Amy Zukoff is a licensed medical massage therapist [as well as Thai
Massage] who came back to Buffalo, after living in Europe for several
years, to practice and give back to the city. She bought a home in
Elmwood Village and it doubles as an art studio. The atmosphere is
simply out of this world. Every time I visit there, I am taking pictures
of her artwork.
Amy is by far, one of the biggest supporters I have come across in a
long time who truly cares about health while keeping finances and small
business in the city, as well as art. She may have chosen to stay in
another city or nation, yet she came back to Buffalo.
Amy designed the studio herself. I adore it here. Below is her contact info.
Amy helped me immensely [and continues to] after a debilitating car accident in May 2012 where I
were horribly rear ended. It was devastating. Another car was stuck beneath my SUV. I am most grateful to her.
Get
a hold of Amy as a client, to cover her as media and to connect on
Facebook and Twitter to simply say hello. You will be seeing a lot of
press soon, as well as a new website.
Randy Rumley, [Raiders of Niagara] along
with Talking Leaves independent bookstore since 1971, in conjunction
with Just Buffalo Literary Center presented "Rustling the Leaves" with
Ken Feltges, Susan Marie and Mark Fulk.
Below is live audio of poetry readings, an excellent article by Max Crillen and a photo stream.
“Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.” – Leonardo da Vinci
We have heard the speeches, read the articles and sat by the
television as numerous candidates, including the current President,
promised the American people, as well as the world, better days ahead.
This is nothing new.
In America, a Presidential election is held every four years. Why are the 2012 elections any different than the rest?
There are diverse opinions of why “this” candidate is better, or "that"
viewpoint is not suitable, however, I ask you, dear reader:
Do you know anything about who you are voting for?
Are you aware of what they stand for, not just one issue but all issues?
Do you research the history of each candidate enough to know that
your solitary vote is responsible for alleviating or causing continued
economic downfall and suffering?
Are you even going to vote?
"Vote for Them" written and performed by International Slam Poet, Carlos Andrés Gómez @CarlosAGLive. Produced by Semicolon Productions @SemiColonProd
Promises, if elected: [See Mother Jones for Full Length Fund Raiser Video]
1. To form a committee to overturn Roe v. Wade,
a groundbreaking decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 that ruled
unconstitutional a state law that banned abortions except to save the
life of the mother.
This promise by Romney means taking away rights [based on the 9th and
14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution], eradicating law in place,
giving women no choice over their own bodies, thus regressing the rights
of American society back to and before 1972.
“I’d like to see Roe v. Wade overturned and allow the states and
the elected representatives of the people, and the people themselves,
have the ability to put in place pro-life legislation.” – Mitt Romney,
Republican Presidential Debate, New Hampshire
2. To fix the federal deficit, as well as a solution to health care,
dismantle Obamacare [Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010]
then to increase the age of future Social Security benefits past the
age of 65. Romney also supports a state to state mandated health care
system that forces people to buy insurance. Mitt also wants to give
seniors a “voucher” for Medicare.
This means that once one [under the age of 55 and not currently
retired] has worked their entire lives and paid taxes into Medicare [and
other benefits] they must keep working until they fall down dead, are
ill, or until a set age is decided upon.
“There’s no change for anyone who is retired or nearing
retirement. It’s only dealing with people in their 30s, 20s, 40s, and
early 50s. That’s the group we’re dealing with and saying what’s the
best deal for them? It strikes me the best deal for them is to either
buy current Medicare or to have a private plan.” – Romney on Meet the
Press
3. To hike military spending in the name of National Security [a
mechanism designed to protect the nation and its interests from an
internal or foreign political, military and/or economic threat.] This is
a 4% increase of the country’s GDP [Gross Domestic Product] that also
includes a government mandated increase in active duty military work
force by ten thousand.
Mitt Romney, former adviser to President George W. Bush, pro
Afghanistan, openly advocates to keep Guantanamo open, pro Iraq, favors
increased military spending, funding and occupation, pro death penalty,
pro life, anti-LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] rights; this
surely is a man who speaks of separation of church and state, rational
good will, peace and equality for all American citizens, as well as
citizens of the world.
1. To reform the tax code so that it’s simple, to have the wealthiest
households pay higher taxes on incomes over $250,000 [the rate Bill
Clinton utilized when President] the same rate that created almost 23
million new jobs.
2. No new tax breaks for the wealthy.
3. That middle class families never give up their deductions for
owning a home or raising children to pay for a millionaire’s tax cut.
4. To refuse to ask students to pay more for college, to never kick children out of Head Start programs.
5. To never eliminate health insurance for millions of Americans who
are poor, elderly, or disabled. To never turn Medicare into a voucher.
That no American should ever have to spend their golden years at the
mercy of insurance companies. That retirement is with care and dignity
that has been earned. To reform and strengthen Medicare by reducing the
cost of health care, by not by asking seniors to pay thousands of
dollars more. To keep the promise of Social Security by taking the
responsible steps to strengthen it, not turn it over to Wall Street.
“America, I never said this journey would be easy, and I won’t
promise that now . . . Only you have the power to move us forward.’ –
Barack Obama, 2012 Democratic National Convention Acceptance Speech
The first U.S. President to openly advocate same sex marriage and
civil unions, pro choice, pro LGBT rights, a civil rights lawyer, and
helped regenerate the UAW [United Auto Workers.] With the help of VP,
Joe Biden, ended Iraq [with a promise to end Afghanistan.]
Obama has yet to speak directly about Guantanamo, however, in the very
least, we know what we are in for. We survived the last 4 years, the
next must be about changing America, in that, bettering this world in
the process.
1. The “New Green Deal” to address global warming and financial
crisis where renewable energy jobs would be created by employing “every
American willing and able to work.” This deal is to be funded by a 30%
reduction in the U.S. military budget, returning all US troops home, as
well as ending presence of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The
secondary financial support for this deal is to eliminate “waste” in the
health care system. This is supposed to create 25 million new jobs.
2. To legalize the use of marijuana for adults, regulating then
taxing marijuana, then lifting restrictions on hemp products. Stein
attended HempFest 2012, a pro hemp, pro marijuana rally.
Jill stated: “Poor people are being thrown into prison for the
recreational use of a substance that is not dangerous, and that is a
crime.”
3. To create sustainable building materials through recycled energy.
To increase bike and pedestrian traffic and implement regional food
systems based on organic agriculture.
At age 62, Ms. Stein, a physician on leave from her practice, was
quoted by the NY Times, stating: “I’m now practicing political medicine
because politics is the mother of all illnesses.”
During the Green Party Campaign launch October 2011, she stated
at a press conference: “We are all realizing that we, the people, have
to take charge because the political parties that are serving the top 1
percent are not going to solve the problems that the rest of us face.”
In August 2012, Stein and her running mate, anti-poverty protester,
Honkala, were arrested during a sit in at a bank protesting house
foreclosures. Google TV later attempted to block Stein’s campaign
messages from airing in September 2012 because the ads included
obscenity and foul language, yet eventually ran them because they
complied with FCC [Federal Communications Commission] regulations.
Lastly, Stein stated in Grist Magazine: “If you put us
[Americans] all together, we have the potential for a Tahrir Square type
event, and [to] turn the White House into a Green House in November.”
You decide.
If you do not know about the candidates or you do not plan to vote,
PLEASE take the time to research.
It is what it is, and if you do not have a viable, rational solution
for the betterment of America; then it is up to you to make an informed
decision based upon the choices before you.
You must decide.
“I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution – take a bow for the new
revolution – smile and grin at the change all around me – pick up my
guitar and play – just like yesterday – and I’ll get on my knees and
pray . . . we don’t get fooled again.” – The Who “Won’t Get Fooled
Again” [1971]
