The LAPD, in cooperation with their DA's office, is now imposing bail amounts of between $5,000 to $10,000 for those who dare to exercise their rights in our increasingly tattered constitution. The LAPD probably thought that there would be so many arrested that the DA's office would not have the resources to prosecute 'em all, so they're trying to send a message at the front end.
Freedom of speech, I guess, is only for those who can afford it these days, a line of thought that would fit just fine to those whose heads are shoved up Ayn Rand's Dead Ass. After all, money is the objective measure of value to this society, and the more you have, the more valuable you must be to humanity - at least from what I observe from the Ayn Randians.
This won't stop #Occupy, by any means. But I'm concerned about how governments will escalate their war against #Occupy. For one, the high bail amounts are just a start - I would expect at least a few of these protesters to be made "examples" of, by having the book thrown at them - maximum jail sentences, perhaps even in State Prison rather than county or city jails, charges being increased to Felony level, and those big bail amounts being turned into fines. This would only turn them into martyrs, of course, but I would only anticipate the more enlightened of The Powers That Be realizing this. Considering how our economy is going, I don't see a whole lot of enlightened thought in those parts.
And regarding the coordinated nature of these crackdowns and their brutality - let's get it straight about what this is really all about. The breakup of the encampments is only partially, at best, due to public sanitation concerns. This is about economics, and pictures of Americans protesting
going out all over the globe. This is also about the American people finally getting it right about who has been screwing them - the big banks and Corporate America. The Powers That Be are scared, and they damned well should be, thus their overreactions to peaceful protest. The concept
of the people losing faith in the system that made the 1% who they are, does not compute to them.
Before I end this rant - remember Ronniebaby's little quote about Government being the problem and not the solution?
Here's a quote that should go viral, and I hope I hear it Mic-Checked repeatedly over the coming months:
"Corporate America Is Not The Solution To The Problem. Corporate America IS The Problem."
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Quibbles and Bits, Gobbles and Sips
Here’s a few bytes of tryptophan-poisoning-antidote, just in case you get too sleepy from gobbling up gobblers…
>>We’ve all seen the photos and videos of the UC Davis pepper spray incident. I confess that I have a certain attachment to this incident since I happen to live in the general area where it occurred. I have a couple of observations:
1. Did you see the Lieutenant (I won’t mention his name - he doesn’t deserve it) hold up the can of pepper spray over his head like he’s doing a touchdown-dance-celebration prior to spraying the protesters, who were sitting down and not posing any threat to him or anyone else? This was done as an extra-judicial punishment, and to “send a message” to everyone else that this is what you get for “disobeying a police officer.” Last I checked, it‘s not the purview of law enforcement to mete out punishment - that‘s a court‘s job.;
>>We’ve all seen the photos and videos of the UC Davis pepper spray incident. I confess that I have a certain attachment to this incident since I happen to live in the general area where it occurred. I have a couple of observations:
1. Did you see the Lieutenant (I won’t mention his name - he doesn’t deserve it) hold up the can of pepper spray over his head like he’s doing a touchdown-dance-celebration prior to spraying the protesters, who were sitting down and not posing any threat to him or anyone else? This was done as an extra-judicial punishment, and to “send a message” to everyone else that this is what you get for “disobeying a police officer.” Last I checked, it‘s not the purview of law enforcement to mete out punishment - that‘s a court‘s job.;
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The men behind the curtain...
Check out this post by Chris Hedges at Truthdig. He, along with tonight's Special Comment by Keith Olbermann, not only point to the extremes that the country's "real owners" are willing to go to maintain control (tear gas, batons, sound cannons, mass arrests, arrests of journalists, etc.), but that the Bloombergs of the world might just be running out of ammunition.
The Occupy movement, with it's approach, is demonstrating just why, and how, non-violence is effective - it exposes the moral and social bankruptcy of the oppressing power. Those with the guns can evict people out of whatever park or building they want, but they can't evict an idea - no matter how hard their media outlets (especially Foxy Noise) try. They can intimidate, handcuff, and throw whatever books they want in either the trash or at the protesters, but ideas that speak to our survival as a people will live on in spite of their efforts.
If the economy gets any worse than it is now, then these protests (and the corresponding response) will seem like a Sunday stroll.
The Occupy movement, with it's approach, is demonstrating just why, and how, non-violence is effective - it exposes the moral and social bankruptcy of the oppressing power. Those with the guns can evict people out of whatever park or building they want, but they can't evict an idea - no matter how hard their media outlets (especially Foxy Noise) try. They can intimidate, handcuff, and throw whatever books they want in either the trash or at the protesters, but ideas that speak to our survival as a people will live on in spite of their efforts.
If the economy gets any worse than it is now, then these protests (and the corresponding response) will seem like a Sunday stroll.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Empathy, Schmempathy...
This post in Democratic Underground speaks to the empathy deficit our American society faces today.
I've noticed over the last three decades, that there seems to be a gradual decline in the awareness of the plight of our neighbors, whether within our borders or outside of the same. Perhaps the concept of us being our "brother's keeper", of seeing the problems of others as our own, is considered passe, "namby-pamby", or quaint, to our current, Ayn Rand-influenced society. So much for the pulpit speeches referring to America as a "Christian Nation". If you have no empathy within you, then you don't have Christ within you - and I include myself in that equation.
I've noticed over the last three decades, that there seems to be a gradual decline in the awareness of the plight of our neighbors, whether within our borders or outside of the same. Perhaps the concept of us being our "brother's keeper", of seeing the problems of others as our own, is considered passe, "namby-pamby", or quaint, to our current, Ayn Rand-influenced society. So much for the pulpit speeches referring to America as a "Christian Nation". If you have no empathy within you, then you don't have Christ within you - and I include myself in that equation.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Quibbles and Bits, After the Scares Edition
More trial-sized, out-of-wrapper offerings, not necessarily left-over from All Hallow’s Eve. Judge the flavor for youself:
>>I’ve been watching quite a bit of Current TV over the last few months, especially now that Keith Olbermann signed on. I miss the viewer-created video “pods” that were the mainstay of the network for years, but I’m also taking a liking to the Vanguard series. You probably won’t find better investigative journalism anywhere on TV, and these guys literally put their necks on the line for the stories they tell. Their recent visits to Juarez, Mexico to cover the ongoing saga of the dominance of the Mexican drug cartels, and the wreckage they leave behind in terms of young lives destroyed, are prime examples of this hell-for-leather mentality. They know the price they might have to pay to get these stories, as well - just ask Laura Ling.
>>I've also been paying whatever attention I can to the Occupy movements (which I wholeheartedly support), and those people putting themselves on the line for something better than the bleak future staring us in the face now. The lesson to be drawn from this, at least from the perspective of the 1 percenters, should be: The most dangerous person in the world is a person with nothing to lose.
This axiom is the biggest reason for the passage of the New Deal and the Great Society programs - people who are housed, fed, and clothed, and have their basic needs met, have a much less propensity to protest than those that have little, or none, of the above. Our economic system, and thus American society, was relatively stable from that period up until now (save for the 1960s, perhaps - people don't like to be lied to about the reason for going off to die in a war which had little, if anything, to do with us. BTW - "domino theory" = bullshit). I suggest another visit to Naomi Klein's tome The Shock Doctrine, for a reminder or two as to what happens to populations when their wealth is taken from them and handed over to oligarchs, all in the name of "free markets." John Perkins tells a similar tale in his classic Confessions of an Economic Hitman. I also suggest taking a closer look at the last thirty-plus years of history of violence in the Middle East. Honestly - if the chief export of Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia were rutabagas, would we have troops there, not to mention military bases the size of the Vatican? Oil is why where there and why the plan is to stay there - we know it, and the citizens of those countries, sure as hell, know it. It's yet another example of a country's natural resources confiscated by a country with superior firepower and the fruits of those resources being reaped by oligarchs. This same, sad, freaking story has been told before, in episodes going back hundreds of years before Naomi Klein's book - ask our First Nations people on this continent, and the Aboriginal populations in Australia and elsewhere.
>>As for Move Your Money day - I've been banking at credit unions for about sixteen years now, for the very reasons that many in the Occupy movement give for doing so. Plus, the interest rates on loans are generally better, free checking and minimal fees, and your money is protected, just like at a bank. Check 'em out - you'll be glad you did.
More later, I'm sure. Hell, you might even see me holding up a sign and marching in the near future if this bullshit keeps up. There's no indication that it won't.
>>I’ve been watching quite a bit of Current TV over the last few months, especially now that Keith Olbermann signed on. I miss the viewer-created video “pods” that were the mainstay of the network for years, but I’m also taking a liking to the Vanguard series. You probably won’t find better investigative journalism anywhere on TV, and these guys literally put their necks on the line for the stories they tell. Their recent visits to Juarez, Mexico to cover the ongoing saga of the dominance of the Mexican drug cartels, and the wreckage they leave behind in terms of young lives destroyed, are prime examples of this hell-for-leather mentality. They know the price they might have to pay to get these stories, as well - just ask Laura Ling.
>>I've also been paying whatever attention I can to the Occupy movements (which I wholeheartedly support), and those people putting themselves on the line for something better than the bleak future staring us in the face now. The lesson to be drawn from this, at least from the perspective of the 1 percenters, should be: The most dangerous person in the world is a person with nothing to lose.
This axiom is the biggest reason for the passage of the New Deal and the Great Society programs - people who are housed, fed, and clothed, and have their basic needs met, have a much less propensity to protest than those that have little, or none, of the above. Our economic system, and thus American society, was relatively stable from that period up until now (save for the 1960s, perhaps - people don't like to be lied to about the reason for going off to die in a war which had little, if anything, to do with us. BTW - "domino theory" = bullshit). I suggest another visit to Naomi Klein's tome The Shock Doctrine, for a reminder or two as to what happens to populations when their wealth is taken from them and handed over to oligarchs, all in the name of "free markets." John Perkins tells a similar tale in his classic Confessions of an Economic Hitman. I also suggest taking a closer look at the last thirty-plus years of history of violence in the Middle East. Honestly - if the chief export of Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia were rutabagas, would we have troops there, not to mention military bases the size of the Vatican? Oil is why where there and why the plan is to stay there - we know it, and the citizens of those countries, sure as hell, know it. It's yet another example of a country's natural resources confiscated by a country with superior firepower and the fruits of those resources being reaped by oligarchs. This same, sad, freaking story has been told before, in episodes going back hundreds of years before Naomi Klein's book - ask our First Nations people on this continent, and the Aboriginal populations in Australia and elsewhere.
>>As for Move Your Money day - I've been banking at credit unions for about sixteen years now, for the very reasons that many in the Occupy movement give for doing so. Plus, the interest rates on loans are generally better, free checking and minimal fees, and your money is protected, just like at a bank. Check 'em out - you'll be glad you did.
More later, I'm sure. Hell, you might even see me holding up a sign and marching in the near future if this bullshit keeps up. There's no indication that it won't.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Thinking Different about Mr. Jobs...
By now, we've seen all the tributes, epitaphs, and all the other what-not about Apple's resident visionary, Steve Jobs. We know about the products he spearheaded into production: the iPod, iPad, all of the MacIntosh permutations, and iTunes, among many others. His influence affected industries well beyond that of his native PC industry - (iTunes to the music industry, Pixar to the film industry, among others).
This post in Democratic Underground generated a bit of controversy in that community, because it dared to highlight the darker side of Mr. Jobs, especially so recently after his death while he is being so lionized. He was much more than a taskmaster - quite frankly, he could apparently be quite the a-hole around the Cupertino campus. Nobody ever said that to get to the top required being a nice person - on the contrary, his alleged "asshattedness" is more likely the rule than the exception in the upper escelons of Corporate America. Personal grace is often set aside in the interest of the corporate prime directive of maximizing shareholder value.
I don't think people realize what a disservice it is to put people on pedestals without recognizing their foibles and frailties, as well. Above all, rainmakers like Steve Jobs are human beings - first, and foremost. When we figuratively carve hall-of-fame statues in honor of these people without recognizing their humanity, we not only do them, their memories, and their families a disservice, we do ourselves a disservice. We lose sight of the fact that it was not a god that created the Apple II, or the Mac, or the iPad - it was a human being. A highly gifted, driven human being, for sure, but one with the same challenges and quandries as the rest of us.
The best way we can pay tribute to the memory of Steve Jobs is to use his creations for constructive purposes. Use them to create, to explore, to further yourself and your fellow members of humanity and life on this planet in general.
This post in Democratic Underground generated a bit of controversy in that community, because it dared to highlight the darker side of Mr. Jobs, especially so recently after his death while he is being so lionized. He was much more than a taskmaster - quite frankly, he could apparently be quite the a-hole around the Cupertino campus. Nobody ever said that to get to the top required being a nice person - on the contrary, his alleged "asshattedness" is more likely the rule than the exception in the upper escelons of Corporate America. Personal grace is often set aside in the interest of the corporate prime directive of maximizing shareholder value.
I don't think people realize what a disservice it is to put people on pedestals without recognizing their foibles and frailties, as well. Above all, rainmakers like Steve Jobs are human beings - first, and foremost. When we figuratively carve hall-of-fame statues in honor of these people without recognizing their humanity, we not only do them, their memories, and their families a disservice, we do ourselves a disservice. We lose sight of the fact that it was not a god that created the Apple II, or the Mac, or the iPad - it was a human being. A highly gifted, driven human being, for sure, but one with the same challenges and quandries as the rest of us.
The best way we can pay tribute to the memory of Steve Jobs is to use his creations for constructive purposes. Use them to create, to explore, to further yourself and your fellow members of humanity and life on this planet in general.
Monday, October 3, 2011
How The Eagle Flies...
One characteristic of American politics which has fascinated me for as long as I can remember, is how our political pendulum swings from left, to right, to left, then back, over the course of the years and generations, much like a greatly oversized grandfather clock. Considering this dynamic, I can't help but wonder how our country's true owners – the oligarchy who run Corporate America – could not have seen the demonstrations in New York (and planned for Washington, DC and Los Angeles, among other places) coming. The pendulum seems to have finally swung to it's rightward limit, and is now starting it's long swing in the other direction. Many of the nation's biggest unions have signed on in support of the demonstrations, leading pundits like Keith Olbermann to note that, after all these years, we may finally be witnessing the nascent development of a politically viable left wing. This is a badly-needed development – the middle-class and working-class have been taking it in various bodily areas long enough.
There's a lesson to be drawn from our national mascot, the bald eagle. For any bird, plane, or any other thing to fly through the air requires two strong wings – a right, and a left. They must be of equal strength and dimension in order to provide a stable flight. What happens when a wing is damaged or is otherwise compromised? The bird or plane becomes grounded, sometimes suddenly and violently.
Through a variety of factors – indifference/distraction of the populace combined with the corruption of our politicians by the “true owners” of the country – we have let our national eagle's left wing atrophy to the point of it's near destruction, barely moving while the right wing attempts to compensate. As a result, the nation's wealth gap is increasing, the number of our citizens in poverty is increasing, and we are losing our superpower status. We're plummeting to earth at a breakneck speed, and only time will tell if the October demonstrations truly represent the beginning of a healing of our national eagle's left wing, in time to prevent a crash landing.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Surprise, Surprise...
We knew this was coming.
Standard & Poor's has just downgraded their rating for our debt instruments from AAA to AA+.
Thirty years of Reaganbushclintonobamanomics. Thirty years of Chicago School-type economics, and worship at the altar of Milton Friedman. In all likelihood, the other rating agencies will likely follow suit.
What does this mean for us? Forget any kind of breaks on credit card or mortgage interest rates. Everything is probably going to get a lot more expensive, and in this case, you can't point to taxes as the culprit. From an economic standpoint, this snowball is starting to get a lot bigger.
We're reaping what we've sowed.
Standard & Poor's has just downgraded their rating for our debt instruments from AAA to AA+.
Thirty years of Reaganbushclintonobamanomics. Thirty years of Chicago School-type economics, and worship at the altar of Milton Friedman. In all likelihood, the other rating agencies will likely follow suit.
What does this mean for us? Forget any kind of breaks on credit card or mortgage interest rates. Everything is probably going to get a lot more expensive, and in this case, you can't point to taxes as the culprit. From an economic standpoint, this snowball is starting to get a lot bigger.
We're reaping what we've sowed.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Truth be told...by Al Jazeera
It's sad that you will never see this kind of reporting on an American network.
I'll leave my commentary to a minimum. The video speaks for itself.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Quibbles and Bits, Debts and Taxes Edition
Here's another heaping helping. Consume if you so dare...
>>I'm watching Johnny Boner's reply to President Obama as I write this. His finger pointing at Obama is both hilarious and sickening at the same time. For those who think Obama caves too much, watch as Johnny Boner talks about his "experience running a small business", how this crisis was one of the President's making, etc., etc., etc. This is what Obama has to negotiate with - someone not willing to negotiate at all, and a group of Tea-Party absolutists who are actually willing to let the government go into default, thinking that the people are so stupid that they will in turn blame Obama.
This has become the immovable object meeting the irresistible force - something has to give, and the stakes are our futures. For my money, I say that between the two participants in the virtual "debate", the adult in the room was the President.
>>Recommended Reading: The Plot To Seize The White House, by Jules Archer. This tome details the plot that many of our industry captains of the day, like J.P. Morgan and the Du Pont scions, planned to bankroll as an attempted fascist coup, using the unimpeachable character and standing of General Smedley D. Butler as their front. The problem? The fact that Butler's character was unimpeachable, to the point where he exposed this treasonous plot, and its sick use of American war veterans. Butler paid for his honesty with his reputation and public image - sullied by the corporate press of the day. I'm still delving into the pages of this tome, and will talk about it in future postings. But I say - don't miss it.
OK, so the heaping helpings weren't so heaping this time. There's more to come later - stay tuned.
>>I'm watching Johnny Boner's reply to President Obama as I write this. His finger pointing at Obama is both hilarious and sickening at the same time. For those who think Obama caves too much, watch as Johnny Boner talks about his "experience running a small business", how this crisis was one of the President's making, etc., etc., etc. This is what Obama has to negotiate with - someone not willing to negotiate at all, and a group of Tea-Party absolutists who are actually willing to let the government go into default, thinking that the people are so stupid that they will in turn blame Obama.
This has become the immovable object meeting the irresistible force - something has to give, and the stakes are our futures. For my money, I say that between the two participants in the virtual "debate", the adult in the room was the President.
>>Recommended Reading: The Plot To Seize The White House, by Jules Archer. This tome details the plot that many of our industry captains of the day, like J.P. Morgan and the Du Pont scions, planned to bankroll as an attempted fascist coup, using the unimpeachable character and standing of General Smedley D. Butler as their front. The problem? The fact that Butler's character was unimpeachable, to the point where he exposed this treasonous plot, and its sick use of American war veterans. Butler paid for his honesty with his reputation and public image - sullied by the corporate press of the day. I'm still delving into the pages of this tome, and will talk about it in future postings. But I say - don't miss it.
OK, so the heaping helpings weren't so heaping this time. There's more to come later - stay tuned.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Smart ALECs
This link contains a veritable bumper crop of documents from the American Legislative Executive Council, a lovely group of righties bent on downsizing the government and corporatizing everything else. The've apparently developed a nice, efficient "cookie cutter" approach to law, creating "sample bills" for use by their minions in the states where Republicans took control in the 2010 election wave.
The latest edition of The Nation has a complete series on this band of minions. Remember what our mamas taught us all those years ago, about being careful what you wish for because you might get it? If you voted Republican, I hope you've now learned your lesson. I say the same to those who voted for Corporate Dems like Blanche Lincoln. That assumes, of course, that a conscience exists in those who support ALEC's garbage.
The latest edition of The Nation has a complete series on this band of minions. Remember what our mamas taught us all those years ago, about being careful what you wish for because you might get it? If you voted Republican, I hope you've now learned your lesson. I say the same to those who voted for Corporate Dems like Blanche Lincoln. That assumes, of course, that a conscience exists in those who support ALEC's garbage.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Quibbles and Bits, Independence (?) Day Edition
Here's another helping of those morsels - lap 'em up if you dare!
>>Have you seen the recent Time Magazine cover featuring Mitt Romney? I confess I didn't read the article, so my commentary doesn't reflect the article itself - only the picture. Did you get the impression that the Mittster is getting the corporate "star treatment" as the Repub standard-bearer? More specifically, that this is Corporate America's very loud "hint" that Mitt is their choice? He's one of them, after all. This may also be Time's way of getting the American people warmed up to the idea of a Mormon winning the White House. Not that I have a problem with the LDS faith - I don't. But taken as propaganda (which I believe it to be)...
>>From what I've been seeing lately from some of the Congressional Dems, it seems as if they are at least paying lip service to the concept that the Republicans are intentionally trying to crash the economy, blame Obama, then make sure that the Mittster gets his "rightful" place in the White House. Thom Hartmann, among others, has been saying this for years - the Repubs will say and do anything to win, including sinking the economy. They expect that the American People will not be sophisticated enough to figure out the ruse - in the past, they've been right. The Repubs have not been overly secretive of their intentions - Senator Mitch McConnell has been quoted as saying that the intention of the Repubs was to ensure that Obama is a one-term President.
>>Do you have your copy of The Shock Doctrine handy? I, and others, have been saying for a long time that this book is basically the Republican playbook for the American economy - destroy government's ability to function beyond a militaristic purpose, privatize everything else, and let the leftover masses eat stale cake. Read Paul Ryan's budget. Look at what's happening in Wisconsin and other states with Koch Brothers-backed governors. Remember Sharron Angle? She once commented about the economic "miracles" in South America in such a positive light during her campaign - and famously addressed the press with a view of her rapidly disappearing backside.
Much more later.
>>Have you seen the recent Time Magazine cover featuring Mitt Romney? I confess I didn't read the article, so my commentary doesn't reflect the article itself - only the picture. Did you get the impression that the Mittster is getting the corporate "star treatment" as the Repub standard-bearer? More specifically, that this is Corporate America's very loud "hint" that Mitt is their choice? He's one of them, after all. This may also be Time's way of getting the American people warmed up to the idea of a Mormon winning the White House. Not that I have a problem with the LDS faith - I don't. But taken as propaganda (which I believe it to be)...
>>From what I've been seeing lately from some of the Congressional Dems, it seems as if they are at least paying lip service to the concept that the Republicans are intentionally trying to crash the economy, blame Obama, then make sure that the Mittster gets his "rightful" place in the White House. Thom Hartmann, among others, has been saying this for years - the Repubs will say and do anything to win, including sinking the economy. They expect that the American People will not be sophisticated enough to figure out the ruse - in the past, they've been right. The Repubs have not been overly secretive of their intentions - Senator Mitch McConnell has been quoted as saying that the intention of the Repubs was to ensure that Obama is a one-term President.
>>Do you have your copy of The Shock Doctrine handy? I, and others, have been saying for a long time that this book is basically the Republican playbook for the American economy - destroy government's ability to function beyond a militaristic purpose, privatize everything else, and let the leftover masses eat stale cake. Read Paul Ryan's budget. Look at what's happening in Wisconsin and other states with Koch Brothers-backed governors. Remember Sharron Angle? She once commented about the economic "miracles" in South America in such a positive light during her campaign - and famously addressed the press with a view of her rapidly disappearing backside.
Much more later.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Before I was so rudely interrupted...
Yes, yes, I know. It's been almost two months since my last post. Between job (and lifestyle) changes and personal issues, it's been a challenge to maintain this lovely spot on the inter-webs.
But I haven't forgotten it. I'll resume updates shortly, including a new edition of Quibbles and Bits.
But I haven't forgotten it. I'll resume updates shortly, including a new edition of Quibbles and Bits.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Breaking: Bin Laden's Death
I just heard about Osama Bin Laden's demise, at the hands of our Special Forces under the orders of President Obama.
My feelings about this are mixed. The most appropriate place for Mr. Bin Laden is six feet in the ground - had he been captured, the international custody battles and political gamesmanship would have dragged on for years, perhaps decades afterward. And given his kidney condition, Osama would have probably died before it was all over. So a political sideshow was avoided by his departure from this mortal coil. This should also guarantee Mr. Obama's re-election in 2012.
But now comes the interesting part. Exactly how big of a martyr will Mr. Bin Laden be considered, especially that he was killed at the hands of the Evil Empire? Will this lead to more terrorist attacks? What will be the reaction of the Islamic world in the Middle East and other Muslim-dominated countries, when they see the pictures of Americans celebrating his death? Unknowns abound...
Speaking about the celebrations being televised as I write this, personally I'm keeping my Moet & Chandon chilled at this time, with no plans of breaking it out. For one, throughout the decades, our foreign policy has contributed to the creation and propping up of monsters like Osama. In fact, remember when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan - who was one of the leaders of the resistance, and who got a nice share of US money and support? You guess it...Mr. Bin Laden. And his death does not mean, by any means, that Al Qaida is dead - on the contrary, I would expect some pretty heavy terrorist-sounding noise coming through the radio and TV speakers within the coming days and weeks.
So yeah, this was a victory of sorts. Like Dr. Frankenstein's monster being sent back to death - by Dr. Frankenstein.
My feelings about this are mixed. The most appropriate place for Mr. Bin Laden is six feet in the ground - had he been captured, the international custody battles and political gamesmanship would have dragged on for years, perhaps decades afterward. And given his kidney condition, Osama would have probably died before it was all over. So a political sideshow was avoided by his departure from this mortal coil. This should also guarantee Mr. Obama's re-election in 2012.
But now comes the interesting part. Exactly how big of a martyr will Mr. Bin Laden be considered, especially that he was killed at the hands of the Evil Empire? Will this lead to more terrorist attacks? What will be the reaction of the Islamic world in the Middle East and other Muslim-dominated countries, when they see the pictures of Americans celebrating his death? Unknowns abound...
Speaking about the celebrations being televised as I write this, personally I'm keeping my Moet & Chandon chilled at this time, with no plans of breaking it out. For one, throughout the decades, our foreign policy has contributed to the creation and propping up of monsters like Osama. In fact, remember when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan - who was one of the leaders of the resistance, and who got a nice share of US money and support? You guess it...Mr. Bin Laden. And his death does not mean, by any means, that Al Qaida is dead - on the contrary, I would expect some pretty heavy terrorist-sounding noise coming through the radio and TV speakers within the coming days and weeks.
So yeah, this was a victory of sorts. Like Dr. Frankenstein's monster being sent back to death - by Dr. Frankenstein.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Quibbles and Bits, Hop Til I Drop Edition
These eggs are out in the open, ready and willing to be cracked open even if it‘s a little late:
>>Royal Wedding, Shmroyal Wedding. Big Freaking Whoop. Distraction create inaction, and that’s all the Royal Nuptials are, and ever really were.
>>It’s nice to see Paul “Hatchet Man” Ryan getting his ass handed to him by members of his own party at a recent town hall. When it’s the Republicans that are seeing just how far down the rabbit hole their corporate puppets are taking us, you know we’re starting to wake up as a nation. Let’s keep this up, and let’s see how long it is before Mr. Ryan takes his eventual job as a high-paid lobbyist on K Street. At least he won’t have his hands directly on the levers of power. 2012, Wisconsinites.
>>Donation are in order for the Red Cross and any of the other relief organizations assisting in the recovery efforts in the Deep South after the recent tornados.
>>Donations are also in order for the continuing cleanup and recovery from the multiple whammies Japan has sustained. First the massive earthquake, then the tsunami, then the nuclear disaster, then another earthquake. These people need our help.
>>By the way, Mr. President, on the very, very, very off chance you’re reading this: nuclear power is NOT clean power, and “clean coal” makes as much sense as “jumbo shrimp” or “fresh frozen”. Yeah, I get it that these lobbies are powerful and deep-pocketed. But Jeez, Leweeze.
More later.
>>Royal Wedding, Shmroyal Wedding. Big Freaking Whoop. Distraction create inaction, and that’s all the Royal Nuptials are, and ever really were.
>>It’s nice to see Paul “Hatchet Man” Ryan getting his ass handed to him by members of his own party at a recent town hall. When it’s the Republicans that are seeing just how far down the rabbit hole their corporate puppets are taking us, you know we’re starting to wake up as a nation. Let’s keep this up, and let’s see how long it is before Mr. Ryan takes his eventual job as a high-paid lobbyist on K Street. At least he won’t have his hands directly on the levers of power. 2012, Wisconsinites.
>>Donation are in order for the Red Cross and any of the other relief organizations assisting in the recovery efforts in the Deep South after the recent tornados.
>>Donations are also in order for the continuing cleanup and recovery from the multiple whammies Japan has sustained. First the massive earthquake, then the tsunami, then the nuclear disaster, then another earthquake. These people need our help.
>>By the way, Mr. President, on the very, very, very off chance you’re reading this: nuclear power is NOT clean power, and “clean coal” makes as much sense as “jumbo shrimp” or “fresh frozen”. Yeah, I get it that these lobbies are powerful and deep-pocketed. But Jeez, Leweeze.
More later.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Bye Bye Beckie
Ah, so the Glen Beckie, he of the aforementioned golden shit shovel, will no longer be a daily presence on Foxy Noise. Not like he's going away any time soon - with his ego, are you kidding? He'll still squalk through deteriorating speaker cones on AM stations throughout the country, and still host the occasional event, I'm sure. And his face will be plastered on his ghost-written books. But he seems destined for a long, slow fade into the twilight - even Corporate America has little use for him, as attested by the exodus of advertisers from his TV show.
So I guess we can't really say good riddance. But at least it's one less excuse to turn the dial to Rupert's Circus of Clowns. They've just lost their P.T. Barnum.
So I guess we can't really say good riddance. But at least it's one less excuse to turn the dial to Rupert's Circus of Clowns. They've just lost their P.T. Barnum.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Quibbles and Bits, Maddening March Edition
No, they’re not manna from heaven. But they keep raining down - get your umbrella handy!
>>The “victory” being trumpeted by Scott Walker in Wisconsin, and his minions, is purely pyrrhic. The Dems’ hands in separating the anti-union part of the bill and passing it on its own, especially those of the 14 senators, appear completely clean. That, and did Mr. Walker really need all of this publicity to try to get this turd passed, even with Foxy Noise riding shotgun? He is, at the very least, a one-term governor, and knowing Wisconsin’s history of lefty political activism, look for him to be recalled and sent out on his kiester a la Gray Davis. That will be fun to watch - if the momentum can stay on the side of the public workers and the polling stays the same between now and November.
>> Re: the above - next time your tush gets too cush on the sofa on Election Day, even if your Dem or other leftward-leaning choice resembles Blanche Lincoln, remember this: ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Not voting means you’re throwing yourself to the mercy of those who likely don’t have much mercy on you to begin with.
>>Now, do any of you still think there isn’t much difference between the Dems and the Repubs? It’s small in places, for sure, but here’s where the difference is stark.
>>I’m just waiting for when the mainstream media starts to pin the blame for the increasing gas prices on Obama. Purely from a pricing standpoint, this looks like what we went through three years ago when Bushiebaby was running things. But I think there are differences here - the democracy wave sweeping through the Middle East and North Africa versus the anti-Democratic actions of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Truth be told, we still pay a whole lot less for our go-juice in this country, thanks to oil industry subsidies, than do most other countries.
>>My hero of this edition of Q&B - Michael Ruppert.
This is the man who, among other things, was one of the first to publicize the government’s role in domestic drug dealing. He also helped break open the Pat Tillman story, predicted the economic collapse, etc., etc., etc. You can’t accuse him of any type of excessive self-interest, as he has gained notoriety but little else, especially in the way of personal fortune. His is an example, like Julian Assange, of what happens to people when they get too close, and learn too much, and reveal too much, of the mechanizations of the men behind the curtain. We used to treat people like this as heroes - in another time, we did. They are still regarded as heroes in certain circles, but not in the circles of those who really run this country. They are now ostracized, blackballed, and even threatened with death or prosecution. Check out the film Collapse, and his appearances in the Zeitgeist film series, especially the latest installment Moving Forward. At this point, I’ll take what Ruppert has to say over anything that’s propagated by the government or its stenographers at CNN or the other outlets.
Stay tuned for more as my spirit and flesh allow.
>>The “victory” being trumpeted by Scott Walker in Wisconsin, and his minions, is purely pyrrhic. The Dems’ hands in separating the anti-union part of the bill and passing it on its own, especially those of the 14 senators, appear completely clean. That, and did Mr. Walker really need all of this publicity to try to get this turd passed, even with Foxy Noise riding shotgun? He is, at the very least, a one-term governor, and knowing Wisconsin’s history of lefty political activism, look for him to be recalled and sent out on his kiester a la Gray Davis. That will be fun to watch - if the momentum can stay on the side of the public workers and the polling stays the same between now and November.
>> Re: the above - next time your tush gets too cush on the sofa on Election Day, even if your Dem or other leftward-leaning choice resembles Blanche Lincoln, remember this: ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Not voting means you’re throwing yourself to the mercy of those who likely don’t have much mercy on you to begin with.
>>Now, do any of you still think there isn’t much difference between the Dems and the Repubs? It’s small in places, for sure, but here’s where the difference is stark.
>>I’m just waiting for when the mainstream media starts to pin the blame for the increasing gas prices on Obama. Purely from a pricing standpoint, this looks like what we went through three years ago when Bushiebaby was running things. But I think there are differences here - the democracy wave sweeping through the Middle East and North Africa versus the anti-Democratic actions of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Truth be told, we still pay a whole lot less for our go-juice in this country, thanks to oil industry subsidies, than do most other countries.
>>My hero of this edition of Q&B - Michael Ruppert.
This is the man who, among other things, was one of the first to publicize the government’s role in domestic drug dealing. He also helped break open the Pat Tillman story, predicted the economic collapse, etc., etc., etc. You can’t accuse him of any type of excessive self-interest, as he has gained notoriety but little else, especially in the way of personal fortune. His is an example, like Julian Assange, of what happens to people when they get too close, and learn too much, and reveal too much, of the mechanizations of the men behind the curtain. We used to treat people like this as heroes - in another time, we did. They are still regarded as heroes in certain circles, but not in the circles of those who really run this country. They are now ostracized, blackballed, and even threatened with death or prosecution. Check out the film Collapse, and his appearances in the Zeitgeist film series, especially the latest installment Moving Forward. At this point, I’ll take what Ruppert has to say over anything that’s propagated by the government or its stenographers at CNN or the other outlets.
Stay tuned for more as my spirit and flesh allow.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
From Madison to a State Capitol Near You?
For those of you fortunate enough to have a job in this economy - have you looked at your pay stub recently? I looked at mine the other day - overtime after an eight-hour day, accumulating sick leave, medical insurance - all of those things can be easy to take for granted. I don't work for a union shop, but what I just listed, along with the safe working conditions I work in, are all brought to me (and you) by unions. The stories of the sacrifices working men and women made during the turn of the 20th century are legion - thousands of people were literally killed or maimed so that their descendants - us - can have a decent life as well as a decent job.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Even More Quibbles and Bits
They just keep raining down, I swear. Tiny morsels too small for a full post but too big to swallow whole.
>>I had the privilege of seeing Zeitgeist: Moving Forward on its release day a couple of weeks ago, with over seventy like-minded denizens of Monterey, CA. Expect a review within the next few days - and BTW - a shout out to The Alternative Café for drinks at reasonable prices and a seat for the unbeatable price of $0. The Zeitgetist-Monterey chapter is planning on another public screening due to popular demand, so stay tuned;
>>Have you been following Egypt and Tunisia lately? This, my friends, is where the rubber really meets the road as to whether our nation is fully committed to democracy. Amy Goodman has been following this story like a hawk on Democracy Now, and Thom Hartmann has an interesting take on this, insofar as the side on which our Administration’s bread is buttered;
>>I hope you have your copy of The Shock Doctrine handy, especially when Rep. Paul Ryan takes the screen or the speakers. His SOTU response sounded like a bad sales pitch for a bill of goods, known as Friedmanism.
>> I’ve heard and seen the speculation regarding the circumstances surrounding Keith Olbermann’s departure from MSNBC. Only he knows what really happened, so I won’t try to get into his head as to his rationale. But apparently, he wasn’t the only one who left, as several NBC executives also tendered their resignations in the shadow of the Comcast merger. He’ll be back, somewhere. But I can only wonder about what will happen with those he brought over and are staying behind - Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz, Lawrence O’Donnell, etc.
>>I’ll just say it: Julian Assange is a hero.
Governments are pissed at him because they have no control over him. They’re trying, though - it’s still a challenge to get credit card donations to WikiLeaks. I haven’t heard anything substantive about the sex-related charges against him in Sweden - which I speculate were trumped up at the behest of a certain ally across the big pond from them with a very vested interest in keeping certain information out of the news cycle.
>>More updates as I get the chance.
>>I had the privilege of seeing Zeitgeist: Moving Forward on its release day a couple of weeks ago, with over seventy like-minded denizens of Monterey, CA. Expect a review within the next few days - and BTW - a shout out to The Alternative Café for drinks at reasonable prices and a seat for the unbeatable price of $0. The Zeitgetist-Monterey chapter is planning on another public screening due to popular demand, so stay tuned;
>>Have you been following Egypt and Tunisia lately? This, my friends, is where the rubber really meets the road as to whether our nation is fully committed to democracy. Amy Goodman has been following this story like a hawk on Democracy Now, and Thom Hartmann has an interesting take on this, insofar as the side on which our Administration’s bread is buttered;
>>I hope you have your copy of The Shock Doctrine handy, especially when Rep. Paul Ryan takes the screen or the speakers. His SOTU response sounded like a bad sales pitch for a bill of goods, known as Friedmanism.
>> I’ve heard and seen the speculation regarding the circumstances surrounding Keith Olbermann’s departure from MSNBC. Only he knows what really happened, so I won’t try to get into his head as to his rationale. But apparently, he wasn’t the only one who left, as several NBC executives also tendered their resignations in the shadow of the Comcast merger. He’ll be back, somewhere. But I can only wonder about what will happen with those he brought over and are staying behind - Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz, Lawrence O’Donnell, etc.
>>I’ll just say it: Julian Assange is a hero.
Governments are pissed at him because they have no control over him. They’re trying, though - it’s still a challenge to get credit card donations to WikiLeaks. I haven’t heard anything substantive about the sex-related charges against him in Sweden - which I speculate were trumped up at the behest of a certain ally across the big pond from them with a very vested interest in keeping certain information out of the news cycle.
>>More updates as I get the chance.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Quibbles and Bits, New Years Edition
Delectable or detestable - take your pick:
>>The holdup on updates has been in part due to my right hand healing from my dermatologist taking curette to skin on two fingers. As I’m typing this, they’re still in bandages, and I’m literally fat-fingering ½ of the words I’m typing, slowing me down considerably and causing much frustration. Two more weeks of these bandages and I should be home free - I hope;
>>As I’m returning to school in pursuit of my long-delayed Bachelor’s Degree, updates will likely become more sporadic, as time and brain space allow;
>>We can speculate all we want about the true motivation of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ assassin wanna-be (who succeeded in ending several other lives, including that of a nine-year-old girl) - till we’re either red or blue in the face. I’ve observed the overheated rhetoric flying back and forth over the last several years, with ever-increasing intensity, and felt that it was only a matter of time before something like an assassination attempt took place. The only person who can tell us definitively what his motivations were, though, is the shooter himself, and the last time I checked, he wasn’t cooperating with law enforcement (why should he? His life is over anyway). The disseminating of this overheated rhetoric (and I’m sorry, but the basest examples of this are coming from the RIGHT wing, not the left) is a factor in this scenario, for sure, and while I agree that the worst of the pack (Beck, Palin, Bachmann, Limbaugh, et al.) have blood on their hands, that’s only part of the story.
>>The holdup on updates has been in part due to my right hand healing from my dermatologist taking curette to skin on two fingers. As I’m typing this, they’re still in bandages, and I’m literally fat-fingering ½ of the words I’m typing, slowing me down considerably and causing much frustration. Two more weeks of these bandages and I should be home free - I hope;
>>As I’m returning to school in pursuit of my long-delayed Bachelor’s Degree, updates will likely become more sporadic, as time and brain space allow;
>>We can speculate all we want about the true motivation of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ assassin wanna-be (who succeeded in ending several other lives, including that of a nine-year-old girl) - till we’re either red or blue in the face. I’ve observed the overheated rhetoric flying back and forth over the last several years, with ever-increasing intensity, and felt that it was only a matter of time before something like an assassination attempt took place. The only person who can tell us definitively what his motivations were, though, is the shooter himself, and the last time I checked, he wasn’t cooperating with law enforcement (why should he? His life is over anyway). The disseminating of this overheated rhetoric (and I’m sorry, but the basest examples of this are coming from the RIGHT wing, not the left) is a factor in this scenario, for sure, and while I agree that the worst of the pack (Beck, Palin, Bachmann, Limbaugh, et al.) have blood on their hands, that’s only part of the story.
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