I've been trying to locate an old friend for a long time. He's harder to track than most. Finally I paid 1.50 to an online outfit to dish up the report. So far I have not used the addresses to contact him.
He was known as Gato Loco, and I was another sort of gato. Long story, and if you weren't versed in, and entertained by, spanglish in S FL it would mean nothing.
The stupid place has my phone number and now wants to give me $100 in gas vouchers for paying another dollar to test drive some service for two weeks. Of course there may be an issue with canceling it. There always is.
No, I said. No, no no. I wonder now what is next. I better monitor my bank statements closely.
This kind of thing is where people give capitalism a bad name. Semi-deceptive sales techniques which offer you something FREE and you don't have to do much of anything. They don't volunteer the issue of you being responsible to get the thing stopped if you don't want some recurring charge of who knows how much. That part is hidden in the background, in the fine print, the super fast spoken announcement.
It uses the old con man technique--bait 'em with something for nothing.
Some would say more regulation and government oversight is the answer. I think not. That is half the trouble. Enforce the standing laws against force and fraud. Splitting hairs gives rise to loopholes.
Yes, people should be vigilant, but really, this is not what trade and commerce ought to be. You knew I couldn't get through this without pointing out how our own government, on every level, plays the same game. That, I suggest, is part of the problem. Would people be so hard up for employment that they have to do the bidding of deceptive firms had government not taken over 40%, or whatever it is, of the work force? And the laws, control, and educational sytem, as well as the press, selling their nonsense at every turn in every aspect of life--geez.
There must be a better way, and it damned sure isn't along the lines of solidarinosc. Something else that doesn't require running in a pack, or playing tricks just because you can get away with it.
Sorry. It wasn't that short. I tried, I swear.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tips for YoYos
Local spellcheck here on blogspot does not approve of my spelling of "yoyos" or of "blogspot" for that matter. If I were telling you this in person, don't worry, I wouldn't use air quotes. I only use air parentheses these days.
I'm a yoyo so the term is not meant so much in a derogatory manner, as it is merely describing a condition. Many are given to sudden waves of melancholy as well as sudden waves of euphoria. I'd say I fall in that camp. It probably doesn't hit me as hard as some, but most likely it hits me harder than most. Who knows?
There is no benefit in dwelling upon a condition as if the universe has somehow picked certain individuals to victimize. This just happen. Life is about how you deal with it. Compensation of one sort or another is very much the name of the game.
Anyone who has lived long enough to recognize their own history of highs and lows is at an advantage because they have enough information to wage the battle. It is not like you can make it stop completely but you can temper its effects. You know the extremes are not forever, even if they feel like it, and you know the resulting thought patterns are likely flawed.
It is especially useful in the down wave to avoid the temptation to believe you are a victim or that peace of mind will never return. Draw your attention to something you know you thought was beautiful or fun when you were not steeped in the blues. Take care not to form an opinion like, "Oh, I will never enjoy that again", "I could never do that now", etc. Just know you once got pleasure from whatever it is, and let it go.
Lie to yourself if need be. "In another mind frame I would have thought that sunset a work of art. Now I hate it and it makes me sad." There is where you have to tell yourself, OK, I know I don't really hate it, I just don't enjoy the way I feel at this moment. Do something, anything, that is unrelated to feeling good or bad. Eat a sandwich, drive to the store. Hunt down a homeless person or gimme dolla guy and give him fifty cents. If he asks for more, tell him it is in the mail, or ask for a refund.
If it is an obnoxious gimme dollah guy, ask him for a dollar. That has helped me in the past. I even made friends with one or two, like the helmet guy in Memphis.
Mostly, just know it will run its course and it is not the fault of other people. If you start festering resentment, or reviving old grudges, cut off that thinking then and there. Indulging what some call "justifiable anger" in that way does you no good whatsoever. I guess it helps if you do not have the sort of philosophy that assumes the good fortune of others is the cause of your misfortune. Sometimes it is, like when they steal your design, patent it, and enjoy a lucrative career, but that still is not the cause of the depression. Deep down you know that, or at least you should. It helps the cycling phenomenon be far less unpleasant--to yourself and others.
Others have difficulties too, and often they have troubles you can't see and would not want. So that bit of indulging resentful envy is not only often unfair, but it is self destructive.
Another good thing for the yoyo blues is popcorn, a movie but not something where the bad guys kill the dog, and sleep. But as soon as it lifts a little, if you can do something constructive, it really helps to do it. Usually the things that help are the things you put off or don't do because you have a faltering, weak belief in yourself. Just the attempt is a small victory. If you fail, all isn't lost, and some experience or knowledge is gained.
If you are riding the high, keep that in mind. You may not be the genius that feeling leads you to believe. Beware the crash that you know from experience will follow. The upswing is a good time to do nice things for friends who tolerate your madness, and to try to deal with any personal loose ends like unpacked boxes, unopened mail and the like.
Whatever the situation, there is much less pain and life mess if you resist the temptation to lash out during the tough times and to blame or try to make others endure some of your mopeyness. If you are like me, you have enough blues to go around a times. It really is inconsiderate to bring others down and spread the misery. Plus, you end up regretting the result it brings.
That's about it. Things change constantly, and you cannot know all the factors in the universe, so assuming nothing can get better is not really the fact based conclusion you might think.
Mostly it is good to understand that the mind will lie to you, especially when it is telling you to be miserable beyond hope or when it is telling you you are immortal and indestructible and a super genius.
***It is possible that some sort of prescribed drug will help. So, if you are really bonkers and have access to a good shrink, I say take advantage of your resources. That falls in the realm of not my business.
I do know that self medicating with alcohol or most recreational drugs actually worsens the problem, long term. For one thing, alcohol is a depressant, and though it may seem to help at first, overall it will do the opposite if you are really a true blues yoyo.
I'm undecided whether the right mushrooms with a talented sex therapist (amateur or not) would help in the long run. Unfortunately, I do not think it would do a lot of good for more than a day.
I'm a yoyo so the term is not meant so much in a derogatory manner, as it is merely describing a condition. Many are given to sudden waves of melancholy as well as sudden waves of euphoria. I'd say I fall in that camp. It probably doesn't hit me as hard as some, but most likely it hits me harder than most. Who knows?
There is no benefit in dwelling upon a condition as if the universe has somehow picked certain individuals to victimize. This just happen. Life is about how you deal with it. Compensation of one sort or another is very much the name of the game.
Anyone who has lived long enough to recognize their own history of highs and lows is at an advantage because they have enough information to wage the battle. It is not like you can make it stop completely but you can temper its effects. You know the extremes are not forever, even if they feel like it, and you know the resulting thought patterns are likely flawed.
It is especially useful in the down wave to avoid the temptation to believe you are a victim or that peace of mind will never return. Draw your attention to something you know you thought was beautiful or fun when you were not steeped in the blues. Take care not to form an opinion like, "Oh, I will never enjoy that again", "I could never do that now", etc. Just know you once got pleasure from whatever it is, and let it go.
Lie to yourself if need be. "In another mind frame I would have thought that sunset a work of art. Now I hate it and it makes me sad." There is where you have to tell yourself, OK, I know I don't really hate it, I just don't enjoy the way I feel at this moment. Do something, anything, that is unrelated to feeling good or bad. Eat a sandwich, drive to the store. Hunt down a homeless person or gimme dolla guy and give him fifty cents. If he asks for more, tell him it is in the mail, or ask for a refund.
If it is an obnoxious gimme dollah guy, ask him for a dollar. That has helped me in the past. I even made friends with one or two, like the helmet guy in Memphis.
Mostly, just know it will run its course and it is not the fault of other people. If you start festering resentment, or reviving old grudges, cut off that thinking then and there. Indulging what some call "justifiable anger" in that way does you no good whatsoever. I guess it helps if you do not have the sort of philosophy that assumes the good fortune of others is the cause of your misfortune. Sometimes it is, like when they steal your design, patent it, and enjoy a lucrative career, but that still is not the cause of the depression. Deep down you know that, or at least you should. It helps the cycling phenomenon be far less unpleasant--to yourself and others.
Others have difficulties too, and often they have troubles you can't see and would not want. So that bit of indulging resentful envy is not only often unfair, but it is self destructive.
Another good thing for the yoyo blues is popcorn, a movie but not something where the bad guys kill the dog, and sleep. But as soon as it lifts a little, if you can do something constructive, it really helps to do it. Usually the things that help are the things you put off or don't do because you have a faltering, weak belief in yourself. Just the attempt is a small victory. If you fail, all isn't lost, and some experience or knowledge is gained.
If you are riding the high, keep that in mind. You may not be the genius that feeling leads you to believe. Beware the crash that you know from experience will follow. The upswing is a good time to do nice things for friends who tolerate your madness, and to try to deal with any personal loose ends like unpacked boxes, unopened mail and the like.
Whatever the situation, there is much less pain and life mess if you resist the temptation to lash out during the tough times and to blame or try to make others endure some of your mopeyness. If you are like me, you have enough blues to go around a times. It really is inconsiderate to bring others down and spread the misery. Plus, you end up regretting the result it brings.
That's about it. Things change constantly, and you cannot know all the factors in the universe, so assuming nothing can get better is not really the fact based conclusion you might think.
Mostly it is good to understand that the mind will lie to you, especially when it is telling you to be miserable beyond hope or when it is telling you you are immortal and indestructible and a super genius.
***It is possible that some sort of prescribed drug will help. So, if you are really bonkers and have access to a good shrink, I say take advantage of your resources. That falls in the realm of not my business.
I do know that self medicating with alcohol or most recreational drugs actually worsens the problem, long term. For one thing, alcohol is a depressant, and though it may seem to help at first, overall it will do the opposite if you are really a true blues yoyo.
I'm undecided whether the right mushrooms with a talented sex therapist (amateur or not) would help in the long run. Unfortunately, I do not think it would do a lot of good for more than a day.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
They Must Have All Settled or Plea Bargained
+++Chances are I would have let them all walk, and not tolerated any sissy, frivolous, politically correct lawsuit. Torts, we in the trade call it. Torts aren't always BS, however they have grown to be that in way too many cases. Like the people who get a tax deductible non-profit because "The Earth Needs a Good Lawyer". Oh yea, like WTF? Is it because Japan and Haiti are suing for damages?
Anyway, my name wasn't called so I was able to leave at noon. Not many names were called. I guess it was luck of the draw.
I owe it to El Cajon to say that everyone running this operation was very good natured and competent, and the general facilities were better than expected. Most of the cops I saw were from the sheriff's dept., no Highway Patrol. Don't let that old, lame program CHiPs fool you. They are not that cool, or even that goofy. Hardened criminals.
What is with the entertainment industry that cops are considered neat-o? Does the public not realize that we have more people in prison than just about every other country? It makes no sense. Is it really thrilling to see cops manhandle down and out druggies, vagrants, and misfits? That is sick.
I took a photo (top of page+++) of the judge who gave a speech after our TV orientation show. At first I think many of the people thought he was joking. This guy was a piece of work. I'd have been freaked to be defending myself in his court. He moved like an aging robot, and spoke with a screech, kind of like a cross between Andy Devine and Gilbert Gottfried, with a touch of Walter Brennan thrown in.
If those references are too distant or unknown to you, picture a six foot 2x4 with a mustache, glasses, arms and legs, nailed to the floor so it is perfectly vertical screeching loudly into a microphone about how lucky we are to be in America, and how he has been in the legal system (on tax dollars) all of his life. He's been a judge for 20 years. I'm not disagreeing about being lucky to be here. He seemed to feel lucky because he was The Judge and had never had a private sector job. Prosecutor and judge. I feared he may have seen his job as being the guy to be sure jail space wasn't wasted. Who knows. I wasn't picked.
Talk about adding insult to injury--can you imagine being sentenced by a board wearing a suit, with the vocal chords of a rooster on steroids, blasting at you on a decibal level just shy of ear bleed?
Squawk squawk--you are sentenced-squawk squawk- to 90 years hard labor for painting your house without a permit-squawk squawk. Yikes!
I guess he got in the judge spot and at least knew not to run for senate or something. You think Ross Perot could have used some voice coaching. Seriously, he was like butter compared to judge Stiff-as-a-board.
Anyway they had paperbacks you could borrow or keep, so I am halfway through a Steven King novel I never heard of. It is not all scary and bizarre. I have never read him, so this is good. I wanted to experience his style. This is all dialogue, from one person. It is interesting enough. I take it back. It is a little bizarre. I like to see how people write who make big bucks, particularly if they hold my interest.
So, if you had a trial today, I am sorry they didn't pick me. I heard some girl at a nearby table in the courtyard, where I hung out for awhile, telling the two guys she was with, "Well the last time I got out of jail I was like seven months pregnant..." She went on to describe how she found a pipe and some kind of dope which sounded not like pot in a box in her stuff when she got home. I didn't catch the whole story or context. She was actually good looking, too.
The guys looked like jail hardened types. But they were not all punked out. There was a cold, kind of con man look to them. But nothing warm at all. They didn't seem angry or friendly or remorseful or scared. Just cold in a strange way.
Plenty of waddle pants punks waddling in and out of courtrooms. Why would you go to court with waddle pants and a sideways baseball cap? I might not have let them off even if they were innocent. OK. I would have, but I would have suggested someone beat them up just because.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Left handed Justice, or something
Tomorrow, I try again to get to jury duty at the appointed hour. I checked and double checked, triple, quadruple, etc. checked, to be sure I remember the right day this time.
I'm allergic to government buildings and especially prosecutors, police, and rules. Even so, I will do my best to be good. If they are crazy enough to actually pick me, then it means someone in the process has some sense. It would behoove a defense attorney whose client is innocent to put me on board. Lots of people are inclined to be as closed minded with presumption of guilt as the average El Cajon highway patrol officer.
Left handed has nothing to do with it.
I was wondering if most right handed people twist the lid off of a stubborn jar with their right hand while holding the body of the jar with their left hand, or not. I always use my left hand to turn the lid itself. I'm mostly right handed, but not in all things.
Playing harmonica, it is standard to hold the harp in the left hand and use the right to do the flutters and whatnot. I do that stuff with the left hand. But I don't really hold it correctly, or with one hand in the standard way. I do have left over right, instead of the standard, right over left.
So, I'm curious about the jar issue. You never know, this could have bearing on a case. What if they determine that the victim was attacked by a left hander, and the defendant is right handed but opens jars left handed? An over zealous prosecutor could send an innocent person up the river. I do not intend to let this happen.
I'm allergic to government buildings and especially prosecutors, police, and rules. Even so, I will do my best to be good. If they are crazy enough to actually pick me, then it means someone in the process has some sense. It would behoove a defense attorney whose client is innocent to put me on board. Lots of people are inclined to be as closed minded with presumption of guilt as the average El Cajon highway patrol officer.
Left handed has nothing to do with it.
I was wondering if most right handed people twist the lid off of a stubborn jar with their right hand while holding the body of the jar with their left hand, or not. I always use my left hand to turn the lid itself. I'm mostly right handed, but not in all things.
Playing harmonica, it is standard to hold the harp in the left hand and use the right to do the flutters and whatnot. I do that stuff with the left hand. But I don't really hold it correctly, or with one hand in the standard way. I do have left over right, instead of the standard, right over left.
So, I'm curious about the jar issue. You never know, this could have bearing on a case. What if they determine that the victim was attacked by a left hander, and the defendant is right handed but opens jars left handed? An over zealous prosecutor could send an innocent person up the river. I do not intend to let this happen.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Blues Union
Once again, I was thinking.
"Why would you do that?", you may ask. Often times, it is fun. That's why.
It started with pictures and video of people trudging around in a circle chanting in unison, with signs that said things like "solidarity" (nothing else, just that????), and "tax the rich" (again, WTF???)
It struck me that most of those things deal with high class problems like pensions, health insurance, more vacation, or possibly it is just a hobby for some people. The camaraderie and all that.
"These are not people who have the Blues", a voice inside my mind lamented. I had to agree. They got no idea bout the trouble I seen.
What about a Blues Union, I thought. What would the signs say and what would they chant?
The first thing that came to mind, which could be on a sign, and/or chanted, is the list of the basic essentials familiar to every bluesman. It is universal:
LOOSE SHOES
TIGHT P***Y
AN' A WARM PLACE TO S**T
Don't blame me. I am only one who's got the blues from time to time. I didn't invent the thing.
However it would be a most effective and natural chant for Blues Union members.
HEY HEY HO HO
THAT CHEATIN WOMAN GOTTA GO
-Another good blues chant. It's universal, and a bit of a double entendre, which is always fitting in Blues speak.
My Union could come up with plenty more.
Woke up this mornin
thought I was deaf
that screamin mama finally left
If we go with the megaphone call and response, it might go like this:
megaphone: what we been?
Union crowd: down so long
megaphone: how it look?
union crowd: like up to me
My personal story is a simple one. This picture, which I first saw at the Factotem's, tells my story quite elegantly, I think
I wondered what the blues union should be called?
In keeping with the tone and spirit of most unions I thought IBS would be appropriate International Bluesters in Solidarinosc
Weak, perhaps. Maybe WGBU, not catchy, We Got the Blues Union.
Don't assume that just because I use the term, "bluesman", that it excludes them wimmins--cheatin or not.
The wimmins maybe get blues too. Matter of fact, some play 'em like I know they got em. It's what we call a universal pronoun-bluesman. No one who is really living the blues is politically correct. Can't be done.
No blues men or wimmins are politically correct. So don't be listening to no NOW or PETA or other do-gooder group try to tell you different. Good sex and heartbreak just don't know no political corrections.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Great Thinkers of the Americas: Part 1-Al Gore Award for Deductivity
CARACAS (Reuters) - Capitalism may be to blame for the lack of life on the planet Mars, Venezuela's socialist President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday.
Hugo Chavez, pictured above, thinking deep thoughts.
"I have always said, heard, that it would not be strange that there had been civilization on Mars, but maybe capitalism arrived there, imperialism arrived and finished off the planet,” Chavez said in speech to mark World Water Day.
The man is a friggin' genius. A great thinker.
I've seen the term "thinker" used on TV news when they did not know what else to label one of their pompous guests. I am pompous enough, if need be, to be called "thinker" and earn a few bucks for my unique and amazing insight.
Anyway, there is no disputing the fact that Hugo is an astro-biologist and thinker of Einsteinian proportion.
He is pictured, below, with some of his genius colleagues from foreign lands. They, too, are experts and great thinkers:
Even geniuses of science and the arts take time out to play. Above, the great man with fellow thinker Mua, as they cross the finish line of the annual three legged race to raise funds for the oppressed proletariate on Mars.
In this one he and fellow Hollywood genius swap banter (and back stage, spit) "Oh no, YOU are the greatest of thinkers. Oh no, YOU are. Please. Have my baby!"
---The thinker on the left is apparently in a gang, hence the gang sign in photo. You have to do that if you are a banger. She also raps.
We are so lucky to have him so near. If our thinkers need some of his thinking, they can call and be in the same time zone, or close to it. Is that cool or what?
{{{{if the UN saw the el cajon highway patrol in action, would an international consensus decide to bomb to get them off of civilians' backs?}}}}
"I have always said, heard, that it would not be strange that there had been civilization on Mars, but maybe capitalism arrived there, imperialism arrived and finished off the planet,” Chavez said in speech to mark World Water Day.
The man is a friggin' genius. A great thinker.
I've seen the term "thinker" used on TV news when they did not know what else to label one of their pompous guests. I am pompous enough, if need be, to be called "thinker" and earn a few bucks for my unique and amazing insight.
Anyway, there is no disputing the fact that Hugo is an astro-biologist and thinker of Einsteinian proportion.
He is pictured, below, with some of his genius colleagues from foreign lands. They, too, are experts and great thinkers:
Even geniuses of science and the arts take time out to play. Above, the great man with fellow thinker Mua, as they cross the finish line of the annual three legged race to raise funds for the oppressed proletariate on Mars.
In this one he and fellow Hollywood genius swap banter (and back stage, spit) "Oh no, YOU are the greatest of thinkers. Oh no, YOU are. Please. Have my baby!"
---The thinker on the left is apparently in a gang, hence the gang sign in photo. You have to do that if you are a banger. She also raps.We are so lucky to have him so near. If our thinkers need some of his thinking, they can call and be in the same time zone, or close to it. Is that cool or what?
{{{{if the UN saw the el cajon highway patrol in action, would an international consensus decide to bomb to get them off of civilians' backs?}}}}
Ever Wonder if it Was a Dream or a Daydream?
That has been happening lately. I wonder, did I dream that, or was it a daydream? I'm pretty sure it never happened because that would require very rapid changes in time and place for myself and others.
Then again, it could have been one of those alternate universe experiences. So, if you crossed my path under similar circumstances, then perhaps all that did happen. Just not here in this bubble.
Otherwise I bet it was in between a daydream and a dream. I live in that place way too much of the time. Or maybe, not enough.
ps: why is that lunatic eric holder, attorney general, answering press conference questions about Libya? Oh well. the scariest part is that many who don't approve of this group in the executive branch consider them too moderate or conservative. Many would love to see stalin, lenin or castro clones running our lives. and they'd be orgasmic if chairman mao had a second coming.....so to speak
so be careful what you wish for
Then again, it could have been one of those alternate universe experiences. So, if you crossed my path under similar circumstances, then perhaps all that did happen. Just not here in this bubble.
Otherwise I bet it was in between a daydream and a dream. I live in that place way too much of the time. Or maybe, not enough.
ps: why is that lunatic eric holder, attorney general, answering press conference questions about Libya? Oh well. the scariest part is that many who don't approve of this group in the executive branch consider them too moderate or conservative. Many would love to see stalin, lenin or castro clones running our lives. and they'd be orgasmic if chairman mao had a second coming.....so to speak
so be careful what you wish for
Monday, March 21, 2011
Brief Message to Dems and Repubs--then back to real life
Actually, this is just to republicans.
As much as I am not in line with anything that the Obama, Pelosi, etc. wing of politics has wrought or has shown a desire to implement, I have to say their best friends are the powers that be in the republican party. For one thing, do you think the presidential election would have gone as it did had they put up a candidate who was a little more defined than McCain, and less of a target than Palin? I think they threw it, just like Bush #1 did against Clinton. Bush 1 looked like he was worried he might win so he pushed like crazy at the last to dork it up into a loss. That's how it looked to me.
The congressional aspect means little to the public. Clinton got good things done but the congress passing those things was republican. oops. That is not what people look at. Obama's America is in somewhat bad shape, especially if you live hand to mouth and like your mobility--transportation costs up, food way up, jobs not growing on trees. Tax paid employees are doing better than the rest, but the rest pay for them and are bled dry, so they are now threatened with less gravy. That's where the solidarinosc issues come up. You can bargain all you want, but sooner or later people refuse to live on the edge of poverty while paying you a healthy pension and permanent health care after you retire at age 50.
It doesn't matter though. Here's how republicans can guarantee that Obama wins in 2012. Run any of the people who have gained the press attention as candidates; Palin, Romney, Huckabee, all of them. Any of them are guaranteed to lose. Or if you really want to screw to pooch, run Donald Trump. He'll somehow make money off of it, but Obama wins huge in that scenario.
If republicans want to win run Allen West and Marco Rubio. I'm not sure it matters in which order; West/Rubio or Rubio/West. That is the best shot. I do not see any viable female candidates on that side. Nt being sexist. Palin is perpetually in a defensive position--damaged goods. It would take five years just to sift the myth from the reality in her case. Too many stories have been put out, then retracted, but people don't know about the retract. Just too much. Plus she is crazy to even go for that job. Just don't. Same with some others. Right or wrong, their reputations are in a state of defense.
West and Rubio would win. I put West up against anyone in debate. He needs no teleprompter, has an incredible memory for fact and shows no weakness. Repubs must hate that. They always have to run a total dork and it is annoying because dems run people who rape the economy in the name of helping people like me (who want to be left alone), and in the end they take away all kinds of freedom.
It is subtle but effective. Repubs take away other freedoms and go gung ho in other ways without analyzing it. Can't say either one is likely to fight more wars. They compete. I suppose if you look honestly at the record, dems have put us in more long term wars, and have yet to get us out. Odd since most who are on the pacifistic side tend to be dems. You been had, dupes.
Anyway, that is all the repubs have to do to win presidency. West/Rubio. Everything else I'ver heard mentioned is a slam dunk loss.
But, in some ways, it may be good to have a repub congress and a dem president. But some restraint has got to be put on one man directing war efforts without a single resolution from our own congress. Having international consensus or UN approval counts for zip. I thought that was illegal. People forget, Bush had support of congress, including Hilary, when he went into Iraq. So, it doesn't mean they make the right choice, but at least they had influence. Later they pretended they were duped but the case for that is weak. The real false premise was that even if Iraq was pursuing bad weapons, and you know saddam was, was it necessary to put the armed services there and use our resources that way? Only if you never planned to quit playing in that part of the world. Obviously neither Obama nor Bush ever thought of changing the policy of the last 60 years.
Damn. I went off on tangents. OK. Dems, if you want to win, just blame bush for all the bad stuff, and claim credit for any cuts in budget the repubs manage to put through, and wait until the repubs run a Palin or Romney, then play the race card again, even if there is no reason for it. Just by implication, you can get by with it.
Of course a West/Rubio ticket kills you on the race and ethnicity question, and both can hold their own in front of the camera. I doubt the repubs have sense enough to see that it just so happens that their two best hopes are a Black man and a man of Cuban lineage. I refuse to hyphenate, sorry. They are both Americans, and unless they have dual citizenship, which they don't, that is that.
Then there is the possibility that presidents are picked, not elected. I have come to believe there is truth in that more and more.
So. I've done my best to let the other party of power know how to win. I'll lay money out that they won't. And I will not invest any emotional energy in the matter.
Now to again reset my personal short term and medium term goals. Real life things. My life is my own journey and not something to be wasted with emotional upset over Big Brother's stage play and mind games. There really is more than that.
'Sunshine, ocean, mountains, wild women, music and hot fudge sundaes.
As much as I am not in line with anything that the Obama, Pelosi, etc. wing of politics has wrought or has shown a desire to implement, I have to say their best friends are the powers that be in the republican party. For one thing, do you think the presidential election would have gone as it did had they put up a candidate who was a little more defined than McCain, and less of a target than Palin? I think they threw it, just like Bush #1 did against Clinton. Bush 1 looked like he was worried he might win so he pushed like crazy at the last to dork it up into a loss. That's how it looked to me.
The congressional aspect means little to the public. Clinton got good things done but the congress passing those things was republican. oops. That is not what people look at. Obama's America is in somewhat bad shape, especially if you live hand to mouth and like your mobility--transportation costs up, food way up, jobs not growing on trees. Tax paid employees are doing better than the rest, but the rest pay for them and are bled dry, so they are now threatened with less gravy. That's where the solidarinosc issues come up. You can bargain all you want, but sooner or later people refuse to live on the edge of poverty while paying you a healthy pension and permanent health care after you retire at age 50.
It doesn't matter though. Here's how republicans can guarantee that Obama wins in 2012. Run any of the people who have gained the press attention as candidates; Palin, Romney, Huckabee, all of them. Any of them are guaranteed to lose. Or if you really want to screw to pooch, run Donald Trump. He'll somehow make money off of it, but Obama wins huge in that scenario.
If republicans want to win run Allen West and Marco Rubio. I'm not sure it matters in which order; West/Rubio or Rubio/West. That is the best shot. I do not see any viable female candidates on that side. Nt being sexist. Palin is perpetually in a defensive position--damaged goods. It would take five years just to sift the myth from the reality in her case. Too many stories have been put out, then retracted, but people don't know about the retract. Just too much. Plus she is crazy to even go for that job. Just don't. Same with some others. Right or wrong, their reputations are in a state of defense.
West and Rubio would win. I put West up against anyone in debate. He needs no teleprompter, has an incredible memory for fact and shows no weakness. Repubs must hate that. They always have to run a total dork and it is annoying because dems run people who rape the economy in the name of helping people like me (who want to be left alone), and in the end they take away all kinds of freedom.
It is subtle but effective. Repubs take away other freedoms and go gung ho in other ways without analyzing it. Can't say either one is likely to fight more wars. They compete. I suppose if you look honestly at the record, dems have put us in more long term wars, and have yet to get us out. Odd since most who are on the pacifistic side tend to be dems. You been had, dupes.
Anyway, that is all the repubs have to do to win presidency. West/Rubio. Everything else I'ver heard mentioned is a slam dunk loss.
But, in some ways, it may be good to have a repub congress and a dem president. But some restraint has got to be put on one man directing war efforts without a single resolution from our own congress. Having international consensus or UN approval counts for zip. I thought that was illegal. People forget, Bush had support of congress, including Hilary, when he went into Iraq. So, it doesn't mean they make the right choice, but at least they had influence. Later they pretended they were duped but the case for that is weak. The real false premise was that even if Iraq was pursuing bad weapons, and you know saddam was, was it necessary to put the armed services there and use our resources that way? Only if you never planned to quit playing in that part of the world. Obviously neither Obama nor Bush ever thought of changing the policy of the last 60 years.
Damn. I went off on tangents. OK. Dems, if you want to win, just blame bush for all the bad stuff, and claim credit for any cuts in budget the repubs manage to put through, and wait until the repubs run a Palin or Romney, then play the race card again, even if there is no reason for it. Just by implication, you can get by with it.
Of course a West/Rubio ticket kills you on the race and ethnicity question, and both can hold their own in front of the camera. I doubt the repubs have sense enough to see that it just so happens that their two best hopes are a Black man and a man of Cuban lineage. I refuse to hyphenate, sorry. They are both Americans, and unless they have dual citizenship, which they don't, that is that.
Then there is the possibility that presidents are picked, not elected. I have come to believe there is truth in that more and more.
So. I've done my best to let the other party of power know how to win. I'll lay money out that they won't. And I will not invest any emotional energy in the matter.
Now to again reset my personal short term and medium term goals. Real life things. My life is my own journey and not something to be wasted with emotional upset over Big Brother's stage play and mind games. There really is more than that.
'Sunshine, ocean, mountains, wild women, music and hot fudge sundaes.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Yes We (I) Can [sorry. current event/political overtones]
The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.
Senator Barack Obama, Dec. 20, 2007.
I agree. Although I am shocked to see that Obama admits any legal limit on what the president or Federal government can do. I haven't noticed too many fans of limiting power among his his pals. Or even many of his enemies for that matter.
The part that didn't get fully vocalized is what people tend to miss in everything this actor says. In this case it was, "...unless I happen to be president, in which case special rules apply, as I make them up"
Why not? It is not like we are setting a precedent here.
What to do re Libya? I do not know because I am not there, have no idea how much of what I hear is true, and tend to think international action and consensus are generally wrong and deceptive. I suspect it is a case of trading a lunatic dictator for fanatic religious leaders, like what ushered in the ayatolla komeni (I don't know how to spell his vile name. Like Quadhafi, it is spelled thirty two different ways, all of them wrong)
Would I put my life, or that of my relatives on the line for it? No, not with what information I have. No way. Like other people's money, other people's lives are easy to spend so you can feel good in your cause. How courageous and benevolent. I'll protect you--let me send a bunch of people I don't know over there to risk their lives. I'll be in Rio or somewhere if you need me.
If they want freedom, good. Somehow I seriously doubt freedom lovers comprise the bulk of these protests.
Wouldn't it have been smart to have extricated ourselves from that region over 40 years ago, promote our own oil exploration and drilling, and refining, not arm everyone in the world who eventually becomes an enemy, and not fight any limited police action anywhere, ever? And if we did sent our military in, we didn't put them in jail for doing their job? That would have been nice.
And there is not one single, legitimate true, non-corrupt reason why our foreign policy wasn't conducted on that basis.
I think the USA should confine its major focus to its 57 or so states, and to pretty much do the strategic strikes on its own agencies.
By some accounts, there are homeland security memos which zealously label libertarians, or people who think the irs is a horrid organization, as potential domestic terrorists.
If they were to ask me, I'd say the people who broadcast shows with laugh tracks are domestic terrorists. The laff track is probably one the biggest assaults on the dignity and intellect of our species ever. The next most insidious tool in mind control is probably the guilt inducing public service ad and general charity assault. Many PSAs are merely efforts to change your behavior or make you conform to some big brother concept of the better good. The majority of them are total insults to free people who believe they own their own lives. Really annoying propaganda.
Charity is good. But the idea that it is OK to attack and cross boundaries in its name, is not good. The idea that doing something unrelated to curing a disease is somehow curing that disease, is false. Sorry. I know this is like butchering a sacred cow, but so be it.
You do not have the right to use the workplace to harass employees to give up pay for your cause. Put your own damned money in. Look at all the multi-multi-millionaires who do guilt trip ads for some cause and maybe put in tens of thousands. If you are so big on it, put ten percent or more of your bread on the table. People who have not even 1/1000 th of what they have are far more generous on a percentage basis. They are just keeping their fame alive at your expense and maybe helping a little, always some government approved cause.
No tax deduction for just laying money on Sally down the street so she can get a better wheelchair for her kid that has Cerebral Palsy. No, it has to go through proper channels. That should tell you it is a bunch of BS right there. But that is the purpose of the IRS. In the name of progressive income tax with enlightened deductions, it scams the poor and those not in power, while feeding the crooked and sneaky. Don't think charities and churches do not often fall under that shadow.
I can walk forever and I in no way can say I am fighting cancer. I am walking. I can say I am participating in an event that I hope raises money, which I hope actually goes to people who know how to do research and find cures. But few want to look at that. If you are lucky, it may go to research, and then you have to hope it goes to a good scientist and not some ego bound bastard who would toss another's work out the window if it were to overshadow his own. There are such people.
Not to say there is anything wrong with doing whatever you can to contribute to whatever you want. Some good things do happen at the end of the filter which fuels money here there and everywhere else except the real purpose. That is not the point. The fact that you pay less tax if you let the government know your cause, and that it has to be on their list, is not acceptable. That is not how tax should work. The tax system is wrong altogether. But to say so puts you on Nepolitano's list of homeland threats. Yikes. How is that right?
Never be fooled into thinking the world of establishment scientists is above jealousy, corruption and ego driven sneakiness. The truth is that the world of academic establishment scientists is probably more prone to such pettiness and small mindedness than even the movie industry.
I've known a lot of those people and they would much rather you stand in awe of their brilliance than anything else, even if it is not deserved. I've also known a few exceptions. Very few.
Funny how they jump in to these frays like Libya, Bosnia, Iraq, without a clue, but when there is an obviously aberrant threat, understanding and patience, etc. is employed---like that creepy Islamic jihad guy who mass murdered on the army base. Oh, no, let's not jump to conclusions. Don't be islamophobic or even rush to judgement. So what he got caught red handed, no question, had to be shot by a chick to stop him, etc. In my mind it was dumb to give him treatment. I'd have let that one die then and there. Trials of this sort are absurd, and why pay to keep the guy alive?
I know, it is where you draw the line that gets sticky. Some cases are so far from the line, I have no worry about that.
Hopefully no one from the 'for us or agin us, if you ain't solidarinoscin' in your pants, we kill you', camp, will assume that having my doubts about Libya and motives, means I want to kill all babies, think CAIR is a legitimate organization or that I think anyone but potential parents have any right to speak for the unborn, and only the ones residing in them. I'm not in the above mentioned camp.
Either they accuse you of racism out of the blue, or accuse you of being against gun rights and the declaration of independence. There are those who just hate freedom. Most people do, regardless of the animal logo they use, although at least the dems are honest enough to use a jackass for theirs.
Senator Barack Obama, Dec. 20, 2007.
I agree. Although I am shocked to see that Obama admits any legal limit on what the president or Federal government can do. I haven't noticed too many fans of limiting power among his his pals. Or even many of his enemies for that matter.
The part that didn't get fully vocalized is what people tend to miss in everything this actor says. In this case it was, "...unless I happen to be president, in which case special rules apply, as I make them up"
Why not? It is not like we are setting a precedent here.
What to do re Libya? I do not know because I am not there, have no idea how much of what I hear is true, and tend to think international action and consensus are generally wrong and deceptive. I suspect it is a case of trading a lunatic dictator for fanatic religious leaders, like what ushered in the ayatolla komeni (I don't know how to spell his vile name. Like Quadhafi, it is spelled thirty two different ways, all of them wrong)
Would I put my life, or that of my relatives on the line for it? No, not with what information I have. No way. Like other people's money, other people's lives are easy to spend so you can feel good in your cause. How courageous and benevolent. I'll protect you--let me send a bunch of people I don't know over there to risk their lives. I'll be in Rio or somewhere if you need me.
If they want freedom, good. Somehow I seriously doubt freedom lovers comprise the bulk of these protests.
Wouldn't it have been smart to have extricated ourselves from that region over 40 years ago, promote our own oil exploration and drilling, and refining, not arm everyone in the world who eventually becomes an enemy, and not fight any limited police action anywhere, ever? And if we did sent our military in, we didn't put them in jail for doing their job? That would have been nice.
And there is not one single, legitimate true, non-corrupt reason why our foreign policy wasn't conducted on that basis.
I think the USA should confine its major focus to its 57 or so states, and to pretty much do the strategic strikes on its own agencies.
By some accounts, there are homeland security memos which zealously label libertarians, or people who think the irs is a horrid organization, as potential domestic terrorists.
If they were to ask me, I'd say the people who broadcast shows with laugh tracks are domestic terrorists. The laff track is probably one the biggest assaults on the dignity and intellect of our species ever. The next most insidious tool in mind control is probably the guilt inducing public service ad and general charity assault. Many PSAs are merely efforts to change your behavior or make you conform to some big brother concept of the better good. The majority of them are total insults to free people who believe they own their own lives. Really annoying propaganda.
Charity is good. But the idea that it is OK to attack and cross boundaries in its name, is not good. The idea that doing something unrelated to curing a disease is somehow curing that disease, is false. Sorry. I know this is like butchering a sacred cow, but so be it.
You do not have the right to use the workplace to harass employees to give up pay for your cause. Put your own damned money in. Look at all the multi-multi-millionaires who do guilt trip ads for some cause and maybe put in tens of thousands. If you are so big on it, put ten percent or more of your bread on the table. People who have not even 1/1000 th of what they have are far more generous on a percentage basis. They are just keeping their fame alive at your expense and maybe helping a little, always some government approved cause.
No tax deduction for just laying money on Sally down the street so she can get a better wheelchair for her kid that has Cerebral Palsy. No, it has to go through proper channels. That should tell you it is a bunch of BS right there. But that is the purpose of the IRS. In the name of progressive income tax with enlightened deductions, it scams the poor and those not in power, while feeding the crooked and sneaky. Don't think charities and churches do not often fall under that shadow.
I can walk forever and I in no way can say I am fighting cancer. I am walking. I can say I am participating in an event that I hope raises money, which I hope actually goes to people who know how to do research and find cures. But few want to look at that. If you are lucky, it may go to research, and then you have to hope it goes to a good scientist and not some ego bound bastard who would toss another's work out the window if it were to overshadow his own. There are such people.
Not to say there is anything wrong with doing whatever you can to contribute to whatever you want. Some good things do happen at the end of the filter which fuels money here there and everywhere else except the real purpose. That is not the point. The fact that you pay less tax if you let the government know your cause, and that it has to be on their list, is not acceptable. That is not how tax should work. The tax system is wrong altogether. But to say so puts you on Nepolitano's list of homeland threats. Yikes. How is that right?
Never be fooled into thinking the world of establishment scientists is above jealousy, corruption and ego driven sneakiness. The truth is that the world of academic establishment scientists is probably more prone to such pettiness and small mindedness than even the movie industry.
I've known a lot of those people and they would much rather you stand in awe of their brilliance than anything else, even if it is not deserved. I've also known a few exceptions. Very few.
Funny how they jump in to these frays like Libya, Bosnia, Iraq, without a clue, but when there is an obviously aberrant threat, understanding and patience, etc. is employed---like that creepy Islamic jihad guy who mass murdered on the army base. Oh, no, let's not jump to conclusions. Don't be islamophobic or even rush to judgement. So what he got caught red handed, no question, had to be shot by a chick to stop him, etc. In my mind it was dumb to give him treatment. I'd have let that one die then and there. Trials of this sort are absurd, and why pay to keep the guy alive?
I know, it is where you draw the line that gets sticky. Some cases are so far from the line, I have no worry about that.
Hopefully no one from the 'for us or agin us, if you ain't solidarinoscin' in your pants, we kill you', camp, will assume that having my doubts about Libya and motives, means I want to kill all babies, think CAIR is a legitimate organization or that I think anyone but potential parents have any right to speak for the unborn, and only the ones residing in them. I'm not in the above mentioned camp.
Either they accuse you of racism out of the blue, or accuse you of being against gun rights and the declaration of independence. There are those who just hate freedom. Most people do, regardless of the animal logo they use, although at least the dems are honest enough to use a jackass for theirs.
No Woman, No Cry
Just a Bob Marley tune than went through my mind. It does sometimes for reasons unknown, or at least undisclosed.
What I was really thinking was that I couldn't find Sparky, the Ferret. I still don't think he left the house, unless via drain pipe. It didn't sound like he was in the garbage disposer.
I gave things a quick check but no Spark. It could be he was dehydrated and tell tale odor might take a little longer to develop beyond the point of deniability.
It is possible he went outside and became owl food, or maybe got nailed by a cat. I suppose I could put up posters. In this land of trophy people they might mistake this for one their trophy kids or their trophy daddy.
You have to wonder how some of the Rancho Santa Fe crowd manages to procreate. If they greet one another with air kisses as they embrace in a way that doesn't wrinkle the clothes or put stress on the silicon, do they air ..uh ..mate? Hi, I'm Mr Big Buck Lawyer making trophy love to my trophy wife while being rude to people who don't even work for me. I am trophy happy.
Art of (trophy)War, and all that. No, put your head over here, my dear (trophy) Ornament With Attitude. Feng Shui and all that.
Caleeforneeya. Moonbeam is just Ahnold without the boots and obnoxious Ahnoldness. Same thing but coming from the typically overly spoiled, early trust fund baby boomer. Another proud political dynasty. Wonder if they are in on the illegal ferret smuggling. Gives a new image to the term "coyote". Much more fearsome in this instance. (For those not in the path of immigration madness, coyotes are the guys who smuggle people in, often stacked like cords of wood in a van or truck.)
What does that have to do with Sparky? I think he was taken by Black Ops. And Black Ops are run by Baby Boomers, and Baby Boomers are trouble. Crazy? Justy depends upon what "is" is, sort of thing. Connect the dots, follow the money, power, sex, drugs, and/or rock n roll, and you shall know the truth.
What I was really thinking was that I couldn't find Sparky, the Ferret. I still don't think he left the house, unless via drain pipe. It didn't sound like he was in the garbage disposer.
I gave things a quick check but no Spark. It could be he was dehydrated and tell tale odor might take a little longer to develop beyond the point of deniability.
It is possible he went outside and became owl food, or maybe got nailed by a cat. I suppose I could put up posters. In this land of trophy people they might mistake this for one their trophy kids or their trophy daddy.
You have to wonder how some of the Rancho Santa Fe crowd manages to procreate. If they greet one another with air kisses as they embrace in a way that doesn't wrinkle the clothes or put stress on the silicon, do they air ..uh ..mate? Hi, I'm Mr Big Buck Lawyer making trophy love to my trophy wife while being rude to people who don't even work for me. I am trophy happy.
Art of (trophy)War, and all that. No, put your head over here, my dear (trophy) Ornament With Attitude. Feng Shui and all that.
Caleeforneeya. Moonbeam is just Ahnold without the boots and obnoxious Ahnoldness. Same thing but coming from the typically overly spoiled, early trust fund baby boomer. Another proud political dynasty. Wonder if they are in on the illegal ferret smuggling. Gives a new image to the term "coyote". Much more fearsome in this instance. (For those not in the path of immigration madness, coyotes are the guys who smuggle people in, often stacked like cords of wood in a van or truck.)
What does that have to do with Sparky? I think he was taken by Black Ops. And Black Ops are run by Baby Boomers, and Baby Boomers are trouble. Crazy? Justy depends upon what "is" is, sort of thing. Connect the dots, follow the money, power, sex, drugs, and/or rock n roll, and you shall know the truth.
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About Me
- John0 Juanderlust
- Ballistic Mountain, CA, United States
- Like spring on a summer's day
