October 4, 2015

Chrissy Amphlett Lost Her Battle Against Breast Cancer — And Turned Her Hit Single “I Touch Myself”

The Breast Cancer Site is a place where supporters and survivors come together to help fight breast cancer. In addition to sharing personal stories of hope, shopping for the cause, and signing petitions, visitors can take just a moment each day to click on a pink button to provide free mammograms for women in need. Visit The Breast Cancer Site and click today – it's free!


http://blog.thebreastcancersite.com/i-touch-myself-is-new-anthem-for-breast-cancer-awareness/?

n 1990, an Australian group called the Divinyls released a song called “I Touch Myself” that celebrated female sexuality ? and it quickly became a huge hit. So when lead singer Chrissy Amphlett was diagnosed with breast cancer, she wanted to make this song the new anthem for breast cancer awareness.

It’s been a year since Chrissy lost her battle with breast cancer, and now ten of Australia’s best singers are helping send Chrissy’s message: Connie Mitchell, Deborah Conway, Kate Cerebrano, Katie Noonan, Little Pattie, Megan Washington, Olivia Newton-John, Sarah Blasko, Sarah McLeod, and Suze DeMarchi.

Watch the compelling video. (Bare boob warning..see reply #2)

October 1, 2015

BREAKING Bernie news!!!! (UPDATED $ INFO)

NEW financial info and more here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/128057206

News is below the Thermometer. Thermometers auto-update every few minutes with your latest total.

Donate to DU for Bernie at Act Blue here: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/duforbernie





30 days ago DU for Bernie was averaging $3,000 a month on $12,000. What I thought was an out of reach goal for this month was $20,000. I set that amount about a week ago. We had that Monday night.

Bernie is now OVER $21,000 before the midnight deadline for the FEC!

I can't tell you how shocked I am that DU for Bernie has raised $9,000 in a months time!

$21,113 / 640 = $32.9875 per donation. That is more than $10 over Bernie's national donation average.

Our new monthly average is $4,200 a month!

It's time I shared a secret with you. Back in June when I made the trip to see Bernie, marym625 made a simulated check (8.5x11) and emailed it to me. It was for $4,000 to Bernie from the DU Bernie Group drawn on Act Blue. Because Bernie didn't know about it in advance, it was decided not to surprise him in front of the public. He wasn't handed the check until he got in the car by his manager. The photo below is about the time he was learning about the check!

Bernie and his campaign check in on the DU from time to time. Wait till Bernie learns about this.

Feel the Bern!

OS

September 18, 2015

He is in his 90's, has a slight limp, we bought his groceries as a thank you

X post in Veterans.

You might remember my post about my riding in a B-17: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026991786

Marta and I were in the store this afternoon. I looked over at the elder gent and noticed he was wearing a B-17 hat. I had to go over and talk to him. It turned into one heck of a conversation. I started with I just rode in a B-17 a couple months ago. Marta knew by now to go shopping without me. Other people were listening in.

He was a tail gunner on a B-17. I got the feeling his limp was a war wound, but he didn't say so. He survived his required tour. Some of his friends didn't. I told him my Uncle Leo died as a navigator in the Pacific.

He volunteered after Pearl Harbor while he was in high school. He flew missions over Italy, France, and Germany.

I mentioned my mom rode the bus every day she worked at the Martin Bomber plant. from Florence. That meant a couple hours a day. It is just down the street from the Baker's store we were at. She worked on the Enola Gay. He has a friend that also worked on the Enola Gay. Wonder if he knew mom?

It was like Forest Gump sitting at the bus stop the way people were listening. Bellevue is an Air Force city afterall.

We talked like we were old friends for 15 minutes. Marta came over and said she had everything we needed. We shook hands and I thanked him for his service. A few other people did too.

We were in line to check out. He got in the line next to us. He didn't have much. I know his checker. I said I'm coming over to pay for his stuff. That smile he had at that point said much more than his thank you.

I hope to bump into him at the store again.

I think I'l buy me a new hat: http://www.collingsfoundation.org/shop/hats/b-17-embroidered-cap/



Omaha Steve Over & Out!

September 8, 2015

I was taking nature pix in the yard, and then it happened

I went out to take a few photos of the baby squirrel eating bread I put out. S/he comes up within a couple feet and begs. I was over by the sun flower chip feeder when this female hummingbird showed up. I took a few photos of her and figured that was it. I went over to check the jelly feeder. That is when it happened. She landed on my head and just watched what I was doing. I had the camera around my neck. But there is no way to take a photo of this type with the camera we have.

Here she is.

August 18, 2015

Those of you that enjoy our nature photos, we had a poacher today!

We have posted pictures of deer, mice, snakes, squirrels, possums, groundhogs, raccoons, dozens of different bird species, insects and more.

On June 30th I posted this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026926999

We heard 2-3 bird strikes on our glass wall upstairs and immediatly knew there was either an owl or hawk hunting in our back yard about 1/2 hour ago.

We have a pair of barred owls and a few hawks hunting our wildlife. This is the younger hunter in training. S/he was after our squirrel that eats out of our hand I posted about yesterday: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027086520

Marta took these through our basement sliding glass door. S/he could hear us talking and could see the flash and didn't care.

X post in Birder.

OS

July 20, 2015

I flew in a B-17 warbird yesterday, my great uncle died in one in the Pacific Theater Sept 24, 1942

For more info on these flights and more: http://www.collingsfoundation.org/


I haven't grabbed my phone pix yet. I've been so busy. Good thing I'm retired. My camera photos are in chronological order here: http://tinyurl.com/o7z7otk

I had no breakfast yesterday in case I might get airsick. This would be one exciting carnival ride.

There was a break in the weather after the last couple of days had been so hot and humid. It was 70 when I left the house.

While driving to the private plane side of Epply Airfield I looked to my left. It was just in time to see a Red-tailed Hawk (think Tuskegee Airmen) take flight from the top of the security fence. A good omen I thought to myself.

As I pulled into the parking lot I saw dozens of happy faces getting out of their cars and walking to the assembly area. After getting inside there was a room full of excited people, a souvenir table, and registration table. Through the glass I saw TWO vintage warbirds out on the flight line in pre-check and fuel mode. The excitement builds.






The check in table worked with color coded tags by plane and flight number. I was on the second flight of Nine O Nine. Two older Veteran's tried to buy a ticket, only to find out all the morning flights were sold out. They got tickets for the 5 PM fight. During the day there are tours through the planes.

The first flight taxied out. The smell of high octane and burning oil were in the air. Our group was assembled and given our pre-flight info. This included mentioning IF you stick your head in the air stream in the open radio gunner position (# 6 below) take off your glasses and hats. Hold on to your phone or cameras tightly.


http://www.b17bomber.de/eng/details/crew.php

Talk between the passengers drifted to what the crews of these planes had to endure while under fire and damaged.

The P-51 was now being towed out of the hanger. I mentioned former NU football All American Wayne Melan's P-51 was destroyed in his fatal crash in 1987.

All of a sudden there was some obvious radio traffic of concern between the crews on their handheld. The B-24 had developed a problem in flight an was returning ASAP. Below is the work that started immediately on the down engine. Nine O Nine is landing in the background.



We were going to board with the propellers running, so we got some more safety instructions. This photo shows the other passengers in my flight. Our instructor that doesn't make the flight is facing us from the left



Below is a passenger on my flight grabbing the overhead bar to load and unload from the plane.



I was the last to board and had the seat closest to the tail. After a little trouble with the seat belt (a vintage model, unlike a car) our flight engineer gave the pilot the thumbs up to taxi out.

We came to a stop. The engine started reving up for flight and we started that slow bumpy ride down the runway. Suddenly the sounds and "feel" indicated we were weightless. A couple bumps and we knew we were airbourne. Our flight engineer immediately gave us permission to unbuckle and wonder in the plane. A father and son in front of the bombay.



I took phone photos inside the plane. I stuck my head up in the air stream to take some camera photos. Remember that warning about cameras in the airstream? Yep. The strap blew off my neck and I almost lost the camera to the force of the wind. Marta would extremely upset if I had let go of her camera.

Our mock bomb run on the rail yard somewhere over Germany in the photo below.



As you can see in the photo the bomb racks are a tight fit. I decided with my bad neck and shoulders not to get injured wiggling my way through. So I didn't get to the navigators area at the front of the plane. My great uncle's (navigator 1st Lt. Leo M. Eminger) downed plane was located during the war: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-2420.html

This was the point my mind drifted to family history. My cousin Leo that grew up next door to me was named after him. Meet my uncle (spitting image of my maternal grandfather) the navigator, 1st Lt. Leo M. Eminger (KIA).



About a 1/2 hour after takeoff we were headed in. Buckle back in and a flew bounces later we were on the ground. Everybody had huge smiles. The father in the photo asked his son if he had felt air sick at all. The son answered "no". I thanked him for not getting airsick. He smiled. I said back to him "well I pooped my pants". The rear end of the plane broke out in loud laughter. His dad told me "We're not going to thank you for that".

As we got out of the plane the passengers from the B-24 flight that got cut short lined up to ride in Nine O Nine too. I'm sure the cancelled flight was next.

I smelled of gas and oil till I got home and showered. A badge of courage maybe?

I went in to buy souvenirs. A hat, several T shirts for family members, and a 50 cal round notched into a bottle opener, and some clearance items were what I selected. You can buy online here: http://www.collingsfoundation.org/shop/



These flights and souvenirs help pay for maintenance to keep these historical treasures flying. It was worth every cent. And it got me out of Marta's hair for a couple hours.

I crossed one item off my bucket list. IF I'm healthy enough next year, Marta and I are in the early stages on planning to go to Normandy and London.

Omaha Steve ...Over and out!

July 6, 2015

Bernie in Council Bluffs, IA 7-3-15 photos

I have not had time to write up the event yet. I hope to do so tomorrow. I have over 1,000 personal emails that have piled up since Wednesday

Top photos are about 45 minutes to showtime. I'm sitting in the second row just to Bernie's right. These crowd photos are panning from my left to right. Look at all the young faces.

Several Bernie photos.

The last four photo Bernie gets treated like a rock star. The first of these photos is a member of the Sarpy County Democrats, but I don't remember her name. She got an autograph.

OS

https://flic.kr/s/aHskfx3BYm

June 16, 2015

I showed up in a Bernie picture thanks to cal04

I'm standing on his left in my bright yellow AFSCME shirt.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128013543

June 15, 2015

Photos of Bernie in Indianola, IA 6-14-15

On the way there I got a little lost. GPS doesn't work when there is no cell service in the sticks. It was pouring rain and dark. I kept wondering if I would be hearing tornado sirens. I'm glad I had a map. But with all the rain road signs etc were very hard to see. Service came back when I got just outside Indianola. By then I already knew where I was.

About 1/2 hour before Bernie arrived (a little late) the rain stopped. I'm sure the weather kept many people away. It was very sticky by the time Bernie got there. Everything was soaking wet. I was standing next to a bee hive built into a hole in a wooden support of the pavilion. I didn't bother them, they didn't bother me.

Several people were wearing union t shirts. I had my easy to ID yellow AFSCME shirt. There was another AFSCME worker from the next county over. His son is a student at NU in Lincoln, NE and made the drive just to see Bernie. There was a UAW that works at John Deere. Others were SEIU, IBEW, Teamsters, AND NEA that I saw.

I met one guy that drove down from Chicago to see Bernie.

Bernie is still hiring Iowa staff. Two were working their first day at the event. This was Bernie's third and final stop of the day. His third day in a row in Iowa.

Since there are videos already posted, I'm just putting up a few pictures.

I got the hand shake. He was happy to talk to a DUer, retiree, and union member all in one. No photo of it. I hope one shows up in the videos or other photos posted on other web sites etc.

And he knows the DU!

OS

Bernie arrives and waiting to be introduced.




The overflow crowd in the wet grass. Standing in the blue shirt is Phil Fiermonte Bernie's Field Director. Remember that name. No hints. Let me just say we networked.




It happened so fast I missed the shot. As he was leaving Bernie stopped on his own to bend down to say hello to somebody special. Look at the smile left on that face.

June 13, 2015

Bernie Sanders fans put down those $5 footlong sandwiches and read this!!!

Event: Warren County Democrats 12th Annual Summer Picnic

TIME: Sunday, June 14, 2015 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM CDT

HOST: Bernie Sanders

LOCATION: Veterans Memorial Park (Indianola, IA)
Corner of G Street and West Euclid Avenue
Indianola, IA 50125


Next Sunday afternoon, June 14th I'll be at the Warren County Democrats picnic in Indianola, IA. I've pulled a few strings (those same strings got me in photos with John Kerry just before the 04 Dem Convention & John Edwards in Oct 07) and will get a moment to talk with Senator Sanders.

I'll be mentioning whatever the total is in our DU Bernie Sanders Group Act Blue account at noon on the 14th for some good DU PR. If you have $5 (Bernie has said several times $5 is great) or whatever to add to the total by then, that would be wonderful. As of this moment our total raised is $3,706.00 in just 6 weeks. We are solidly in 4th place by the amount raised from ALL PACs & groups. That is way above where I thought we would be at this point.

Here is the link to donate: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/duforbernie

You can check here anytime to compare how our fund raising compares: https://secure.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/39795

To share the donation info you can use FB or Tweet below.

New Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.actblue.com%2Fcontribute%2Fpage%2Fduforbernie%3Frefcode%3Dpromote-share%23.VUXiK8m85wQ.facebook

Tweet: https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=check+out+our+new+%40ActBlue+page+%27Democratic+Underground++for+Bernie%27.+https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.actblue.com%2Fcontribute%2Fpage%2Fduforbernie%3Frefcode%3Dpromote-share%23.VUXo8Ohnyn0.twitter


Bernie's campaign uses Act Blue too. This just keeps a total of $ donated by DUers and friends.

All the donated $ to Bernie goes to Bernie except for the actual charge card fee by law: http://support.actblue.com/faq#q15

Fees all vendors pay to use your credit card from a vendors perspective: http://paysimple.com/credit_card_rates_explained.html

IF you give a tip it goes to Act Blue, the most successful Democratic $ raising PAC for their in house expenses like rent, payroll, IT, etc.

NYT: How ActBlue Became a Powerful Force in Fund-Raising: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/09/upshot/how-actblue-became-a-powerful-force-in-fund-raising.html?abt=0002&abg=1

It takes a few minutes for the tote board to show your donation on the now semi-live goal o meter just below.

Can you kick in a little


That is me listening to John Edwards. I also did a couple interviews with the press. Video below the photo.






Uploaded on Oct 24, 2007
John Edwards talks about the importance of rejecting money from Washington lobbyists at a community meeting in Glenwood, Iowa on October 24, 2007.