NOTICE:
From any post click the photo across the page top to see the entire blog.
JAMES' PERSONAL WRITINGS: SLOVING
JAMES' MOST STRATEGIC POSTS: *****
MUCH OF MY POSTING WAS ON FACEBOOK: STARTLOVING1

3.22.2010

Obama, Lincoln: "We are not bound to win, but we are bound to be true. We are not bound to succeed, but we are bound to let whatever light we have shine.”

Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln:  

"We are not bound to win, but we are bound to be true. 
We are not bound to succeed, but we are bound to let whatever light we have shine."

"Full effort IS full success. [There is no other.]"  

Gandhi

"We are called to be faithful, we are NOT called to be successful." 

Scripture

"Live as though the entire world depends on what you do, [because it does,]
and realize that what you do will probably make no difference at all, [that anyone notices.]"

Buddhist

Pr. Obama - Passage of Health Care Reform in House
HC Reform - House Votes YES (1)

3.19.2010

3.16.2010

"Life's Secret: The End of our own suffering is in the attempt to Save others." SL

"Life's Secret: The End of our own suffering
is in the attempt to Save others from theirs."  SL

Fw: "It may change, but I am now clueless about fear of death. I used to 'get it.'" SL

"It may change, but I am now clueless about fear of death.
I used to 'get it.'  I totally don't 'get it' any more. 
Oh, I desperately want to be here to help, as long as I can help!
But fearing death?  I just don't get it.  When the time is up, it is up!
What's to fear?  Twice last week cars almost took my life.
My pulse didn't rise a beat then, or now.  This is not about
being careless or reckless.  I'm sure it has to do with living
on the battlefield, ALWAYS, for a Mission worth more than one's life.

I find this quite amazing, and I can barely remember my old way, of fear." SL


"The most promising idea on earth: Our Father. We're certainly Dead, without it." CJ via SL

"The most promising idea on earth:  Our Father.
We're certainly Dead, without it."
  CJ via SL

3.14.2010

"The sole purpose of my body and my blood is to feed Universal Love." SL

"The sole purpose of my body and
my blood is to feed Universal Love.
That's the only reason any of us are here,
as much as we insist on imagining otherwise;
or King, Gandhi, Tolstoy, Jesus... are wrong, and they are not wrong."
  SL

THE BOOK, IF TAKEN TO HEART, WOULD HAVE PREVENTED HITLER AND WWII !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


The Wrecking Crew:
How Conservatives [ARE RuinING] Government,
Enrich[ING] Themselves, and Beggar[ING] the Nation

(Paperback)


If there had been the equivalent of Thomas Frank's book, in 1930 Germany, EXACTLY 80 YEARS AGO,
AND IF IT HAD BEEN READ, AND TAKEN TO HEART, you and I would not know the
name Hitler, or the words THIRD REICH. 

But if there was such a book, IT WAS NOT TAKEN HEART, and the rest is history.

WE ARE 1930 GERMANY, 80 YEARS LATER - TODAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The following I've just put up, with more to follow.  THEY ARE NOT A
SUBSTITUTE for the book.  GET IT. READ IT. SHARE IT. SEND OUT COPIES.

But in the hours before you get and read the book, these might help:

Rachel Maddow - Thomas Frank, The Wrecking Crew
Thomas Frank, GritTV, The Wrecking Crew_1
Thomas Frank, GritTV, The Wrecking Crew_2

While we snipe at and pillory this great man, this brother TO us, HE REFUSES TO BE DIVERTED FROM DEVOTION TO OUR LIVES. God damn us. BarackObama.com . JUST DO IT.

The President discusses his blueprint for an updated Elementary
and Secondary Education Act to overhaul No Child Left Behind,
the latest step from his Administration to encourage change and
success in Americas schools at the local level.

While we snipe at and pillory this great man,
this brother TO us, HE REFUSES TO BE DIVERTED FROM
DEVOTION TO OUR LIVES.

God damn us.

BarackObama.com . JUST DO IT.

"I'm learning to maniacally stay out of others' business so that I can more fully mind my own." SL

"I'm learning to maniacally stay out of others' business
so that I can more fully mind my own.


I am NOT responsible for what ANYONE ELSE DOES, EVER.
BUT I AM TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT I DO, ALWAYS, 
EVERY SECOND; and if find that minding my own business RESPONSIBLY
takes every second of my time and every ounce of my energy, to do so well.

I know this is central to why I can be sooooooo difficult to
deal with.  Sorry."
  SL

3.13.2010

Ellen's house, a Godsend to my work; becoming even more of a Miracle?

When I started this work in DC, years ago now, I didn't expect to survive
more than a few months.  I was, and remain ENTIRELY, AND TOTALLY unwilling
to divert energy, ANY OF MY ENERGY, from the neediest of Our Family, to my
own survival.  But here I am.  Thomas was the first to reach out, years ago,
with sandwiches he placed on the bench where I'd sleep sitting up all night
on vigil for Darfur.  There they'd be when I awoke.  :-|

Then he, with Ellen's approval, brought me in to their base of operations so there would
be a roof over my work for Darfur.

Even after Thomas' passing I've been blessed by Ellen,
and another benefactor of the house, with a bed
and a public space where I can sleep and work when not on my daily
shifts at the White House vigil.  I'll do my work living in the streets when
that is what Our Father wants, but my productivity certainly has been
infinitely higher in the space I've had in Ellen's house.

BUT MAYBE NOW MY PRODUCTIVITY WAS JUST PROVIDED A MASSIVE ADDED
BOOST!!!!  At least for the moment I've just been afforded a more secluded
room in the house.  The house is busy, circumstances are such that
there are frequent interruptions so far in this room... but in the last week I've had two 5 hour
or so uninterrupted blocks of solitude for my work.  MY STRESS LEVEL HAS
GONE DOWN BY HALF, IT SEEMS.  This room supports a 2nd computer, so
I just purchased one on CraigsList, a 2004 $85 job, but it works.  With
it and the laptop Ellen and the other benefactor provided me, by keeping both
loaded down with my video processing, etc, MAJOR BOTTLENECKS
ON MY YOUTUBE WORK HAVE BEEN LIFTED!  I feel like one feels when they've
maybe had emphysema, didn't know they had it, but were just put on
OXYGEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Life!

I never count on something like this lasting, not for an hour, not for a second. 
That is Our Father's business, not mine.  But oh my Goodness, the two glimpses of
solitude, space and technical capacity I've had since this recent room change ARE OF AN EVEN
GREATER GOD-SEND.  Maybe.  We'll see.

SL dying in prison - Starts this Monday in Federal Court?

I am not worried or concerned.  Our Father's Will be done.  But you few
I've copied, I feel I owe such a "heads up," as this.

The several premonitions I've had like this before have come to pass -
For 5 years or so now it has seemed inevitable to me that I will die
in prison.  This doesn't trouble me.  It has never been a nightmare for
me, literally; never a cold sweat; never an elevated pulse (hmmmm, except
the adrenalin from an expected conflict).  I suspect it will come to pass in time,
but maybe it is just an acute clarity of how society's ways and mine are anti-matter
and matter - mutually annihilating.  Some of you have personally encountered
how stubborn I can be on what seems Important.  :-)  :-(  Standing as close
to the Truth as I do now will likely get me killed, one way, or another - exposure,
starvation, prison, murder....  He certainly does NOT want me by natural causes
just yet, having saved me from two near, might have been fatal near-car hit's last week -
neither my fault.  What am I rambling about?  This essay grasps the macro-physics-
reality that seems to have me (thank God) and society (thanks to unopposed
Satan / Evil / dEvil), in its grasp:  

THE MEANING OF THIS HOUR, ABRAHAM J. HESCHEL
The single most sacred essay I've ever encountered.

Monday, I've been subpoenad to appear in FEDERAL court.  No, nothing I've done,
yet.  As a witness.  Late fall, early winter, as I ever sooooooooooooo
vvvvvaaggguuueeeellllllyyyyyyyy recall, upon returning about 11pm from
my evening shift in the Park, in front of Ellen's house was a police cruiser(s),
group of officers, and someone being arrested (I'm pretty sure, I never
looked to see, as I recall).  There was a fence slat missing that I'd not
noticed missing before and a police woman, seeing me approach the house
asked if I lived there.  I said I did - I respect, and cooperate with the
police, IF and WHEN they operate within their job.  ('The only group in this
country I have any respect for is our men and women in uniform - they are
the only group that puts their life on the line for others,' I say to folks
every day at the Park.  Gandhi felt similarly.)

She explained that the person they were arresting had pulled the slat off
to attack them with, and that he (?) had done similar things ever so many
times, and that it would be a great kindness to HIM if I "witnessed" that
the slat was from the fence and it had repair worth that I set at $100 or
so.   The vaguest of recollections.  I DISTINCTLY recall the impression that
my "witnessing" that night  WAS ABSOLUTELY THE LAST I'D HEAR OF THIS!
Last week the subpoena arrived.

I gave them my name, the only name I'm known by in DC - Start Loving.
On prior arrests - Pentagon, White House... I've thought to give my old
name as well, but this time, it absolutely never even occurred to me -
I was doing her, the officer, and the person being arrested a "favor!"

Will I be jailed for giving the Feds a "false" name tomorrow?  What DID I witness
to?  I gave it almost no thought at the time, so I CERTAINLY don't recall now!
I'm required to bring ID.  I HAVE NO ID, refusing to have such under Bush.
What if what I can testify to now is in opposition to what I testified to
then?  I'LL NOT LIE.  I'll be sworn to "tell the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help me God."  AND THIS I'LL DO.  This is where I expect
they'll get me, cuz I AM IN CONTEMPT OF OUR IN-HUMANE "LEGAL" SYSTEM.
I'LL NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT REFER TO SOME OVER-PRIVILEGED WHITE GUY,
OR WHATEVER, AS "YOUR HONOR."  ETC, ETC, ETC.

"Contempt of Court" - is this how the end will start for me?  Cuz, I AM TOTALLY in
contempt of a system that incarcerates 2 million poor folks in this country.
Gandhi was asked - 'What do you think if Western Civilization?'  He
responded - 'I think it would be a good idea.'  He wasn't kidding.  Neither
am I.  Neither was Heschel (above).

3.11.2010

Refusing to Leave Heaven EQUALS Refusal to Leave the Neediest." SL

Refusing to Leave Heaven

EQUALS

Refusal to Leave the Neediest.

This is the Truth of Human Psychology"  SL

"Living, Leading, Peace Making equals Generating Universal Love. Period." SL

"Living,
Leading,
Peace Making

EQUALS

Generating
Universal Love. Period."  SL

I've been working  toward this evolution of clarity on
Leadership, my core interest, hope, competency
for a decade and a half now.

Hmmmm, a 15 year pregnancy is loooooonnnnggggggggggg!

3.07.2010

SL, 25 yr computer exec: "The purpose of automation is to take salaries of the poor for the rich."

SL, 25 yr computer exec:
"The purpose of automation is to take salaries of the poor for the rich."

NO!  I didn't see it that way.

NO!  I'm not saying it is an explicit plot.  CANCER is not an explicit plot.
Both kill.

BOYCOTT AUTOMATION.  PATRONIZE PLACES THAT EMPLOY PEOPLE
INSTEAD OF MACHINES OF THE RICH.

3.04.2010

Congressman Grayson: "GOP Weapons of Mass Distraction." Quote of the day.

Congressman Grayson: 
"GOP Weapons of Mass Distraction."  Quote of the day.

GRAYSON vs BACHMANN

These GOPredators guys make Hitler's Joseph Goebbles proud!

Our inaction in the face of their rabid disinformation
campaign is the height of cowardice and treason.

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK TODAY MAY WELL BE -



The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule  
Thomas Frank (born 1965) is an American author, journalist and columnist for the
Wall Street Journal
, authoring The Tilting Yard since May, 2008.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.... READ IT.  NOW.

"A no-holds-barred exegesis on the naked cynicism of conservatism in America."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Written with barbed wit and finely controlled anger, he skewers such juicy targets as libertarian strategist Grover Norquist and Michelle Malkin."—Publishers Weekly, starred review  "Glorious… Often brilliant… Frank's gloom is leavened by an eye for the unexpected and the absurd."—Los Angeles Times 
"Well-researched and witty… Provides a powerful liberal antidote to the high-volume rantings of Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter and Fox News."—Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Frank's gifts as a social observer are on display… His analysis of why there are so many libertarian think tanks in a country with so few libertarians is dead on. In Thomas Frank, the American left has found its own Juvenal."—The New York Times Book Review

"Frank offers one damning anecdote after another. The Wrecking Crew explains how cynical conservatives have wrested control of the government by railing against its very existence, all while using federal perches to funnel billions into the pockets of lobbyists and the corporations they represent."—Time

"Thomas Frank is back with another hunk of dynamite. The Wrecking Crew should monopolize political conversation this year. It's the first book to effectively tie the ruin and corruption of conservative governance to the conservative "movement building" of the 1970s, and, before that, the business crusade against good government going back at least to the 1890s."—Salon.com

"Tom Frank has hold of something real. The Wrecking Crew can be good, spirited fun. Frank captures a quality of exuberant bullying in those of his conservative subjects he knows well enough to identify individually, rather than categorically."—The New Yorker

"Frank's sentences inhale and unfurl with a wit and verve…"—The New York Observer

"Conservatives in office have made their share of blunders and mistakes, and Frank is at his finest in depicting some of the stunning instances of hypocrisy and idiocy in the period of Republican rule."—The New York Post

"Smart, thoroughly researched, and written with wit and panache."—The Wichita Eagle

"A welcome read. There is no doubt that Frank is helping to restore the journalistic and literary standards to political books. Elegant… The Wrecking Crew has the rhetorical power to illustrate the dire consequences of a government sold off piece by piece to the highest bidder. One finishes the book feeling as if one's political vision has been brought into focus."—The Courier-Journal

"A superb follow-up to What's The Matter with Kansas?... Thorough reporting and incisive historical analysis. With genuine outrange and blasts of polemic, but Frank never allows The Wrecking Crew to become just another seething right- or left-wing political tract preaching to the choir."—The Oregonian

"Frank brings invaluable insider perceptions, ardor, and precision to his lancing inquiry into the erosion of democracy and the enshrinement of the mighty dollar… An electrifying, well-researched analysis of 'conservatism-as-profiteering.' This staggering history of systematic greed with inject new energy into public discourse as a historical election looms."—Booklist (starred review)



SL here. Friends EXTREMELY IMPORTANT - PLS ACT NOW

I just sent a letter. Please you too.  Hurry.  SHARE.  SL


From: "Bertha Lewis, ACORN" <newsacorn@acorn.org>
To: start_loving@yahoo.com
Sent: Thu, March 4, 2010 6:15:06 AM
Subject: Re: Sting the stinger - This is just embarrassing

Dear Start,

By now everybody knows that James O'Keefe, the anti-ACORN video stinger, is willing to lie, manipulate, and apparently break the law, in pursuit of his extremist agenda. Monday, sources inside the Brooklyn District Attorney's office, as reported by the New York Post (long hostile to ACORN) said the videos were a "heavily edited splice job".[1] The New York Daily News further reported that sources in the DA's office, which reviewed the unedited New York tapes as part of a five month investigation -- the first time anyone not associated with O'Keefe has seen unedited tapes -- said "they edited the tape to meet their agenda"![2]

As Media Matters columnist Eric Bohlert writes, "the '70s-era, blacksploitation pimp costume was a propaganda tool used to later deceive the public about the undercover operation."[3] If you watched the videos you probably thought he wore that suit inside our offices. He didn't. He dressed as a professional and presented himself as a boyfriend trying to help his girlfriend escape from an abusive pimp, something also noted in former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger's December 2009 investigation of ACORN.[4]

So why, then, does America's newspaper of record, the New York Times, insist in report after report -- as recently as March 1st -- that he presented himself as a pimp in our offices?[5] Can you send an email to the Times' Public Editor and tell him to retract the Times' erroneous reporting about O'Keefe and ACORN?

There are two critical reasons why this matters and my friend Brad Friedman of The Brad Blog lays them out nicely:

"Because O'Keefe is now facing federal felony charges and his past credibility is important to the future proceedings and because these videos, and the Times reports on them, resulted in the U.S. Congress passing legislation to deny ACORN federal funding based on what appears to be an entirely phony premise which … the Times went along with, in error, time and again." [6]

Incredibly, the New York Times' first response when challenged their reporting was to say, "If there is a correction to be made, it seems it would start with Mr. O'Keefe himself. We believe him. Therefore there is nothing for us to correct."[7]

Wow. To say that in the face of everything that's been laid out about how O'Keefe operates - lies, manipulation, even alleged illegal actions - well, that's just embarrassing.

Can you tell Clark Hoyt, The New York Times' Public Editor, that The Times needs to retract its past ACORN stories and report the truth about the anti-ACORN sting operation from now on?

The New York Times played a significant role in the breathtaking rush to judgment instigated by O'Keefe's work. As the blogger Digby said about the Times and other mainstream media, "in rushing to judgment they also failed in their journalistic duty to figure out if this story was true." [8] The Times perpetuated the idea that his videos represented what ACORN workers do all day. They do not. ACORN organizers spend their days talking with working families and helping them take action on issues like foreclosure prevention, raising the minimum wage, fighting for jobs, and working to hold the banksters accountable for their destruction of the economy.

That work, combined with our tireless efforts engaging working families and families of color in the electoral process, are the real reasons why O'Keefe and his corporate-funded backers in the attack media targeted ACORN.

The Times continues to refuse to state the obvious-that O'Keefe deceived the public, specifically by editing in "b-roll" of his absurd costume and more broadly by misrepresenting what ACORN organizers do. This despite the clear admission by O'Keefe co-conspirators Hannah Giles and Andrew Breitbart both being caught on tape saying he never wore the pimp suit in any ACORN office.[9] Despite the findings of the Harshbarger report. Despite Breitbart's admission that the pimp get-up was just a marketing gimmick. [10]

In fact, Clark Hoyt continues to profess, "I still don't see that a correction is in order, because that would require conclusive evidence that The Times was wrong, which I haven't seen." [11]

Can you help Mr. Hoyt see the conclusive evidence by sending him a letter in his role as the Public Editor of the New York Times?

With your help we can set the record straight and put America's newspaper of record on notice that we expect it to live up to its responsibility to us and to our democratic system and report the truth.

Lots of people have asked me why we don't just drop the topic of O'Keefe's video scam and move on. Believe me, no one would like to close the book on this story more than I would.. But the truth is important, and the truth is the lies that O'Keefe peddled and that news outlets that should know better continue to perpetuate, to this day, not only hurt ACORN -- they represent standing threat against anyone who empowers poor people and people of color in this country.

With your help we can help strengthen democracy in America and make sure that working families have a strong voice in 2010 and beyond.



In solidarity and strength,

Bertha Lewis
ACORN CEO and Chief Organizer

[1] Alex Ginsberg and Murray Weiss, New York Post, March 2, 2010,
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/acorn_set_up_by_vidiots_da_x16IroTf4AsXCI19nttFLL

[2] Mike Madden, Salon.com, March 1, 2010,
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/03/01/acorn_cleared

[3] Eric Bohlert, Media Matters for America, February 17, 2010,
http://mediamatters.org/columns/201002170008

[4] Report of former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger.
http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12439&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=22649&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12340&cHash=acfa3c666a

[5] Andy Newman, The New York Times, March 1, 2010,
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/nyregion/02acorn.html

[6] Brad Friedman, The Brad Blog, February 23, 2010, http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7715
[7] Greg Brock, Senior Editor of Standards for the New York Times as reported by Brad Friedman, The Brad Blog, February 23, 2010, http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7715
[8] Digby, Feb 22, 2010, http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html
and also here:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2010/02/22/acorn_muckraking_open2010/index.html

[9] Max Blumenthal, Conversation at the Conservative Political Action Convention, February, 2010,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vztHmjV5134

[10] Brad Friedman, The Brad Blog, February 21, 2010, http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7710
[11] Clark Hoyt, Public Editor of the New York Times as reported by Brad Friedman, The Brad Blog, February 23, 2010, http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7715

© 2009 ACORN and ACORN logo are Registered Trademarks of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Inc.

ACORN is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, with over 500,000 member families organized into neighborhood chapters in 71 cities across the country. Since 1970 ACORN has taken action and won victories on issues of concern to our members. Our priorities include: better housing for first time homebuyers and tenants, living wages for low-wage workers, more investment in our communities from banks and governments, and better public schools. ACORN is an acronym, and each letter should be capitalized. ACORN stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
 


3.03.2010

"I'm simply your mother, like when a hoard of bullies is attacking you." SL

"I'm simply your mother, like
when a hoard of bullies is attacking you; cuz they are.
You are damn right I'm harsh, rough, aggressive, out-there;
just like she would be if she saw the same attack on you, that I do."  SL

"Do you burn hot enough to start a fire?" Start

"Do you burn hot enough to start a fire?"  Start

"She who would give light, must endure burning." 
Eleanor Roosevelt

SL here. URGENT, FRIENDS.


3.02.2010

SL here. I found my $.50 Crucifix. That beings tears toward my eyes, why?

Please don't ever assume my Love of Jesus is traditional in ANY way.
See here:  http://thechristlikechurch.blogspot.com/

Around Christ-mass time one of the pleasures my suburban zombie
sisters and brothers give themselves is an annual visit to DC to
do something for the poor - their not-my-family.  It does wonders to
refresh their illusions that they are not Dead.  Did you know that
Washington, DC, capitol of the wealthiest country in history,
in the US is:

#1 most powerful population of elites in the world!

#1 in concentration of the top 10 richest counties as suburbs (3) !!!!!!

#1 in child poverty!!!

#1 in mortality from HIV/AID!!!!

#1 in lowest life expectancy in the country!!!!!

See here:

DN! Washington, DC - 3rd World Capital

Well, anyway, at Christ-mass time they come out from their mansions
in their gated communities with their food bags, my zombie siblings,
or whatever, for we poor.  One bag I got had a simple wooden Crucifix,
on the type of faux leather thong you'd use to make something
at summer camp.  My $2.50 Crucifix I wear under my clothes, always,
but this one is larger and can go over my clothes.  But about 3 weeks
ago it went missing.  I looked everywhere.  I was sooooo sad to lose it.

What magic draws me to these Crucifixes, and those on my head?  Love.

Turns out that my beloved sister Connie found it, and I got it today.
Tears of Joy and Relief came toward my eyes.  Why?  A $.50 Cross.
Still moves me toward tears hours later.

Reminds me of the time 5 years or so ago my little Catholic sister and
I were in Texas on a business trip.  Out of Love for her I attended her
Sunday Mass with her, and we were tapped to carry the chalice and Hosts up
to the alter.  I sobbed and quaked uncontrollably.  Brings tears
to my eyes whenever I think of it, like now.

Hmmmmm.   I do so adore our brother Jesus.   I do indeed.  So did Gandhi.
He Loved us so.


"'Daily Bread' IS Soul Food IS Serving the Needy. There's none other." SL

"'Daily Bread' IS Soul Food
IS Serving the Needy. 
There's none other."  SL

"'Zombies' no longer are fanciful creatures for me. They're but a few of us." SL

"'Zombies' no longer are fanciful creatures for me. 
They're but a VERY few of us. Clinically.  Really.
The living Dead.  Who but Dead folks could spend
ANY time on Pleasures when so many are physically
and Spiritually destitute?  Only living-Dead People. Really."
  SL

Teresa of Calcutta:  'The greatest poverty I've seen in
the world is the poverty of spirit in the west.'

Gandhi was asked what he thought about Western
Civilization:  'I think it would be a good idea.'