From Digby at Hullaballoo

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/


But first there is a need to address more earthly concerns -- mainstream kind of concerns -- and once again, Susan Jacoby is doing the heavy lifting. Here she leads into a quotation made by Robert Green Ingersoll on July 4, 1876, the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence:
Those who cherish secular values have too often allowed conservatives to frame public policy debates as conflicts between "value-free" secularists and religious representatives of supposedly unchanging moral principles. But secularists are not value-free; their values are simply grounded in earthly concerns rather than in anticipation of heavenly rewards or fear of infernal punishments. No one in public life today upholds secularism and humanism in the uncompromising terms used by Ingersoll more than 125 years ago.

"Secularism teaches us to be good here and now. I know nothing better than goodness. Secularism teaches us to be just here and now. It is impossible to be juster than just. Secularism has no 'castles in Spain.' It has no glorified fog. It depends upon realities, upon demonstrations; and its end is to make this world better every day -- to do away with poverty and crime, and to cover the world with happy and contented homes."

These values belong at the center, not in the margins, of the public square. It is past time to restore secularism, and its noble and essential contributions at every stage of the American experiment, to its proper place in our nation's historical memory and vision of the future.

Great words.....I'm actually inspired by them

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Walkers Welcome!

Since July 4 is Independence Day, nothing is more fitting than to make a political statement, especially in the present "climate". I and several others are marching at noon on July 4 in the Pittsville Parade. Our group (Fair Wisconsin) is committed to defeating the ban on marriages and civil unions amendment on the November ballot in WI. We are meeting about 11:30 a.m. near the Lutheran Church as one approaches the town from the north. The walk will be fairly short (through downtown Pittsville) and the parade lasts about 1 hour. Please join us!

I think it's official

Democracy Now! and Free Speech TV will NOT be coming to Marshfield Public Access. After a year of arguments, delays and revision after revision of contract language, I withdrew our request with the consent of the local sponsors. Why?

The last straw concerned the "allocation of costs" agreement. This had nothing to do with the contract with FSTV, rather, it was a statement by the local sponsors that they would be responsible for raising funds in the second year to keep the program on the air, JUST THE SAME AS WISCONSIN RAPIDS IS DOING NOW. We sent a letter assuring the City of such and waited for the City Attorney to get the revised contract back (with another version of the "indemnification clause"). Well, it came back last Saturday with the letter replaced with the aforementioned "Allocation of Costs Agreement" for local sponsors to sign.....here's what its said

"Local sponsors may install the DISH Network receiving equipment and may, but shall not be obligated to, remove said equipment at any time within 30 days following the termination of the Agreement. Local sponsors shall repair any damage caused by removal of said equipment." (my emphasis added)

also this gem:

"Local Sponsors individually, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify City and hold City harmless from any and all liabilities, claims, and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees arising directly or indirectly as costs incurred to implement the Agreement and the retransmission of Free Speech TV programming. It is the intent and purpose of this Agreement and the Local Sponsors to facilitate retransmission of Free Speech TV programming in accordance with the Agreement at no cost to the City of Marshfield, Wisconsin and this Cost Allocation Agreement shall be construed and applied only in a manner which furthers the intent and purpose of the parties hereto." (again, my emphasis added)

I quit....nobody in their right mind would sign that agreement......

Hello? Suicide prevention hotline...?

I spent eight hours yesterday in an Insurance Seminar for Continuing Education requirements...after about six hours they give you a break to keep you from impaling yourself with your own pen....

booooorrrrrrrriiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnggggggg.

Next course?

ETHICS IN INSURANCE SELLING

A Picture is worth a thousand words...

I took up the poster's invitation to copy and reproduce freely.....


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The weekend is fast approaching....

I have an 8 hour CEU out of town on Monday morning so I'll spend most of the weekend anticipating that....

I'm waiting for the infamous friday 5pm news dump...when the Bush Administration dumps its bad news so it will die over the weekend.....I dunno...maybe the Financial records monitoring was the bad news.....

On that subject. I don't think it's quite as bad as some blog are making it out to be. The bad thing is that there is no indication that there were any safeguards put into place to assure...AFFIRMITIVELY ... that no abuse could take place. This Administration believes we should trust them without question but at the same time they're telling us that we can't trust government.

Anyway...feel free to hang comments on any subject you want on this post...if not...have a nice weekend...

(oh yeah, cooking drunken chicken while we talk. First try at it...hope it's good)

Congratulations Tom and company

Just received an email that Tom's Group Rapids Citizens for Peace has their new website up and running.

Here's the link:

http://webpages.charter.net/tomobrien/rapidsforpeace.htm

They will also be in the parade in Wisconsin Rapids this weekend with a float. I am absolutely amazed at the dedication and committment of this group.



Congrats to all.