Palin doesn't believe in abortion....not even in cases of rape or incest, and I'm assuming she doesn't care for the health of a woman. As someone who cannot have children, and who is at huge risk for ectopic pregnancies, I find this not only outrageous, but frightening. My anger has reached a boiling point, and what's worse, when you turn on corporate media, all that shows are these despicable polls showing how this country is actually divided virtually in half between the two candidates......I mean no offense to anyone voting for McCain, however I find his policies to be absolutely ludicrous and Palin's ideology hateful and sick.......I'm open for debate though....

In other news, I will be postponing my shoot scheduled in September to either November or later....My father's dedication is scheduled for September 21st. I was attempting to get it changed to October 26 (the actual one year anniversary of his death), but to no avail. My sister is the executor and refuses to call me back....I'm seriously heartbroken over her antics.....His funeral was bad enough, with her poem "How do we forgive our fathers" being read.....you could hear my relatives sucking in their breath as my mother grabbed my hand and squeezed. (She's my half sister, same dad, different mom). In any case, I'm kind of scatter brained right now just dealing with everything. For those of you unfamiliar with Jewish practices for death, the dedication is held anytime between 6 months and 1 year (most a year) where the headstone is placed on the grave.....I'm still stuck in the anger stage of death, though I'll be reading Thich Naht Hanh to help me until I can find a good grief counselor......

Also, my boyfriend just received 45 days extra duty prior to some surgery that will leave him pretty much home bound for the 30 days after......*sighs* He's an amazing man to put up with me lately....I love him more than words can say...(sorry to be so sappy)

In any case, I'm trying to stay positive, and I appreciate all the incredible feedback I've been receiving for my blog and my set. Please feel free to leave more feedback, love, disagreements, or what have you on the blog, and if you want to see me live, just keep the love going on the set!

Much love peace, and hugs,
Edan

A question:

I'm up early this morning. *Sighs* Haven't been able to sleep very much this week, however it's proved to be quite industrious and I'm working on getting everything squared away for January. In any case, as I sit, jaw clenched, fists tight, watching the RNC on CNN (which is pretty much another version of faux news these days), I watch a clip of the VP pick and my jaw drops. As revealed by Huffington Post Sarah Palin feels that her policies are "shaped by G-d"-----wait, this just in, N. Korea "says it's rebuilding nuke facility because it's still on U.S. Terror List.....Oy.....

Oh yes, where was I.....ok, so her policies are shaped by G-d. She specifically mentioned the troop increase and said that it was basically a mission of G-d to send more American troops into harms way. When other Republicans were confronted with this statement, they appeared flustered and stammered an answer.
Look, I'm all for the belief in G-d, but lets be real here. WE'RE NOT ALL EVANGELICALS and most people know that G-d or Allah or whatever higher power you believe in is NOT a fiery dictator that wants to kill people to benefit the economy or promote capitalism. It is so disgusting to think that all of these deaths, both on the American and Iraqi side would be a result of G-d's will or G-d's mission. She is seriously warped and if you check out other articles on the Huffington Post, she's also a complete ass with no foreign policy experience and an inability to even remain in a basic mayoral position........

I'm Jewish, so I find many of the issues such as abortion and school prayer or what have you to be incredibly ridiculous. WE'RE NOT ALL CHRISTIAN. Why can't these fuckers understand that it's about CHOICE and FREEDOM, remember? What this fucking fascist country was once founded on.....shit.....

And in terms of abortion....IT'S A WOMAN'S CHOICE! This is a very delicate issue that cannot be legislated. How dare these psychos think that they have the right (most of them without the necessary parts) to legislate and dictate what happens in a woman's fucking body. A woman's body cannot be governed for fuck's sake. Sorry for the lack of eloquence this morning, but it pisses me off....

I'm going to have hope, but these days, it's looking pretty grim....

Anyway, let me know your thoughts......



Also, I just want to say congrats to all the recent hopefuls that went live! You're all gorgeous and have amazing sets!!!

heehee, and feel free to leave love on my set too....(maybe SG will make the politics live one day)

love and peace,
edan

In a follow up to yesterday's blog about Amy Goodman, I have posted her interview with two of her producers, and some other folks......it's very interesting, frightening, and also eye-opening. First the repeal of habeas corpus and now a complete rejection of free media.....


Amy Goodman interview

In other news, I'm sure you've all heard the speculation of the Palin coverup, i.e., the "down syndrome child" born to her was actually her daughters, thus making this her daughter's second illegitimate pregnancy....sheesh, hasn't anyone ever heard of adoption or abortion? This girl is like the next Brittany Spears with a plastic mother to match.....

What the fuck is our country coming to when a former beauty queen with no brains, a plastic body, and zilch for foreign policy experience is placed in front of our faces and we're supposed to sigh with relief because she's a woman? What the hell is wrong with the fucking country?????/ AAAAHHHHH!!!!!

Well, it happened. Many of us suspected that despite our "freedom of the press", many journalists would face unlawful scrutiny and harsh treatment for simply doing their job: reporting. This morning/afternoon, as many were protesting the upcoming events of the RNC (though many were canceled due to the fact that the republicans wished to appear concerned with the hurricane), one of my favorite journalists and heroes, Amy Goodman (along with two of her producers) were arrested on "suspicion of rioting". After calling the jail to demand her release (as indicated in the article), I was promptly hung up on after being interrupted and told "she's been released"......check it out, folks

Amy Goodman Arrest

Where have our rights gone?????

Today's blog is in reference to a stunning, yet obvious description of the length of time prior to withdrawal from Iraq as well as the secret demands the US is making on the puppet Iraqi government. I urge all of you to check this out and let me know what you think! In addition, don't forget to register to vote.

Bush's Iraq

Much love to all,
edan

So it looks like I'll be shooting another set at the end of September!!! I'm so excited!

In any case, I've come to several conclusions throughout the last few days, one of which is that I need to do what feels best, so come January, I'll be headed to California! It was up in the air for a while, but the deed is done so I need to secure graduate housing, or start looking into some cheap spots! Yay graduate school!!!

Ok, enough about that!

There is something I need to discuss...

On October 26, 2007, I lost my father to his seemingly never ending battle with multiple sclerosis. He was 69 years old, just about two months shy of his 70 birthday. Since that day, I have had a my own personal battle with grief. It seems that it comes in violent waves, crashing over me and suffocating me without warning. I'll hear a certain song or smell something. When he passed, I received the information via voicemail from my sister. What a way to find out, right? I was alone in my apartment screaming my head off. But after that, I couldn't cry---not until his wooden coffin was being lowered into the ground. I received his flag, which I keep on my dresser, along with his pictures and yartzeit candle. Every day, I feel like the grief becomes heavier, as though it's pressing down on my bones and forcing its way into my lungs. I have to breathe it, to feel it, but some part of me isn't allowing this. On top of that my misplaced grief turns into anger...towards so many things....it's so displaced and confusing. I'm not certain what happens. I know the grief is there and I know I miss my father more than I can even express, and suddenly, everything blacks out....then I'm angry....I hate the way I feel sometimes and I just want to bring him back to say goodbye. I was in New Mexico and he was in Chicago when it happened. I hadn't seen him for several months and we had barely been speaking.....without going into the long history or getting any more emotional, I suppose I'll just say that I hate when I can't understand something......let me rephrase that....I understand the grief, I just have no way of dealing with it.....it's so simple, yet so complex......I love learning new concepts and applying them, I love helping others and I love the study of emotion....I've lost people before and I know it's supposed to be hard, but what the hell is wrong with me?

Today I'd like to discuss something that is plaguing American women in increased numbers. I'm talking about the obsession with perfection and the quest for unattainable beauty standards. As someone who has struggled for some time with eating issues and is currently noticing the massive increase in diseases such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia, I feel that this is something that must be addressed. A website as subversive as SG is the perfect forum, and I encourage all of you to leave your thoughts, experiences, and ideas. The following article was linked to truthout.

BeautyObsession



I wonder how, so many compassionate folks can remain apathetic as women tread heavily, sunken eyes and dry skin, their brittle bones scraping against one another, barely breathing, all headed toward an inevitable death because they don't fit some absolutely ludicrous notion of beauty that has simply been socially constructed and forced down the throats of so many young women with already low self-esteem. This isn't just a complex that plagues women, however. Men feel the same societal pressure, that often goes widely ignored based on a lack of understanding, education, or simply the elimination of the possibility that men face the same types of sexist oppression and ideals. Why is it that we focus so much on appearance? Who defines beauty and why are we told that, unless we look like certain airbrushed images, we will not be as successful? This is being fed to young girls and young boys, along with the overly emphasized gender constructions. Women are going to great lengths to achieve this notion of "perfection" while men continue chowing down on supplements and hitting the gym, going to dangerous edges in order to get that "6 pack" or whatever else Calvin Klein or some other top designer thinks is "hot". Many women feel it's more important to achieve ultimate thinness or plastic surgery to be beautiful instead of focusing on intellect or creativity. Men are beginning to feel the same way. Ok, so I've blabbed enough. I plan on contacting the local YWCA to see if I can volunteer to help with this. Eventually, upon my own recovery, I hope to help those faced with similar eating issues. So now I want to know....what do you think??

So I put up another album, rather cheeky

Let me know what you think and keep showing the love on the hopeful set!

Ok, enough of that, now let's get down to politics.........
I'm sure that many of you have heard about the Clinton Camp that simply refuses to give up. Their solution is to draft anti-Obama websites as a means of protesting his nomination. Rather than to vote for the only hope against another four years of blatant fascism (yes, I know I overuse that word lol), they'll simply VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN?!!!!! What the fuck? seriously, some of the women don't even realize how anti-choice McCain is and rather than protect what little equity and reproductive freedom we have left, these folks would rather pout, stomp their feet, redden their tear streaked faces and check that slimy box next to four more years of dehumanization, torture, war, poverty, the destruction of health care and education, shit, the list goes on.....Could someone politely tell these assholes to get together, drink the Koolaid and be done with it? For flying fucks' sake, Clinton has openly endorsed Obama and seeks to have a Democrat in office.....
*sighs* Christ, America looks mighty foolish....

Pardon my lack of eloquence once again....I'm just angry...

Also, any of you out there who would like to share any tidbits about good grad schools for both secondary ed and international politics and development, let me know!

I'm up quite early this morning. I woke up naked, shivering, realizing that I had foolishly turned on my ceiling fan in the middle of the night. I hate going from scalding hot to freezing. Eh, what can you do, it's Texas!
I turned on the television to none other but the corporate run CNN. Rather than discuss the actual events of the world, i.e., the genocide occurring worldwide, the hypocrisy of our own fascist government, and the deaths occurring in Iraq, both civilian and military, they're sitting in a round circle discussion analyzing the different events of the DNC. The only remotely interesting discussion was concerning the new Madonna video that criticizes McCain and links him to other fascists such as Hitler. What is most laughable is that the media is criticizing Madonna for expressing freedom of speech and the Republicans are linking her to Barack Obama. This is ridiculous---all of it. Madonna is using her star power as a way to reach others by criticizing our current government, providing a creative look at what our current population largely ignored. Obama cannot control who supports him, nor is he responsible for a recording artist expressing her beliefs. The more the media becomes slanted in its approach, the more I lose hope.....

Well, enough of that...I've decided to include some alternative media once again:

DemocracyNow!

Check out the headlines!!!

I am disgusted. Disgusted, my friends and fellow hopefuls and SGs....disgusted at the level of complete and total hypocrisy and fascism that has engulfed our society and country and even our world. Where does it stop? When does the violence diminish and when does the peace re-emerge? Where are those that want to fight for HUMANITY? How are we so desensitized to violence, genocide and hatred? Fuck!

There are 118,000 people displaced by the Russia/Georgian conflict, there are soldiers in the United States on trial for torturing innocent Iraqis, there are children in Palestine that have no food, running water, or access to education, there are children in this country with the same issues.....I could go on and on, but I want to include the following pieces of information and urge you all to not only write your Congress folk, but also write publicly, speak out, engage in debate. This is no longer a "partisan issues," rather an issue of human rights, reaching across differences and uniting on a desire for change, equity, and freedom (and not the kind that includes ballistic missiles). Sorry to vent, but I'm sickened, watching this biased debate of McCain and Obama, which isn't even a debate...it's in a fucking church in the area of McCain's origin. Fuck! We're not all Christian! I am Jewish and I can say on behalf of my brothers and sisters of "other" faiths, that this is sick. Our founding fathers were NOT hell bent on establishing a country infused with religious ideology and evangelical sentiments. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck....

Ok, I'll stop and I'll just ask you to read the following:

for all the ladies....
as sent to me by my mother via moveon.org
Hi everybody,


I had to share something with you. Can you imagine living in a place where

birth control is considered an "abortion" and health insurers won't cover

it? Where even rape victims are denied emergency contraception?


It seems unbelievable, but the Bush Administration is quietly trying to

redefine "abortion" to include birth control. The Houston Chronicle says

this could wipe out dozens of state laws that protect women's reproductive

freedom and protect rape victims. And this proposed "rule change" doesn't

need congressional approval.


I just signed a message to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike

Leavitt, whose department is considering this rule change, telling him:

"Contraception is NOT abortion." Can you add your voice to this cause?

Click here to sign the message:

http://pol.moveon.org/contraception/?r_by=-3111696-YeR34qx&rc=mailto


Thanks!



www.democracynow.org/2008/8/15/headlines


19 Killed in Iraq Double Suicide Bombing

In Iraq, at least nineteen people have been killed and seventy-five wounded in a double suicide bombing south of Baghdad. Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up amid a crowd of Shiite pilgrims.
US Sailors Charged for Prisoner Abuse at Iraq Jail

Six US sailors working as guards at the largest US-run jail in Iraq have been charged with abusing prisoners. Eight prisoners were allegedly locked into a cell filled with pepper spray at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq. Two of the prisoners were allegedly physically abused. The sailors are charged with assault and will face military courts-martial within the next month.
US, Poland Sign Ballistic Missile Deal

Poland has agreed to a preliminary deal to host part of a US ballistic missile system. Poland would host ten ballistic missiles along with a radar site in the Czech Republic. Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security John Rood praised the deal.

John Rood: "This has been a negotiation between close allies and friends, and while there have naturally been ups and downs throughout that entire process, I've been gratified that we have_both delegations, that is to say, have_approached this in the spirit of trying to do something that was important for both countries' securities and as allies and friends."

The Bush administration says the missile system would protect Europe from Iranian missiles, but it's widely seen as a first-strike threat against Iran. The deal awaits a vote from the Polish parliament. Polls show majorities in both Poland and the Czech Republic are against hosting the US ballistic missile program.
Fears Grow of Georgia Humanitarian Crisis

Russia has vocally opposed the ballistic missile plans, calling it a threat to its security. The deal comes amidst heightening US-Russia tensions over the week-long Russian military assault on Georgia. Russia has responded with crushing force after Georgia sought to retake the breakaway province of South Ossetia through military attack. On Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Russian offensive threatens relations with the United States.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates: "What happens in the days and months to come will determine the future course of US-Russian relations. But by the same token, my personal view is that there need to be some consequences for the actions that Russia has taken against a sovereign state."

Both Russian and Georgian forces have been accused of indiscriminate killing and injuring of civilians over the past week of fighting. Fears of a humanitarian crisis in Georgia are growing. In a statement, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "extremely concerned" over the displacement of some 100,000 people and the lack of access for aid workers. Meanwhile, the US-backed Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, continues to accuse Russia of ethnic cleansing.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili: "I accuse the government of Russia of deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing, and I can prove it with international organizations already bringing testimony to what I'm saying. And we've received 1,400 reports of brutal attacks, slaughters, rapes and internment of people in violation of rules of Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law."

Musharraf Resignation Rumored Imminent

In Pakistan, there are reports Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf could be stepping down within days. Rumors have swirled around Musharraf's expected departure after Pakistan's ruling political coalition announced plans to impeach him last week.
Exoneration of Israeli Troops in Fatal Shootings Raises Fears of Further Attacks

In Israel and the Occupied Territories, Palestinian journalists and Israeli human rights groups are joining to condemn an Israeli decision not to prosecute soldiers involved in the death of Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana and eight Palestinian youths. The twenty-four-year-old Shana died on April 16th in Gaza when an Israeli tank shelled his vehicle clearly marked "press." Shana's final piece of footage shows the tank firing a shell just before the camera went black. The other eight victims were aged between twelve and twenty years old. Reuters correspondent Nidal al-Mughrabi said the decision is being feared as an endorsement of future attacks.

Nidal al-Mughrabi: "The Israeli report on the killing of Fadel has grown fears among Palestinian journalists covering the conflict with Israel in the Gaza…between the Palestinians and the Israelis in the Gaza Strip, about the mission, you know, the mission to cover and to film. And we have been hearing from all other colleagues that they are not certain, they are not sure, about their lives anymore after such a report, which makes clear that the mere raising of a camera in the street, in a refugee camp or near the border can put someone's life in danger."

Meanwhile, in Israel, Jessica Montell, director of the Israeli human rights group B'tselem, said Israel had used illegal weapons in the attack.

Jessica Montell: "In this incident on April 16th, six civilians were killed by flechette darts, a weapon that is illegal, that should not be being used in these conditions in the Gaza Strip, and one of the six was a journalist. For all of these reasons, I would have expected the army to have opened and conducted a very thorough investigation into this case, and they chose not to do so. The lack of accountability in this case is reflected in the lack of accountability for thousands of Palestinians who have been killed in the
Occupied Territories."

Protesters Injured in West Bank Demonstration

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, at least eleven protesters were injured when Israeli troops fired rubber bullets at a group protesting the separation wall in the village of Nilin. Nilin has been the site of a weekly nonviolent protests and the site of three fatal shootings of Palestinian civilians over the past two months.
IRC Suspends Aid Work in Afghanistan Following Killings

In Afghanistan, the International Rescue Committee has suspended humanitarian aid operations following the killings of three female aid workers in an ambush earlier this week. The workers were traveling to Kabul when their vehicle came under fire. British national Dr. Jacqueline Kirk was forty years old. Nicole Dial of Trinidad and Tobago was thirty years old. The identity of the third victim, a Canadian woman, has been withheld at her family's request.
British Journalist Arrested in Beijing

In China, a British journalist has been released following his arrest for covering a Tibetan protest in Beijing. John Ray of London-based ITV News was swept up Wednesday as he rushed to cover the unfurling of a "Free Tibet" flag near the Olympic Stadium.
US Troop Donations Favor Obama over McCain

In campaign news, a new analysis shows a large majority of US troops abroad are donating to presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama over Republican rival John McCain. The Center for Responsive Politics says among US servicemembers, Obama has out-raised McCain by a nearly six-to-one margin. The ratio marks a stark reversal from the last two presidential elections, where President Bush out-raised both Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004.
Jackson Browne Sues McCain for Campaign Ad

In other news, the musician Jackson Browne is suing Senator McCain for using one of his songs in a campaign aid. A McCain ad criticizing Obama uses Browne's 1977 song "Running on Empty." Browne is well known for his support of progressive causes. He is suing McCain for copyright infringement.
Nader to Hold "Super Rallies" at DNC, RNC

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader has announced plans to hold Super Rallies during both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Nader says the rallies will focus on corporate control over US politics and opening up the presidential debates.
La. Officer Indicted in Tasing Death

And in Louisiana, a white police officer has been indicted for the tasing death of a young African American man in the town of Winnfield. Baron Pikes died on January 17 from electrocution after the police officer, Scott Nugent, shot him nine times with a taser. Pikes was already in handcuffs at the time. Last month, his death was ruled a homicide. Pikes was the first cousin of Mychal Bell, the lead defendant in the Jena Six case. Nugent could face up to forty-five years in prison.