Last few days have yielded more road furniture and useful building materials right there on the highway for the taking. One report mentioned large boxes, so I count that as a grab bag special. No telling what was inside. It could be nothing or it could be dancing girls and a marching band. Wood and steel were in the road, in different places, and the ever popular couch. California is a different kind of place. But I like it, other than the ever growing volume of taxes and rules which only apply to citizens.
That should not be construed as a xenophobic outburst. I like Mexicans and tend to get along with the ones working in the area where I work. I'm one of the few Americanos who do labor intensive jobs there. There are a couple of others but they are more official and do things of slightly different nature. Foreign and domestic criminals I do not like. And I'm cold enough to think tax money ought not go to feed clothe educate or heal those who aren't citizens or at least here legally. Overall I think that whole issue is probably sort of a smokescreen for more diabolical mischief in power circles.
There is so much to do and experience out West. Freedom to do it is the real treasure. More and more that can mean you need money. Right now, you just need enough to have and hold a vehicle and put fuel in the tank. Lots of places to camp for free if you wind up homeless. Or if you want to escape.
That is a new way of thinking for me, to even consider where to pitch a tent. I learned it on the Ballistic Tour. It seems that people are far more serious about recreation out here. In the west, in general. I don't recall people on the east coast in such numbers just enjoying the nature of the place.
It is important to maintain mobility I think. That is not so easy to do, but so far it seems like it can be done. Easier to stay mobile than to get mobile. That's where having a cross country bike may pay off. If they make driving impossible, put on that pterodactyl looking hat tie the essentials to you back and go pedal across the mountains.
Hell of a thing that I'd even think that way in the 21st century. We should be floating around in 3D, flying cars or some such. But no, we're headed back before horses. You could get in trouble if you start riding a horse everywhere--only a matter of time before the horses-are-people-too people bring a class action suit or something. I bet people wouldn't be throwing furniture all over the road if it came to horses and bicycles.
A lady on George Noory's show claims she was taken to Mars, back in time, several million years. I couldn't follow the whole thing. Sounds like a good idea anyway. Maybe. It could be I found myself in another universe. This could be Mars. It's all adventure wherever it is. It takes some time to make sense of the customs and language. I've been wrestling with that all my life so that's no excuse to complain.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Money Saving
In case I find the irresistible Mrs Me; one big money saver is if she buys into the whole blood diamond thing. How in Hell can anyone ever buy a ring like I see on fingers everywhere in SoCal? Really, that item worries me and has for years. I just don't have the dough. I was watching a good looking news chick tonight and noticed a friggin ring that must have contained an once of gold and a forty carat diamond. I could be over estimating a tad, but even the news chick sets a bad example. So, to save money, ban diamonds.
To save on the cost of water I consider the entire world my urinal. It's a public service as much as anything, especially in an area that pumps water in from places like Colorado. Confuses the coyotes, too.
Don't do credit cards. They can end up charging a lot of money.
Figure out unit cost rather than suckering for the grocery store excitement sale labels. Often it is cheaper to buy 2 18oz jars of peanut butter than the 36oz economy size which has some hooplah tag on it. This is where mental division and accurate estimating pay off. They purposely price things in order to make it hard to quickly break down per unit. Some places have the unit cost in fine print on the price label, but not on the sale label.
Usually generic or store brand is cheaper than famous name brand.
Don't buy Marlboro.
Claim multiple personality disorder and list 2 or 3 of the distinct personalities as dependents.
Keep only pets that can be let outside, and which can find or hunt food on their own. Something like a badger, alley cat, raccoon, squirrel, wolf, owl, mountain lion, or wharf rat. If the animal has no health insurance, treat it as you would yourself, let it get well naturally or die.
Read your neighbor's newspaper
Forget cable, or watch it next door. Or, run a splitter from your neighbor's cable.
Carry a siphon hose at all times.
If you want to give flowers, visit the cemetery for a wide selection at no cost. Weekends and holidays are the best times. Hospitals can be a good source for fresh flowers as well.
Get my new piggy back green machine, a device designed to hook under the frame of the car in front of you. Throw 'er in neutral and experience the joy of extremely high gas mileage. Device comes with easy eject button should your unwitting benefactor turn off.
Run an extension cord from the outside outlet of your neighbor's house, or from nearby businesses to power lamps refrigerator and other electric hungry appliances.
Eat jalapeno peppers in winter to reduce the need for heating.
To save on the cost of water I consider the entire world my urinal. It's a public service as much as anything, especially in an area that pumps water in from places like Colorado. Confuses the coyotes, too.
Don't do credit cards. They can end up charging a lot of money.
Figure out unit cost rather than suckering for the grocery store excitement sale labels. Often it is cheaper to buy 2 18oz jars of peanut butter than the 36oz economy size which has some hooplah tag on it. This is where mental division and accurate estimating pay off. They purposely price things in order to make it hard to quickly break down per unit. Some places have the unit cost in fine print on the price label, but not on the sale label.
Usually generic or store brand is cheaper than famous name brand.
Don't buy Marlboro.
Claim multiple personality disorder and list 2 or 3 of the distinct personalities as dependents.
Keep only pets that can be let outside, and which can find or hunt food on their own. Something like a badger, alley cat, raccoon, squirrel, wolf, owl, mountain lion, or wharf rat. If the animal has no health insurance, treat it as you would yourself, let it get well naturally or die.
Read your neighbor's newspaper
Forget cable, or watch it next door. Or, run a splitter from your neighbor's cable.
Carry a siphon hose at all times.
If you want to give flowers, visit the cemetery for a wide selection at no cost. Weekends and holidays are the best times. Hospitals can be a good source for fresh flowers as well.
Get my new piggy back green machine, a device designed to hook under the frame of the car in front of you. Throw 'er in neutral and experience the joy of extremely high gas mileage. Device comes with easy eject button should your unwitting benefactor turn off.
Run an extension cord from the outside outlet of your neighbor's house, or from nearby businesses to power lamps refrigerator and other electric hungry appliances.
Eat jalapeno peppers in winter to reduce the need for heating.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Never Ending Story, part Nth degree
For as long as I can recall there has been some kind of inner conflict going on. Most of the time I can't define it. Sometimes it is a battle between what makes sense to me and what keeps me from upsetting police. I almost almost subjugate my better judgement to the inferior course of action dictated by the people with the guns.
In retrospect I have often tossed better judgement aside in favor of the inferior course which seemed the majority way, the mainstream, normal thing. Half the time it wasn't at all the normal mainstream thing. Maybe it was just some sophisticated pretense that those wired for civilization as we know it understood. I have some little glitches which evidently are not so obvious, but which have thrown me way off course on a regular basis.
I can see the value in realizing the reality that life is not a practice round so regrets don't do much good. It still seems cruel that smoking doesn't win friends and build muscles, but that is how the game is laid out. Much of what I regret may have been a blessing. It is highly possible that I was never really capable of raising the seven children I wanted, and I probably would not have done well had I remained in various jobs, even though outwardly it appeared that I had promise and potential. You can be competent in some way but lack essential ingredients that would allow you to profit like you would were you not a few apples shy of a bushel, so to speak. It isn't a crime, just how it is. It has taken a long time to see that.
Every now and then the realization of limits, and more, the realization of times when I tried to ignore those limits, causes a little angst of one sort or another. That is the stuff that makes me want to hide away.
And that leads to a type of inner conflict. Accepting one's reality without accepting the wrong type of limitation. Opportunities are far more abundant than I know, almost by definition; I have no idea what all the possible inventions endeavors and schemes possible to a ballistic tourer are, so setting a mental limit is not even logical.
Yet, I do know I have limits on a certain aspect of understanding and reading people which either leads me to trust the untrustworthy or to see rejection when it is not there. That is somewhat more extreme than average. On the other hand I can spot it when someone else is up to no good in matters between others, in which I have no vested interest. I think some of that is normal.
What is not normal are the extremes which have characterized some episodes of my life dealing with such matters. Not a reason for regret because it does not good, and it wastes time and energy as the woe erodes attitude, diminishing the likelihood of recognizing good opportunities. Such regret and sadness over what should have been another way serves only to destroy the contentment of the moment. That is not to say conscience is no good. I'm not talking conscience.
I don't know what I'm talking. But here's a secret teak trick; after all is done and you coated it with teak oil, come back and rub a final coat in with #400 wet or dry sandpaper. It is the way to make things dazzle and be smooth as [name withheld]'s bottom.
In retrospect I have often tossed better judgement aside in favor of the inferior course which seemed the majority way, the mainstream, normal thing. Half the time it wasn't at all the normal mainstream thing. Maybe it was just some sophisticated pretense that those wired for civilization as we know it understood. I have some little glitches which evidently are not so obvious, but which have thrown me way off course on a regular basis.
I can see the value in realizing the reality that life is not a practice round so regrets don't do much good. It still seems cruel that smoking doesn't win friends and build muscles, but that is how the game is laid out. Much of what I regret may have been a blessing. It is highly possible that I was never really capable of raising the seven children I wanted, and I probably would not have done well had I remained in various jobs, even though outwardly it appeared that I had promise and potential. You can be competent in some way but lack essential ingredients that would allow you to profit like you would were you not a few apples shy of a bushel, so to speak. It isn't a crime, just how it is. It has taken a long time to see that.
Every now and then the realization of limits, and more, the realization of times when I tried to ignore those limits, causes a little angst of one sort or another. That is the stuff that makes me want to hide away.
And that leads to a type of inner conflict. Accepting one's reality without accepting the wrong type of limitation. Opportunities are far more abundant than I know, almost by definition; I have no idea what all the possible inventions endeavors and schemes possible to a ballistic tourer are, so setting a mental limit is not even logical.
Yet, I do know I have limits on a certain aspect of understanding and reading people which either leads me to trust the untrustworthy or to see rejection when it is not there. That is somewhat more extreme than average. On the other hand I can spot it when someone else is up to no good in matters between others, in which I have no vested interest. I think some of that is normal.
What is not normal are the extremes which have characterized some episodes of my life dealing with such matters. Not a reason for regret because it does not good, and it wastes time and energy as the woe erodes attitude, diminishing the likelihood of recognizing good opportunities. Such regret and sadness over what should have been another way serves only to destroy the contentment of the moment. That is not to say conscience is no good. I'm not talking conscience.
I don't know what I'm talking. But here's a secret teak trick; after all is done and you coated it with teak oil, come back and rub a final coat in with #400 wet or dry sandpaper. It is the way to make things dazzle and be smooth as [name withheld]'s bottom.
Dreaming, the Nerve
Although I'm assuming those, who wake up every day in tax paid comfort wondering how they can fight to make the little nobody's life better today, consider me among the poor downtrodden retches, I find more solace when I find a glimmer of hope to make something happen myself. Partly because my daydreams of productive adventure do not include special ID, waiting in line, or asking permission.
Interesting psychology in that dynamic; "I'm fighting for every hopeless, miserable son of a bitch out there numbing his mind with booze and TV". There is that implication that the one thinking so intently about the plight of the little people is a superior being. Maybe even a God.
Well, I began to envision possibilities again. They may or may not work. Only one way to find out. Half the time, attempting to achieve one goal ends up resulting in a different end altogether, as adjustments along the way change the course. It can be better than plan A. The only way to determine if the goal is attainable or not is to go for it, given that a little forethought has gone into the scheme.
The main ingredient needed to launch an idea is nerve. I think I lost the will to force myself to call on The Nerve a long time ago. I've never really accepted that I would always live in a state of surrender, though. But I haven't quite been willing up until now. I'm not sure if I'm willing to let go of the inhibition at this point. In my dreams I am, and that feels much better than no picture of it at all.
The projects I actually think of aren't really the ones I describe to others. Those may hold some interest, but they aren't the ones in the dreams which feel more liberating, fun, and in sync with my nature.
It feels good to see a course of action which could pay off to some extent, and which may actually be possible. The steps toward it are fairly straight forward. I love it when I can see the way, even if I wonder where I'll get the time and energy.
Somehow that talk of fighting for me seems at odds with the creative process of finding a way to thrive. The mental state it takes to want people you don't even know to wake up thinking how they can control your life in ways they think you want is one of deep depression. It is no wonder it is easier to say, "I'm lost and I'll never be otherwise" than it is to say, "I think I have a plan and it's just crazy enough in might work. I may yet thrive". People view the thriver with resentment and/or suspicion, and the one who's spirit is broken with relief and gratitude. Like family. It's like we've become conditioned to believe we are supposed to have no spirit, and that trying to regain it is futile.
Admittedly the deck is heavily stacked against rebirth and revival of will, but it is probably possible. I hope so.
Just thinking. And it did feel good to muse over possible paths and opportunities again. I'd just come off a jag of fear and loathing. The battle is always between freaking out over my lack of security, what I don't have, can't do, and what is good, what I do have and can do. I'm of the belief that if I keep putting the idea of being some benefit to people who matter up on the front burner, things will be OK. It's a balance, and you never really know when you are a benefit, even though you may think you know. It pays to keep a pure heart. Those times when you think it doesn't always come back to haunt you.
If you make sense out of that then I'm surprised and happy.
Interesting psychology in that dynamic; "I'm fighting for every hopeless, miserable son of a bitch out there numbing his mind with booze and TV". There is that implication that the one thinking so intently about the plight of the little people is a superior being. Maybe even a God.
Well, I began to envision possibilities again. They may or may not work. Only one way to find out. Half the time, attempting to achieve one goal ends up resulting in a different end altogether, as adjustments along the way change the course. It can be better than plan A. The only way to determine if the goal is attainable or not is to go for it, given that a little forethought has gone into the scheme.
The main ingredient needed to launch an idea is nerve. I think I lost the will to force myself to call on The Nerve a long time ago. I've never really accepted that I would always live in a state of surrender, though. But I haven't quite been willing up until now. I'm not sure if I'm willing to let go of the inhibition at this point. In my dreams I am, and that feels much better than no picture of it at all.
The projects I actually think of aren't really the ones I describe to others. Those may hold some interest, but they aren't the ones in the dreams which feel more liberating, fun, and in sync with my nature.
It feels good to see a course of action which could pay off to some extent, and which may actually be possible. The steps toward it are fairly straight forward. I love it when I can see the way, even if I wonder where I'll get the time and energy.
Somehow that talk of fighting for me seems at odds with the creative process of finding a way to thrive. The mental state it takes to want people you don't even know to wake up thinking how they can control your life in ways they think you want is one of deep depression. It is no wonder it is easier to say, "I'm lost and I'll never be otherwise" than it is to say, "I think I have a plan and it's just crazy enough in might work. I may yet thrive". People view the thriver with resentment and/or suspicion, and the one who's spirit is broken with relief and gratitude. Like family. It's like we've become conditioned to believe we are supposed to have no spirit, and that trying to regain it is futile.
Admittedly the deck is heavily stacked against rebirth and revival of will, but it is probably possible. I hope so.
Just thinking. And it did feel good to muse over possible paths and opportunities again. I'd just come off a jag of fear and loathing. The battle is always between freaking out over my lack of security, what I don't have, can't do, and what is good, what I do have and can do. I'm of the belief that if I keep putting the idea of being some benefit to people who matter up on the front burner, things will be OK. It's a balance, and you never really know when you are a benefit, even though you may think you know. It pays to keep a pure heart. Those times when you think it doesn't always come back to haunt you.
If you make sense out of that then I'm surprised and happy.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Clearing The Mind Clutter; Coast to Coast
The benefit of working until dark is that I can often listen to Coast to Coast radio on the way home. When I decide I don't want to hear any more of the latest Obama adventures into global madness and the oneness of statism, this is a good way to clear my mind.
Tonight, being Saturday, they have old Art Bell episodes. I prefer the ones post 911 for some reason. It appears things just aren't the same since then and things prior to that date feel like another world; one that is gone for good. We've been on the rapid move toward fascism and socialism ever since, and willingly so. At least enough were willing that questioning things paints one as a fringe character, domestic terror risk, probable militia member, or outright kook. Even so, I don't feel as comfortable listening to anything pre-911. Nostalgia makes me uncomfortable. Good memories are fine but I find reliving some things depressing. I'm more nostalgic for times prior to my birth, so I guess it doesn't qualify as nostalgia or living in my own past.
OK. So, tonight's episode was from 2002. I don't know the name of the guest or even what his particular specialty is/was. At one point they were talking about finds in N.America of large, 7 or 8 foot, humanoid skeletons in burial mounds, and other organized spots for placing the quiet and inactive of our neighbors.
The Art guest claimed there were pre-existing mines under the ones we made when first mining coal and copper and such. All this indicated a sophisticated society predating even most of what we think of as Native Americans. Most cultures, even oldie goldies, came from some place else, then they got displaced by some interloper group, and sometimes that group fell to yet other interlopers. Modern bad guys, the evil us, aren't really the only beneficiaries, in history, of good land got by overrunning the less astute in the ways of war or technology, or simply taking advantage of the power greater numbers can bring.
That's the trouble with modern civilization, one of the ills anyway; people are all hell bent on being the holy tribe. So, in our case, first those who sailed from Europe were conquering heroes, the Chosen tribe, then the tide turned so that the vanquished became the holy ones. A lot of truth and a lot of bullshit in both cases. The main point is that there is always a need to have a villain and an innocent victim. Fact and nuance be damned.
No telling if any of what they were discussing has any validity, but it does give a sense of the flow in the dog eat dog world of the population and development of the planet. Now that everyone knows it is round and roughly where everything is, it takes the charm out of conquering the infidel. Or so you'd think. The game and the rules, if any, have changed. In a way I'd love to live to see it all, and then again, I'm happy to know I won't.
Here we go. I went from Art Bell and Atlantis or shadow people right back to raging against the things that I was trying to avoid. This could be serious. It's why people spend lots of time doing church stuff. Obviously I'm unbalanced.
This is what drives people to sail the oceans in a 20' boat. It takes forever, you might not make it, and you have too much reality to occupy your mind to be concerned with the insanity of governments and people who like to run the lives of others. And steal their money and loved ones.
At least I have one useful tip; the True Value in the nearby town sells Watco Teak Oil for over 50 cents less than the Poway Home Depot. That's a tip you can take to the bank.
Tonight, being Saturday, they have old Art Bell episodes. I prefer the ones post 911 for some reason. It appears things just aren't the same since then and things prior to that date feel like another world; one that is gone for good. We've been on the rapid move toward fascism and socialism ever since, and willingly so. At least enough were willing that questioning things paints one as a fringe character, domestic terror risk, probable militia member, or outright kook. Even so, I don't feel as comfortable listening to anything pre-911. Nostalgia makes me uncomfortable. Good memories are fine but I find reliving some things depressing. I'm more nostalgic for times prior to my birth, so I guess it doesn't qualify as nostalgia or living in my own past.
OK. So, tonight's episode was from 2002. I don't know the name of the guest or even what his particular specialty is/was. At one point they were talking about finds in N.America of large, 7 or 8 foot, humanoid skeletons in burial mounds, and other organized spots for placing the quiet and inactive of our neighbors.
The Art guest claimed there were pre-existing mines under the ones we made when first mining coal and copper and such. All this indicated a sophisticated society predating even most of what we think of as Native Americans. Most cultures, even oldie goldies, came from some place else, then they got displaced by some interloper group, and sometimes that group fell to yet other interlopers. Modern bad guys, the evil us, aren't really the only beneficiaries, in history, of good land got by overrunning the less astute in the ways of war or technology, or simply taking advantage of the power greater numbers can bring.
That's the trouble with modern civilization, one of the ills anyway; people are all hell bent on being the holy tribe. So, in our case, first those who sailed from Europe were conquering heroes, the Chosen tribe, then the tide turned so that the vanquished became the holy ones. A lot of truth and a lot of bullshit in both cases. The main point is that there is always a need to have a villain and an innocent victim. Fact and nuance be damned.
No telling if any of what they were discussing has any validity, but it does give a sense of the flow in the dog eat dog world of the population and development of the planet. Now that everyone knows it is round and roughly where everything is, it takes the charm out of conquering the infidel. Or so you'd think. The game and the rules, if any, have changed. In a way I'd love to live to see it all, and then again, I'm happy to know I won't.
Here we go. I went from Art Bell and Atlantis or shadow people right back to raging against the things that I was trying to avoid. This could be serious. It's why people spend lots of time doing church stuff. Obviously I'm unbalanced.
This is what drives people to sail the oceans in a 20' boat. It takes forever, you might not make it, and you have too much reality to occupy your mind to be concerned with the insanity of governments and people who like to run the lives of others. And steal their money and loved ones.
At least I have one useful tip; the True Value in the nearby town sells Watco Teak Oil for over 50 cents less than the Poway Home Depot. That's a tip you can take to the bank.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Green, another word for righteous inferiority
Clean water is great. I like water that won't kill me or leave me glowing in the dark, although it would save on flashlight batteries. Of course clean water is not green. I normally won't drink green water.
It may be more a left coast phenomenon but I suspect the whole country (and many others) has found shelves stocked with Green products which tout their greenness rather than their effectiveness. It is rare that things which say right on the label, "Green, earth friendly, no animals trees, chemicals or anything else used in this product. It won't hurt anything and you can eat it safely", are worth the money. I'm beginning to think that companies which have an abundance of products which don't work are slapping "We're Green" labels on them to exploit the madness and recoup the investment in bad goods.
People feel good that they are somehow honoring the earth goddess by sacrificing money and usefulness with such purchases. They generally don't feel great that the cleaners won't clean.
I'm sure there are some great substances which include only ingredients like eggs and lemons which do work for a specific purpose, although I am hard pressed to name them at the moment. But by godt, we are being good to The Earth, which, of course, we all love dearly. When you really think about it honestly, it is a love-hate situation.
Everyone loves the earth when insulated from its wrath, whether it be little bitey bugs, cold, hot, rain, toranadoes, earth quakes, fires, animals that want to eat you or your food, land that can't be tread in its natural state, etc. The entire game of being human is to protect ourselves from Mommy Dearest--The Earth--so we can mate in clean comfort.
We may as well like it because it is the only planet we have, for now. Loving it or hating it makes no sense to me. Not destroying any source of resources is just rational self interest. Worshipping it and feeling guilty for making use of what's here or for making life a little tougher for creatures who would love to eat us does not seem natural or reasonable.
If people truly want to get back to nature they'd be chasing away every creature that gets in the way, and they'd clear tons of fire breaks in the forest and brush, and make sure their own species comes out on top, with no shred of guilt. Nature is about beating the other life forms in the game and ensuring survival of the species. That's what every life form does to some degree. All they care about is making more of their own. Sometimes a cooperative interaction serves the purpose. Humans and dogs, horses, cows, pigs, etc.; those fish that clean barnacles of other fish, or whatever the deal is.
Not every effective chemical, which one way or another came from the earth, is a sinful devil potion. It takes very little for things to earn that label though. I remember in the 70's when some members of Congress insisted we not allow or work with Boeing in the launch of their SST because they claimed super sonic transports would cause skin cancer and other ills. I'm not making this up. Of course then that opened the door for the French thing that managed to fly here for awhile. Boeing's looked like it would have been a better aircraft.
There is a balance, and it is not anywhere to be seen. Ruining a water supply and such is not good sense, but withholding worthwhile remedies and processes which actually save lives and enhance standard of living makes no sense either. Much of that thinking has only kept primitive third world cultures in poverty more than would be the case if a little evil chemical had been used. In many cases the "science" which was cited to ban a very useful product proved bogus and agenda driven.
More and more the cries for tiptoeing around the holy environment push practices which aren't natural at all. I don't think one could say that forced socialism is at all natural either. Free trade and barter of one's own volition is natural. If 50 people were somehow isolated in the woods with nothing, pretty soon those good at one thing would be trading that for goods and services produced by people good at that. Some would do more building, some more hunting or gathering, and so it goes. Those who couldn't contribute would probably be cared for if they had a decent attitude. It's human nature, but it is by choice.
I don't think the mass hysteria will last forever. I hope the class envy thing ceases before long. That is dangerous.
OK. I'm rambling, but the various elements of passing off tomato juice as dishwashing liquid, and confiscation of wealth and arbitrary distribution of same as humane, seem to reflect a similar mentality. It is somewhat oppressive and no fun.
It may be more a left coast phenomenon but I suspect the whole country (and many others) has found shelves stocked with Green products which tout their greenness rather than their effectiveness. It is rare that things which say right on the label, "Green, earth friendly, no animals trees, chemicals or anything else used in this product. It won't hurt anything and you can eat it safely", are worth the money. I'm beginning to think that companies which have an abundance of products which don't work are slapping "We're Green" labels on them to exploit the madness and recoup the investment in bad goods.
People feel good that they are somehow honoring the earth goddess by sacrificing money and usefulness with such purchases. They generally don't feel great that the cleaners won't clean.
I'm sure there are some great substances which include only ingredients like eggs and lemons which do work for a specific purpose, although I am hard pressed to name them at the moment. But by godt, we are being good to The Earth, which, of course, we all love dearly. When you really think about it honestly, it is a love-hate situation.
Everyone loves the earth when insulated from its wrath, whether it be little bitey bugs, cold, hot, rain, toranadoes, earth quakes, fires, animals that want to eat you or your food, land that can't be tread in its natural state, etc. The entire game of being human is to protect ourselves from Mommy Dearest--The Earth--so we can mate in clean comfort.
We may as well like it because it is the only planet we have, for now. Loving it or hating it makes no sense to me. Not destroying any source of resources is just rational self interest. Worshipping it and feeling guilty for making use of what's here or for making life a little tougher for creatures who would love to eat us does not seem natural or reasonable.
If people truly want to get back to nature they'd be chasing away every creature that gets in the way, and they'd clear tons of fire breaks in the forest and brush, and make sure their own species comes out on top, with no shred of guilt. Nature is about beating the other life forms in the game and ensuring survival of the species. That's what every life form does to some degree. All they care about is making more of their own. Sometimes a cooperative interaction serves the purpose. Humans and dogs, horses, cows, pigs, etc.; those fish that clean barnacles of other fish, or whatever the deal is.
Not every effective chemical, which one way or another came from the earth, is a sinful devil potion. It takes very little for things to earn that label though. I remember in the 70's when some members of Congress insisted we not allow or work with Boeing in the launch of their SST because they claimed super sonic transports would cause skin cancer and other ills. I'm not making this up. Of course then that opened the door for the French thing that managed to fly here for awhile. Boeing's looked like it would have been a better aircraft.
There is a balance, and it is not anywhere to be seen. Ruining a water supply and such is not good sense, but withholding worthwhile remedies and processes which actually save lives and enhance standard of living makes no sense either. Much of that thinking has only kept primitive third world cultures in poverty more than would be the case if a little evil chemical had been used. In many cases the "science" which was cited to ban a very useful product proved bogus and agenda driven.
More and more the cries for tiptoeing around the holy environment push practices which aren't natural at all. I don't think one could say that forced socialism is at all natural either. Free trade and barter of one's own volition is natural. If 50 people were somehow isolated in the woods with nothing, pretty soon those good at one thing would be trading that for goods and services produced by people good at that. Some would do more building, some more hunting or gathering, and so it goes. Those who couldn't contribute would probably be cared for if they had a decent attitude. It's human nature, but it is by choice.
I don't think the mass hysteria will last forever. I hope the class envy thing ceases before long. That is dangerous.
OK. I'm rambling, but the various elements of passing off tomato juice as dishwashing liquid, and confiscation of wealth and arbitrary distribution of same as humane, seem to reflect a similar mentality. It is somewhat oppressive and no fun.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
CA Road Flotsam Update, and else
Today's household road treasure was a washer and dryer on The whatever number. I'm seriously considering going into the road salvage business or seeing if I can market tie down devices on the on ramps. I've made it a point to tune into the radio to catch traffic reports just to see what lies on The 5, 8, 805, 15 and Jamacha, pronounced hamasha, Road. That is what I've become. Some people age and worry about the youth of today, and some just become fixated on road salvage.
Today was a curious one. It involved various tasks which seemed to disagree with whatever tendon mechanism operates in my hand. The final insult was some plumbing work, replacing the faucet in a friend's kitchen sink. All went well until I discovered one of the feed lines sprung a leak that could not be fixed. Too late to go get the myriad of parts that need replacing. Everything was corroded to the point of certain disaster. At least the cold water works, for now. It was a surprise. I thought I was going to do X but the other party understood I was doing Y. Y being work which left my hand useless for feeding myself the fine supper which came as part of the deal. I'm somewhat ambidextrous so I'm now well nourished. Now I won't rest easy until it is as it should be, hot water and cold with a minimal amount spraying or dripping under the sink.
It is rare I sympathize with Obama, but I have to say I'd find it very difficult to go meet the queen. The whole monarchy mentality and protocol grates on me. The US went way out of its way to distance itself from that sort of thing. Oh my God, she touched the queen. I can't get into all that. I'm sure they are marvelous people but all the kissing up that is taken for granted, forget it.
That's about as far my sympathy goes. Playing rock star on public money and not getting any significant benefits for the public from it is not something I can cheer. What the heck. The president and wife are at the polar opposite of me when it comes to view of what they ought do or not do, so I doubt my view matters much to them or those in this country who crave home grown royalty and the validation of class envy and hatred. You'd think it would be a kind of internal contradiction there.
I wonder if it is a good sign or a bad one that the songs which keep going through my mind are ones that I wrote. They've yet to be played by anyone, especially played as I envision them. They've changed a bit over time, too. I think they are better than when I first wrote the words. I hope I can find the words. Often I reach a point and just do that lalala thing I do with other people's songs when I don't know the lyrics.
I doubt the guy in the white car who was tailgating a motorcycle reads this, but if he does, Hey, tailgating a bike at 70 mph so close you could have spit on the girl on the back is not only stupid, it is dangerously stupid.
Today was a curious one. It involved various tasks which seemed to disagree with whatever tendon mechanism operates in my hand. The final insult was some plumbing work, replacing the faucet in a friend's kitchen sink. All went well until I discovered one of the feed lines sprung a leak that could not be fixed. Too late to go get the myriad of parts that need replacing. Everything was corroded to the point of certain disaster. At least the cold water works, for now. It was a surprise. I thought I was going to do X but the other party understood I was doing Y. Y being work which left my hand useless for feeding myself the fine supper which came as part of the deal. I'm somewhat ambidextrous so I'm now well nourished. Now I won't rest easy until it is as it should be, hot water and cold with a minimal amount spraying or dripping under the sink.
It is rare I sympathize with Obama, but I have to say I'd find it very difficult to go meet the queen. The whole monarchy mentality and protocol grates on me. The US went way out of its way to distance itself from that sort of thing. Oh my God, she touched the queen. I can't get into all that. I'm sure they are marvelous people but all the kissing up that is taken for granted, forget it.
That's about as far my sympathy goes. Playing rock star on public money and not getting any significant benefits for the public from it is not something I can cheer. What the heck. The president and wife are at the polar opposite of me when it comes to view of what they ought do or not do, so I doubt my view matters much to them or those in this country who crave home grown royalty and the validation of class envy and hatred. You'd think it would be a kind of internal contradiction there.
I wonder if it is a good sign or a bad one that the songs which keep going through my mind are ones that I wrote. They've yet to be played by anyone, especially played as I envision them. They've changed a bit over time, too. I think they are better than when I first wrote the words. I hope I can find the words. Often I reach a point and just do that lalala thing I do with other people's songs when I don't know the lyrics.
I doubt the guy in the white car who was tailgating a motorcycle reads this, but if he does, Hey, tailgating a bike at 70 mph so close you could have spit on the girl on the back is not only stupid, it is dangerously stupid.
UN Has Sense of Humor
UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned Thursday.."I fear worse to come -- a full-blown political crisis defined by growing social unrest, weakened governments and angry publics who have lost all faith in their leaders and their own future."
I put in the bold part.
Oh my God, weakened governments, what would we ever do with less authority in the hands of say, Barney Frank or Hugo Chavez? Where has this guy been? There are plenty of angry people who lost all faith in their "leaders" long ago. Many never did have faith in them and refuse to see the need for leaders as much as responsible administrators of essential government functions.
Banky, as we call him, is quite the one for dry wit and subtle humor I see. I'm sure he is only making the joke.
Hopefully no officials in Missouri will read this and think I don't revere the UN. That's a sign of militia malcontents and a dislike for the authorities in the USA. According to their profile it means one who might be a big domestic threat. Someone who is not on board for the present agenda. I should just say I fully believe that the UN is not a corrupt and vile body, and I think congress should spend even more money we don't have in order to fix everything and so we will have world peace. That should cover it.
"Ban called for a "truly global stimulus" package, and argued that developing countries need one trillion dollars over 2009 and 2010."
That Banky. Make it a trillion trillion baniziliion.
Something tells me he was volunteering the money of others, not his own cash.
I put in the bold part.
Oh my God, weakened governments, what would we ever do with less authority in the hands of say, Barney Frank or Hugo Chavez? Where has this guy been? There are plenty of angry people who lost all faith in their "leaders" long ago. Many never did have faith in them and refuse to see the need for leaders as much as responsible administrators of essential government functions.
Banky, as we call him, is quite the one for dry wit and subtle humor I see. I'm sure he is only making the joke.
Hopefully no officials in Missouri will read this and think I don't revere the UN. That's a sign of militia malcontents and a dislike for the authorities in the USA. According to their profile it means one who might be a big domestic threat. Someone who is not on board for the present agenda. I should just say I fully believe that the UN is not a corrupt and vile body, and I think congress should spend even more money we don't have in order to fix everything and so we will have world peace. That should cover it.
"Ban called for a "truly global stimulus" package, and argued that developing countries need one trillion dollars over 2009 and 2010."
That Banky. Make it a trillion trillion baniziliion.
Something tells me he was volunteering the money of others, not his own cash.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Future's Uncertain, and the End Is Always Near
Jim Morrison wrote some pretty good lines here and there. Just goes to show what the drama of youth and psychosis of drugs can do. But lots of people successfully achieved the psychosis of drugs part without ever being recognized for their brilliance or memorable lines. "But I Looked the part. It's just not fair."
That brings me to the giving of gifts by and to heads of state and other tyrants or wards of the people. I think whoever is advising Obama on these matters must have caught a sale at Target or raided the rooms of children. Ipods and DVDs. I guess the movies were made in America so it has something to do with the country being represented. I'd have given the queen an American made shotgun or a Milwaukee sander. It's at least designed in the US. I think the Ipod is as well. Both made in China I guess.
Other countries are always unloading really high maintenance stuff on us, like panda bears. And Arnold.
Surf boards are mostly made here. I'm trying to think what is made here without most of its components from everywhere. They can say a car is made here, but the reality is the car is made everywhere, if you consider the component parts. Yea, I think Obama needs to travel with an assortment of short and long boards. Give the short ones to the short people places and the long ones to the taller people places. It sends the message that he's sporty and bitchin.
I'd rather have the board than a bunch of old movies I could rent any time I wanted. If I already had an Ipod, I'd rather have a board. Even if I didn't I'd rather be given the board by some hotshot demagogue than a little Ipod.
Once again, no one asked me. I'll bet some Obama aide's kid is not happy about all his stuff going to Limeys and others. It would have been a real hit if he did the surfboard thing. He could then be clever and encourage those tyrants to "ride the wave" rather than "jump on the band wagon". It might have worked. The trinkets from the computer revolution aren't doing the trick as near as I can tell. They aren't giving much. They are fine with encouraging our global self flagellation. I want them to give us their money and armies. Sounds like they are not going to let us have use of either.
That brings me to the giving of gifts by and to heads of state and other tyrants or wards of the people. I think whoever is advising Obama on these matters must have caught a sale at Target or raided the rooms of children. Ipods and DVDs. I guess the movies were made in America so it has something to do with the country being represented. I'd have given the queen an American made shotgun or a Milwaukee sander. It's at least designed in the US. I think the Ipod is as well. Both made in China I guess.
Other countries are always unloading really high maintenance stuff on us, like panda bears. And Arnold.
Surf boards are mostly made here. I'm trying to think what is made here without most of its components from everywhere. They can say a car is made here, but the reality is the car is made everywhere, if you consider the component parts. Yea, I think Obama needs to travel with an assortment of short and long boards. Give the short ones to the short people places and the long ones to the taller people places. It sends the message that he's sporty and bitchin.
I'd rather have the board than a bunch of old movies I could rent any time I wanted. If I already had an Ipod, I'd rather have a board. Even if I didn't I'd rather be given the board by some hotshot demagogue than a little Ipod.
Once again, no one asked me. I'll bet some Obama aide's kid is not happy about all his stuff going to Limeys and others. It would have been a real hit if he did the surfboard thing. He could then be clever and encourage those tyrants to "ride the wave" rather than "jump on the band wagon". It might have worked. The trinkets from the computer revolution aren't doing the trick as near as I can tell. They aren't giving much. They are fine with encouraging our global self flagellation. I want them to give us their money and armies. Sounds like they are not going to let us have use of either.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Good, Bad and Whatnot
Floods cannot be much fun, especially in freezing conditions. It was good to hear that the worst may be over in ND. It sounds as if the Fargo people are a hearty breed, the way they took matters into their own hands. Old school reality comes through at times, despite any spin fed to the masses. That is real emergency. It makes the kinds of crises and fears we've been throwing money at for the last six months, in particular, seem like a joke.
It is good to see the National Guard being used properly instead of sent overseas. A state militia is not for federal madness. Fargo has got the coolest accent in the USA. That may not do much for flooding but it is worth something.
Oh well, anything said often enough becomes believed as true, with or without solid reason or understanding. I wonder why that is.
It was a nice sight to arrive home from a good working Sunday, soon after sunset. I looked up the hill at thew bottom of Ballistic road and I I saw a cloud just behind it but in front of the peak behind. The cloud was just to the right of my place but at a slightly lower level. These are commonplace things but things I haven't experienced. Not at home, anyway.
The first time I discovered that clouds can lower that the peaks of mountains or tall hills, without being fog, was when I was maybe 9 years old. We were on a bus in Guatemala, traveling from Guatemala city to a place in the mountains called Antigua. There were indigenous people with chickens and all kinds of other things not usually found on public transportation. I'm not sure but it seems like some people rode on the roof. They had lots of bundles up there. That would have been my seat of choice.
The road was one of those edge of the cliff, winding things. I guess it would have been scary to those of little faith. What was scary was that town. So quiet, and the guy who brought tortillas to the room of the scary hotel looked like something from a movie where people get knifed by the quiet Guatemalan. If there is such a thing as energy in a place, that place freaked me out like nowhere I've ever been. Lots of ruins there. It was a strange thing. That place struck terror into my heart. Nothing I could do except ask if we could get out of there. My childhood was not one in which you made scenes and got away with it. Normally, I'd not have begged to leave, but I did. We looked at whatever the ruins were supposed to be. At that time it just looked like falling down buildings and chunks of rock.
Most ruins are fallen down buildings and chunks of rock, but I usually find them exciting and uplifting. At least the limited experience I've had with them has been such. I've not seen some of the Greek and Roman stuff, only the aqueduct in Spain, outside Segovia or somewhere.
I'd forgotten about Antigua until now. People always think about that Island Antigua and they say it "Anteega". This one was pronounced how it looks by everyone I remember.
If you think the Aztec nation was peaceful and fun loving, read the book. I sure hope they don't bring back all the sacrifices and rituals when la raza gets the Azteca nation rolling. Some features of the old days could be good.
There was a lot going on in North and Central America before and during the Aztec days. They weren't the big innovators and creators of everything, just the war power, at their peak. But, more than the Romans or Greeks or Vikings, I'd love to be able to go back in time and see the civilizations down there in action; Toltec, Mixtecs, and all the other tecs. At a safe distance, for sure. I'd not want to be sacrificed to whatever God needing a fresh heart.
It is good to see the National Guard being used properly instead of sent overseas. A state militia is not for federal madness. Fargo has got the coolest accent in the USA. That may not do much for flooding but it is worth something.
Oh well, anything said often enough becomes believed as true, with or without solid reason or understanding. I wonder why that is.
It was a nice sight to arrive home from a good working Sunday, soon after sunset. I looked up the hill at thew bottom of Ballistic road and I I saw a cloud just behind it but in front of the peak behind. The cloud was just to the right of my place but at a slightly lower level. These are commonplace things but things I haven't experienced. Not at home, anyway.
The first time I discovered that clouds can lower that the peaks of mountains or tall hills, without being fog, was when I was maybe 9 years old. We were on a bus in Guatemala, traveling from Guatemala city to a place in the mountains called Antigua. There were indigenous people with chickens and all kinds of other things not usually found on public transportation. I'm not sure but it seems like some people rode on the roof. They had lots of bundles up there. That would have been my seat of choice.
The road was one of those edge of the cliff, winding things. I guess it would have been scary to those of little faith. What was scary was that town. So quiet, and the guy who brought tortillas to the room of the scary hotel looked like something from a movie where people get knifed by the quiet Guatemalan. If there is such a thing as energy in a place, that place freaked me out like nowhere I've ever been. Lots of ruins there. It was a strange thing. That place struck terror into my heart. Nothing I could do except ask if we could get out of there. My childhood was not one in which you made scenes and got away with it. Normally, I'd not have begged to leave, but I did. We looked at whatever the ruins were supposed to be. At that time it just looked like falling down buildings and chunks of rock.
Most ruins are fallen down buildings and chunks of rock, but I usually find them exciting and uplifting. At least the limited experience I've had with them has been such. I've not seen some of the Greek and Roman stuff, only the aqueduct in Spain, outside Segovia or somewhere.
I'd forgotten about Antigua until now. People always think about that Island Antigua and they say it "Anteega". This one was pronounced how it looks by everyone I remember.
If you think the Aztec nation was peaceful and fun loving, read the book. I sure hope they don't bring back all the sacrifices and rituals when la raza gets the Azteca nation rolling. Some features of the old days could be good.
There was a lot going on in North and Central America before and during the Aztec days. They weren't the big innovators and creators of everything, just the war power, at their peak. But, more than the Romans or Greeks or Vikings, I'd love to be able to go back in time and see the civilizations down there in action; Toltec, Mixtecs, and all the other tecs. At a safe distance, for sure. I'd not want to be sacrificed to whatever God needing a fresh heart.
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About Me
- John0 Juanderlust
- Ballistic Mountain, CA, United States
- Like spring on a summer's day
