For those of you paying any attention to the Neil Gaiman "American Gods" Audiobook contest (that I happen to be a contestant in) here's the leader board starting 4/17/11. I will try to update this list daily, if time permits.
*Updated 10:30am 4/19 I wouldn't complain if you guys threw me a sympathy vote now and again for my hard work... ;)
*Updated 5:45pm 4/19
*Updated 10:40am 4/20 (Removed anyone that wasn't at at least 75)
Updated 12:35pm 4/21 (Removed Honorable Mentions) With the list being as accurate as it has been, people can check that for their viewing pleasure. All people noted with "Congrats" made a leap of 100 votes or more since yesterday. Well done, guys! I will post a separate blog post at the end of the competition of Honorable Mentions. Good luck, everyone!
TOP 20
1) rpincus-525
2) joeysghost-516 Huge jump in votes from yesterday! Congrats!
3) mzaudiogrl-452
4) akoski-433 Huge jump in votes from yesterday! Congrats!
5) bradfromga-419
6) mormolyke-416 Another huge jump in votes! Congrats!
7) nicoconut-391
8) nhouser-376
bwalton-376
9) natheyde-374 Congrats on a huge jump in votes!
10) emilyesse-370
11) goldenally-369
12) Bohanski-366
13) mt1848-358
14) cnovales-357
rhemiel-357
15) angel_VO- 350
16) skpeed101-347
17) Lbottom33-335
18) bigjerbear- 330
Thanks go to Aneel for coming up with an automated system! If for some reason I am not updating fast enough, you can check the list below (which contains ALL submissions and updates almost hourly) and if that list doesn't seem right, you can keep an eye on the numbers above. Because the list below is not a thinking person, it can be faulty, so I will keep manually updating as well. Thanks again Aneel!
*- No change as of latest update
**Disclaimer: I do not have any affiliation with this contest except that I am a contestant in it. This update is for personal use, and has been shared with the top 20 contestants. Any and all mistakes on here are mine, and numbers are subject to change during the updating process. This website does not determine the winners, and the numbers may not indicate the winners.
Please report any broken links in the comments section.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Busy, busy, busy!
Because spring has finally sprung, so to speak, I am on to even more adventures than before. I have so many projects that I am working on now, and that's an exciting thing for me. Winter has always felt like a kind of stasis I find myself in, and Spring has always been the time that I renew and grow. Winter is reflection and Spring is rejuvenation.
As I did last year, I'll be joining the Bristol Buskin Frolic at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, Wisconsin only this year I will be returning as the Assistant Director of the troupe. I am honored to be in this position because it's only my second year at the Faire, and I didn't have a lot of experience to begin with but I must have had something that they were looking for. I know there are better people for the job, there always are, but none can do it the way I can. I'd like to think that I bring a little something extra to the table, with my energy, my creativity, my excitement, and my laughter. This spring, I have sort of taken charge of the group while the Director gets his feet under him, but by the start of Faire I will be able to relax and just take on the role of Assistant. I know, I know... I really wanted to be a Fantastikal this year. And I did, it's just that the offer of Assistant Director came up and I thought I would be really foolish to turn it down. I can't imagine many people start their second year at a job like this one as a director, so I took the job. I am a bit sad, but at the same time excited about the task ahead of me. We'll also be performing May 14th and 15th at the Janesville Ren Faire if you have the chance to get out to it. The Bristol Faire begins July 9th and goes every weekend up to and including Labor Day. We're a rain or shine faire, and it is always worth a trip.
I have also been working on writing and editing, as per usual. Still working on the New Sun Project, editing for a good friend over at House Key Productions, and trying to find an illustrator for a children's book I'd like to write that I told to my daughter at bed time the other night. Still picking at Cherry from time to time, and writing lengthy informative emails to new cast members in my troupe. All in all, the writing and editing business, while unpaid at the moment, is very time consuming and fun.
I have recently submitted an entry for a role in the audiobook version of Neil Gaiman's American Gods. I recorded it on a crappy microphone but I am hoping that doesn't detract from the storytelling part of it. I only need to make it into the top 20 to be considered for a part, so I have fingers, eyes, and all applicable body parts crossed. Right now it's a bit of a popularity contest, so I have been begging off my friends to repost the link and a small bit of info to get more votes. If you'd like to help out, please attach the following link (and add the info if you can) to your favorite social media outlet and get the word out for me;
I have also been working on writing and editing, as per usual. Still working on the New Sun Project, editing for a good friend over at House Key Productions, and trying to find an illustrator for a children's book I'd like to write that I told to my daughter at bed time the other night. Still picking at Cherry from time to time, and writing lengthy informative emails to new cast members in my troupe. All in all, the writing and editing business, while unpaid at the moment, is very time consuming and fun.
I have recently submitted an entry for a role in the audiobook version of Neil Gaiman's American Gods. I recorded it on a crappy microphone but I am hoping that doesn't detract from the storytelling part of it. I only need to make it into the top 20 to be considered for a part, so I have fingers, eyes, and all applicable body parts crossed. Right now it's a bit of a popularity contest, so I have been begging off my friends to repost the link and a small bit of info to get more votes. If you'd like to help out, please attach the following link (and add the info if you can) to your favorite social media outlet and get the word out for me;
Please vote for Naomi Houser (nhouser) to give her a chance to win a role in Random House Publishing's Neil Gaiman Audio Contest. You may vote only once per day per person, and each vote must be a unique vote. (This means no logging in as four different users and voting from the same IP address, violators will be disqualified.) If you vote daily, you could help Naomi live her dream! Thanks to you in advance for your vote!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan
It's a typical Sunday afternoon for me, except it isn't typical. I have spent the last couple of days editing and writing for a project I am involved in that I would like to share with you all.
Wisconsin has surely been through what can only be known as a democracy mess as of late, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight for some time yet. Through all of this hustle and bustle, tragedy struck in the eastern hemisphere and devastated an entire nation. Unless you have been under a rock the last month, you already know what I am talking about; Japan.
I still had my concerns about the goings-on here in Wisconsin, I have donated time to the cause because it's all I have to donate, but I sat wondering what I could do to help Japan. I have no money, and the skills I have do not really translate into cash. That was, until my friend Solange told me about a project put together by Frankie Sachs called New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan. She said that they were still looking for submissions and volunteer editors on the project. Finally! Something I am good at that would be of help!
New Sun Rising is still (until the 11th of April) taking submissions in the form of photos, art, haiku, haibun, flash fiction, short stories and poems as a collaborative effort to help Japan in their time of need. All proceeds from the book (I believe it will be available in both e-book form and physical copy) will go to helping Japan. Maybe you're not a writer, artist or photographer... you can still help by spreading the word on this project to your friends and family who are, or you can buy a copy of the book and ask your friends to do the same. This project won't really get off the ground unless we have people to buy it, so any help you can offer is appreciated.
Now that I am doing something to help I don't feel powerless anymore. I know it's not the same as being out there with my protest sign and walking with my fellow Americans, but it's what I can do to help. I am not a wealthy person and I don't have a cell phone to text HELP to *90999* to the Red Cross (but you are welcome to). I am doing what I am good at, and using it to help.
If you would like to help in any way on this project, please visit the website www.booksthathelp.org for more information. Spread the word, spread the love.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Response Letter from Councilman Perrotto and My Response to Him
I was absolutely gobsmacked to receive a letter back from Frank Perrotto and in such short order. I will note that any and all grammatical and spelling issues are his own. I copied this straight from the email. Following his letter is my response.
Dear Naomi
Thank you for your E mail.
It is quit obvious that you have strong opinions about my behavior and those of Yuri Rashkin. I respect your right to voice your opinion, If you believe Yuri's actions are appropriate and mine are not then so be it. I am not going to even try to respond to your allegations.
I will say that, like Yuri ,I am entitled to my own poltical opinions and biases. However I will never use my position as a Councilman to express them.
I do agree on one point that if I am lucky enough to get reelected I will thank those citizens who believed in the work I did in the last two years and thank them for their support.
I wish you well.
Frank Perrotto
-------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Perrotto,
Thanks for a response. That is more than I get from anyone I have sent a letter to, so for that I give you credit. Though I did get a really nice mass response from Joe Knilans who at the the end asked for MY solutions to the budget. I told him that I had several and would love to have a sit down chat with him and now suddenly he thinks I am a big fan and his office sends me emails about what Joe Knilans is up to. An actual response is better than something you send out to everyone, that is for sure.
To be honest, I really wouldn't have cared what you had decided to do, and how you decided to do it until you sent that email to Yuri. The fact of the matter is that up until only a few weeks ago, I had no idea really who any of my city council members were, my representative, my senator, none of them. For that I am a bit ashamed but I must tell you that I am far more aware of things as of mid-February. I am on a first name basis with many reps and councilpersons and I am active in a political way. I may be a bit late in the game, but I am a fierce voice when I find something I am passionate about.
I think that the feeling of attack in your email is what soured me. As you say, you are entitled to your political opinions and biases. I celebrate that they are different than mine and all, because it is your right. I would fight to the death to protect that right, and I would expect the same from you. That fact is that your night was made very easy. You didn't have a need to exercise your rights to political opinion because the man you support was in that room. Had the tables been turned, can you say that you would not have done the same? I am not trying to be petty. I want you to really consider that question. I don't need an answer about that. I just want the question out there for your consideration.
In my opinion, Yuri was not using his position as Councilman to express his bias. Maybe you could clarify something for me... were you and Yuri there in a political capacity as representatives of the City Council? If so, then maybe there's a different story here but that still does not warrant an attack on him via an email claiming that "not even he could be that stupid", as if it were implied that he already is stupid, but is now sinking to an all time low.
I really want to believe in your words; that you really think that a certain degree is "too far" when cutting the budget. That public service workers are important, that safety is important. I want to believe that you really care for your constituents the way that I feel a councilman or representative of the people should. I understand there are some Walker supporters in Janesville, but what does the MAJORITY say? What will the majority say when it matters in January, and will you stand with your people or will you make it your mission to put a stop to the people's voice such as you did when you said you didn't want a letter from the people of Janesville sent to Governor Walker?
I know being a councilperson is supposed to be non-partisan, but right now, there really is no such stance. People are wondering and your fellow citizens of Janesville want to know. Will you be our voice? Will you take our message to the capitol even if you don't like it?
You got to make the easy choice at Forward Janesville. Yuri did not. He did what he felt he had to do. Perhaps you will want to take greater care in the future to think out what you intend to say so as to avoid attention like this in the future.
Sincerely,
Naomi Houser
Dear Naomi
Thank you for your E mail.
It is quit obvious that you have strong opinions about my behavior and those of Yuri Rashkin. I respect your right to voice your opinion, If you believe Yuri's actions are appropriate and mine are not then so be it. I am not going to even try to respond to your allegations.
I will say that, like Yuri ,I am entitled to my own poltical opinions and biases. However I will never use my position as a Councilman to express them.
I do agree on one point that if I am lucky enough to get reelected I will thank those citizens who believed in the work I did in the last two years and thank them for their support.
I wish you well.
Frank Perrotto
-------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Perrotto,
Thanks for a response. That is more than I get from anyone I have sent a letter to, so for that I give you credit. Though I did get a really nice mass response from Joe Knilans who at the the end asked for MY solutions to the budget. I told him that I had several and would love to have a sit down chat with him and now suddenly he thinks I am a big fan and his office sends me emails about what Joe Knilans is up to. An actual response is better than something you send out to everyone, that is for sure.
To be honest, I really wouldn't have cared what you had decided to do, and how you decided to do it until you sent that email to Yuri. The fact of the matter is that up until only a few weeks ago, I had no idea really who any of my city council members were, my representative, my senator, none of them. For that I am a bit ashamed but I must tell you that I am far more aware of things as of mid-February. I am on a first name basis with many reps and councilpersons and I am active in a political way. I may be a bit late in the game, but I am a fierce voice when I find something I am passionate about.
I think that the feeling of attack in your email is what soured me. As you say, you are entitled to your political opinions and biases. I celebrate that they are different than mine and all, because it is your right. I would fight to the death to protect that right, and I would expect the same from you. That fact is that your night was made very easy. You didn't have a need to exercise your rights to political opinion because the man you support was in that room. Had the tables been turned, can you say that you would not have done the same? I am not trying to be petty. I want you to really consider that question. I don't need an answer about that. I just want the question out there for your consideration.
In my opinion, Yuri was not using his position as Councilman to express his bias. Maybe you could clarify something for me... were you and Yuri there in a political capacity as representatives of the City Council? If so, then maybe there's a different story here but that still does not warrant an attack on him via an email claiming that "not even he could be that stupid", as if it were implied that he already is stupid, but is now sinking to an all time low.
I really want to believe in your words; that you really think that a certain degree is "too far" when cutting the budget. That public service workers are important, that safety is important. I want to believe that you really care for your constituents the way that I feel a councilman or representative of the people should. I understand there are some Walker supporters in Janesville, but what does the MAJORITY say? What will the majority say when it matters in January, and will you stand with your people or will you make it your mission to put a stop to the people's voice such as you did when you said you didn't want a letter from the people of Janesville sent to Governor Walker?
I know being a councilperson is supposed to be non-partisan, but right now, there really is no such stance. People are wondering and your fellow citizens of Janesville want to know. Will you be our voice? Will you take our message to the capitol even if you don't like it?
You got to make the easy choice at Forward Janesville. Yuri did not. He did what he felt he had to do. Perhaps you will want to take greater care in the future to think out what you intend to say so as to avoid attention like this in the future.
Sincerely,
Naomi Houser
An Open Letter to the Republican Party of Dane County
This is a response to this post made today by the Republican Party of Dane County:
To whom it may concern at the Republican Party of Dane County,
Since I refused to be limited to 500 characters, I decided to write you directly so that I may be not only succinct, but also concise. It's possible that others are able to rattle off a nasty message rife with curse words in that small an amount, but that isn't my intention.
Your snide and repulsive remarks show very clearly what you are all about. The sarcasm is not lost on those targeted, and you really do yourself a disservice by believing that anyone with more than a couple of warm brain cells to rub together would support what you have said regarding the Left. I know that you are used to being known as the Grand 'Ole Party, but you are fast becoming known for being more Gutless than Grand. Your views are archaic and outworn, so that 'Ole remains 'Ole. Your Party is less a party and more a gathering of a few people who use tunnel access to escape scorn to get to the party, or using 34,000 worth of air travel to go from town to town to insist on how "broke" we are.
The way your party is attempting to pass this bill IS NOT Constitutional. This bill DOES NOT increase worker rights. And this isn't about balancing budgets to save from firing workers. The people of Wisconsin are not blind. If it was about balancing budgets, Emperor Walker would have taken the money and benefits when they were offered. No. This isn't about balancing a budget and we are all aware of that. Stop trying to pretend it is.
You claim that the Left are elitist. If requiring having more than those two warm brain cells to rub together to be in a political position is elitist, then color me Elitist. I demand a certain amount of intelligence and decorum from the Party I elect.
You lump an entire party into one giant generalization instead of treating things a singular events, and it's despicable. Never in my life have I ever vandalized public property or keyed a car. I have never been to a garden party. The people who have done the things that you claim should be ashamed of themselves, but they are few and the peaceful out on the streets protesting are many, many more. I have always said that no matter where you go, if there's a large crowd and you throw a rock you are bound to hit an idiot. If we all decided to generalize the Right the same way that you have generalized the Left then we are left to think that you are all gun-toting hicks with a hard-on for hate. We would be forced to believe that you loathe the rights of women, you think that Jesus should be it's own subject in school, that the corporate class loves us all, and that gays are the reason we have earthquakes. Not a very nice picture is it? I am sure you have select constituents that you roll your eyes at when they show up at protests. People who you shudder about when they are spoken of in the news. Come on, we both do. If you want to pretend to stand on principle, maybe that principle should be to grow up. If you pretend to stand on logic, it should be logical for you to understand that whoever wrote your "apology letter" to Sumi should be fired.
I am not a citizen of Dane County, and definitely not of the Republican Party but if I claimed to be either I would be ashamed of you.
Sincerely,
Naomi Houser
To whom it may concern at the Republican Party of Dane County,
Since I refused to be limited to 500 characters, I decided to write you directly so that I may be not only succinct, but also concise. It's possible that others are able to rattle off a nasty message rife with curse words in that small an amount, but that isn't my intention.
Your snide and repulsive remarks show very clearly what you are all about. The sarcasm is not lost on those targeted, and you really do yourself a disservice by believing that anyone with more than a couple of warm brain cells to rub together would support what you have said regarding the Left. I know that you are used to being known as the Grand 'Ole Party, but you are fast becoming known for being more Gutless than Grand. Your views are archaic and outworn, so that 'Ole remains 'Ole. Your Party is less a party and more a gathering of a few people who use tunnel access to escape scorn to get to the party, or using 34,000 worth of air travel to go from town to town to insist on how "broke" we are.
The way your party is attempting to pass this bill IS NOT Constitutional. This bill DOES NOT increase worker rights. And this isn't about balancing budgets to save from firing workers. The people of Wisconsin are not blind. If it was about balancing budgets, Emperor Walker would have taken the money and benefits when they were offered. No. This isn't about balancing a budget and we are all aware of that. Stop trying to pretend it is.
You claim that the Left are elitist. If requiring having more than those two warm brain cells to rub together to be in a political position is elitist, then color me Elitist. I demand a certain amount of intelligence and decorum from the Party I elect.
You lump an entire party into one giant generalization instead of treating things a singular events, and it's despicable. Never in my life have I ever vandalized public property or keyed a car. I have never been to a garden party. The people who have done the things that you claim should be ashamed of themselves, but they are few and the peaceful out on the streets protesting are many, many more. I have always said that no matter where you go, if there's a large crowd and you throw a rock you are bound to hit an idiot. If we all decided to generalize the Right the same way that you have generalized the Left then we are left to think that you are all gun-toting hicks with a hard-on for hate. We would be forced to believe that you loathe the rights of women, you think that Jesus should be it's own subject in school, that the corporate class loves us all, and that gays are the reason we have earthquakes. Not a very nice picture is it? I am sure you have select constituents that you roll your eyes at when they show up at protests. People who you shudder about when they are spoken of in the news. Come on, we both do. If you want to pretend to stand on principle, maybe that principle should be to grow up. If you pretend to stand on logic, it should be logical for you to understand that whoever wrote your "apology letter" to Sumi should be fired.
I am not a citizen of Dane County, and definitely not of the Republican Party but if I claimed to be either I would be ashamed of you.
Sincerely,
Naomi Houser
Open Letter to Janesville Councilman Frank Perrotto
Dear Mr. Perrotto,
I read your email to Yuri Rashkin today and it made me want to spit fire. I am going to share that email here so that everyone else can read it as well, because, let's be honest... it's a pretty funny email when you consider certain things that I will share following that email.
"Councilman Yuri
I went to your web site and I was appalled.
How dare you conduct yourself, as representative of this Council, by continuing to flaunt your partisan ideologies.
You walk out before the Governor gave his speech as a form of protest. You are disgrace to this council.
You claim you are representing the people. That is nonsense! What about all the people of Janesville who support the Governor. How are you representing them with this despicable behavior?
You should publicly apologize to the citizens of Janesville for your behavior!
Moreover you should repay the city for the cost of the taxpayers dollars that were use to send you to this dinner.
I heard you even joined the protestors after you left....Not even you would be that stupid!
Your actions on the steps of the Courthouse were outrageous. You used your position as a City Councilman to speak against the republicans actions concerning the budget. All under the guise that you represent and speak for the people of Janesville...NONSENSE. You jeopardized the city , its citizens and this council. We need to work with both sides of the legisative body in Madison . Not just your Democrat brothers and sisters. What were you thinking?
Maybe it's time for you to reassess why you are on the City Council"
So let's start at the beginning, shall we?
Yuri "flaunts his partisan ideologies" by walking out on Governor Walker. Not only that but you call him "stupid" for doing so. Ah. I see. So your website flaunting the GOP is not partisanship at all? Hm. I am sure you sent that email as one who is "dependant on a spirit of cooperation and partnership". I am sure that you had "our cultural and educational advances" in mind when you stood in ovation for what Walker stands to cut with his budget bill.You call Yuri out for his partisanship by standing among the citizens of the city he represents. What does your clapping for Governor Walker represent? By your logic, the best thing for BOTH of you to have done to not show partisanship would have been to not show up at all.
You call Yuri a "disgrace" to the Council. I will tell you what is a "disgrace" to the Council. A councilman without the backbone to stand up for the rights of the citizens he represents. More than a thousand men and women standing outside waiting for someone, ANYONE, to take a stand with them. You are someone who would rather enjoy a nice dinner among the elite than to freeze with your constituents. We remember, sir. We are democracy and we remember.
"What about the people of Janesville who support the Governor." What about your cry for non-partisanship? Yuri wasn't speaking on behalf of Janesville. He was speaking for himself. What voice did you use? The same one that says, "there is just so much budget cutting you can do before it affects public service and safety"? I think not. You stand and clap in ovation for a man who slices at my daughters' educations. At MY education. Your community's teachers are public service workers and you stand and clap for a man that takes away their rights to bargain for safer classrooms for my kids. Your public service men and women are out among those protesters shouting to be heard by someone who claims to not want to cut so far into them, and you attack a man that WILL stand with them? With me? What about the people who suffer by your silence? What about them?
You would like to see Yuri pay for the dinner he ate on taxpayer dollars. I had no idea that my tax dollars were being used to pay for YOUR dinner as well. I would like that money back please. That money should be going to our schools. To our roads. Your ilk call us freeloaders. Who is the freeloader now? I would gladly get together the money to pay thrice over what his meal cost, so long as you agree to pay yours back as well. Fair is fair after all.
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING IN SENDING THIS EMAIL?! I think that perhaps you should reassess whether you will be reelected this year. GOP is a pretty scary banner to fall under these days. You will not be receiving my vote this April, and I will be making it my sole mission in the upcoming days to spread your words. If you do manage to scrape together the votes you need for reelection I hope you remember where those votes come from and consider yourself lucky to have them.
I'll be expecting a response and YOUR public apology in the days to come.
Naomi Houser
Resident of the City of Janesville
I read your email to Yuri Rashkin today and it made me want to spit fire. I am going to share that email here so that everyone else can read it as well, because, let's be honest... it's a pretty funny email when you consider certain things that I will share following that email.
"Councilman Yuri
I went to your web site and I was appalled.
How dare you conduct yourself, as representative of this Council, by continuing to flaunt your partisan ideologies.
You walk out before the Governor gave his speech as a form of protest. You are disgrace to this council.
You claim you are representing the people. That is nonsense! What about all the people of Janesville who support the Governor. How are you representing them with this despicable behavior?
You should publicly apologize to the citizens of Janesville for your behavior!
Moreover you should repay the city for the cost of the taxpayers dollars that were use to send you to this dinner.
I heard you even joined the protestors after you left....Not even you would be that stupid!
Your actions on the steps of the Courthouse were outrageous. You used your position as a City Councilman to speak against the republicans actions concerning the budget. All under the guise that you represent and speak for the people of Janesville...NONSENSE. You jeopardized the city , its citizens and this council. We need to work with both sides of the legisative body in Madison . Not just your Democrat brothers and sisters. What were you thinking?
Maybe it's time for you to reassess why you are on the City Council"
So let's start at the beginning, shall we?
Yuri "flaunts his partisan ideologies" by walking out on Governor Walker. Not only that but you call him "stupid" for doing so. Ah. I see. So your website flaunting the GOP is not partisanship at all? Hm. I am sure you sent that email as one who is "dependant on a spirit of cooperation and partnership". I am sure that you had "our cultural and educational advances" in mind when you stood in ovation for what Walker stands to cut with his budget bill.You call Yuri out for his partisanship by standing among the citizens of the city he represents. What does your clapping for Governor Walker represent? By your logic, the best thing for BOTH of you to have done to not show partisanship would have been to not show up at all.
You call Yuri a "disgrace" to the Council. I will tell you what is a "disgrace" to the Council. A councilman without the backbone to stand up for the rights of the citizens he represents. More than a thousand men and women standing outside waiting for someone, ANYONE, to take a stand with them. You are someone who would rather enjoy a nice dinner among the elite than to freeze with your constituents. We remember, sir. We are democracy and we remember.
"What about the people of Janesville who support the Governor." What about your cry for non-partisanship? Yuri wasn't speaking on behalf of Janesville. He was speaking for himself. What voice did you use? The same one that says, "there is just so much budget cutting you can do before it affects public service and safety"? I think not. You stand and clap in ovation for a man who slices at my daughters' educations. At MY education. Your community's teachers are public service workers and you stand and clap for a man that takes away their rights to bargain for safer classrooms for my kids. Your public service men and women are out among those protesters shouting to be heard by someone who claims to not want to cut so far into them, and you attack a man that WILL stand with them? With me? What about the people who suffer by your silence? What about them?
You would like to see Yuri pay for the dinner he ate on taxpayer dollars. I had no idea that my tax dollars were being used to pay for YOUR dinner as well. I would like that money back please. That money should be going to our schools. To our roads. Your ilk call us freeloaders. Who is the freeloader now? I would gladly get together the money to pay thrice over what his meal cost, so long as you agree to pay yours back as well. Fair is fair after all.
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING IN SENDING THIS EMAIL?! I think that perhaps you should reassess whether you will be reelected this year. GOP is a pretty scary banner to fall under these days. You will not be receiving my vote this April, and I will be making it my sole mission in the upcoming days to spread your words. If you do manage to scrape together the votes you need for reelection I hope you remember where those votes come from and consider yourself lucky to have them.
I'll be expecting a response and YOUR public apology in the days to come.
Naomi Houser
Resident of the City of Janesville
Backward Walker in Forward Janesville
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| Solidarity flag waves at the Janesville Protest of Scott Walker. Photo by Craig Gibeaut |
While many people were in Madison's Rotundaville exercising their First Amendment Right to Free Speech, we were in Janesville fighting a different fight. After weeks of dwindling numbers, thanks to the citations given to Jeremy Ryan of Defending Wisconsin PAC and Dane County Supervisor Melissa Sargent for refusal to remove protest signs from the first floor of the Capitol Building (Melissa was cited when her children refused to remove their sign) (see that video here) the Capitol is filling once again. Despite citations given to protesters over the last week for violating Department of Administration code, the Capitol Police did not issue a single citation to the protesters in the building yesterday. Here is a picture of that turn out.
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| Protesters at the Capitol Building carry signs and wear shirts to defend their First Amendment Right to Free Speech. Photo by Michael Dee. |
I think that the best part of being in Janesville last night was the turn out. I was surprised only because when I went to the Holiday Inn in 2004 to protest President George Bush's speech about Education, the crowd was not this large. People from all over Wisconsin descended on the Forward Janesville event in order to protest Scott Walker. A head count at about 5:00 pm came out to somewhere in the neighborhood of 1500 people, while the Janesville Gazette estimates around 800 and later changes the number to "over 1000". According to Mike Southers, a Janesville resident and one of the creators of the event, "
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| KISS ME, I SUPPORT BADGERCARE |
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| YOU'VE GIVEN US THE TOOLS... |
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| FOR A... RECALL WALKER |
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| Protesters near the Batteries Plus entrance to the Holiday Inn. Photo by Merry Evans |
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| Another picture by the Batteries Plus entrance. Photo by Julee Seeman |
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| Protesters line the street from the stop sign at the corner all the way to the last Holiday Inn entrance. |
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| The crowd that stayed at the entrance that all the guests arrived at. Police were checking each vehicle for tickets to get inside the building. |
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| Photo from inside the Holiday Inn. Photo by Anonymous. |
My friend inside the building said that the main theme of the event was about improving the business climate in Janesville. He reports, "The whole event was geared around supporting the Forward Janesville and Rock County 5.0 initiatives, which are basically to attract businesses to relocate to the area. There were a few protester jokes by the first couple speakers, but nothing nasty. None of the event was about unions or the budget repair bill." He also sad that there had been rumors that a few protesters had gotten rooms at the hotel and had planned to pull fire alarms when the event started, but that nothing ever came of it. He said that the hotel had posted signs on the fire alarms to alert hotel guests that the fire alarms were being video taped.
My friend went on to report, "Once the Governor began to speak, he acknowledged the representatives from the area and gave them accolades for their bipartisan support on most of the initiatives that have been passed since the inauguration. This was the only reference made towards the budget repair bill. He mentioned how supportive Tim Cullen was more than once, obviously trying to bridge the gap. The meat of the content was on how the Governor has a plan to attract business to the state, supplying jobs and increasing revenue by doing so. One thing that I found surprising that I did not know, and that the media has not reported, is that Moody's has raised the states bond rating due to the fiscal policies that have so far been implemented, We are now one of the few states with a positive bond rating. Not only does this lower the interest rates the state pays on it's municipal bonds, but it sends the message to the business community that Wisconsin is one of the few states with a stable financial future." I suppose that you can take from that what you'd like, but I am very thankful to have had someone on the inside who is intelligent and can report on events well.
Okay, so I have some gripes about the event (and I wouldn't be me if I didn't).
Firstly, I really didn't like the protesters chanting "Shame!" at the guests arriving at the event. For their part (well, for some of them at least), they have no political ties to Walker, and they were only there representing their businesses. (This is why my source inside decided to remain anonymous.) That's not to say that some of them weren't there in full support, but they are entitled to that opinion even if I disagree with it. I did, however, yell "Shame!" at the few guests who gave us the middle finger or shouted at us from their vehicles. There's no need to give me the finger, I didn't do anything to you. I don't think that this event should spark a boycott on Janesville businesses, that they should feel shame for attending. It was taking our business elsewhere that got Janesville into the crisis it's in now. The guests arriving in their shiny Range Rovers, Escalades, and Humvee's make me sick (that is not an exaggeration, they really did have those vehicles) only because they don't appear to understand the day to day struggle that the rest of us have to make just to get gas into our piece of crap cars. Maybe they think that the tinted windows hide them from the outside world, that if the tint is dark enough they don't have to look at what is right there for them to see.
Secondly, I feel like more people should have walked out on Walker. I would have. Vivian from the Defend Wisconsin wrote a wonderful piece pleading with guests of the event to get up and walk out on Walker titled, "Dear Heroes at Forward Janesville". I agree with so much of what she said, but what she left out was that the decision wasn't going to be an easy one for some people. Also, there were people who loathe Scott Walker who stayed merely to shame him by remaining seated and not clapping. That was their choice. I don't agree with the people who decided to stay, but that's only my opinion. Each person must decide how much they are willing to do for their part in this, and force from our side isn't going to help matters. Yelling "Shame!" at them only makes US look bad. Why should they turn on a crowd of 700 who welcomed them to an event with drinks and dinner for 1500 who welcomed them with chants of "Shame!" We need to remember that some of these businesses support us, that they only stayed so they didn't have to make life harder for themselves among the business community. Again, I don't agree with that, but it's not my decision to make. We could all take a walk in their shoes, but then we'd be a mile away in ill-fitting shoes. What we need to have instead of ill-fitting shoes is perspective, and not just our own.
As the event came to a close, protesters were down in the single digits and I was among the few standing at the barricade waving them off. I thanked them for attending. I thanked them for supporting the man responsible for the rape of my Badgercare. I thanked them for supporting the man responsible for my climbing school loans, the cut to my Pell grants, the cut to my daughters' educations... it's not their fault, I know. They didn't do it. They didn't walk out either.
Thank you to my fellow Wisconsinites (both present and former) for coming out last night. We are all democracy in action and what we do matters... even if that means supporting the other side of the aisle.
For more photos, please click here.
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