Christmas in Florida

There are plenty of places to spend Christmas.

Though there was a lot of snow elsewhere.............

But Not in Florida!!

Florida Sunset

Grandma Aline Above;I love seeing her in Florida.She lives in Coconut Creek, which is just northwest of Ft. Lauderdale.

First we stayed in our condo in Coconut Grove, FL, south of Miami, where my pundit brother Brendan lives during the semester when he attends the University of Miami.The Condo was great. It has a wonderful living room and the view is out onto Biscayne Bay. I loved watching TV and sleeping on that leather couch.

We then went to Fort Lauderdale, to be nearer to Grandma. Her photo is above. It was sunny and in the 80's in Ft. Lauderdale.

The Pool in Ft. Lauderdale has been Great!

Both places had pools and hot tubs. So in general we have had a wonderful time, and I've had a chance to be in warm weather,

see my grandmother, and be with my family, especially with my Pundit Brother, Brendan. Here we are out on the balcony of our room at Pier 66 hotel. This is how we spend New Years' Eve.

HAPPY NEW YEAR IN 2009 !! SEAN

Thank you to the Army and Police SWAT Teams of Mumbai, India

Rockin' Ohio

Ashland University Undergraduates!

Lecture Hall similar to the One Where I Gave my Presentation

Snow Snow Snow in Ohio

Ashland University!!

Dwight Schar School of Education

SNOW IN OHIO

On November 17th, this past Monday, I rocked Ohio. At least I rocked Ashland University, in Ashland, OH. I was invited by Dr. Pat Edwards, who teaches at the Dwight Schar School of Education, to give 2 presentations on Monday, November,17th. We e-mailed Pat my powerpoint called: "Heaven is Called George Mason University" because right before my visit to Ohio, I was going to be at my grandmother's 85th Brithday party, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. That was fun.

I always love Florida, but, Ohio -- despite 3 days of constant snow -- was really warm to me. We arrived on Sunday evening at Columbus, Ohio's airport, and our chauffer, Dr. Edwards herself, drove us through the mere "dusting" of tiny white flakes. It could barely be called snow.

We stayed at a Holiday Inn, and it was great. Dr. Edwards came by for us at about 1:30 p.m. and took us to the university, via Wendy's.

Yum!

My presentations went really well, and between the 3:00 one and the 7:00 one, I got to go out to dinner with Dr. Edwards and some wonderful female undergraduate students in Education.

All of it went very well. The audiences were attentive, nothing happened with the electronics, and one young fellow in the evening session started typing with support, using Facilitated Communication.

You GO! man, you GO!

Sean Sokler, G.M.U. Class of 2005

Thank you to all who help in Ohio

Have all the people who voted for Obama stopped partying? You bet they have, unless they've just been tapped to be in his cabinet. There is a tough
row to hoe, a huge and defiantly difficult weight on Obama's shoulders now to repair the U.S. Economy. I hope we all help him help us.

I want to give a big shoutout to three people especially, whom I have known for a long time. They went to Ohio, one to Cleveland, one to the counties west of Cincinnati, and one who lives in Ohio went to at least two counties to there to canvass and provide information for Barack Obama.
Of course, there were hundreds more who canvassed for Obama, but these three people surely went beyond the call of duty.

The first is a lifelong friend of my mother, and is 57 years old. Her name is Nancy Bick Clark, from Newport, KY. She put doorknob hangers and also
mailbox fliers in mailboxes and phoned for Obama at the behest of
Sheetal, an Indian-American woman who hails from Chicago, but had come to live in Cincy to help the Obama campaign. Nancy is a Celtic harp player and singer. Her songs entertained me so much in my early years.

Under the brilliant maple tree leaves, Nancy drove, placed fliers in Batavia, Ohio. Later she worked in other rural counties. Once, a roadside mailbox fell from its moorings into a ditch. Nancy bravely saved it, fetched it back, and got it righted, and put in a flier, a small handbill or brochure. Here is an excerpt from her memoir about her experience.

On Sunday, I made phone calls for the Clermont County Dems, who seemed to have a slightly different operation on the other side of the wall. I observed two men in their late sixties returning from canvassing. What was unusual was that these volunteers drove up for the day from Lexington, KY, about 120 miles from Batavia. They could have been professors at UK. The coordinator of Obama's office was a woman in her 20's who had come from Seattle to help out. We learned that Obama aimed to get out every possible vote in Ohio, whether in rural, suburban, or urban areas.

Here is her website: http://harpist1.tripod.com/id34.html Go Nancy!!

We have another friend, Fernando Laguarda, who worked with my father
for 9 years. He is a lawyer, the nice kind of lawyer, the one you want to adopt. He went to Cuyahoga County where Cleveland lies. Fernando whose family came to the US many years ago from Uruguay, and he went to Harvard, and went to work at the same law firm. He is an outstanding lawyer. He is a compassionate person. He went to Ohio at his own cost
to help people at the polls, especially those who might not understand
their rights and if they needed help, as they might have been Spanish speaking people. Fernando helped out at polls on a chilly day, from
before they opened to the close. He is insanely good. Go Fernando!!
You did a wonderful job. By the way, he started the NNEDV, the
National Network to End Domestic Violence. Please go to this
website to find out about that group.http://www.nnedv.org/
Or you can just click on this website:http://www.clicktoempower.org/
to empower those who've been hurt. It is to fund services provided by
the NNEDV. Gracias, Fernando!


The last person who canvassed in Ohio is Dr. Patricia Edwards, of
Ashland University. Even with a bad knee, she climbed stairs and talked
to people and wore her Obama shirt, and generally helped the campaign every single moment of weekends in September and October that she could manage. Though Dr. Edwards teaches full time at Ashland, in their Dwight Schar School of Education, specializing in Curriculum and Instruction,
she is one serious Democrat.
Even though I have autism, she speaks directly to me,not to others when I am around. I have recent proof of her goodness and humor, as she treated me and my mother to a fine seafood dinner this past Friday. Yes, it sure was celebratory. What a woman!! If I weren't too young and autistic, I'd be
pursuing her to marry me. Okay, I might pursue her anyway. She's one fine and brilliant professor and conversationalist. I will speak to her
students a week from today, at Ashland University. Lucky me!

Ta Ta Ted!

Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) aren't you a lucky dog? You thought

your power and the rich state of Alaska would save you from

being convicted of falsifying Senate, therefore, Federal forms

of gift disclosure.

NO!! See the following article to figure out why

your Senatorial rear-end is destined for the clinker,

but not yet.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/27/AR2008102700289.html

The AP:

Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, was convicted on all seven charges of making false statements on Senate financial documents about gifts he received from contractor Bill Allen, oil services company VECO Corp., and others.
Below are the charges. The verdict form is broken down by year and jurors did not have to indicate which gifts, if any, they believe Stevens concealed.
COUNT ONE: False Statements, Scheme

ACCUSATION: Stevens engaged in a scheme to conceal from his Senate financial disclosure documents home renovations and other gifts he received from Allen and VECO from 2000-2006. Stevens contends he never asked for any freebies and believed he paid for everything he received.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/27/AR2008102701847.html

COUNT TWO: False Statements
ACCUSATION: Stevens knowingly made false, fictitious or fraudulent statements on his 2001 Senate financial disclosure form regarding gifts from Allen and others. That year, VECO employees dramatic renovated Stevens' mountain cabin, building a new first floor and installing a new electrical system. Allen also filled Stevens' house with furniture, left a tool box in his garage and installed a grill on the porch. Stevens also received from another friend an expensive massage chair, which Stevens said was a loan, and a custom work of stained glass, which Stevens said his wife arranged and he knew nothing about.
VERDICT: Guilty

Why oh why? You're not exactly an unintelligent

person. Just a little forgetful.

Here is the reason that you gave that I detest: You said it was

your wife's doing, and you had no idea about home improvements or custom - made stained glass art, so That's why YOU did not know about your received services and items and didn't declare

on his Senate Gift Disclosure forms in 2001 and 2002.

You threw your own Wife "under the bus."

Shame on you, Ted Stevens. Shame on you.

Do the right thing. Resign.

Sean Sokler

Thank You, Moose Mama

Gov. Sarah Palin has alienated most Democrats plus some independents

and a few Republicans. Palin's beliefs in the "End of Days" of the most Evangelical Christians, her rigid stance against abortion, her "drill, baby, drill" her hunting wild animals from a helicopter, her pro-gun policy, and her "continue the war in Eye-raq until we have Democracy" policy have endeared her to like-minded Republicans.

However, there are people who are very tired of hearing Republican policy statements. First, most Democrats are tired of her. Let her skulk back to AK on November 5th. People who believe in a woman's right to choose don't like her opposite stance.

Religious people who do not believe the world is going to end soon but that most of us should continue doing good works do not like Palin much.

Those Americans who wish to let wild animals roam free but for those persons who actually need to hunt to eat or native populations don't like her either. She shoots wolves from helicopters.

Women who value women's rights don't like her. A woman's right to choose abortion is the major issue. Further, a woman's right to equal pay for equal work is necessary.

Men who value women with high intelligence do not value Gov. Palin.

Her support of the Republicans' ideal of staying in "I-Raq" until there is a Democracy there is not one that is admired by strong Democrats.

Finally, "Drill, Baby, Drill" for oil, especially drilling in the

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge:

is the final straw added to her effigy, that we'd like to theoretically "Burn, Baby, Burn" -- the straw woman, not Palin herself.

Palin:

You have galvanized Democrats, Independents, a few smart Republicans and across the board, people from ages 18-28, to

vote Democratic this coming Tuesday, November 4th, 2008.

Thank you, Sarah Palin, for helping to elect Sen. Barack Obama.

Sean Sokler

Michigan! Hold on! Obama's Comin'

The percentage is astonishing, yet we all knew it: manufacturing jobs

down by 20.5% in Flint Michigan from August, 2007 to August, 2008.

Michael Moore, a hero of mine, lived there. "Roger and me" 1989 showed how G.M. gave up on its steady workers from Flint, and made it a "ghost town."

http://www.michaelmoore.com/books-films/index.php

He has now become world-famous and in his efforts to show how Flint fared in the last 19 years, showed us that not only Flint had suffered, but that everyone suffered under George W. Bush. See "Fahrenheit 911" if you can.

In July, 2008, unemployment in Flint was at 24.8%.

That's right, pretty much 25% unemployment.

This number is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which I am imagining is not

full of Bush-loving Republicans. At least they seem to publish just

the straight Statistics.
http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.mi_flint_msa.htm#eag_mi_flint_msa.f.P





I am on my way back to the D.C. area tomorrow to start back with classes and my Online mid-term. I just presented at Ann Arbor, Michigan. The type of people who are at similar hotels here in the Washington, D.C. area, to the one I stayed in, in Ann Arbor, are frequently not born in the U.S., don't have excellent English,
and have not one clue about autism. But in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Sheraton was staffed with well-educated people who spoke beautiful English and were directly on point with the needs of persons who have autism. I have a feeling that the unemployment in Michigan allowed the manager of the Sheraton to have persons of the highest quality. I did not ask, but I'd bet some were from U. Michigan and some from Ypsilanti, from Eastern Michigan University. Even in educated Ann Arbor, the July, 2008, unemployment rate was 13.0%. It was anticipated that it would go down a bit for September, to 11.8%, perhaps because University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University would be back in session.


My own home town, Arlington, VA, has a an unemployment rate of 4.3%. That's low. But it is not as low as it was in April 2008: 3.8%.



Michigan! Obama's coming. I believe he will bring back jobs to the U.S. instead of having them sent offshore to China or India or other Asian nations.


Michael Moore: Thank you for all your wake-up calls.


Two weeks ago, John McCain pulled his campaign out of Michigan.
This says something pointed and important.



If I may quote a Motown song, that Obama could say, though perhaps not sing, "Hold On! I'm Comin' !" by Sam and Dave, which also

has a line that says, "Lean on Me When Times are Bad." And the
Michiganders can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN4DHY_9gOs



Gallup Poll of October 21st: Obama 52% v. McCain 42%

among "expanded" likely voters.

http://www.gallup.com/Home.aspx

http://www.gallup.com/poll/election2008.aspx


So, Hold On, Michigan! He's Comin' !! On November 4th.

Thank you, Joe Biden

A Big Hearty Shoutout to Sen. Joe Biden

Thank you, Joe Biden, for essentially showing the world who Gov. Sarah Palin is, by answering Ms. Iflin's questions to you during the VP debate last week with authority and accuracy.

Thank you for helping to elect Barack Obama to the presidency.

Thank You Saturday Night Live

The biggest shoutout to Tina Fey ...... and SNL regular Amy Poehler for the very popular imitation of Gov. Sarah Palin on two SNL shows this year. Tina Fey was initially for Hillary Clinton, but now she is doing the best possible thing to elect Barack Obama. The film clip shows the interview between Katie Couric and Sarah Palin, and actual quotes from
the CBS news interview were used in the skit.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014924.php

Thank you, Tiny Fey, Amy Poehler and SNL writers for a second look at
Gov. Sarah Palin.

Herbert on Palin

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/opinion/27herbert.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Thank You, Hollywood!

Various movie and TV stars have been denigrating Sarah Palin
as the Republican choice as running mate for McCain. This is great
for Democrats like me and hell for Republicans who want McCain
to be elected.

This CNN website details who has stated they are against Palin
and how that might affect the vote.

Thank you, Hollywood, for helping Barack Obama to get elected.




http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/09/22/anderson.hollywood.vs.palin.cnn

Bailing

Yes, we are bailing out Wall Street. Why?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/us/politics/22campaign.html?ref=us&pagewanted=print

Ex-Governor of Alaska, Tony Knowles

A big shoutout to former governor of Alaska, Tony Knowles. I think former Governor Tony Knowles (D) of Alaska is correct. Americans should be very afraid of the McCain-Palin ticket. She is not just a hockey-mom with lipstick and a shotgun. She is a woman who hones her attack abilities in politics. Ex-Governor Knowles, thank you for both the warning and the finer details and talking points.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/12/palin/html

Politically Inclined Brothers Post Punditry anti-Palin

Sarah Palin:

I am trying to only write about Sarah Palin. I'm opinionated. I think people need to know things about her time as Governor of Alaska. There was a huge investigation to determine if Palin had "abused her influence" as governor in her attempt to force the Alaska State Safety Commissioner, Walt Monegan, to fire her ex brother-in-law, Mike Wooten. Palin's sister had been married to Wooten, and their divorce was "bitter." Sarah Palin dismissed (read: fired)
Walt Monegan. This was "Troopergate." She should not have used any gubernatorial "power" to get rid of Wooten.

You have to reasonably tell people what you expect when they are first hired. They
need to know they are not going to be fired right away. I have to say she talks well, but she not always do what she really says she will do. If she is elected (VEEP?) she will not have had the experience to take over, to be president, if McCain dies,or is disabled.
SUBPOENAS are now arriving regarding this investigation, a Probe into Palin's
Abuse of Power.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1839287,00.html

Below see a photo of Politically Inclined Brothers, pundits on most anti-Palin topics.
ShoutOut: Thank you Palin, for helping the campaign of Barack Obama by dismissing
Walt Monegan.

Read the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution, re: what happens if a President dies, is disabled, or resigns. The Vice-President takes over. When Ronald Reagan was shot in
1981, his VP George H.W. Bush, took over his duties for several days.

Beware a Vice-President being a "heartbeat" away from assuming presidential duties.
See below:

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am25

Me with Pundit Brother Brendan, New Years' Eve, 2007.

Palindrome part Deux

Sarah Palin

Moosehead Palin

We haven't had a VP who knew how to cut up

a moose for a long time. Good for her!

Too bad however it has nothing to do with

running the country. It was a stunt by McCain.

It was dumb, dumb, dumb.

Biden, if he had to, could run the country,

not Gov. Sarah Palin.