More crunches in bunches...
>> I'm seeing a concerted effort in the supposedly "leftward-leaning" media to quash, once and for all, any 9-11 related thought process which conflicts with the official government line, as spelled out in the 9-11 Commission Report. Besides Rachel Maddow's disgusting display a couple of weeks ago, I'm also hearing this on "progressive" radio. Thom Hartmann has at least been taking calls from people with varying opinions on 9-11 - but seems to dismiss the possibility of it being an "inside job". He's good about letting his callers talk - sometimes too good for my taste. He believes it was a case of criminally gross negligence - a belief that I used to hold until I started looking more and more into the issue.
More following the break...
Friday, September 13, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Current TV: August 1, 2005 - August 20, 2013
The finality of the demise of Current TV can be seen by its final webpage sendoff.
I came home for lunch early today, in order to witness firsthand the transition from Current to Al Jazeera America. I thought it was going to be some kind of big-time, fireworks-firing sendoff.
Nope. It was much more sublime than that.
The last program to air was, appropriately, the always-excellent Vanguard series. The episode dealt with Oxycontin, and the pill mills in Florida pushing the stuff under false pretenses. Mariana Van Zeller was the last Current personality to be seen on the air. The last five minutes of the network's existence showed one of the network's classic VC2 (Viewer Created Content) videos, this one about a skydiver who jumps off of bridges and mountaintops. The thrill was always evident in his voice, and came through the screen with the first-person footage of his death defying drops. But he always had his parachute, and it always opened on time, allowing him to drop to safety.
What a metaphor for this network. It started as a big risk, with a risky, edgy, and innovative initial programming premise of predominantly viewer-submitted video "pods" (even many of the commercials were viewer-produced). The pods were hit-and-miss in quality, but the best of them contained a feel and a perspective that is unattainable with the polished emissions of what the network became in its later years (not to mention every place else on the TV dial). I can still remember the pods about Burning Man, about life and travel in other countries, and a host of other subjects. I can only imagine how many careers those pods must have started or enhanced. I remember the guests in those early years - Joss Stone, Crowded House, and other musical acts were often guest hosts for their pod shows. The network, in its early years, was a free-wheeling affair, and appropriately, based out of San Francisco. My hope now, is that whoever owns this programming (probably Al Jazeera) will have archived it and allow it to be used on a "tribute" site, perhaps as a link to the existing Al Jazeera web presence. That would be an appropriate tribute to what I think was the most innovative, fresh, and exciting channel I have ever seen on TV. It took the big leap. It took it's viewers through the thrill of an eight-year free fall. The parachute (Al Jazeera) opened, and we're all back on the ground, safe.
The final 30 seconds of the VC2 pod are winding down. The "sponge" has just wiped off the VC2 logo "spraypainted" on the top left of the screen. The old Current logo seems to grow in size on the bottom-right of the screen as the pod progress indicator on the bottom left is at full. The skydiver has landed in safety. Without going dark, the next images seen are that of the gold ribbons winding their way across America, eventually to wind their way up and twist into the logo of Al Jazeera.
Thank you to Joel Hyatt and Vice President Al Gore for taking that initial leap.
Goodbye, Current. You will be missed.
I came home for lunch early today, in order to witness firsthand the transition from Current to Al Jazeera America. I thought it was going to be some kind of big-time, fireworks-firing sendoff.
Nope. It was much more sublime than that.
The last program to air was, appropriately, the always-excellent Vanguard series. The episode dealt with Oxycontin, and the pill mills in Florida pushing the stuff under false pretenses. Mariana Van Zeller was the last Current personality to be seen on the air. The last five minutes of the network's existence showed one of the network's classic VC2 (Viewer Created Content) videos, this one about a skydiver who jumps off of bridges and mountaintops. The thrill was always evident in his voice, and came through the screen with the first-person footage of his death defying drops. But he always had his parachute, and it always opened on time, allowing him to drop to safety.
What a metaphor for this network. It started as a big risk, with a risky, edgy, and innovative initial programming premise of predominantly viewer-submitted video "pods" (even many of the commercials were viewer-produced). The pods were hit-and-miss in quality, but the best of them contained a feel and a perspective that is unattainable with the polished emissions of what the network became in its later years (not to mention every place else on the TV dial). I can still remember the pods about Burning Man, about life and travel in other countries, and a host of other subjects. I can only imagine how many careers those pods must have started or enhanced. I remember the guests in those early years - Joss Stone, Crowded House, and other musical acts were often guest hosts for their pod shows. The network, in its early years, was a free-wheeling affair, and appropriately, based out of San Francisco. My hope now, is that whoever owns this programming (probably Al Jazeera) will have archived it and allow it to be used on a "tribute" site, perhaps as a link to the existing Al Jazeera web presence. That would be an appropriate tribute to what I think was the most innovative, fresh, and exciting channel I have ever seen on TV. It took the big leap. It took it's viewers through the thrill of an eight-year free fall. The parachute (Al Jazeera) opened, and we're all back on the ground, safe.
The final 30 seconds of the VC2 pod are winding down. The "sponge" has just wiped off the VC2 logo "spraypainted" on the top left of the screen. The old Current logo seems to grow in size on the bottom-right of the screen as the pod progress indicator on the bottom left is at full. The skydiver has landed in safety. Without going dark, the next images seen are that of the gold ribbons winding their way across America, eventually to wind their way up and twist into the logo of Al Jazeera.
Thank you to Joel Hyatt and Vice President Al Gore for taking that initial leap.
Goodbye, Current. You will be missed.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Hanging up on the Party Line
Abby Martin has been doing sterling work lately on her RT show Breaking The Set. Her latest video has a general theme about how our mass media seems to automatically dismiss "conspiracy theories" when those theories don't tow the party line or otherwise verge too far off of the predetermined "beaten path" of public discourse. A classic example is the JFK assassination, and how it was proven decades ago about how a bullet's trajectory cannot possibly zig-zag it's way through Kennedy's body in order to kill him. Even RFK Jr. doesn't seem to buy the official line, either.
Then there's 9-11. The resultant Commission Report has been proven, many times over, to be one of the most whitewashed pieces of horseshit inflicted upon, and fed to, the public. The stench still wafts, yet as demonstrated in the video, Rachel Maddow is among the chorus telling us that the stench is actually Chanel Number 5. She's on the video, promoting not only the Commission Report itself as if it were an authoritative tome, but also the visual novel (comic book) version of the same, as well as another book which is supposed to debunk all those pesky "conspiracy theories" that won't go away. She says they won't go away because they fill some kind of emotional need.
Bullshit.
They won't go away because THERE IS SUBSTANCE TO THE "THEORIES". Or at the very least, there are enough educated, independent-minded people who have read the Commission Report and put the story propagated within to the test, and have determined that the stench that emanates from that book is, indeed, horseshit.
>> I've lost a lot of respect for MSNBC in general over the last year or so. It's sad, because when Keith Olbermann was in the anchor's chair and proved that there is a market for left-leaning commentary and presentation, MSNBC was required viewing in my living space. Now with the network acting as a mouthpiece for the Democrats and the Obama Administration (as Foxymoron News is for the Repubs), I've largely tuned out. Maddow's rant on 9-11 (and her displayed ignorance about what the 9-11 "truthers" actually say about that sordid day and what actually happened) cost her a lot of respect in my eyes. Ed Schultz's and Melissa Harris-Perry's demonization of Edward Snowden relegated them to my internal "ignore" list.
So from this point forward, I will relegate MSNBS (they've been demoted several letters from C) to the political sideshow comedy-relief of the "left" (they're actually staunch centrists - the "left" is Pacifica, Abby Martin, Democracy Now, and a few other outlets).
Monday, July 29, 2013
Quibbles and Bits, Looking Up And Down And All Around Edition
They're in the air, on the ground, in the water, and from my head onto this page. More morsels for your mental-culinary discernment:
>> Check out this picture from NASA, a rare, clear, beautiful view of Sarah Palin's home state.
With this picture, we can now say with a clear conscience that we can see almost all the way to mainland Russia.
It's a beautiful picture, all right - and terrifying.
This much of Alaska should not be this cloud-free this time of year. The accompanying article mentions areas well-north of Anchorage with high temperatures into the upper 90s.
Don't believe in human-caused global climate change yet? Check this out...
>> Imagine being able to swim at the North Pole. You can do that now, as the beacon that serves as the marker for 0-degrees North is now doing double-duty as a buoy. There's a nice-sized lake up there now, smallish to be sure, but time to break out your swimsuits and suntan lotion.
This is what happens when we allow corporations to purchase our government.
>> Check out this picture from NASA, a rare, clear, beautiful view of Sarah Palin's home state.
With this picture, we can now say with a clear conscience that we can see almost all the way to mainland Russia.
It's a beautiful picture, all right - and terrifying.
This much of Alaska should not be this cloud-free this time of year. The accompanying article mentions areas well-north of Anchorage with high temperatures into the upper 90s.
Don't believe in human-caused global climate change yet? Check this out...
>> Imagine being able to swim at the North Pole. You can do that now, as the beacon that serves as the marker for 0-degrees North is now doing double-duty as a buoy. There's a nice-sized lake up there now, smallish to be sure, but time to break out your swimsuits and suntan lotion.
This is what happens when we allow corporations to purchase our government.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
What Lessons did Trayvon Teach Us?
I just got word a few minutes ago, about the Trayvon Martin verdict.
This is going to be a strange blog entry, as I honestly don't know what to make of this. I feel for Trayvon. I feel for the family and the supporters. I feel for those who felt that justice was not served. And I feel for the jurors.
I was a foreman for a jury trial last year. Being put in a position of juror for a criminal (or for me, civil with criminal overtones) case, especially one with as much emotional payload as this, puts the jurors into a lose-lose, damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't, situation. Someone is going to be upset with this verdict, regardless of which way it went. Had George Zimmerman been found guilty, then the gun nuts and the entirety of the right wing would be up in high dudgeon, trumpeting their anger and racism from on the heights of 1211 Avenue of the Americas and elsewhere. The white supremacists would have likely come out in force.
But that's not what happened.
But here's the truth - I wasn't at the courtroom. I don't know what the judge allowed or disallowed for evidence. I don't have the transcripts, and I could not observe how the jurors (only 6?? For a criminal case? I find THAT interesting...) were acting during the course of the trial. I know that in some areas of the trial, such as that involving whose voice was on the tape, there were conflicting claims as to whose voice it was screaming. The bottom line is - I only know what the press filters out to the public, and that's not sufficient to potentially put a person behind bars for life.
I could speculate till all things that go "moo" come home. I suppose that in the coming weeks, we'll be hearing about "Flori-duh" and the culture down there as far as race relations are concerned, and about the police, and about George Zimmerman being the right wing's new hero, and about "stand your ground", and about how this verdict opens the floodgates for race-based murder disguised as "stand your ground" self-defense, and on, and on, and on. But guilt or innocence is not what I'm concerned with here.
I'm concerned about our country's love of sensationalism. It sells - at the expense of all of the affected parties;
I'm concerned that "stand your ground" will now be opened for misuse, especially with our nation's sordid history of race relations;
I'm concerned that this case will form a stone paving the path to future race-related violence;
I'm concerned that our justice system will now be seen by more as an unfunny farce.
The only winners here are George Zimmerman, the American Right Wing, and the 2nd-Amendment-Solutions crowd. Nobody else is celebrating in the zero-sum game we play in the Gladiator's Stadium of America.
This is going to be a strange blog entry, as I honestly don't know what to make of this. I feel for Trayvon. I feel for the family and the supporters. I feel for those who felt that justice was not served. And I feel for the jurors.
I was a foreman for a jury trial last year. Being put in a position of juror for a criminal (or for me, civil with criminal overtones) case, especially one with as much emotional payload as this, puts the jurors into a lose-lose, damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't, situation. Someone is going to be upset with this verdict, regardless of which way it went. Had George Zimmerman been found guilty, then the gun nuts and the entirety of the right wing would be up in high dudgeon, trumpeting their anger and racism from on the heights of 1211 Avenue of the Americas and elsewhere. The white supremacists would have likely come out in force.
But that's not what happened.
But here's the truth - I wasn't at the courtroom. I don't know what the judge allowed or disallowed for evidence. I don't have the transcripts, and I could not observe how the jurors (only 6?? For a criminal case? I find THAT interesting...) were acting during the course of the trial. I know that in some areas of the trial, such as that involving whose voice was on the tape, there were conflicting claims as to whose voice it was screaming. The bottom line is - I only know what the press filters out to the public, and that's not sufficient to potentially put a person behind bars for life.
I could speculate till all things that go "moo" come home. I suppose that in the coming weeks, we'll be hearing about "Flori-duh" and the culture down there as far as race relations are concerned, and about the police, and about George Zimmerman being the right wing's new hero, and about "stand your ground", and about how this verdict opens the floodgates for race-based murder disguised as "stand your ground" self-defense, and on, and on, and on. But guilt or innocence is not what I'm concerned with here.
I'm concerned about our country's love of sensationalism. It sells - at the expense of all of the affected parties;
I'm concerned that "stand your ground" will now be opened for misuse, especially with our nation's sordid history of race relations;
I'm concerned that this case will form a stone paving the path to future race-related violence;
I'm concerned that our justice system will now be seen by more as an unfunny farce.
The only winners here are George Zimmerman, the American Right Wing, and the 2nd-Amendment-Solutions crowd. Nobody else is celebrating in the zero-sum game we play in the Gladiator's Stadium of America.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Eastern Seaboarding
I've been away for the last week, between self-guided walking tours of New York City and Boston and homework when I can get to it. By the way, my adventures in these cities are detailed here, at my travel log blog, Beyond Highway 99. I'm refining it as I go along, and will include photos, links to recommended places, and other things learned along the way as a relatively novice traveler.
In my travels, I did find a few nuggets which I think of as relevant in this here progressive-leaning blog. You'll see 'em soon - I think I might actually have a couple of doozies for you.
So before I knock off for now, I'll let you know about a couple of topics I won't cover here, outside of what you see below:
1. The case against former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez - he may be as guilty as hell, but at least let him have his day in court;
2. The crash of the Asiana Airlines flight at SFO, especially in light of the possibility that the flying fickle finger of blame may be pointed squarely in the flight crew's direction when all is said and done. No rush to judgement, please;
More later.
In my travels, I did find a few nuggets which I think of as relevant in this here progressive-leaning blog. You'll see 'em soon - I think I might actually have a couple of doozies for you.
So before I knock off for now, I'll let you know about a couple of topics I won't cover here, outside of what you see below:
1. The case against former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez - he may be as guilty as hell, but at least let him have his day in court;
2. The crash of the Asiana Airlines flight at SFO, especially in light of the possibility that the flying fickle finger of blame may be pointed squarely in the flight crew's direction when all is said and done. No rush to judgement, please;
More later.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Putting the Boot to John Galt
It isn't typical that a professional athlete speaks out publicly on politics, current affairs, or much else that doesn't relate to their chosen profession. What gets in the news, as we know, is the sensational stuff, much like the sensationally idiotic tweetings of Lolo Jones regarding the Trayvon Martin case.
But its nice to see exceptions to that rule. Chris Kluwe, former Minnesota Vikings punter now with the Oakland Raiders, has long been noted as a supporter of gay marriage. I can only wonder how much his outspokenness on this issue led to his dismissal from the Vikings roster - the Vikings said it didn't, so well...OK. What caught my attention is this post in Salon magazine regarding the shortcomings of the Ayn Rand philosophy which serves as the bedrock for modern Conservatism. It's a short article, just a few paragraphs, but he gets right to the heart of what's wrong with Rand - a severe case of social myopia, and a delusional perception of a dream world existence. Check it out.
But its nice to see exceptions to that rule. Chris Kluwe, former Minnesota Vikings punter now with the Oakland Raiders, has long been noted as a supporter of gay marriage. I can only wonder how much his outspokenness on this issue led to his dismissal from the Vikings roster - the Vikings said it didn't, so well...OK. What caught my attention is this post in Salon magazine regarding the shortcomings of the Ayn Rand philosophy which serves as the bedrock for modern Conservatism. It's a short article, just a few paragraphs, but he gets right to the heart of what's wrong with Rand - a severe case of social myopia, and a delusional perception of a dream world existence. Check it out.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Righteous Indignation
Normally, I usually let some time pass between posts. It allows my brain to sift through the news and events, and shape something which I hope makes sense.
But I couldn't pass this up. Rep. Tammy Duckworth is, and always has been, an unfailing, stalwart supporter of our military veterans - especially since she left her legs and part of the use of her right arm on the battle field herself. While I don't always agree with her stances on fiscal issues (too "Blue Dog" for my tastes), when it comes to veterans, she's a special kind of warrior in my book.
It takes a special kind of scum sack to declare that his foot injury, sustained playing prep school football, somehow qualifies him for veteran's disability classification and the resultant windfall of government cash for his business. It speaks volumes that he's been able to get away with this for as long as he apparently has. What's truly sad, however, is the political culture in Washington that fosters this kind of system-gaming. This character is probably just the tip of the iceberg.
The way that Rep. Duckworth conducted herself, in a case which I'm sure was personal to her as an injured veteran, is to be commended. The fact that she was able to keep it together, even through her voice shaking toward the end of her time at the mic, is remarkable. My father was a veteran (Navy), and I've known many who have served in various capacities in our nation's military. I'm not so sure they would be so, well, civil if they were to be confronted by a leech like the contractor witness.
Let's just say - words might fail them.
UPDATE - 7/1/2013: Note Darrel Issa's response after Rep. Duckworth's remarks. Apparently he let her go over time, and noted that it was "time well spent." I guess he's had lots of practice recognizing crooked behavior. Trying to make amends, eh, Rep. Issa?
But I couldn't pass this up. Rep. Tammy Duckworth is, and always has been, an unfailing, stalwart supporter of our military veterans - especially since she left her legs and part of the use of her right arm on the battle field herself. While I don't always agree with her stances on fiscal issues (too "Blue Dog" for my tastes), when it comes to veterans, she's a special kind of warrior in my book.
It takes a special kind of scum sack to declare that his foot injury, sustained playing prep school football, somehow qualifies him for veteran's disability classification and the resultant windfall of government cash for his business. It speaks volumes that he's been able to get away with this for as long as he apparently has. What's truly sad, however, is the political culture in Washington that fosters this kind of system-gaming. This character is probably just the tip of the iceberg.
The way that Rep. Duckworth conducted herself, in a case which I'm sure was personal to her as an injured veteran, is to be commended. The fact that she was able to keep it together, even through her voice shaking toward the end of her time at the mic, is remarkable. My father was a veteran (Navy), and I've known many who have served in various capacities in our nation's military. I'm not so sure they would be so, well, civil if they were to be confronted by a leech like the contractor witness.
Let's just say - words might fail them.
UPDATE - 7/1/2013: Note Darrel Issa's response after Rep. Duckworth's remarks. Apparently he let her go over time, and noted that it was "time well spent." I guess he's had lots of practice recognizing crooked behavior. Trying to make amends, eh, Rep. Issa?
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Quibbles and Bits, Snowed In Edition
Morsels of varying sizes and shapes. Bon Appetit!
>> I'm amazed at the division that the Edward Snowden affair is causing on the left side of the political spectrum. I've seen and heard what seems to be an equal number of supporters, as there are detractors. Democratic Underground has made for especially interesting reading over the last couple of weeks - and the detractors are in full force, at times reading like only slightly-better-educated versions of the typical right-wing hack. Many progressive radio show hosts have not taken kindly to him, either: listen to Stephanie Miller on a given morning over the last couple of weeks. I'm sure that all this division is causing the Republicans to just jump for glee at whatever hideout serves as their headquarters these days - because that's ultimately who this whole brouhaha is benefiting.
By the way, those on the left that are raising Cain over Snowden and demanding his head on a plate: who are you really trying to protect? I suspect that they know that all of this is a reflection on President Obama, and their real concern is the potential impact on the 2014 and 2016 elections. We cannot afford to have disillusionment drive down turnout and thus benefits the Repubs, but can you blame people for not being especially enthusiastic about casting a vote for a party that betrayed them? Chris Hedges lays it all out in Death Of The Liberal Class - read it.
>> Edward Snowden is being accused by this Administration of espionage. Here's the question: spying on whose behalf????? If this was truly a case of espionage, and he's acting as an agent for somebody, would any of his revelations have seen the light of day? He could have sold this information to an interested nation, with it likely being kept secret, and be paid quite handsomely for it, so I don't think that personal enrichment was his motivation for going public.
>> Not to overstate the obvious, but Mr. Snowden will not get a fair trial in this country. Hong Kong knows that. So does China and Russia, not to mention any other country not completely in America's waning sphere of influence. Honestly - would Hong Kong have made their statement that our extradition request didn't completely meet their legal requirements 15-20 years ago? How about Ecuador's public reminder that Snowden's extradition request will be evaluated based on Ecuador's constitution and laws? The international community is standing up to us, and I say, GOOD! It's high time.
BTW, perhaps the Emperor isn't completely naked - yet. But the skivvies are certainly in full view - and the Moon Over American Exceptionalism is on the rise. See below.
>>I actually think that we're having a discussion that should have been had for a long time - how much are we willing to let any third party, whether that be government or corporate (these days, is there any difference?), intrude and pry into our personal lives and data? From what I'm seeing, especially on the left, we're willing to put up with A LOT of it. Too much, in my opinion. Remember what Ben Franklin was quoted saying, that those who sacrifice freedom for security shall get neither?
How easily intimidated we Americans are.
>>Lastly, a bit of a departure, but perhaps related somewhat: the subject of American Exceptionalism. In my view, American Exceptionalism can be likened to a big, round, plump pair of butt cheeks, between which the collective heads of much of the American population have their heads shoved up and firmly between. In America, we're born with our heads shoved up this space, kept there by the media and the jingoism and belligerent nationalism (which we mistake for patriotism) we were raised with. It's education, experience with other cultures and countries, and a cultural commitment to open mindedness, that begins the prying-out process.
Time to start pulling, ladies and gentleman. And be sure to take a shower afterward - lest the stench wafts around.
>> I'm amazed at the division that the Edward Snowden affair is causing on the left side of the political spectrum. I've seen and heard what seems to be an equal number of supporters, as there are detractors. Democratic Underground has made for especially interesting reading over the last couple of weeks - and the detractors are in full force, at times reading like only slightly-better-educated versions of the typical right-wing hack. Many progressive radio show hosts have not taken kindly to him, either: listen to Stephanie Miller on a given morning over the last couple of weeks. I'm sure that all this division is causing the Republicans to just jump for glee at whatever hideout serves as their headquarters these days - because that's ultimately who this whole brouhaha is benefiting.
By the way, those on the left that are raising Cain over Snowden and demanding his head on a plate: who are you really trying to protect? I suspect that they know that all of this is a reflection on President Obama, and their real concern is the potential impact on the 2014 and 2016 elections. We cannot afford to have disillusionment drive down turnout and thus benefits the Repubs, but can you blame people for not being especially enthusiastic about casting a vote for a party that betrayed them? Chris Hedges lays it all out in Death Of The Liberal Class - read it.
>> Edward Snowden is being accused by this Administration of espionage. Here's the question: spying on whose behalf????? If this was truly a case of espionage, and he's acting as an agent for somebody, would any of his revelations have seen the light of day? He could have sold this information to an interested nation, with it likely being kept secret, and be paid quite handsomely for it, so I don't think that personal enrichment was his motivation for going public.
>> Not to overstate the obvious, but Mr. Snowden will not get a fair trial in this country. Hong Kong knows that. So does China and Russia, not to mention any other country not completely in America's waning sphere of influence. Honestly - would Hong Kong have made their statement that our extradition request didn't completely meet their legal requirements 15-20 years ago? How about Ecuador's public reminder that Snowden's extradition request will be evaluated based on Ecuador's constitution and laws? The international community is standing up to us, and I say, GOOD! It's high time.
BTW, perhaps the Emperor isn't completely naked - yet. But the skivvies are certainly in full view - and the Moon Over American Exceptionalism is on the rise. See below.
>>I actually think that we're having a discussion that should have been had for a long time - how much are we willing to let any third party, whether that be government or corporate (these days, is there any difference?), intrude and pry into our personal lives and data? From what I'm seeing, especially on the left, we're willing to put up with A LOT of it. Too much, in my opinion. Remember what Ben Franklin was quoted saying, that those who sacrifice freedom for security shall get neither?
How easily intimidated we Americans are.
>>Lastly, a bit of a departure, but perhaps related somewhat: the subject of American Exceptionalism. In my view, American Exceptionalism can be likened to a big, round, plump pair of butt cheeks, between which the collective heads of much of the American population have their heads shoved up and firmly between. In America, we're born with our heads shoved up this space, kept there by the media and the jingoism and belligerent nationalism (which we mistake for patriotism) we were raised with. It's education, experience with other cultures and countries, and a cultural commitment to open mindedness, that begins the prying-out process.
Time to start pulling, ladies and gentleman. And be sure to take a shower afterward - lest the stench wafts around.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Piecing Together The Ransom Note
Over the last few weeks, whenever I read or watched the news I always felt like I'm reading one of those archetypal ransom notes, where the words and letters were cut out of various magazines, newspapers, and other sources, and taped/glued together in a hodgepodge.
I've been following the events going on in Turkey over the last couple of weeks, and found myself being reminded quite vividly about how the #Occupy movement was treated with a similar level of brutality. I've read various items on the internet and in the friendly neighborhood Barnes and Noble that seem to carry a common theme: learn to live with and be happy with less, finding fulfillment with less, etc. etc. etc. This message is also implied in proclamations like that recently issued by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who seems to think that the reason for the college debt crisis is that there are too many people going to colleges and not enough getting into the trades like plumbing and carpentry. It's especially galling when that message, as well-meaning as it might be, is being issued by the "money press" like CNBC, with admonitions about "resourcefulness", and the old canard about how necessity is the mother of all invention and innovation. And to hear politicians (even Republicans, from whom a message like this is par-for-course) say that the automatic increase in student loan rates is a good thing because personal responsibility is "cool" - don't get me started.
Anything, so that Corporate America and the rich don't have to pay one more dime to the Government, which they now own anyway. They've already "gone Galt", in a financial sense.
And if they own the Government, and if "We The People" are supposed to BE the Government in a "democracy", then who does Corporate America, by extension, own?
That's right, WE THE PEOPLE. They own US.
The ransom note is becoming increasingly easy to decipher. It's varying fonts and cut-out words and phrases are now seen for all:
Dear People:
SIT DOWN, & SHUT the F**K UP.
I've been following the events going on in Turkey over the last couple of weeks, and found myself being reminded quite vividly about how the #Occupy movement was treated with a similar level of brutality. I've read various items on the internet and in the friendly neighborhood Barnes and Noble that seem to carry a common theme: learn to live with and be happy with less, finding fulfillment with less, etc. etc. etc. This message is also implied in proclamations like that recently issued by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who seems to think that the reason for the college debt crisis is that there are too many people going to colleges and not enough getting into the trades like plumbing and carpentry. It's especially galling when that message, as well-meaning as it might be, is being issued by the "money press" like CNBC, with admonitions about "resourcefulness", and the old canard about how necessity is the mother of all invention and innovation. And to hear politicians (even Republicans, from whom a message like this is par-for-course) say that the automatic increase in student loan rates is a good thing because personal responsibility is "cool" - don't get me started.
Anything, so that Corporate America and the rich don't have to pay one more dime to the Government, which they now own anyway. They've already "gone Galt", in a financial sense.
And if they own the Government, and if "We The People" are supposed to BE the Government in a "democracy", then who does Corporate America, by extension, own?
That's right, WE THE PEOPLE. They own US.
The ransom note is becoming increasingly easy to decipher. It's varying fonts and cut-out words and phrases are now seen for all:
Dear People:
SIT DOWN, & SHUT the F**K UP.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Behind the Mask...
Yes, I know, it's been a few months. I added the title "college student" to my collection of personal stick-ons, and as a result, have been taking courses that have my butt unable to be planted anywhere.
So I'm back. And I'm pissed.
A few posts back, I posted what Las Vegas and other communities are doing about their respective homeless issues - specifically, shipping them out of town by bus, and criminalizing helping those that remain in any way, shape, or form.
Now, check this out. Apparently, ahead of the approaching G8 Summit in Northern Ireland, the Fermanagh County forefathers found it appropriate to create the illusion of economic prosperity in the host townships by supplying large "stickers" of seemingly full store inventory to place in the shuttered storefronts and doors. Now, we would not want to give the dignitaries any possible thought that their Friedmanist bullshit doesn't work, do we?
But that's part-and-parcel of our society today. Truth means squat - literally. Perception, on the other hand, is everything.
So I'm back. And I'm pissed.
A few posts back, I posted what Las Vegas and other communities are doing about their respective homeless issues - specifically, shipping them out of town by bus, and criminalizing helping those that remain in any way, shape, or form.
Now, check this out. Apparently, ahead of the approaching G8 Summit in Northern Ireland, the Fermanagh County forefathers found it appropriate to create the illusion of economic prosperity in the host townships by supplying large "stickers" of seemingly full store inventory to place in the shuttered storefronts and doors. Now, we would not want to give the dignitaries any possible thought that their Friedmanist bullshit doesn't work, do we?
But that's part-and-parcel of our society today. Truth means squat - literally. Perception, on the other hand, is everything.
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