This is a "block" ticket — what the NYC Transit Authority issues you when there is an unexpected block in service. It's good for one fare. I never had an opportunity to use it because it was issued on September 11, 2001, in the brief interval before it became clear there would be no resumption of regular service. I was on the subway at 9:00 that morning, riding from Brooklyn to 8th Avenue. I got on the subway in one world, went through a tunnel and got off in another — there was never a return ticket to the first world, "block" ticket or not. This is just a diary of what I saw that day and afterward. [long]

The Republicans are collapsing from the top down. Their ugly lies are in broad daylight, as hard to ignore as the smell of the toxic tide in New Orleans; what comes tomorrow is up to us. I've seen a few comments here and elsewhere expressing the belief that the Democrats should keep a low profile and wait for the end. I respectfully disagree; now is the moment to push for leadership, hard.

There is no reason that the trials of this corrupt clan can't happen alongside legitimate government. It's really difficult for me to say this, but I believe the best response is not getting out the popcorn and sitting back in smug glee at the long-awaited spectacle, but to call for two things: 1) reform legislation (because at this point, "reform" and "progressive" legislation are just about synonymous), and 2) making our so-called leaders get in front, while the memories are fresh, while the crimes are on full display. Below is a letter to my senators addressing their leadership on the decision to invade Iraq, and asking them to become leaders — now.

This is a response to Kos' story Peace protests and the new media environment.

I have been thinking about it since Wednesday, but it's a little late to comment in his story, so I'm jotting down my thoughts in my second diary. My first was a photo journal of the DC protest. While I'm new to the Kos community, I have been going to protests since 2000, when I spontaneously went to an "election" protest in Times Square.

These photos are a little tardy because I had to drive back to New York last night, and had other stuff to do today. So... this is a supplement to Rena's earlier post, as I was in the same group.

Please note:

1. This is my first diary.
   
2. Because of 1), I haven't uploaded pictures before. Since I don't have any hosting mojo, I'm using Imageshack, with somewhat oversized pictures (there's about 40).
   WARNING: The pictures are too large, but I'd already uploaded half of them before I realized that and am not doing it over! Dial-uppers beware. Hopefully this will work OK, but if I break something bad, I'll take it down or try to fix.
   
3. I barely remember any HTML code, so am crossing fingers the formatting is OK.
   
4. The cloud cover made the day great for marching, but lousy for picture-taking. My camera was cranked to "noisy grain" to get results in the low-light, low-contrast environment.
   
5. Finally, I am uncertain as to etiquette here. So... no names, and anyone who wants their Kossack Kloseup pulled, please say so!