The Truth on Sarah Palin 
I was shocked to read a poll yesterday that said Sarah Palin now has a more favorable rating than Obama, McCain, or Biden! Are the American people not paying attention? To be honest, I would think the revelation that her teenage daughter is pregnant would be enough to doom a Republican candidate, since they claim to be the party of family values and have morality on their side. In addition, I learned from the Wikipedia article on Palin that she herself eloped, and her first child was born only 8 months after the hasty marriage. And if you're looking for evidence of bad judgment, how about getting pregnant at age 44, then getting on a plane from Texas to Alaska after her water broke, then taking almost no time off work to care for her newborn baby? And by the way, I do have sympathy for her child having special needs, but she could have reduced the risk for this problem by getting pregnant earlier: the incidence of having Down's syndrome is 1 in 910 at mother's age 30, but reaches 1 in 28 at age 45.

Her personal judgment and parenting is one issue, but I question her ideas and actions in many areas.

The following information is from MoveOn.org:
1 Palin recently said that the war in Iraq is "God's task." She's even admitted she hasn't thought about the war much—just last year she was quoted saying, "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq." 1, 2
2 Palin has actively sought the support of the fringe Alaska Independence Party. Six months ago, Palin told members of the group—who advocate for a vote on secession from the union—to "keep up the good work" and "wished the party luck on what she called its 'inspiring convention.'" 3
3 Palin wants to teach creationism in public schools. She hasn't made clear whether she thinks evolution is a fact.4
4 Palin doesn't believe that humans contribute to global warming. Speaking about climate change, she said, "I'm not one though who would attribute it to being manmade." 5
5 Palin has close ties to Big Oil. Her inauguration was even sponsored by BP. 6
6 Palin is extremely anti-choice. She doesn't even support abortion in the case of rape or incest. 7
7 Palin opposes comprehensive sex-ed in public schools. She's said she will only support abstinence-only approaches. 8
8 As mayor, Palin tried to ban books from the library. Palin asked the library how she might go about banning books because some had inappropriate language in them—shocking the librarian, Mary Ellen Baker. According to Time, "news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor." 9
9 She DID support the Bridge to Nowhere (before she opposed it). Palin claimed that she said "thanks, but no thanks" to the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. But in 2006, Palin supported the project repeatedly, saying that Alaska should take advantage of earmarks "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." 10

P.S. If you haven't seen it, check out the Daily Show clip on Palin. It's worth a watch
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24753&id= ... jx&t=5

Sources
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WalMart Greenwashing 
Surprise, surprise, Walmart is promoting itself as a green company while its actual efforts have been pathetic. They will make the efficiency changes that immediately save them cash, but refuse to put solar panels on most of their stores. The story is similar in Canada, according to an article Carl found.

He also found this article on various stores getting into solar panels. Kohl's has panels on 43 stores already. Go Wisconsin! But Whole Foods seems to be lagging behind, although their website shows they have a few solar projects.

Take action on the following alert from the Center for Biological Diversity:

Wal-Mart, the largest private purchaser of electricity in the United States, claims that environmental sustainability is among its chief goals. The retailer's much-hyped sustainability initiatives include being supplied by 100-percent renewable energy. Going green is how Wal-Mart's now branding itself.

Except, of course, when it comes to taking more than token action to meet its renewable power objectives.

If Wal-Mart covered the roofs of its stores with solar panels, the resulting solar acreage would roughly equal the size of Manhattan, an island of 23 square miles. But with more than 4,000 Supercenters, Discount Stores, and Sam's Clubs, Wal-Mart has only proposed to install solar panels on 22 of its stores. In other words, after claiming for years that it wants to be supplied completely by renewable energy, Wal-Mart has not even come close to reaching 1 percent of this goal.

Wal-Mart is skirting California law and refusing to incorporate cost-effective features like solar panels in new stores throughout California.

The California Environmental Quality Act requires that new projects in California adopt all feasible measures to lessen the significant impacts of their greenhouse gas emissions. There is simply no good reason for Wal-Mart to refuse to incorporate solar panels into its store designs. That's why the Center for Biological Diversity is taking the massive corporation to court for its failure to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by new proposed Wal-Mart Supercenters in the Golden State.

Please sign our petition to Wal-Mart calling for it to follow the law and live up to its sustainability goal. And please forward this email to as many people as possible, so that the retail giant will hear loud and clear how many of us are outraged by its hypocritical business practices.

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Gardening Update 
I picked the first pepper and cucumber from the garden today! I'm so glad it's working out.
I put down the corn gluten meal on Saturday. The granulated WOW looks and smells a lot like dry cat food, and I know corn meal gluten is used in some pet foods. I was worried the neighborhood pets would come eat it up, but that hasn't happened.
We don't have a spreader so I sprinkled it on by hand, and it didn't go as far as I thought. I used up pretty much the whole 20 pound bag and I didn't even cover the whole lawn. I watered twice on Sunday morning and then turned off the sprinklers until Wednesday, because the directions said the soil needed a drying period.
I can't tell yet if it's working, although the number of new weed sprouts around the native plants seemed fairly low this morning. I'm wondering how much the granules need to break down to be effective.
If nothing else, it's supposed to work as a fertilizer.
The plants in the garden are so big now, it's hard to see the ground in some places to see if there are weeds growing.
Weeding the lawn, on the other hand, is going much slower than expected. I've been pulling sorrel from almost the same patch of lawn for over a week now!

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The Olympic Ideal? 
The beauty and diversity of the Olympic parade of nations tonight was somewhat spoiled for me by the appearance of the men-only Saudi Arabian delegation. I was pleased that the announcers at least mentioned Saudi Arabia's oppression of women, but for me the obvious question was not asked: How can they be allowed to participate in the Olympics at all? There is no reason why a country that has enslaved 50% of its population should be granted the acceptance of the international community. The announcers were tossing around the phrase of the Olympic ideal pretty freely, but no one explained how denying women an equal role in society fits into that ideal. No nation that prevents women from living full lives should be allowed to compete in the Olympics.

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I'm Outside Weeding. 
If you're wondering why I haven't been blogging much lately, it's because I've been outside weeding. The new garden takes a lot of attention. A couple of the petunias look stressed, but otherwise all of the plants are doing great. As for the rest of the lawn, I'm hoping someday it will be grass with a few weeds instead of weeds with a few blades of grass.
The roses are doing great too. Navid found where the rrigation line was disconnected from the sprinkler head, so the roses will be getting more water from now on. The strip of lawn around the outside now gets water only every third day, which is plenty for the natives we've planted so far. We hope to get up to Las Pilitas nursery again soon and plant some more.
Carl helped find a new organic weed control product, corn gluten meal. My bag of WOW organic pre-emergent arrived a few days ago and I plan to spread it on Saturday. The corn gluten meal also acts as a fertilizer. I'll report back on the results.
I also tried a neat trick on the weeds in the sidewalk cracks--boiling water! Needless to say it's completely non-toxic, and works like a charm. And I managed not to scald myself in the process.
I've got two new pictures up on the gallery and I'll try to add more. Enjoy!

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CBS covered up for McCain! 
I got this video in an email from MoveOn.org:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDIAsS9VXiM

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They can't be serious, can they? 
Did you know that the California state legislature is considering cutting $1.4 billion dollars from the public transit budget? And they want to do it now, when more people than ever are turning to mass transit as the affordable alternative to filling up their gas tanks! Mass transit makes sense for people and the environment. Tell the legislature not to cut funding for public transportation:
http://calpirg.org/action/world-class-p ... nsit-cuts2

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Comparison of the 50th District Candidates, by Cheryl Ede 
Cheryl Ede:
Retires June 2008 with 25 years of public education service; is a senior school psychologist

Nick Leibham:
34th birthday was May 2008; is an attorney

Ede:
Agrees with Democratic Party regarding need for comprehensive solution to immigration issue,including employer sanctions

Leibham:
Feb. 21 PDA & March 5 DFA meetings: All 12 million workers must “go back to their country and get in line.”

Ede:
Agrees with Dem Party that media consolidation compromises our democracy; we must have a diversified media, without concentration in the hands of a few.

Leibham:
Feb. 21, PDA meeting: Media consolidation is not an issue “because of the Internet.”

Ede:
Agrees with Dem Party – favors defined benefit pension plans--teacher retirement

Leibham:
Disagrees with defined benefit pension plans

Ede:
Endorsed by the Progressive Democrats of America, San Diego Democratic Women’s Club, Jeenie Criscenzo of the North County Coalition for Peace & Justice, La Jolla Democratic Club

Leibham:
Incorrectly circulated picture suggesting Howard Dean endorses him; Dean endorses NO primary candidate.

Ede:
1974 – earned doctorate in counseling psychology

Leibham:
2005 – earned law degree

Ede:
Has lived in Pacific Beach since 1976.

Leibham:
Has lived in the 50th 4 years; previously held several jobs, in more than one state

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A Message from the Center for Biological Diversity 
Vote No on 98 and Yes on 99 on June 3rd

Prop 98 is a dangerous measure on California's June 2008 ballot that could wipe out important laws and regulations that protect our environment. It threatens to remove crucial protections for wildlife, forests, open space, wetlands, and smart growth. State and local laws are critical to protecting wildlife, open space, clean air, and clean water. Communities should not be forced to pay developers or corporations to not pollute or to protect endangered species. Join the Center for Biological Diversity in opposing this irresponsible measure.

Prop 98 is simply a Trojan horse that wreaks havoc on our natural heritage. Its supporters want voters to believe it's about eminent domain, but a closer look shows hidden provisions that would wipe out regulations intended to protect our environment. This proposition is the dream of large-scale developers that are looking out for nothing other than profits.

We also encourage you to vote Yes on Prop 99. Proposition 99 -- The Homeowners Protection Act -- will prohibit the government from using eminent domain to take a home to transfer to a private developer. Prop 99 is the type of smart eminent domain reform that will protect homeowners and our environment.

Vote for the environment on June 3rd. Vote No on 98 and Yes on 99.

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Healthcare not Warfare Video 
Learn more about Progressive Democrats of America and their Healthcare Not Warfare campaign by watching this video , and then sign the petition at www.pdamerica.org .

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