Memorial Day 2010 Photos - Part III

These Photos Are Not Arranged In Any Particular Order

There Are More Photos Below

Thank You!

Memorial Day Parade Photos - Part II [More Pending]

A Unified Showing of some KC, UC and NYS Dignitaries

Navy... ?  [Help me out here?]

Drawing a Crowd

Thank You!

Thank You!

With Due Respect!

A Little Odd?

American Legion Auxillary "Poppy Girl"

Congressman Maurice Hinchey and UC Executive Michael Hein

City Councilman Andi Turco-Levin

Memorial Day Parade Photos - Part I - May 2010

These photos are not arranged in any particular order.

More Photos are Pending

Planet Wings and Dallas Hot Weiners sure picked a great local for free advertising : ) !

People sure do appear to love the bagpipes!

AOH

Thank You to All Who Have Served and Continue to Serve!

Impressive.

Gotta' Love It !

Two of my personal UC favorites!

"Poppy Girl"

The "Boo" was just a joke... 

I hope you all heard me yell "Just Kidding!"

NICE.

Doing What I Can Where I Can When I Can... Memorial Day

For our tomorrows...

My condolences to those that are remembering lost loved ones this weekend. 

There are many forms of loss - and I am feeling my own.

Thank you to all of those that have served our country in any capacity.

I still hope for the day when we know world peace -

but I don't see it coming anytime soon. 

Next up [I think I'm taking a needed break]:

Yeah.  I'm wierd.

Photos From KNY Neighborhood Watch May 2010 Neighborhood Walk

Hey!  What do you folks think about all of this?

"Inquiring minds"... as the saying goes... "really want to know!"

"Rare video JFK 1960 Speech at the Houston Ministers"... Revising History... Orwell's "1984"... FFRF Action Alert... Facebook Petition... Other Videos, Information and Links on Topic

["Rare video JFK 1960 Speech at the Houston Ministers"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Jr03ADQmk ]

What do you think Abraham Lincoln or JFK would think about this?  What do "you" think about this? 
[I consider myself a Christian, in the "best sense" of the word, and I find this [Distorting facts (George Orwell's "1984" anyone?)] atrotious!

["YouTube - a Christian land governed by Christian principles"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdhGK9aYjDY&feature=player_embedded#! ]

["What John F. Kennedy Would Say To George Bush"; You Tube; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkryNyxlubY&feature=related ]

["Bill Maher-Revisionist History"; You Tube; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF_cqnAbrgE&feature=related]

["1984 George Orwell Movie Trailer (1984)"; You Tube; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rBDUJTnNU ]

Pertinent Links:

"TalkeRR - Texas Text Books"; Road Runner; http://www.rr.com/news/talkerrtexastextbooks

"Freethought of the Day JfKennedy Quote"; http://ffrf.org/day/view/05/29/#john-f.-kennedy

"Action Alerts - News"; "Freedom From Religion Foundation" [Or, as reworded by me: "Freedom from historical distortion and religious tyranny..."]; http://ffrf.org/news/action/dunbar-america-is-a-christian-land-governed-by-christian-principles/

-----------------------------------------------------------
Snippet from the "Cuéntame Texas Textbooks - Petition Facebook"; http://www.facebook.com/cuentame?v=app_10339498918 ]:

"Keep Personal Partisan Agendas Out of Our Schools...  Tell textbook companies - 'I urge you not to produce textbooks based on the Texas Board of Education's curriculum standards until Texas politicians stop dragging children into the culture wars. Educational standards should be based on sound scholarship and expertise, not personal partisan political agendas....'" ["Cuéntame Texas Textbooks - Petition Facebook"; http://www.facebook.com/cuentame?v=app_10339498918  ]

"Cuomo Selects Rochester Mayor For Lieutenant Governor..." You Tube Video

["Cuomo Selects Rochester Mayor For Lieutenant Governor - NY1.com.mp4"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-CZygvWTm0 ]

"The War Is Making You Poor Act" Rep Alan Grayson... You Tube Video and Sources... "Womens Health Matters"... Link

["YouTube - 'Rep Alan Grayson Introduces the War Is Making You Poor Act'"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0_TtYQEDTo ]

"Rep. Alan Grayson The War Is Making You Poor Act"; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-alan-grayson/the-war-is-making-you-poo_b_585343.html

"'h.r.5353 War Is Making You Poor Act' - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress"; http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h5353/show ]

"The War Is Making You Poor Act"; http://readersupportednews.org/off-site-news-section/81-81/2020-the-war-is-making-you-poor-act ]

"Tell Your Member of Congress Support The War Is Making You Poor Act":  http://salsa.mydccc.org/o/30019/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=35

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

On Another "Front":

"Women's Health Matters Home Page"; http://womenshealthmattersny.org/

Post and Research Study Deleted... You Tube Video

"Trauma and Recovery: Send me a song by Celtic Woman";  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIXrDPou92o]

This video was previously associated with a research study I was going to undertake, but I got no responses - and I am moving the project idea from my "to do" list. It is a nice video (from You Tube) - anyhoot!

Safety Net Issue - Open Forum - When is Enough Enough... Opinion Piece

Opinion Piece:

I find the fact that the Ulster County (U.C.) Legislature voted down a change (a desired monetary burden shift from K-NY to the County of Ulster) in the way the Safty Net is funded - when it comes to the City of Kingston - is shocking (at best) and disgraceful (at worst). 

The inequity in the way the Safety Net (in regard to K-NY / UC-NY) is currently funded - is glaring - and how anyone [particularly our political representatives (A lot of U.C. Legislatures may be losing their positions soon, due to structural changes - so (listen up) - a position on the UC Legislature is bound to become much more competitive...!)] could "not" see "that" is beyond me.

So, now that the City of Kingston is reputedly going to sue (I'm not sure this is definite yet.) the County of Ulster --- regarding the funding of the Safety Net --- I say hurrah (!) - because it seems to me as if K-NY taxpayers have been getting fed the sludge (in many ways; this being just one...) at the bottom of  the sewage pipes (blocked, apparently, all over town, to boot!) for way too long.

1.  An inequity (again, these are my opinions...) in the way the Safety net is funded.

2.  A U.C. Department of Social Services that apparently doesn't even know the correct address of the people that it is providing services for...  [Another illegitimate price-tag thus far pushed off on K-NY taxpayers...]

3.  Property tax assessments (courtesty of GAR Associates) out of whack all over the place (as demonstrated by the number of Kingston taxpayers that sucessfully contested their property tax assessments last year, and won...)].

4.  Over 40% of K-NY properties (not-for-profits, religious and non) reputedly off (or partially off) the tax roles; and...

5.  Some questionable budgetary issues ["Sunshine" anyone?] in regard to some [my opinons; my opinions; my opinions...] of  the above [I'm specifically addressing #4]

How did the Safety Net issue get voted on so quickly - when most issues [from stop signs and street lights to bagging leaves and cats...] seem to take forever?  I thought the public was going to have a chance to submit [This (at the U.C. level...) certainly deserved an open forum!] some collective [Did I miss something?] imput (?!?)

Why wouldn't U.C. Executive Michael Hein (as reputedly suggested by the assistant K-NY Corporation Council) allow an open meeting - with the U.C. Department of Social Services Commissioner - in attendance?  Is this true?  [I would like to hear Executive Hein's response to that...]

Alderman Hayes Clement has reputedly suggested that the City of Kingston host an open forum on this issue [Kudos!] - and I, for one [I know I'm not alone on this...] would like to see this become a reality.

Surely the taxpayers in the City of Kingston have some rights? 

Or are they [K-NY taxpayers] just here [Things are seemingly very backwards of late...] to clean the parks - sweep the streets - and otherwise take over functions that are the City and / or County's [At least this is how it worked where I came from...] responsibility?

We aren't supposed to "hurt the feelings of" people that are receiving services...

Cool.

Not MY intent.

And probably NOT ["Red herring" anyone?] the intent of most concerned parties.

The thing is...

You cannot continue to chip away at a rock without that rock becoming a pile of pebbles and eventually --- DUST.

2 + 2 does not equal five.

And sooner or later the taxpayers [My "best guess..."] are going to say [ whether through the voting process; through relocation or some other means (?)] "NO MORE".

Sources:

"Kingston alderman wants public forum on welfare funding"; Paul Kirby; "Daily Freeman"; 5/23/2010; http://dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/05/23/news/doc4bf8bb61c69b4035826766.txt

"kingston progressive 'ULSTER COUNTY SAFETY NET'":  http://kingstonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/05/ulster-county-safety-net.html

"'Thinking twice Public Welfare Charges' Kingston Citizens":  http://kingstoncitizens.org/2010/05/22/thinking-twice-public-welfare-charges/

Previous posts (this blog) and community meetings.  For Example:  http://flingingtowardsthesun.blogspot.com/2009/12/mary-ann-parker-county-containment.html

"Stand" --- Rascal Flatts - You Tube Video

["Rascall Flatts - 'Stand' (with lyrics)"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13cgEA6TRLQ&feature=related ]

"Conspiracy of Silence..." John Decamp... "The Franklin Scandal"... Nick Bryant...

Simply giving the following [ADULTS ONLY / VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED / GRAPHIC VERBAL CONTENT] some exposure.

Do your own research.

Form your own opinions.

["Conspiracy of Silence 1of6 - Franklin Cover-Up"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDxXgG9ILQs ]

["Conspiracy of Silence 2of6 - Franklin Cover-Up"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBSSR9jeYgc&feature=related]

["Conspiracy of Silence 3of6 - Franklin Cover-Up"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejegE3huENc&feature=related]

Note: There are 3 more videos, from this source, in this series. These are available on You Tube.

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

["Nick Bryant interview 2/17/09 : The Franklin Scandal part1of4"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cq1mtyja8Y&feature=related ]

["Nick Bryant interview 2/17/09 : The Franklin Scandal part2of4; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ruWnzGIh6c&feature=related ]

["Nick Bryant interview 2/17/09 : The Franklin Scandal part3of4"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFJ4FNrlbNg&feature=related ]

["Nick Bryant interview 2/17/09 : The Franklin Scandal part4of4"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wet_lPajHno&feature=related ]

Your thoughts on this?

"Campaign for Better Care" - Pass It On...

"Campaign for Better Care Feature Story"; http://www.nationalpartnership.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cbc_banner&autologin=true&AddInterest=1681

Happy Anniversary... "It's All About Soul" Billy Joel You Tube Video

["It's All About Soul (Billy Joel) Music Video"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBxkHRukM6M]

What a Trip, eh?

Happy Anniversary!  I Love You! 

Me

KNY Neighborhood Watch Meeting... Interesting Links... Spring Photos... Summer Block Party?

A.  Just back from the KNY Neighborhood Watch meeting.  Impressed with the attendance - and with the fact that some of the KNY Aldermen [Jen Fuentes, Andi Turco-Levin, Hayes Clement and Tom Hoffay were (sorry if I missed anyone)] there. 

Wondering why the others weren't (?)  This is pretty [I think...] important stuff!

My PTSD issues - the degree of stress I am currently under - and my prior experience (not good) with Kingston Area Public Access (KAPA) volunteerism - make me hesitant to jump into much of anything at this point.  But I am sooo grateful to the people that "are" jumping in --- and I'm staying as informed (in the meantime) as I can.

Right now the emphasis appears to be on forming and carrying out some neighborhood walks - with guidelines set at a minimum of four people and three active cell phones.

The first walk, however, will probably be much larger than that - and if I heard it right - will be on Thursday, May 27 at 7PM - starting out at G. Washington School.  [Please check in at the Watch site (there is a link in the sidebar) for more (general or specific) information.] 

If I understand it right, Watch walkers need to have their information on file - and they need to sign a liability waiver. 

Please contact the Watch, if interested --- for clarification!  They are also on Facebook at
"Facebook Kingston-NY-Neighborhood-Watch":  http://www.facebook.com/KingstonNeighborhoodWatch?ref=ts&v=wall

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

B.  A link for victims / survivors [Isn't this long overdue?] everwhere...

"'Supreme Court Rules 'Sexually Dangerous' Inmates Can Be Held Indefinitely'  NPR":  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126883149&sc=nl&cc=ph-20100517

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

C.  My sincere apologies for the fact that I keep (sorry Jen) referring to pugs as pit bulls...  Duh!  How many times can I make that (a biggy) mistake!

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

D.  Another interesting link [This should all add up after a bit and help us taxpayers out a little, I hope...]]:

Kingston overbilled $64,000 for Safety Net Social Services":  http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2010/May/18/King_overbill-18May10.html

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

E.  I asked Alderman Jen Fuentes about the possibility of a Summer Block party for Ward 5...  Ideas and feedback (I'd be happy to pass them on...) welcome!

Moms Rising... "Motherhood Manifesto..." Activism Opportunity...

["The Motherhood Manifesto";  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17x235VynTY;  http://www.momsrising.org/aboutmomsrising]

Some stats (received via email on May 11, 2010) from MomsRising.org.

United States of America (U.S.):

25% of families that have children under the age of six years "live in poverty."

9,000,000 [9 M] children have no health care coverage - and many more have insufficient health care coverage.

14,000,000 [14 M] children have no supervision after school is out.  Forty thousand [40,000] of the these children are Kindergartners [approximately 5 years old].

Mothers that are raising children on their own [single moms] make approximately "60 cents... 'to a man's dollar.'"

The above stat is slightly better ["73 cents..."] for mothers in the context of marital relationships.

Women that have no children make approximately "90 cents... 'to a man's dollar'".

The U.S. is one of the 20 "most competitive economies in the world" - but is the only country that "doesn't require employers to provide sick days."

According to a study at Harvard - out of "170 countries" - the U.S. is one [out of just four nations] that does not provide "any form of paid leave for new mothers."

For additional information, visit "About MomsRising":  http://www.momsrising.org/aboutmomsrising

Important Link for KNY Citizens

In case someone out there doesn't know about this site:

"Search CrimeReports.com":  http://www.crimereports.com/widget/widget.html?CRSearch=Kingston,NY

This May Not Be Honolulu... But It Seems We Might Have "Some" Things In Common... NPR Newscast... Check it Out

["Homeless, But Enjoying Hawaii On $3 A Day"; National Public Radio (NPR) Newscast; http://n.npr.org/NPRI/jN100368753_434452_434378_Z.htm ; Link Received From "NPR's Most E-Mailed Stories" (newsletters@n.npr.org) on Sun AM, 5/16/10]

Lawn Sale Update / Change... National Partnership for Women and Families... Campaign for Better Care... Links

Stock Photo

The lawn sale was pretty much a bust - and will only be on for a couple of hours [Noon-2PM] tomorrow.  It was however - GREAT - to meet and talk with Rebecca Martin.  Absolutely.  And spending time with Mom, my children and some of my grandchildren made it all worthwhile, as well.

Tomorrow only the plants will be out - so if you are interested in something else that I've listed here - please (if you choose to come) inquire.

Other than that, a You Tube video (sorry; about a year old) and a couple of pertinent links:

[ "National Partnership for Women & Families": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVkkPK0Kpgc ]

"National Partnership for Women and Families Because Actions Speak Louder Than Words":  http://www.nationalpartnership.org/site/PageServer

"Campaign for Better Care":  http://www.nationalpartnership.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cbc_index

Up to Date Note on UC Safety Net Issue... Important Link...

For some up-to-date information on the "Ulster County Safety Net" issue please visit the "Kingston Progressive" blog at:   http://kingstonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/05/ulster-county-safety-net.html

This is an issue that I think City of Kingston taxpayers and other legitimate residents should really stay on top of. 

Just an opinion.  Thank you Mike.  Great job as per usual : )

Skateboarding Bull Dog... You Tube Video

["YouTube - Skateboarding Dog"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQzUsTFqtW0&feature=fvw ]

Happy Mothers Day...

Stock Photo

Happy Mothers Day! 

Treat yourself good...

Forgets all the could haves

Would haves

And shoulds

"You don't have to be perfect

Just 'good enough'"...

As a wise woman once told me

When the waters were rough

Take time for you too

Because that is a need...

Mothers are precious

Just like their seeds

And all will blossom

With enough love to go round

Just like fields of flowers

In the Spring.

NS

Informational Links and Activism Opportunities...

Photo by BF / Utilized with Permission

A number of interesting links that you may or may not know about:

"National Partnership For Women and Families 'Because Action Speaks Louder Than Words'":   http://www.nationalpartnership.org/site/PageServer [Activism Opportunity / Petition on Site]

"Health Reform One Month Later" - "Barack Obama's MySpace Blog":  http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=184040237&blogID=533960213

"Campaign for Better Care": https://secure2.convio.net/npwf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=389 [Activism Opportunity / Petition on Site]

"Take Action Support Faster FOIA":  http://ga3.org/campaign/fasterfoia_wyr?rk=JpvrTUEaOb3FE
[Activism Opportunity / Petition on Site]

"StopFraud.gov - Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force": 
http://www.stopfraud.gov/index.html

City of Kingston Common Council Meeting... "Summer Sizzler" V Security Cameras...

I attended the City of Kingston Common Council meeting tonight - and may do a brief report on this tomorrow- particularly regarding a letter my husband wrote (my rendition did not do it justice) in support of (as brought up by Alderman Shirley Whitlock) funding the "Summer Sizzler" (youth basketball program) v. utilizing more cameras in crime prevention efforts.

I do not necessarily support either of the above - as what I would really like to see in the City of Kingston are more undercover operations, foot patrols and bike patrols - along with the multitude of things of I have stated elsewhere on this blog...

Whatever the case, the Council voted not to amend - or attempt to amend the way these particular grant monies are to be utilized - and a suggestion (made by Alderman Ron Polacco) that $5,000 be transferred from the money the Barvadon / UPAC is to receive was shot down due to the grant's categorical restrictions.

"Victory... Criminal Investigation of Goldman Sachs..." You Tube Video

["YouTube - VICTORY! Criminal investigation of Goldman Sachs!"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRPLv7rxZnk ]

Moms Rising Video and Link - Thank You to Whoever Submitted My Name

A really cool video [follow the link] I received -  http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/?nid=tpy9aWK3Lz4PTnRj5hbijDY5MjY4NzU-&first=Nancy&last=Smith - which was probably submitted by MomsRising.org - a really cool activist organization that I belong to.

Check them out at -  "Moms Rising Breadmakers and Breadwinners Mom's a Star" - http://www.momsrising.org/  - and I think you can send a similar video (for Mother's Day) off (yes, I know it is a spoof!) to your "favorite" mom (s).

Thank you to whoever submitted my name and email address.
Equal rights.  Equal pay.  Respect.  Safety on the Streets.  Safety for our children and grandchildren.  These are all big issues!  And this is a great way [We have some major role models in this video!] to spread the word about MomsRising.org!

Opinion Piece - YMCA Park - Elizabeth Manor - Safety and Human Dignity - Problem Solving

Photo by BF / Utilized with Permission

There were more problems (a fight amongst a number of youths) near the YMCA park today - as was noted (with opinions presented) on the Ward 5 "Kingston Citizens" group --- and on the Kingston Neighborhood Watch "ClickFix" --- both of which (There are direct links to these organizations in the sidebar >>>) are wonderful tools for citizen awareness, communication and activism.

There are also more comments up on "ClickFix" about the situation (as reported) at Elizabeth Manor - which is relavent not only to Elizabeth Manor - but to other such "boarding houses".

A citizen is responsible for their property.

A parent is responsible (to a certain age) for their youth.

A not-for-profit and/or privately owned organization would logically (No?) be responsible for their property and what goes on (at the very least, in regard to children and youth that are not in the company of parents or caretakers...) on their property.

A landlord, though not to the same extent, is responsible (at least after strikes one, two and three..., one would think...) for their tenants.

If a youth is out of line, at home, in the neighborhood, at school, etc. - all sorts of interventions - from pins petitions to arrests - to the youth being sent to a youth facility - occur; sometimes inclusive of the arrest of enabling, neglectful and/or abusive parents...

Do we demand less around here from professionals?

From those who provide youth services, room and board to the needy, etc.?

It is not in anyone's best interest - not (as applies) the youths; not the residents; not the landlords; not the facility owners, operators or workers; not the neighbors; not nearby schoolyards and children; and certainly not the City of Kingston (as a whole) - to allow the situation at the YMCA and/or at Elizabeth Manor to continue "as is" [and as it has reputedly been for a long time.]

A lot of the problems with these sorts of places - locally - appears to be lack of professional oversight.

If youth are gathering on "private" (but "not for profit"?) property - one would think providing (via the facility) adult supervision would be a logical (for the youth's sake and the organizations sake) preventative and proactive stance.  [BTW, do truancy officers check out these parks?]

And - in regard to rooming houses and such?

Mentally ill chemically addicted (MICA) clients need to be (and deserve to be, for their own safety and chances for recovery...) placed in the appropriate setting.

Active alcoholics and addicts (at least those receiving Social Service money) should be required to go for treatment - housed apart from MICA clients and housed apart from those that have acquired a clean and sober history.

Newly recovering alcoholics and addicts need and deserve a sober [with professional oversight] housing environment.

And those with criminal histories "should" be receiving regular visits from (as applicable) their probation and/or parole agents on a regular basis, attending whatever programs they need, etc.

What is so difficult to understand about all of that? 

Did you ever see the show called (I think it was on "Saturday Night Live") "lowered expectations?"

This is about safety (for everyone concerned) --- and human dignity.

Why not do what needs (Why do we simply go 'round and 'round and 'round on the same issues?) to be done?

"Unmask the Fed" - Link - Petition

Photo by BF / Utilized with Permission

I found a whole nest of spiders today... 

Nasty.

Then I came across this, and found it pretty interesting:

"Unmask The Fed" -

Check out the following site  - and if you are so inclined - please sign the petition. 

http://salsa.mydccc.org/o/30019/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=26