This was passed along from Tom Klaus at Advocates for Youth.

Please take one minute and 13 seconds to take a look at the trailer of this new film by Jim Winkle. Jim just completed his MPH at the University of Minnesota and his Master’s thesis was a video documentary titled, “Sex Ed and the State”

The documentary follows a bill through the Minnesota legislature during this past legislative session. It is a good educational piece and a terrific advocacy tool.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Michael Moore’s movies. What is disappointing often times is that they are not given the notice they deserve because he is dismissed for so many reasons.

Those who are the target of his documentaries obviously want to discount the legitimacy of what he finds and many others accuse the content of being fictionalized or sensationalized.  Other people just plain don’t like him and his delivery.

I think Moore’s biggest problem is that he creates such amusing commentary and a “movie-like” feel that it comes off as entertainment and can cloud the issues he is revealing.  Whether you like Michael Moore or not, I recommend that you find that out for yourself and hear what he has to say about the societal problems that many try to ignore.

The health care system is definitely one that needs to go under Michael’s knife!

In a stunning upset over, well, thousands of volunteers, our very own James Mattiace took home the Ben Fain Wheelie Award for Outstanding Volunteer!

First off, James should be honored to get the award that is named after the REAL driver of the BUS, Ben Fain. I had never met Ben before last Saturday, and I am quite sure that a more patient man does not exist in this world. The unruly behavior and shenanigans he was forced to put up with on the drive up and back from Eugene would have driven any lesser man over the edge!

I first met James at a house party at Mark Frohnmayer’s where I was given my first introduction to the Bus. Many beers and many chats later, here I am on the Lane Bus board. The guy knows how to recruit! James’ excitement for politics is infectious and is one of the critical motivators for the Lane Bus experience. This award is a fitting tribute to what he has built here as he now prepares to travel the globe on his Moroccan adventure.

For the Lane Bus folks, The Wheelies turned out to be a perfect culmination of James’ contributions and a passing of the torch to Rose Wilde as the steering board chair. These celebrations took full effect in ways we could not begin to describe or repeat after the show and on the Bus trek from Portland to Eugene!

James and Amanda will be sorely missed and my one hope is that there will be many more beers and chats to be had as the “Mattiace Farewell Party Circuit” rolls on up to their departure! I have no doubt that in two years, he will be back and craving some politics. Either that, or Morocco is about to get a dose of what canvassing is all about!

Congrats James and safe travels!

James basks in the afterglow of his Wheelie award, Cam needs another beer, Mark flashes the peace sign/rabbit ears hybrid, and Mike wonders why he continues to associate himself with the other three.

Lane County District Attorney Doug Harcleroad won’t run for re-election, according to Tuesday’s (6/12) Register Guard , leaving the post open perhaps for his heir-apparent Alex Gardner.

But some whisper that State Senator Floyd Prozanski, who currently represents East Lane and Douglas Counties, including the U of O campus, might consider a go at the post. A major issue the new DA will face is prioritizing public safety objectives in a time of short budgets. How will these gentlemen handle this sticky issue? Harcleroad strongly endorsed the public safety income tax, lending his name to the pro tax campaign (I admit, a difficult issue to decide).

Hmmm… what do we know about Gardner? Course, I can’t help but love Floyd, who always gives me a big grin when I show up at his town hall forms wearing my I’m on the Bus button. Comments?

Chris Jordan of Seattle has created remarkable graphic representations of the harsh statistical reality of our consumer culture. We’re out of control. Perhaps The Bus would consider sponsoring one of his exhibits?

SEE ALL OF THE ARTWORK HERE

Schools probably already have all the money they need. Just need to move money around to pay the bacteria to get back in the toilet. What were they doing in the school’s drinking fountain?

Test: Oregon school’s toilet water cleaner than fountain’s

Hey Lane Bus Friends–

So who is the heck is Rose Wilde and what is a Steering Board Chair? (that’s me in the blue, with Jazzy & Lynn on the way home from the Wheelies) Now, though I don’t have it from Arianna Huffington, I say the Lane Bus has the best looking activists!

I’ll try to answer the first question, as for the second, I’m still figuring that out!

I got on the Bus after years of thinking it was something for high schoolers… but James Mattiace sweet talked me into joining the Lane Steering Board last January and I’ve been sold on “driving change” with the Bus Project all year. James helped me get a support group into Springfield HS years ago, and I hear it is still meeting though I’ve moved on to other work, so I figure I owe him one for that! When he sprung on me that he and Amanda are heading off to Morrocco for a teach abroad experience, I felt the “call”, and our steering board kindly voted me in to carry on James’ excellent tradition here. What an honor!

I don’t know what being chair means to you, so please let me know if I can help [rose DOT wilde AT busproject DOT org]. To me it means keeping a big picture view on the health of our organization, especially tending our Lane Bus Station. Since the Bus is about having a great time doing civic activism, with the other experienced volunteers and committee chairs I help us focuson our mission to make Oregon a better place (i.e. the 6 “E”s) and do it “Bus” style — which might explain some of the pictures of me dancing on the big Bus.

(more…)

Testing positive for GHB because of buying organic soap?! This is an outrage to our Environment, Equal rights, Economy and ‘Ealthy soap!

Are you pumped for the Wheelies yet?!  After so much waiting and build up, I am about to explode with anticipation!

How can you really afford to miss an event like this where you might catch a glimpse of Mark Frohnmayer getting down with his bad self?!