Every day is a new day and with that, a new opportunity.
EVERYONE is welcome and please join us each morning at 7:30 AM PACIFIC
to tell us what you're working on, share your show & tell, vent, whatever you want...
...this is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.
Boujou!
Beginning today, on Monday mornings I'll be bringing you a short round-up of Indian news items that I find appealing, affecting, or important. It won't bear any resemblance to the depth and breadth of navajo and MB's First Nations News & Views diaries; it's going to be much more brief, and I'll do my best to keep it a little lighter, in keeping with the venue. But there'll always be stories that are not so pleasant that nonetheless need to be included, and you'll see them here, too. I also reserve the right to editorialize as I see fit, so never fear: It won't be all sweetness and light. Some Mondays, like today, you might find a small collection of news items from across the spectrum; other days, it might follow a theme or a topic area, like Native arts or indigenous environmental news or NDN political candidates. I hope it brings you not only news, but new ways of thinking about certain subjects as you begin each week. --Without further ado, this week's offerings:
POLITICS AND POLICY: SANDY LAW GIVES TRIBES
DIRECT ROUTE FOR DISASTER AID
Thanks to the new legislation aiding the victims and survivors of Hurricane Sandy, Indian tribes now have a direct route to pursue federal disaster and emergency funding. Finally, tribes will no longer have to wait for [often unfriendly] state governors to issue disaster declarations before they can seek such aid.
"We should not be treated as third world countries," said [Santa Clara Pueblo Governor Walter] Dasheno, who had testified in support of the change. "We should be there at the table, sitting across from the president, addressing our needs and concerns. I think we've been on the back burner for a number of years."
Former Governor Dasheno has grim experience with the process: In the aftermath of the 2011 Las Conchas wildfire in Northern New Mexico, Santa Clara Pueblo suffered the most extreme devastation of all communities in the area.
Kossacks who followed the efforts of the Native American Netroots team to aid the Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and Cheyenne River Reservations in the aftermath of the brutal ice storms of 2009-2010 will remember that South Dakota's then-governor Mike Rounds (R) refused until the last possible moment to issue a federal disaster declaration. His foot-dragging prevented the tribes from obtaining desperately needed federal disaster aid until the winter was nearly over. The new law will permit tribes to bypass such obstacles entirely by providing a direct application process. As Robert Holden, deputy director of the National Congress of American Indians, put it:
"It was the frustration over the years in terms of the interaction and the process and how tribal lands and citizens have been shortchanged and left stranded by natural and technical disasters," he said. "It's just unfair and inequitable, and we're just trying to right what should be righted."
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SCIENCE AND HISTORY: ANCIENT MOUNDS BUILT
VIA HIGH-SPEED CONSTRUCTION
Scientists now believe that the massive ancient earthworks at Poverty Point, Louisiana, were built in no more than 90 days, and perhaps in as little as a month. Key to their conclusions is physical evidence from Mound A that indicates that no rainfall occurred during its construction. In that region, a lack of rainfall for more than 90 days is considered unlikely in the extreme, and they have found no evidence of drought. The base of Mound A covers more than a half-million square feet, and stands 72 feet above the river level. Scientists estimate that the earth needed to create it, which was apparently carried by hand from multiple nearby sources, would have filled the equivalent of some 8 million bushel baskets.
The money quote from the article drips with condescension:
"What's extraordinary about these findings is that it provides some of the first evidence that early American hunter-gatherers were not as simplistic as we've tended to imagine," says study co-author T.R. Kidder, PhD, professor and chair of anthropology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.
Naw. Ya think?
Still, it's an important finding - one that perhaps will teach some non-Native "experts" not to slap reductionist labels on our ancestors' societies cultures, or to assume "that they lack the political organization necessary to bring together so many people to complete a labor-intensive project in such a short period."
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HEALTH AND LIVING: FIGHTING CANCER WITH NATIVE ART
Native People for Cancer Control, a project of Partnerships for Native Health [PNH] at the University of Washington, has launched a campaign to fight cancer in Native communities through the universal language of art. PNH commissioned a series of posters by Native artists, both renowned and less well-known, around the themes of cancer screening, prevention, and wellness. According to PNH program director Carrie Nass, the goal is to decrease the extreme health disparities among American Indians compared to other ethnic groups with regard to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survival. Thus far, PNH has distributed more than 7,000 such posters.
PNH does much more than cancer outreach and education. Perhaps most important, however, is that it operates in a way that respects Native cultural needs and traditions. Acutely aware of the disastrous effects of many efforts that have not taken cultural differences or needs into account, PNH's staff puts those needs front and center:
In addition to the Native Art for Cancer Project, PNH oversees nearly two dozen research projects that address a wide variety of public health issues including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and women’s health. Throughout a nine-state region that spans north to Alaska, down to Oregon, and into the Rocky Mountain states, PNH seeks to facilitate culturally-sensitive outreach, training, and research programs.
This involves ensuring that information is framed in an accurate and culturally-aware way “that respects the needs of native people and tribal sovereignty,” said Abigail Echo-Hawk (Pawnee), a tribal liaison with the Institute of Translational Health Sciences.
PNH grew from a need both to address the health disparities between the target communities and the wider public and do so in a culturally sensitive manner. This need is what prompted the initiation of the Native Art for Cancer Project. The Native community suffers from higher incidences of and death rates from certain types of cancers.
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ARTS AND CULTURE: GEORGE FLETT, FAMED LEDGER ARTIST, WALKS ON
On January 20, 2013, George Flett (Spokan), ledger artist extraordinaire, walked on at age 66, of complications for diabetes. In signing his artwork, Mr. Flett always spelled the name of his tribe the old way, "Spokan," without an "e," so I've observed that form here.
Born on October 20, 1946, in Nespelem, Washington, George Flett became an accomplished beadworker and metalsmith, but was always best known for his highly individualized style of traditional ledger art. The image at right is representative of his love of vibrant color, and appears on the cover of a coffee table book he published some years ago, featuring full-color plates of both some of his most famous works and some that never appeared outside his private collection. When I bought the book for Wings that Christmas, I didn't know that Mr. Flett and I shared a birthday. In some inexplicable way, it makes his too-early journey even more poignant for me.It's an acute loss for the Native art world - and a reminder of the life-and-death challenges we face in managing the diabetes epidemic ravaging our peoples.
A wake was held yesterday at the Spokane Tribal Longhouse in Wellpinit, Wasington. Funeral services as scheduled for this morning at 10:00 AM Pacific Time in Wellpinit, with interment to follow.
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ACTION ALERT
Don't forget: Today's the day the Lakota People's Law Project officially releases its report to Congress on South Dakota's practice of stealing Indian children from their homes and families, for racism and for profit. If you haven't seen the report, please check it out - and then contact your Congressional representatives and the BIA to demand action. There's a convenient petition link on their site.
Chi miigwech.
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Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the Fold
:: COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES ::
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Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meat-space community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
~
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
>>>Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
NEW GROUPS IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING:
Send a Kosmail to the organizers and ask for an invitation to the group.
• Northern Indiana Area: Kosmail Tim Delaney
• Indianapolis Kossacks: Kosmail CityLightsLover
• Long Island: Kosmail grannycarol
• Northern Michigan: Kosmail JillS
• Nebraska: Kosmail Nebraska68847Dem
• Westburbia Chicago Kossacks: Kosmail Majordomo
• New York Hudson Valley Kossacks: Kosmail boran2
• North Carolina Triangle Kossacks: Kosmail highacidity
• Caprock Kossacks (Panhandle/Caprock/Lubbock/Amarillo area) : Kosmail shesaid
• West Texas Kossacks (including Big Bend Region and El Paso) : Kosmail Yo Bubba
Note to the above new leaders: Feel free to leave a comment any day reminding readers about your new group. Also, tell us about your progress in gathering members. Kosmail me when you've chosen a good name for your group and have created a the group. Then I'll move you to the NEW GROUPS LIST. When you've planned a date for your first event I'll make a banner for you to highlight your event in our diaries and your diaries.
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks - Formed: Jul 29, 2012, Organizer: tgypsy, 23 members
• New England Kossacks - Formed: Aug 6, 2012, Organizers:
Clytemnestra for Lower New England (Conneticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
GreenMountainBoy02 for Upper New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont), 116 members
• Houston Area Kossacks - Formed: Aug 7, 2012, Organizer: Chrislove, 20 members
• Kossacks in India - Formed: Aug 14, 2012, Organizer: chandu
• CenTex Kossacks - Formed: Sep 9, 2012, Organizer: papa monzano, 8 members
• Central Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Sep 26, 2012, Organizer: VetGrl, 16 members
• Kansas City Kossacks - Formed Oct 15, 2012, Organizer: kj in missouri
• Phoenix Kossacks - Formed Oct 16, 2012, Organizer: arizonablue
• Chicago Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2012, Organizer: figbash, 23 members
• Koscadia the Pacific Northwest coast from Northern California to Alaska
- Formed Oct 17, 2012, Oganizer: Horace Boothroyd III based in Portland, OR
• Boston Kossacks - Formed: Nov 7, 2012, Organizer: GreyHawk
• Motor City Kossacks South East Michigan (Detroit) Area - Formed: Nov 10, 2012, Organizer: peregrine kate
• Pittsburgh Area Kossacks - Formed: Nov 12, 2012, Organizer: dweb8231,
Current diary: After a "Brief Delay" Pgh. Area Kossacks Gets Rolling
• Salt Lake City Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: War on Error, 19 members
• Twin Cities Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: imonlylurking
Current diary: Twin Cities Kossacks-when should we meet? Poll included!
• Dallas Kossacks North Texas - Formed: Nov 21, 2012, Organizer: Stepping down, chancew, please contact him if you'd like to step up. He'll change the groups' permissions for you.
Current diary: Dallas Kossacks, I need suggestions!
• The Southern California Inland Empire Kossacks - Formed: Dec 3, 2012, Organizer: SoCaliana
• Los Angeles Kossacks - Formed: Dec 17, 2012, Organizer: Shockwave
• Northeast Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Jan 16, 2013, Organizer: GenXangster
• Kansas & Missouri Kossacks - Formed: Jan 17, 2013, Organizer: tmservo433
Current diary: If you are in Kansas / Missouri
• I-77 Carolina Kossacks who live from Columbia, SC to north of Winston-Salem, NC. - Formed: Jan 30, 2013, Organizers: gulfgal98 and eeff
ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005, More than 80 members
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011, More than 54 members. Contact: JamieG from Md for a group invite. Current diary: Maryland needs a meetup
• New York City Founded by Eddie C, More than 58 members - Contact the group organizer for meet-up events: sidnora
• Baja Arizona Kossacks Event Organizer: Azazello, 90 members
• Three Star Kossacks Tennessee, Founded by maryKK, Formed: Apr 8, 2011, 46 members
• Nashville KosKats Founded by ZenTrainer, Formed: Jan 30, 2012, 28 members
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011, 85 members
Current diary: Maryland needs a meetup
• Kos Georgia Founded by pat208, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, 18 members
• Colorado COmmunity Founded by Leftcandid, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, 25 members
• New Mexico Kossaks Founded by claude, 13 members
• Philly Kos Founded by mconvente, Formed: Aug 29, 2011, 15 members
Currently organizing: Kosmail asterkitty to sign up
• DKos Florida Founded by ThirstyGator, Formed: Feb 14, 2011, 33 members
Currently organizing: Kosmail Vetwife to be included in next event.
• Oklahoma Roundup Founded by BigOkie, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, 12 members
Currently organizing: Kosmail peacearena to be included.
Okla-homies, let's get together (new regional organizing group)
:: Events Currently on the Books for ALL Kossacks ::
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Saturday, February 9th
First Time Ever DKos Florida Kossacks Meet-up!
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Fort Cooper State Park
Recreation Hall
3100 South Old Floral City Road • Inverness
$3.00 per car entry fee
Pets welcome but not inside hall
NO alcoholic beverages allowed in state park
Food for event will be covered potluck
ORGANIZER: Send Vetwife a kosmail to attend and volunteer for potluck.
RSVPs:
1. Brian1066
2. Caedy (FloridaSNMom's sis)
3. DaNang65
4. FloridaSNMom [Pasta e fagioli (turkey bacon), focaccia bread]
5. gulfgal98 [pasta/vegetable salad]
6. JaxDem [plates, napkins, plasticware]
7. KayeB in Florida
8. lady blair [food from the vegetable group]
9. OleHippieChick [cran-raspberry juice, hummus, pita bread, fresh baby greens]
10. Orlwriter [diet coke, water, cold cuts, cheese, baked beans]
11. PHScott
12. rnmihayden
13. Russ Jarmusch
14. Subo03
15. Taxmancometh
16. THScott
17. Vet
18. Vetwife [chicken, potato salad, punch, chocolate mousse]
19. whatGodmade [fruit salad, drinks, cups, clean up--wash cloths, dish soap, etc.]
20. YaNevaNo
21. Nurse Lurker [dessert]
22. Band Director [dessert]
23. LilBit (FloridaSNMom's daughter)
24. LilHippieChiclet (Vetwife's daughter)
25. Mt. Dora RN R
26. Mt. Dora RN G [pies and cakes from Publix]
Maybees:
Just Bob, tommyfocus2003, beemerr90s
Latest diary: Big Honkin' DKos FLORIDA MEETUP, this Sat Feb 9
Tuesday, February 12th
Watching the 2013 State of the Union Address
TIME: 5:30 PM
LOCATION: cooper888 and gotmooned's place in Sacramento (Natomas)
Directions will be provided by private email to those who RSVP.
ORGANIZER: Send tgypsy a kosmail to RSVP
RSVPs:
1. Kestrel
2. tgypsy
3. cooper888
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4. gotmooned
5. Sychotic1
Maybees:
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Latest diary: Calling all Sacramento area and Central Valley Kossacks!
DailyKos readers who live and/or work in New England
(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
Saturday, February 16th
Northern New England Meetup in Portsmouth, NH
TIME: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
775 Lafayette Road • Portsmouth
ORGANIZER: Send nhox42 an email to RSVP at nhox42@yahoo.com
RSVPs:
1. Bill in Portland Maine
2. Common Sense Mainer
3. nhox
4. commonmass
5. The Marti
6. Nautical Knots
7. Nautical Knots's spouse
8. Clytemnestra
9. parsonsbeach
10. parsonsbeach's spouse
11. mayim
12. Jane
13. bjedwards
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14. dvcm
15. lurker
Maybees:
vacationland
Debbie in ME
leolabeth
annieli
icicle68
knockbally
CtheO
CtheO's spouse
vacationland
simple
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Latest diary:
Saturday, February 16th
LA Kossacks Meet-up with Guest Speakers Dana Siegelman, Daughter of Don Siegelman and OPOL by Skype
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Casey's Irish Pub
613 S Grand Ave. • Los Angeles
ORGANIZER: Send Shockwave a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Dana Siegelman
2. Shockwave
3. One Pissed Off Liberal (by Skype)
4. Dave in Northridge
5. jakedog42
6. Joe Bacon
7. SanFernandoValleyMom
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8. RLMiller
9. delphine
10. jared the bassplayer
11. Ducktape
Maybees:
norm
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Latest diary: Los Angeles Kossacks meets again on Feb 16. And we have a guest speaker
Saturday, February 16th
Houston Area Kossacks 4th Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Chuy's
2706 Westheimer Road • River Oaks
ORGANIZER: Send Chrislove a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Chrislove
2. nomandates
3. Delilah
4. Tacey (Honorary Kossack)
5. suesue
6. Mr. suesue
7. PDiddie
8. Mrs. PDiddie
9. Crabby Abbey
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10. doraphasia
11. Libby Shaw
12. Mr. Libby Shaw
13. teemel
Maybees:
cosette
mengelhart
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Latest diary: Houston Area Kossacks: Meet-Up Scheduled for Saturday, February 16!
Sunday, Febuary 17th
Kossack Meet-ups Coinciding with Forward on Climate Rally
WHAT: Forward on Climate Rally
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: The National Mall • Washington D.C.
SPONSORS: 350.org, The Sierra Club and the Hip-Hop Caucus
WHY: To tell Barack Obama it's time to lead in the fight against climate change, beginning with the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.
ORGANIZER: Send eeff a kosmail if you're interested in connecting the night before or the night of the event.
RSVPs:
1. eeff
2. blonde moment
3. angelajean
4.
5.
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Maybees:
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Latest diary: MOT: 350.org, The Sierra Club & Hip Hop Caucus
SFKossack Attending the 350BayArea.org Forward on Climate Rally
TIME: 1:00-3:00 PM
LOCATION: One Market Plaza
1 Market St • San Francisco
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to connect with other SFKossacks and RSVP directly at 350BayArea.org.
RSVPs:
1. citisven
2.
3.
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Maybees:
navajo
Meteor Blades
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Saturday, March 2nd!!
Lone Star Spring Texas State-Wide Meet-Up in Austin
TIME: 2:00-5:00 PM
LOCATION: Opal Divine's Penn Field restaurant and bar
3601 S. Congress Ave • Austin
ORGANIZER: Send nomandates Kosmail to RSVP.
RSVPs:
1. nomandates
2. teknohed
3. papa monzano
4. Chrislove
5. Chrislove's BF
6. glorificus
7. politik
8. anotherdemocrat
9. Odysseus
10. suesue
11. blue armadillo
12. texasmom
13. texasdad
14. htowngenie
15. navajo (honorary TX Kossack!)
16. afisher
17. manoffire
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18. Wino
19. Mrs. Wino
20. VinaMist
21. doraphasia
22. Urban Owl
23. Texdude50
24. icelus
25. mr pea
26. entrelac
27. Mr. entrelac
28. JayRaye
29. cosette
30. belinda ridgewood
Maybees:
1. Mosquito Pilot
2. Over the Edge
3. yoduuuh do or do not
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Latest diary: Lone Star Meet-Up in Austin on 3/2: Location & Other Announcements
DailyKos readers who live and/or work in New England
(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
New England Kossacks All Day Meet-up
Saturday, March 9th
ORGANIZER: Send Clytemnestra a kosmail to attend.
TIME: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
LOCATION I: SolToro in the Mohegan Sun Casino
1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard • Uncasville, CT
RSVPs:
1. Clytemnestra
2.
3.
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Maybees:
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TIME: 7:00 - 10:00 PM
LOCATION II: Mystic Pizza
56 West Main Street • Mystic, CT
RSVPs:
1. Clytemnestra
2.
3.
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Maybees:
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TIME: 11:00 - ? PM
LOCATION III: TBD
[Address] • [City]
RSVPs:
1. Clytemnestra
2.
3.
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Maybees:
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Latest diary: New England Kossacks - March meet up
Sunday, March 10th
SAVE THE DATE: SFKossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for a gilas girl
Guaymas in Tiberon: Time TBD
Meet at the Ferry Building and take the ferry to Sausalito. Dine at Guaymas in the sun • Sausalito
Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park: Time TBD
We'll take the Ferry back to the Ferry building and then take public tranny to the park • San Francisco
LOCATION III: TBD for early dinner
Address TBD • San Francisco
RSVPs:
1. a gilas girl
2. navajo
3. side pocket
4. dharmasyd [lunch]
5. Meteor Blades
6. Glen the Plumber
7. remembrance
8. smileycreek
9. paradise50
10. Cali Scribe
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11. Mr. Scribe
12. slouching
13. no way lack of brain
14. norm
15. boatsie
16. Lorikeet
17. FogCityJohn
18. madhaus
Maybees:
edrie
lineatus
maggiejean
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Netroots Nation 2013 in San Jose: Plenary Session Table Reservations
June 20th - 23rd • REGISTER HERE
SFKossacks:
1. side pocket [First Lieutenant]
2. mrs. side pocket
3. kimoconnor
4. citisven
5. lineatus
6. Cali Scribe
7. Glen the Plumber
8. remembrance
9. jotter
10. Mrs. jotter
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SFKossacks:
1. Lusty
2. mrsgoo
3. norm
4. boran2 (Honorary)
5. Lorikeet
6. FogCityJohn
7. slksfca
8. madhaus
9. boatsie
10.
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Central Valley Kossacks:
1. tgypsy
2. cooper888
3. gotmooned
4. paradise50
5. smileycreek
6. maggiejean
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Native American Netroots:
1. navajo
2. Meteor Blades
3. shanikka
4. no way lack of brain
5. translatorpro
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Community Quilt Project:
1. Sara R
2. winglion?
3. loggersbrat
4. ramara (Arizona)
5. Horace Boothroyd III
6. linkage
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Lone Star Kossacks:
1. nomandates
2. texasmom
3. texasdad
4. doraphasia
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Cheers & Jeers:
1. Bill in Portland Maine
2. Common Sense Mainer
3. vicki
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Los Angeles Kossacks:
1. Shockwave
2. jakedog42
3. susans
4. murphy
5. Dave in Northridge
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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NYC and beyond:
1. sidnora
2. belinda ridgewood
3. thankgodforairamerica
4. Jimdotz
5. theroaringgirl
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Misc. registered Kossacks + regions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Hopefully we can put together whole tables for them.
Community Quilt Project NN13 Flash Mob Photo
smileycreek is organizing and asking all Community Quilt recipients to bring their quilts to NN13. We'll assemble at a pre-designated location and time for a group photo with one of the NN13 professional photographers. It will be a group hug celebrating one of the most beloved community building projects we have here at Daily Kos with Sara R and winglion at the center of it. navajo and Glen the Plumber are going to scout out and select a location in advance for all to meet with their quilts for a memorable photo opportunity. Stay tuned.
Date: TBD Time: TBD
1. paradise50
2. Dave in Northridge
3. remembrance
4. BeninSC
5. mimi
6. cskendrick
7. DaNang65
8. llbear (not attending, quilt only)
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9. Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse (may not attend)
10. Smoh (not attending, quilt only)
11. slksfca
12. belinda ridgewood
13.
14.
15.
16.
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Send
navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?