Article: Doo Doo Doo

To schedule Mike Palecek on his Spring '08 Book Tour: mpalecek@rconnect.com.

I will be talking about my novels, my cats, my trip to Oregon in the 1970s in my Dad's '59 Chevy with my dog, the 'possum that lives in our garage, the price of iceberg lettuce, the "Cost of Freedom," and I hope to have a new book out by that time for your purchasing pleasure.

To order your copy of "Cost of Freedom": writingdangerously@msn.com.
This is Michael Annis, Howling Dog Press, Berthoud, Colorado.

To schedule an interview with COF editor Whitney Trettien [she is in Baahston]: wtrettien@yahoo.com

To get more info on COF: http://costoffreedombook.blogspot.com

Is This Heaven?

by Mike Palecek

It is raining this morning in heaven.

The TV is turned off in heaven.

The daughter is upstairs sleeping yet. The wife is in the kitchen, strummin' on an old banjo, or maybe making more coffee. The son is probably still sleeping, at college.

I am drinking coffee, in heaven, looking out my back door, actually a side window.

There's a giant doing cartwheels, a statue wearin' high heels.
Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.
A dinosaur Victrola list'ning to Buck Owens.

Ever wonder how high the writer of that song had to be?
Or maybe he had children. They will also do things to your mind, revealing things you would never have thought of your own self.

The world is slowly being revealed to me.

It better hurry the eff up. I was 52 this past week. I don't really mind being this old. I wish I was older. Maybe I would be smarter. Maybe taller. Some day I want to be old enough to understand Strawberry Fields and We All Live in a Yellow Submarine.

Anyway, driving home from work last night about 11:30, I heard the song, Band of Gold.
Remember that from the 1970s?

Well, I heard the line, "we kissed after taking vows." And it was finally, somehow clear to me.
All these years I thought it was "at the second vow." And I never understood.
Wow.
And now I know.

It wasn't that long ago that I learned it was "twist and shout" rather than "twist and chow."

Before long I will know all ... all the lyrics of the songs on the radio.

Wow.

Hey.

Today is the last day of the Twins season. And nobody really cares. And we are moving toward a war with Iran. And nobody really cares. And the world is melting. And nobody cares. Wow. And there are still plenty of people who think Bush & Co. were not the perpetrators of 911. And on and on. Wow.

But there are forces at work, bringing consciousness to us in the times that the TV is turned off, when we are driving home in the dark, staring out the windshield, bobbing our head, banging on the steering wheel, singing along to a song we have heard nine hundred times, unaware of slobber running down our chin.

And voila. It is revealed.

Is that the way it happens? Just slowly, gradually, beyond our control?

I dunno, but maybe it better hurry the eff up.

Tambourines and elephants are playing in the band.
Won't you take a ride on the flyin' spoon?
Doo, doo doo.
Bother me tomorrow, today, I'll buy no sorrows.

Doo, doo, doo, lookin' out my back door.

seeya

- Mike

_____________________________________________

Here's something from Frank Cordaro:

What: "Die-in" CD/ Nonviolent direct action in Omaha
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 10th
Time: 11 a.m.
Place: Omaha Qwest Convention Center, where the Strategic Space &
Defense Conference 2007, other wised known as the 'Omaha Space Weapons
Bazaar' is taking place.

What: Nonviolence Training and Planning Meeting for Wed Oct 10th "Die-in"
Date: Tuesday, Oct 9th
Time: 7p.m.
Place: Holy Family Church, 1715 Izard St. Omaha NE. (near 18th and
Cumming Streets) Social Hall, on 18th Street, white door on street level, ring doorbell.

Organizors and sponsors for the 'Die In': The DM and Omaha Catholic Workers

Each year the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space sponsors a Keep Pace for Peace Week in October. Local peace communities who have on going campaigns against space war related industries and military facilities from all over the world participate in this week of protest. Check out http://www.space4peace.org

For the second year in a row the DM and Omaha CWers and the Nebraskans For Peace http://www.nebraskansforpeace.org/ are participating in the
Global Keep Space for Peace Week http://www.space4peace.org by focusing our protest on the yearly Strategic Space & Defense Conference held at the Qwest Center in Omaha NE. This conference is hosted by the cooperate suppliers of weapons and space technologies for the STRATCom and Military Space Commands at Offutt AFB, a sort of "Space Weapons Bazaar"

Among the events planned is a direct action non violent civil
disobedience witness on Wed Oct 10th at 11 a.m. at the main entrance of the Qwest Center. The form of this witness will be a 'die in'. Anyone considering joining us for this die-in must attend the nonviolence training and planning session at Holy Family Church on Tuesday evening October 9th starting at 7 p.m.

About the Witness:

The "die-in" witness we are planning will be a very low-key effort.
Since no CD actions have been done in the Omaha area in over 15 years we are going to be very cautious about how we enter into this prophetic witness.

We will not have, nor are we seeking permission or permits to be on the Qwest Center property for Wed a.m Oct 10th. Just being on the Qwest Center property (may) constitute an illegal act. (Although this is a public arena and convention center open for a lot of public events. We are confident, no arrest will be made until people are legally informed that they are on Qwest Center property and must leave or face arrest.)

The action itself will be very simple. Those risking arrest will be driven by car and dropped off at the curb in front of the Qwest Center. CD'ers will proceed to the front doors. When, within 10 feet of the doors, 2 people will unfold a banner, 1 person will put on a 'Scepter of Death' costume and the rest of the group will stage a "die-in". That means we lie on the ground simulating dead bodies and what is left after weapons of war are used. We stay in character until
Omaha police ask us to leave or be arrested.

It is at this time that those wishing not to get arrested who are with those risking arrest may leave and join others on the side walk at a legal demonstration, and the rest of us stay and risk arrest. Once arrested, we strongly recommend folks voluntarily go with the police.
Further details will be discussed at the training on Tuesday evening.

What are the legal consequences?

Hard to say? The charge will likely be a Nebraska State misdemeanor, issued by Douglas County officials. It could be a violation of a City of Omaha ordinance issued from the City of Omaha Police Dept. Folks will either be cited out and/ or be given a citation on the spot or booked and taken to the Douglas Co Jail. If taken to jail, folks will have the option to bail out or spend a night in jail. If you chose to spend the night in jail you will be taken to court the next day to plea and have bail set, or released on your own recognizance. We can
talk earlier at the Nonviolence training meeting about preferences of a joint / or separate court dates, and approaches to court trial, etc.
A lot will be determined by the choices that the police and County Attorney make. Then and only then do we make our choices.

For more info contact:

Jerry Ebner, Omaha Catholic Worker
omahacw@gmail.com
1104 N. 24th St,Omaha, NE 68102
(402) 502-5887
www.no-nukes.org/omahacw

Or

Frank Cordaro , Phil Berrigan CW House
frank.cordaro@gmail.com
713 Indiana Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 282-4781
www.DesMoinesCatholicWorker.org