Everybody Knows with Dr. Bob and Dan-o
CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 has chosen to feature Video the Vote as one of four pieces in its year ending “Keeping Them Honest” segment. Their Video the Vote piece will be featured on the CNN website in the coming days where viewers LIKE YOU will be asked to go to the internet and vote on their favorite segment. If Video the Vote gets the most votes, Ian Inaba, our co-founder (and one of our hardest working volunteers) will win the chance to represent all of us in an interview with Anderson Cooper on New Year’s Eve. More importantly, if Video the Voters get the most votes, we’ll win an opportunity to highlight the continued problem of voter suppression by broadcasting your videos to the CNN audience.
So please vote for Ian Inaba, for Video the Vote and for doing our part to end voter suppression. Cast your ballot at:
CNN Vote Site
So please vote for Ian Inaba, for Video the Vote and for doing our part to end voter suppression. Cast your ballot at:
CNN Vote Site
Lou Peters and others from our own community of alterantive health care practitioners, are spreading the word about new FDA guidance that could potentially create a crisis in our freedom to choose our health care services and products. On April 30, 2007 the FDA will close the public comment period on a "Guidance" that will classify every alternative practice as medicine so that only licensed physicians can carry out the procedure AND many vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc., will suddenly become "untested drugs" that will be forbidden. The Natural Solutions Foundation is an advocacy organization that believes a public outcry is necessary to stop the FDA from "guiding" the industry toward regulation of CAM products, thereby limiting our health care choices. If you share this concern, then share this link to the FDA comment form on this Guidance and urge your friends to comment too: http://tinyurl.com/2u7ghc. For more info, see Health Freedom USA.
The Ohio Community Computing Network encourages you to oppose Ohio Senate Bill 117 (see below). This bill would eliminate local franchising for video services. There are many ramifications to the passage of this bill including:
elimination of PEG access channels (we provide telecourses and share guest speakers on Educational Access), disincentives to build broadband in rural and low-income areas (effecting our ability to serve these areas), removal of local consumer protection (no service requirements, support of community networks, etc.), removal of local control of rights of way (ATT can put a big ugly switcher station on your tree lawn), loss of local revenue, perhaps a quarter million dollars annually in Columbus (pick the City service you want to see cut)
The Post Office is about to accept a hike in its rates that would put diverse and free speech in America at risk. Postal regulators have decided to adopt a plan that locks in special favors to the nation's largest publishers, like Time Warner and Hearst, while unfairly burdening smaller and independent magazines with higher postal rates. You can help reverse this unfair decision by signing our letter demanding that the new postal rates stop favoring Big Media over small publishers: Sign Our Letter to Stamp Out the Rate Hikes
The plan to give Big Media lower rates was submitted by Time Warner, the nation's largest publisher. Surprisingly, postal regulators chose the Time Warner plan -- with no public input -- instead of another proposal that would have imposed an equal increase on all publishers.
If implemented, the Time Warner plan could push many smaller publications to the brink of bankruptcy.
The plan to give Big Media lower rates was submitted by Time Warner, the nation's largest publisher. Surprisingly, postal regulators chose the Time Warner plan -- with no public input -- instead of another proposal that would have imposed an equal increase on all publishers.
If implemented, the Time Warner plan could push many smaller publications to the brink of bankruptcy.
The bad news: Global warming is real. The better news: there are real
ways you can help. In honor of Earth Day, here are five things you can do to make a cleaner planet and a better tomorrow. The best part is they are
low-cost or free -- but have a huge impact.
1. Reduce. Here's a bright idea: Swap out five standard light bulbs for energy-saving compact fluorescents. They use 25% less energy and last 10 times as long. Other ways to save: unplug unused appliances and take public transit. For more cool tips, go to the Natural Resources Defense Council website: Act for Change
2. Offset. Once you've done what you can to reduce your impact on the environment, offset the rest. Make a donation to reverse the greenhouse gases you produce. Go to CarbonFund.org: CarbonFund
1. Reduce. Here's a bright idea: Swap out five standard light bulbs for energy-saving compact fluorescents. They use 25% less energy and last 10 times as long. Other ways to save: unplug unused appliances and take public transit. For more cool tips, go to the Natural Resources Defense Council website: Act for Change
2. Offset. Once you've done what you can to reduce your impact on the environment, offset the rest. Make a donation to reverse the greenhouse gases you produce. Go to CarbonFund.org: CarbonFund
If you or someone you know is suffering from a debilitating
condition or if you are a medical professional, a member of law
enforcement, or a public official, your presence during the
lobby day could be tremendously influential. Please remember to
dress and act professionally; we want to engage legislators, not
alienate them.
If you are unable to come to the Statehouse on April 26, you can still take action by sending a letter to your legislators urging them to sponsor medical marijuana legislation this year Website
We've provided sample letters to get you started, but a personally crafted letter is much more effective than a form letter. Please take a moment to personalize the letter before sending it to your legislator.
Please take action now.
If you are unable to come to the Statehouse on April 26, you can still take action by sending a letter to your legislators urging them to sponsor medical marijuana legislation this year Website
We've provided sample letters to get you started, but a personally crafted letter is much more effective than a form letter. Please take a moment to personalize the letter before sending it to your legislator.
Please take action now.
Dear voting reform activists:
If you go to the following link:
HBO Show
you will find that Bill Maher's show on HBO has a poll asking whether voter fraud or voter suppression is the biggest threat to our elections.
Of course, this poll completely ignores the fact that fraud by election officials or election machine makers is actually the biggest threat to our elections. In addition, this poll leads the debate away from the real issue and indicates that they will do a show which ignores the real issue.
It is really a shame that Bill Maher and HBO would fail to discuss all aspects of the need to reform our voting system in order to preserve our democracy. I hope that Bill has the courage to revise this poll and have a real debate about this fundamental issue.
If you go to the following link:
HBO Show
you will find that Bill Maher's show on HBO has a poll asking whether voter fraud or voter suppression is the biggest threat to our elections.
Of course, this poll completely ignores the fact that fraud by election officials or election machine makers is actually the biggest threat to our elections. In addition, this poll leads the debate away from the real issue and indicates that they will do a show which ignores the real issue.
It is really a shame that Bill Maher and HBO would fail to discuss all aspects of the need to reform our voting system in order to preserve our democracy. I hope that Bill has the courage to revise this poll and have a real debate about this fundamental issue.
The controversy over Don Imus' racist remarks goes far beyond one bigoted commentator. But getting rid of Imus won't fix the media problem. Most of our TV and radio stations are owned by giant corporate conglomerates. They don't represent the views of most Americans -- and they make huge profits off the public airwaves. What we need are more diverse, independent and local media owners. Yet right now less than 10% of TV and radio stations are owned by people of color or women.
But instead of addressing this national disgrace, the Federal Communications Commission is actually trying to let the largest companies buy up even more stations!
Tell the FCC: We Need More Diversity in the Media
What Imus said is just the tip of the iceberg. Scores of other TV and radio hosts regularly make racist and sexist comments. The best way to stop this race to the bottom is to change who's sitting at the top -- and making the decisions about who's behind the mic.
But instead of addressing this national disgrace, the Federal Communications Commission is actually trying to let the largest companies buy up even more stations!
Tell the FCC: We Need More Diversity in the Media
What Imus said is just the tip of the iceberg. Scores of other TV and radio hosts regularly make racist and sexist comments. The best way to stop this race to the bottom is to change who's sitting at the top -- and making the decisions about who's behind the mic.
On Tuesday, in anticipation of the Bush veto, Senator Russ Feingold
will formally propose legislation that will effectively end the
current military mission in Iraq and begin the redeployment of U.S.
forces. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is joining Feingold in this
call.
We need as many Senators as possible to go on the record in support of this bill before Tuesday so it can be introduced with overwhelming support that reflects the will of the people.
The Feingold/Reid bill requires the President to begin safely redeploying U.S. troops from Iraq 120 days from enactment, as required by the emergency supplemental spending bill the Senate recently passed. The bill ends funding for the war, with three narrow exceptions, effective March 31, 2008.
Tell your Senators: Join Feingold and Reid in the fight against Bush's veto of a timeline for bringing the troops home
ACT FOR CHANGE
Will Easton, Manager, ActForChange.com
We need as many Senators as possible to go on the record in support of this bill before Tuesday so it can be introduced with overwhelming support that reflects the will of the people.
The Feingold/Reid bill requires the President to begin safely redeploying U.S. troops from Iraq 120 days from enactment, as required by the emergency supplemental spending bill the Senate recently passed. The bill ends funding for the war, with three narrow exceptions, effective March 31, 2008.
Tell your Senators: Join Feingold and Reid in the fight against Bush's veto of a timeline for bringing the troops home
ACT FOR CHANGE
Will Easton, Manager, ActForChange.com
As big media faces a more public-interest oriented Congress, some public policy battles are moving to state legislatures. Phone giants interested in entering the video market want to get rid of local franchising, the locale-by-locale permission to use public right-of-ways that cable companies have had to secure.
A community with enough foresight to take advantage of franchising--and Columbus, regrettably, has not--has been able to leverage Public, Educational and Government (PEG) channels with budgets to run them, to provide high-speed governmental and civic sector networks, to require services in low-income communities, and to generate other benefits, services and local income.
A community with enough foresight to take advantage of franchising--and Columbus, regrettably, has not--has been able to leverage Public, Educational and Government (PEG) channels with budgets to run them, to provide high-speed governmental and civic sector networks, to require services in low-income communities, and to generate other benefits, services and local income.