I wish I could. THe BIG story is the decay of the Republican Party. They're going to try to take everybody down with them. As if we didn't already know that.

What I was musing on, though, is the fact that earlier this week, to criticize Susan G. Komen Foundation was to commit an almost unpardonable offense, at least in the United States. ALL that goodwill is now gone. It's stunning how short-sighted their organization is.

I was also thinking about what you wrote in the latest newsletter re: Neptune.

on the way in to work.

One of the major companies that I sell has a major year-end sale discount/donation to Breast Cancer research (and I think specifically Komen) every year. I was just contemplating calling them and telling them they might need to reconsider doing this as it might actually hurt sales this year.

I also wonder what else is coming down the pike.

I have always bucked the system and have never felt comfortable with an organization simply because they're listed as "nonprofit" and have a 501(c)3 status. There are many others doing good work and do not have that status (it's not easy to obtain a 501(c)3 status NOR -- and this is important -- is it inexpensive). The other efforts doing good work are often shunned in many ways because they don't have that status or a "brand."

I've been slammed by many a progressive for not making Wishadoo a non-profit. What people don't seem to get is that having that label is not an indication of any type of organizational integrity whatsoever; it's a matter of taxes, and donors wanting a tax write-off.

If the only reason someone supports an organization or issue is largely because they get a tax write-off, that's one more symptom of our sick capitalism-run-amok society.

Speaking of nonprofits and brands:




End rant.

I have a feeling those criminals are hiring extra attorneys these days. They are getting hit on many levels in many different countries.
No one deserves a tombstone more than they do.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/komen-revises-funding-policy/2012/02/03/gIQAVRa3mQ_story.html?wpisrc=al_national

Komen revises funding policy



By Sarah Kliff and Lena H. Sun, Friday, February 3, 10:41 AM

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Foundation Friday announced it would revise a controversial new policy that barred the organization from funding Planned Parenthood.

The foundation said that Planned Parenthood would now be eligible to apply for grants. It did not, however, address other reasons Komen has cited for why it might choose not to approve such grants.

http://starcodes.wordpress.com/






Thursday’s Full Moon in Leo can be a lot of fun if we’re in an extroverted or melodramatic mood. Headlines speak in broad sweeps, so have pity on anyone who makes a mistake in the public eye. Women may spearhead interesting political shifts, and all of us may feel creatively restless. But this Full Moon can also bring up tension between our ideals and our desires. It may help us all to mumble the serenity prayer as we bench press discernment between what we can and should change, and what we need to release. Our control issues may be the first to go.

when the Moon goes into Cancer and forms the handle of a bucket pattern = Cancer energy = emotional

This afternoon around 4 PM I started feeling sad and have been feeling progressively sadder since. i wonder if it is because of the moon going into Cancer and forming a bucket.
At least the bucket will hold tears.

try to get in touch with your feelings with no "shoulda thoughts" getting in the way. It's your true needs speaking to you. That's the real advantage of Cancerian Moons. Good luck.

P.S. Everyone, now and then, you have to look at the WHOLE ZODIAC as one piece to see what's happening; just knowing where Venus is or the Moon doesn't suffice. Many websites show this.

We are going to get our taxes done tonight! ((((Shiver))) I don't want any emotions with the math! Bad mixture that!

stop getting scared every time I say something. These planets have been going round and round and round forever, it's called life.
A little sensitivity, that's all this is causing.

on Howler Avenue

the woman who did our taxes was a nightmare! I'm seriously considering fileing a complaint with H and R block.

The Moon in cancer?

it will go on most of the weekend

Had a very emotional weekend. Old emotional issues were triggered and realized starting on Friday. Hope it doesn't continue too long.

Thanks for the link, Howler!

Don't want to post the names, but some of the 'biggies' in the world of non-profits and NGOs are going down, possibly as soon as this year. Not going to be pretty.

is the fact that "the race for the cure" is a basic scam. There is no cure nor will there ever be with pharmaceutical drugs which is the only thing they fund the research for. Having said that ,there's headway with stem cell research, but..now what?

The race keeps alive the myth that nothing can be done when you have cancer. It shuns alternative views and modes of true healing. All those ribbons and cure campaigns do little for the diseases they are trying to cure, but do everything for the research dept. It's all about money. They don't want to find the answers. They want to keep being employed at the lab. Sorry. It really pisses me off!

This week has been a real pain in the ass. First, my favorite cousin passed away quite suddenly. Heart attack -- no warning -- he was never sick, and looked like the picture of health and had checked out perfectly at his last doctor's appointment. Then last Saturday he had just finished cutting the grass and was putting the lawn mower away, and basically dropped dead. The paramedics said he was probably gone before he hit the ground. Damn!!! I really loved that guy -- we're only 3 years apart in age, and lived close to each other as children so we were more like siblings than cousins.

Then, Wednesday morning I woke up to find a small wet patch in the hall carpet. I didn't think too much of it. Just figured I'd spilled some water and not noticed. So I blotted it up and went on about things. I noticed it again Wednesday night, and figured something was up and decided to call a plumber the next morning. Well, the next morning the entire hall, linen closet, living room and master bedroom closet were completely flooded. I called the plumber who called an water extraction service and they all came out together and it took them hours to locate the leak. Finally they cut out a huge chunk of the living room wall and found it. One of the pipes going to the hall bathroom tub had burst and was spraying water all over. What. A. Mess.

They pulled up all the carpet from living room and hall (no biggie -- I didn't like that carpet anyway), and pulled up the flooring in the bathroom and part of my bedroom. Then they put those horribly loud fans in here to dry thing out, and to speed things along, they heated the house up to 104 degrees. Holy crap. The insurance company paid for 2 nights in a hotel, but what to do about the animals? I closed them in the front bedroom with the windows open and the ceiling fan on and lots and lots of water. Poor things. I hated to leave them in the heat, but there was no choice. Non of the local kennels had any spots available.

The good news is they were able to get it all dried out in 24 hours (some kind of different, patented process they have), and I could stay here last night. I immediately opened all the windows and turned on the attic fan to get it cooled down. Now it's time to rebuild and redecorate, I guess.

What a series of hard things to have happen- you have my sympathy!

Hoping that redecorating and rebuilding has fun parts to it!

Blessings to you and your cousin and all who were close to him.

sorry
good luck

Massive car problems hit us, costing WAY more to fix than what we have on hand. Thursday was the day when self doubt and regrets bubbled over and the net result was a huge self examination of what I am doing and why I'm doing it. I hit meltdown point and began to feel that I had put my family in a really percarious financial situation due to my own ambitions.

By Friday things had come round to the point that I've pulled my socks up and moved on. The car repairs were negotiated down to a manageable level, and with that resolution came the realization that I honestly am blessed because nobody I love is dead, dying, or laying in an ICU unit. What I am doing is no cause for "guilt" because I am honestly working to get ahead and make life better for my entire family, not just myself. Some sacrifice is involved, but it really is manageable, and it is only a temporary thing that will pass within the next couple years.

Friday evening we attended the local NAACP dinner and we were surrounded by friends and like minded people. What a huge boost that was! (I cannot begin to explain what a comfort my online friends and my "in person" friends have been! I love you all!) The keynote speaker had a main theme that "one day is today, and today is right now." Dr King spoke of "one day" and it really is too easy to sit and wait for "one day" to come--instead of getting out there and working to make "one day" a reality. It really doesn't matter what your issue is--stand up and act NOW!

As for the meltdown of the Komen foundation, I truely am sorry for all the women who may face a reduction in access to health care as a result of their actions. Make no mistake, in spite of the capitulation, there will still be women doing without, and programs that we all need will be left unfunded. Komen Foundation has done a lot to bring the issue of breast cancer to the front of people's minds--even if it is a sanitized version of reality--and even if it has been flawed by politics. Much as I dislike what they just did, I have got to celebrate anything and anybody that can mobilize people to action. I can only hope that people will not abandon the lesson taught about being personally involved. Remember, "One day is today, and today is RIGHT NOW!"

Peace to you all!



Laura

I belong to an organization called Romance Writers of America. It's considered the romance authors' guild. We offer training and information to those choosing to work in the romance industry. There are 10,000 members around the United States, with RWA chapters in most major American cities. (Seattle has three chapters, for instance.)

RWA chapters fundraise to cover meeting expenses. One of the things most chapters do is offer contests. In other words, one pays an entry fee. If you win (or "final",) your work will be seen by agents and editors that volunteer to judge the finalist entries. Over the weekend, a chapter in Oklahoma decided they would not allow LGBT entries in their contest. In other words, anyone entering a same-sex romance (which are gaining popularity in the genre,) would be excluded.

Imagine my surprise to learn that RWA does not feature the typical anti-discrimination verbiage in their bylaws at both a national and local level.

Romance Writers of America is being SHELLED today by angry members. If you're curious to read some of the fallout, please click on the following.

http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/blog/romance-writers-ink-contest-an-exercise-in-discrimination

Suzanne Brockmann is a multi-NYT bestselling author. She writes romantic suspense. She has featured same-sex relationships in her novels. To say she's outraged is an understatement.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/suzanne-brockmann/thoughts-on-the-discomfort-of-discrimination-my-books-are-not-welcome-at-mtm/270910816310433

Obviously, most of ASAH isn't affected by this, but again - another brand is falling on their sword, instead of taking steps to remedy an obviously unacceptable situation.

Thanks for these links. I need some new authors to read.

Glad the national board is following up and that the complaints made an impact on the offending chapter.

Melissa, what do you like to read? I can recommend the following.

Contemporary - Jennifer Crusie, Julie James, Jill Shalvis, Shannon Stacey, Susan Mallery

Historical - Cecelia Grant (she's a member of my chapter, GSRWA) Joanna Bourne, Loretta Chase, Meredith Duran, Sherry Thomas, Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, and again, Christina Dodd

Romantic suspense - Suzanne Brockmann, Christina Dodd

I don't read paranormals, but Laurie London is another member of our chapter. I read her debut book, and really enjoyed it!

I tend to read all an author has in print. Just waiting for new books there. There is one due out at the end of the month.

I read about 3 books a week. I am always looking for new authors!

I've read a lot of Susan Mallery on a binge a while back. Have read a lot of Julia Quinn, some Lisa Kleypas (that is hit and miss for me). Julie James sounds familiar- with the volume of books I go through, I often only remember the names of those writers that I binge read.

Things I like to read include historical romance, contemporary, mystery- basically anything at all that is well written. I like books about places I want to be. (Stabenow- Alaska or Nevada Barr series) Reading becomes like a mini vacation for me.

I've read most of the local writers (Austin, Texas) I used to read a lot of science fiction (cyberpunk Gibson), fantasy, (Roger Zelazny was a fav) and tons of mysteries, general fiction and then lots of esoteric yoga and astrology books.

Okay, I admit it.. I'm an omnivorous reader.

I hope you are on that list you sent. I'll check out some of the other authors.
Thanks so much for compiling the list!