A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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Good morning Kogs and Kossacks in Dailykosland!
Let's start the working week with a Moral Monday.
Have you ever had a lucid dream?
Have you ever been dreaming and suddenly realized you were dreaming? And if so, what did you do? Have you ever been delighted to discover you were dreaming, for the total and utter freedom to do whatever your mind could conceive of? Have you ever been relieved in the midst of a nightmare to discover you were dreaming, and know what whatever horror was before you was not real, and soon you would awaken unharmed?
Sigh. If only there were a way to wake up from the Republicon nightmare we find ourselves in for the next two years...
Last week I talked about listening to audiobooks and YouTube lectures to help me fall asleep, but I did not give the complete reason why.
I did mention it is hard for me to quiet down my mind enough to fall asleep, and that listening to a familiar "bedtime story" helps.
But the more important reason is I am prone to nightmares—nightmares bad enough and frequently enough that when I was a child I was afraid to go to sleep at all for fear of having them, and therefore lived in a chronic state of sleep deprivation.
Fortunately, I learned at a relatively young age how to wake myself up from a bad dream by attaching to some noise out in the real world.
It is a form of lucid dreaming: by bringing my conscious mind into the dream state, I can be aware that a dream is just a dream, which lessens the anxiety, or I can try to wake myself up, which often works.
When I was a pre-teen, my mom always slept with the radio on, so loud I could hear it through her wall. For a while she listened to music, and then to all night news stations. It has only occurred to me JUST NOW as I write this that she may have been trying to drown out the noise from MY room, since I slept with music on that was probably not her favorite music. I also slept with a fan on year round; the white noise of the fan helped me get to sleep and then the music kept me from being overwhelmed by persistent nightmares. Even with the fan turned away from the bed I was still cold in the winter. What a way to live! Of course nowadays I can just play a recording of a fan rather than using an actual fan. The miracles of modern technology!
Listening to the same thing over and over is comforting because I know exactly what is coming and when. During the years when I had my Star Trek tapes I even knew how long I had been asleep by which episode was on. Even now I only use an alarm clock as a backup on Sundays, or if I need to wake up early for an appointment after a night of short sleep (less than four hours). Most of the time (even on short sleep) I can give myself a suggestion to "wake up when the Senate testimony comes on" or at some other point in my YouTube playlist and thereby use the sleep playlist as an alarm clock.
So I fall asleep unafraid as a soothing familiar voice lulls me to sleep. If suddenly monsters appear or volcanoes erupt or giant tidal waves threaten, in desperation my mind reaches out for the lifeline to the real world and reels me awake.
If dreams are boring and uneventful, noticing the outside noise can be a pleasant reminder—hey, this is a dream! I can just fly over there and kiss that cute guy or eat all the pie on this table or some other thing I could never do in the real world. Then, as a bonus, noticing a certain point on the playlist is a gentle reminder to wake up. I think it is a win-win-win!
Needless to say, various people in my life who care about my sleep hygiene think this is a horrendous habit. They say I am not getting the restorative sleep that lets the brain rest by functioning in a completely different way than it does during full consciousness. They say no wonder I am sleep deprived all the time—even when I sleep I am not really deeply sleeping.
But my rationalization for continuing the practice is twofold. First, doing it decreases the level of anxiety in my dreams so I am able to stay asleep longer and more peacefully when otherwise a nightmare or disturbing dream would cause me to have very restless and agitated sleep, which is not very restful either.
More important, I know I sleep better with this habit, because without it I am afraid to go to sleep at all, which is by definition a worse level of sleep deprivation!
Do you ever become aware that you are dreaming? Do you ever become aware that you are dreaming in the middle of a dream and then start to change things around? If you could control your dreams, would you dream the same thing every night? Have you ever listened to sounds outside your dream to wake yourself up from a nightmare?
Have you ever had a lucid dream?
start up soundtrack
In My Dreams by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on Grooveshark
Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House on Grooveshark
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by Thinking Fella ♥ for Four Corners Kossacks
On Saturday, November 8th, 2014, the Four Corners Kossacks met to have a beverage or two, lament our electoral losses, cheer our wins, get updates on races still ongoing, listen to past local election history, learn more about each other, and plot our future strategies.
L-R: Thinking Fella, Matt S., (McLachlan campaign manager) red moon dog, nzanne, Gary Norton, Wally White, (termed-out former La Plata County Commissioner & long-time Dailykos lurker) and Jeff H.
Please visit Thinking Fella's diary for more photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Four Corners Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Thinking Fella.
by John Crapper ♥ for Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks
Four days after the mid-term elections Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks had lunch with Representative Joe Fitzgibbon, WA 34th, Chair of the Environment Committee and serving on the Finance, Transportation and Local Government Committees.
Special thanks goes to bleeding blue for making this all possible!
Invited attendees: Marcee Stone-Vegich - Chair of the 34th LD & Ted Barker Vice Chair, Robin Everett - Washington State's Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Coordinator and Mary Manous with Weldon DeBusk both on the development team creating the Cascadia Climate Action Calendar which compiles monthly the events and actions of all major environmental groups in the Puget Sound Area.
My take-away as leader of Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks from this meeting. Political reality can't be changed. We must deal with it as best we can. We must also support those fighting for climate sanity as best we can. But when it comes to climate change we cannot afford to wait on politics to be "right" to get something done. We can't afford to just chip away at the edges. We need to pursue the most effective path possible to make climate sanity a reality. Under current circumstances politics may not be that path in the next two years in Washington State.
Instead it will be the Climate Action Hub. And in my neck of the woods it will be promoting the Cascadia Climate Calendar and urging people to get involved.
Please visit
John Crapper's diary for more photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join
Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to
John Crapper.
by cooper888 ♥ for Sacramento Kossacks
We heard from navajo and Meteor Blades about the initiative by Daily Kos to have active Kossack groups in each of the state capitals. DK is looking for engaged Kossack's ready to roll up their sleeves and participate in many different types of activism/advocacy. For example, delivering petitions to the state capitol, participating in various protests, marches, rally's at the capitol, etc. As Meteor Blades pointed out this won't happen over night and is a long term strategy but I think if we all take the lead in our respective states we can make this dream happen sooner than DK leadership expects.
L-R: Front row: Sychotic1, tgypsy, tb92, trevizolga, Mrs. side pocket. Second row: Arundsdel (sp?), Laurel in CA, Kestrel, Meteor Blades. Third row: Kestrel's two friends, smileycreek, paradise50, Dave. Back row: Clif, Mr. Arundsdel, Neil, cooper888, side pocket, Left foot forward, got mooned & Nate
Please visit cooper888's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Sacramento Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to cooper888.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, November 22nd
LA Kossacks Post-election Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Luggage Room Pizzeria
260 S. Raymond Ave • Pasadena
ORGANIZER: Send susans a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. susans
2. otoelbc
3. Chiwere
4. Shockwave
5. 714day
6. jeremybloom
7. Zwenkau
8. philipmerrill
9. Flowingone
10. Joshua Bloxom
11. benamery21
12. Santa Susanna Kid
13. Joe Bacon
14. SanFernandoValleyMom |
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Los Angeles November Meetup
Saturday, November 22nd
Baja Arizona Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Kon Tiki Lounge
Broadway, just west of Swan • Tucson
You're not a real Tucsonan until you've puked in the bathroom at Kon Tiki.
ORGANIZER: Send Azazello a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Azazello
2. rasbobbo
3. ramara
4. DaNang65
5. sneakers563
6. itzadryheat
7. pwoodford
8. dobleremolque
9. Sierrareal1
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Maybees:
renbear
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Latest diary: Baja Arizona Open Thread
Sunday, November 23rd
SFKossacks & Silicon Valley Kossacks Support Native American Netroots Protesting the Washington R*dsk*ns Mascot Use
TIME: 10:00 AM
LOCATION: Levi's Stadium
4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way • Santa Clara
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. bahesmama
2. navajo
3. Meteor Blades
4.
5.
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Maybees:
Glen The Plumber
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Tuesday, December 2nd
Maryland Kos Post-election Meet-up
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Sabatino's
901 Fawn Street • Baltimore
ORGANIZER: Send Navy Vet Terp a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Navy Vet Terp
2. vschultzvidal
3. mimi
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Maybees:
rb608
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Latest diary: Maryland Kos Meetup - Baltimore Subgroup
Saturday, December 6th
Four Corner Kossacks Ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
This train is extra special. Not only are the cars over 100 years old, the coal-fired steam locomotive pulling us up the mountain was built in the early 1920's. We'll be riding in the "Cinco Animas" car (built in 1883), which, as would be expected for Kossacks--is a Presidential Class car. See diary for many more details.
TIME: 9:15 AM
LOCATION: Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
479 Main Ave • Durango
ORGANIZER: Send Thinking Fella a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Thinking Fella
2. HeroMachine
3. LucyTooners
4. Mr. LucyTooners
5. unfangus
6. Mrs. unfangus
7. Darcy
8. Kim
9. Nan
10. Allison M.
11. Tom M.
12. Boiseblue
13. Mrs. Boiseblue
14. ⇐Cinco Animas car filled
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Maybees:
Gary Norton
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Latest diary: EPIC Four Corners Kossacks Meet-up: Gonna Ride the D&SNGR Presidential Car to 9000' Elevation!
Wednesday, December 10th
Colorado COmmunity Meet-up with Drinking Liberally
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: TBD
[address] • [City]
ORGANIZER: Send Leftcandid a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Leftcandid
2.
3.
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Maybees:
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Latest diary: DENVER: Drinking & Caffeinating Liberally "Well, F***" Editions Next Week
Saturday, December 13th
SF Kossacks Holiday Party at Daily Kos HQ
The usual Pot Luck drill - sign-up list posted soon
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Daily Kos HQ
Address given privately by kosmail • Berkeley
Near Ashby BART
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Markos
2. Will Rockafellow
3. Susan Gardner
4. Meteor Blades
5. Faith Gardner & Roxie!
6. navajo
7. side pocket
8. Mrs. side pocket
9. smileycreek
10. paradise50
11. remembrance
12. Glen The Plumber
13. TLO
14. jakedog42
15. edrie
16. dharmasyd
17. catilinus
18. boatsie
19. liberated spaces
20. citisven
21. kimoconnor
22. susans
23. maggiejean
24. 714day
25. Steven Payne
26. scaboni
27. skywriter
28. jpmassar
29. jotter
30. aha aha
31. jeremybloom
32. norm
33. Lorikeet
34. cooper888
35. got mooned
36. Hunter
37. elfling
38. Cassia
39. Friend of elfling
40. Friend of elfling
41. Friend of elfling
42. Friend of elfling
43. tmservo433
44. Simplify
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Maybees:
Thinking Fella
LaughingPlanet |
Sunday, December 28th
Koscadia Meet-up with navajo & Pipe Ceremony with Ojibwa to Bless Quilts
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Private home
[Kosmail Sara R for the address] • Portland
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R to attend
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. Ojibwa
3. Sara R
4. winglion
5. Angie in WA State
6. loggersbrat
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Maybees:
quill
pdxteacher
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Saturday & Sunday, January 17-18, 2015
Dkos Asheville 24-hour Meet-up
This is what community is about; sharing, giving, creating together. And this is what being a progressive is about; working for social, economic, and environmental justice.
Each day we start from where we are now; and we move forward from here. -davehouck
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...we have built ourselves a network of like minded brothers and sisters who are in this fight for life. A place we can come to find inspiration, power, solace and community.
-randallt |
TIME: 1:00 pm Saturday till 1:00 pm Sunday
LOCATION: Crown Plaza Resort Asheville
One Resort Drive • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. Gordon20024
5. SteelerGrrl
6. SteelerGuy
7. LamontCranston
8. Otteray Scribe
9.
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Maybees:
Joy of Fishes
IamGumby
smiley7
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Latest diary: DKos Asheville: Open Thread
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.