I Want One of These!

This is priceless! Or should i say Fisher-Priceless!

Ah, but enough with the laughs. I am pissed.

Right wingnuts are all in a tizzy about Obama's speech to America's children... about education. Mind you it hasn't even HAPPENED yet, but they are already condemning this--the speech that hasn't happened yet--because, of course, they know he's an evil recruiter of Hitler youth. It's all over Facebook, the stupid-ass polls.

And they are all freaked about 80% of America believing that no one should die because they can't afford healthcare, nor go bankrupt because they can't pay what the Insurance-Industrial-Complex has determined as a ransom for life. We are all sheep for speaking in one voice about this. Thanks, Tricia. I know you didn't mean to personally attack me, but i do take it personally. And for people like you and I not to be able to find common ground, and respect for one another, well, it pains my heart.

To all of you:
It really depresses me that at the ripe old age of 40, my baby sister is starting her life over, because her husband (who was gainfully employed and had health insurance through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) had a catastrophic illness. She nearly lost him, and then, ultimately, did lose him when she couldn't fight--Shiavo family-style--with his family any longer about what was best for him. And she lost her house. And she lost her credit. And she lost her marriage. And a great deal of it has to do with the corrupt, backward, inequitable and broken system of "healthcare" and health insurance we have in this country. She is fine now, and she is stronger for it, but it still absolutely kills me the pain, suffering, and just utter bullshit she has been through in the past couple of years over the whole thing.

To all of you:
My cousin actually travels abroad to find his healthcare, rather than risk the statistics here, or become a part of the broken system. He has chosen not to engage our system.

To all of you:
My friend David lost his mother this year, who was barely 60, because she fell into the cracks of our Insurance-Industrial-Complex. The system said Fuck You to her, and now she is dead.

To all of you: if you don't already, you WILL have a close family member who will be adversely affected at the least--or dead at the ultimate worst--because our system of caring for one another's health and well-being is so completely ass-backward, profit-driven, and set up to work best for those who have the most. For those with the least, you are on your own. I can't believe what passes for morality in your heads and hearts.

And you right wingnut jobs act like we are all just mindlessly following slogans about healthcare reform, just because you don't want to hear it, or even debate it. Well, you will lose, and you will be defeated. Because you are wrong, and you are on the wrong side of history. The history of this country is built and defined by the defeat of many such awful moments in our collective past, in which we've resteered our course to actually commit to giving a damn about each other. Click away and update your status on Facebook, attack people who've been through the worst in life, that you don't even know... but how about you show some compassion conservatives? Is there any in there?

The Math is Pretty Simple, Really.

Not to mention the simple moral dividends.

*Sigh*

Thanks be to Buddha that Tom Tomorrow can see humor in our world, still.

Strawberry Rhubarb Tart

For Sherry! Thanks for asking...




the crust is a shortbread recipe from Ina Garten:

1/2c sugar
3/4c butter at room temperature

cream

add some vanilla (fresh beans from the pod best, but extract will do)
1-3/4 flour of your choosing (i mix alot together)
big pinch of salt

You can also add the fresh zest of a lemon here too if you like (particularly good if you fill the crust with some custard or whipped cream something or just fresh glazed fruit)

mix well, chill for half an hour or so

press into tart pan and shape with your hands... i use a fork along the sides to make a nice vertical wall, but i'm a bit obsessive I think i might have mentioned before. Not obsessive enough to bother with a crust that needs to be rolled out, however.

Chill again for 30 mins, preheat oven to 350. Blind bake for 18 - 20 mins with some pie weights. I just use some old rice i've saved in the pantry in a ziploc, over a sheet of tin foil.

Halve some fresh strawberries, and chop the rhubarb. I like a 50/50 mix, but really you can do it however you want. Add some sugar and more vanilla, and a few heaping spoonfuls of cornstarch.

turn into the hot crust after removing the pie weights and bake for 25-30 mins, just until the rhubarb is cooked.

Great warm with some vanilla ice cream!

Bon Appetit!

Awesome.

And the Statehouse Again

I feel like Margot Channing this morning, getting up at dawn to go collect the Sunday paper off the sidewalk. I knew a big review would be in today's paper. Joe Blundo, at the Columbus Dispatch, has written a GLOWING REVIEW of my project at the Ohio Statehouse Museum. Well, maybe not totally glowing, but close enough. Super!

Wonder if Blundo has any idea he was playing the role of Addison DeWitt? Hmmm... I guess I'm more Eve Harrington, than Margot.

Here's some pictures Scott took on Wednesday at the opening:

Jennifer, attempting to Balance the Budget, BC and Steven in the background:

Hilferty Babewatch! The lovely gals of Hilferty--Kira, Nicole, Jennifer, and Sara--try giving a State of the State Address:

A group attempts to Balance the Budget, glowing monitors in background clinking coins into place (I love the sound effects):

Opening Day was quite claustrophobic for a while. I guess that is a good thing:

Ribbon-cutters were mostly clients, though Gerry my boss got to fit in one of the 1 foot wide slots that were off-camera (seriously, have you ever seen more ribbon-cutters in your life? they wouldn't even all fit in the photo..) Governor Strickland is in the center, former Governor Taft on his left:

Statehouse Again...

I was on the local news this afternoon, talking about my project that opened this week. Boy is it embarrassing to WATCH YOURSELF. Sheesh. Scroll to 4:39 to see me flutterlip.

Packing Light

Look how light Mom pack for her trips!





We are all excited to go to the grand opening of my project at the Ohio Statehouse tomorrow. We have a full day planned, opening at 10, lunch at THIS marvelous place, afternoon at the Wexner to see the Coop Himmelblau exhibition. Oh la la.

Thank You, Citizens of New Hampshire

You are all friends, indeed. New Hampshire is #6 now. Read all about it at Huffington Post.

Thank You, Barack Obama

You are a friend, in words anyway. I'm sure you will be a friend in deed also, sometime very soon. Thanks for forwarding this Debbie!

*********************************

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 1, 2009

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION


Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country's response to the HIV pandemic.

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration -- in both the White House and the Federal agencies -- openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.

These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America , by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States , do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA