Check this out if you're concerned with the integrity of the election. When will Americans finally get fed up with the criminals stealing their constitutionally guaranteed votes?





http://www.stealingamericathemovie.org/vimeo.html

ROLLING STONE: IT'S ALREADY STOLEN

Investigation by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Greg Palast released today

Don’t worry about Mickey Mouse or ACORN stealing the election. According to an investigative report out today in Rolling Stone magazine, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Greg Palast, after a year-long investigation, reveal a systematic program of "GOP vote tampering" on a massive scale.

- Republican Secretaries of State of swing-state Colorado have quietly purged one in six names from their voter rolls.
Over several months, the GOP politicos in Colorado stonewalled every attempt by Rolling Stone to get an answer to the massive purge - ten times the average state's rate of removal.

- While Obama dreams of riding to the White House on a wave of new voters, more than 2.7 million have had their registrations REJECTED under new procedures signed into law by George Bush.

Kennedy, a voting rights lawyer, charges this is a resurgence of 'Jim Crow' tactics to wrongly block Black and Hispanic voters.

- A fired US prosecutor levels new charges - accusing leaders of his own party, Republicans, with criminal acts in an attempt to block legal voters as "fraudulent."

- Digging through government records, the Kennedy-Palast team discovered that, in 2004, a GOP scheme called "caging” ultimately took away the rights of 1.1 million voters. The Rolling Stone duo predict that, this November 4, it will be far worse.

There's more:

- Since the last presidential race, "States used dubious 'list management' rules to scrub at least 10 million voters from their rolls."
Among those was Paul Maez of Las Vegas, New Mexico - a victim of an unreported but devastating purge of voters in that state that left as many as one in nine Democrats without a vote. For Maez, the state's purging his registration was particularly shocking - he's the county elections supervisor.

The Kennedy-Palast revelations go far beyond the sum of questionably purged voters recently reported by the New York Times.
"Republican operatives - the party's elite commandos of bare-knuckle politics," report Kennedy and Palast, under the cover of fighting fraudulent voting, are "systematically disenfranchis[ing] Democrats."
The investigators level a deadly serious charge:

"If Democrats are to win the 2008 election, they must not simply beat McCain at the polls - they must beat him by a margin that exceeds the level of GOP vote tampering."

Block the Vote by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. & Greg Palast in the current issue (#1064) of Rolling Stone. [Media enquiries - Dave Falkenstein, Sunshine Sachs & Assoc, via interviews@gregpalast.com.]

Note - Kennedy and Palast are releasing, simultaneously with the Rolling Stone investigative report what they call, the vote-theft 'antidote': a 24-page full-color comic book, Steal Back Your Vote, which can be downloaded or obtained in print from their non-partisan website, StealBackYourVote.org

This is the plan Obama and Biden have for most of us Americans. If you earn more than $200,000 per year, then you might want to investigate this further. But for most of us, here's the bottom line:

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Provide Middle Class Americans Tax Relief

Obama and Biden will cut income taxes by $1,000 for working families to offset the payroll tax they pay.

* Provide a Tax Cut for Working Families: Obama and Biden will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 150 million workers the tax relief they need. Obama and Biden will create a new "Making Work Pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. The "Making Work Pay" tax credit will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans.
* Eliminate Income Taxes for Seniors Making Less than $50,000: Barack Obama will eliminate all income taxation of seniors making less than $50,000 per year. This proposal will eliminate income taxes for 7 million seniors and provide these seniors with an average savings of $1,400 each year. Under the Obama-Biden plan, 27 million American seniors will also not need to file an income tax return.
* Simplify Tax Filings for Middle Class Americans: Obama and Biden will dramatically simplify tax filings so that millions of Americans will be able to do their taxes in less than five minutes. Obama and Biden will ensure that the IRS uses the information it already gets from banks and employers to give taxpayers the option of pre-filled tax forms to verify, sign and return. Experts estimate that the Obama-Biden proposal will save Americans up to 200 million total hours of work and aggravation and up to $2 billion in tax preparer fees.

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Are you 18 years old? Are you an American citizen? You're not a felon are you? Then I hope you're registered to vote. I know when you're young it seems like elections don't affect you and it's hard to get worked up about voting. But, honestly, all this does affect you and YOUR FUTURE! It's worth your time. Please register (post office, county clerk's office in phone book, or on-line) and vote.

Take care!

I am very disappointed in John McCain. I am looking forward to seeing the debate tomorrow night. I think many Americans are. But just think of those people who have been working hard and supplying resources to get ready for the debate which is to be held at the University of Mississippi??! Keep your word, John McCain!!!

If McCain goes on with his cowardly effort to change the subject and not honor his commitment to debate Barack Obama tomorrow night, September 26, 2008, in Mississippi, how much time, money, and effort will be wasted? It's a real shame that this man is showing what a 'diva' he can be.

Actually, it is good we see this side of him. I respect his service to our country and long history in The Senate. But I increasingly see him making excuses and acting like an elementary school child in ducking out of a challenge. I would get tummy-aches often while in school when a race or test was to take place. I know a lot of us go through this before a big event.

This man is in no way qualified or equipped to be the President of the U.S. of America.

It is really frustrating to know the election tampering is already underway. I really think Obama - Biden would do more positive things for this country than McCain and Palin. I'd rather see more things done for the average American than the wealthier 1%.

Go to a site called "StealBackYourVote" and check it out. If you are in one of those 'swing states' or you know someone who is, and if you want your/their voice to be heard, make sure your vote counts!

http://www.stealbackyourvote.com/

I've run charts for each of the presidential candidates. I tell you, it reveals a lot about one's talents, abilities, challenges, goals, and character.

Hillary Clinton will always fight for justice, speaking for children and the underdog. She is experienced, tough, intelligent, and will be remembered historically as one of the most influential citizens of this period. She would be a very successful president. She does have the ability to touch people on a very deep, gut level, and may 'scare' some because of her courage, strength, and abilities. She is worth a vote, absolutely.

John Edwards, also a big fighter for the underdog. What I especially like about this man is his refusal to take campaign money from lobbyists and PAC (political action interests such as countries, industries, etc.). He will not be obligated to repay the favor while in office although it wouldn't be for the best interest of American citizens. He is committed to Americans of all 'stripes' and I believe he will have a successful presidency if elected. He's earned my vote as far as a primaries go. In the event that he does not get the presidency in this year's election, he very well should in 2012. The stars are definitely with him at that time.

Obama is a very strong individual destined to make a difference in this world by his ability to lead. He has an ability to draw people together, as we see in the news. He is supported by left, right, and independents. His fortitude and sheer will to do good should make up for his youth and perceived lack of experience. He is a wise soul and will also make a fine president.

My own 17 year old son will turn 18 in August, so he will be able to vote for president! I'm really encouraged by the interest shown by young adults as far as the elections go. It truly makes a world of difference if you're involved. One little person can make a difference, don't ever let yourself think otherwise. Vote, write to your city council, legislators, senators, and president or governor. Your voice will be heard. You WILL make a difference.

Santa Barbara High School Jazz Festival -

Today Sat., June 2

Schedule: SBHS Theatre

School/ Ensemble Warm-up Performance Clinic
Mesa Verde MS II 8:00 8:30 9:00
Colina MS II 8:30 9:00 9:30
Santa Barbara JH 9:00 9:30 10:00
La Colina JH (Santa Barbara) 9:30 10:00 10:30
Mesa Verde MS I 10:00 10:30 11:00
Colina MS I 10:30 11:00 11:30
Los Cerritos MS 11:00 11:30 12:00
Redwood MS 11:30 12:00 12:30

LUNCH 12:00 12:30 1:00

Yucca Valley HS (ADV) 12:30 1:00 1:30
Belmont HS (ADV) 1:00 1:30 2:00
Dos Pueblos HS (ADV) 1:30 2:00 2:30
Nordhoff HS (ADV) 2:00 2:30 3:00
Westlake HS I (ADV) 2:30 3:00 3:30
South HS (ADV) 3:00 3:30 4:00

BREAK - JH/MS AWARDS 4:00

SBHS Combo II(EXH) 4:00 4:30 5:00
Downey HS (ADV) 4:30 5:00 5:30
Nordhoff HS (Vocal) 5:00 5:30 6:00
Moorpark I (Heavy) 5:30 6:00 6:30
Downey HS (Vocal) 6:00 6:30 7:00
San Marcos HS (Heavy) 6:30 7:00 7:30
Santa Barbara HS combo I (EXH) 7:00 7:30
Santa Barbara HS (EXH) 7:30 8:00
AWARDS 8:30

What a gorgeous full moon - Sun in Taurus, Moon in Scorpio - and Venus is in the western sky after the sun goes down. I love astronomy and astrology; the night sky is so beautiful and puts things into perspective. The sky and earth are timeless. I did notice drivers being in a careless state yesterday and driving too fast. There is some intensity out there. This full moon is a good time for setting new goals!

This is the time Wesak festivals take place. Humans are able to take in a great deal of spiritual energy during this time of year. The full moon of Aries-Libra is the first of the Wesak season, with the third one next month at the time of the Gemini-Sagittarius full moon.

WESAK - from BBC co.uk website

"Wesak is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is celebrated on the full moon in May. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his birth and death.

Buddha literally means 'one who is awake' and has become enlightened. It is a term that denotes a person who has attained the supreme wisdom and compassion of Enlightenment.

To Buddhists Enlightenment is a blessed state in which the individual attains Nirvana - the transcendence of desire and suffering.

Many of Buddha's disciples have attained Enlightenment, and there have been many other Enlightened teachers.

The celebration of Wesak is a chance to remember the story of how the Buddha gained Enlightenment, and to reflect on what it might mean for individual Buddhists to move towards Enlightenment themselves.

The festival is celebrated with much colour and gaiety. Homes may be cleaned and decorated. In Thailand, for example, special Wesak lanterns are made of paper and wood, and often there a large ceremonial releases of caged birds.

In many countries during the festival, Buddhists will visit their local temple for services and teaching, and will give offerings to the monks of food, candles and flowers.

Chanting and praying are an important part of Wesak. The 'Bathing the Buddha' ceremony is also often included. Water is poured over the shoulders of the Buddha and serves as a reminder to purify the mind from greed, hatred and ignorance.

Chinese Buddhists incorporate elements of their country's culture into their religious celebrations like the traditional dancing dragons.

Gifts are taken to an altar to be offered to the Buddha statues. This shows respect and gratitude to the Buddha for his life and teachings.

If there is food it is usually vegetarian as Buddhists try not to harm animals."



This time of year reminds me of some fun times of my life! Forty years ago, a friend and I were "working" as go-go dancers in San Francisco. I was 14 at the time. Music Machine played at Longshoreman's Hall where we danced! 'Talk Talk' remains one of my favorite songs of all time. My family moved back to Southern California on the weekend of the Monterey Pop Festival, so I missed that but I saw some great bands up in the Bay Area. Once we were back here, Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, and Buffalo Springfield played here. I got to see Hendrix twice, in fact. The first time, I just remember him playing the guitar with his teeth, the guitar on fire, and some guy sitting in back of me repeating, "Hendrix is God, Hendrix is God", the entire night.

Two years later, Led Zeppelin's first LP was outrageously popular! I had just started going out with a certain guy and we listened to those songs a lot! I always think of the guy when I hear 'Dazed and Confused'. I saw Led Zeppelin during that previous winter, along with Jethro Tull. Everyone was mesmerized by the guy playing guitar with a violin bow! Jimmy Page is still my favorite guitar player although I also really like Joe Satriani, Jake E. Lee, Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen, and Yngwie Malmsteen, among others...Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, I could go on for a long time! I HEARD Slash, too. He sounded awesome. Velvet Revolver played here 2 seasons ago at an outdoor amphitheater. The place is a few blocks from our apartment, thankfully!

My 12 year old son received an ipod for his birthday on April 20. My 16 year old uses his a lot, too. So far, Naruto songs and Pink Floyd are on the new ipod but I expect him to wind up with many different rock music styles in his collection, like his brother. It's cool to see them both grow up with music being such a huge part of their lives, as it is for me. From piano lessons as a 7 year old and on through Beatles, music is a steady companion in my world. My older son plays keyboard and guitar, currently playing with his high school jazz band. It is very meaningful for me to see him as "attuned" to music as he is.