It couldn't have happened at a better (or worst) time.

The South Carolina Democratic Party held their Grand Strand Reception in Pawleys Island amidst hard times and a huge uncertainty along the coast. However, the message was plain and clear from each candidate in attendance: We must elect a Democratic governor in 2010.

Tree of Smoke is a 2008 National Book Award winner. The reason this novel, or a review of this novel, might be of interest to many readers is that the novel is concerned most centrally with the Vietnam War and, in a broader way, with the Cold War era. Many of you, like me, have been around, since long before the Cold War. Some of you, as I did, participated in the Vietnam War. Many of those who are younger are old enough to remember the Cold War. All of you have watched the entire world affected by policies and decisions driven, or purportedly driven, by our intelligence agencies. I begin with my usual disclaimer – that it is my position that the purpose of a book review is not to disclose the entire plot (which, I admit, would be difficult in the case of this novel). If, based upon my review, other reviews, and/or word-of-mouth, you choose to read the book, then you will know the plot.

There are, in my opinion, relatively few writers who write in a totally detached mode, entirely for money, without an intellectual, philosophical, or emotional connection to the material. The hacks who write the features in the airline magazines one finds in the airplane seat pockets might be among the “relatively few” to whom I refer. Denis Johnson is not. My approach to making sense of either novels or poetry is to seek some understanding of the writer, as well as to pay careful attention to what the writer writes.

I decided to dig a little more into the Act 388 with the county mentioned in the story WIS's Drew Stewart did. That county?

Richland.

A sad story today was published in The Sun News about a veteran who took his life because he was denied health care.

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. There is no gift-buying that adds to the stress of other holidays...just family getting together and doing what they do best--some cook, some clean, some take pictures...

I have so much to be thankful for.

Thankful was the word that came to mind when I watched this TED video:

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.

I can't help it. I am so upset at these right-wing wackos in my state who actually walk around in fear of the 2nd Amendment being taken away from them. Instead, they sport the latest fad - a concealed weapon. More so, we have a tax-free holiday on... Guns.

South Carolina can jump for more joy now. State Republicans and their party embraced the news that the state has no power to provide oversight - regulation - over a planned legal defense fund for election, ballot and candidate court issues.

This is a piece I've been wanting to write for awhile now, with Joe's name appearing as a possible candidate for the KS-03 race I figured there is no better time to do so.

Before I start I want to make it clear that I do not know if Joe will jump into the race or not, I have no 'inside' information on this and think that this is a big decision for him to make with his family. With that being said if Joe is to jump into the race I am completely behind him and I think he would be great. I've wanted to write this because I feel that Kansas City, KS/ Wyandotte County often are left to handle themselves both by state politics and the state party. Candidates in KCK often run their own campaigns and don't get much support from outside the city. Over the past 7 years KCK has had a rockstar candidate, Joe Reardon.

Congressman David Obey has finally been raising the idea of paying for the war in Afghanistan. 10 more years in Afghanistan will cost $900 billion, about the same as the cost of health care for all Americans.

Congressman Obey is finally saying America has to pay for its wars with a progressive tax surcharge specifically meant to pay for the war. Do you think the wealthiest people in this country are willing to pay for the war with 5% of their income? Are you willing to pay for the war in Afghanistan with even 1% of your income? I think I know the answer. Let me know what you say.

"As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever."

Clarence Darrow, 1857 - 1938
Defense Attorney

In her blog, “Will the Unemployment Disaster be Obama’s Katrina?” published on November 23, 2009 at Huffington Post blog, Ms. Adrianna Huffington talks about the need of 2nd Economic Recovery Package for the goal of creating jobs. In the blog, she presents four prevalent ideas of alleviating the current unemployment situations as below:

This is NOT the change we voted for. President Obama is continuing the same disastrous policies of the Bush regime. It's time for the people to take to the streets and the announcement of the escalation of the war in Afghanistan is the day the honeymoon is over.

Demonstrations are now planned in San Francisco, Chicago, New Haven, CT; Hartford, CT and Seattle. If you would like to plan a demonstration, join us at www.worldcantwait.net or 866 973 4463.

Since the Washington Post refused to print my letter in response to an article in their Sunday paper a week and a half ago, I've decided to publish it here.

Look, I know as much as any liberal how nice it would feel to liberate this state from Governor Mark Sanford. I just hope people realize that there's another Republican next in line, one who wants to be the next governor, if that happens.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Deputy Communications Director, Megan McClendon confirmed this afternoon that, "He (Moore) is indeed stepping down."

U.S. Congressman Dennis Moore, 64, now serving his 6th term, will become the first member of Congress to retire without seeking another public office.

The official statement released today by Moore's D.C. Communication Director Brandon Naylor gave confirmation to Moore's retirement.

It has been an honor and a privilege to have been elected six times to represent the people of the Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have decided not to seek reelection in 2010. It is time for a new generation of leadership to step forward.

The words of Shaniya Davis' father, Bradley Lockhart, resonated with me. Friday night, I watched an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show that had been recorded earlier that day. I was watching to see what she had to say about the end of her long running talk show. I didn't expect to hear more about the adorable 5 year old girl who was found brutally murdered earlier this month.

I watched this young man, obviously and understandably, in deep pain as he struggles simply to get past this inexplicably horrible moment. And yet, when Oprah asked him whether he wanted to speak to the young girl's mother for answers as to why she allegedly sold the baby as a sex slave to a Mario Andretti McNeil, a known violent criminal, his answer revealed a heart struggling to find grace...

President Obama has announced a campaign to enlist companies and nonprofit groups to spend money, time and volunteer effort to encourage students, especially in middle and high school, to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The campaign - "Educate to Innovate" will primarily focus on informal education opportunities such as after-school activities, mentoring opportunities with scientists and researchers, plus quality science and math promotion television. So far, Elmo and Big Bird have signed up and the MacArthur Foundation is sweetening the pot to encourage video game designers to create educational gaming software. In addition to Sesame Street and many professional science societies signing on, big media outlets and stepping in also, donating money, equipment, and television time.

Have you seen the movie Precious? If not, it's a must-see. But not just for a night out. Precious exists to pique our conscious. Read the book as well. The movie stays pretty true to the book, but the book provides even more insight.

I wanted to watch the movie because several years ago one of the teenagers were sitting in my apartment. We were having some kind of serious discussion and one of them mentioned that she had been sexually molested by her mother's boyfriend. One by one, the other girls spoke up...“Me, too…me, too…me, too…”

I had no idea what to do. We worked to try to get the most recent one to counseling but her grandmother resisted and her mother denied it had ever happened.