By Mary MacElveen
September 27, 2010
In the past I have raged against the lawmakers in NY State, especially Gov. David Paterson for taxing and taxing smokers to fill in NY’s budget donut hole. I have been met with little sympathy as a smoker.
I want to clue my readers into this little known fact that welfare recipients who receive food stamps can purchase both cigarettes and alcohol on their food stamp account. How do I know this? I work as a grocery store cashier. I have witnessed food stamp recipients receive money back on their purchases in order to buy these items. Meanwhile, you and I the tax payers are paying for their habits.
As for me who works for a little over minimum wage must also pay for their habit, while NY State taxes my same habits. Something is terribly wrong within this state when food stamp recipients receive more than I get.
Two weeks ago, a person who used to work for the grocery store I work in got fired a year ago. He now receives food stamps and chose to take out $177 more from his account after his initial purchase. I then handed him the cash. What did he do with that money? He paid for cigarettes and alcohol. Yet, NY State wishes to tax hard working citizens instead of eliminating this loop hole within the food stamp program? This is not fair at all!
I call upon Governor David Paterson and all legislators within NY State to end the punitive tax on smokers and close the loop hole which allows food stamp recipients to purchase these products.
My opinion in how to do this is to not allow food stamp recepients to take out money that exceeds their transactions. Food stamp money should and must be used for food instead of cigs and alcohol period!
You may reach the author at this email address, xmjmac@optonline.net
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Yes, Christine O’Donnell, I am calling you stupid
By Mary MacElveen
September 22, 2010
On many occasions and especially after the primary success of Christine O’Donnell, I feel that American politics has become our new “Reality-TV” where the absurd reigns supreme. It is akin to the “Twilight Zone”
I once stated in a previous column honoring the late Sen. Paul Wellstone that each senator has the power over our lives and represents us within the U.S. Senate. With that said, if O’Donnell is elected senator, I feel that we the people will look into the abyss and ask our Delawarean citizens who voted for her: What have you done to this country? To that, my answer would be; you have made us a weaker country by electing a senator who has NO experience in government or the laws that join us together.
Cute sound-bites and activism within the sexual realm does not a senator make. One must have the fortitude of knowledge in order to be elected senator. Yes, Christine O’Donnell, I am calling you stupid.
As we live in a global society, I often wonder what our global citizens think of this upcoming election with a “Tea Party” insurgency within the Republican ranks. Either they are terrified of what is to come or they are shaking their heads thinking that America is stupid to elect anyone of these candidates.
As a former Republican, I do think that this new Republican Party is stupid to follow this “Tea Party” movement. While stupid, I do find they are opportunistic. They just want the votes and power. Let us NOT give it to them!
Chris Coons is clearly the better candidate for office since he does have governing experience as a County Executive. He has this experience since he oversees budgets, and the laws that join us as one. Yet O’Donnell gets the MSM coverage? How absurd is that? Coons does deserve to win and O’Donnell should be forgotten. Her fifteen minutes of fame should be over with right NOW!
Hey, even Wiccans speak out to clarify that they are not in bed with Satanists. There is a pun in there, but do not tell Christine…LOL!
Like Sharron Angle who ran from cameras, O’Donnell has chosen to go that route as well. Come on folks, what are they afraid of? They are afraid of we the people. They are afraid of answering the tough questions. They think that aligning themselves with this “Tea Party” movement they can play games with us and it is up to all of us to shut them down. It is up to we the people to shut the Republican Party down for marching lock step behind the “Tea Party” candidates. They are pure cowards.
One must ask these “Tea Party” candidates running for senate exactly what Senate Rule 51 is especially with the demise of Senate Defense Bill which contained the DADT amendment. Let us see what O’Donnell’s and Angles answer is to that question.
Okay, O’Donnell and Angle, you say you want to be senators, what process governs budget reconciliations? Come on and think. I as an American citizen know this answer, but do you?
Okay, okay, not to pick solely on the female candidates, but to all “Tea Party” candidates: What rule “determines that discussion of business requires secrecy, that a motion be made to close the doors and that it be seconded. The Presiding Officer of the United States Senate shall direct the galleries to be cleared; and during the discussion of such motion the doors shall remain closed.” Please remember this has everything to do with national security and not just some angry mobs seen on Fox News. By the way, the question in quotes, I will not tell you where I picked it from since you should already know that if you are qualified to be a United States Senator.
As I look back on the angry town halls that took place a little over a year ago, I look to my fellow Americans to attend any town hall or NOW and ask these candidates: What qualifies you to become my new senator or congress member? Let them not get off the hook by citing that masturbation is evil or that women should not serve in the military especially when women have died in service to this republic.
To Christine O’Donnell, you have espoused beliefs that women should not serve in the military, try telling that to this female soldier whose face was burned off shaking hands with Denzel Washington: http://tinyurl.com/28sz8wu. This female soldier unlike you is the ultimate patriot.
My email address is xmjmac@optonline.net should you wish to email me.
September 22, 2010
On many occasions and especially after the primary success of Christine O’Donnell, I feel that American politics has become our new “Reality-TV” where the absurd reigns supreme. It is akin to the “Twilight Zone”
I once stated in a previous column honoring the late Sen. Paul Wellstone that each senator has the power over our lives and represents us within the U.S. Senate. With that said, if O’Donnell is elected senator, I feel that we the people will look into the abyss and ask our Delawarean citizens who voted for her: What have you done to this country? To that, my answer would be; you have made us a weaker country by electing a senator who has NO experience in government or the laws that join us together.
Cute sound-bites and activism within the sexual realm does not a senator make. One must have the fortitude of knowledge in order to be elected senator. Yes, Christine O’Donnell, I am calling you stupid.
As we live in a global society, I often wonder what our global citizens think of this upcoming election with a “Tea Party” insurgency within the Republican ranks. Either they are terrified of what is to come or they are shaking their heads thinking that America is stupid to elect anyone of these candidates.
As a former Republican, I do think that this new Republican Party is stupid to follow this “Tea Party” movement. While stupid, I do find they are opportunistic. They just want the votes and power. Let us NOT give it to them!
Chris Coons is clearly the better candidate for office since he does have governing experience as a County Executive. He has this experience since he oversees budgets, and the laws that join us as one. Yet O’Donnell gets the MSM coverage? How absurd is that? Coons does deserve to win and O’Donnell should be forgotten. Her fifteen minutes of fame should be over with right NOW!
Hey, even Wiccans speak out to clarify that they are not in bed with Satanists. There is a pun in there, but do not tell Christine…LOL!
Like Sharron Angle who ran from cameras, O’Donnell has chosen to go that route as well. Come on folks, what are they afraid of? They are afraid of we the people. They are afraid of answering the tough questions. They think that aligning themselves with this “Tea Party” movement they can play games with us and it is up to all of us to shut them down. It is up to we the people to shut the Republican Party down for marching lock step behind the “Tea Party” candidates. They are pure cowards.
One must ask these “Tea Party” candidates running for senate exactly what Senate Rule 51 is especially with the demise of Senate Defense Bill which contained the DADT amendment. Let us see what O’Donnell’s and Angles answer is to that question.
Okay, O’Donnell and Angle, you say you want to be senators, what process governs budget reconciliations? Come on and think. I as an American citizen know this answer, but do you?
Okay, okay, not to pick solely on the female candidates, but to all “Tea Party” candidates: What rule “determines that discussion of business requires secrecy, that a motion be made to close the doors and that it be seconded. The Presiding Officer of the United States Senate shall direct the galleries to be cleared; and during the discussion of such motion the doors shall remain closed.” Please remember this has everything to do with national security and not just some angry mobs seen on Fox News. By the way, the question in quotes, I will not tell you where I picked it from since you should already know that if you are qualified to be a United States Senator.
As I look back on the angry town halls that took place a little over a year ago, I look to my fellow Americans to attend any town hall or NOW and ask these candidates: What qualifies you to become my new senator or congress member? Let them not get off the hook by citing that masturbation is evil or that women should not serve in the military especially when women have died in service to this republic.
To Christine O’Donnell, you have espoused beliefs that women should not serve in the military, try telling that to this female soldier whose face was burned off shaking hands with Denzel Washington: http://tinyurl.com/28sz8wu. This female soldier unlike you is the ultimate patriot.
My email address is xmjmac@optonline.net should you wish to email me.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hawaii Five-0: New actors who look to make this show their own
By Mary MacElveen
September 20, 2010
While I am a summer person, one thing that comes in the fall is the new procedural dramas that are aired on many networks. I love sitting down, chilling and getting involved in the myriad of characters, plots and yes, the actors.
A few weeks ago when working, I was checking out the magazines on my check-out line at work and saw that a new “Hawaii Five-0” was to be aired on CBS via the “TV Guide”. I knew this long before that via YouTube.com. I checked out the YouTube.com feed and loved IT! New actors and how this new team became this unit.
One actor in particular caught my eye and he is, Alex O'Loughlin who once played one HOT vampire for one season on CBS's “Moonlight”. For the life of me, I could not understand why CBS canceled this show, but hey, Alex is back. YES! Alex is a British actor who is able to come off as an American actor similar to Hugh Laurie of Fox Television’s “House”.
I swear if one did not know these facts, one wouldn’t believe it.
These new actors did not look to replace the characters on the original series, but make these characters their own set within today’s parameters. Those parameters are terrorism and human trafficking within the opening show.
All day long as I spoke to co-workers and customers alike, I psyched them and me into watching this new program. Even the opening credit theme tune stuck in my head. I even hummed a few bars. Let’s leave it at that…LOL!
For those of you, who have not yet watched the opening credits to this show as well as its theme, please go to http://tinyurl.com/2unngvb within the credits you will see a familiar actor, Daniel Dae Kim who played on ABC's "Lost". While on “Lost” he may have been lost, in this new model of “Hawaii Five-O” he is anything but lost as he finds a new purpose in his life.
All I can say is that this new show is as action-filled as the one many grew up with that aired in the sixties. I truly hope that you check it out next Monday on CBS at 10 PM ET. Oh yes, hum the theme song as many times as you wish. It will certainly get you in the mood.
Should you wish to email the author, please do so at this email address: xmjmac@optonline.net
September 20, 2010
While I am a summer person, one thing that comes in the fall is the new procedural dramas that are aired on many networks. I love sitting down, chilling and getting involved in the myriad of characters, plots and yes, the actors.
A few weeks ago when working, I was checking out the magazines on my check-out line at work and saw that a new “Hawaii Five-0” was to be aired on CBS via the “TV Guide”. I knew this long before that via YouTube.com. I checked out the YouTube.com feed and loved IT! New actors and how this new team became this unit.
One actor in particular caught my eye and he is, Alex O'Loughlin who once played one HOT vampire for one season on CBS's “Moonlight”. For the life of me, I could not understand why CBS canceled this show, but hey, Alex is back. YES! Alex is a British actor who is able to come off as an American actor similar to Hugh Laurie of Fox Television’s “House”.
I swear if one did not know these facts, one wouldn’t believe it.
These new actors did not look to replace the characters on the original series, but make these characters their own set within today’s parameters. Those parameters are terrorism and human trafficking within the opening show.
All day long as I spoke to co-workers and customers alike, I psyched them and me into watching this new program. Even the opening credit theme tune stuck in my head. I even hummed a few bars. Let’s leave it at that…LOL!
For those of you, who have not yet watched the opening credits to this show as well as its theme, please go to http://tinyurl.com/2unngvb within the credits you will see a familiar actor, Daniel Dae Kim who played on ABC's "Lost". While on “Lost” he may have been lost, in this new model of “Hawaii Five-O” he is anything but lost as he finds a new purpose in his life.
All I can say is that this new show is as action-filled as the one many grew up with that aired in the sixties. I truly hope that you check it out next Monday on CBS at 10 PM ET. Oh yes, hum the theme song as many times as you wish. It will certainly get you in the mood.
Should you wish to email the author, please do so at this email address: xmjmac@optonline.net
Thursday, April 8, 2010
You, Sarah Palin are the nuclear weapon in playing tinder-box politics
By Mary MacElveen
April 8, 2010
This is a short, editorial directed at Sarah Palin (the darling of the tea party movement). When it comes to nuclear issues, you had best know a thing or two of the subject instead of tea-party talking points.
When President Barack Obama was asked of your critique where you stated, “it was like a child in a playground who says 'punch me in the face, I'm not going to retaliate.” The only thing I came away with was how juvenile the tone when nuclear issues are anything but juvenile. Just ask any survivor of Hiroshima or Nagasaki how they would react to such an opinion. Please remember history correctly where we were the ONLY nation to have used a nuclear device on any enemy.
President Barack Obama was correct to answer in an interview with George Stephanopoulos: "I really have no response to that. The last I checked, Sarah Palin is not much of an expert on nuclear issues,"
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, you may wish to ask Senator Dick Lugar a member of your own party who worked with then Senator Barack Obama in lessening the number of loose nukes from this planet. I would consider him far more learned than you.
As any American knows and who follows the procedures of the White House, namely the president: Each day the president is given a full briefing of by the director of National Security. Are you, Sarah Palin or any of us privy to what he (Pres. Obama) is briefed on daily? Come on, Sarah are you in the Oval Office on a daily basis to offer any opinion on the subject? Even I or those who know more of this dangerous subject are not there. So, what gives you the right to even opine of this topic when you know nothing of it at all?
The dangerous topic that does concern me greatly as well as others is the topic of domestic terrorism as you continue to stoke the fires of hate. You continually play tinder-box politics as I have written of previously during the 2008 presidential campaign. When you say words such as “reload” or place cross-hairs on congressional districts as we come upon the anniversary of Oklahoma City, it is in the fore-front of my mind.
Quite frankly, Sarah, I am not terrified of Islamic Extremists, but of domestic terrorism. You know, your new friends.
You, Sarah Palin are the nuclear weapon that may have the force to take out innocent lives since those without a full understanding of any topic especially this one can carry out your hellish mission. Hopefully the saner amongst us will turn away from your message(s). To me, you are truly a national security danger to us all.
Author’s email is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
April 8, 2010
This is a short, editorial directed at Sarah Palin (the darling of the tea party movement). When it comes to nuclear issues, you had best know a thing or two of the subject instead of tea-party talking points.
When President Barack Obama was asked of your critique where you stated, “it was like a child in a playground who says 'punch me in the face, I'm not going to retaliate.” The only thing I came away with was how juvenile the tone when nuclear issues are anything but juvenile. Just ask any survivor of Hiroshima or Nagasaki how they would react to such an opinion. Please remember history correctly where we were the ONLY nation to have used a nuclear device on any enemy.
President Barack Obama was correct to answer in an interview with George Stephanopoulos: "I really have no response to that. The last I checked, Sarah Palin is not much of an expert on nuclear issues,"
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, you may wish to ask Senator Dick Lugar a member of your own party who worked with then Senator Barack Obama in lessening the number of loose nukes from this planet. I would consider him far more learned than you.
As any American knows and who follows the procedures of the White House, namely the president: Each day the president is given a full briefing of by the director of National Security. Are you, Sarah Palin or any of us privy to what he (Pres. Obama) is briefed on daily? Come on, Sarah are you in the Oval Office on a daily basis to offer any opinion on the subject? Even I or those who know more of this dangerous subject are not there. So, what gives you the right to even opine of this topic when you know nothing of it at all?
The dangerous topic that does concern me greatly as well as others is the topic of domestic terrorism as you continue to stoke the fires of hate. You continually play tinder-box politics as I have written of previously during the 2008 presidential campaign. When you say words such as “reload” or place cross-hairs on congressional districts as we come upon the anniversary of Oklahoma City, it is in the fore-front of my mind.
Quite frankly, Sarah, I am not terrified of Islamic Extremists, but of domestic terrorism. You know, your new friends.
You, Sarah Palin are the nuclear weapon that may have the force to take out innocent lives since those without a full understanding of any topic especially this one can carry out your hellish mission. Hopefully the saner amongst us will turn away from your message(s). To me, you are truly a national security danger to us all.
Author’s email is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Open Letter to Cong. Tim Bishop who voted yes on HCR
Dear Congressman Tim Bishop,
When I first met you, you asked how you could best serve the people in your first election. Well through your yes vote on health care reform you actually listened. This vote cast by you is life affirming since I do believe it will save lives. I know we differ when it comes to abortion, but frankly as a person who hates abortion, I am so sick of abortion being used as a primary issue to divide this nation. Where are my pro-life brethren when it comes to killing innocent people through war in both Iraq and Afghanistan? They are silent! As I witnessed our country’s first strike on Iraq known as “Shock and Awe”, I thought of all the innocent children who would be killed. Even the late Pope John Paul II said to former President George W. Bush, “You go without God”.
As I have witnessed the terrorism pushed forth by the opposition, what it tells me is that they who I thought were my brethren when it came to being anti-abortion were anything but. Their violence told a much different story. Little do they realize that their words have consequences and those consequences being the possibility to end human lives.
In the upcoming house elections, I as a person who is staunchly anti-abortion will side with you in helping to re-elect you as my congressman. It is my hope that you pass this email sent to you onto Congressman Bart Stupak who has received death threats. When that congressman, Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Tex.) shouted out “baby killer” when Rep. Stupak was addressing the House, little does, Neugebauer realize how many babies were killed in our illegal invasion of Iraq. Little does Neugebauer realize how many babies are losing their lives in Afghanistan.
I have seen pictures of death through war and abortion and quite frankly, I do not see the difference. Hopefully women can receive better preventive care so that they will not have to make any decision to end a human life. That is something that the right-wing-nuts are not thinking of at this given time.
As one of your constituents, I thank you for voting yes to this health care reform bill which President Barack Obama signed into law. The unborn of this land will only reap the benefits since their moms will be afforded better medical care. How great is that?
Sincerely,
Mary MacElveen
When I first met you, you asked how you could best serve the people in your first election. Well through your yes vote on health care reform you actually listened. This vote cast by you is life affirming since I do believe it will save lives. I know we differ when it comes to abortion, but frankly as a person who hates abortion, I am so sick of abortion being used as a primary issue to divide this nation. Where are my pro-life brethren when it comes to killing innocent people through war in both Iraq and Afghanistan? They are silent! As I witnessed our country’s first strike on Iraq known as “Shock and Awe”, I thought of all the innocent children who would be killed. Even the late Pope John Paul II said to former President George W. Bush, “You go without God”.
As I have witnessed the terrorism pushed forth by the opposition, what it tells me is that they who I thought were my brethren when it came to being anti-abortion were anything but. Their violence told a much different story. Little do they realize that their words have consequences and those consequences being the possibility to end human lives.
In the upcoming house elections, I as a person who is staunchly anti-abortion will side with you in helping to re-elect you as my congressman. It is my hope that you pass this email sent to you onto Congressman Bart Stupak who has received death threats. When that congressman, Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Tex.) shouted out “baby killer” when Rep. Stupak was addressing the House, little does, Neugebauer realize how many babies were killed in our illegal invasion of Iraq. Little does Neugebauer realize how many babies are losing their lives in Afghanistan.
I have seen pictures of death through war and abortion and quite frankly, I do not see the difference. Hopefully women can receive better preventive care so that they will not have to make any decision to end a human life. That is something that the right-wing-nuts are not thinking of at this given time.
As one of your constituents, I thank you for voting yes to this health care reform bill which President Barack Obama signed into law. The unborn of this land will only reap the benefits since their moms will be afforded better medical care. How great is that?
Sincerely,
Mary MacElveen
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sarah ‘palm-reader’ Palin is a danger to our national security
By Mary MacElveen
February 9, 2010
The opening-night speaker at the National Tea Party Convention was former Congressman Tom Tancredo who said: "we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote in this country." He blamed the ill-informed masses for voting into office a "committed socialist ideologue in the White House ... Barack Hussein Obama."
Now, using a litmus test or whatever test in order to vote and the use of President Obama's middle name was to invoke racism in this country. A we against them mentality if I ever saw one.
Sarah 'palm-reader' Palin in her failed vice-presidential campaign even stoked the fires of hate which I labeled 'tinder-box politics'. Now she is the darling of these 'tea party' folks? Oh you betcha!
As she lovingly embraced the late President Ronald Reagan and extolled President Barack Obama with not dealing with Iran effectively. Let us NOT forget who sold arms to Iran in the first place. It was none other than the late president in the Iran Contra Scandal. Did Sarah ‘palm-reader’ Palin forget that fact? Perhaps she should have written that on her palm as well.
In her speech she said: “Say he [Pres. Obama] decided to declare war on Iran, or decided to really come out and do whatever he could to support Israel, which I would like him to do. But that changes the dynamics in what we can assume is going to happen between now and three years.” This was in reaction as to President Obama’s chances of being re-elected in 2012 if he were to declare war on Iran. By the way, Ms. Palm-reader each and every year our hard-earned tax dollars are sent to Israel and no matter who the president is. Do the tea party members even know this as they clamor against wasteful spending?
When Israel invaded Lebanon killing scores of innocents, our government donated $280 million dollars to fuel their fighter jets all at taxpayer expense. What say you, tea party movement?
She predicated this belief in citing a column written by Pat Buchanan titled: Will Obama Play the War Card? My guess is that she wanted to get back at CBS anchor Katie Couric to prove she actually read a piece to validate her point. She tried to imply that going to war with Iran would be a success for President Obama.
She failed at understanding the crux of Buchanan’s article where clearly he writes, “Cutting off gas to Iran would cause many deaths. And the families of the sick, the old, the weak, the women and the children who die are unlikely to feel gratitude toward those who killed them.” Any harsh sanctions such as this would have a serious blow-back effect and endanger our national security.
Ron Paul in his failed presidential bid was excoriated by former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani for stating that 9/11 was indeed a blow-back effect. Sarah ‘palm-reader’ Palin over-simplifies the war on terror as being “We win, you lose” as she stated in her speech before her fans the tea party movement.
If she thinks that Iran is a danger to us all, then she should have picked up what Buchanan did write: “And despite the hysteria about Iran's imminent testing of a bomb, the U.S. intelligence community still has not changed its finding that Tehran is not seeking a bomb.” My guess is she could not fit that on the palm of her hand or more importantly would have shown her assertion false.
In a past piece demanding that Israel stand on their own, I wrote: “Israel has a stockpile of 400 nuclear warheads. “According to retired US Army Colonel Warner D. Farr, M.D., Israel is the fifth largest nuclear superpower in the world. By 1967, Israel already had 15 atomic bombs in its arsenal. In 1976, their nuclear arsenal grew to 15 to 20 nukes, and by 1980 jumped to 200. According to Farr, in 1997, Israel now has over 400 nuclear and hydrogen weapons.” So, why do you need the United States military to defend you and launch a strike on a neighboring country?”
I would say that Israel is well equipped at defending herself. Wouldn’t you?
Is Sarah ‘palm-reader’ Palin actually advocating a furthering of our wars within the Middle East? Just think if she did have our nuclear codes, she would be the danger to our national security. Is she trying to bring about rapture?
Does she even think that China and Russia would stand for any bombing of Iran especially with their business ties to Iran? As it stands we owe billions if not trillions of dollars to China in funding these wars without end. What happens if they call that loan in? Through our economic foreign policy, we have made China what it is now. The world’s supreme economic super-power. As we bleed more funds in order to pay for the furtherance on the war on terror, China is now enjoying a super dominance over us.
Oh sure, she can give cutesy remarks such as how is that “hopy changy working out for everybody?” as the tea party members gave her a thunderous applause. Do they even know the intricacy of our foreign policy, does Sarah ‘palm reader’ Palin even know it?
In this moment of time, Sarah 'palm-reader' Palin makes me long for the days when Ann Coulter was the darling of the loyal opposition. Seriously, at least we all knew she did not have the slightest chance of becoming president. She yapped, and we 'the elitist' clamored against her and it was over with.
By the way, I am tiring of these oppositional member of the right-wing referring to those that oppose them as elitists. One definition of an elitist is, “The sense of entitlement enjoyed by such a group or class.” I am simply a grocery-store cashier who makes $7.75 an hour.
What I fear most is that Sarah ‘palm-reader’ Palin has a chance at becoming the President of the United States. Just imagine her raising her right hand to take the oath of office and on it is written: First executive order is to bomb Iran. We were floored when John McCain sang of it, but imagine a President Palin carrying this mission out? It is the very stuff that nightmares are made of.
You may reach the author at this email address, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
February 9, 2010
The opening-night speaker at the National Tea Party Convention was former Congressman Tom Tancredo who said: "we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote in this country." He blamed the ill-informed masses for voting into office a "committed socialist ideologue in the White House ... Barack Hussein Obama."
Now, using a litmus test or whatever test in order to vote and the use of President Obama's middle name was to invoke racism in this country. A we against them mentality if I ever saw one.
Sarah 'palm-reader' Palin in her failed vice-presidential campaign even stoked the fires of hate which I labeled 'tinder-box politics'. Now she is the darling of these 'tea party' folks? Oh you betcha!
As she lovingly embraced the late President Ronald Reagan and extolled President Barack Obama with not dealing with Iran effectively. Let us NOT forget who sold arms to Iran in the first place. It was none other than the late president in the Iran Contra Scandal. Did Sarah ‘palm-reader’ Palin forget that fact? Perhaps she should have written that on her palm as well.
In her speech she said: “Say he [Pres. Obama] decided to declare war on Iran, or decided to really come out and do whatever he could to support Israel, which I would like him to do. But that changes the dynamics in what we can assume is going to happen between now and three years.” This was in reaction as to President Obama’s chances of being re-elected in 2012 if he were to declare war on Iran. By the way, Ms. Palm-reader each and every year our hard-earned tax dollars are sent to Israel and no matter who the president is. Do the tea party members even know this as they clamor against wasteful spending?
When Israel invaded Lebanon killing scores of innocents, our government donated $280 million dollars to fuel their fighter jets all at taxpayer expense. What say you, tea party movement?
She predicated this belief in citing a column written by Pat Buchanan titled: Will Obama Play the War Card? My guess is that she wanted to get back at CBS anchor Katie Couric to prove she actually read a piece to validate her point. She tried to imply that going to war with Iran would be a success for President Obama.
She failed at understanding the crux of Buchanan’s article where clearly he writes, “Cutting off gas to Iran would cause many deaths. And the families of the sick, the old, the weak, the women and the children who die are unlikely to feel gratitude toward those who killed them.” Any harsh sanctions such as this would have a serious blow-back effect and endanger our national security.
Ron Paul in his failed presidential bid was excoriated by former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani for stating that 9/11 was indeed a blow-back effect. Sarah ‘palm-reader’ Palin over-simplifies the war on terror as being “We win, you lose” as she stated in her speech before her fans the tea party movement.
If she thinks that Iran is a danger to us all, then she should have picked up what Buchanan did write: “And despite the hysteria about Iran's imminent testing of a bomb, the U.S. intelligence community still has not changed its finding that Tehran is not seeking a bomb.” My guess is she could not fit that on the palm of her hand or more importantly would have shown her assertion false.
In a past piece demanding that Israel stand on their own, I wrote: “Israel has a stockpile of 400 nuclear warheads. “According to retired US Army Colonel Warner D. Farr, M.D., Israel is the fifth largest nuclear superpower in the world. By 1967, Israel already had 15 atomic bombs in its arsenal. In 1976, their nuclear arsenal grew to 15 to 20 nukes, and by 1980 jumped to 200. According to Farr, in 1997, Israel now has over 400 nuclear and hydrogen weapons.” So, why do you need the United States military to defend you and launch a strike on a neighboring country?”
I would say that Israel is well equipped at defending herself. Wouldn’t you?
Is Sarah ‘palm-reader’ Palin actually advocating a furthering of our wars within the Middle East? Just think if she did have our nuclear codes, she would be the danger to our national security. Is she trying to bring about rapture?
Does she even think that China and Russia would stand for any bombing of Iran especially with their business ties to Iran? As it stands we owe billions if not trillions of dollars to China in funding these wars without end. What happens if they call that loan in? Through our economic foreign policy, we have made China what it is now. The world’s supreme economic super-power. As we bleed more funds in order to pay for the furtherance on the war on terror, China is now enjoying a super dominance over us.
Oh sure, she can give cutesy remarks such as how is that “hopy changy working out for everybody?” as the tea party members gave her a thunderous applause. Do they even know the intricacy of our foreign policy, does Sarah ‘palm reader’ Palin even know it?
In this moment of time, Sarah 'palm-reader' Palin makes me long for the days when Ann Coulter was the darling of the loyal opposition. Seriously, at least we all knew she did not have the slightest chance of becoming president. She yapped, and we 'the elitist' clamored against her and it was over with.
By the way, I am tiring of these oppositional member of the right-wing referring to those that oppose them as elitists. One definition of an elitist is, “The sense of entitlement enjoyed by such a group or class.” I am simply a grocery-store cashier who makes $7.75 an hour.
What I fear most is that Sarah ‘palm-reader’ Palin has a chance at becoming the President of the United States. Just imagine her raising her right hand to take the oath of office and on it is written: First executive order is to bomb Iran. We were floored when John McCain sang of it, but imagine a President Palin carrying this mission out? It is the very stuff that nightmares are made of.
You may reach the author at this email address, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Shoplifting is NOT a moral cause, but plain theft
By Mary MacElveen
February 2, 2010
Enough time has past since I passed on a post from a Democratic list I belong to the police, politicians, the media and yes the FBI since it deals with shoplifting. Those who responded so far were thankful to me for this information. At this time, I question my membership to this list since they are passing on illegal messages to those who read it who can then pass it onto others. I have also made a hard copy to pass on to the managers of the grocery store I work for since it gives tips on how to effectively shoplift. After all, forewarned is forearmed.
As an employee of this grocery store, my allegiance is to them and not some notion that stealing merchandise from my store or others is of far greater value.
In this piece, I will NOT publish those tips, since I feel it morally wrong and YES, illegal.
The poster titled it, “Shoplift for good” Shoplifting is never good since it is stealing an item that does not belong to you.
One link embedded in this post is titled: Charitable Shoplifting Front, as you will see, he/she lists themselves as being 104 years old, so how honest if one can call it that is this movement? Oh yes, and let us not forget single. A single person age 104 advocating shoplifting? Give me a break! This poster provided other links which I will not share since shoplifting is against the law.
Within this post, it poses a question: “Why shoplift?” and their answer is, “Shoplifting from large corporations is easiest means of organically redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor. Shoplifting is both an easy way of punishing corporations that deliberately destroy the environment, exploit and abuse laborers, and destroy communities and local culture, and an effective way of acquiring resources to give to the impoverished victims of capitalist oppression.”
That answer may seem admirable to the net-roots community, but in real life, it is hogwash since many of your working poor work for large corporations. I personally know many of them. As for abusing laborers, I stand before you as a cashier stating the company I work for does none of that and I would turn in a shoplifter pronto. As far as destroying the community I live in, the company I work for has not done so. In fact, it has launched campaigns to help the poor within our community through food-drives during the holiday season and has sent monetary donations to Haiti.
Another question this post asks: “But doesn't shoplifting just hurt workers?” Their answer is, “No. Workers are almost always paid by the hour that they work, not by the number of their products that are sold. By the time a product reaches a store, the workers who created it have, in all likelihood, has already been paid. The vast majority of workers are already being paid the minimum wage anyway, so there's no way that the corporation could legally transfer the cost of stolen merchandise to workers. The only people who really stand to lose much money are the multibillionaire corporate elites.” Again, with the net-roots speak.
At some point, if the loss is greater due to shoplifting, management will have to make cuts somewhere and those cuts will be in labor costs. I have been in retail both clothing and now food for three-decades. The first thing to be cut is employee hours.
Okay, I will supply some tips this poster posted: “Items shoplifted must be taken from corporate chains ONLY. NEVER shoplift from independently owned businesses.” Does this person truly believe a thief will abide by this rule? Nonsense! Both large and small business suffer at the hands of shoplifters. The independently owned deli I frequent is consistently on the lookout for thieves.
One tip they provide is, “Don't be violent. There's no absolutely no need to be.” That is if you are speaking with a rational person and has this person ever come upon a gun-wielding robber at a convenience store late at night? Many late night cashiers at these establishments have met their deaths as gun wielding robbers have stolen what does not belong to them.
The message I read in reading this post was that it is okay to steal what does not belong to them. What really got to me was that two responders to this post agreed with it.
Lastly, to the poster of this pro-shoplifting message, your name is now in the hands of the Suffolk County Police Department, various politicians, the media and yes, the FBI since those who may read this post reside across state lines. My duty as a law abiding citizen was to turn you over to the authorities. Also, I never want to hear you cite any criminality coming from the Republican Party as you advocate criminality through this one particular posting.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use portions of this column, please email the author for permission.
February 2, 2010
Enough time has past since I passed on a post from a Democratic list I belong to the police, politicians, the media and yes the FBI since it deals with shoplifting. Those who responded so far were thankful to me for this information. At this time, I question my membership to this list since they are passing on illegal messages to those who read it who can then pass it onto others. I have also made a hard copy to pass on to the managers of the grocery store I work for since it gives tips on how to effectively shoplift. After all, forewarned is forearmed.
As an employee of this grocery store, my allegiance is to them and not some notion that stealing merchandise from my store or others is of far greater value.
In this piece, I will NOT publish those tips, since I feel it morally wrong and YES, illegal.
The poster titled it, “Shoplift for good” Shoplifting is never good since it is stealing an item that does not belong to you.
One link embedded in this post is titled: Charitable Shoplifting Front, as you will see, he/she lists themselves as being 104 years old, so how honest if one can call it that is this movement? Oh yes, and let us not forget single. A single person age 104 advocating shoplifting? Give me a break! This poster provided other links which I will not share since shoplifting is against the law.
Within this post, it poses a question: “Why shoplift?” and their answer is, “Shoplifting from large corporations is easiest means of organically redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor. Shoplifting is both an easy way of punishing corporations that deliberately destroy the environment, exploit and abuse laborers, and destroy communities and local culture, and an effective way of acquiring resources to give to the impoverished victims of capitalist oppression.”
That answer may seem admirable to the net-roots community, but in real life, it is hogwash since many of your working poor work for large corporations. I personally know many of them. As for abusing laborers, I stand before you as a cashier stating the company I work for does none of that and I would turn in a shoplifter pronto. As far as destroying the community I live in, the company I work for has not done so. In fact, it has launched campaigns to help the poor within our community through food-drives during the holiday season and has sent monetary donations to Haiti.
Another question this post asks: “But doesn't shoplifting just hurt workers?” Their answer is, “No. Workers are almost always paid by the hour that they work, not by the number of their products that are sold. By the time a product reaches a store, the workers who created it have, in all likelihood, has already been paid. The vast majority of workers are already being paid the minimum wage anyway, so there's no way that the corporation could legally transfer the cost of stolen merchandise to workers. The only people who really stand to lose much money are the multibillionaire corporate elites.” Again, with the net-roots speak.
At some point, if the loss is greater due to shoplifting, management will have to make cuts somewhere and those cuts will be in labor costs. I have been in retail both clothing and now food for three-decades. The first thing to be cut is employee hours.
Okay, I will supply some tips this poster posted: “Items shoplifted must be taken from corporate chains ONLY. NEVER shoplift from independently owned businesses.” Does this person truly believe a thief will abide by this rule? Nonsense! Both large and small business suffer at the hands of shoplifters. The independently owned deli I frequent is consistently on the lookout for thieves.
One tip they provide is, “Don't be violent. There's no absolutely no need to be.” That is if you are speaking with a rational person and has this person ever come upon a gun-wielding robber at a convenience store late at night? Many late night cashiers at these establishments have met their deaths as gun wielding robbers have stolen what does not belong to them.
The message I read in reading this post was that it is okay to steal what does not belong to them. What really got to me was that two responders to this post agreed with it.
Lastly, to the poster of this pro-shoplifting message, your name is now in the hands of the Suffolk County Police Department, various politicians, the media and yes, the FBI since those who may read this post reside across state lines. My duty as a law abiding citizen was to turn you over to the authorities. Also, I never want to hear you cite any criminality coming from the Republican Party as you advocate criminality through this one particular posting.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use portions of this column, please email the author for permission.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Due to the economy: Mass transportation on LI first: ‘Walkable places’ second
By Mary MacElveen
January 26, 2010
Have you ever read a newspaper article that left you tearing your hair out, banging your head as you read it and screaming into the atmosphere? Well, last week, one article left me doing just that. It did not deal with larger national and international issues, but a local issue that I have been screaming about for such a long time and that issue is mass transportation. Seriously, I do not know how many key-strokes I have hit in support of better mass transportation here in Suffolk County, NY. My fingers ache at this time.
After reading: Architect urges Long Island build 'walkable places' which was published in last week’s Newsday, all I wanted to do was scream into the atmosphere.
At this point due to the recession and yes foreclosures: Who is fiscally safe to purchase a newly built home, even with the amenities of mass transportation? Given our high tax bracket, high utility rates, high property taxes and such: Who can afford to purchase one of these newly proposed homes? The answer is NO ONE! Within my own community, I have seen home-after-home fall to foreclosure and this architect proposes building more? I am still scratching my head at that notion and idea.
As reported by Newsday in this article: “Nancy Douzinas, president of the Rauch Foundation, which publishes the index. To stimulate ideas, she announced a design contest, "Build a Better Burb," that will offer prizes to professionals, the public and children. The grand prize will be $10,000. Details are to come in March.” Huh? Seriously, I do not understand this prize giveaway. Oh wait! Get children involved who do not understand the complexities of our current real estate market. Give them some crayons and paper and wish them the best. This is the best they can do?
Back in the fifties, many suburbs were created, but what was left out was how to connect each with the other. Yes, we built roadways so that people could drive from one to another. Feel free to Google Robert Moses. But we were short sighted and did not foresee the future where mass transportation would be key within the suburbs. Even now, mass transportation is on the cutting block due to the deficit being felt by each New Yorker. To build new communities and to enhance them with mass transportation is backwards thinking. In my not so humble opinion, enhance mass transportation first.
Due to budget cuts coming from Albany, the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) will suspend transportation between Ronkonkoma and Greenport during the winter months and bring it back online during the summer season. Last Friday: Newsday’s front cover screamed out: “LI’s unemployment rate up again, to 7%” and these bozos want to build new communities? With what money? If 7% are not working, just how can they afford to purchase these new high-density communties?
There are many ‘walkable communities’ already in existence, but without a way of getting people from point A to point B who do not own a car here in Suffolk County and I have been screaming about that for years-upon-years. You see, due a medical condition, I do not drive and must rely on a pathetic mass transportation system here in Suffolk County. Our existing mass transportation system does not operate at night or on Sundays where people do work and shop. We who are at the mercy of this pathetic mass transportation system must take cabs which cost an arm and a leg. If you wish to take a cab from Sound Beach, NY where I live to Miller Place, NY where I work it will cost you $8 bucks as opposed to a bus that costs you a buck fifty each way.
In reading: "Tahchieva said "retrofitting or repairing" suburban sprawl involved "enhancing and revitalizing downtowns." It means making areas that once catered to cars pedestrian friendly: adding sidewalks, landscaping and transforming dangerous intersections, for example, into a town square." Many communities have sidewalks on busy thoroughfares such as Miller Place and Rocky Point, NY. No, they do not need landscaping. What they need are buses in order to get to those communities in order to shop and work. The dangerous intersections are mainly attributed to automobile accidents and not buses. In fact, I work near the intersection of Miller Place road and Route 25A in Miller Place, NY and I can tell you MOST accidents are due to automobile collisions and not buses.
When Tachieva stated: "So much depends on design. You can achieve very high densities with buildings that don't look scary." I feel this is putting the cart before the horse. We first need mass transportation instead of entire communities being built which at this time do not have the fiscal dollars to support them.
Those who are proponents of these high density communities must ask themselves: If we build them, will they come?
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
This is copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of it, please email the author for permission.
January 26, 2010
Have you ever read a newspaper article that left you tearing your hair out, banging your head as you read it and screaming into the atmosphere? Well, last week, one article left me doing just that. It did not deal with larger national and international issues, but a local issue that I have been screaming about for such a long time and that issue is mass transportation. Seriously, I do not know how many key-strokes I have hit in support of better mass transportation here in Suffolk County, NY. My fingers ache at this time.
After reading: Architect urges Long Island build 'walkable places' which was published in last week’s Newsday, all I wanted to do was scream into the atmosphere.
At this point due to the recession and yes foreclosures: Who is fiscally safe to purchase a newly built home, even with the amenities of mass transportation? Given our high tax bracket, high utility rates, high property taxes and such: Who can afford to purchase one of these newly proposed homes? The answer is NO ONE! Within my own community, I have seen home-after-home fall to foreclosure and this architect proposes building more? I am still scratching my head at that notion and idea.
As reported by Newsday in this article: “Nancy Douzinas, president of the Rauch Foundation, which publishes the index. To stimulate ideas, she announced a design contest, "Build a Better Burb," that will offer prizes to professionals, the public and children. The grand prize will be $10,000. Details are to come in March.” Huh? Seriously, I do not understand this prize giveaway. Oh wait! Get children involved who do not understand the complexities of our current real estate market. Give them some crayons and paper and wish them the best. This is the best they can do?
Back in the fifties, many suburbs were created, but what was left out was how to connect each with the other. Yes, we built roadways so that people could drive from one to another. Feel free to Google Robert Moses. But we were short sighted and did not foresee the future where mass transportation would be key within the suburbs. Even now, mass transportation is on the cutting block due to the deficit being felt by each New Yorker. To build new communities and to enhance them with mass transportation is backwards thinking. In my not so humble opinion, enhance mass transportation first.
Due to budget cuts coming from Albany, the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) will suspend transportation between Ronkonkoma and Greenport during the winter months and bring it back online during the summer season. Last Friday: Newsday’s front cover screamed out: “LI’s unemployment rate up again, to 7%” and these bozos want to build new communities? With what money? If 7% are not working, just how can they afford to purchase these new high-density communties?
There are many ‘walkable communities’ already in existence, but without a way of getting people from point A to point B who do not own a car here in Suffolk County and I have been screaming about that for years-upon-years. You see, due a medical condition, I do not drive and must rely on a pathetic mass transportation system here in Suffolk County. Our existing mass transportation system does not operate at night or on Sundays where people do work and shop. We who are at the mercy of this pathetic mass transportation system must take cabs which cost an arm and a leg. If you wish to take a cab from Sound Beach, NY where I live to Miller Place, NY where I work it will cost you $8 bucks as opposed to a bus that costs you a buck fifty each way.
In reading: "Tahchieva said "retrofitting or repairing" suburban sprawl involved "enhancing and revitalizing downtowns." It means making areas that once catered to cars pedestrian friendly: adding sidewalks, landscaping and transforming dangerous intersections, for example, into a town square." Many communities have sidewalks on busy thoroughfares such as Miller Place and Rocky Point, NY. No, they do not need landscaping. What they need are buses in order to get to those communities in order to shop and work. The dangerous intersections are mainly attributed to automobile accidents and not buses. In fact, I work near the intersection of Miller Place road and Route 25A in Miller Place, NY and I can tell you MOST accidents are due to automobile collisions and not buses.
When Tachieva stated: "So much depends on design. You can achieve very high densities with buildings that don't look scary." I feel this is putting the cart before the horse. We first need mass transportation instead of entire communities being built which at this time do not have the fiscal dollars to support them.
Those who are proponents of these high density communities must ask themselves: If we build them, will they come?
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
This is copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of it, please email the author for permission.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Those without healthcare should make it a point to die on the Capitol Steps
By Mary MacElveen
January 22, 2010
As I sat staring at this image of corpses from Haiti which have horrified and have captivated us so, many thoughts came to mind seeing how any healthcare reform has died in our country. While I do not wish to politicize the deaths in Haiti, it will not hold me back from politicizing deaths that occur here in the United States due to a person’s lack of health insurance.
Let’s face it, health care for ONE and ALL is dead in this country. We will never-ever have universal healthcare. The politicians failed we the people. Not that that phrase “we the people” means anything anymore given the fact that the Supreme Court gave unbridled powers to the corporations of this country in their most recent decision.
We are no longer “we the people” but merely customers of this new country if one can call it that with corporations calling the shots from now on. They with their deep-deep pockets will decide for you and me who will represent us in any seat clear across this country. Oops, did I say represent us? No, I mean represent them. We are from now on are drones of the state.
Will these corporations care who dies from a lack of healthcare? No, they will not. They will only care of their bottom line. The all-might dollar: And that is if it survives into the future given the fact that other economies around the globe have surpassed ours. They have a lot of catching up to do.
The latest estimates have been that 40,000 or so have been buried in mass graves in Haiti due to this earthquake and I find that figure interesting given the fact that it is estimated that the same number dies each year due a lack of health insurance in this country.
Do politicians and celebrities have to see the pictures of the uninsured to finally get it? Do these uninsured people have to die in the open for anyone to give a damn?!
Given the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court gave these unbridled powers to the corporations without any protest coming from the American people, those without health insurance should make it a point to die on the Capitol Steps right at the politician’s feet. That to me would be the ultimate protest. Make sure you can die when both houses are in session.
You may be thinking, she has finally lost it meaning me, but I am serious in my suggestion that ALL who know they are going to die and cannot be cured due to a lack of insurance stipulate in their wills (if they can afford them) their remains be placed on the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It may be illegal, but think of all the illegality that has gone on within that city throughout the decades.
Maybe, just maybe several mass graves have to be dug right here in the United States of America to drive home the point to the American people and especially our newly bought politicians. Hmm, who is the Senator for Aetna? Ah, yes, Senator Joe Lieberman. As for Lieberman: You are no longer a person held in great regard where your vote is of any importance. Senator-elect Scott Brown is. Take that.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
January 22, 2010
As I sat staring at this image of corpses from Haiti which have horrified and have captivated us so, many thoughts came to mind seeing how any healthcare reform has died in our country. While I do not wish to politicize the deaths in Haiti, it will not hold me back from politicizing deaths that occur here in the United States due to a person’s lack of health insurance.
Let’s face it, health care for ONE and ALL is dead in this country. We will never-ever have universal healthcare. The politicians failed we the people. Not that that phrase “we the people” means anything anymore given the fact that the Supreme Court gave unbridled powers to the corporations of this country in their most recent decision.
We are no longer “we the people” but merely customers of this new country if one can call it that with corporations calling the shots from now on. They with their deep-deep pockets will decide for you and me who will represent us in any seat clear across this country. Oops, did I say represent us? No, I mean represent them. We are from now on are drones of the state.
Will these corporations care who dies from a lack of healthcare? No, they will not. They will only care of their bottom line. The all-might dollar: And that is if it survives into the future given the fact that other economies around the globe have surpassed ours. They have a lot of catching up to do.
The latest estimates have been that 40,000 or so have been buried in mass graves in Haiti due to this earthquake and I find that figure interesting given the fact that it is estimated that the same number dies each year due a lack of health insurance in this country.
Do politicians and celebrities have to see the pictures of the uninsured to finally get it? Do these uninsured people have to die in the open for anyone to give a damn?!
Given the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court gave these unbridled powers to the corporations without any protest coming from the American people, those without health insurance should make it a point to die on the Capitol Steps right at the politician’s feet. That to me would be the ultimate protest. Make sure you can die when both houses are in session.
You may be thinking, she has finally lost it meaning me, but I am serious in my suggestion that ALL who know they are going to die and cannot be cured due to a lack of insurance stipulate in their wills (if they can afford them) their remains be placed on the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It may be illegal, but think of all the illegality that has gone on within that city throughout the decades.
Maybe, just maybe several mass graves have to be dug right here in the United States of America to drive home the point to the American people and especially our newly bought politicians. Hmm, who is the Senator for Aetna? Ah, yes, Senator Joe Lieberman. As for Lieberman: You are no longer a person held in great regard where your vote is of any importance. Senator-elect Scott Brown is. Take that.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Help Haiti’s earthquake survivors by donating to the Red Cross
By Mary MacElveen
January 13, 2010
As a writer who follows earthquakes and at times refers to myself as an arm-chair seismologist, I was devastated to hear of the 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday afternoon. What amazed me was that it was followed by fifteen aftershocks: One measuring a 5.9 on the Richter Scale. That measurement alone is the size and scope of most earthquakes.
This lone earthquake was the most powerful one to hit this region in over 200 years. As I have been looking at the U.S.G.S. page for a year now, the region has been active with seismic activity. Puerto Rico has succumbed to tremors throughout this past year. In essence, I was not totally surprised this earthquake hit.
As we in the United States think of our growing poor, Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere where 80 percent of their population live below poverty and where they have a 57 percent illiteracy rate. In 2008 it suffered multiple hurricanes and it begs the question: Now this?
In my prior piece where I discussed earthquakes being a scientific event and nothing more, I brought up the recent earthquake to hit California. Thankfully the damage was not as severe as many think the Haitian one will turn out to be. One of the main reasons is the structures where people live and work. In California they have code requirements where buildings have a high probability rate to withstand powerful quakes and protect the people. Many Haitians live in buildings that are less-superior and are decimated when earthquakes and hurricanes occur. Many Haitians live in shanty-towns where no such codes exist. You would think so, given the fact this country sits on top of a fault line. But, they are a poor nation and cannot afford such building materials. They must use their rainforest in order to heat and build their homes.
Many here in the United States visit our White House where our president lives and in Haiti, their presidential palace lay crumbled to the ground. In watching CNN and seeing that photo, it spoke volumes to me.
As I was flipping around the channels, the only station to cover this event in the 10 PM time-slot was CNN with Anderson Cooper at the helm. Then again, Cooper did so when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and Mississippi. After signing off of his show, he was headed to Haiti to cover the aftermath of this devastating earthquake. Folks, to me that is journalism at its finest.
Anderson Cooper and CNN could have chosen to cover the book “Game Change” a book of gossip, but they did not in this hour. They chose to do the news and the news is for connecting we as a people. The news is supposed to be to help us understand the plight and suffering of others when we think we have nothing. Given Haiti’s poverty rate, they are a suffering people.
As the day light breaks in the morning, we do not know how many died in this quake or how many more will be recorded in the days and weeks after. This is where we as Americans can come to their aid by digging into our pockets, coin-jars, wallets, or what have you and help the people of Haiti by donating to the Red Cross. Their number is: 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575.
You can reach the author at this email address, xmjmac@optonline.net
January 13, 2010
As a writer who follows earthquakes and at times refers to myself as an arm-chair seismologist, I was devastated to hear of the 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday afternoon. What amazed me was that it was followed by fifteen aftershocks: One measuring a 5.9 on the Richter Scale. That measurement alone is the size and scope of most earthquakes.
This lone earthquake was the most powerful one to hit this region in over 200 years. As I have been looking at the U.S.G.S. page for a year now, the region has been active with seismic activity. Puerto Rico has succumbed to tremors throughout this past year. In essence, I was not totally surprised this earthquake hit.
As we in the United States think of our growing poor, Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere where 80 percent of their population live below poverty and where they have a 57 percent illiteracy rate. In 2008 it suffered multiple hurricanes and it begs the question: Now this?
In my prior piece where I discussed earthquakes being a scientific event and nothing more, I brought up the recent earthquake to hit California. Thankfully the damage was not as severe as many think the Haitian one will turn out to be. One of the main reasons is the structures where people live and work. In California they have code requirements where buildings have a high probability rate to withstand powerful quakes and protect the people. Many Haitians live in buildings that are less-superior and are decimated when earthquakes and hurricanes occur. Many Haitians live in shanty-towns where no such codes exist. You would think so, given the fact this country sits on top of a fault line. But, they are a poor nation and cannot afford such building materials. They must use their rainforest in order to heat and build their homes.
Many here in the United States visit our White House where our president lives and in Haiti, their presidential palace lay crumbled to the ground. In watching CNN and seeing that photo, it spoke volumes to me.
As I was flipping around the channels, the only station to cover this event in the 10 PM time-slot was CNN with Anderson Cooper at the helm. Then again, Cooper did so when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and Mississippi. After signing off of his show, he was headed to Haiti to cover the aftermath of this devastating earthquake. Folks, to me that is journalism at its finest.
Anderson Cooper and CNN could have chosen to cover the book “Game Change” a book of gossip, but they did not in this hour. They chose to do the news and the news is for connecting we as a people. The news is supposed to be to help us understand the plight and suffering of others when we think we have nothing. Given Haiti’s poverty rate, they are a suffering people.
As the day light breaks in the morning, we do not know how many died in this quake or how many more will be recorded in the days and weeks after. This is where we as Americans can come to their aid by digging into our pockets, coin-jars, wallets, or what have you and help the people of Haiti by donating to the Red Cross. Their number is: 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575.
You can reach the author at this email address, xmjmac@optonline.net
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Earthquakes are a scientific event and nothing more
By Mary MacElveen
January 10, 2010
Today, an earthquake registering a 6.5 on the Richter scale, hit Northern California where little damage occurred. Why I write of this event is that it blared out at me as I logged onto my AOL account. The fonts were oh so big. Yet, yet, I have not seen similar headlines calling anyone’s attention to the myriad of earthquakes that have hit lately in the South Pacific. The seismic scales of those earthquakes were similar and even bigger. Yes, I do follow the seismic events that occur around the planet through the U.S.G.S. Just call me your arm-chair seismologist since the earth’s movements fascinate me so.
When it comes to the South Pacific region, earthquakes there as compared to the ones that hit us here in the United States; it is as if the ones in the S. Pacific region do not exist when the media reports of them. The plate tectonics in that area are as volatile as the ones in Northern California. Can anyone spell Krakatoa or Anak Krakatoa?
As a writer who hones in on what commenter’s post to any story, my curiosity got the better of me to read what was being commented on this one scientific event.
Not surprisingly, the prophesy angle came into play where some mentioned December 21, 2012 (the supposed end of the world according to the Mayan Calendar) and where others just had to get in their political jabs. This is why I adore letters to the editors of different newspapers so we do not have to hear of who is to blame or what prophesy to adhere to. This earthquake was a scientific event as all earthquakes are.
While the eye-witness testimonies to this one particular earthquake are unsettling to the nerves where one’s china is fractured, let us remember that a few years ago, the real China was hit by a far larger earthquake. That lone earthquake hit that region and according to Wikipedia: “69,197 are confirmed dead, including 68,636 in Sichuan province, and 374,176 injured, with 18,222 listed as missing.[7] The earthquake left about 4.8 million people homeless,[15] though the number could be as high as 11 million.[16] Approximately 15 million people lived in the affected area. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake,” Those statistics are something to ponder on in the wake of this earthquake. It could have been worse.
One reason why so much loss of life is that the structures those Chinese citizens lived/live in do not measure up to present day earthquake codes as demanded in Northern California. The same thing can be said for the earthquake that hit in Italy last year. The buildings they lived/live in crumble to the ground as ours pretty much stay in place due to code requirements. So, if one gripes of politicians and the codes they implement, they should thank their lucky stars that the buildings they live and work in survive as opposed to the buildings in other regions of the world.
So, please leave out the prophesy angle and the political comments to these stories as people are left wandering around trying to figure out how they will survive earthquakes wherever they live. As some of you busily type on your keyboards commenting to these differing stories proposing prophesies and political jabs, scores can and have been killed, screaming from underneath the rubble and frankly wondering how they will make it into the future.
Earthquakes are only doing what the earth does naturally. It reshapes itself through constant movement and nothing more. It is up to us as to how to deal with earthquakes, prepare for them in hopes of saving human lives.
Author’s email address is xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
January 10, 2010
Today, an earthquake registering a 6.5 on the Richter scale, hit Northern California where little damage occurred. Why I write of this event is that it blared out at me as I logged onto my AOL account. The fonts were oh so big. Yet, yet, I have not seen similar headlines calling anyone’s attention to the myriad of earthquakes that have hit lately in the South Pacific. The seismic scales of those earthquakes were similar and even bigger. Yes, I do follow the seismic events that occur around the planet through the U.S.G.S. Just call me your arm-chair seismologist since the earth’s movements fascinate me so.
When it comes to the South Pacific region, earthquakes there as compared to the ones that hit us here in the United States; it is as if the ones in the S. Pacific region do not exist when the media reports of them. The plate tectonics in that area are as volatile as the ones in Northern California. Can anyone spell Krakatoa or Anak Krakatoa?
As a writer who hones in on what commenter’s post to any story, my curiosity got the better of me to read what was being commented on this one scientific event.
Not surprisingly, the prophesy angle came into play where some mentioned December 21, 2012 (the supposed end of the world according to the Mayan Calendar) and where others just had to get in their political jabs. This is why I adore letters to the editors of different newspapers so we do not have to hear of who is to blame or what prophesy to adhere to. This earthquake was a scientific event as all earthquakes are.
While the eye-witness testimonies to this one particular earthquake are unsettling to the nerves where one’s china is fractured, let us remember that a few years ago, the real China was hit by a far larger earthquake. That lone earthquake hit that region and according to Wikipedia: “69,197 are confirmed dead, including 68,636 in Sichuan province, and 374,176 injured, with 18,222 listed as missing.[7] The earthquake left about 4.8 million people homeless,[15] though the number could be as high as 11 million.[16] Approximately 15 million people lived in the affected area. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake,” Those statistics are something to ponder on in the wake of this earthquake. It could have been worse.
One reason why so much loss of life is that the structures those Chinese citizens lived/live in do not measure up to present day earthquake codes as demanded in Northern California. The same thing can be said for the earthquake that hit in Italy last year. The buildings they lived/live in crumble to the ground as ours pretty much stay in place due to code requirements. So, if one gripes of politicians and the codes they implement, they should thank their lucky stars that the buildings they live and work in survive as opposed to the buildings in other regions of the world.
So, please leave out the prophesy angle and the political comments to these stories as people are left wandering around trying to figure out how they will survive earthquakes wherever they live. As some of you busily type on your keyboards commenting to these differing stories proposing prophesies and political jabs, scores can and have been killed, screaming from underneath the rubble and frankly wondering how they will make it into the future.
Earthquakes are only doing what the earth does naturally. It reshapes itself through constant movement and nothing more. It is up to us as to how to deal with earthquakes, prepare for them in hopes of saving human lives.
Author’s email address is xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
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