Quick New York City Comments

Running around the city today, doing stuff.

Been at the New York Public Library all morning and early afternoon, up in the third floor reading Rose Main Reading Room. The art in the hallway outside is beautiful. I took some photos which perhaps I'll get up in the next few days. Haven't tried my photo downloading software on my MacBook software yet, so we'll see how it goes.

About to head out to the Patagonia store up in SoHo and pick up more cold-weather gear for D.C. It's SO cold out and D.C. is going to be colder still.

I have been wearing Patagonia for outdoor stuff since 1984 when I was working as a paramedic in upstate New York on a ropes course at a self-help LGAT. This before Patagonia was considered "cool." We bought Patagonia because it was associated with climbing gear, and we were all climbers. Patagonia was very technical gear which worked for us in a serious way. Then the hip people started using it, but whatever.

Anyway, Patagonia's the Real Deal. The coat I'm wearing right now I've had since 1988. At home I have a pullover I bought in 1984. In the trunk of my car I've a raincoat I bought in 1987 which I used to wear as a paramedic in Oakland and Richmond. It's STILL WATERPROOF. Just like my L.L. Bean insulated snow boots which I'm wearning now. Bought them in 1990 at the actual L.L. Bean store in Maine, having driven up from Logan Airport in the middle of a storm.

The Real Thing, baby. Moving on...

GNB is now credentialed for something super extra special on Sunday. *smiles*

This is in addition to the huge concert (HBO) Sunday night at the Lincoln Memorial. The newly credentialed event is Sunday at NOON ET. We'll announce just what this is tomorrow. 'Cause it really diserves its own post. Also, am in a hurry to get to the Patagonia store.

In the meantime, please make sure you clear your schedule to be watching LIVE on SUNDAY NOON ET. You can watch the entire event on live streaming video PLUS GNB coverage uploaded either during (if Internet access is available we'll live-blog what you're seeing live stream) and/or shortly afterward we'll upload our written coverage, along with multiple photographs, and videos!

More tomorrow when we announce just what it is we're covering.

Got to go... Stuff to do, subways to ride.

There's more...

Car Repair Part 4: Emergency Inaugural Fundraising Request

Leaving the house now to get the car. King County Metro to the repair shop.

Then $984. Plus tax, which I forgot about yesterday. *sighs*

Please help fund GNB's coverage for our inaugural trip right now. Otherwise we'll have to cancel.

Last night we raised $210. We need to raise $790 before my flight leaves tomorrow evening, or I'll have to call this off. I can't be without my car... what with being a gimp, my car is my everything. It's what gets me around.

LM and I are meeting in NYC. We're going to D.C. to give you live coverage.

The $1400 I had saved up is now shot. What with towing costs for my car, after I pay the bill, plus tax, I'll have under $200 left. Four months of savings (since Denver) shot.

Sorry to ask, but we have to raise almost $790 in 36 hours. Can you help?

We do have media credentials for D.C.

Please help send Jesse and LM to the inaugural. Donate now: $100, $75, $50, $25.

Thank you.

Update: 10:55 AM PT

Picked up the car about an hour ago, after riding the bus an hour to get there. Then had to walk UP a very steep hill and go another couple of blocks. Ouch.

Tried to get the car shop to let me just pay them half now, half when I get paid, but no going. *sighs*

We've had two donations so far this morning. Still a long way to go.

Talked with LM this morning. We both very much want to go. Know precisely what we intend to cover. This trip has been four months in the planning.

Our media credentials are GREAT. (There were lots of different credentials we could have received.) We're covering the big concert at the Lincoln Memorial with every mega-star around Sunday night, and we have the run of the National Mall all day Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

PLEASE... Donate now: $100, $75, $50, $25 to GNB's Inaugural coverage.

Thanks.

There's more...

Car Repair Part 3: Emergency Inaugural Fundraising Request

Stuck at home.

The repairs are going to cost between $500-800, money I had budgeted (carefully saved) for the inaugural. I fly out Wednesday night.

And I don't get paid again till AFTER the inaugural. I've been saving for this trip for months. This totally blows. Originally I'd planned a major (two-week) GNB fundraiser for this trip, but I decided not to because of everything we've asked you to do for Maggie. However if anyone does want to chip in, at this point I won't mind.

My car won't be ready till tomorrow. If I'm lucky. They're currently tearing apart the wiring over the engine block, which is an eight-foot section of electric wrapping. They have to look at each foot of it bit by individual bit, looking for the short.

Arrrrrgh!

Update: Car is ready for pickup in the morning. $984. I don't get paid till the 22nd.

Which means either a lot of people help fund GNB's coverage for our inaugural trip right now, or I'll have to cancel. We've got two days before I leave... or don't. I'm picking up LM in NYC and we're going down to D.C. together to give you live coverage.

I had $1400 saved up. What with towing costs for my car, after I pay the bill, I'll have about $300 left. This is the money I've been saving for four months (since Denver.) And no, I don't have anything else saved up, nor do I keep charge cards. Me and charge cards = bad news.

I can't make this trip with only $300 for ten days. Thanks to the generosity of friends and colleagues, our housing is taken care of, but I'll need transportation and food.

Yes, we have media credentials for our time in D.C. Which were very hard to get.

Sorry to ask, but we have to raise almost $1,000 and we have ONLY two days.

Please help send Jesse and LM to the inaugural. Donate now: $100, $75, $50, $25.

Thank you.

There's more...

When I Hear About Rick Warren

I Stand With My Friend, Holly Near.

As she has done many times, she crystallizes my exact emotions and sense of the subject.

I ain't afraid of your Yahweh
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God

I ain't afraid of your churches
I ain't afraid of your temples
I ain't afraid of your praying
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God

verse
Rise up to your higher power
Free up from fear, it will devour you
Watch out for the ego of the hour
The ones who say they know it
Are the ones who will impose it on you

I ain't afraid of your Yahweh
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God

I ain't afraid of your churches
I ain't afraid of your temples
I ain't afraid of your praying
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God

verse
Rise up, and see /find/ know/ hear a higher story
Free up from the gods of war and glory
Watch out for the threats of purgatory
The spirit of the wind won’t make a killing off of sin and satan

I ain't afraid of your Bible
I ain't afraid of your Torah
I ain't afraid of your Koran
Dont let the letter of the law
Obsure the spirit of the your love--it's killing us

I ain't afraid of your Yahweh
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God

I ain't afraid of your churches
I ain't afraid of your temples
I ain't afraid of your praying
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God


Money
Culture
Choices
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God

Sunday
Spirit
Teachers
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God

Sabbath
Borders
Dances
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God double

Children
Music
Stories
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God

Rise up to your higher power
Free up
Rise up to your higher power
Free up
Let's try to be highly evolved
I aint afraid

You can download a free mp3 at Holly's Website.

I ain't afraid. Disturbed, more than a little angry.

I ain't afraid.

There's more...