DNC Convention More Wired and Wireless

Here's a great video message by Aaron Myers, Director of Internet Communications for the Democratic National Committee and the Convention in Denver.



Promises to be very exciting. More than 4 times as many bloggers credentialed this year.

John Edwards Buzz: Half in Ten Goes to AARP

Yesterday JRE spoke to the AARP Forum on Poverty and Aging. Fellow blogger Edgery from the EENR blog attended the event and jotted a few notes on the EENR blog:

In introducing John Edwards, Nancy LeaMond (head of the AARP Foundtion) said,

"John Edwards exemplifies the values Bill Anderson advocated throughout his life for our nation's most vulnerable people. ... Bill Anderson was a Legal Services attorney who was once accused by opposing counsel of being 'overzealous' because of how hard he fought for his client. The case was over just a few hundred dollars but Bill understood how important a few hundred dollars were to his cllient, an older woman. ... Bill approved of John Edwards' willingness to speak out on poverty and economic security when no one else would."

This notion, that John Edwards has stood up for the issues of poverty and economic justice when no one else will, resonates strongly here at EENRblog and it is repeated now regularly by the media. Others talk about the different aspects and possible programs; Edwards brings it all together with a clarity that unique.

The theme of today's speech can be summed up in two words "Remember Us." He told about finding the people sleeping under the bridge in New Orleans last January on his way to where he would that he was ending his presidential campaign, and the older woman who said to him as he was leaving, "You won't forget us, will you?"

AARP Radio also interviewed him. Here's a link
to their blog where there are YT clips.

As usual, the idiot paparazzi was there too, more interested in whether or not he was at the Beverly Hills Hilton last week instead of asking him about poverty or Half in Ten. (I'm not posting a link to that story, just trust me that I read it). He told them he didn't have time. I don't blame him. He was rushing to get back to Chapel Hill to celebrate his and bride of 31 years' anniversary, but I'm certain the media didn't get it that was one of his reasons.

Happy Anniversary John and Elizabeth. I've been working on a YT, but my learning curve is steep. For now, I'll just post a pic of you two and just imagine Nancy Lamott singing an obscure Gershwin tune "Ask Me Again."




















Here's some champagne for two of the most selfless but high profile people I am blessed to be acquainted with.

Peace to the Tenn Valley UU Church

Today I saw some reports about a fatal shooting in a church in TN. But on clicking a Yahoo link about a second fatality, I had to look further.

It happened at the Tenn Valley UU church in Knoxville. Details are still sketchy, but apparently:

A gunman opened fire at a church youth performance Sunday and killed two people, including a man who witnesses called a hero for shielding others from a shotgun blast.


Seven adults were also injured but no children were harmed at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Church members said they dove under pews or ran from the building when the shooting started.

The gunman was tackled by congregants and eventually taken into police custody.

It was said that the gunman shouted hateful things, but no one has quite elaborated what those were. All of this happened during a youth service of Annie, which was likely the lay service since the minister was out of town. Tragic if the gunman was playing on the idea of "Annie, Get Your Gun" and trying to hurt those who are for social justice.

UUA President Rev. William G. Sinkford said that "Members of the Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry are on their way to Knoxville to offer additional ministry to the congregation as it grieves. And Unitarian Universalists around the world are sending love and prayers to the Tennessee Valley congregation to tell them they are not alone on this dark day."

Yep, I am one of them.

Tomorrow night the Knoxville Second Presbyterian Church (close by) is offering a space with light food and counselors to debrief as well as offer crisis intervention. There will be a candlelight ceremony at 7:30 ET.

Prayers for Greg McKendry, an longtime usher and greeter who took the bullet between the gunman, the children, and the congregation, and for Linda Kreager, another victim. My heart is heavy for their families and for the congregation.

More about this from Elrod at the Daily Kos.