Health Care: Michael Moore on Oprah

Even the CEO of a hospital is dropped by his insurance carrier when he becomes disabled by MS:

Film: SiCKO in Connecticut

From The New Haven Independent:

Move over, Michael Moore. New Haven has a filmmaker who has something she wants to say about the state of health care, in Connecticut.

Crystal Emery (pictured) is making a documentary about disparities in American health care. But, she says, "disparities" is a "bogus word, like a smoke screen. The fire is racism. But nobody wants to talk about that."

Emery met at the Arts Council Tuesday afternoon with a handful of people in yet another focus group leading up to a discussion Oct. 18 that will be filmed as part of her documentary about the sad state of health care in Connecticut. The project also includes following two families -- one black, one white -- as they maneuver through the complexities of the so-called "health care" system.

SNIP

The forum on Oct. 18 will be an open discussion, a chance for people to express their feelings more than their policy prescriptions. Emery plans to pose six questions to participants. She asked for help in determining what they should be, especially the all-important first question to get people talking. [Maryann] Ott suggested, "Ask about a situation when they did not feel respected in a health care situation."

Read the entire story here.

Art Exhibits: Jackson Pollack

"Jackson" at Contemporary Art Galleries at the University of Connecticut.

The life and legend of Jackson Pollock is explored. His painting style is examined but also his destructive personal behavior and his alcoholism.

Works by contemporary artists influenced by Pollock are on display, along with excerpts from "Pollock," the movie about the painter's life.

The exhibit runs from Oct. 8-Nov. 30.

Museum is open weekdays 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. when school is in session.

Contemporary Art Gallery, 830 Bolton Road, University of Connecticut in Storrs. Information: 860-486-3930.

Website.

Politcal Activism: Voter Integrity

This outrageous video catches lawmakers breaking their own laws!
Apparently, 'One Person One Vote' doesn't apply to our legislature:

Political Activism: A Republican Experiences a True Moral Epiphany!!!

Comments by Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist:

"Could it really be happening? Was there really any way in hell a straight white male BushCo-era Republican would dare step up to a live microphone in front of a TV camera in a major American city and honestly admit that, well, he was wrong, and he is very sorry, and he has now officially reversed his position and now fully supports gay marriage and will actually sign a city council resolution acknowledging and advocating same?"

SNIP

"But there is another fascinating element to this story. There is one more thing to ponder. Is it not curious that, on the rare instances such a personal breakthrough occurs in a pubic political figure, it's most often in the favor of a progressive idea, a humanistic switch away from cultural conservatism?

That is to say, is it not interesting that you almost never hear a Democrat or a liberal step up to a microphone and choke back tears and say, "My people, I have been all wrong about, say, the death penalty (or gun control, or women's rights), and after searching my heart and following my intuition and seeking inspiration from my loving family, I now have reversed my position. I wish to wholly support killing prisoners. What's more, I now support torture, and will vote for the unprovoked bombing of Iran and I just signed a decree that everyone must get a large handgun and by the way it turns out sex really is deeply scary and we cannot let women have such control over their bodies and therefore I no longer support condoms or RU-486 or low-rise jeans in public. Thank you."

Truly, Sanders seems to follow a wondrous, though not often noticed, law of humanistic expansion. It goes something like this: When you find your heart, when you look to your own family and your own life and your own soul for the answers and go beyond the limitations of your political handbook and disregard the bitter decrees force-fed to you by some dogmatic religion or belief system, well, chances are just incredibly good you will emerge a tiny bit more progressive or liberal or open-minded than before. Is that not fascinating?"

SNIP

"But it's more than that. The speech actually expresses one of the most precious and endangered ideas in all of American society: that human beings, their views and their beliefs and their notions of love and sex and what it means to be alive on this weird blue dot, these things can actually evolve, beliefs can shift, the heart can open, and no matter where you live and who you are and what you do for a living, it's never too late to let love in."

Source.

Consumer Activism: SHADOW OF THE SHOPTURE World Tour

Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir
at the Highline Ballroom,
2PM Sunday Oct 7th,
431 West 16th Street
in New York City's lovely Meatpacking District.
Tickets are $10, $12 at the door.
Highline Ballroom

NEW YORK—Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir return to the Highline Ballroom after a summer of consumption-fighting in Kaua'i, Berlin, Reykjavik, Edinburgh, San Francisco and Burning Man. The tour comes after Reverend Billy's arrest for preaching the First Amendment in Union Square (in which the NYPD’s legal complaint is that they are the Reverend’s abused lovers).

Get video, audio and information about the Church here.

We are Living in the Shadow of the Shopture. Soon, we will be "Shoptured Up." Our children, sleeping in their little cribs, will be lifted straight up by corporate logos which hang over them posing as bouncy toys.

On Oct 7th, the Children's Magical Garden and the Children's Liberation Day-Care Center at PS 122 will be given "Fabulous Sainthood." These are holy and logo-free environments in the East Village, refuges from the Shopocalypse.

Later this fall the Rev and the Choir star in WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY? --produced by Morgan Spurlock (SUPERSIZE ME) and directed by Rob Van Alkemade. The Reverend's book of the same title is now in book stores. Please only buy this inspiring, funny book in an indy store, no Barnes and Nobles or Borders please.

The Church of Stop Shopping shows are directed by Savitri D. Reverend Billy is Bill Talen. The Choir Master is James Solomon Benn. The Musical Director is William Moses. Katrina Lewis is leader of the Not Buying It Band.

Hiking: Sam's Point Preserve, Ulster County, NY

Art Exhibits: Janis Joplin's Porsche

Now at the Whitney Museum in NYC, Summer of Love Exhibit

Great Design: The Cob House

More Info

Film: Women in Film

80 years of female portraits in cinema - Mary Pickford, Lillian Gish, Gloria Swanson, Marlene Dietrich, Norma Shearer, Ruth Chatterton, Jean Harlow, Katharine Hepburn, Carole Lombard, Bette Davis, Greta Garbo, Barbara Stanwyck, Vivien Leigh, Greer Garson, Hedy Lamarr, Rita Hayworth, Gene Tierney, Olivia de Havilland, Ingrid Bergman, Joan Crawford, Ginger Rogers, Loretta Young, Deborah Kerr, Judy Garland, Anne Baxter, Lauren Bacall, Susan Hayward, Ava Gardner, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Lana Turner, Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, Audrey Hepburn, Dorothy Dandridge, Shirley MacLaine, Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, Janet Leigh, Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, Ann Margret, Julie Andrews, Raquel Welch, Tuesday Weld, Jane Fonda, Julie Christie, Faye Dunaway, Catherine Deneuve, Jacqueline Bisset, Candice Bergen, Isabella Rossellini, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn, Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sigourney Weaver, Kathleen Turner, Holly Hunter, Jodie Foster, Angela Bassett, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, Salma Hayek, Sandra Bullock, Julianne Moore, Diane Lane, Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Reese Witherspoon, Halle Berry

Environmental Activism: Stacy And Max Star In LaMuse

Karmabanque Radio
LaMuse

Film: THE PREQUEL to ROSCO THE IRREVERENT

CREDITS
Rosco............................as Himself
Producer/Director........Dana Herbert
Camera/Editing.............Jeff Schiller
Vocal Coach..................Jason Howard

REVIEWS
"Previous films in this auteur's celebrated "Crossing the Street" series only hinted at the gifts for pacing and mise-en-scene that here burst forth in full flower. Also notable is his adroit handling of a much larger cast and a multifaceted storyline full of twists and turns. TWO THUMBS UP!!" ~ Doug, on Jeff Schiller

Film: ROSCO THE IRREVERENT

Good bird.

Rosco on YouTube.
Rosco on DemocraticUnderground.
Rosco on Miaculpa. (September 4th Archive)
Rosco on MySpace.