What is 350?

Yes, it is my IQ, good answer!

350 is also the number leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide–measured in “Parts Per Million” in our atmosphere. 350 PPM–it’s the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change.

Visit http://350.org/ for more info.

Thanks to Blue Oregon, where I poached this from

The Supreme Court took a major swipe at crime victim’s rights recently. In Giles v. California, the Supreme Court held that a crime victim’s report of a prior incident of assault by her husband could not be used against him in a subsequent trial of him for her murder a short time later. The decision struck down a California rule that provided that prior statements made to the police could be used against a defendant if the defendant’s conduct had caused the victim to be unavailable for trial.

This is a common occurrence in domestic violence cases, where defendants often terrorize their victims before trial (or, in extreme cases, even kill them) to prevent them from testifying. Contrary to common sense, the Court held that the prosecutor had to prove that the defendant’s actions were INTENDED to cause the victim to “not be available to testify” not merely that they actually caused the victim to be unavailable. In essence, the decision forces the prosecutor to go into the defendant’s head and see what his intent was when terrorizing the victim.

I have no objection to the general rule requiring the prosecutor to present the witnesses for cross-examination by the defendant in his criminal trial. The right to confront witnesses lies at the heart of the American justice system. However, when the defendant causes the absence of the victim by his conduct, he forfeits that right. In fact, that’s the name of the doctrine - forfeiture by wrongdoing. The ultimate expression of this utter contempt for the law occurs when a defendant kills the victim of an earlier crime.

This decision beggars the imagination. How could a man accused of assaulting his wife have had any other intent than to prevent her from pressing charges when he killed her? What’s his defense of that conduct supposed to be? “Oh, I knew that she had reported me to the police for a violent crime, but that’s not why I killed her. I just did it on a lark.”

The decision essentially overturns Oregon’s policy of allowing the statements of a dead or missing victim solely on the basis of the defendant’s having caused the absence, without the requirement to show that the defendant intended to cause the absence. For instance, I once showed that the defendant had threatened the victim with the kidnapping of their children while trial was pending. The defendant never came out and said “If you testify, you will never see your child again,” but, under the circumstances, what else could, “You will never see your child again” mean?

This absurd decision shows just how far “strict constructionist” judges will stray from reality. Judges should not legislate from the bench, but they should interpret the law based on the facts of our society as it exists. It demonstrates a way of thinking that does not acknowledge any interpretation of the language of the Constitution in light of the facts of modern society. It puts domestic violence victims at a much increased risk of death at the hands of their intimate partners and undermines the rule of law in our society. For us, it shows us the importance of electing leaders who will appoint and confirm judges willing to interpret the law in the light of our present society, not in the light of a white male landowner dominated agrarian society where women were treated as the property of their husbands.

At Davis’s tonight at 7-9pm (ie Thurs, June 26), we will have the 232nd annual celebration of America with one brewhaha. Come celebrate your patriotism by discussing how to make our city a little better. The topic: safety in the city.

We’ll be touching on tasers and guns, bad apples and trees, crime and punishment, prevention and meth, mental health problems and theft, too few resources and not enough time. And we’ll talk about the job that a modern day police officer does, the difficulties they encounter, the feelings they get from the community, and the dangerous and sometimes thankless job they must do every day.

No topic is off limits, especially the topic on how we are treating one another, even those we strongly disagree with.

(Davis’s is on the corner of Olive and Broadway)

On Friday, June 27 the Track and Field Olympic Trials will begin in little ol’ Eugene, Oregon.

What does this mean for voter reg?…

…The population of Eugene will double during the 9 days of the Trials and there will be thousands of people that need to be registered to vote!

We have hundreds of cards that are begging to be filled out and we need YOU to help us out!

Sign up for a shift or two on ANY DAY during the Trials and register our new friends to vote.

Ask for Lynn or Alison at the glorious Lane Bus office: 541.344.9999
Or email us here yo.
OR… hit up our event page on facebook.

Shifts will be available on the following days:

Friday, June 27 2-4
Saturday, June 28 12-4
Sunday, June 29 12-4

George Carlin died yesterday at 71 from a heart attack. He didn’t have any faith in our political system and made that fact very well known. To him, it was too corrupt to even participate. Sometimes I get that too. If he were ever to take a stand, I am quite sure he would have stood on the side of what the Bus Project believes in. Getting past the angry and often vulgar delivery, Carlin always spoke his mind, which is something I think we all can take a lesson from.

Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years.

We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

-George Carlin

Organization Description:
Building Votes is dynamic, volunteer-based field program based in Portland and Eugene, Oregon. We are a grassroots political nonprofit specializing in creative and effective organizing among young people, Building Votes is growing a nonpartisan network of neighborhood volunteers to register and mobilize tens of thousands of young voters for the 2008 general elections.

Position Overview:
The Outreach Intern will work closely with the Outreach Coordinator to register voters on the street as well as at concerts, festivals and other major events. The Outreach Intern will play a key role in phone banking and volunteer recruitment. S/he will be responsible for assisting with the development and maintenance of an event calendar. Additionally, s/he will allocate 10-15% of his/her time to administrative assistance such as data entry and answering phones. This is a part-time, unpaid internship requiring 20 hours per week, schedule is flexible.

Skills and experiences required for this position include:
• Excellent one-on-one communication skills
• Ability to do outreach in person and over the phone
• Ability to speak in front of groups
• Analytical skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work some nights and weekends
• Passion for civic engagement and political activism
• Previous outreach and organizing experience is preferred
Summary of Responsibilities:
• Research local and state-wide events for outreach
• Update calendar and website to reflect new events
• Publicize events through a network of websites and listservs
• Post flyers for events as necessary
• Recruit volunteers specifically to assist with street teaming and tabling at major events
• Assist with weekly phone banking
• Assist with data entry
• Assist with additional tasks as needed

We are a dynamic organization with many concurrent activities. All staff must be willing to pitch in where and when needed in order for us to meet our goals.

To apply:
Send resume and cover letter to Lynn Moracco: lynn.moracco@busproject.org.

**Building Votes and the Bus Project are equal opportunity employers. Women, folks of color and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

At the National Conference for Media Reform 2008, Fox’s Bill O’Reilly producer, Porter Barry ambushes PBS Bill Moyers to pepper him with questions regarding his political affiliations and his “refusal” to appear on O’Reily’s show. Moyers disputes Fox’s “facts.” Mr. Barry went in to get an inflammatory piece for Bill, but ended up getting absolutely served!

“Do you call what you just did journalism?”

We’re recruiting some badass volunteers to work our Bus booth at the:

Broadway Bloc Party!
June 13th and 14th (6pm – the wee hours of he night)
Located at the Barmuda triangle. Broadway& Olive, Downtown Eugene.

Tickets are running $50 a pop, but hit the streets with the Bus and you’re in for free.
We’ll train you a week before if you’re new to the scene.

After a shift or two enjoy the tunes of legendary artists such as:
- Bassnectar
- Sound Tribe Sector 9!
- Pnuma
- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
- The Devil Makes Three
- Islands and More

Volunteer spaces are going fast:
Email Lynn Moracco @ the Lane Bus to snag a spot.

A clip of Hightower’s appearance. Pretty darn cool.

………..
Jim Hightower shares the stories of people who he says have bucked the system and are finding their own way toward a better life. He claims that corporate interests have seized American politics and government and that more people need to rebel against this trend. Mr. Hightower spoke about his book at Politics and Prose in Washington, DC.

By Leah Reis-Dennis
Published: June 2, 2008 12:00

Traditionally, the older generation has dominated politics. The 18- to 25-year-old group lags in historic voting records, leaving monumental decisions in the hands of those who may not have our concerns in mind.

Lately, however, this trend has lessened, partly in thanks to nonpartisan “get out the vote” groups such as the national Rock the Vote campaign and the Oregon-focused Bus Project. The appearance of a charismatic politician who is capable of relating to the younger set has also helped get the college crew to put down the Xbox and think about the ballot box.

Yes, I am referring to Barack Obama.

While on the streets, canvassing for Obama, I found a new kind of politics and an unknown Eugene. I discovered that politics consist of more than ballots. True, voting matters and elections eventually come down to numbers, but the process of spreading a message and uniting voters toward common goals is just as important.

I have witnessed and participated in political discussions during the past few months that have surprised me.

As a 16-year-old I cannot vote, but I can encourage my peers and fellow citizens to do so. With this in mind (and a rather empty looking community service log in hand), I set out with a friend (in lovely April hail) for our first, four-hour long canvassing stint.

After instruction from my mom to avoid kidnapping, we arrived at the Obama office, received a briefing on canvassing procedure and got our mission: knock on the doors of potential Obama supporters to get them to register as Democrats, enabling them to vote in the May 20 primary.

Hoping for an area friendly to inexperienced canvassers, we chose to walk the downtown and University of Oregon campus. Wishful thinking. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say we weren’t so successful.

While we did manage to register four people (only three of whom were on our list to begin with), we found ourselves wandering through dorms, knocking on the doors of silent sorority houses, approaching a fraternity house (from which we fled, my mom’s warning in mind), and winning an invitation into an incense-laden apartment filled with psychedelic-mushroom paraphernalia. Not the best neighborhood for two 16-year-old girls.

A month later — feeling a little more politically savvy, more confident in our ability to knock on strangers’ doors without giggling and motivated by urgency of the looming primary — we set out again. The day after Obama’s unannounced visits to Prince Pücklersand other local hot spots, the political energy in Eugene was tangible.

When we hit the streets of southeast Eugene, we received positive reactions. Our Obama shirts and stickers drew horn honks and whoops from down the street, and, in the heat, we welcomed an invitation to cool our feet in a kiddie pool.

We did hit some unusual houses. A Russian woman listened to me speak for about a minute, only to motion for a pamphlet and say, “No English.” And we enjoyed speaking with a friendly but ineligible Canadian.

But the most memorable houses we visited were those where we engaged in substantive conversation. The opportunity to connect with someone face to face, whether discussing the candidates’ health care plans or simply lamenting the sizzling temperatures made up for the unresponsive residents who blared their music in an effort to drown out the doorbell.

As we continued our trek while discussing people, politics and prom, it dawned on me that the campaign had inspired the kind of politics in which everyone, regardless of age, can get involved. We all have something at stake, especially my generation.

……………………………

Leah Reis-Dennis is a junior at South Eugene High. Submit a comment for this column, or see her slideshow.