Just in case...

First, you must understand that I am not what you'd call a "hoarder."

I do not stack up piles of useless junk, nor live beyond my means. And I'm definitely not a "conspicuous consumer."

My car is modest, affordable and attractive. Most importantly it gets me from here to there and has never suffered any mechanical problems. But then, what problems can one have driving less than 3,000 miles a year (others usually provide transportation - for all sorts of reasons).

Likewise, my home - which also has a lot of character.

No, not a stockpiler, me. But I do get anything that helps me in my quest for future activities or interests, survival or hobbies, especially if these items of preparation are on sale.

I tend to think of myself as a pseudo-minimalist preparer. That is, I like to feel prepared for whatever I believe I will do, might do, am considering doing, or wondering if I'd like to do.

Like paint. Always wanted to paint. Oil and water. So, over the years I've been gathering brushes and other art equipment. And draw. I have two easles - one for home and one in the car in case I have the notion to draw outside - and all the accessories I need when I wish to draw - including two body models for when I have time to practice. One day.

I also have sculpting tools. I took a class once and want to get back into it as soon as I have room for the clay table.

I'm prepared for French and German lessons, x-country skiing, snow shoeing, tennis, sports of all sorts, workout clothes in a smaller size, exercise equipment, musical instruments, a telescope with assorted lenses to indulge my interest in astronomy, photography equipment that I use in my directing work as well as to use in shooting wildlife, the pets; storyboarding sheets and gear, a saddle for horseback riding along with the boots, hats and gloves, and so much more.

I'm also a gadget girl.

"Just in case" construction, repair and fix-it tools, electronic paraphernalia, and items that I get because I know "one day" I'll use them.

For example - *many* years ago I bought bendy straws. And today? Out of the blue, I needed a bendy straw! And there it was - a whole box of them!

Who knew?

I did. I knew that .. one day .. I'd use it.

Books are another big "just in case" collection. Massive. I have so many things to research, I'd rather have the book on hand than have to wait for it if the library doesn't have it available straight away. Mind you, these are books on subjects I *think* I'll be writing in the future.

You know, just in case.

I don't get any more kitchen utinsels. I always thought I'd get interested in cuisine. One day. Especially French cuisine since I love it so much.

But, no.

In fact, I've given away many of the cooking apparati I acquired over the years. I'm finally at peace with myself about not being someone who enjoys cooking. I'm much better than I was, and the food I eat is much higher quality than it ever has been, but I'm not the sort who will make my way through a stew or anything more complex than scrambled eggs or spaghetti sauce.

Pencils. I have dozens; and pens - at least a hundred. I have this irrational fear of not having a pen or pencil nearby, and I tend to have a "favorite" pen and pencil I use at any one time. Likewise, paper. Notebooks, tablets, paper - I always make sure I'm well stocked. Being a writer I think this makes sense. Printer ink and printers, too. Never hurts to have a backup.

I also maintain a super stock of toilet paper. Just in case. I want to make sure I always have plenty on hand when people are here because so many people come over.

My car is packed with water, food, jacket, blankets, tooth brush and what have you - just in case there's an earthquake or disaster of some sort and I have to gather the four pets and hit the road.

Unfortunately, I am having trouble finding a box of music I have around the house somewhere - it has about $1,000 worth of sheet music I knew I'd need one day. Actually, "one day" has arrived. I normally know where things are, especially something this large. But, ouch. I can't find my years of preparation for this day.

Yet.

But I'm sure I'll find it.

One day.

The US Department of Peace and Non-violence

Sound absurd?

Actually, it's been an aspiration by many a patriot for this nation since the good ol' days of GW.

Um, that's George Washington, not GW Bush.

I don't understand the centuries of resistance to look at dangerous situations that needlessly cost so many innocent lives in another, lifesaving, light. Especially now, when there are so many potential threats of mass destruction.

That's what the role of a Department of Peace and Non-violence boils down to - learning and teaching better, more effective problem-solving skills without using brutality.

Violence only begets more violence, and as we've seen in the Middle East, the bloodletting never stops as long as war and murder become the only way adversaries understand to act. Retalliation becomes the only known means of "problem solving," and of course that is not solving any problems at all; it only exaserbates hurt and anger, fomenting more violence.

In case you don't know, a bill introduced in congress (HR 808), submited last year by US Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) co-sponsored by 66 other US Representatives would establish the cabinet level department to advise the president, cabinet members and the public of numerous options to violence and war to solve problems of destruction facing the US.

Americans for Department of Peace and The Peace Alliance promote passage of the bill. Both have chapters throughout the US, notable advocates and advisors. It is also supported internationally.

Here's what the bill would provide:

-The Department of Peace would have jurisdiction both internationally and domestically:

Internationally ~ it would provide the President with specific, proven options for non-violent resolution of conflict and highly sophisticated peacemaking strategies for post-war stabilization.

Domestically ~ the Department of Peace would have jurisdiction to address national and local issues including: drug and gang violence, school bullying, prison reform and domestic abuse.

Government agencies currently addressing these problems are scattered among numerous departments. Under this Bill, all would be coordinated under one umbrella to increase efficiency and effectiveness (like Homeland Security).

-The Department of Peace would establish a Peace Academy, patterned after the military academies, where students would learn peaceful conflict resolution skills and, after graduation, would serve in peace-related postings here at home or abroad.

There is a University for Peace in Costa Rica, created in coordination with the United Nations, that studies everything from language that foments, infers or inspires violence (and non-violence) to problem-solving methods that are effective and non-violent.

I'm always intrigued by people who consider those advocating non-violent problem solving as "soft," or "weak" or "peaceniks," or somehow afraid.

Because anyone who is married, in a relationship, working in a stressful environment or even in a reasonably functional family knows that living in "peace" is much more difficult and challenging than just terminating the relationship or shutting up entirely or taking a number of other passive-aggresive tacts to deal with the people they must.

One of the problems in US politics is that campaigns are arbitrarily violent in some way. Accusations, name-calling, lies, sabotage, vote rigging and/or bullying of some kind takes place. While those are considered the "old" politics by Senator Barack Obama, it seems that he has also indulged in some of these behaviors - it takes a lot of awareness and innovation to change the language from that of anger and defensiveness to powerful positive, proactive and effective.

When these measures are understood and learned, more gets done constructively, more quickly with permanent payoffs and everyone feeling good about the outcome.

Getting people to stop relying on old destructive language and habits is very difficult, but not at all impossible *if* people are motivated to change.

What motivates people?

-The understanding that peace is a viable option.

-People who are role models in creating peaceful outcomes.

-Educating people how to live in peace and prosper.

-Great leaders who inspire fighting peoples to surrender their arms and use their heads.

-Great leaders who inspire their own people to choose peace and prosperity, which benefits everyone - rather than war, which only benefits a few economically while hurting the rest of the economy and killing its citizens.

Once motivated to change, they must immediately be presented with literally a step by step education on how to do it all differently - in peace instead of with destructive conflict-filled behavior and violence.

Mind you, there's nothing wrong with conflict - that's life. Conflict helps us hone our personalities and skills and craft and relationships. It's *how* we deal with those conflicts that makes all the difference.

As I've said before, anger is a secondary emotion, preceded by fear, or fear and hurt. When we act out of fear, or fear and hurt, chances are the outcome is not going to be constructive, even though it might make the perpetrator of fearful destruction feel safe and therefore powerful - even if only momentarily.

Living in peace is tough. It requires problem-solving skills. Learning those skills requires the desire to want to live in peace, time and attention for the "how to's" and practicing them all the time.

It's much easier to yell, leave, punch someone or worse rather than admit the fear, hurt or other emotion at the core of violence, the feelings that motivate destructive behavior toward the self or other.

I particularly get a kick out of people whose psychology becomes an open book when they get really pissed at people who talk about seeking peaceful, constructive solutions. After all, isn't the whole point of the US Constitution to guarantee its citizens life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? When we go to war, we fight for peace, right?

What a great idea - take out the costly middleman (war) to achieve peace. To be a world leader in achieving peace - which leads to a vibrant economy?

Meanwhile, if you're a US citizen and want to find and let your US Representative know how you feel about .. whatever, go here.

Is the US becoming the next England?

As in, moving from the most powerful nation in the world to a much less dominate and influential nation?

Well, the writing's on the wall if we keep going in the direction we are, according to authors Mona Sutphen and Nina Hachingian, who wrote The Next American Century: How the U.S. Can Thrive as Other Powers Rise.

Something that cut England's entrenched "first place" in the world is that it did not maintain a strong educational system. So when the rest of the world became more science-based in economic innovation, Great Britain was caught flat-footed.

Today American students rate somewhere between 25-35 among some 57 nations when it comes to math and science scores, which is an indication of a failing school system.

The US is seen as a place that is more difficult to work for scientific innovation because of its conservative government's interference and actual misfeasance when it comes to scientific reports and other research. Imagine being an internationally renown scientist who wishes to develop new and improved research on vital subjects, interests or diseases, only to be confronted with where they stand on irrelevant conflicts over Creationism, Intelligent Design and evolution.

Um, better to go to other future-thinking nations that not only support scientific research economically, but are free of constraints, restraints of ideological conformity.

Innovation is the key to the US remaining #1 - as well as having an attitude of not being threatened by other nations such as China and India, that used to be considered poor, who are coming into their own now. From whom, in fact, the Bush adminstration has borrowed *many* billions of dollars to support the war in Iraq.

Keeping an eye on the prize of continuing to stimulate innovation and build the nation's infrastructure while maintaining national strength through strong employment, moving away from oil as a primary source of energy - and of course national security.

The failure of the US to provide universal health coverage for its citizens is actually a primary reason that innovation can be stymied because many innovators have chosen to remain in corporate or passive jobs because they don't have or can't afford health insurance if they leave those jobs.

If universal health care were provided, entreprenurial types could leave those passive jobs and pursue creative, innovative products and services that could make a significant difference in our economy - nationally and internationally.

Working toward the international legal protection of intellectual property must also take place worldwide; that's a challenge when some nations have very poor legal systems.

Dealing scientifically and innovatively with climate crisis issues will also make a big difference as well as understanding that the threats of a pandemic disease and "bioweapons" are more serious than the generalized threat of terrorists striking the homeland.

Essentially, Sutphen and Hachingian say that in order to remain the so-called superpower, it's not a matter of the US continuing to build a bigger and bigger military force, but to take the best care of our own citizens; giving them support to innovate; make sure that our educational systems are producing informed and well educated students; keeping scientific work and research free from religious or government ideology so scientists and medical researchers can dedicate themselves only to finding the truth and creating; learning enough about other nations not to be threatened by them; understand that internationally we are all more interdependent than ever before-

In short, take better care of ourselves at home - health care, education, roads, innovation, transportation, employment, economy, environment, communication - and we can automatically take better care of ourselves internationally.

Meanwhile, the so called "living standard" of Great Britain (economically, socially) *just* surpassed the US for the first time in many many many decades.

To those who care about healing the nation: tick tick tick.

Get smart. Get educated. Love and get loved. Stay healthy. Stay strong. Stay positive.

Dying to tell the truth

It's often occurred to me that Americans take for granted a couple things that people in other nations treasure - enough to fight and die for them.

The first is the right to vote.

Despite the fact that our right to vote was won off the blood of so many patriots who sacrificed all they had to give, relatively few citizens actually show up to exercise that right, and there are still areas of the US where voting is sabotaged at elections, where voting machines do not work properly (some reportedly deliberately miscasting votes for the wrong candidates), and where dirty tricks are used to try to keep voters away from the polls.

The excitement of this year's presidential race is, fortunately, inspiring many more people to get involved in the American political process - but the comparative percentage of those who vote and those who are qualified and don't vote remains poor.

Still, believe me, what is going on in American politics today is the very reason ultra conservatives fought some very dirty and deadly battles to prevent women and people of color from voting. The thought of a woman and a black man running for US President - and having a chance to win the office - would set them using little brown sacks in which to breathe. If they could. More likely, they're spinning in their graves like rotisserie chickens on steriods.

Actually, based on their probable nominee, it would appear the Republicans are still many, many years from supporting a woman or person of color as their party's presidential nominee.

The other thing I believe we Americans take for granted is "freedom of the press." Including too many journalists.

The US constitution is supposed to guarantee freedom of the press, but as A. J. Liebling put it, "Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one." He also noted that, "People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with the news."

Interestingly, many people who interact with reporters in the US consider them lazy, thin-skinned and reluctant to noticably correct any mistakes they make after damage is done. Another dilemma for US media is that consumers frequently don't understand the difference between publications like The New York Times and sensationalistic tabloids like The National Enquirer. Or that NBC news is different from Fox news or sensationalistic tabloid news magazine TV programs.

In many ways, the nation with a constitutional guarantee of press freedom enjoys less real news than other countries that have no such constitutional guarantee because so many US media owners are more interested in profits than they are a potent, passionate, empowered journalist-centric media and so many of today's "newsmakers" have no qualms about lying to reporters and spinning the truth; enjoying a calm certainty their lies probably won't be discovered, exposed or reported.

There are still many topnotch journalists practicing in the US, but my belief is that they're outnumbered by those who are not because of the way the industry is run these days.

Lots of magazine editors are more interested in pictures of Britney Spears than they are anything that might be a little more insightful or thoughtful or ... actual information. And I suppose those photographers after Britney put themselves in danger of having their foot run over by her SUV or getting sqeezed by the hoard of "craparazzis."

Hopefully kids will become more interested in real news rather than just entertainment with access to the internet. Despite so much garbage on the web, there are many websites with excellent and true information if we look for them, and youngsters are starting their own with accurate information.

Journalists around the world tend to be in considerably more danger when they actively search for the truth, usually covering stories on politics, crime and criminals, corruption, deception and victimizing less powerful people.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, an international group dedicated to defending press freedom worldwide, reports that 65 journalists were killed in 2007, with Iraq and Somalia being the two most lethal nations for reporters and photojournalists. CPJ notes that 7 out of 10 of those 65 deaths were murders. 20 other media workers (editors, distributors, managers) were killed.

Nations in which journalists and media workers have been killed and murdered in the line of duty: United States, Russia, Mexico, Pakistan, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Iraq, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Philippines, Nepal, Haiti, Guatemala, El Salvador, Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, China, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Turkey, Peru, Paraguay, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Honduras, Eritrea, Burma.

To read about the details of each journalist/media worker's death, read the CPJ report.

There is also a list of journalists who have disappeared without a trace and therefore cannot be considered dead, but only missing.

Currently there are 127 journalists jailed internationally, including an Afghan reporter who is being detained by the US military in Afghanistan. Nearly 30 of those imprisoned journalists are being held with no public notice or media coverage. The majority are held without any charges filed against them.

CNN's Christiane Amanpour wrote the preface for the CPJ annual report, "Attacks on the Press." She reports most of the journalists about whom I've written here "are targeted and hunted down, then shot, bludgeoned, or stabbed." Not killed in battles.

Worse, she says, "85 percent of these murders are carried out with impunity." Governments and law enforcement do not take any action to seek justice for their deaths.

She adds the pressure is on to: "Stop reporting anything sensitive." In too many instances, if the government does not censor them, "Journalists censor themselves and a whole society is the poorer, deprived of vital information and the ability to hold those in power to account..."

Recently, Denmark's media took surprising action against self-censorship. They fought back, refusing to allow a bully's death threat interfere with their press freedoms. More than a dozen Danish newspapers linked ink - reprinting the same cartoon en masse that sparked violent Muslim protests in 2006 — after police revealed an suspected plot to murder the cartoonist.

I hope this is a turning point for media that have in the past consistently and constantly succumbed to pressure from any special interest group or government, such as the US media did following 9/11.

Perhaps Anamanpour's most important observation: "Impunity is the single biggest threat facing journalists today. Murder, after all, is the ultimate form of censorship."

Is the American war in Iraq illegal?

As the loss of American lives crosses the 4,000 mark, here's a thoughtful, fact-full, well organized assertion that it is.

The question is, if it is, in fact, illegal - what does it mean to us in the near and distant future.

This presentation is *long,* but doesn't feel long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Khut8xbXK8

My nominee decision:

Senator Barack Obama.

For several reasons, but two dominate:

First and perhaps foremost, Senator Hillary Clinton's vote to empower President Bush to invade Iraq.

Understanding who Saddam Hussein was - his revulsion of al qeda and all Islamic militants, the failure of reputable researchers to find *any* material evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the long desired acquisition of Iraqi oil by American oil interests and George Bush, and the desire to fatten the pocketbook of Dick Cheney's employer Halliburton - giving the multinational corporation the bidless contract to rebuild the destroyed invaded nation for billions of American tax dollars and many more billions borrowed from other nations like China and India, not to mention the US National Intelligence Estimate advising against it -- it seems to me that any informed representative or senator would have voted against it.

In fact many did, including Obama. Clinton admitted not reading the NIE report, which would have, in my opinion, chilled anyone's desire to allow any military action in Iraq.

Second, it's been widely reported just in the past two days that part - if not the majority - of the reason Clinton's campaign has run into trouble is because she hired people based more on their loyalty to her than clear, cold qualifications.

We have lived for nearly eight years with a president who values loyalty more than qualifications and the result has not only been a shockingly substandard and corrupt administration, but a government whose wheels have come off all three branches of government - executive, judicial and legislative - and needlessly cost countless lives in an illegal war and natural catastrophies such as Katrina, whose destruction is *still* not rectified despite President Bush's shameful broken promise that the federal government would give them appropriate and proper assistance following the devastation.

To be fair - unlike George Bush, Hillary Clinton appears to learn lessons from her mistakes, which is great and will ultimately make her a fine leader. But as someone pointed out awhile back, the decisions she made are too costly to have a "do over" or take time to learn and then only after her campaign suffered so greatly.

Barack Obama did not vote to empower George Bush, and he has been consistently meeting with individuals throughout his campaign to surround himself with qualified, topnotch personnel if and when he is nominated to be the Democrat's nominee for the presidency, as well as if he is elected President of the United States.

Having powerhouses like Oprah Winfrey support him does not mean these people passively give him the nod. He does not surround himself with "yes" people or any sycophants who are there to massage his ego. They are there to make him a better person and leader.

Obama is by no means perfect. But, in my opinion, he has put himself on a track and in the company of those who will make sure he does not sell out or have any other goal than to serve the best interests of American citizens.

Just my two cents, please adjust for inflation.

A fine feathered friend ..

Here's an astonishing story of two souls who, according to what "they" say, are natural born enemies. As their human observer put it, "They must have been so young when they met they didn't realize they were not supposed to get along."

Imagine - we could actually have world peace if only we didn't teach our kids to dislike one another. Here's the slide.com proof:



http://www.slide.com/r/hD6DvyAOxD9ClUhvUpVcUMABW9QzpGnQ

Changing it up

Mercifully, my friend Will helped me build a new metal fence for my back yard so my pups can no longer escape when one of them (Soul Seeker) chews another big hole, the other two bounding after him.

I have no doubt they left the neighbors shaken from their notorious, menacing pack patrol posture for which my three 5-pound Pomeranians are renowned.

Not.

Actually, come to think of it, I helped Will, but what does building a fence credit count between friends?

So I'm back to sleeping soundly, knowing the little critters are locked and loaded inside the yard and can no longer put themselves in harm's way, even for a few minutes. Thanks, Will.

I have so much writing to do - between two feature scripts that are going to be produced, another animated feature and a couple other projects - I decided to change the scenery and ambiance to work. Instead of working at home - great as the fireplace is - I'm going to a local coffee shop with free wifi.

Which one is the question.

I've got a short list I'll be trying to see if it's a good idea. For me because I can work away for long periods of time and don't like to be bothered; for them so they don't think I'm taking up space that could be used by someone who eats and drinks more than I do.

Noise doesn't bother me because I spent so many of my formative years in newsrooms with police, fire, state patrol and sheriff radios blaring - at one time topped with the cacophony of wire service machines clacking and ringing when a bulletin crossed.

I live relatively near the University of Washington district, so there are probably lots of students who have the same idea, so a writer shouldn't cause any problems. It's also the reason there is this list of places in the region with free wifi and decent, reasonably priced food and drink.

I read that August Wilson used to write every day at a certain Seattle cafe. Maybe this will help my writing.

And my shape.

I figure I'll ride my new bicycle to these places so it won't take me an hour or more to walk to them. I'll load my scripts, research books, writing impliments, laptop, bike lock, rain cap, yadda yadda yadda in my new Sierra Club rucksack (could this scene possibly reek any more of Seattle?) and strike out for the first destination - a coffee shop that serves crêpes. Which, hopefully will be authentically French, parce-que je l'aime beaucoup.

If all this works out and I find just the right place, I'll put the picture up here.

Meanwhile I have my selections of songs down to about 40 for the potential singing competition. I'm driving some very patient people a little crazy - singing each of them to see if they think I should perform them. You know, if I sound good enough to perform them. So far we've eliminated one. Another couple of sessions with patient listeners next week should tell the story. I need to get the selection down to about a dozen.

I continue to work out weekday mornings at the nearby gym with my very kewl workout partner. I can't believe how much I'm enjoying it! And how much I continue to change up my nutrition program with good stuff.

There will be lots of news to report in the next few weeks; everything is proceeding positively one step at a time, moving forward as it/they should.

Hey, thanks for reading my blog - so far this month readers from 50 nations are tuning in. I have a couple show biz subjects I want to cover, which is always positive - and the hits go through the ceiling when I write about politics, so of course I'll be sure to cover those subjects.

I'm torn between Senators Clinton and Obama - wishing they'd join forces and run as P/VP. I don't even care who would be which. Together they'd put America back on the track of which we and the rest of the world can be proud in record time. Separately? It will take awhile.

Senator McCain, unbelievably, continues to tell the same tall stories Bush told us that got us into Iraq when we had no business invading the country. There are a million ways to fight terrorists; starting wars in nations that are not a threat to us in a region akin to a very dry powder keg sitting next to a lighted match is not one of them. And continuing to put more and more forces in does nothing to establish peace because the Iraqi government continues to do nearly nothing to create a political solution to their violent differences. Differences that existed before Saddam's iron fist crushed their enmity, and will continue after the US evacuates.

If Iraqis are only shown by invading forces that the way to "peace" is war, then they'll continue the war they have been fighting for centuries. A good role model showing them how to live in prosperous peace would have been a good thought. Too bad our President and his advisors had no idea how to create such a plan.

US House of Reps calls President's bluff!

Who knew?

After posting my blog yesterday, hoping the US House of Representatives would stand up to President Bush's vociferous threats that our national security would be endangered (not true) if they did not renew his, some would say anti-constitutional surveillance legislation, Protect America Act - they did! They stood up! They not only stood up but they adjourned for a week!

Who knew?

President Bush threatened that he would cancel his trip to Africa to make sure the law was pushed through the House. Psych! He's already on his way to the dark continent and the Act has not been renewed.

*Someone* in the House must have had a spine transplant, checked the polygraph or actually did some research proving the president was lying before giving him another rubber stamp.

Here's the deal: part of that legislation would provide retroactive immunity to phone companies and others who may have broken the law while spying on American citizens. President Bush wants to rush the renewal through to protect corporations following what they thought the government ordered them to do - illegally.

Part of the courage to stand up to the president came in reaction to, once again, the US Attorney General saying he would not honor House contempt of Congress subpoenas for former Bush adminstration members Harriett Mier, White House counsel and Joshua Bolten, the White House chief of staff, for refusing to testify about the firing of U.S. Attorneys.

Many of those US Attorneys fired by the Bush administration say they were released because they were not biased enough in favor of the Republican party and the Bush administration's political agenda. US Attoreys are supposed to be unbiased in their job.

Now, what "horror" would befall us if Bush's "Protect America Act" lapses?

Nothing that would endanger our security.

The Justice Department itself reports that our government would retain all the powers it had before August under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the law of the land that remains current. It requires the government to obtain court approval for surveillance done on U.S. soil or against U.S. targets.

Classified orders allowing the monitoring of international telephone calls, e-mail traffic and other communications under the Protect America Act are normally valid for a year; they wouldn't expire before August, 2008.

Those orders cover terrorist groups or telecommunication providers in their entirety. More, Democrats insist new groups, phone numbers and other information can be added to existing orders.

However, individuals and businesses who broke the law spying on American citizens would not be immune from legal action retroactively, from the beginning of the original Protect America Act.

Speaking of retroactively - the previous FISA allows law enforcement to have judicial surveillance permission granted retroactively. That is, if I'm law enforcement and believe that there is an imminent threat, I can go ahead and wiretap or whatever is necessary while the judicial process (a judge approves the surveillance) is taking place. When permission finally comes through, it protects the law enforcement officer(s) from the moment I instigated the surveillance.

Likewise, if law enforcement is too busy responding to the threat to submit the papers, they can submit the request after their work with the threat is completed.

The reason this is so important?

When the judges know what is going on and why, it is to make sure that there are no abuses of surveillance by law enforcement. It's in line with the constitutional idea of checks and balances.

The Bush Act provides for "warrantless" surveillance so judges do not have to be notified.

We have plenty of laws already on the books to provide for protecting us against any threat - and it is a conservative argument that begs for fewer laws, not more. But it is believed that Bush wants to have enough legislation that gives him complete authority to do anything he wishes, which is why he is accused of establishing an "imperial presidency" with Dick Cheney.

No checks or balances. Former White House counsel John Dean contends in his book, Broken Government, that the Bush administration has destroyed all three branches of government - legislative, judicial and executive - through fomenting fear and insisting on such legislation as unnecessary as Bush's Protect America Act.

FDR said it all: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."

Don't fall for fear mongering. A real leader doesn't instill fear; he or she empowers you to deal appropriately and confidently in your best interest with whatever may be a threat to your welfare, health or survival.

Check out the facts of anything someone says who is trying to manipulate you and mess with your mind by trying to scare you into doing what they he or she wants you to do.

Veeeeeeerrrry interesting ......

While President Bush fights for legislation that would hand the US government liberal permission to spy and eavesdrop on emails, phone calls, communication of all sorts of us citizens at large (including the media), supposedly *just* looking for terrorists - when it comes to giving congress access to White House communication and correspondence by him, Dick Cheney and his own administration - something that is *supposed* to be a matter of public record?

Um, they can't be found. Oooooopsie. Missing. Thousands of emails "erased." Transcriptions of phone calls, copies of letters, yadda yadda yadda. Somehow just can't be found.

Uh-huh.

So we are supposed to believe that this administration will respect the rights of privacy for other than terrorist suspects (unless we are all suspects) and actually handle what communication they track down responsibly when they tend only to cherry pick what they save for the public record themselves?

I hope the US House of Representatives stands up to this bullying and doesn't cave as the US Senate has.

Rock Star exercises and pampers your pup!

If you live in Seattle, that is.

My pal Northwest hitmaking girl band The Hot Rollers' vocalist/bassist Lori Campion, also an animal welfare advocate owned by her sweet and special beagle, Lulu, runs a brand new eco-friendly dog walking service, Seattle Green Dogs!

Quite honestly, I have never seen any green-colored dogs around her place (she's a neighbor). But she's a conscientious environmentalist - like most of us around the Northwest - so she makes sure your pup gets the best food and treats (or you can provide your own), all pet processing products are "green," and that your hePet, shePet or theyPets not only get a good workout but she buffs the mud and dirt off her four-pawed clients after a vigorous play time so they're delivered back to you happy, healthy, fluffed and polished.

Facials, massages and mani-pedi's are extra, of course! ;-)

Seattle Green Dogs crew members include a dog behavioralist who can help with any training issues or behavior problems your pet might experience.

Lori's a great person and animal caretaker. You can bet your pet will be met with great care without going into debt at her doggie exercise service. Um, to be clear, I'm posting this to help dog owners looking for such a super service that uses all green products and practices because I know, adore and trust Lori with my beloved pets - I've seen her in action; I'm not receiving anything for telling you about Seattle Green Dogs.

BTW, Lori and Lulu proudly point out that the first ever beagle - Uno - took Best of Show at this year's Westminster Kennel's Dog Show just yesterday! They reportedly wept and bayed openly as the hammy, crowd-pleasing Uno scooted around the ring to a standing ovation.

The Hollywood 4-1-1 IRL

Here's a website recommended by my pal, fine actor and all 'round world class good guy Tommy Kendrick, for anyone - writer, director, producer, et al - who wants to work in Hollywood.

It's a collection of interviews of professionals who have and are working there successfully on a daily basis.

http://www.interviewinghollywood.com/

For folks specifically wondering what it's like to be an actor in LA, here's an interview he suggests:

http://www.interviewinghollywood.com/videos/video-134.html

Thanks, Tommy!

Partners

I don't know why - at this point I shouldn't be.

But I'm always amazed when I encounter or hear a partner - whether spouse or girl/boyfriend -- does not support the creative endeavors of the artists with whom I work.

Singing, writing, acting, and other artistic pursuits are, IMO, a spiritual quest. We create our personal artistic masterpieces in relationship with a universal energy or other spiritual power. I find artists who believe they are entirely on their own as they attempt to create do so at their peril, because creativity always taps into the artist's demons - which can be insurmoutable without the power of a spiritual energy to help the artist deal with them.

If we develop our inner core, our character, we can become our own personal masterpiece. So in that respect, I guess we're all artists.

I find the problem with having a non-supportive partner is that they actively work to kill the experience, the dream, the passion, the existence of the artistic pursuit. In a way, it's a destructive way to control and even alter the artist's identity.

While the notion of creating and devotion to one's art is pure -- it is not about the money for the true artist, though many are ultimately recognized with remuneration -- the desire to crush that drive, that desire, that passion and work is negative; in fact it can be outright hostile.

When bridled with an unsupportive partner, the artist, for no factual reason, is made to feel as though he or she is doing something wrong by doing what feels authentic, positive, right and truthful.

The reasons the unsupportive partner might work to sabotage the artist's inspiration and work are many: jealousy, fear of losing control over the partner, fear of losing the partner to someone who shares his or her passion, fear that the practical matters like finances might suffer, and more.

One wife told her husband to quit his artisic work because she said that all the time and passion he invested in his artisitic pursuit should be invested in her and their marriage. He did quit, as she desired.

In a healthy relationship, that artistic passion is encouraged and the happy artist brings home more passion, creating a happier relationship. Further, the "other" partner is encouraged to seek his or her own personal creative passion.

In an unhealthy relationship? Not so much happiness for several reason.

The first is that the unsupportive partner may resent the artist coming home so happy and enthused when the reason for that elation appears to have nothing to do with them. He or she may not understand the notion of the Muse - the spiritual inspiration of all that is created by the artist - who most frequently is the partner.

But, when the artist stifles feelings of joy coming home to "keep the peace," so the partner won't feel threatened by the work, those emotional "secrets" only build to a boiling point on both sides. Sooner or later, feelings emerge and not always in the way we'd like.

It's heartbreaking to see this happen - and I've seen it so many times I wish they'd do a show on Oprah about it so families and partners can understand why everyone - especially the partner - wins when the artist is supported and that emotional support comes right back from the artist to the family.

So many people have left their training/career because the partner gave them a choice: their work or the relationship.

Of all the people with whom I've worked who have selected a relationship at the cost of their art, I would say most have contacted me years later, full of regret. Love is love. And either people love you for who you are or they do not.

I don't mean the artist should be self-absorbed at the expense of family, friends and a full life. But a healthy relationship is a collaboration, constructed in a way that both achieve what they wish, especially when the goals are positive and constructive - the artist being as supportive to a partner and she or he is for the artist.

I find genuine support and growing trust work to develop splendid business partnerships as well.
The toughest cases are those in which the partner says he or she is totally supportive of the artist, while hiding feelings of resentment and jealousy until one day POW! Again, problems of communication and trust between the partners preceed the explosion - where once again the artists are made to feel as though they've done something wrong, when in fact they have not.

It's a matter of control - and of the jealous, resentful partner missing something within themselves and taking out their own failings or emotional voids on their partner; blaming the artist, instead of understanding that they themselves are creating their own hell - then making false accusations and acting out with some sort of emotional abuse to the artist to "equalize" the situation in their minds.

I know this first hand because I lived with a very unsupportive partner who made my life miserable with jealousy, hostility and resentment for not only the work I did and the recognition I received for it, but for the (recognized, accomplished) people I knew because of my work.

I can't believe I stayed in that abusive situation as long as I did. Then I realized I stayed because I kept trying to "make the situation right," feeling as it I was doing something wrong, when in fact I was not. When the relationship mercifully ended, I didn't skip a beat, I felt so free and was so clear about what happened. I've been perhaps a little overzealous protecting myself and my work since, and know that my 50% was choosing someone who would behave this way.

Homey don't play that game no mo'!

It won't surprise you to know that my family was decidely unsupportive when I left journalism to become a writer and filmmaker. And I mean *decidedly.*

However! I'm happy to report today they are 100% behind me, my work and my career. They even tell me how proud they are of me and what I do!

While I think most people suffer with unsupportive families and partners, I'm delighted to report more good news recently came in the form of two professional writers I know -- their husbands are not only supportive, but these women are supportive of their husbands' artistic pursuits.

In fact, after a discussion about this, one approached her long-time partner, telling him if he wanted to pursue *more* acting work, she'd be happy to pick up any slack that might follow around the home, with the kids, and so on. She said the look on his face was priceless, he was so excited.

Imagine hearing your partner say to you, out of nowhere, "Hey, if you want to take more singing lessons? I figured out how we can adjust our finances to afford them. We can do without (whatever), and (whatever) instead."

Likewise, a couple members of my writers' group have unconditionally supportive partners - and they are as supportive of their partners' artistic quests!

That, dear Reader, is the way it's supposed to work. And it's no wonder these people are so happy with their spouses and kids, while of course going through the ups and downs any life offers.

My wish for everyone is an amazing, inspiring artistic experience, supported by a loving family and partner!

Ahem....

Dear Super Bowl fans - guess who bet on

Yoga when it's hot! Hot! Hot!

OK - a friend highly recommended what is called "hot yoga" for me because it's good for the joints. Everyone who has endured extensive chemotherapy suffers from some sort of joint ailment afterward because chemo chemicals kill good cells and bad cells.

The reason I'm vulnerable to such a suggestion is because the *fantastic* yoga teacher I adored and who was so good building the mental-spiritual-physical connection of the ancient art just left for California and I haven't found anyone nearly as good yet.

So, this morning, I attended my first 90-minute session of hot yoga. This is my musical response:

(To the tune of Foreigner's "Hot Blooded")

Hot yoga!
Is it for me?
The room is baking-
It's a hundred and three!
My face is crimson-
It's so hard to breathe
Hot yoga! It's hot yoga!

Hot yoga!
The orders are yelled
Am I getting healthy
Or is this just hell?
My heart is pounding
Are those my joints I feel?
It's hot yoga! Hot yoga!

Hot yoga!
The crazy movements-
get outta town!
If we get dizzy
We can lie down
Or sick or faint
Or in our sweat drowned
It's hot yoga! Hot yoga!

It's so mechanical ...
Feels American to me
I look around
Where's the spirituality?
But just to be sure
I'm going tomorrow to see..

'cause I paid for a week of hot yoga! Hot yoga!