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Ready at last! Our researches of European Social Ballroom Dances are now on a set of 5 CD-DVDs- data discs. We offer it/them to you for free (you can just pay for production, handling, stamps, packaging, etc.: $4 in the USA; $8 outside of the USA; even maybe completely free). Although copyrighted by the author, Mr. R. Cwieka, (me), he hereby gives you permission to make copies of the said discs and distribute them to your dance friends, the general public and to libraries. DO YOU WANT THE DISCS? (FIRST, I SHALL SEND THE INITIAL CD.) SHALL I SEND IT TO YOU? Here are the contents:
POLONAISE: STORY OF A DANCE
MAZUR-MAZURKA: THE BRILLANT GLORIOUS DANCE
The title, MAZUR-MAZURKA: THE BRILLANT GLORIOUS DANCE, is a compendium or a catch-all title for the following works, which deal with aspects of the Mazur-Mazurka Dance:
MAZUR: THE ELEGANT POLISH RUNNING-SLIDING DANCE
POLISH MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE MANUALS &
SUPPLEMENTAL POLISH MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES

RUSSIAN MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE MANUALS &
SUPPLEMENTAL RUSSIAN MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES

GERMAN MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE MANUALS &
SUPPLEMENTAL GERMAN MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES

ITALIAN MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE MANUALS
SWEDISH MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE MANUALS
SUPPLEMENTAL ENGLISH MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES
SUPPLEMENTAL FRENCH MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES
SUPPLEMENTAL AUSTRIAN MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES

THE ŻYWIECKIAN MAZUR

THE ELEMENTS OF AND THEIR COMBINATION IN FIGURES FOR POLISH
FIGURE DANCING

THE MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE FIGURES WORKBOOK &
THE MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE FIGURES AUDIO INSTRUCTIONS*

SUPPLEMENTAL HOŁUBIEC COUPLE-TURN SOURCES

SOME MORE MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, FRAGMENTS, ETC., ABOUT THE
SLIDING-GLIDING MAZUR STEP: FINALLY DONE 2007

Or donate copies to your local library. Or place any of the works on your web-site. Feel free to do so.

What is an Activist Judge? Why has media taken the term "Activist Judge" to control the conversation? The term is far more coded and dismissive than "Empathetic."

Why are changes that may or may not reflect the population being radicalized with the term "Activist?"

Lori and Mike are right on. The linguist Brian or Leonard had on before the election talked about Obama's empathetic language and that voters were connecting with it in significant ways. Seems consistent with his overall, humane philosophy for choosing a justice. How wonderful that competence and a great mind are back in fashion! Agree with Ginsburg too. Time for another woman but, bottom line, the best possible mind regardless of skin color. Diversity of thought is more important in a supreme court choice, in other areas, not so much.

My labor law professor at Harvard Law, Douglas Ginsberg (who got a Supreme Court nomination, albeit unsuccessful), began his course with a long, academic description of the micro and macro economic intellectual underpinnings of its jurisprudence. My wife's labor law professor at Fordham Law, Joe Crowley, began his course by asking what labor law was about, then slamming his fist on the lectern and answering "Human Dignity!". I would much rather have someone with Professor Crowley's Fordham approach interpreting the law of the land than the more-credentialed Harvard academic.

Congresswoman EH Norton kicks ass!

Either Brian or Leonard had someone on before the election, a linguist, who talked about Obama's unique style that voters were responding to so well. If memory serves, he focused on Obama's empathetic language. Seems to be a consistent philosophy in how he'll choose a supreme court justice. I see significant parallels with Sandra Day O'Connor who served in public office in AZ and had "real jobs" when she couldn't get a job after Law School. She was a secretary despite her role as a top law student at Stanford Law!

You can't expect the party who managed Katrina to understand and value empathy, can you?

I imagine the recent case before the court regarding the strip search of a 13 year old girl inspired that word -- the court sounded so out of touch (and cavalier) regarding the impact that laws have on their victims. And, yes, the only one that seemed aghast at their attitude was the sole woman on the court.

Women have been graduating law school in equal numbers for decades so why are they not represented in equal numbers in the courts? That said, gender does not guarantee feminist or egalitarian thinking. Look at Sarah Palin. I'd take a male who supported reproductive freedom before I'd take a woman who doesn't defend women's freedoms and dignity. However, there are plenty of women who have expertise and are progressive and open minded professionals.

I cannot believe that we are actually parsing the word empathy. As for Orrin Hatch -- it's time for progressives to take back the term "activitist" judge. Let's shine a light on the decisions of those currently on the bench.

Empathy is not about life experience, actually. It's about being able to empathize with other people's life experience. It's an extremely important personal quality, but it's about someone's imaginative ability. Obama himself is empathetic because he could identify and sympathize with people who grew up in the inner city even though he himself didn't grow up there.

On a side note, Orrin Hatch and the republicans are just shooting themselves in the foot again. Empathy might be an unusual word, but it's not a code word, and Obama chose it wisely. He'll be able to explain himself perfectly well, directly to the people.

Tavis Smiley made a good point the other day on Leonard Lopate: "Nine white guys" - The Warren Court - made the most progressive rulings the Supreme Court has ever seen. So, Smiley said, diversity does not equal progress.

Orrin Hatch should know about activist judges. He's advocated the most activist judges and courts in American history -- the right-wingers who gave us Bush v. Gore, among other cases (among the worst cases in American history).

Of course, the nominee should have no race, no gender and no sexual orientation. Is that a pubic hair on my Coke?