October 31, 2008
Harry Potter and the Prisoners of Waldemart
Posted by jessica at 04:52 PM
October 16, 2008
Best of Craigslist: A Posting from Blue to Red
best of craigslist : "Dear Red States..." A Letter From The Blue!
"Dear Red States..." A Letter From The Blue!
Date: 2005-06-24, 11:54AM PDT
Dear Red States...
We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and
we're taking the other Blue States with us.
In case you aren't aware, that includes Hawaii, Oregon,Washington,
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We
believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially
to the people of the new country of New California.
To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states.
We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get Elliot
Spitzer. You get Ken Lay.
We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood.
We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.
We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss.
We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You
get Alabama.
We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states
pay their fair share.
Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the
Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a
bunch of single moms.
Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and
anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at
once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have
kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no
purpose, and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their
children's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq, and
hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our
resources in Bush's Quagmire.
With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent
of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple
and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of
America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners)
90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most
of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and
condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools, plus Harvard, Yale,
Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.
With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88
percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care
costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the
tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern
Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh,
Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.
We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.
Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was
actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred
unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say
that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved
in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy b*****ds believe you are people
with higher morals then we lefties.
By the way, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt
weed they grow in Mexico.
Peace out,
Blue States
PostingID: 80714812
Posted by jessica at 02:58 PM | Comments (0)
October 02, 2008
Don't Vote
Posted by jessica at 10:46 AM | Comments (0)
September 27, 2008
Bad News
Posted by jessica at 11:28 PM
September 26, 2008
On the Ballot
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
Wondering what's on the ballot in your state? Click on a state at Ballot Initiative Center to find out. Go prepared to the polls this year and informed of what is going on in your start.
And of course, don't forget to vote! It's easy to register if you aren't already; just go to Rock the Vote.
Posted by jessica at 04:44 PM | Comments (0)
September 25, 2008
Giggle Alert: Head of Skate
Posted by jessica at 04:09 PM | Comments (0)
August 29, 2008
Yes, I Am Ready for Change
Clearly I'm a liberal, but more importantly I am an American who is ready to stop talking about party affiliations and bi-partisanship and start talking about how we can be once again the nation that our forefathers (and mothers) set out for us to be as a united country. I'm tired of being a nation suppressed by fear and demoralization. I am tired of having people running this country who don't care about me or you, only about padding their cronies' pockets with the money that real people worked so hard to make and yet see so little of.
I don't necessarily agree with the potential potency of all the policies that Obama is recommending (e.g. bio fuels are a short-term gain with a long-term negative impact on our environment.) but at least he has proven to be someone who focuses on rebuilding a nation, not trying to prove how wrong the other person is through subversive language and hate-mongering.
There was an analysis done on the Obama and McCain community sites recently looking at what word are most often written on either site. You can see the original analysis here, but what's so telling? The most oft-written word on Obama's community site? Obama. On McCain's? Obama.
Anyway, here is the rousing - dare I say electrifying - final words of Obama's acceptance speech last night for the nomination of President by the DNC:
These are the policies I will pursue. And in the weeks ahead, I look forward to debating them with John McCain.But what I will not do is suggest that the Senator takes his positions for political purposes. Because one of the things that we have to change in our politics is the idea that people cannot disagree without challenging each otherâs character and patriotism.
The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America - they have served the United States of America.
So Iâve got news for you, John McCain. We all put our country first.
America, our work will not be easy. The challenges we face require tough choices, and Democrats as well as Republicans will need to cast off the worn-out ideas and politics of the past. For part of what has been lost these past eight years canât just be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits. What has also been lost is our sense of common purpose - our sense of higher purpose. And thatâs what we have to restore.
We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country. The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than for those plagued by gang-violence in Cleveland, but donât tell me we canât uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals. I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination. Passions fly on immigration, but I donât know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers. This too is part of Americaâs promise - the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.
I know there are those who dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer and more honest in our public life is just a Trojan Horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values. And thatâs to be expected. Because if you donât have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you donât have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.
You make a big election about small things.
Posted by jessica at 10:53 AM
July 20, 2008
What's the Matter With Kansas?
This is the kind of thing my new company, Blue State Digital, makes possible through our online networking tools. It's been very exciting to see them at work!
Grass-roots networks in Kansas connecting online - The Boston Globe
Posted by jessica at 09:29 PM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2008
Why is Stephen Colbert a Comedy God?
Warning: A little "blue" humor is involved in this genius comedic "threat down" from the Colbert Report
Posted by jessica at 11:42 PM | Comments (0)
July 30, 2007
"So Sick of Terry Steward"
In my latest quest of trying to make a difference in the world, I have recently joined a service club called Soroptimist International. In the tradition of service clubs of old, like the Rotary Club, Soroptimist is "an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world".
I'm pretty excited about this new adventure, as it is supportive of my deepening interests in organizations and charities, such as Big Sisters, Women for Women International, and Save the Children, that are about creating and nurturing opportunities for women and children to help empower them to improve their lives. But unlike Women for Women and Save the Children, and even Big Sisters, I get to work with a group of women to create programs, raise funds, and even provide scholarships to other women who make a difference in their communities. Big Sisters lets me meet one-on-one with my "Little" which is wonderful and we both have a great time together; Soroptimist lets me do the same thing but in an even bigger scale.
To top if off, I am even one of the four elected officers of our new, yet-to-be-chartered club for the Greater Boston area!
After my first meeting, I came home and told Brendan I had been elected as an officer - the Secretary, to be exact. He was, of course, pleased for me, but I was quite tired from the late meeting and excited for my new position, and as I sat listless on the couch in front of the TV, Brendan says, "Soooooo, Secretary Steward!"
In my near vegetative state I hear it as "Soooooo ...Sick of Terry Steward".
"Who the Hell is Terry Steward?", I query, "And how could you possibly be sick of him if I've never even heard of him before??"
As I work with my fellow Soropotimists in the coming months, stay tuned for more information in my burgeoning role as "Jessica Steward, Hu-man-a-tar-i-aaaaaaaan." [Proclaimed in a big, booming voice]
Posted by jessica at 05:22 PM | Comments (1)
September 23, 2006
And the Rich Keep on Getting Richer...
Forbes latest list of the 400 richest Americans has just come out and needless to say I didn't make it this year. Again. However, 5 of Sam Walton's heirs are on it, and not only that, but they are all within the top 11 richest Americans!
Now why does this bother me? Well, I read a book recently called "Nickled and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America". The author takes minimum wages jobs in various locations around America to see if she can survive on the pay. In her book, she takes a position at Walmart and you get a glimpse of how egregiously Walmart treats their employees, where she works very long hours, is treated poorly, and makes so little money that she has to quit her experiment.
According to Walmart Watch, Walmart has a litany of contemptible qualities as one of America's largest retailers, some of which are:
- Wal-Mart fails to provide health insurance to over half its employees.
- Wal-Mart is the subject of the largest class action lawsuit in history by current and former female employees who were paid and promoted at significantly lower rates than their male co-workers.
- For every new Supercenter that Wal-Mart opens, two local supermarkets will close. How will this affect your town? Big box stores like Wal-Mart spend nearly four times less within local and state economies as local businesses do.
- The average pay for a Wal-Mart sales associate is $1,000 below the poverty line for a family of three. Business as usual? Not necessarily. Retail rival Costco pays its workers 65% more on average than Wal-Mart, yet earns more profits per employee.
That is just a sampling of their despicable behavior: Check out Walmart Watch or Wakeup Walmart for more.
Anyway, it's good to see that Sam Walton's offspring are living lavishly, off of the hard work and exploitation of our country and its working poor. In spite of this, I find it reassuring to know that even a fantastic "roll-back price" can't save you from karmic retribution, so enjoy it while it lasts, Walton family. Who knows, maybe in your next life you'll come back as a Walmart employee.
Posted by jessica at 10:25 AM | Comments (1)
October 10, 2005
Ms. Berner Goes to Washington?
I recently spoke with my old friend, Jenny, ans she informed me that her mother, Georgia, is going to run for Congress!
I've known Georgia since I was 2 years old and she has always been a strong, passionate, and committed person. Her experience with business and her commitment to public service makes her a perfect fit with politics and policy making. I'm so excited for her decision to run for Congress and can't wait to see her go to Washington!
Posted by jessica at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)
October 07, 2005
J.Cruel
Today I innocently checked my hotmail account to find some breaking news from PETA.
As many of you know, I have been a practicing vegetarian for nearly 7 years. I try not to preach too much to others about the ethics of the meat and fur industry, but I do try to let people know occasionally of the inhumane practices of many parts of the animal-as-product industry. Today is one of those days.
The e-mail from PETA was a breaking story about the most inhumane and unthinkable acts of atrocity against dogs and cats in China. Apparently, they are slaughtering cats and dogs for their fur and selling them to the fashion industry, claiming them to be the hides of other more "acceptable" animals. It seems that J.Crew buys fur-trimmed clothing of questionable origin from China.
On the PETA site, they have a video account of the horror these dogs and cats are subjected to. I could only watch the part of the video where the animals are being driven on a truck, stacked in tiny, overcrowded cages to their deaths and then THROWN from the trucks before I had to turn it off. The fear and desperation in the eyes of these animals makes me want to weep even as I write this.
There is absolutely no reason for any animal to be subjected to terrifying and horrifyingly painful deaths as these animals are. I implore any fashion establishment and any person to immediately remove themselves from the unnecessary and despicable fur trading business. The fashion industry drives the demand for fur not the consumer. By letting those who are in the fur trade know that we do not find the torture and murder of innocent animals of any kind to be fashionable, we can put a stop to this absurd and repulsive business.
To my friends and family - please do not buy from J.Crew until they stop buying clothes from these people. It is a small sacrifice to honor the much larger sacrifice of these animals.
And to J.Crew, all I can say is shame on you.
Posted by jessica at 01:56 PM | Comments (0)
May 19, 2005
Henrietta Davis 4 City Councillor 4ever
As I mentioned previously, I am working with City Councillor Henrietta Davis to create a new web site for her during this election year. The format is essentially done! Check out http://www.henriettadavis.org.
She and I will be meeting soon to put updated content, but I wanted to share what I've been working on. My goal for the site was to make it clean and simple, but still visually attractive. The color scheme and layout is in keeping with her campaign literature.
I look forward to the opportunity to continue updating the site to make it even better.
Posted by jessica at 04:25 PM | Comments (0)
May 07, 2005
Getting more involved in the community
I've been wanting to get more involved in my community for quite some time. I've also been struggling for a while to figure out what I want to be when I *ahem* grow up. So I thought I'd touch base with one of our local city councillors, Henrietta Davis, who had advanced degrees in both Social Work and Public Policy, since both her involvement in local politics and her degrees are of great interest to me.
Well, she was not only great to talk to and very helpful, both in terms of career and inspiring me to get more active in the community, but I've signed on to redo her web site, too. I'm in the process of doing it now, so don't check it out yet, but I'll post when it's ready.
Anyway, Henrietta Davis is a great woman and a great city councillor. She is intelligent, compassionate, thoughful, kind, and excellent at her job. She has been on the Council for 10 years and I look forward to helping her campaign out this year. I also warned her that she and I might be on the council together one day! We'll see what happens...
Posted by jessica at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)