http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ezfk7s1NyY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQFX32Ed7ZQ

Wouldn't it be nice if we could say this in the US.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16w8wW5wdy0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYlZiWK2Iy8

God, I love Barney Frank. Finally a politician who is saying what most of us yearn to say to these nut cases.

So I guess there's a big urban music and arts festival just outside the front door of the building in which I live in the East Village.  According to the news on TV this morning organizers are expecting around 20,000 people.  Here's the website if you want to check it out - 515Alive.com.

So I took a picture out my window this morning of the quiet street.  Will keep you posted as things change through the day.




Its now 4 hours later and things are starting to transform.

So as I have been unpacking and moving things around I have come across various old photographs.

During the 2004 presidential campaign I helped organize an event featuring Caroline Kennedy and Sharon Stone.  During a question and answer period I told Sharon Stone that as a person living with HIV I wanted to thank her for all that she has done.  (She devotes tremendous amounts of her time to HIV fundraisers/awareness events.)

She made some very nice comments back to me and then came down from the stage to give me a hug.

I am getting so frustrated watching the news channels and listening to all the Republican talking heads spew how great is our health care system in this country.  Yes, if you are healthy and wealthy it is the best system in the world.

But even if you are wealthy, but unhealthy you will soon find that our health care and insurance system is designed to take that wealth from you.  Even with good insurance a person with a serious chronic or terminal illness will find that the health care system will drain all your wealth.

Almost two thirds of all bankruptcies in America are directly related to health care costs.

Because the face of health care is our Doctor we like and trust, most of us fail to see the entire health care system as the business that it is.  Health Insurance Companies, Pharmaceutical Companies,  Corporate Hospitals, Pharmacies are Corporate giants who ONLY care about the profits they return to their shareholders.

It is TIME for a public health option.  We need a complete reversal in what drives our US health care system.  Profits MUST come second to the health of the patient.  Its time for all of us to get involved in the public debate.  Call your Senator and tell them your opinion.

Remember back early this spring when congress passed President Obama's economic stimulus plan how Republican Governors (particularly those red neck southern variety) were vowing to not take the money.  One of those leading the pack was the Governor of Mississippi.  BTW, Mississippi feeds at the Federal government money trough more then any other state in America. (per capita net money received vs taxes paid)

So I couldn't resist stopping and taking a picture of this sign.  Look who's taking credit now!!!!!

http://www.intheirboots.com/itb/index.php?option=c...

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I was camping at the campground in Rock Falls, Iowa last night.  Here's what it looked like this after last nights storm.  It mostly ended up in the campground dumpster.

The folks at Campit did a great job this year.  Nice crowd of people.  Facilities were in top notch shape and a great time was had by all.  For all my friends who have not been here you need to make the trip.  There's no need to be a camper either...they have a B&B and cabins to rent.  Here's some pics from this year.




Derek, he camped with us.  Good shot of my campsite.




Kim also set her tent up in my campsite...showing off her boobs.




One of the dancers poolside giving big Bob a lap dance.




Sunday afternoon tea dance by the pond




Just some hot men...there were a lot of them here.  Tomorrow I will leave Michigan and start my trip back to Iowa.

Campit Website

Although its a 400 mile drive from Iowa, I always enjoy myself at Campit.  I arrived yesterday afternoon and just about have finished getting my campsite as I like.  The place is fully booked for this week and every hour more people are pulling in and setting up.  Looks like my friends Derrick and Kim will be joining me at my campsite.  Here's a pic of what it looks like now...as they get here the open space will fill up.

Today Sarah and I drove to Mason City for family gathering to celebrate Father's Day.  Katie is taking care of her mother and Dean's dogs while they are in Europe and was unable to join us.  (In a few days I am meeting her in Iowa City for our own Father's Day)

My paradigm of fatherhood has changed over the years.  There was time I thought it was a responsibility that pretty much ended once the kids went to college.  I suppose that in part was based on my own maturation and the fact that the day I left for college I became completely financially independent and because of the distance to my colleges became a relatively insignificant part of my parents lives.  They focused on my younger sybilings and I aggressively pursued a life of independence.

There was a time I thought I really didn't need my parents...then I got sick...then I made some foolish decision about my lifestyle....then I was suddenly bankrupt falling from the precipice of being a millionaire.  At all those times it was my parents who came to my rescue.  Never would I have guessed that after passing the half century age would I need my parents help.  My paradigm changed.

Thanks Dad for being there when I thought the entire world and even god had forsaken me.

So its just been one week since I got the keys to my apartment in Des Moines.  Its located in the East Village area of downtown Des Moines.  I am three blocks west and my windows overlook the State Capital grounds.

So its a very contemporary open floor plan.  My furniture looks OK, but because its a "loft" kind of plan there's not sufficient storage for all my "stuff", so I need to invest in various storage types of furniture.

Here's a pic looking towards kitchen area.  No pics yet looking the other directions because boxes and junk is piled everywhere.

So I took possession of my apartment in Des Moines on the Friday before the gay pride festival.  So I camped in my empty apartment on my airbed so I could be part of the big party.

This first picture is the building in which I am now living.