The Republican Candidates Debate

Last nights showing was a bit weak, more along the lines of, 'look at me, look at me'. Not exactly ammunition for leading a country. Ms. and each of the candidates will be referred to as Ms. or Mr. to eliminate some government titles and further reduce the playing field to individuals.

Ms. Bachman repeatedly referred to raising children as a qualification. But, she was not really speaking to all the moms who raised their children while cooking meals, cleaning house AND holding a paying job. So, while she did in fact mother some children and foster mother others, little evidence of her knowing the real world environment of parenting with struggle has been displayed, so, she should refrain from bragging in that arena.

Other times she bragged about sitting down with people who have been thrust into life's catastrophes and commented that she, "knows about that", speaking with and living through are not exactly the same knowing and does not denote qualifications.

She on the other hand, did promise to make things right, BUT without bipartisan cooperation, NOTHING ever gets done. Do you see any evidence of her bolstering Republicans and Democrats to do anything, never mind, the right thing.

And then of course, she found ample time, along with some of the other candidates, to bash, or bad mouth the job BHO was or was not doing.

Funny, how many of the candidates found time to report to us what we already have lived through. As if they had any idea what unemployment, without income was.

They all seem to enlighten us about being one with us, focusing on the middle class struggle, while they have all been living with silver spoons in their mouth.

They all of them, have never put cardboard, if they could find any, in their shoes because the soles were holes meeting their feet with the ground. How many of them have taken a shower in winter and dried themselves with holes and a little towel wrapped around feeling the cold air hit wet skin.

Mr. Cain not very versed on public speaking and not very versed on things other than running a company, was one who offered a plan to get us out of the hole we are in. He has offered us a 9, 9, 9 formula to simplify the tax roller coaster and have everyone paying an equal share. Here then is another BUT, nine percent income tax is a wonderful lure, who of us who make any money would like a nine percent bill instead of thirty five percent, nine percent income tax for corporations may be a good idea but  rather they instead of paying nine percent tax their funds would be wisely placed into research and development, corporations are alive to make money, that seems to be their primary purpose, why not let them do what they do best, it seems in our interest, those of us who have to earn an income to survive. Mr. Cain seems to have our interests at heart, though, I again would think the parties would not lend a businessman a helping hand. I have in fact, been known to be wrong,, on many occasions. If he is president, I hope I am wrong, again.

The other nine percent is sales tax, NINE percent sales tax would cripple those on the lower rung of the ladder, starving them to death. Nine percent sales tax on a pair of shoes is a lot of money, especially when we have to drive to the store to buy them. Unless Mr.. Cain explains what in fact is taxed i protest. We live in a consumer economy, the consumer drives the economy, without our buying goods and services the economy goes no where, unless, the model is going to change soon.

We seem to be a munitions and IT society, military, police, firearms, and information technology employ the highest paid and the most of the nation, where is that taking us.

Mr. Perry, one with a smart mouth, said all the facts he was presented with were wrong.  He celebrated bringing big corporations to work and employ people to his state, but gave little when presented with his removing funds from educating the children. When it comes to cutting spending for running a state there are many nuances that must be addressed, and all have priorities. Roads, moving goods to market is crucial, especially produce, picture the mess. Safety, for all of us who can not protect ourselves, and the boomers are a lot of us, should not be reduced, or should we return to the policy of being responsible for ourselves. Have you ever thought about the idea the sirens are the police warning criminals to run away because the good guy who is very frightened into doing his job is on the way. Religion is a big part of who he is, and religion seems to come first for him, does he not present himself like a preacher. While he does take responsibility for all the progress Texas has made for the cleaning up the environment he did not specify I don't think, what role he played in effecting that.

 

Mr. Perry also said Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. Social security is money all workers contributed to fund their old age and of course, the U.S. Government has use of those funds. Therefore, the U.S. Government owes that money to the aging workers of America.

Each of us is responsible for our fair share, yet each of us fall into different sliding scales of ability and net worth so how is nine percent fair and how mandatory insurance fair, or, how do we make the income tax fair and how do we make the medical dilemma fair.

Mr. Santorum is in a fighting mood and I seem not to remember what else he stands for besides his religion.

Mr. Gingrich, along with other candidates, has aligned himself with the dead President Regan. I remember Mr. Regan spent much rebuilding the military might, and then we were in debt. Mr. Gingrich is a bright man with many ideas, a thinker, and his infidelity is an issue.

Mr.Paul is the only person up on the stage who really doesn't want the job, but he is fighting a good fight to fix America. Bringing home the troops is what he especially wants along with shrinking government, government does not add anything to the economy, it should be acting in the peoples interest, but it seems to be growing like a cancer and acting in it's own behalf. Mr. Pall is good to voice many of the issues facing us. He simply wants us to be aware of what is going on and what he believes needs to be done to fix the problems. He is the loudest voice for shrinking government. Whether or not you agree with all he says, you must appreciate his fervor for America, He is the Ralph Nader of the twenty first century, an important voice for integrity.

Mr. Huntsman told us that he was the only candidate who had the votes to make change. He is the only person on the stage to say he had a majority to effect the necessary policies to take government out of the way of the economy. His being ambassador to China, the country sitting with all of our nations outstanding debt is an interesting side to this race. He is familiar with China, the most populous nation on the planet, the nation with the most mouths to feed, the nation selling us most of the goods we wear, and need to make our lives  a bit comfortable. Actually, when you think about it we are China East, and it would serve us to remember that. We are no longer independent, we are no longer isolated. We can no longer think of ourselves as leaders. We are a nation in debt, that can or will, no longer produce our own goods.

Then there is the issue of the approximately twelve million illegal immigrants here. Those person who were hired by corporations at cheap wages to bring them, the corporations, big profits. We can not fault these illegal immigrants who were starving in their own country hiding themselves away here, to be able to eat. It is human nature to fight for survival. For the corporations that knowingly hired them, yes, those entities and their management should and will never be sanctioned or punished, they will continue to thrive.

For those illegal workers, if in fact they do work or have worked and lived productive illegal lives in the good old USA, lets consider a program: On the local level, they present themselves to a board, similar to a parole board, on an individual by individual basis, with two Americans to vouch for them and they, the illegal immigrants, demonstrate that they have in fact lead productive lives here. Then they will be given the opportunity to continue to stay here legally, and earn a living and if the so choose, have the opportunity to learn to become American citizens.

About the border, building a fence, is just something for someone to climb. People always do what they are not supposed to do. If the majority want a fence, then so be it. But then who will build the fence across America and Canada. Anyone who wants to get in can find a way to get in.

If they, the government that is, truly wants to prevent illegal immigration all they need do is warn everyone, they will be shot if they do choose to cross the border illegally, and if they don't believe it they can try crossing. Bullets are cheaper than fences and we already have them.

The other issue, education, feeding students is a very good idea. If you want to convince parents of the benefit of educating their children, promise to feed their kids breakfast and lunch and see how many kids arrive and stay in school. Nobody learns on an empty stomach, you don't believe me try it someday.

9/11 The Twin Towers

On any given business day, the twin towers

each had an occupancy of one hundred thousand

below the twin towers is a concourse filled with shops

as well as the entrance to the subway station

and the Path train station

When the towers were attacked at about 8.45a.m.

there had to be activity reminiscent of worker ants

busying themselves scurrying in all directions

The Path trains connect New Jersey with lower Manhattan

bringing residents of New Jersey to their employment,

somewhere in New York. The New York City Subway

connects Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens, three boroughs

of New York with Manhattan. Many of the people who live

in those boroughs work in Manhattan and must therefore

take the subway, unless they drive automobiles or take a bus

that travels to Manhattan, to reach their job.

Has anyone questioned the casualty count from the assault on 9/11.

Is it simply a remarkable stroke of luck, or is there more to the story.

Besides the passengers on the four planes that crashes, and the

multitude of fire persons lost at the twin towers site, there seemed to

be few fatalities, mostly the persons employed by Cantor Fitzgerald

and Morgan Stanley, who worked on the upper floors, plus the

people at the Windows on the World restaurant at the top of one of the towers.

Is it possible for tens of thousands of persons to rapidly evacuate.

Ten years later, reflecting back, it seems a remarkable achievement

for all those persons to refocus their attention from the task of

travelling to work to running to safety.

The upper floors of the towers were accessible by using two different

elevators, each going halfway up the building. It would take at least

five minutes by elevator, best time, from top to bottom, assuming you were able to get on both elevators, without crowds forcing you to wait for

another elevator.

From the train station you either walked up stair to the street level or

you rode the escalator, and you usually had to wait your turn to access

the escalator, because of all the people exiting the subway at the same

time.

The statistics of the Twin Towers seem un-believeable.

Dear Diary- A Tome

Dear Diary,

Today I finished reading a book I got from Amazon on Saturday.
It is a four hundred-forty page story by Allen Regar called Lost Cause.
Every page is filled with excitement. It is a journey to everyplace I have ever been.
Mr Regar has described all the locales with an eye for the real and then twists the trip into very many alleys. He segues a life journey touching the facets that spark the intellectual circuits that keep the "grey cells' alive. There is not much that I want to divulge because if you will choose to read the book I would not want to spoil any page for you.

I recommend the book. If you are interested in fiction that stirrs the mind into thinking while taking you on a trip to somewhere you have never been and have definitely have been, consider Lost Cause. It is worth the finincial investment and the time it takes to read it.

That is, if you think books are valueable.

Yours truly,
miceLLe

kiss

There are some rules that are worth remembering

for instance

 

a stitch in time saves nine

 which means, repair the cloth before it needs more stitches to repair it

 

kiss

keep it simple stupid

the simpler the operation the less can go wrong

 

sometimes always never

when forming an opinion as to the outcome of an event

it is always safer to consider that the same outcome

sometimes will occur

never will occur

and always will occur

 

Preparinging onesself for all variables is preferable

therefore there will be no disappointment

 

disappointment is a very sad event

and should always be avoided

and will sometimes be the inevitable

 

many times disappointment will always occur

no matter what preparation

no matter how prepared

no matter how many obstacles are removed

 

and

the disappointment of the outcome of an event

is preferable

to the disappointment of

laziness

 

doing ones best at all times

will on some occasion produce the desired result

will on all occasions produce the desired result

will on no occasion produce the desired result

 

suprise!

you did your best

and still you lose

 

yet

you did your best

 

therefore

self respest is intact

 

giving forth the energy to

pick onesself up

to start all over again

 

every day he shined his shoes

and went to work

except one day

he was too tired busy lazy

the next day

the boss happened to notice

his shoes were not shined

and he was passed over

for a raise

 

of course

he worked in a shoe store.

 

rules are made to be broken

rules

do this do that

the only rule

we like

are the rules we make

not the rules we must follow

 

rule

when estabilishing a code of behavior

we form habits

   sucking a thumb

 in early childhood

which we bring with us through our lives

sometimes we see these nuances of self

as detremental

and with persistance

we correct the unwanted behavior

 

or

a teacher notices and persists in persuading

us to adapt to their preference

 

we are always adapting to someones rules

whether we like it or not

 

life

has a funny way of bringing us to today

not as we have begun

but mostly as others would like us to be

 

and we are rewarded thusly

unless

sometimes we do not adapt

or they never choose to reward us

or they always never sometimes see we are there.

 

then

we sometimes always never

react,

positively

negatively

or not at all.

 

sometimes

we are pleased with ourselves

at the way in which we mould to others directions

 

sometimes we are pleased

that we do not mould to others directions

 

sometimes we are pleased

with ourselves

that we never

accept

what others choose as our direction

 

therefore

we never sometimes always

care

for what others say

as to what we ought or must do

 

and we simply

allow them to say whatever they wish

and we simply ignore whatever they say

 

so we always

say

we did it our way.

 

and what

does that get us.

Nothing

Do you ever have a time when there is nothing rolling through your mind

When you try to have a thought and the brain is basically shut down

where nothing flows, no matter how hard you try to force it, there is

nothing going on with the "little grey cells"

 

You begin to think of topics like The economy, evolution, compatibility,

equality, anxiety, obesity, ecommerce, dogs, cats, music,

in an attempt to stir the wheels to turn, then you think of another word,

cars

and the ball begins to roll

 

Why is it NOW that they have begun to increase fuel economy,

why has it taken so long

or why have they done it now and not before

why was it never an issue

 

was it more important to come up with new colors or new models or new gadgets to add

 

why has the automotive industry finally at this time been able to achieve 35mi./gal.

 

If the automotive engine is an inefficient machine, how come they finally

have made it better, how did they make it better, what could they have

changed to increase efficiency

 

The last time there was any improvement it was the cylinder design

by Honda

 

Fuel,

 

When the Europeans discovered the new world the sent their ships

to cut down the trees for fuel and building materials because they

had used up all of their own

 

Can someone please figure out how to use ordinary rocks for fuel

oh, yes they already have done that

By putting rocks in with the combustible materials they are able

to extend the heating ability of the fire

 

Newspaper is a good insulator, In the 1940's newspaper was used

as insulation in home building,

Vagrants, or homeless individuals are often seen using newspaper

as blankets, Pretty soon, maybe there will be no more printed newspapers,

with the new generation that has grown with the computer as the  answer to

every question, Newspapers may be collectible items of value, a thing of the past.

 

The automobile, as produced by Ford, has change the way we live on the planet

Henry Ford invented the assembly line, therefore creating the dumbing down of

America

Before Henry's invention, Auto builders worked on building the whole machine

thus not having the repetitive injuries of the assembly line

Also, generations past were more educated, pick up any old math book dated

before the assembly line and see if you can solve a problem in the book

 

Independence is gone

we are now all connected for better or for worse, or should it be said, for better

AND for worse

 

Privacy is gone

everyone knows or can find out anything they want to know about you

Not that you have anything to hide

It is just that a little mystery is good for relationships

 

Knowledge is a wonderful thing

learning something new is grand

 

In the old days, only the priveledged few were given the honor of learning anything

then the invention of the printing press made knowledge available to the masses

and then the war of competition began, or, really expanded, instead of just fighting

for land and love

we know have seen the fight to be the first in space

the first to dive to the bottom of the ocean

 

invention

all the little toys we accumulate and treasure

a music box

a baseball

ballet shoes

sneakers

 

first it was rubber, then it was plastic

 

petroleum

petroleum jelly

vaseline

 

the ballpoint pen

the pencil

 

the little luxuries we take for granted

 

 

we do not want to simplify our lives

we want everything

right now

 

and are we willing to pay the price.

thrilling

Someone who called into a talk show
asked the question
"Were they, the government, not fixing
the problems with the economy, because
the president was black?"

Is there any other goood excuse for them not to fix the problem?
Democrats don't want Republicans to succeed
Republicans don't want Democrats to succeed
So the people pay for their competition

There are ways for them to agree
There are ways for them to win
There are ways for us to get some relief
It only takes one
to stand up
and be counted

Without government intervention we can change the course
of the way things are going

It does not look good
But it can be done

Even if we had  a government holiday
furloughing government workers one day a week for the rest of the year
would save us a couple of bucks
and make the government employees appreciate their jobs
therefore, giving them the impetus to perform

But of course that will not happen
The president will roll out a plan finally,
after labor day
in the mean time
he has done little to abate the problems

I did not vote for the guy
and I did wish him well when he was elected
I even sent him an email telling him what I think
had to be done to fix things

So, I am pro the people and support whomever is in power
if they do good for the people

There is corruption in government
and there can be good done
So, I did stand up to be counted
when it seemed my voice needed to be counted

But,
now the new phenomenon of teens on a rampage
is a bit more serious
than having no money.

In the 1960's and 1970's the kids acted out by graffitti-ing
everything in their path.
It was obvious that they were yelling for help.
But no one was listening.
They just received punishment instead of attention.

Now, these kids see everyone stealing and cheating
and they want their share

The rule of law
is obviously
ignored
by those in power
and it is reported every day

So why can't they follow in their footsteps

We have lost the rule of law
and we want it back
and we have no idea how to get it back

EXCEPT
for all the next elections
elect those individuals who
respect the rule of law

I am not speaking about religion
just the law of the land
and make it enforceable for everyone
not just blacks

Maybe even consider
legalizing drugs
to break the control of the drug cartels
(because illegal drugs are very expensive)
and of course tax them
and then they still will be cheaper than now

But the powers that be
the alcohol companies do not want the competition
beer and booze and cigarettes rule

And the drug enforcement agencies and the jails
would then have to find new jobs

What say you

Fw: fox tv circus

They even have a judge as a barker

a man of knowledge

reduced to throwing out hooks

in an effort to keep the audience

buffoonery

bah!

fox tv simply wants to demean their employees

the fox circus

with acts

instead of information

Rupert is a jerk

he is waisting talent

forcing them to act like trained dogs

barking come ons

clowns

they look like fools

they act like fools

therefore they must be fools

To eat

some people will do anything

fox tv with more commercials than news or commentary

and fools laughing at jokes that are not funny

clowns parading as reporters

dancing to the melody

make a fool of me

make a fool of me

2011

Weatherwise, it has been a  pretty awful year
here in Missouri

The winter was brutally cold
with unusually heavy snow, ice, and below zero temperatures
for long peroids of time

Keeping warm was the biggest concern, counting the gallons of fuel
as they went up in smoke
Then watching the electric meter spin like a top
Then worrying that the power would go out because the wires were frozen
and would snap from the cold

Then the spring, with the unusually wet atmosphere, flodding everything
And the clouds blocking the sun
that could have warmed the seeds that were not washed away
Then the heat, oppressive
The sun made up for the weeks of rain
and burned the crops that did sprout, and parched the land
It was so hot for so long that the leaves on the trees began to wilt and fall to the ground

This year went from winter into summer,
from cold to hot
with no relief in between

Whatever money there was, has been spent to heat or to cool
No crops put up for winter
No berries no other fruit

This will be a lean winter
The likes we have not seen
Since childhood

This will be the winter to remember
The winter of our discontent
The winter of our trials
The winter of our test

We know it will be difficult
the cubboards are nearly bare
the is no wood for the fire
the days will be shorter
the nights they will be longer
maybe the sun will shine
maybe the snow will fall
maybe the wind will howl
maybe the ice and the wind and the cold
will visit again this winter
as it did last fall
And
come the end of December
we will watch as the days grow long
And we will look to the spring
as better than the last one
maybe

chaos

Well.
America, the United States there of, that is,
is officially in trouble
from within

The ruling powers, those elected officials
elected to represent the peoples in
the  geographic area that elected them,
are powerless to make decisions that will benefit the nation,
or are unwilling to act in their behalf.

Whether or not the budget crisis is real
there is in fact the illusion of an authentic calamity

It is probably a reality
there is no money
the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are bleeding us dry
BUT not for the reason of government expenditure
to fight for democracy
But for all the stealing an pilfering

The disappearance of equipment in Afghanistan
is disturbing
It has been reported that ten million dollars a day
is disappearing from Afghanistan

There seems to be no one protecting the interest of the
American people over there
since it is our money they are using to fight this war
and it is not being protected
how can any good be done over there

how can the war effort be effective when there are
individuals, groups, many removing the tools needed
to win the war and to rebuild the nation that war has
destroyed

It is all a hoax, or is it.
It is all for the oil.
And there is a higher price at the pump.

China is now a consumer, in competition with the USA
so prices in America for fuel should continue to rise,
no matter what war we fight.

One problem now is that China has all the money to spend
and we can not afford to bid above them, we have as they say
no money to pay our bills

So they will create more money
backed by the good name of the USA

BUT if the USA defaults, it will have to pay a higher interest
to borrow to buy anything
and to fight the wars

We seem to be boxing ourselves into a corner
with no way out
no matter what is done
there will be hardship

And what will be very difficult
is
all those kids who have been living with those silver spoons in their mouths
will have to suck the silver
because there will be nothing to put on the spoons
and they will not know how to react
because they have never been hungry

and whatever enemies we in America have
will have the advantage
having grown out of hardship
they will know how to live the lean life

they will not be hungry
because they have tightened their belts

It has been a long time since we have had a war on our territory

The high unemployment in America
and the rest of the world
is prime fodder for conflict

The powers that be, know what to do
they simply refuse to do it

and we all will have to suffer for it.

too bad for us.
the good times are gone.
every generation alive now will suffer,
except for the few who have accumulated the wealth
and have found the rules to keep it.
bona fortuna.
count your blessings.
think happy thoughts.
live one day at a time.
expect nothing.
therefore whatever you get
you will appreciate.
except if you expect everything to be laid in your lap.

The way it is

Corporations are free
accountable to no one
not you and not me

corporations make decisions
that foul the environment,
all over the world,
and like the timex, they keep
on ticking
while those living in the surrounding
areas are harmed physically, emotionally
and financially

Their land is destroyed
their health compromised
and their life cut short

and the corporation beats on

sometimes, when they are sued,
without accepting responsibility,
after years have passed, they
pay off the plaintiffs with token
remuneration, most of the
settlement benefiting the legal teams
that fought the battle, and appropriately,
they who fought the battle,
 should be reimbursed for their
knowledge, diligence and time.

And the persons responsible, the corporate
personnel destroying the habitat and health
of others are still paid their salaries including
benefits and retirement income.
Nothing happens to them, they are
no names, living out their lives in comfort.

Corporations are like shell games,
under no shell will you find the nut
that cracks the case that fixes the mess, 
or the nut that made the mess.

The sacrificial lamb, so to speak, is Rupert
Murdock, his corporation violated the rules
and was caught, and he takes no responsibility
neither does his son.
And he appears before the world and says
nothing.

It will be interesting to see if the British
are more willing to get to the bottom of things
and tell the world what has happened, who is really 
responsible and what safeguards are in place
to protect the unprotected.

The current financial crisis could be, in part, to terrorism
and the role governments and the media played in
instilling fear. There has always been danger in the world
but it seems that those who lead and those who inform
are too terrified to think, terrible, horrible, awful, frightening,
dangerous, horrific, scary, and every other adjective
to describe fear is the only way they informed us of
what was happening in the world.

They could not say, "A bomb exploded at a train station, killing
two wounding twenty" instead would have been reported
"A terrible bomb explosion at a train station.....
A horrible bomb explosion....."

And we follow in their footsteps and get scared, and squirrel away everything.

But, also, the Clinton Administration(notice there is no one accountable
here either) changing the rules for Freddie and Fannie Mac destroying
the economic formula for a more sound housing environment.

If someone out right kills someone, the killer is punished.
But corporations and governments, who are no people,
no one that is named, maim and destroy and keep on ticking.

Until we the collective conscience, vote with our dollars, and refuse
to endorse those corporations and governments that are not acting in the best interest of the collective all.

When, that is, we find out what is really going on.
  

Leaders

We are the leaders, we permit individuals to make laws and enact rules.
Without us, they are not leaders.
We are the driving force.
We change the world.
We go on strike.
We revolt against tyranny.

Unless we close our eyes and ears, we see what is going on in the world,
and WE allow things to happen.

we are responsible, the collective US.
Sometimes we are too tired, to act,
sometimes we are too busy to act
sometimes we are too frightened to act
sometimes we are too lazy to act
sometimes we are too hungry to act
and then,
we look around and see the ugliness which has evolved
we blame everyone else not ourselves.

One hundred years ago in New York City, was what has been called the Triangle Factory Fire. Workers, mostly women, mostly young women crowded on one factory floor with three hundred sewing machines, fabric, thread and paper patterns. One door open as an exit and two freight elevators with one lighted cigarette thrown or dropped, igniting history with the single most dramatic destruction of life in the history of New York City. Through negligence, indifference, greed, stupidity, laziness, and exploitation, women jumped to their death from windows to escape the flames.

The collective we let that happen.

Mass graves around the world attest to the numbness of the masses, the collective we who care little that individuals are denied life. The collective we are numb to the stories reported of abuse.

And then the collective we, come to our senses. We reach the saturation point and we stand fast against injustice. Like the smouldering embers ignite to flames engulfing everything in its path, we sweep away the unconsciousness and stand alert to the horrors humanity has endured.

And we revolt.
We refuse to participate
We refuse to be a part of, or party to
that which we do not want done to ourselves and
finally
that which is being done to others that we find abhorent.

Only the collective we can affect the changes
only the collective we can make things better

Until the next time complacency reigns
Until habit again takes the place of thoughtfulness
Until we again subject ourselves to the inhumanity of man.

happiness

A relative term
kind of like
if only

if everything goes my way then i am happy
if i get what i want then i am happy

if i were richer then i would be happy
if i were thinner then i would be happy
if i were smarter then i would be happy

if i were older then i would be happy
if i were younger then i would be happy

then when i get what i want i want more to make me happy
then when i realize my dream i will be happy

only if i can find the right formula
then i will be happy

then when i am happy
i am unhappy because my happiness is relative to what i do not have
what i do not have will make me happy
what i have is not good enough for me to continue to be happy

striving srtiving striving
more more more

greed?
disire?
need?

not enough
we always seem to think that what we have is not enough

the few who have little and are satisfied are admired by the many who have plenty

another big mistake

the new big mistake, spending millions to release and track guns in Mexico & South America

America is so out of its element
America is not yet again hungry
America has leaders who have never been hungry
and do not know the motivation
of starvation

America, once the leader of the world
has lost its grasp
and can not seem to do anything right

America seems doomed to failure
everything it touches turns sour

America has lost its moral right
A nation built out of bloodshed
from the founding days when it destroyed
the native tribes, wiping out the complexion
indigenous to the land

then the battle with  the natives across the pond
and still the battle with each other

until the great war, to end all war
and instead of finding a humane way to close
the dispute, of course along with others
the stripping of the bad guys, leaving them nothing
to lick their wounds
furthering the fostering of the conflict
forcing the bad guys to come back with a vengeance
to rock their modern world

and then America, again,
with all its might, fights for control of the world
to make friends with the enemy

(what in fact is happening is
the bully is telling everybody what the game is
and what the rules are
and what the punishment will be
if the game is not played the way they say
THEN
they change the rules
and put the wrench in the works
and mess up the game
so only a very few
again win
and are on top of the pile)
"I will let you play my game until I win"
is really what the game is

Until the freak of nature
distorts the reality
then chaos rules

the old cause and effect
with the cause always blaming the effect for the results

and the results
for very many
the contraction
of assets,
of freedom,
of happiness,
of opportunity,
in some cases
the loss of everything
before the big chill

leaving a listless waning
an oblivion

with  crawling
the norm
and the creature
wanders the oblivion
crawling its way back
to civility and society...

the fourth of july holiday weekend

Usually, at our household the holiday is about sports.
We begin the holiday with the renewed excitement of watching good tennis.
This year though, we were disappointed with the women grunters
and do not like joke a vics poor sportsmanship and the other guy who is always wanting us to pay attention to his back side, the two who seem not to have grown up, pampered brats. And after watching the grace and character of Roger Federer we embarrassed for those two men?/boys so we move on to other games of individual achievement.
Competitive bowling followed by women's college bowling
and the worlds heaviest man competition.
It is remarkable to think that one man can carry two two-hundred seventy five anvils for any distance
but to turn a nine-hundred ninety pound tire repeatedly, six to complete the course is thought provoking.
Picking up our sixteen pound cat repeatedly is a chore, lifting half a ton is stuff to dream about, albeit a tire
is not exactly the stuff dreams are made of, unless you are a member of the Bridgestone or Firestone family.

The fourth of July is a celebration of independence, not simply national independence for our household.
Yes we do grill burgers and watch the fireworks and generally relax and connect with family and loved ones just like everybody else.

But we seem to gravitate to the individual achievement sporting events as a necessary root for this particular holiday. Maybe it is our annual mega dose of sports, much like the sporting events leading up to the Olympic competition, and the Olympics. We sit and watch the new generation achieve, we study their demeanor and the stupid sports networks that don't even give the athlete time to catch their breath and the must have interview. It is remarkable enough when an athlete achieves success after preparation and practice and focus, but they must speak without getting enough oxygen to prevent their eyes from crossing. And these young people can think and speak without catching their breath. Personal achievement their driving force.

And then there is the guy competing in bowling who pops his water bottle to distract his opponent, winning any which way he can.

We also watch the fight, where the guy kept feigning a fall causing his opponent to lose a point and we wonder if it is a generational thing, the art of the game has lost it allure, winning is the prize, no longer- being the best- the goal.

To be the best at what you do no longer seems to be a goal any more winning is all that seems to matter.
Cheating seems to be the rule, instead of rules of fair play. It is more the slug fest, beat the other guy any way you can, and if you can not beat the opponent at the game by the rules CHEAT. So how does that foster self respect, how does that make one feel good.  It is like when the bully wins, only now we get to watch it on tv.

The bully rules is the 2011 mantra, the slug fest is on, toughen up your gloves, the rules have changed, and nobody told us, except sometimes there is an individual who realizes that being the best at what you do is a prize more valuable than winning.

perhaps

In retirement one is afforded the luxury of thought.

When employed life is filled with the urgency of maintaining the good graces of the employer as well as the need to maintain the health of the body and cleanliness of the homesite, whether it be a one room efficency or a sprawling extravaganza celebrating good fortune.

 

Much can be said about the years spent earning a living and the web it weaves about the individual, Many never see any time for themselves during their pursuit of the dollar and the things it can buy. Many never see enough dollars to buy themselves any free time either while they are employed or to able them to retire. For those individuals their thoughts are more of the present and immediate urgent fight for survivial. for those persons we can wish them the best and hope for them some of the better life while we ponder for a solution to give everyone a better existence.

 

Then for those of us who have fallen into the good fortune of being born in the right place at the right time we have the opportunity to consider the case of humanity. we may choose to accept the way things are or we may choose to search for a way to make things better for everyone including ourselves and those close to us. Not many of us a fortunate or gifted enough to be thinkers, the brains of the outfit. There are not many who truly are problem solvers or great.

 

when considering the entertainment field we see few who have risen to the top, as they say  of the cream, those few who shine above the crowd. the very few who we admire look up to and pay attention to as masters of their craft. there are few very well paid entertainers. of all the people on the planet there are very few who we all know. and it is very amusing that all of us know a very few individuals {that is, individuals with whom we are familiar with as seeing them on the silver screen or hearing them speak or watching them perform}. we all know michael jackson as a master of his craft and celine dion a star in her own right. yet there are hundreds of thousands of faces as backup singers and musicians who are there playing for us every day, and we have no idea who they are.

 

and we, how many people know we exist, and for that matter, how many people care that we exist, yet to us, our existence is of utmost importance. and we live in our little worlds as stars shining forth.

 

odd though, about the superstar, what pivots them into the galaxy of the universe as brilliant beacons, we all search for  the formula, we dream of winning the lottery, we dream of being superstars.

 

religion for some is the solution to all the striving, for few it is reckless abandon and then there are those of us who simply give up.

 

does free will or predestination rule.

 

i have put thee in the center of the universe in order for thee to see better what is there. i did not make thee either a heavenly or an earthly creature, either mortal or immortal; i created thee so as thine own sculptor thou makest thine own features. Thou canst degenerate into an animal: but thou canst also be reborn, through the free will if thine own spirit , into the image of god.

from "oration on the dignity of man" pico della mirandola (1463 -1494)

quoted from, death and westen thought by jacques choron published by the macmillian company 1963

 

wheter free will or predestination, we are included somewhere in the choosing of what happens to us, within the limited framework of what is available to us.

 

we get to be as big as we can be, whether we like it or not.

Fw: NOW

You look at your hands

You see  cracks

 wrinkles where once smoothness

 weathered furrows,  protruding veins

some mottled complexion

an automatic bend of the fingers  no longer straight

 scars accumulated over the years

 nicks of time   marking the tapestry

skin losing  suppleness

 muscles  strength ebbing

 hands, still large

grander and more noticeable than the stature

big for your size

yet smaller than last remembered,
 less obvious suddenly now

unseen for awhile

prominent today

prominent now
unavoidable

No more the youthfulchubby digits with skin so taught

 the knuckles smooth

grand tools still to be mastered
clumsy

Now
 less pliable

 thought needed for their every maneuver

 still

they be quiet

no longer hurried

no longer running ahead of the heart

acting on their own

less active, poised, waiting

with no regret
no need

no urge

no want

silent

Their story a painting
 the textured lines of time

not simple journey

not the direct route

segues

of roads and villages
some intersect

the complicated trail
 a complex of hamlets that neither

lead to each other nor relate

yet evolve as a pattern

that meanders upon old age

success and failure

battles with wounds

ribbons for honours

with a jumble and tumble 
a trifle tribute

meaningless and meaningful

meaning less now
than what they meant then

hurdles lept

jumps made, jumps failed

sprints faltered

things done

and the desires undone

the plunge into life

the fire to live

the thirst of adventure

the burst for independence

all sewn together with the threads a weave

the fine lines of the tapestry of time

painted on each  fingers

of not idle hands

workers hands

tools of the trade

companions for the road

the luggage
containing the will, the strength, the desire

the odd, self conscious appendages

tip-toeing through time

participating, acquiring, experiencing, enduring

anticipating, sensing, feeling, discerning, discriminating

working, waiting

now

they grow white with age the gnarls of time winding cells

into valleys

the deep crevasses drying as we speak

sands of dunes that have washed away the youth

at the instant

it is yesterday

the beginning

the anticipation

 now

it is the journey complete

the road travelled

the fait accompli

the hands of time

attached to the arms

of the passage

with the present

a surprise

for the busy

living the time

not letting it pass

waiting for it to pass

surprise

for the one

who wakes up

now

glancing then

noticing the travel

wondering

was it worth it

was it valuable

was it meaningful

the hands of time

travelling through today

dancing the steps of yesterday

counting the paces to reach today

reflecting

was it done right

was there anything that could have been done better

is there anything undone

how

now

shall and will

the fingers fold the woven fabric of the veins

of then for the blanket of now

the questions
 now the same

the answers
 now unknown

the hands grasp

as the fingers clasp

the hard work done

the rest will come.

REALity

Albert was right
The world a short person sees is very differrent from that of a tall person

VIewing the world from five feet is mostly looking at the dirt or asphalt, depending on where you live

Now that people are grown taller
for a person of five feet
the view standing in a subway car is always the back of a person
usually right between the shoulder blades, and if it is winter, the
inhale of wool from someone's overcoat

At football games, the play is usually missed, unless you are sitting in the
first row, when everyone stands to see or celebrate the move.
The five footer never sees the game, never knows what has happened.

Standing on a ladder is also a different view of the world, more of a 'sky' view
the horizon is higher
the scenery more encompassing

Sitting on the ground
gives you a down to earth perspective
an appreciation for all things that crawl
a closer bond
a greater attachment with terra firma

when standing, we seem to be in control of the earth
as though we can walk all over it
as though we are what makes the world turn
as though we are why it exists

when sitting on the ground
we are small
and the world is all around us
and we are not the center of the universe
but swallowed up by it

depending where we stand
the view is different
like turning a picture upside down
what we see has not changed
only our perspective has

children see things as very small
their world is not nearly as big as they are
and as we age the world becomes larger
and larger
and we finally become very small

our mind has absorbed more and more
of what is around us
and still there is more
and we keep seeing
and absorbing
and still there is more

then, the minds eye becomes filled
and there is room for no more
and we see
and we no longer absorb

and we see
again
what we saw
and again we do not absorb

we are like windshields on an automobile
deflecting all that gets in the way
blowing it off in all directions
and what sticks to the window
we keep repeating
but we do not absorb

and we wander the world
in our own little shell
part of the planet
and separate from the planet

in our own little world
with nothing entering nor leaving

until our little world
closes its doors
and is no more

and what we see and what we saw
is different
than what they saw and what they see
and may not be
at all
what is

therefore

what is real
is only what we think is real
unless we are not sure
whether or not it is real.

tennis

Is there any other profession that tolerates
employees verbalizing grunts and groans
as a sign excessive exertion while performing
their duties

Imagine the dentist that groans for the
strain of pulling a tooth

or the surgeon who sighs and moans
with every cut

how about the pizza maker groaning
while spreading sauce

or the grocer screaming to reach the top shelf

how about Tiger Woods grunting with every stroke
or the basketball player straining to reach the hoop
screaming whoaaaa

the only other groaners we have heard
are the football players as they are hit by their
300lb. opponent with a force to otherwise
knock any other person unconscious

what was once a sport
a pleasure to watch 
individuals tested to their limits
striving for the goal, the best
as commentators laud and praise 
with joy their achievements

now all we hear is suffering
as though they are
travelling through the gauntlet
where they are brutally beaten from
beginning to end

tennis the new sport
where  players
are paid millions 
to express their
suffering as though
they have never
been prepared for a match
as though they are being
punished as Roman gladiators
as squealing pigs sent to slaughter

tennis - the most unprofessional sport
down there, with a fixed match in boxing
a poor example of humanity
performing.

For them and for us

There is not enough
for them
and for us.

Resources are scarce.

There is not enough land
for them and for us.

There is not enough water
for them and for us.

There is not enough food
for them and for us.

There is not enough money
for them and for us.

There is not enough work
for them and for us.

Jobs are scarce!
People are looking for work
People are idle
standing by
wondering
thinking
wishing
hoping
waiting
starving.

Idle time,
the time to think of self worth
the time to measure one's life,
lost aspirations
burdens
responsibilities
obligations
pressures
promises.
Pointless mindless hunger
wallowing in self pity and fear
alone with everyone else
unable to solve the problem
no opportunity
no choice
no where to turn
no one to look to
no solution.

The boom bust economy
the have the have not.
having money with no time to spend it
having time with no money to do anything with
the rules apply
you must succeed
you must acheive

no opportunity
no solution
not enough to go around
empty bellies
idle minds
waiting watching hoping

to frightened to read
to frightened to smile
to frightened to live

waiting watching hoping
no help in sight
no solution

to little for them
to little for us
no more to share
no one to care
no one to help
no one
to solve the problem

we all want to live
we all want to survive
we sit and we wait
the days linger
the nights linger
the time stands still
the air is thick
it is difficult to breathe
there is not enough air
we try to breathe
we are choking
we can not breathe
we are hungry
we are tired
we are alone
it is cold
it is hot
we look but we do not see
there is nothing to see
there is nothing for you
there is nothing for me
there is none for them
there is none for us

time is at a standstill
something must break
you can scream
you can yell
it will not help

there is nothing to eat
there is nowhere to sleep
there is no way to sleep
just stand there
in the twilight
don't move
let the world spin around you
stand there and watch
but do not see
as you stand there
lost at sea
floundering
with no opportunity

THEY
have set up the game
THEY
have made the rules
THEY
have given up
caring
their greed has reached it's peak
THEY
want it all
THEY
will not share
THEY
do not care

as long as they are safe
as long as they are fed
as long as they can sleep

they will not believe
that we have nothing to eat
that we have not slept
that we have no way to feel safe

THEY do not care
and we shall pay the price
WE are expendable
THEY are safe

and that is the way it is

for them and for us

FALLEN

Prior to GWB it was the practice of the television news to show the arrival

of the fallen

 

Those who have met their end in service to their country

on foreign soil

 

The arrival of their flag draped coffins from the cargo hole of planes

carried with solmenity by their comrades in arms

through the portal of soldiers at attention

 

Watched by millions

as they stop their lives

to pay their respects

and ponder the lives

of those who have sacrificed

everything for what is

the freedom of the nation

 

For the few minutes the stars and stripes in horizontal

the minds of Americans would travel to the place of conflict

and imagine what transpired

 

For the moment thoughts would linger over all past battles

and all the fallen in defense of the country and the prices paid

for that which we still have

 

And all thank the fallen and mourn their loss and grieve for their

families

It was a time of unity, the nation grieved as one, the pain felt by all

personal painful and real

Every living room a funeral parlor with the smell of flowers and death

The time when all would recognize the the expense of the conflict

the reality of war

 

Now after GWB the news simply reports ten dead, five dead

and the news continues

with no time for thought

at what we do

Well

It seems as thought the world is weeping
rain pouring down the Mississippi
into Louisiana
that lowly state in America
where the Army Corps of Engineers aka the US Government
is openning the flood gates, washing away farmlands in
Louisiana
to save more populated areas.
They are also offering free therapy sessions so the people could
feel happy.

They flood your crops, wash away your lifes investment
and then offer free therapy to feel good.

There has been no mention about paying them for their land
and investments, they simply erase, by their choice, someone's existence, like eminent domain. "Hey lets flood Louisiana, that will change the landscape, new shorelines."

The US Government is the new "BIG BUSINESS" in the world, they are taking over everything, mandating how lives are lived and lost, telling us what we can eat, where we can live, and how we can live. The US government is no longer protecting the people it is in fact ordering the lives and demanding how the world shall exist.

There is no longer any illusion of freedom. Ethanol has raised the cost of food to luxury prices, America seems to be getting even with the Oil producing countries for not supplying cheap oil to America. They say it is to make America energy independent but that is not really the case, since ethanol puts water into auto engines producing poor performance and the need for additives to eliminate the H2O from the fuel.

And now to make peace with the oil producing Arab countries, Mr Obama is changing his allegiance with Israel, shifting his support.

Deals are being made, lines are being drawn and the die is cast.
And the world weeps.
Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis
the forces of the collective unhappiness
temper tantrums
of the masses
"the tremor in the force"
the fear and greed with the ignorance and want,
channeling the frustration, anger, disapointment, disillusionment, and unhappiness into an energy so strong that it moves mountains.

The people are only ruled by their choice,
they only allow themselves to be ruled
and when the rulers are unfair, unkind, unjust
the people revolt

The revolution has begun and is flowing across the shores
from land to land
and there will be change
and there will be pain
and there will be a new order
and things will be the same

there will always be those who win and those who lose
and the best you can do
is to try to win
and not alienate anyone on the way

for as they say
you meet them on the way up the ladder of success
and on the way down the ladder of success.

Osama Bin Laden

We, the United Stated of America, killed Osama Bin Laden, of which I am responsible. It is my country, these are my people and I must accept responsibility for those acting on my behalf.

And I do not necessarily agree or condone what has occurred.

Assuming: Osama Bin Laden is guilty of everything he has taken credit for and has been given credit for.
The question still arises, why in fact, did they kill him, without his American day in court.

America advertises its love of the letter of the law, and the laws on which the nation was founded.
Then WHY
* why did they lie about how he died
  first they said he died in battle
then they changed the story stating that he was unarmed

* why did they deem it necessary to kill him without letting the world see that he was a prisoner

* why did they make the choice to kill someone without arms to defend themself

* why if it took ten years to find him, where they in such a hurry to eliminate him.

There are more unanswered questions and confusion than when he was alive.

Revenge and fear, perhaps the motivation
The act seems to be a vigilanty group, taking the law into their own hands, judge and jury.

Why did they do it?
It seems more like someone trying to hide something, rather than protection.

They hunted the man for ten years, three thousand six hundred fifty days plus the days for the leap years, did they have a deadline that they had to meet in order to get paid.

I don't know how you feel about all of this, maybe you don't know either, but it seems to me that there is something going on that we don't know about. Something is being hidden from us, about this whole affair.

Consider the fact, that the US was warned repeatedly about attacks on the World Trade Center AND the 'intelligence' was disregarded.

Somewhere there is information about the attack on Pearl Harbor was not a suprise but the excuse the US needed to enter the war. That the powers to be permitted the attack.

There is more to this, there is more than governments involvement, there is even more than OIL. Unless OIL is in fact the deciding. Perhaps OBL made someone in one of the oil producing countries angry and we are doing their bidding. How did they find this guy, finally?

These guys are supposed to be good at what they do, how did he elude them?
Even though we are unfamiliar with that part of the world there are people who know the lands intimately. Something smells about the whole thing, from the bombing of the towers, to the killing of OBL.

The twin towers on any average day had one hundred thousand people working in each tower, and there were train links and stations in the basement and underground shopping malls, cities below ground leading to the towers, and only three thousand people died. I can't believe they were that lucky 0.015% of the average daily population without the many tourists wandering there.

Maybe in my lifetime the truth will come out, in the mean time, I continue to doubt the morality and judgement in killing OBL without his American day in court.

then them

Alcohol
medicinal
festive
warm
all the things you want it to be
when you want it to be

then there is the cumulative affect
years of consuming in excess
produce ugly effects
that tip the scale over the edge
no matter who you are
there is a negative effect to excess
of anything

excess red meat - gout
excess sugar - cavities and diabetes
excess carrots - turning orange
excess tobacco - cancer & emphysema
excess fruit - the runs
excess nuts - oily skin
excess salt - dry skin

but excess alcohol
effects them and you

Dr J & Mr Hyde is probably
about drinking alcohol
and how it changes a personality
and how the changes affect other persons

but the excess drinker does not believe
the changes as told to them by others

In the USA drunk and disorderly is a crime
yet, it can not effectively be regulated
without prison time
and alcoholism is considered a disease
and alcoholics are punished for their 'disease'

Perhaps it is only fitting that they, the alcoholics
are punished for their disease
because all other diseased persons are equally punished

the slow of mind do not earn high salaries
the physically disabled have not the same access as the able
the emotionally challenged are sedated, incarcerated, separated, isolated
and berated

the bald and the hairy are laughed at
the short and tall are stared at
the old are discarded
the young abused

the aggressive, rewarded
the regressive, pitied

the ugly - of mind, of body, and of soul
are so ugly they control

the beautiful - we want to control