President Al Gore at the Dollar Tree

Oh, Dollar Tree, how I love you so!  Who would have thought that I would score all of these phenomenal books for just ONE BUCK?  If you are unaware, Dollar Tree often carries a line of books (and apparently books on CD) that, for some reason, did not sell on a retail (much more expensive) level.  This evening, I stumbled upon a treasure trove of books that I would love to read but am far too lazy and distracted to actually sit down and dedicate time.  But the best part is - I FOUND THEM ON CD!  My finds include, "Broken Government" by John Dean, "Between Worlds" by Bill Richardson, "America Back on Track" by Sanator Edward Kennedy and "Assault on Reason" by President Al Gore.  

I started listening to Senator Kennedy's book in the car as I dropped off some winter clothes to the brave women and men at the Occupy Des Moines encampment - but now that I am home, I have moved on to listening to President Gore's book about the Assault on Reason.  I mention this because he speaks a great deal on the first CD about the importance of a Free Press in our Democracy and how we just don't have it since the Television took over the Printing Press.  The fact that all media is owned by a tiny group of super-rich men who are profit driven, even when delivering the news, has put our Democracy on the brink.  He threw out a great statistic that cited a study about the freedom of press.  An independent study showed that THE UNITED STATES HAS THE 53RD  FREEST PRESS IN THE WORLD.  This reminded me of another study I read about last night which stated that those who watch FOX news are actually LESS INFORMED THAN THOSE WHO WATCH NO NEWS AT ALL.  

Fox News' comedy show, "O'Reilly Factor" put out an interesting spin today about the pepper-spraying of students at UC Davis.  A guest reminded us that Pepper Spray is actually a product of Pepper.  So I guess she meant pepper spraying peaceful college protesters is a GOOD THING? WTF?  Another correspondent was insistent that they cease even talking about the Occupy Wall Street protests because in his opinion, they had already devoted enough time to the movement.  Indeed, Fox "News" is far more interested in telling us about how much time Lindsay Lohan will not spend in jail for her transgressions.  HELP!  Our media has been hijacked by stupid, mindless bullshit stories - and Fox is leading the way! 

So here is the question of the day - where the hell is Al Gore while we wage this battle against the machine?  As we yell, as we scream, as we cry about the insane injustice of income disparity where is the person the American People voted as president in 2000?  As we FINALLY find a voice through social networking and the internet, where is President Gore to support us - the ones he wrote about in his book just a few short years ago?  Since he helped invent the internet, I think President Gore owes it to the people now using this medium to bring about change and give an accurate report about social unrest ... 

I feel like Lisa Simpson when she purchased one of Al Gore's books and a secret alarm was triggered at President Gore's house that someone had actually purchased one of his publications.  If that alarm has yet again been triggered by my purchase of your Book on CD at the Dollar Tree - I implore you, Mr. President, COME, JOIN US - WE ARE THE 99% AND WE ARE LOCATED AT STEWART SQUARE ON 14TH AND EAST GRAND IN DES MOINES, IOWA!

Paris Hilton Joins the Occupy Des Moines Movement ...

So in case you don't know, NOT ALL OCCUPIERS ARE UNEMPLOYED.  Underemployed, CERTAINLY.  Laid off, ABSOLUTELY.  Looking for work because they are over-educated in an under-educated work environment - MOST DEFINITELY!  However, I am none of the above.  I am SELF-EMPLOYED.  Sure, I don't make a great deal of moolah, but I am fortunate that I have a creative outlet so that I don't have to kill chipmunks as sacrifice to the Crazy Gods in the front yard.  

I am - of all things - a Talent Agent!  I know, RIGHT?  How Odd!?  In Des Moines, Iowa? WTF?  It's an interesting story indeed, and one I am not going to entirely share right here, right now.  However, I can assure you, my diligent reader, that it can indeed be time consuming - which can explain away my blogging absence.  

So it's been a while since I last blogged.  Certainly, this lack of blog presence has not been from lack of interest.  Instead, it has been from lack of energy.  Do you ever feel yourself overwhelmed by work, the kids, cleaning the house, washing the nasty car, keeping up with the latest and greatest AND maintaining your presence in a protest and blog about said protest?  Well, that was me for a solid week and a half - for sure!  THANK DOG for Vivarin and Coffee - not to mention the much needed ADD meds prescribed by my much loved V.A. doctor!  

So I am back, and just as fantastic as ever.  So much has happened with the Occupy Des Moines movement since last I blogged that it is simply impossible to update everything in just one blog post.  However, I can say that we had a wonderful rally yesterday at the 'Religious Coalition for Suppression of Critical Thought' on the West Side of Des Moines.  Heaven and I got amazing footage of it and with any luck I might be able to edit it down within the next day or so.  That greatly depends on whether I finish a music video that I promised to some fine folks at a certain television network owned by a certain multi-media phenom who presided over her OWN show for 25 years before recently retiring (hint, hint, wink, wink).  So as soon as I finish that project - I will for sure - upload yesterday's protest.

The most noteworthy point that I must update, in my opinion, is that the Occupy the Iowa Caucuses event is scheduled for December 27-January 3 and we ARE INVITING THE WORLD to JOIN US in Des Moines, Iowa.  It is my greatest hope that we host 100,000 Occupiers from across the nation to our fine state for this never-before-attempted feat.  Keep your fingers crossed with me, dear reader - and spread the word.   

OCCUPY THE IOWA CAUCUSES IS DEVELOPING AND GAINING STEAM.  

We're in it to win it!  

JOIN US!

First in the Nation Caucus Occuption BayBay!

Have you ever been so tired that you feel like you're walking around in a daze/dream-like state?  That's been me for the past three days.  As stated in a previous blog, protesting, while keeping on with your regular, already demanding schedule is absolutely exhausting.  I am now convinced that Elizabeth Cady Stanton was secretly the inventor of espresso.  Seriously, how do these trail blazers stay awake?  I don't think I've ever looked forward to the end of daylight savings time so much in my life.  Do you imagine my babies will honor the extra hour of sleep promised by this odd tradition?  Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too ...

Anyway, Heaven had her court date on November 2nd and it was a HUGE VICTORY!  She gave a fantastic presentation to the mediator regarding how she came to be in the situation in which she was arrested for protesting.  To make a long story super-duper short, the charges were dropped.  They decided not to pursue a case against the high reaching teenage honor student for exercising her first amendment right to free speech.  Imagine that.  

Planning for the First in the Nation Caucus Occupation is coming along beautifully.  As I write this blog, I am technically supposed to be at another meeting to help hammer out the many, many details of the upcoming occupation - but if you skipped the first paragraph, now is a good time to review why I am not currently there, and instead chose to chillax for the evening.  

Anyway, we have a tentative schedule mapped out for the Occupation.  I will put it below so you can start planning ahead.  We have broken into interest groups to assist with the aspects of the planning that interest each person.  I have found myself on the Kick Off Event Committee and helping find Super Sexy Speakers for said event.  God help them, they know not what they have put me in charge of!  We shall see what we can come up with on this one - I'm hoping for awesome, cool Super Sexy Speakers.  FINGERS CROSSED!

So, SAVE THESE DATES:
Tentative schedule for the First in the Nation Caucus Occupation:

Monday, December 26, 2011 - Travel Day - Oh Come Ye, DESCEND ON DES MOINES, IOWA!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011 - KICK OFF EVENT.  Occupation Caucus, let your voice be heard - vote for the who, where and when for our peaceful, non-violent protests - just like the regular Caucuses, only more exciting!


Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, December 28 - 30, 2011 - Days of Direct Action.  Join us for protests of candidate's offices and functions. Be heard, be seen, be a presence!  


Saturday, Sunday and Monday, December 31, 2011 - January 2, 2012 - MORE ACTIONS, TBA!


Tuesday, January 3, 2012 - Iowa Caucuses.  Action(s) to be determined.  


Everyone is encouraged to attend, participate and invite everyone you know!  This is a really big, hairy, exciting deal!  It's finally good to be an Iowan!  Yay Corn!

 

Damn It! Occupy Des Moines Makes CNN and I had NOTHING to do with it!

Crappity Crackers!  I haven't missed many General Assembly meetings (every night at 6 PM for anyone who has yet to join us) since the beginning of the Occupy Des Moines movement began.  However, YESTERDAY I took the kids trick-or-treating at Merle Hay Mall instead of fulfilling my moral obligation by putting my two cents in the the meeting.  CRAP!  Of all the GAs to miss!  That's what I get for whoring myself out for candy!  Grrrr!!! What a shocker it was to learn from CNN and the Des Moines Register that Occupy Des Moines will be making a presence/sit-in at the Iowa caucuses from December to January!  Holy moly crap-a-noly!  That'll teach me to take those kids to their events instead of going to the General Assembly!

So CNN was at the encampment yesterday and though the planning is still REALLY, REALLY, REALLY early in the process, apparently we are going to make some kind of a presence at the Iowa Caucuses.  Just for the record ...

LOVE IT!

Seriously, I absolutely love the concept of making a presence during the Iowa Caucuses.  There are only a teeny tiny few things for which the state of Iowa is known; graft in the State Film Commission, Corn Flakes, Ethanol Subsidies and THE IOWA CAUCUSES.  Of Course we should have some kind of presence, taking politicians to task about their allegiance with big monied interests during our moment in the spotlight.  Hell, the only thing that SERIOUSLY disappoints me with this plan is that I DIDN'T THINK OF IT!  DAMN IT!  

So I don't yet know what the activities will entail and I don't know yet how involved I will be in said actions surrounding the Iowa Caucuses, but all will be revealed and hashed out tomorrow after the GA at an 8:00 PM committee meeting for all interested in participating in this fun-filled event (hint, hint to all you by-standers).  Let me tell you, that is ONE committee meeting I WON'T miss!  

FINALLY, Heaven has her court appearance in juvenile court tomorrow morning at 10 AM.  This is our first rodeo with the Juvenile system so we are really going in not knowing AT ALL what to expect.  Our fantastic pro-bono attorney from the Drake Law Center has given us some (presumably) fantastic advice and a heads up about what will happen tomorrow.  I hope for a relatively decent presence from the fine folks with the occupation tomorrow morning.  Though, I am not sure how the Juvenile Court System folks will feel about our Motley Crew showing up in force.  It will certainly be a sight and an experience worth documenting on this humble, humble blog.  

So much to talk about in the weeks to come.  I am excited about the direction this movement seems to be taking and the folks who share this passion are fantastic, stand up folks!  I mean it, they really are awesome!  If you have yet to do so, JOIN US!   

My video from the October 9th Arrests - Occupy Des Moines