Rep. Sue Wallis's Food Freedom Act makes sense

Hummingbirdminds supports Rep. Sue Wallis's Food Freedom Act (from Wyoming Business Report):

This week, the Wyoming House of Representatives passed the Food Freedom Act.

The sponsor of that House Bill 108, Rep. Sue Wallis, a Republican from Recluse, said the legislation will open up local commerce and help small business. 

HB 108 would deregulate the sale of homemade foods at such things as farmers markets and in individual transactions between producers and consumers.

Wallis said if all 200,000 or so households in Wyoming spent just $20 a week on locally grown food, more than $200 million would be pumped into the Cowboy State economy. That money will turn over at least three or four times in the economies of cities, towns and counties, she said economic studies show.

Strike that debt with Rolling Jubilee

This is a great idea, and yet another offshoot of Occupy Wall Street:

Rolling Jubilee is a Strike Debt project that buys debt for pennies on the dollar, but instead of collecting it, abolishes it. Together we can liberate debtors at random through a campaign of mutual support, good will, and collective refusal. Debt resistance is just the beginning. Join us as we imagine and create a new world based on the common good, not Wall Street profits. Learn more or contribute.

Attention Dems: Get your asses to the caucus on Saturday!

We NEED every registered Democrat in Laramie County to caucus and cast a ballot on April 14th. Please come to the Laramie County Community College Training Center. Registration begins at 9:30 AM, and the caucus will begin promptly at 11:00 AM. 

Caucus Chair Ken McCauley has penned an invitation requesting your participation:

Your vote to show support for the Democratic Party is very necessary this year, and that begins by supporting the county convention. One neoconservative challenger predicts that the turnout of Wyoming Democrats will be so low that he will be able to make a mockery of our convention by encouraging lifelong Republicans to change their party affiliation and subvert our process. This candidate has already sent out illegal robocalls to forward his purpose.

Wyoming Democrats care about the people of Wyoming. We believe America should be a land of opportunity for everyone, not just for a privileged few. We believe in the freedom our founding fathers worked so hard to protect. We believe in Americans -- the workers and thinkers who built this nation. If you believe in these values, please come to the Training Center building #16 at Laramie County Community College on 14 April and cast a ballot to help us continue working toward a better Wyoming. Wyoming needs your voice!

If you have questions, please call:

Linda Stowers, Laramie County Chair, 307.220.1219
Ken McCauley, Vice-Chair, 307.630.4973
Lori Brand, Communications Director, 307.631.3410

Grassroots filmmaking bringing classic novel by Montana's James Welch to the screen

"Winter in the Blood" directors Andrew and Alex Smith answer questions with documentary filmmaker Tracy Rector, left, at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival at the Wilma Theatre Saturday evening in Missoula. Rector's documentary "Visionary Insight" showed the behind-the-scenes story of the Smith brothers grass-roots film. Tribune photo by Michael Beall.

These grass-roots filmmakers in Montana show us how it’s done in the Rocky Mountain West. From a successful $67,000 Kickstarter campaign to donated food to volunteer sweat equity, the Smith Brothers found new and interesting ways to make a home-grown film based on James Welch’s classic novel, “Winter in the Blood.” Read the details in this excellent Great Falls Tribune story by Michael Beall. I read about it first on the 4&20 Blackbirds blog. Thanks for the tip, Lizard! 

Occupy Cheyenne General Assembly Dec. 4, 2 p.m.

Occupy Cheyenne General Assembly on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2-5 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3005 Thomes Ave., Cheyenne. Planning for Dec. 10 "We are the 99%" rally at the State Capitol. View Map/Get Directions. 

Laramie County Democrats meet Nov. 28 at Cheyenne IBEW Hall

The Laramie County Democratic Party will be holding its monthly meeting with the Democratic Grassroots Coalition on Monday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) hall. According to Pres. Linda Stowers, the agenda will be committee updates and a discussion of "Why we are Thankful to be a Democrat." FMI: http://www.laramiecountydemocrats.org 

Occupy Cheyenne Oct. 15 noon

Just what is "the people's mic?"

Van Jones of "Rebuild the Dream" addressing the Occupy Wall Street General Assembly Friday evening. This video clip also came with an explanation of “the people’s mic” process used at these assemblies:

In case you’re wondering why everyone in the audience repeated everything Van says, they are using something called “the people’s mic” to ensure the audience hears every speaker at the General Assembly. There is no electric PA system in place because of noise concerns, and with the hustle and bustle of Manhattan all around, the noise would ordinarily drown out a speaker.

The speaker says a sentence or phrase, and those closest to him or her repeat it. The next closest repeat the first ring, spreading the speaker’s words out in concentric circles through the audience.

Because there’s such an intense focus on making sure that the speaker is heard, there’s little clapping or cheering during a speech. Instead, folks in the crowd raise their hands and wiggle their fingers to give a visual cue of their approval, and cross their arms firmly over their chest to show disapproval.

It’s an ingenious system that allows everyone to hear no matter how far they are from the speaker. The act of participation also keeps everyone’s focus on what is being said throughout the speech.