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  • #451
    Parkas4Kids
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    RE: Red States to make elderly Deadheads give up Driver's Licens
    Anna, please tell me this is a joke. Do you have a link to an article or something I can read regarding this nonsense?
  • #452
    Anna rRxia
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    G-8 In Ireland Begins Today
    With a speech by Obama to the largely unemployed youth of Ireland and Europe saying "We in America had a different approach to austerity that has not involved so much suffering for the working and middle class. It is laughable. The American view is always short term. If we bail out investment banks and every company "too big to fail" while printing vast quantities of paper money that other countries continue to believe has worth and concentrate that useless paper in the hands of corporate treasuries they will indeed continue to grow jobs as long as the huge pile of surplus cash is spent slowly and wisely enough not to create inflation and bring in reasonable profits, quarter to quarter, as far as the eye can see (and the dollar and bond market remain afloat. Give the money to the rich elites. They know what to do with it. Until they don't. And what we could have done? Well, let's not talk about infrastructure and arts and social programs and health care and the environment. They aren't important. Fracturing and raping the Earth to employ the American working class outweighs all else. Immigration reform? NSA omni-surveillance? Please, don't bother me. I have to check the box to put 10% of my paycheck into a 401k from which I'll draw a .05% profit from, after the tax break and company match. Medicare? A fading memory after Obama gives tax dollars to health care corporations. So listen up 56% of unemplyed youth in Europe, WE'VE got it fright! I mean right! Err - ughh, we see the light!
  • #453
    Anna rRxia
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    Red States to make elderly Deadheads give up Driver's Licenses
    In states where registered Republicans outweigh registered Democrats and Independents, the industrialist group ALEC and LE are sponsoring and supporting laws to force those identified as "deadheads" to giver up their driver's licenses at age 65, despite meeting all other legal criteria. Citing such facts as their former and current self-admitted use of psychotropic drugs; their ticket purchases to any Grateful Dead related events; purchase and trading of Grateful Dead music; past criminal history for use and possession of psychedelic drugs, even within the Native American Church, and trolling for like information on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, ALEC has asserted that there is enough research to prove that "flashbacks" and current use of psychotropic drugs by this category of people creates a risk magnitudes of order higher regarding the incidence of serious road accidents than those who simply use all the current devices available as options in the most expensive latest model of car (including voice activated phone and internet) such as GPS and texting, to name just a few. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is quoted as saying that "It is time to round up all the known and suspected deadheads as menaces to the public safety by their current and past drug use. We don't need to know anything more than how Art Linkletter's daughter died or Leary's last request for 500 super-humans to take off from Earth in a spaceship to star-seed the universe to know what a public safety risk we are facing from this segment of the population now turning 65. If they don't voluntarily give up their privilege to drive it is time to take it from them and lock them up! Although it is expected that the ACLU will take up the deadheads cause there will be little opposition to the laws in red state legislatures or, ultimately, the Supreme Court. These assemblies expect their LE to make wide-ranging requests for information from the Utah Data Center that will lead to arrests using tag-data scanning software programs loaded into LE car computers when Grateful Dead related events come to towns in their states as well as confiscation of vehicles belonging to this class of drivers. An ALEC spokesperson smiled as he said his group could use the funding wisely to expand it's outreach to other areas of drug-induced music. Grateful Dead spokespersons were not immediately available for comment as they were out "clubbing" for the night.
  • #454
    Anna rRxia
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    Red Line in Syria Officially Crossed!
    The Obama Administration today announced it has concluded that Syria is using chemical weapons. The next logical step is arming moderates fighting Assad. The following logical steps involve a lot of people being killed... McCain is going to take the karma for this one. How do people, like him, angrily accept responsibility for leading the charge? I guess, for McCain, it's easy after he tells a mother whose child has died of gun violence that there will be no ban on assault weapons - not in His Senate, not on His watch! Brutal, just brutal.
  • #455
    marye
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    dance for disarmament...
    still got the t-shirt, though it's pretty threadbare...
  • #456
    Parkas4Kids
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    RE: Have you tried speaking with your Senator's office lately?
    Anna, I think the majority of America has absolutely no idea what their Senators--much less their Congress(wo)men--do or what power they have. After the last twelve years, they appear to be under the assumption that all decisions lie in the lap of the President. The Senators and Congress(wo)men merely comment as to whether or not they like the ideas. I want to smash my head through a stack of bricks whenever I hear people complaining about the state of the nation and blaming it all on Obama when he's just one part of the trifecta. Chances are it's their other elected officials that are to blame, but they're too stupid to make the connection. I mean, what happened to the generation who actually paid attention to what was happening in this country? The bra-burners and the proud hippies who stood out in the streets to fight for the rights of others? This country has become a Shakespearean comedy; those who pounded their chests and said, "I will not become a sheep like my parents' generation!" have gone and done just that.
  • #457
    Anna rRxia
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    Have you tried speaking with your Senator's office lately?
    They will tell you whatever you want to hear, except for the reality of how they voted. They'll have a reason why "the senator backed your position but all his amendments were shot down". Most of the time young staffers are reading from scripts. It is so obvious. This is especially true for written responses. It makes them look like complete idiots but most people don't care. They don't even know they are being hoodwinked. They really believe that the Senator backs their opinion and blithely vote for that same person again in the next election. Senators do many other things for their constituents besides legislate. They help with all manner of bureaucratic drivel having to do with the Federal Government from war veteran claims to appointments to the military academies and everything in between. But then they go so far as to say "Our office deals with many matters pertaining to the Federal government and your relationship to it. Please don't ask us to intervene in anything having to do with the matters of the state (we all reside in)." In other words, go deal with another nightmare bureaucracy at the state capital. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont recently got burned badly when people in town hall meetings started to vote against power producing windmills for various reasons. He rushed out a statement saying it was "very important that Vermonters support wind power generation stations to pave the way for more production of that same kind and legislation he was backing had to have the support of his home state. Many, many Vermonters responded to him in kind -- "Sorry Bernie, you have nothing to do with the state of Vermont. You just stay down there in Washington and help us with the Federal matters and we'll take care of ourselves, thank you very much." (Ouch! Burn!) All of the preceding was to say that I called Senator Pat Leahy's office in Burlington yesterday (Senator Leahy is the only Senator Deadhead in Congress and big on civil liberties). I asked that if prosecution of Ed Snowden is forthcoming from the Feds for him to ask Obama to pardon Snowden. The young staffer said that, yes indeed, many people were messaging Leahy's office with the same sentiment. I got the very distinct impression that if I had said "We need to hang Snowden as a traitor and make an example of him the staffer would have replied in the same vein -- Yes indeed, many people were messaging the Senator with that same sentiment and he supported the immediate funding of building a gallows for that very purpose. We live in a Republic, not a democracy. The Electoral College elects the president, though those 535 people are supposed to vote the public's will on the first ballot. All subsequent ballots are their prerogative. We put all our trust in these people to create legislation of the nature that the majority of us support. But when it comes to legislating funds for Federal programs like Prism or sweeping orders to tap all cell phones from the FISA Court, unless they sit on the Senate Intelligence Committee and are of the few select on that committee who receive regular briefings on the subject, they don't have a clue what is going or what they are voting for. By now we know that that the Patriot Act passed in the aftermath of 9/11 was anything but patriotic. It was more like the Tyranny Act pre-written by some committee that meets every year at Davos to decide what amount of freedom the serfs really have. I was disappointed to learn that Senator Deadhead (Leahy of VT), who originally sponsored sunset amendments for that Act, last December voted in favor of renewing the Patriot Act (and all his amendments were shot down). Well, I said to the young staffer from Leahy's office, it seems like the Senator has considerably weakened on his stances in favor of civil liberties. "Yes indeed!" he replied enthusiastically, forgetting momentarily which side of the argument I was on... Senator Deadhead's head is dead and the remaining appendages work with less and less grey matter every day. It's no wonder Jerry always said (paraphrasing) Politics is their bag man, not ours. Let them play their games. But, uhh, Jer? The stakes in the game are getting a lot higher these days.
  • #458
    Anna rRxia
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    No wonder the government
    Is collecting digital information from EVERYBODY. I don't know about the mid and big-sized cities where you live, but in the ones near me everybody is walking around glued to their smart phones and not speaking to one another. For a rube like me from a rural area it feels like being a stranger in a strange land. These poor people are giving up their social skills and ignoring beauty and miracles all around them and the government is gleefully shadowing and vacuuming up every digital crumb, including a map of where you've been all day and storing it in a mega-zeta-byte facility in Utah. Turn off your smartphone unless you need the damn thing! You're giving up your freedom for it, not to mention losing your humanity for it. Ask yourself, how far away are you from becoming a cyborg (and I don't mean owing to health conditions)? Most people are running from reality and a very few are seeking to merge with it. I'm starting to feel like Keenau Reeves in The Matrix.
  • #459
    Parkas4Kids
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    RE: poor Parkas, here's how it's gonna go down...
    ...They don't want to know my sperm count? T_T
  • #460
    marye
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    Barlow on Snowden
    The Stickers on Edward Snowden’s LaptopBy JOHN SCHWARTZ For online activists around the world, one thing stood out in a photograph published on Sunday by The Guardian: Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who leaked information about the scope of United States government surveillance, adorned his laptop with stickers showing support for the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Tor Project. John Perry Barlow, a founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, proudly drew attention on Twitter to the Guardian image of Mr. Snowden’s laptop. (full story at above link)
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Submitted by marye on
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News and Talk
What's happening out in the world? Did it matter, does it now?
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Submitted by wilfredtjones on Sun, 02/01/2015 - 15:24

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For the majority of us, the recent let-up in prices at the pump have certainly helped ease the monthly budget. It cost me $20 to fill up yesterday. I remember talking to someone last year, and he told me that he hasn't filled his tank in years. Of course, his workhorse is a diesel and diesel hasn't been impacted as much as gasoline with the recent lowering in oil prices. For those of us that like to delve deeper into the economics, it's interesting to observe the way the Saudis are increasing output, and keeping it high, in order to put the squeeze on newer technologies like shale drilling and the Canadian tar sands which require higher prices per bbl to be cost effective. The economics here are intriguing, and so far the consumer is coming out the winner. How long will this last?
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Submitted by PonchoBill on Sat, 04/11/2015 - 12:21

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What the Ottawa Senators/Andrew Hammond have been able to do in the last two months of the NHL season is nothing short of incredible. Five Canadian teams in this year. Let the real season begin.
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Submitted by C c on Sat, 04/18/2015 - 03:57

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Probably talking out of turn. And not in any loop at all so other than what the website shows not sure where the project is. But, if these really are the last shows. Hope they never stop. Shouldn't something be done for the furtherdowntheroad project to save and preserve the bus. If not only for Neal and Kesey but to preserve our history. A future with no bus to get on would stink. NFA
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Submitted by Gr8fulTed on Sun, 08/02/2015 - 12:40

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Rough day up in Toronto. Blue Jays are being a bit too hot-headed as KC comes back!
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Submitted by PonchoBill on Sun, 08/02/2015 - 14:02

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Sure I guess...but rightly so. Personally i blame the incompetent boob calling the plays at the plate. To give a warning in the first and than NOT back it up throughout the game was disgraceful. Then to throw out Sanchez on a 2/0 pitch for grazing the batters knee? Anyways...the good guys won. Hopefully they meet again in October.
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Submitted by Gr8fulTed on Wed, 08/05/2015 - 12:52

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I'm still befuddled that the Yankees are in first : Toronto with Price will be a real contender.
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Submitted by Gr8fulTed on Fri, 08/14/2015 - 07:17

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How was the event at the Giants game last night? I saw a video clip of Annabelle throwing a pitch and also singing with Bill Walton. Was the 8/13/75 40th celebration after the game at GAMH? List of musicians sure looked impressive. Sounds like a busy and hectic evening!
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Submitted by PonchoBill on Sat, 09/05/2015 - 08:26

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Gonna be a fun race to the finish between the Yanks and Jays. Both teams seem to be firing on all cylinders. Lets go Jays!!
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Submitted by PonchoBill on Fri, 09/18/2015 - 05:17

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Going to my first CRB show tonight in Buffalo. Its been a very long time since I've travelled a long distance to hear great music. Can't wait for this.
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Submitted by hockey_john on Sat, 09/19/2015 - 06:04

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I am a born and raised New England guy love my teams Red Sox don't do it for me this year though nor last for that matter. I am routing for the Mets which is rather unusual for me seeing as we are almost against teams from New York. There is something about the Mets magic this year though. Just my 2 cents worth
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Submitted by PonchoBill on Sun, 09/20/2015 - 10:00

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What a chill night that was. Great band, great crowd, great venue and no hassles at the border. Neal Casal took a photo of the crowd after the encore and posted it on their facebook page. Im the bald dude in front. I'll never forget it.
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Submitted by wilfredtjones on Fri, 10/02/2015 - 17:05

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Can we have a sports section for this paper?
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17 years 1 month

Submitted by marye on Sat, 10/03/2015 - 08:39

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one moment...
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17 years

Submitted by wilfredtjones on Sun, 02/14/2016 - 04:34

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Justice Scalia (RIP) anyone? It's a great time to be a political junkie. There is plenty of intrigue and subterfuge on the horizon to be sure...
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16 years 11 months

Submitted by mkav on Tue, 02/16/2016 - 16:33

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I can't imagine what Jason Callahan's family have been through in the last 20 years. I'm sure they "knew" but now they know precisely. That has to be a smidgen of comfort.
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9 years

Submitted by liketohike on Thu, 02/18/2016 - 09:14

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I'll bite... you wanna discuss politics let me know. The Universe said times up for Antonin...karma is comin' round for those in the political sphere...and the rest of us for sure. Sure to be a fight to the end on both sides... But please, for the love of all that's holy...NO President Trump!
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Submitted by wilfredtjones on Thu, 02/18/2016 - 09:43

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I don't see why we cannot discuss, it's free to live. Please, discuss away...I'll be happy to chime in! :-)
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Submitted by liketohike on Thu, 02/18/2016 - 10:00

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Well alrighty then...for now...Im just gonna say, GO BERNIE!!!
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Submitted by marye on Fri, 02/19/2016 - 08:27

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respect, civility, and recognition that a person of good will and intellect can look at the same thing you're looking at and come to a different conclusion--essential. Discuss on!
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Submitted by Stickers on Tue, 02/23/2016 - 11:42

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Attention all Dead Heads! We’re working on Vol 2 of an art history book focusing on the culture & history of STICKERS. Please let us know if you have, or know of any fan created Dead stickers! We would like to feature them alongside official stickers from the band throughout the years. If have anything at all, please contact us at whoMadeThatSticker@gmail.com Thank you!  Lauren 
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Submitted by wilfredtjones on Fri, 07/22/2016 - 03:59

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Or, is that an effin' toy truck in your hand!?! Quick, on your belly and do a crab walk! I said last week! wtf?
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Submitted by liketohike on Fri, 07/22/2016 - 07:10

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the best/worst part of the story is that when the victim asked the officer why he shot him, the officer replied "I dont know"...Houston we have a problem.
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Submitted by Parkas4Kids on Thu, 09/08/2016 - 09:45

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Any Deadheads in either North or South Dakota have any news about what's going on with the oil pipeline constructions going on in your neck of the woods? The only "news" coverage I've seen has been spread via Social Media, and it's being done by no one I know of that lives out that way. I live in Maryland and haven't heard a thing about it.
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Submitted by DeadAnt on Fri, 11/11/2016 - 07:34

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A contemplative Veterans day message: Speak with those who have survived to take down walls. Remember those who were lost during WW1, or in any battle, with admiration and thanks. Respect the freedoms that sacrifice brought us. And now some opinions about the election. I know I know, this is very touchy shit, but I feel the message is important. So, why not, on a website so deadicated to the crimson-white-indigo, express my opinions. I dont go many other places on the internet is my other excuse. Maybe ill post something similar on NPR... The media seem to be trolling for hate, like the fact Trump wins means we go back to a segregated America, back to hate. That we forget about science, and environmental facts. All of my neighbors feel the opposite of this perceived hate. The eldest, most conservative of them, notice the change in the environment. In-fact, no matter who voted for who, we mostly see eye-to-eye. And some neighbors I have not talked with in so long, which is the point, communication, which is why we are where we are, or where we could be going. Maybe this hate is mostly media influence? I can not say, but just in-case: I am a patriotic person, and I believe this incoming government change needs a chance to prove themselves, but hardly any plans they say they want to do are on my lists, except of course supporting our troops, especially if that means bringing them home, and making a strong economy. Although nothing we really need, including money, is shipped here from mars, food grows on trees, love grows in the heart. I do like the idea of infrastructure fixes, who does not like nice roads for trips, but not at the expense of quality of life for all, not at the expense of the Earth herself. Im pro-life, but even i cant find a fair way to force people...ok, ok, going to far, sorry. Very polarizing world. Debates everyone should have a voice in, people way smarter than myself. But then the weight falls on us all to seek the best path. I believe we cannot sit by and complain about what Trump does in office AFTER he does it. We have to be ready to stop actions we all know will not benefit a future and freedom. We cant live in a world that reacts more like a tv show, like we are in a zombie apocalypse, more then a world that reacts of kindness and logic. Even the idea of race-color-creed, is just fabricated to keep us distracted. There is only one race, the human race. Social-cultural-religious differences are a challenge to break through and communicate or commune with, no doubt, but not an excuse to look the other way or grow hate. Until you drag yourself out from the depths of oppression, and poverty, you never know how hard that is. Compassion. Empathy. We can never afford to be naive, but we can always start with the good. We can start with trust. I find it easy to define hate acts of any kind, neo-nazi=isis, and beyond extremes of that ilk, i think we should be able to find a way to coexist, and write those ways down for all to attempt. "Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity."- Some Hippie “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” – Thomas Jefferson Remember who the government work for, the people, and a million more of us voted against new walls. This is a minority-minded government with what seems like all the power. An unfortunate reminder that we cannot sit by and watch choices be made for us. We must be ready to peacefully enforce our true ideals as a country. True equality. To protect each and everyone of us who believes in peaceful existence. I believe we needed the election to go this way to shake us out of our comfort zone, from behind screens, from behind doors. Im not truly freaking out, I dont put all my hopes-wishes-fears on the shoulders of one person/president. My neighbors, my local government, thats where to really start. But the grand stage will need many players to pull off this show, to make sure the ending is good enough for us and our children's children. That means putting all of our best-feet forward and being proactive. Petitions, peaceful protests, fighting internal and external fear. We have enough to worry about with corporations, oligarchies around the world, Monsanto, natural resources. Now the things we have all been opposed to have all the friends, in all the highest positions? If ever we needed the spirit of the 60s, we need that spirit now. Get out and show your face somewhere, maybe somewhere that takes you out of your own comfort zone, but shows you are with peace. This new "Not My President," movement isnt exactly my cup-of-tea. I support whoever is our president, hard as it is, even Trump-the-pizza-commercial-reality tv star, but with watchful eyes, my voice at the ready, my boots tied tight. I am going to a gathering to show my face. I may have to watch someone burn a flag, not a fan, but i can express my distaste for the act and still be there in support of freedom, be there to show my face, to say, hey, we are all in this together. I can be there for Black Lives Matter, because if those lives matter all lives do. I can be there for the LGBT, even if i can not completely understand those lives. I can stand for women's rights. I can stand with any group who demand equal rights if their views include themselves and all others. I can walk to say no to pipelines for oil when we have the brains to invent new, better, ways. Walk against money ruling all. Walk for universal healthcare. And many many other reasons that promote individuality without destroying any one unique group. I dont have many answers, just know how I feel inside, I know how wonderful life can be, I am privileged to be an American, and don't see why everyone who wants too, cant have that feeling. I now, gladly, hop down from the soap-box. Cheers, heres to love winning. "If a reckoning comes maybe we'll know what to do then." -Words by John Barlow, sung by Brent Mydland
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Submitted by _ on Fri, 11/11/2016 - 08:22

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Amen brother.... give peace a chance....
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Submitted by DeadAnt on Fri, 11/18/2016 - 05:07

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So, my wife, a friend, and I, took to the streets in Philadelphia. Third night of protests. Some of the chants we skipped. Some we joined in on. The youth running things were fairly competent. They did a good job of getting rid of trouble makers. A lot of people spoke, some of them harder to listen to then others, but some really excellent young speakers mixed in. Completely peaceful interaction between the many many police officers and the crowd of about 300-400 people. A few police officers dressed all in black with red-arm bands did there best to intimidate, they didnt. Bicycles are a much better choice to follow the march then horses and hoses. Bicycles say, hey, we are here for the protestors and non-protestors. Traffic was briefly stopped, news crews blinded us with camera lights. People looked from the sidewalks, people stared motionless from windows. All in all this was a positive experience. I felt better just getting out there, showing the masses that we are watching, that we expect the best from the incoming administration, that we will be back if need be to petition those expectations. My protest offended a few friends and family members, I dont see it that way, but i try to be understanding. History tells me that we have to be ready, and getting out there is indeed the very thing democracy demands. America has been different for me after 9/11. People seem quieter, reserved. At shows, out on the streets. I think finding our voice is a good thing. That voice is almost a caricature of the sixties at-this-point. The shy sibling of the sixties trying to grow-up, and we will. We will get our protest-legs under us, peacefully, eventually, defiantly. Removing the media influence, being with a true mix of people on the train, through the protests, and back is a much better litmus for how America really is, who America really is, and that alone was helpful. We will get by, we will survive. Chin-up America.
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Submitted by dwlemen on Fri, 11/18/2016 - 08:03

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Hey, I am glad to hear that you are out there, and joined by at least a few hundred supporters. Numbers in Indiana were rather low, but that's not unexpected. You mentioned not having the voice of the 60's. I have been giving the 60's a lot of thought since this. Maybe I am being overly dramatic, but to me, this feels like the establishment's final push to undo the progresses that the 60's brought us. If I was to categorize the things the 60's brought forth, I would say: civil rights, women's rights, anti-war, and environmentalism. Since the 60's movement faded out, the right has been pushing towards reversing all of those things. With the new administration, further armed with congress and the Supreme Court, I fear a 4 years assault on all of that. I feel let down by the Democratic Party who chose to not listen to so many (on both sides) crying for a change in the normal political structure. I think HRC would have done a good job as President, but this was not the election for career politicians. We (progressives, lefties, hippies) need to rebuild the movement. Things are very much stacked against us. As much now as back in the day. We should have the numbers, but we need to organize, fight them as best we can these 2-4 years, and be prepared to do true political battle. Well, OK, I was going to just write a "good for you!" message but apparently I had more to get off my chest. Sorry for the soap box. Peace, -Dave
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Submitted by dwlemen on Sat, 11/26/2016 - 15:00

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Hello fellow hippies! I have a question... Where online are the best sites/blogs/reddits/etc. to read or subscribe to? I obviously am on here each day, but where else? I am looking for communities of like minded folks to hopefully join in with. Peace, -Dave