Eileen's Blog

Back from vacation! For everyone who inquired, my sister's baby shower went off without a hitch and was a lovely afternoon for my Mom, sis and guests. Thanks for asking! Want to alert you on a few dates before I head off to broadcast from London:

There will be a town hall meeting featuring Chief Justice Roy Moore, formerly of the Alabama Supreme Court, discussing the 10 Commandments display and losing religion in our society. He will be speaking Saturday night....7pm at Wheaton Evangelical Free Church in Wheaton. For ticket info, call 630-517-4540 or go to culturecampaign.com

***

If you are concerned about illegal immigration and its effects on Chicago and Illinois, check this meeting out:


"America First"
Summit on National Security

Presented by Chicago Minuteman Project

In affiliation with IFIRE



Saturday, October 15, 2005

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.



Christian Liberty Academy

502 W. Euclid, Arlington Heights, IL 60004



Tickets $35 prior to October 1st

$50 after October 1st

(Ticket prices include lunch if purchased by Oct. 7)

Pre-registration Required

For more information, call: 847-626-7818 or www.chicagominutemanproject.com

Mail to: P. O. Box 6148, Lindenhurst, IL 60046

Confirmed Speakers:



Chris Simcox, Founder of Minuteman Civil Defense Corps

Terry Anderson, The Terry Anderson Show

Robert Vasquez, Canyon County, Idaho Commissioner

Dr. Madeline Cosman, Medical lawyer, author and speaker

Yeh Ling-Ling, Executive Director, DASA

Susan Tully, National Field Director, FAIR

Kevin Fobbs, Chairman Ontario/Michigan Neighborhood Border Watch

Keith Butler, Michigan U.S. Senate candidate

David Gorak, Executive Director, Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration

Joseph Daleiden, Economist, public policy analyst

Carl “Two Feathers” Whitaker, Tennessee Volunteer Minutemen

Bonnie Eggle, mother of slain National Park Ranger, Kris Eggle

.

Invited speakers:

Tom Tancredo, Colorado Congressman (Team America)

Jim Gilchrist, Minuteman Project and California Congressional Candidate
Steve King, Iowa Congressman

Just an update...if you have ordinary touch-tone telephones to spare, they are needed for the relief effort. See blog entry below. Also scroll down to find out about a concert in Woodstock featuring American English and Elevation, U2 cover band to aid hurricane victims. Scroll down.

Good News In Iraq: 9/9/05--The Iraqi Scouts

An abandoned island near Taji Military Base, right now, is nothing more than overgrown brush and dirt...soon will be a scouting camp for Iraqi youths. US Army Lt. Colonel Stan Haines says...one day it will be filled with the sound of 200 screaming kids. This will be a camp with housing for youths, adult leaders, huts, a swimming pool and boat dock. Scouting first came to Iraq about 10 years after British Lord Robert Baden-Powell started the boys program. It was reorganized in 1956 as the Iraqi Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Council. By 1990, the council had about 12,000 youth and adult members. The world council voted to revoke Iraq's membership in 1991....when world officials determined that Saddam Hussein had turned the scouts into a government orgazniation that did not meet the standards for international membership. The effort to reestablish scouting in Iraq started in Feb. 2004...with three Americans, both military and civilian, who created the Green Zone Council. They said "never before in history and likely never again will there be so many international scouters present in Iraq to assist their brothers and sister Scouters in this country. Then Interim President Iyad Allawi signed a resolution creating the Iraq Scouting Initiative back in November of 2004. The Green Zone Council meets every Wednesday...headed by state department employee, Nima Motashar, who is an Iraqi and was a scout as a boy...and Terry Losonsky who is involved in scouting here in the US. The council is securing funding for the camp as well as trying to send 80 Iraqi Scout leaders, at least two men and two women, from each of the country's 18 provinces in Cairo in January for adult leader training. When they return, they will train other leaders. The cost of tuition has been covered...the council is looking for $30,000 to pay for travel and other costs. The council is also trying to link senior Iraq Scouters with peers in the US...particularly in areas with large Iraqi populations, like Detroit and Chicago.....to foster better understanding of each other. They feel that spending money now on the Iraqi Scouts and gaining that momentum will pay big dividends later on...Haines and US Army Lt. Colonel Alexander Von Plinsky have seen the positive impact scouting has on their children and on American society in general. If you'd like more info, go to mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil/headline3.htm Amidst the casualities and bombings and how much the Arab Street "hates" us...isn't great to hear about the scouts beginning to take off in Iraq?

Thanks for reading. Updates to come...Eileen Byrne

NEEDED: The folks at the Kelly AFB, TX American Red Cross Relief Center...need your help. If you can send ordinary, touch tone telephones...NO wireless, portable phones or cell phones. They are of no use. Please send your ordinary touch tone phone in working order, with cords, to:

American Red Cross Relief Center
Floresville ISD
Attn. Josh Odom P15
Disaster Relief
908 10th STreet
Floresville, TX 78114

Read next entry for my blog on who's really benefiting from the hurricane

Tomorrow, I will try to link you the Chicago Minuteman Project for a special October meeting and how you can participate. Thanks! Eileen

Remember after September 11th, we were asking each other...is it okay to laugh? Is it okay to joke around? I long for those days. How sad. After September 11 2001, we were united in a cause to root out terrorism and protect Americans...protect each other and our homeland. We all looked out for our neighbor and were sensitive to each other's needs. Now I get voicemails that call me the devil and, like the President, I'm told I don't care about black people. I called Ronald, the devil-name-caller back and we had a nice discussion about some of our differences and he said he would continue to listen to the show...but I wonder why I have to address these issues at all? Donations to the relief effort are at an all-time record high. Corporations are matching donations, some dollar-for-dollar, countries like Afghanistan and Kuwait and Sri Lanka are offering our country money to help out, along with our friends in Austrailia and even France is offering to send a few cots. Thanks! Why don't we see the same unision after 9-11? Why is John Kass from the Chicago Tribune going to write about me in tomorrow's (Thursday's) column that I don't use the term refugee? Why do we even have a discussion about calling people refugees? It's silly and unproductive and just continues to divide us along racial and political lines. A-HA! Of course! There are some who would like to see us not continue to support the President, to divide our community over the term "refugee, apparently Jesse Jackson thinks "refugee" is racist...instead of focusing on the real issues that are facing us after this natural-become-political disaster, namely: getting financial assistance to the victims so they can rebuild their homes and their lives...getting those school-age children an education, getting additional people rescued and helping them receive medical attention, getting New Orleans drained and getting an accurate count of the dead, trying to assist cities like Biloxi, Mobile, and get their homes and businesses repaired...how fast we can get those casinos operating...that should be the real focus. In time, we will also need to have serious discussions about FEMA and Homeland Security, why the Mayor and Governors did not adequately evacuate the city and why wasn't the National Guard called in ahead of time; why did FEMA seem to not even know where the Convention Center was in New Orleans...what information was given to all the leaders: President, Governor and Mayor and others and was that information adequate, how were the police, The Guard coordinated and how did they communicate with each other. I'd like to think we can have this discussion in a reasonable fashion...but for some, political, and so-called religious leaders...in order for them to keep their jobs, to keep their base, to keep them in positions of power, there is no doubt they will use name-calling, race-baiting and partisanship. This will not stop with using or not using "refugee".

For those who would like to help directly the effort in Northwest Louisiana...we talked to Jenny and her Dad, Randy this morning....here is that information:

Minden Building and Loan
318-377-0523

405 Main Street
Minden Louisiana, 71055
ATTN: NWLA

If you 'd like to hang out with me and raise money for a great cause: hurricane relief....I'll be at Casey Moran's on Friday in Wrigleyville...3660 North Clark Street . Twenty Bucks...Miller Lite, well drinks and a buffet dinner. It starts at 6pm...till 9pm...I will be there at 6pm! Look forward to it!

I think we all need a little humor these days. Complaint emails will be immediately thrown away. LOVE the Ten Commandments one!

SUBJECT: Catholics! This information is for Catholics only. It must not be
> divulged to non-Catholics. The less they know about our rituals and code
> words, the better off they are.
>
>
> AMEN: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows.
>
> BULLETIN: Your receipt for attending Mass.
>
> CHOIR: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the Parish to
> lip-sync.
>
> HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY.
>
> HYMN: A song of praise usually sung in a key three octaves higher than
> that of the congregation's range.
>
> RECESSIONAL HYMN: The last song at Mass often sung a little more quietly,
> since most of the people have already left.
>
> INCENSE: Holy Smoke!
>
> JESUITS: An order of priests known for their ability to find colleges with
> good basketball teams.
>
> JONAH: The original "Jaws" story.
>
> JUSTICE: When kids have kids of their own.
>
> KYRIE ELEISON: The only Greek words that most Catholics can recognize
> besides gyros and baklava.
>
> MAGI: The most famous trio to attend a baby shower.
>
> MANGER: Where Mary gave birth to Jesus because Joseph wasn't covered by an
> HMO. (The Bible's way of showing us that holiday travel has always been
> rough.)
>
> PEW: A medieval torture device still found in Catholic churches.
>
> PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of Mass consisting
> of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for seats.
>
> RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of Mass led by
> parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot.
>
> RELICS: People who have been going to Mass for so long, they actually know
> when to sit, kneel, and stand.
>
> TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important Top Ten list not given by David
> Letterman.
>
> USHERS: The only people in the parish who don't know the seating capacity
> of a pew.

Blood/Food Drive, Concert featuring awesome U2 cover band, Elevation and my favorite band next to the actual Beatles, American English, concert for victims...all that below this entry.

Wanted to give you info....if you have slightly warn shoes, adult and children's shoes, for hurricane victims, there is a store in Lincoln Park that is helping out and collecting shoes. They are Piggy Toes and O & I....call them at 773-281-5583. If you just want to drop off, they will continue to collect thru Sunday, 12-5pm...they are at Webster and Halsted...2205 N. Halsted. Thanks and God bless you for caring!

Just an update. Thought you might like to know what "evil" Pfizer is up to. Donating where it's needed most. More good news.


Pfizer Commits $2 Million and Healthcare Products for Relief and Recovery Efforts to Help the Victims of Hurricane Katrina

The colleagues of Pfizer express our sympathy and support for the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and other states whose lives and communities have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Since the first hours of disaster, we have been in contact with local, state and federal officials to assess how our company can best respond to the immediate humanitarian and healthcare needs and long-term rebuilding.

Based upon current assessments of the needs of the affected communities, Pfizer today announces several initiatives, including:

* $1 million for rebuilding hospital and healthcare centers

* $1 million for relief organizations: the American Red Cross, Salvation
Army and the United Way of America

* The donation of medicines, consumer and animal health products * An inventory of Pfizer services and employees' skills that can be
deployed as part of the relief and recovery efforts"We are mobilizing the people, products and financial resources of our company to effectively assist in helping this devastated region recover," said Hank McKinnell, chairman and chief executive officer of Pfizer. "Today's action is in keeping with our long-standing tradition to respond to disasters that pose major threats to public health."

Pfizer is also participating in the Business Roundtable's Partnership for Disaster Relief that works to coordinate relief among member companies.

The Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program will match US employees' and retiree contributions. The Foundation has established an expedited process to facilitate employee contributions to the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and the United Way of America Hurricane Katrina Response Fund.

"We applaud the leadership of the Governors of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, relief organizations and volunteers as they respond to this tragedy," said Dr. McKinnell. "We will do everything we can to be a supportive partner in this massive relief effort."

I am so overwhelmed by Americans' generosity in the wake of the disaster on the Gulf Coast. No doubt we have the biggest hearts, biggest wallets and the biggest concern, for our friends and fellow citizens in need. I have info below on a concert to help victims, a blood and food drive...all below. Read this email from Cynthia:



I am a clinical social worker and conduct psychotherapy to children in foster care. (I see the kids in their homes so I am on the road a lot and I am a huge fan of your show!) I have faxed my credentials to a child welfare agency in Houston and have offered to travel to the Super Dome to help in any way I can. In the meantime, I am trying to find ways to help from afar here in Chicago. The only information I can find on the local Red Cross web-site and local media web-sites pertains to monetary donations only. I would greatly appreciate any information on how my family, friends and I can help make a difference here in Chicago.

Thanks much for your help and all that you do!

Cynthia

I am going to try to put Cynthia in touch with Samaritans' Purse and see if we can get her down there. If you know of a better way, email me at eileen.f.byrne@abc.com

_________

Address for American Red Cross:

PO Box 37243 Washington DC 20013

_________

Concert to help victims:

PRESS RELEASE


Sam Leach, American English, Onesti Entertainment and Michael Stanard, owner of Galt Airport in Woodstock, IL
presents
WOODSTOCK-KATRINA RELIEF CONCERT
Featuring 2 days of vintage performances by Chicagoland’s premier tribute bands and local original artists


Beginning on Friday, September 23, 2005, and running through Saturday night, The

Katrina Relief Concert organized by American English, Onesti Entertainment, and

Michael Stanard will be held at the newly converted Galt Airport on its concert

fairgrounds in Woodstock, IL. The airport is located at 5112 Greenwood Road,

Woodstock, IL.


Sam Leach, manager of American English, Liverpool resident and original promoter of

the Beatles, is also coordinating an identical Katrina Relief concert internationally.


American English, Elevation (U2 Tribute), The New Invaders (60‘s tribute), Hot Rocks

(Rolling Stones Tribute), and Midway City Ramblers (Cajun Tribute), along with many

more surprise musicians, will be performing this benefit concert on Friday beginning

at 6:00 pm.


The outdoor venue can accommodate up to 15,000 people. Some seating is

available, and blankets, umbrellas, and lawn chairs are recommended for comfort.


Special accommodations will be made for the disabled.

Tribute performances will begin at 6:00 pm on Friday, run until 4:00 am on Saturday.

Donuts and coffee will be available for breakfast purchase until the “Jam Band” begins at

12:00 pm, Saturday featuring a wide array of original local artists- Madvine, Malfunction,

Sweet Pick, Tall Grass Magicians, Venetian Red, Webster and Friends, Tall Grass

Magicians, Bag Juhlin of Poi Dod Pondering and Rob Webster and friends.


100% of the proceeds from the concert will be donated to The American Red Cross.


Stanard, owner of Galt Airport, is graciously donating his land and major influence

through local vendors and contacts to make the Woodstock Katrina Relief Concert a

major contribution to relief efforts.


Ticket prices will be $20.00 at the door, with a special request that concert goers bring

as much bottled water that can be carried to be loaded into Salvation Army trucks to aid

the victims. Non-perishable items will also be accepted. For more information call (815)

276-9006. A website is being created for the event , more information to follow.
________

Blood Drive:
Eileen,
Good morning, I just e-mailed you at WLS website and I'm not sure if you'll receive it.

I wanted to inform you that I work at Zimmerman Ford in St.Charles, IL and we are
having a Blood, Food and donation drive on Sept 17 for the Hurricane victims and
the abandoned pets (let's not forget about those poor animals left behind)

We are accepting all donations immediately and working with local food banks for shipping.
We had contacted the Red Cross for assitance and were told our function would not be
big enough for them and quite frankly they were RUDE !!!!! Screw them.
We contacted the Salvation Army who could not have been nicer and is more than willing
to assist.
I have contact PETCO to assist in a dogwash on the 17th and we are looking for
volunteers with all proceeds going to the PETCO foundation for the hurricane animals.

I'm not sure if you can mention anything about our function or about us accepting donations
at our location on the air. We would also love if you or anyone you pass this onto can
come out on the 17th to donate blood etc. (not as a radio personality)
If you know of anyone who wants to volunteer please have them contact me at (630)762-6300
Please know that this is NOT about Zimmerman Ford but strictly for the victims and pets!!
We are all deeply saddened by this tragedy and hope this can make a differance.

Thank you so much for your time............
Michelle
_____________
I will pass on more info as it comes in....where you can help, what is needed. So keep checking in. Finally, and so very important: PROGRESS IN IRAQ:

Iraqi Security Forces Continue to Progress
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2005 – Iraqi security forces are continuing to show signs of progress, with the newly formed Iraqi air force completing its first significant operation this week, a military spokesman in Baghdad, Iraq, said today.
The Iraqi air force used three C-130 Hercules aircraft to reposition Iraqi security forces to the western Ninewa province Aug. 28 and 29, Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, told reporters at a news briefing. This was the first time Iraqi air assets have been used to directly support the deployment of Iraqi combat forces inside the country, Lynch said, and is a testament to the progress of Iraqi forces.

"It was a magnificent mission on the part of truly trained professionals," he said.

The quick response of Iraqi forces to the Aug. 31 accident on a bridge over the Tigris River in Baghdad was also was evidence of their progress, Lynch said. Iraqi police immediately sealed off the area to prevent attacks, and Iraqi security forces, police and medical professionals provided care to the injured, he said.

"Their heroic and professional actions in the face of devastating tragedy reflected a concern for their fellow citizens, acting out of compassion in a time of need and a time of great urgency," he said.

Insurgents have not been able to stop the growth of Iraqi security forces, no matter how many attacks they commit, nor have they been able to build a support base in Iraq, Lynch said. The targeting of civilians by the insurgents causes the Iraqi people to reject their practices and their ideology, he said. As a result, the insurgents cannot find a safe haven in Iraq, he said.

"They can run, but they're going to die tired," he said. "They can't find a safe haven in Iraq."

The insurgents have also been unable to stop the political and economic growth in Iraq, Lynch said. The draft constitution, at the forefront of political progress, outlines a bright future for all Iraqis, he said.

"It is truly a vision for the future based on democratic values -- a future that protects human dignity and human rights," he said.

The Iraqi government is implementing an aggressive outreach plan to educate people about the draft constitution and to encourage them to participate in the October referendum, Lynch said. Copies of the draft will be distributed, classes and conferences will be held, and public debate will be encouraged, he explained.

Coalition forces have been actively engaging the Sunni population, specifically in the Anbar province, to get them involved in the political process, Lynch said. There are indications that more than 85 percent of Sunnis will participate in the referendum, he said.

"We see a significant momentum on the part of the Sunni populations ... to embrace the political process," he said. "They see a future in Iraq by actively being involved in the political process."

Hi. Hope you are well. I know you're dry. We're lucky that way. Makes me very grateful to live here in Chicago. Yeah, it gets cold. Yeah, I'm dreading the wind chills and shovelling snow again. But it beats having to push a dead, floating body out of the way to get to a shelter to leave my home which I won't come back to for months, if at all. The coverage really got to me yesterday...the true devastation that is affecting one of our own American cities and hundreds of thousands of citizens. I got online went to wlsam.com and donated some money to the American Red Cross. I hope you can find some way to help the victims. I know that locally in Chicago they are looking for volunteers to help here and they have a training on Saturday. I will be a volunteer and hope that maybe you can spare the time too. You don't have to go anywhere. It's just that they need volunteers locally because so many Red Cross volunteers are out of the area due to the tragedy down south. I'll tell you more about this tomorrow and how we can all help.

We talked to so many good citizens today...trying to do their part. I would like to volunteer to open my home to victims. If you would like to do that, go to craigslist.org

To volunteer here at The Red Cross...call 1-800 HELP NOW

To suspend gas taxes temporarily in ILLINOIS, CALL YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE, tell them we need help, we need leadership....suspend the local gas taxes for at least a month as prices go up.

And of course...pray.

As far as countries offering their part...here's some more good news. Prime Minister Paul Martin said: "Like all Canadians, I am distressed by the destruction and loss of life wrought by Hurricane Katrina. On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, I offer our sincere condolences to the American people. During this most difficult time, Canada stands with you and we are ready to provide whatever support you may require in the days, weeks and months ahead."

Other countries have offered support too...but I am distressed that some of it comes with a little scolding, a little superiority, a little shoulda-supported-Kyoto...as if that had anything to do this. Blame America. Did we do that when we supported Indonesia during the tsunami? Thanks for reading. Most important thing we can do...is pray, provide financial relief and end these taxes on our gas. We're the ones getting gouged. And it didn't start with the hurricane.