The Interactive MAP in FULL SCREEN
The orange pinpoints are the location of each organized group of Daily Kos readers. If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links. If you'd like to start a group, contact navajo for instructions.
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 at Daily Kos 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. |
A few days from now, I will be on my way to Idaho. A three-month forestry project beckons. I always drive, because I need my pickup truck for working in the woods. And I always take a different route.
I’ve made the trip from Georgia to the Northwest each year since 2005 (excepting one year when family business intervened). I treat each journey as an adventure, and I document my travels through writing and pictures — some of which ends up on Daily Kos.
Interstate highways bore me. Think about the last time you drove on one. What did you remember from the trip when you were finished? Most likely your memories consist of giant trucks, thousands of cars (many of them operated by brain-dead zombies), endless stretches of concrete, and a sea of billboards. Remember any scenery? I didn’t think so. Ever pull onto the shoulder to take an incredible picture? I didn’t think so, once again.
The back roads appeal to me, especially from the Plains States on westward, where towns are far apart and speed limits are similar to those on the Interstates. Many of the roads are nearly deserted. Since they serve low-population areas, advertisers are scarcely interested in erecting giant billboards. If I feel like resting, I pull off the road. If a great photo opportunity appears, I can stop for a picture. I can even turn around and get a better vantage point. Try doing that on your favorite Interstate.
I don’t seek out oddball landmarks such as the world’s largest ball of twine, but I do see some unusual sights. They might be downright mundane to those who live nearby, but the rest of the world is unaware.
Here are some of the sights I’ve encountered along the way.
All right, it’s your turn. Have you stumbled on an out-of-the way place? Or you have a favorite oddball spot that you can share? Secret places need not be revealed. President Trump’s henchmen will make you reveal it next year...unless we get out the vote!
As always, this is an Open Thread!
LET'S BUILD IN-REAL-LIFE 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.
Colorado: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Mountain
Michigan: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Eastern
North Carolina: Sundays, 1:00 PM Eastern
Washington: Sundays, 3:30 PM Pacific
Missouri: Wednesday Evenings
Kansas: Monday Evenings
The New England Kossacks and the local readers of Cheers & Jeers are meeting on June 25th from Noon to 6:00 PM at mayim’s most excellent cottage by the lake in Norway, ME. Located about an hour northwest of Portland. Bring a snack or comestible to share with the group. Woozles are welcome but Hobbes, Penn and the fosters prefer to be the only kitties. Bring your bathing suit if you have a strong tolerance for cold. RSVP to (nhox42 AT yahoo DOT com) See for NEKossacks/C+J Summer Meetup June 25th! more information.
RSVPS
1. nhox42
2. mayim
3. Bill in Portland Maine
4. Common Sense Mainer
5. Susan Grigsby
6.
Maybees:
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Oakland Readers of Daily Kos
There’s a city council meeting coming up in Oakland about a coal export terminal proposed at Oakland’s port. It’s a big environmental justice issue since the trains would go through the already-affected West Oakland. We need to stop this.
The Oakland City Council has called the special session to “conclude and present information from the public hearing on the health and safety impacts of coal in Oakland and options for action, including whether to adopt a prohibition on the storage, loading, import and export of coal in Oakland.”
Please RSVP there at NO COAL IN OAKLAND's website and also here at CUA to let other Kossacks know you're attending.
Date: Tuesday, June 28
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Barry’s Pizza and Italian Diner, 6003 Richmond Avenue
See Chrislove’s diary for RSVP info and more details.
RSVPS
1. Chrislove
2. scott5js
3. tiredntexas
4. cosette
5. Mr. cosette
Maybees:
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Daily Kos/Cheers & Jeers Welcoming Dinner
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Mango
1001 Washington Ave, One block from Convention Center, 2 minute walk from the Marriott
Join us for a generous buffet of chic Peruvian appetizers that will be substantial for dinner. Vegetarians will be provided for well.
Peru is home to one of the most exquisite fusion cuisines in the world. Mango Peruvian Cuisine brings the taste of Peru to St. Louis by combining the diversity of their culture through locally provided food. Mango's beverage menu mirrors the marriage of diversity and locally sourced products.
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Roll call for the C&J Dinner in Connect! Unite! Act!
This will be headcount central for the C&J Dinner. Spread the word.
RSVPS:
Hosts:
1. navajo
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. Common Sense Mainer
Daily Kos Staff:
4. Meteor Blades
5. Mark Sumner
6. Will Rockafellow
7. Faith Gardner
8. Jen Hayden
9. Elizabeth Strong
10. Leslie Salzillo
11. Chris Bowers
12. Michael Langenmayr
13. Rachel Colyer
14. Carrisa Miller
15. Paul Hogarth
16. tealbomb
17. Irna Landrum
18. Mara Schechter
19. peregrine kate
20. Jonaya
Daily Kos Featured Writers:
21. Denise Oliver-Velez
22. Chris Reeves
23. shanikka
Partners & Mentors:
24. belinda ridgewood
25. paradise50
26. smileycreek
27. BeninSC
High Impact Stories:
28. jotter
29. aha aha (Mrs. jotter)
Top Comments Crew:
30. brillig (bday gurl that day!)
31. mik
32. Ed Tracey
33. gizmo59
The After Show:
34. winkk
35. Justice Putnam
36. theRoaringGirl
37. OllieGarkey
38. bunnygirl60 (driving carpool
from Cincinnati or Indianapolis,
if you need a ride)
Electablog:
39. Chris Savage
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40. side pocket
41. Mrs. side pocket
42. Ramara
43. loggersbrat
44. jakedog42
45. vicki
46. markm667
47. Eddie in ME
48. moody in savannah
49. lulu
50. texasmom
51. texasdad
52. Raines
53. skohayes
54. 714day
55. gizmo59’s squeeze
56. evcoren
57. bfitzinAR
58. sidnora
59. Spedwybabs
60. Shayera
61. SnoKat
62. SnoKat’s guy
63. KathyinSC
64. Sidnora’s LH
65. Richard Cranium (offering carpool
from Florida Panhandle)
66. bakers dozen
67. bakers dozen’s sister
68. Desiree Kane
69. Sean Wang
70. SanDiegoDem
71. K1
72. K2
73. Christian Kendrick
74. hayden
75. Ed Tracey
76. TomP
77. effervescent
78. Man Oh Man
79. PerfectStormer
Maybees:
norm winifred3
normAl1792
shanikka’s DAH
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There will also be a Daily Kos Caucus session during NN16.
Stay tuned for room location, date and time of our caucus.
Registrations still available
SAVE THE DATE: Dkos Asheville is gearing up for a meet-up on July 23rd.
RSVPS
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. Gordon20024
5. Otteray Scribe
6. Lamont Cranston
7. DawnN
Maybees:
ZenTrainer
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Despite 90+ degree weather, eight Seattle readers of Daily Kos ventured through the heat to gather together for lunch Sunday June 5, 2016.
From bleeding blue, the organizer: “You know, I really enjoy these things. If you get a chance, please consider attending a meetup with fellow Kossacks in your area. That there are real people behind our usernames and avatars, is something that often (not always) gives me pause, and reason to delete a feverishly-written comment...and let things go.”
Koscadia, the readers of Daily Kos in Oregon, welcomed the newly transplanted asterkitty who recently moved from Philadelphia to Portland. Great Thai food was had by all.
The SFKossacks welcomed peregrine kate to town on May, 15, 2016. They all met for a picnic with one the most scenic locations in the Bay Area, the Marin Headlands. It was a beautiful sunny day, fun food and great company.
The Nashville KosKats brainstormed on April 30th at their meet-up and came up with the following places that might be good to register voters:
...farmers markets around town, YMCA’s, hipster coffee shops, college campuses, local book stores, craft and art fairs, city bus station, the VA, Senior Centers, clinic and hospitals, specialized street parties for all different kinds of groups of people, some that highlight pets.
This is what we all need to do now, before the general. REGISTER PEOPLE TO VOTE!
Silicon Valley Kos had a great event on April 30th. A representative from the Honda campaign attended and Jeevan Zutshi described a side of Mike Hondanot well known in that Honda is always eager to help new candidates and encouraging involvement. They also discussed ways they could work as a team to increase SVKos’s impact on local politics. Exactly what all Daily Kos In-Real-Life groups should be doing.
The SFKossacks welcomed RLMiller to San Francisco on April 2nd. Photo diary here. Stay tuned. RLMiller is the President of Climate Hawks Vote Political Action. She is the elected chair of California Democratic Party’s environmental caucus. Our dinner lasted four hours!
The Houston Area Kossacks had a small meetup with lively conversation on Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Many more photos of the crew and ChrisLove’s great food pr0n can be seen here. Kosmail Chrislove if you’d like to join his group.
Northwestern Pennsylvania Kos
Northwestern Pennsylvania had dinner and lively political conversation on the evening of Thursday, March 17 at Latinos Restaurant in Erie, PA, in celebration of a visit from Chrislove who lives in Houston. Gizmo59’s recap can be read in full here, complete with succulent food pr0n.
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries about your event or if you have changes or additions.