. I'm speechless.

"Vote for Me, I'm White"

Watch this TV ad for U.S. Senate candidate Bob Corker very carefully. The pattern is very simple--each of the actors says something about Corker's (black) opponent, Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN), intended for comic effect (e.g., "I do have too many guns").

Why You Should Love Moby

This is his new single titled "New York, New York"--brilliant, brilliant stuff. Vocals by Debbie Harry (aka Blondie):

Psychiatric Service Dogs

I put off blogging about this for a couple of months, so I think now is a good time to discuss it. I originally heard about this when I caught an episode of The Dog Whisperer. The dog's name was Sparky, and he was there to help a woman manage her panic attacks while she was away from home. She was scared to leave the house before she got Sparky. Hey, they have service dogs for people with seizure disorders, so why not? If you've ever had a severe panic attack, you know firsthand how similar it is to a seizure.

My Civil Liberties Site

As many of y'all know, I'm the About.com Guide to Civil Liberties. So you might be asking yourself: What kind of stuff have I been writing lately? Well, right now I'm working on a piece dealing with today's New Jersey marriage law/civil unions ruling--but here's some other stuff I've written...

A Course with No Name

"It's never been a 'stay the course' strategy..." -- President George W. Bush, several days ago.

Stunningly Effective Stem Cell Ad

This left me speechless. Brilliant, brilliant stuff.

Fire Donald Rumsfeld, for Starters

A New York Times editorial today takes on the sticky issue of what the Bush administration should do to start cleaning up the horrendous mess it's made in Iraq:

A Truly Racially Diverse America Ahead

Now that the nation officially numbers more than 300 million, what next?

The Associated Press has an intriguing story about what America will look like when we hit 400 million people, which is projected to happen in fewer than 40 years. White people won't be the majority, and as a result, forecasters say, attitudes about race will be much more evolved than today. And the South will play a major role:

City Plan Sketchy

Under the Tusken Sun

According to independent Tattooine scholar Obi-Wan Kenobi, Sand People walk single file to hide their numbers. But if we examine this claim in light of the old "Footprints" devotional story, doesn't that mean Jesus is carrying them?

The GOP Blame Game Begins Early

The New York Times is reporting that, even before the November elections, Republicans are starting to point fingers at other Republicans to explain why they think they are going to lose the House this year, and maybe the Senate, although that is less likely:

Why So Few Female Bloggers and Opinion Writers?

I'm doing research to use in my first-ever opinion-writing seminar, and I ran across this piece about the dearth of women opinion writers and bloggers—and white maledom that dominates so much of the blogosphere (not here, though. Hah!). It's interesting and provides links to other relevant pieces. Take a gander:

Blogs