CORPORATE ACCOUNTABLILTY

      Our car has about eighty thousand miles on it, it is a 2013 and has had about four recalls, one is still pending!  

       Over the past three years we have been eligible for about four class action settlements from different companies. Besides that, we have returned brand new items that did not work or thrown away new less expensive items because the cost of gas to return the items would be greater than the cost of the items.

        We understand a company can sell a broken item but cannot sell and item they have not made. That being said, buying a product that does not work or has a short life span is good motivation to think twice about buying anything.

         Advertising has corrupted the retail environment further; we the consumer is subjected to abrasive advertisements with talking animals and humans that do not enhance the products viability.

         We, the consumers forget that we have the power to vote with our dollars, we have in some cases become so numb by the bombardment of our senses with trite, misleading and false advertising that is sold with a smile. We want so much to smile about something, anything, that we buy the product(s) in the hopes we achieve satisfaction. When in fact, we only lose the dollars we have earned. 

           Our family recently received an insurance bill for our home which is twice what it was last year. When we spoke with company representatives, we did receive two additional bills for different amounts. We have been insured by this company for more than forty years. We went with a new insurer who gave us a quote lower than the three other quotes we received.

            Over the years we have thrown away packaging and products from one company in particular that were supposed to be always save items. Now we hear that that company's credit card is charging bogus bills to their customers.

           If we order online, we receive packages within packages as well as plastic sealing and plastic stuffing filled with air. 

            Small business has been choked by the economies of scale competition with consumers spending hours of wait time trying to return a product that is either defective, misrepresented or ineffective usefulness. That does not include those items made with plastic parts that break after one use.

             Corporations believe that their lack of quality can sustain their businesses forever. And the consumer will soon wake up to the benefits of voting with their dollars for those companies that exhibit integrity and responsibility for their products.

1st REPUBLICAN DEBATE 2023

        The debate covered a lot of topics, all relevant and current. There were some segues to the past as it pertains to the present, lol. There was a lot of blame slinging around with few remedies. Someone had the hubris to choose invading Mexico to solve the problem of 'Chinese' Fentanyl coming across the border, along with finishing build the fence. Along with deporting the millions of illegal immigrants, (if they can find them). 

        For sure, it was a lively debate. There was talk of firing a lot of people in government and education and rewards for innovation in education. The debt was shared by both parties justifying each cause. Everybody celebrated their own accomplishments and why they were the best prepared to lead. Each sales pitcher patting themselves on the back with reasons why their shining performance make them qualified to lead.

         The dangers of China, Russian, were included with the lack of civics education for the children, as well as the inability of the youth of America to read or add. Bringing manufacturing back to our shores another of the lofty goals. And teaching children how to use computers. 

         What the debate brought to the forefront was the prior administrations unwillingness to act for the good of the nation and the persons within. So. Why should we think anything will be different. Both parties must work together to accomplish any unity of purpose. Where there any candidates that might have stood out to improve our lot. Was there a glimmer of light to improve our circumstances. 

         There was one candidate who was focused on the constitution and the Rule of Law equal for all, perhaps the only spark to light a flame of the possibility of change. Yet there were no words of unity, nothing that would bring both sides to sit at a table together to work as a team for the best we can achieve.

         Some time was spent addressing the invasion of Ukraine and what our role should be and the threat to Europe, no one cared to mention the threat to the majority of the planets human inhabitants and the food crisis that is growing daily. There was mention of the greatness of the USA but it was an isolated independent aloneness that evoked no impact upon us, instead, the cost of fuel for us and the cheap fuel China is receiving a big problem that should be addressed. South America and Africa was out of mind as well as sight.

          Climate change took a nod as did UFOs. They seemed to touch on everything but...

         A telltale minute was early on, with the mention of abortion. There was a lot of mention about giving control to the states to choose what rules should be enforced. Much was said for the Pro-life position dictating use of women's bodies. There was some consideration for the unborn not to be terminated when they are able to feel pain. If it werent such a sad scenario it would have been amusing. It is reminiscent of the religions that believe in the Immaculate Conception with no accountability for the male of the species. The discussion the usual sentencing of females to eighteen plus years of responsibility. With no mention of sentencing for the males. If a male is equally responsible should their sentence also be measure in time and expense. Parenting in these discussions is never a bisexual chore. Yes, chore, and there is never any discussion about the unwanted fetus and the nine months of indoctrination of dislike that is their environment for the early stages of their existence. Noone voices the ponder of: was Adolph wanted, was Mengele wanted.  The distraction is abortion, and the price of sex expensive for the female and the fetus. Is society doing its best to make sex a partnership with half of the team invisible and unaccountable and is the society admitting that the male is so unimportant or inferior that they are ignored in the scheme of things.

sensory deprivation

It seems to me that part of our development occurs when we have sensations that our bodies absorb. Like the feeling of air on our skin, a bird chirp, breathing in cool air.

Persons deprived of sensations prisoners, hospital patients, covid shut ins are at risk for slow development.

There are a variety of factors that make people crazy and killers, hunger, fear, ignorance, greed but variety helps delay the destruction? I am under the impression that the brain is kept busy processing sensations, like kids running around a playground. The subconscious does wonders when it is given variety.

The covid shut downs destroyed generations and their ability to cope. They do not have enough information to create complex sentences. 

What the eyes see and what the ears hear are parts of a story going on at every second and the computer parts of our brains translate the information to aid in our well being. It seems that info has been corrupted without enough stimuli to oil the gears.

Attachments

     I am seventy-six years old and am facing downsizing. That means going through all the stuff I have accumulated over the years. The first item on the chopping block is a record collection partly inherited and partly accumulated by me over the years. Some I havent played in years, just dusted. Others are regulars that have been stalwarts that are echoes of youth, with the memories of the journey learning the value and usefulness of money and time. When I had free time I didnt have money and when I had money I didnt have free time.

    The rite of passage, each record a mark of time, a link with history. Travelling through days and nights of growing up. A solid foundation recalled by every song, a step back in time to the age of ignorance and innocence. Downsizing is letting go, letting go before my mind forgets the links the music makes with who I am and who I was. Not that they are valuable, the vinyl with nicks and scratches marking the glitches of my days.

    Why are the memories necessary to recall, or are they the first feelings experienced, the first taste of the nature of life, the blossoming of love, the battle scars of love. Is the attachment the foundation of the memory, the touch of the past in the present, is it necessary to nurture who I am, what I am. Does the memory create the stitch along the path that is important, or a status of wealth, a need to hold onto something, a way to touch yesterday without having to relive the experience, a need to know that the experience was felt, or are feelings what holds us together. 

    As we forget or lose the link in our mind to our past, do we forget who we are, who we were, is it necessary to touch the times of our lives when we first felt something, so we can see we have aged, though our minds see ourselves as ageless as our bodies deteriorate with time.

    

    Young children run. 

They exercise their muscles to build strength.

 They run everywhere, using legs as wheels.

 As if they are flying, they ambulate at speeds beyond walking.

 Their strength is in motion not erectness or finesse.

 The fitness is not achieved overnight it is a coordination of years spent stumbling to understand the skill.

 It is a building, of blocks of knowledge, of the physicalness of gravity, and the mind body unity of purpose, to reach a goal.

           

      Want to discuss the expectations of entitlements we think we are owed just because we are alive, or, do ants have rights?

     Writing to learn

Learning to write

   Making sense of reality

Leaving reality

    Walking into newness

Letting go

   Making images

Liking words

   Wishing for success

Listening

   Wanting to hear

Lessening

HEAT

    In the winter we wish for heat. The chance to peel off the layers to walk barefoot in the sand and feel the warmth massage the bones of the toes. The idea of heat on the bare skin, sun warming, cooking the epidermis, evenly caressing the air, soothing everything exposed. The idea of exposed skin feeling its response to the evenly dry warmth. The initial stimulation of the sunlight being absorbed on the bare skin. Warming the bones, cooking the blood, slowing the senses and the motion of life.

   As the dog days of summer dry everything the thought runs to find something cool. Makes one want a haircut so short each hair will not be missed. The idea of humans longing for a hot meal is repugnant. The idea of hot and spicy sends the sensibilities a flutter.

   The heat is oppressive it choles the ability to breathe. It cooks the skin into numbness. It boils the blood. Then there is no one or nothing worth touching. It frays the nerves. It changes the landscape producing an alien planet seared to oneness. Each blade of grass burnt to resemble each leaf fallen from the tree. Each petal from a flower looks shriveled. Too much of anything?

   In the winter we wish for too much heat. In the summer we wish for much less heat. There seems to be an affect upon the skin, perhaps it is the evaporation of moisture we find less inviting, perhaps it is the oils dissipating. Whatever it is, it is more than we want or less than we want. The never measure of satisfaction.

   As the nose dries, the eyes no longer tear, the wetness on the palms of the hands is so intense it does not cool the face as it evaporates.

   It is early July with plenty more time for intense heat to swell the senses into a numbness like no other. Without water, longing for water, looking for wetness, cool sprinkles to wake the heated mind. To bring alive the person sitting quietly waiting for winter to again be wishing for summer.

A chilling experience

  The ice cube gives us a chilling experience - it cools our mood to last than body temperature. There are iceboats, ice angels, and mermaids, some fit in a glass or float atop a table. It is a cold thought in the winter and less of a chilling version in summer. 

  Oftentimes, flowers are planted in containers to be frozen in time to freeze the beauty, for individuals' glasses, as they dance upon the liquid sea surrounding.

  Of course, there are other tantalizing uses for the frozen water: to adorn fresh fish or cuddle a cadaver. 

  Most often we associate ice cubes with the food industry, yet, if you have ever been the recipient of fake knees, you know they are wrapped surrounding skin to reduce swelling and pain.

  Of course, they are priceless for hangovers as partygoers swear.

  As we raise our glasses let us toast the ice cube melting atop the fire. And the cill it imparts on the flame, though it will not be crushed, just melted away.

a love story

   A sunny Saturday morning in summer. Children are running around the house, running in circles around the building, running, as children always do. Why? Who knows. It is just something children do, exercising their muscles and venturing just a bit away from the nest. They are running in the same direction, along the driveway, past the garages and fig tree, into the yard and out to the front sidewalk. They stop by the front double doors of the four-family dwelling to catch their breath. One of the girls lifts her head up from gazing at the cement and glances up the street.

   "It's Benny, Benny's coming!" she yells. In unison all the children become agitated, fidgety jumpy and screeching with excitement. They disperse as if there is a fire. From every door they run into Grandma's apartment and select a position in the dining area of the big kitchen. They find their spot and their feet are in place, lictors positioning on their marks upon a stage, they stand in silence.

  Benny arrives in the kitchen with his little black bag and greets everyone. He moves one chair to the widest space in the room. He opens his bag and removes his nylon shirt, outs it on and continues to remove things from his tiny leather case just as Professor Irwin Corey would take sausage from his train car on the Ed Sullivan Show. He places scissors and comb in his pocket, the children following every movement of his arms without moving a muscle. Only their eyes follow. not missing a step.

   Next, Benny helps Grandpa out of his seat by the window. Since his stroke and the onset of Parkinson's Disease, Grandpa has lost most of the ability to move his arms and legs. his speech a whisper with an Italian accent.

   Grandpa is aided in lowering himself into the new seat. Benny takes a small white towel from his bag and places around Grandpa's neck, and then puts the barber's cover over Grandpa's torso, snapping the clasp at the back of his neck.

   From one of the small shelves decorating the sides of the wall, Benny takes Grandpa's shaving mug and brush, adds some water, and whips up some lather for Grandpa's freshly washed face. He brushes lather on the week's growth of whiskers.to under the chin near the ears. The children shift their weight to their other foot, eyes not blinking. Benny wipes lather from Grandpa's lips.

  Benny's strop, the yard of leather used to sharpen the straight razor' is somehow attached to the back of the chair. Benny holds the strop taught as he strokes the razor's edge down the strop, angling the other side of the razor back up the stop. Several times he glides the blade up and down the leather to sharpen both sides of the blade, then touches the blade with his thumb to see if it is sharpened to his liking. Benny gently slides the blade of the razor along Grandpa's cheek, near the top of his ear down to his chin. He wipes the lather with the bits of Grandpa's beard, onto the towel waiting on Grandpa's shoulder.

   The children still have not moved. In a twilight trance, one wiggles away thee need to run to the bathroom, hoping it will delay the call of nature. Benny gently raises the tip of Grandpa's nose; the children note his tender caring touch, nod approval to themselves, acknowledging that Benny is regarding Grandpa with the honor they expect for him.

  After Grandpa's seven-day beard is removed, a warm wet cloth erases the last film of lather and Benny begins to trim the little bit of hair left growing on Grandpa's head. The children begin to fidget without moving their feet. Even the littlest the four-year-old hasn't left the stage nor made a sound, waiting. Benny combs the last locks at the back of the head, removes the wrap, shakes the hair to the floor, removes the neck towel and dusts Grandpa's neck with powder. Then he brushes the shoulders of Grandpa's shirt.

  Now the piece de resistance. Benny pours some liquid from a small bottle into the palm of his hand, rubs his hands together, and softly moves his hands along Grandpa's shiny soft cheeks and neck. The magic moment in unison. when the children run to climb upon Grandpa's lap and touch his soft cheeks and kiss the bristle free face smelling of aftershave.

  They like kissing Grandpa the most on Saturday morning after his haircut and shave, his soft smooth cheeks like velvet. The children are happy; they can climb on Grandpa's lap and kiss him without getting scratched.

  Benny is pleased as he assesses his work. He has brought happiness. He smiles approval, then sweeps the hairs from the floor and repacks his little black bag, and the children return to running around the house.

Amid the rain

      

              There is a gentle autumn rain falling

        the droplets are resting on the leaves of the plants

       With the spotlights on

     the droplets of water look like dozens of pairs of eyes

     looking at us

       Good thing it isnt Halloween!