the list of now

This is a giant “wtf?” piece of news.

Who is Shirley Nagel, you may ask?  Yeah, I didn’t know either until I heard her name on TV a few minutes ago.  She’s the woman in Grosse Pointe, MI who denied candy to children of Obama-supporting parents.  No joke.

Fox 2 News says a sign posted outside Nagel’s house, about 12 miles west of Detroit, served notice to all trick-or-treaters. It read: “No handouts for Obama supporters, liars, tricksters or kids of supporters.”

Nagel tells WJBK-TV that “Obama’s scary.” When asked about children who’d been turned away empty-handed and crying, she said: “Oh well. Everybody has a choice.”

There’s a video here on the local fox news channel, where they interviewed parents who had been asked if they were voting for Obama, and then turned away with their children.

That’s some cold shit.  Politics are politics, it’s a nasty game.. but don’t f with Halloween for children.  Is nothing sacred?

Hey, fellow Rhode Islanders.  Just wanted to call your attention to something important!  At the Providence Daily Dose, they have a great post highlighting Question 2: the Open Space and Recreation Development Bond, on the ballot here in RI.   Here is an excerpt, but please go read the entire post for all the details:

The bond will set aside $2.5 million (over the next several years) to protect natural spaces, farms, and state parks from developers. For every $1 set aside by the state, RI will receive $3-$4 in matching funds from the federal gov’t, foundations, and people with enough $$ to make charitable contributions. The bond will generate $10 million to preserve Rhode Island’s environment. If you are a fan of local agriculture, this bond is critical to its survival.

Not only is this a smart investment for RI’s economy and ecology – I believe on a personal note that many people in RI choose to stay, return or make their lives here because of the amazing landscape of our state, with access to so many public parks, forests, lakes, ponds, beaches and coastline.  And also…

- Because this state is filled with so many small farms, rural and urban agricultural communities and we value access to local fresh food sources.   Right now I buy honey, vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk and a variety of other things grown or somehow processed or made within 30 miles of my home.  In a 15 minute drive from my house, I can go look at the cows grazing in a field that produce the milk I buy (available in my local supermarket, btw) or see firsthand, how the chickens are treated that provide the eggs I buy.  I do not want to lose this.

- Because it’s still possible to find a great house in the woods or near the beach close to little main streets and small town centers – and – to still be a reasonable drive from urban centers like Providence and not far from Boston, without needing to live in an entirely paved and commercialized suburbia.

- (personally) Because moving back to RI has reminded me how to love playing outside again.   I am becoming a more outdoorsy person here, more than I’ve been in years.  I go walk by the ocean about once a week.  I go hiking here.   And canoeing.   I will probably do more of these kinds of things, as I get healthier and discover more and more beautiful places to go explore.   I recognize that it is partially the place I am in my life, but it is also certainly inspired by living here and the accessibility of beautiful natural spaces!

If any of those things are lost because we fail to protect the land here, my chosen way of life in RI would drastically change.

If you live in RI, please read up on this important bond and spread the word for tomorrow.

Just for positive visualization sake, keep looking at this:

This cover came out during  the primaries.  I put this cover on my fridge months ago, so I could look at it every day.   Looking at it makes me smile and helps me to imagine that it is possible  (really truly going to happen tomorrow if we all get out and vote!)

Just in case you aren’t sure where your polling place is or need any further info about voting in your state, here is a handy Google Elections page to help you find it.  Thanks Google!

Because we are ONE day away from the most important election of our lifetime (potentially) and because I’m as much a musical theatre nerd as I am a political wonk… I give you:

Les Misbarack

(I seriously love people who take the time to do something like this!)

Note: Just wanted to clarify that I have nothing to do with this amazing video.  All of the props go to the folks at Ultimate Improv.  I just happened to be lucky enough to find it on youtube via a bunch of random links and I felt the need to share it immediately!

You know I love organizing information.  Graphs, charts, mapping ideas, diagrams and of course -lists- all make me very happy.    I am endlessly delighted and inspired when I come across other nerdy people who create clever visual ways of organizing information.

Haven’t you also noticed that almost all jokes are funnier visual?  Check this:

Love it.

Created by Aden Nak.  I saw it on his blog at Daily Kos.

And now I just need to decide if I want a mug or refrigerator magnet.

h/t to Ben Doherty’s gmail status today, where I first saw the link.  Even though I doubt he reads my blog.  (Credit everywhere it’s due, yo.)