All Natural

I've got important things to write which I promised to for someone, even though it wasn't requested.  That is because I am a sap.  All natural sappola.  I'll do that later when I feel up to it.  For now, I'll just do this public service information thought.

So when they say "all natural", what does it mean?  Everything in the universe is somewhat natural, isn't it?  Crude oil is all natural.

Lots of leeway for claiming all natural.  I would stop short of calling certain human body enhancements, "all natural", or even enhancements in most cases.  I'm drifting off point, if ever a point there was.

Oh yea.  Your cereal or bread may say, "all natural ingredients"  but that doesn't mean it isn't made out of crude oil or uranium.

Do No Evil? No, google will simply watch over your shoulder making suggestions FOREVER

Every time I do anything on youtube, there is google offering helpful suggestions, like an old fashioned peddlar sticking his foot in the door, not wanting to take no for an answer.   "Hey, would you like to use another name?  Maybe include your address and phone number?  Tie it all in with facebook?  Make it easy for friends, employers, government officials and creditors to track your every internet whim?"

NO NO NO!!!!  Oh?  Not now?  That's OK, we'll harass you some more later, or maybe we'll screw around with your gmail until you give up.

Really.  Google is a lot like that spooky doll, Chuckie.  Or was it with a Y?  I'd look it up but then google will start targeting chucky ads and other creepiness my way.  I learned my lesson when I had a question about Hitler and nazi swastika something---purely an intellectual inquiry.  Next thing I see are advertisements - "best deal on nazi swastika hitler goods on the internet!!  Nazi stores in your area!!  Nazis on sale, just in time for Christmas!!!"

They have programs that take whatever the search topic and try to direct you to some retailer which claims to have the best deal.  Facebook throws all kinds of weirdness in the margins.

I can't believe google and youtube decided to badger me because I like to have my account under a user name.  It is really pushy.  And the email is getting pushy too.  They do not like it that I won't give them my phone number--"for my protection".

The new and wonderful gmail features which can further extend my social circles and somehow include more fake virtual friends in all my activities are hard to refuse.  I have no doubt that if they could, google would put a gun to my head to make me opt in on every feature and suggestion.  They have become such over reaching micro managers of all things, I wonder why they even need me.

They want to finish my sentences push me to name myself how they see fit, make new friends suggested by them; google is like an evil spirit out to possess the innocent.  If this keeps up, I'm going to organize mass exorcisms to cast this demon out of as much of the internet as can be reached with holy water and prayer.

Seriously, I know nothing online is secure or sacred, but can't they just let me pretend instead of chasing me around with intrusive questions like "wouldn't you rather be known as John T%&& S#$%^
of xyz yourtreet, yourcity, yourstate, yourzipcode, home phone, cell phone, emergency contact, bank account number, credit card, hobby, sexual preferences, etc.?"   No, I want to be called Mr Ballistic on youtube; no town, no phone, no nothing. Dammit!!!

 "OK, you can think about it and we'll just make it tougher and tougher to say no and get back to the page you need, because we are google and we're creepier than the creepiest homicidal clown, creepier than Charles Manson, creepier than the creepiest cop or prison guard.  Creepier than the gangs in Oakland and Watts and Miami.  Creepier than the NSA or the IRS or the TSA.  Creepier than the woman stoning, head cutting, clergy of the 'religion of peace'. Creepy!"

I don't know the answers.  I can't define God, and I don't even go along with most of the key tenets of the religions which abound in America.  But I do know the devil when I see it.  Facebook, authoritarianism, statism, dishonesty in business and elsewhere, government-business(or corporate) partnerships, and GOOGLE prying into my life, and insinuating itself into every decision and choice I make when connected to whatever it is; internet, cloud, boogieman, blabla.   Next they'll be throwing up the hypothetical "social contract" (which I never signed).

Even with so little to go on, I think there is more to life and all existence than meets the eye.  My atheist nephew argues that there are only four dimensions; length, width, height, time.   I think time is not constant, and that there are many more dimensions.  It is not something I can prove easily. But I have visited other dimensions, I'm sure of it.  But I don't care if others see or not, to a point.

Dimension may be the wrong word for it, but I know of no other.  It strikes me that those who are most violently insistent about matters involving belief in God, or lack thereof, seem to be doubtful of their own beliefs, and out to prove their convictions, even if they have to beat you up to prove themselves.

I know google is the devil because it makes me want to go smoke in their offices and make trouble.  But I do not smoke for them or any other devil.  If they'd quit with being so pushy I might like them OK.  We could even be friends on facebook or somewhere.

Slogans to Live By and Ignore

Whatever it was that caught my attention got lost along the way, as my mind drifted off into the contemplation of slogans.  Many of them are propaganda techniques applied for purposes of controlling others.   But there are other slogans, the origin and meaning of which elude me completely.

I've probably mentioned many times the absolute wisdom of , "Never trust  man who doesn't drink".  Absolutely not.  If anyone is doing brain surgery on me, first thing I ask is "You do drink alcohol regularly, don't you?"  "You drink and get drunk like  manly man?"  If not, no way would I allow you to operate.   And I know, of all people, the drunk guy won't try to put the moves on my wife/sister/mother/girlfriend, etc.   Only trust your women to men who drink.

Simple enough. If the man doesn't drink, just don't trust him in any way.

And that is because, "If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem".

Please tell me people know that statement is pure nonsense.

No one wants to be part of the problem.  Imagine the finger pointing and dirty looks from the people doing the talking and defining of the problem.  The person making the statement usually has a way out for you.  Just do what this leader tells you to do.   It may be as simple as buying carbon credits to offset that carbon footprint we used to hear so much about.  Or maybe you need to donate to the outfit that claims it is fighting for a bug-free Africa.

You better do something!!  Otherwise people will think you don't care, and worse, they could blame you for being part of the problem, because you aren't part of the solution.  Lots of things have no real solution at this moment.

For example, they have not cured cancer, or learned to fix spinal injuries of the most debilitating type.   So no one is part of the solution, because it hasn't been solved.  There are people actually doing first hand research,  presumably.  No one else is very close to being part of the solution.  They just aren't.  They are part of the PR which gives them exposure and pushes money around.  It may be that just giving Dr Waldo what is needed for his/her/its research time and materials would do the trick.

But we're too busy fundraising to even see this possibility.  Dr W needs to be pushed and badgered so we can have a flash of glitz to tease the dollars out of the rich people who benefit from throwing money at approved charities.  They even make Dr W attend those little charity events where the money people like to get their pictures taken, and get kudos for being so wonderful.

Every hour thusly spent sets Dr W's research and mental health back 3 months.  This is not getting the problem solved.  Dr W is probably part of the problem---I see no solution.  A guilty verdict in the court of slogan justice is a foregone conclusion.

All because they had to make a panhandler out of Dr Waldo in their efforts to woo donors and be bigger than ever!!  Dr Waldo is not the stuff of a panhandler.  Mental discord ensues.  Cures get pushed even further away.

I don't know if there is a Dr Waldo or not.  It doesn't matter, because whatever the problem Dr W is trying to fix, I don't care.  I am neither  part of that problem nor of the solution.

Some slogans do work out.  But they do not involve messing with other people.   Does me good to remember I have nothing to prove to anyone.  Let others think what they will.   And Don't Give Up.
It's got a negative in it, but it still sounds better than, Always Persevere!
A good slogan to follow.

.............
Expecting all the best for Mr R.  

If You're Smart...

...you probably wouldn't forget to replace the oil filler cap on your car, somewhere back in Arizona, most likely.

If you are like me, then you may not be smart.  The good news is that I discovered it, and it may be possible that I left it off or loose after Arizona.  I keep thinking  I looked at everything when I got back, and was all ready to add oil, but it didn't need any.  I bet I left the cap off because I was so sure the oil would be low that I did everything getting ready to add, before checking the oil level.

Tomorrow I'll find a new cap.  In the mean time I cut a red solo cup to make it short enough.  It needed some custom modifications.  Along with a bunch of duct tape, the cup turned out to be a fine temporary cap.

That sort of thing is not my usual behavior.  I normally double check things like that a lot before closing the hood, or whatever indicates time for obsessive compulsive second guessing is over.  I have to force myself not to over check things. I already know the score, you just did item X.  Don't go back to see if you did item x. You already know.  You locked the door, now go.

I'll bet I was trying to be less double track, but picked a bad time to go on faith.  Got to pay attention.

I wonder if there are generic oil caps at the parts place.

Really? Maybe People Were Always Nuts

On that pseudo-intellectual facebook page, the one which includes french phrases or latin, for no apparent reason, and which touts any limousine liberal talking point, no matter how unfounded or absurd, the profound comment, "The major cause of poverty is excessive wealth" appeared.

Really?  They believe that?  Keep in mind, these are people with pensions, money for world travel, grants, and various perks from the public purse and university system.

Who decides what is excessive is unknown to me.   As they enjoy the things a little extra wealth can bring,  they seem to hate industrial and manufacturing type enterprises, even as they complain about outsourcing.  There is an abundance of hypocrisy in that sort.   "I don't want to be second guessed, and under the thumb of the state, but I'll fight to the death for your right, and obligation to do so, for your own good.  So you can have health insurance and subsidies".

Sorry, but those people are not making it easier for anyone.  But wealth causing poverty?  I think this may be simply wrong.  Or maybe it is only that too much wealth makes poverty.  I've never received a paycheck from a pauper.  And when people were "excessively wealthy", I sometimes made it a point to get paid even closer to what I'm worth.  I don't think I've ever been paid as much as I'm worth, but the actual job was only worth so much, so what can you do.

People must be thinking along these lines lately.  One side will scream and yell about Koch brothers, and the other about George Soros.  The real problem is that people are being told things that aren't true regarding race, privilege and every other worthless idea in the world.  And they'll believe anything, especially if you convince them they are victims and/or give them  person or group to hate.

I'm at a loss to understand how people who are living really, really well can claim that poverty is due to wealth.  It is fashionable to be somewhat of a neo-marxist, and even smart people will tie themselves in nonsensical and contradictory knots just to be in vogue.

 Well, I found it a stupid and crazy thing to say.  But I think I need to embark upon a plan of no news, no looking at the country club Obama worship, wealth is bad, you must be a racist if you disagree, page.  I need to avoid it all.  Not that I'm all that emotional about it.  I like many limousine liberals and defenders of, and fighters of, things they've never seen in person.  Guess many of my friends and family are hypocrites an misguided neo fascists and bolsheviks in my book.  They don't care.  They rarely want to hear my viewpoint.  Maybe never in most cases.

All that kind of thing can deflect one's attention from what is important.  I forgot what that is.  See what I mean?

I will say that it is worth considering that continually allowing the same people who waged the war on poverty and the war on drugs to control power and policy may be a little self defeating.  They did nothing to reduce poverty, and they promoted drug use more than anything.  Might not be the best people to handle your money, education, etc.

This is what happens.  I forget that everything else is more important than that stupid government related nonsense.  Then I forget what is there that isn't illegal, and doesn't require a prohibitive fee or license.

I think I'm restless.  OK.

Poor Seattle

Until that mouthy guy went off on hi punk, redneck, lowlife gibberish, I was unsure who my super bowl preference would be.  No question now.   I must withdraw the secret mojo I bestowed upon Seattle.  I will transfer it to Denver, who probably doesn't even need it.  Seattle does, but they blew it by letting that guy get near a microphone.

Each team should be able to designate certain players as DMs (designated morons).  These players would be forbidden from saying anything to anyone with a camera or microphone.  If they do, they lose big money somehow.  It would all be in the contract.

That would save us all from those moments of unbearable pessimism which follow viewing something like that interview with the Seattle corner, whatisname.  Upon viewing such a spectacle, many people instantly lose hope, thinking to themselves, "the human race is doomed.  We're toast.  We are evolving into an unsustainable wreck in which incoherent shittalkers reap gigantic rewards.".

Causing such negativity is not a thing to be proud of.  But a DM does not know that.  And in most cases will never know that, no matter how many times and ways it is explained.  With luck we'll get through the year without someone shooting that guy or vice versa.

Trust me, Seattle, he got lucky and saved you at the last second tonight.  He's going to be more trouble than he's worth in the long run.

Makes me sorry I didn't pull for San Francisco.  Not that sorry.  Kind of a hypothetical sorry.

You wonder why I didn't do mojo on San Diego if it's o powerful, don't you?  It doesn't work on all teams.  San Diego is impervious to mojo.  That's their charm.  I guess.  You could give SD the crank to the scoreboard, let them crank it any way they choose, and they'd still not make it to the super bowl.

Get rid of that creep, or publicly muzzle him and I'll one day pull for Seattle again.  It is improper to show disrespect to worthy adversaries, and it is supremely bad form to do so while praising yourself and drooling.

That's my in depth analysis of the pro football situation.  We probably are not doomed, so erase that embarrassing spectacle from your mind.  Imagine how much fun it is to screw up one of the happiest moments of your career, and that of your colleagues, as well.   That is a bad way to feel.  Sometimes justice works best without people trying to work it.

Busted!!

Never think people don't find and read your blog.  You may think, "oh [person X] would never make the effort to come read this.  That requires hitting a link somewhere or something."  Oh boy would you be wrong to think that.  Possibly, embarrassingly wrong.

What can you do?  Life's short.  Shorter for some than others, and how do you know?  So what do you do?  Own up.  sort of.  No more than you have to though.  Then again, what's the truth?  What's right, kind, and whatever else principled people dream up to prevent trouble?

I'm not sure.  I only know what I know.

Today was a music day, and some people sounded great.  I almost got a piece of paper because of all the obvious triggers that I used to use to go outside and smoke.  I don't like to sit there for too long so rather than just walk out and enjoy the sun, I used to smoke.  Or if I played well I'd get self conscious and go smoke when I was done.  Or if I played poorly.  Or if blablabla.

I did not want to smoke today.  It was a little freaky witnessing my own reflexes to certain stimuli.  It was the sort of thing you notice when you are changing a behavior.  Especially a behavior that involves reacting to things.

But today started out very well.  By midday, pacific time, I received a boost of the spirits that left me in a great frame of mind all day.

I'm almost in disbelief over how much better my lungs seem to work.

This was such a good day.

What's The Point of Conspiracy Talk re smokes n junk?

I'm glad you asked.  This is something that applies to smoking, drinking, or any other activity one voluntary does which is known by that person and others to be detrimental.

It is a false rationalization placing the responsibility for your actions onto others.  If you look for it, you'll find a conspiracy of enemies out to make you do any stupid thing you can imagine.  The enemy is largely created and organized in your own mind.  It is fiction.

Obviously no one can make me start smoking again.  If I want to I will, and any other explanation is total garbage.  If I do, it will be because I am not thinking straight.  Most, probably all addictions feed on a person's ability to lie to himself.  Or her/it/they self.

Sometimes people see odd things I write and wonder.  I guess I don't blame them.  Of course I don't.  They took time to notice.  But I play around a bit and rarely feel emotionally all that angry when ranting.  When I get all sappy and sentimental, I'm probably coming from a more heartfelt emotion that I let completely out.  I'm a lover not a fighter.  Wonder if I've forgotten how to do either one?  Probably not...

By not letting life's triggers, which are all part of the conspiracy to make me do what is not what I should do, dictate my behavior, I win.  See?  I beat Them, even if there actually is no Them.
Never mind.

You probably couldn't see the other dimension friends and things, that float all around me, if I introduced you to each and every one by name, and they all tweaked your nose.

Better Lay Low; facebook is the devil-part01172014

Don't even try to tell me there is no conspiracy trying to make me smoke.  Obviously, there is.  I'll give one example, provided I don't get carried away and give five or ten.

They have a page for the regular saturday open mic thing.  Actually many very experienced and good players attend this.  It is more like a big social club where most of the people play some kind of music.  Not everyone is all that good, but most are experienced and have played good paying things at some point.

Anyway, there is a violin player who used to come around.  He's played everything from classical to bluegrass, and is very good.  He had to move away for whatever reasons, somewhere north of here, so he only gets down this way once every several months.  Everyone is happy when he shows.

Well, he posted on the page that he'd be here tomorrow, and said he looks forward to playing, then he said "and I have been practicing so please...bring your A game."

Slowly I turned...
Needless to say, this struck a nerve.  Really.  You announce you are coming into town and tell everyone what amounts to, "you better play at the top of your game because I, the creme de la creme fiddle del mundo am making an appearance."   I know he is in on the let's-anger-John-and-make-him-smoke bandwagon.

It won't work.  I did the mature reasonable thing.  I posted a reply to his egotistical announcement which says, "Screw off.  I'm bringing my B game".  

Now I'm thinking, "cool comment. Wish someone else had thought of it first.".    This guy is somewhat of an icon I think.  You know, the type who many put in that class of people who enjoy a different set of standards and expectations than the average peon in a given group.  I know this syndrome both from being in that spot a time or two, and from experienced observation.

So, maybe someone will get a kick out of it.  Or maybe not.  Either way I can see the trouble I am prone to if I read things and comment.  

The Obamabot posted one of those half true talking point pictures which gave all these figures about when the big O took office as compared to now.  I know of many things that would shoot some of the figures down, but even in my somewhat agitated condition I'm not going to get into a skewed statistics pissing contest with dedicated statists.  

So, I just commented "Utopia!!!"

The reply was, "hell no, but it beats Romneytopia!"   Slowly I turned...

What I replied is too long unless I cut and paste.  The first line says, "A kick in the nads beats having an eye poked out, but I've never experienced the latter.", then it goes on and on, and who knows what I said.  How the hell did Romney get in there?  

Obviously the conspirators are laying traps to get me so fed up with humanity, so mad at everything that I'll decide I have to smoke or else I'll drink.  And I walked right into the traps.  But they can not 
win.  This is bigger than me now, and I have to do it for God, Freedom, and all that is holy, and whatever it is that makes women so powerfully irresistible.   And, I'm doing it for the children!

I'll have to go into camouflage mode for awhile.  This is war.  And war requires strategy, patience, and stealth.  If I were to light up, they'd spot my position and shoot me.  Sneaky infidels!  I'll not do that today!

??????????? comments, we're doomed

Just a quick WTF.  I was reading a little article about Obama telling democratic lawmakers that he planned to do things with or without congressional cooperation in the coming year.   What is new?  He's saying he'll use executive tricks, directives and the usual moves to push the envelope of executive power.

Presidents have been doing this for some time.  Each one seems to step it a little further beyond legitimate constitutional authority, and they get away with it.
Their own party is always ok with it.  I'm not.  Big deal.

In the comments some character was listing all the flaws of this president; narcissist, messiah complex, etc.  He wrote well enough, and spelling was OK--rare for political commenters.  Then he says at the end of the list, "and a severe edifice complex".

What is an edifice complex?  Is it something to do with buildings?  Maybe he thinks he's a building or ..I don't know.  If the guy meant Oedipus complex, I'm still not sure I get it.  And he said severe, so I guess he really wants to do his mom, and maybe kill his dad?  Oh well, too late on both counts.

It could be he actually meant edifice complex.

Finally, I found it in the urban dictionary:

(n.)An Edifice Complex is a serious budget-busting illness that typically manifests itself on modern college and university campuses. Soon after their inauguration, an incoming university president will frantically and feverishly fall all over themselves to relentlessly badger wealthy donors and students for the purposes of leaving a mark with their name on it on the campus by constructing a new, over-priced, prime parking lot removing, ten-story structure post-modern eyesore whose purpose is solely to house administration, their support staff, and grace the cover of university brochures and websites. Faculty and students then are given the vacated, broken down, second and third string buildings for use as classes and offices.

So, maybe that is what he meant.  Budget busting, ego-centric policies.  

Still, I wonder.  I'm no fan, but it takes support of congress for a president to get away with madness.  Unless of course you are G.W. Bush.  In that case you are so powerful you can make hurricanes, and do anything, even hypnotize the democrats to vote for your wars and wipe out their memories so they forget they did it. 

A severe edifice complex.  I think it would be more fun if he had a severe Oedipus complex.

Either way, if you read comments on news stories, you may find them even scarier than the news.