Stolen form Other Sources

Per the latest Harris poll, the number of Republicans who think Obama...

- Is a socialist (67%)
- Wants to take away Americans' right to own guns (61%)
- Is a Muslim (57%)
- Wants to turn over the sovereignty of the United States to a one world government (51%); and
- Has done many things that are unconstitutional (55%).
- Resents America's heritage (47%)
- Was not born in the United States and so is not eligible to be president (45%)
- Is the "domestic enemy that the U.S. Constitution speaks of" (45%)
- Is a racist (42%)
- Want to use an economic collapse or terrorist attack as an excuse to take dictatorial powers (41%)
- Is doing many of the things that Hitler did (38%).
- Even more remarkable perhaps, fully 24% of Republicans believe that "he may be the Anti-Christ" and 22% believe "he wants the terrorists to win."


I wish people in the U.S. could read. And after Bush--who had an attack so they could start a war and violated the Constitution left and right. WoW!

rojo

Domestic Terrorism Revisited

Health Care passes! Death threats against Congressmen. The gas line at the brother of one Congressman was cut. This is not just vandalism and threats. This is not just obstructionism where the Republicans are known as the party of "NO!" This is the promulgation of domestic terrorism. This is the use of threats of physical violence to obstruct the ability to govern and needs to be treated accordingly.

This is so wrong I don't know where to begin. The problem is if the law enforcement branch of government actually starts to crack down on this as terrorism, it becomes a rallying cry and a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Obama Administration is taking away their rights.

What rights? The right to beat the shit out of someone. Well, yes, that is a right, but it carries consequences. Just ask the demonstrators at Kent State and Jackson State. At this point John Boner is threatening other Congressmen from his home state. This is much more than poor sportsmanship and being a sore loser. It is more than obstructionism. It is outright terrorism and needs to be treated accordingly. And you cannot say it is just a few on the lunatic fringe of the far right. Too many congressman have shown up at Tea Parties and helped foment this. Showing up is one thing, not telling those in attendance their actions carry results and ramifications is quite another. There is no need to foment more and more anger.

I have met with many tea party folks (my profession is one of the most conservative in the world) and have discussed the basis of their protest, tax structure, with them. They all claimed that their taxes went up. So we went to the tax tables for the previous years and showed them they were wrong. So it became "you know, other taxes." School taxes, property taxes, gas taxes--hidden expenses for welfare queens. When you point out the federal government as a rule does not set local taxes you are told it is part of Nancy Pelosi's gay agenda. Or a socialist plot. Or whatever. There is just anger out there and a sense of displacement that government actually is trying to govern. Making government so small it can go down the drain of a bathtub is not governance. That is anarchy. You have to take care of roads, water systems, sewer systems, education systems, etc.

These people do not understand that they are basically anarchists and do not want anyone telling them what to do. If you told them they are anarchists, they would scream they are patriots. Recently, even in national news, Congressmen are mentioning the "War of Northern Aggression." The Republican Party has become the home to those who wanted slavery, old style White Rulers and the like. And they feel displaced. I feel sorry for them, but the world has changed.

The next ten years are going to be extremly important to the direction of the country. Militias and Tea Partiers will push to go back to Reagan or previous incarnations of fondly remembered white rule. They don't care if they are the dupes of corporations and the middle class and their purchasing power is shrinking because corporations have the same rights as people. As long as whites are in charge and the rulers are simple, they are happy. There only way this can be avoided is to keep pushing forward. I feel DADT will be a dead issue in ten years as the older generation falls by the wayside. The militia/tea party movement will be a hard one to slow down though. Home schooling and a lack of the grasp of civil discourse and how government works reinforces this type of rigid mental patterning. The banking program and education need to be reformed next. Bill Maher is incorrect in his glib dismissal of Texas school books. What is taught matters!!! Focus on the Family is not as important as Thomas Jefferson. When over 60% of the population does not know the three branches of government and carrying guns while drinking coffee at Starbuck's is protest, rational Americans have their work cut out for them. Just think what would have happened had Al Gore actually had time to have votes counted in Florida. There would not have been two wars and an economic meltdown of such extreme proportions. But ask for an up or down vote on health care and you get death threats. That is terrorism and needs to be dealt with!

rojo

Colorado River

I have been sitting around healing and am finally getting back to my normal topic of conversation, water. The following is an overview article about the Colorado River and the trials and tribulations of the Delta and the fact that the river is overcommitted.

More than a little interesting, when you consider LA has overdrawn its water allotment as it grew for years. Now there is enough of a population in Arizona and Nevada to need all their allotment.

I have often wondered about treaties and their sovereignity when they were decidied almost 100 years ago and there was no environmental or ecological consciousness and the population of an area has not yet developed. I mean specifically how many people in Nevada (Las Vegas) were actually needing the water in 1930 as opposed to now and how many snowbirds lived around Phoenix then as opposed to now?

rojo

Robin Williams On Dock Ellis's NO HITTER on LSD.avi

OMG! Not safe for work, but...

rojo

Polka Sunday!


gotta love the cuts OZshadow put together.

and from Belgium, Tex Mex!


And so goes this week's addition of the weekly tribute to Polka Varieties of my youth.

rojo

Friday




and

and


rojo

Last Week's Drive

I had a very long week booking about 2,000 miles driving around CA. However, I made sure I spent some of my time checking out little landmarks. I drove by Buena Vista lake. It is listed as dry lake on the map. It is really a reservoir now filled by CA Aqueduct water and canals. It used to be fed by the Kern River. The Kern River is all dammed up and is used for irrigation and no longer flows freely. The City of Bakersfield has a beautiful river walk and bike path, but no river. The City is no trying to find water rights to ensure river flow. In downtown Bakersfield, you can watch the river flow down canals that parallel the river bed and the river is dry. The lake itself would be dry if it were not flow down the Aqueduct from the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta.

And Diane Feinstein, senator from CA, is trying to garner votes, while at the same time placing her Democratic counterpart, Barbara Boxer in a bad light. She is promising West-something or-other Water District water by rolling back the Endangered Species Act so the farmers get flow. This is really important as the salmon season is again closed because there was the worst spawning season ever. The salmon count in the Sacramento River was down from the 2002 high of 300,000 to 39,000 this past year. Ow. The giant pumps in the Delta pushing water to the LA and Central Valley area kill the fish (they get sucked in) or do not allow there to be the flow necessary for young salmon to live. This is not he only stresser in the salmonoid life cycle. Ocean conditions and lax discharge requirements in CA wastewater plants are others.

I also took time to drive through the Tulare Lake region. I was amazed as i read the history of this area in the book The King of California. What lake? What once was 60 mile wide lake is no more and is the home of fruit trees, grape vines (for raisins) and cotton plantations. The King River (one of the southernmost salmon spawning runs in the state) can't anymore, as there is no more lake and the river is dammed and goes through irrigation canals in a slow meandering path alongside Route 41 and across fields. The water is too warm for salmonoids anymore, even if they could spawn.

I asked the land if it was happy. Some fields said yes as they were loved and cared for, others wanted to be lake bottom and others just felt used. Am I accurate in hearing the replies. Not always, but this was the impressions I perceived.

Sometimes I wonder about what progress really is. Okay, there are less mosquitoes, but draining the largest lake west of the Mississippi is just stupid. A unique ecosystem drained to grow cotton that could be grown elsewhere. Ugh!

rojo

Wastewater Ideas

Most people don't think of this as they kill bugs around their house. But the chemicals go somewhere, and how many people think if a little will kill 'em, a lot will kill them better! Waste plants are not made to remove pesticides. They scoot righht on through and into the water killing larvae, bugs, zooplankton. All of which are necessary in the food chain. It is even worse in places like CA where the big bad pilots douse agricultural products from the air. Of course they never overspray and hit waterways. Particularly the rice farms on the river's edge. Yes, northern CA is basically one big rice field until it turns into fruit orchards, nut orchards and olive orchards.

and here is a novel approach to sewage treatment. I wish it were used more.

I actually was trained in making what John Todd called Living Machines and they were very cool. Banana trees growing in Rhode Island in sewage in winter and fruiting. Trouble is they can't be designed as an engineer designs, but require an artists touch. making things live. not designed to live. It is a subtle difference. There is synergy in an ecosystem that just isn't designed in. For example, aquaitc mint (mentha aquiatica) grows well, and kills pathogens through root excretions, other plants take up copper, Nebraska rush kills pathogens, as do willows. And there is little money to be made at it.

More is the pity.

I don't know why hydroponic greenhouses don't utilize wastewater effluent to grow things like tomatoes, that would stay way above ground and never touch the sewage. Hell, find me a sludge pile that doesn't still have tomato seeds in it that will grow. or even using aquaculture.

rojo

Where Can I Go to Get a Good Drink?

I know I have not posted in a while. I have compressed my office into the closet of my wife's office. Aside from that, the political climate of my country scares and amazes me. Basically, someone against health care wins Teddy Kennedy's senate seat. OMG!!!! We want a sexy guy who drives a pickup over health care. Good going America!!!! Way to think. Who needs universal health care when we can drive big trucks and strut our big swinging male appendages.

Great. Invite the world.

Then the Supreme Court-ya know, the guys who uphold the laws of the land make a decision that makes Dred Scott look good.- make a decsion that allows companies to buy votes indirectly without risk or accountability. Tort reform works so well. So now companies can buy elections by buying advertising. OMG???!!!! What is wrong with this country.

I harken back to Chimp Boy's contested election in FLA. Brother of the elected official, whose election offical happened to work for the candidate. Get George in and viola, presto chango, and it is a conservative Supreme Court. While many voted for Nader, the conservatives did not take their eyes off the prize. You make the laws, fuck the rest!

If the next election goes south, I will be an expatriate somewhere. Better learn Greek, becasue irish food cannot be a good thing.or, why I don't post much anymore.

rojo

How To Lose and Electorate

The Dems are so damned out of touch that they lost Ted Kennedy's seat??!!!!
Okay, who was the campaign manager? Fired forever! Who from the Democratic
national committee was watching the race? Fired!!!! OMG! Jon Stewart's line
rings true. "It is not as if the republicans were playing chess and the
democrats were playing checkers. It is more like that Republicans were
playing chess and the democrats were visiting the school nurse after gluing
their balls to their thighs. Again." Okay, the candidate had a double digit
lead and blew it. Curt Schilling was a Yankees fan? Do you live in the
baseball crazy state of Massachusetts where the beloved Beantown Bombers
actually won a World Series (beating the Yankees to get to it) while you
lived there? and who was their star pitcher? That gives the general public
lots of confidence in your common sense.

Let's face it. If not for the economic meltdown and the netroots movement,
McCain would be our President and Phil Gramm as the economic advisor.
America is tired of seeing rising health care costs, no jobs and shrinking
middle class. Health care is real important, but only in terms of jobs,
affordability and having stuff. Like it or not, Americans want stuff. They
want food, housing, a big screen TV and security in their lives. Right now,
many do have any of these. They have no trust, confidence, whatever. They do
not understand the last wars were fought off the books until Obama came on
board. They do not get what deregulation of the financial markets has done
to the economy. Hard to keep up on these things if you are working two or
three jobs and have a family.

Americans are angry! They do not know what happened to the middle class.
They don't get how Wall Street deserves bonuses. And the Dems are not going
after Wall Street with regulation. They can't get the Fed to say who they
lent money to. But the Republicans and tea Parties are giving a place for
that anger to live. A channel for its expression.

Americans need health care. They don't need to buy insurance, making rich
companies richer. They need this so they can be competitive on the world
market. Normal guys are PISSED that bankers, who foreclose on mortgages, set
up bogus investments and so on get bonuses as they see their buying power go
away. They forget that 9/11 happened on the Bush watch. It was not a Clinton
Thing! Nor was the recession, which is now being placed on Obama (amazing
how big the deficit gets when the wars are on the books) or Clinton. The
media lets fools say these things without question. Oh, dare I mention that
the media is corporations and news is a now a profit center instead of a
community service. It is not the Fourth Estate any longer.

I work in a very conservative industry. Many places I visit play Rush and
Glenn Beck all day. This is all many hear. This is what they know. Instead
of going after things aggressively, Obama appears to be going after
consensus. After living in a commune and working within a consensus
governance program, I can tell you consensus among fools and ill-informed is
still bad decision making, even if all agree. What this country needs is
leadership!!!!! and we need a regrounding in more populist agendas. Unions
are not bad. Business and greed are not good! And what should be the
Democratic strong suit, making the world better for Joe Blue Collar is being
taken from them. Their lunch is getting eaten by the likes of Rush and Faux
News and they do not know it.And we know that Rush does this as a not for
profit. Sure.

Obama would have lost if not for netroots. I watched Faux News last night
while I was at the gym and they could only speak of how this election in
Massachusetts was a referendum on the far left direction of the Democratic
party. As far as I can see, the Dems are right-center. Not left at all. When
the bail out was needed, was there money given to mortgage holders. No, it
went to banks as they foreclosed on people. The banks investment was bad.
Well, hell, if you pay it off and lighten the loss, the investment is no
longer bad. And the dominos of bad securities of bundled mortgages aren't
dominos anymore. And really, giving money to banks without placing controls
on it, reregulating the industry and capping pay. What???? And letting
single payer devolve into buying insurance from unscrupulous companies that
backed the bundled securities who also bought insurance from themselves if
these failed.

What started as promise, getting away from the kindergarteners running the
White House using Iran-Contra veterans to decide policy is not here. People
are disillusioned as the fat cats keep theirs and you get a cut in pay to
work harder with less benefits.

There has been no Change We Can Believe In. Just more of the same old shit
and people are being ground down. Without serious changes, Obama is a one
term jockey and the party who does not believe government can work so why
bother is put back in charge.

rojo

Slow Saturday Morning





rojo

Oldies for Friday







and a repeat, but it is funky!


rojo

Sunday, Let's Polka





or if Ploka is just too much, how about klezmar?


Take these same riffs and eastern european/Middle Eastern influences and let young kids and DJs have at it?


rojo

What, No Politics?

Hell no! It is time to enjoy music. Politics can wait for a day or four.




and the original


rojo

Christmas Present!

OOhhh! I got this CD for Christmas. Dynamite!!!!!



rojo

Merry Christmas!

Jamgrass jazz style.



and


Have a happy and safe holiday.

rojo

Jazz Saturday





and


Al Jerreau's version


rojo

Ska Time





rojo

Central CA Water

Let's see, fish, food or people. There is only so much water to go around.

rojo

Oy!

Via Ian Welsh, Dr. Peter Morici, a SUNY business professor, puts banker bonuses into perspective:

How much is $140 billion?

The U.S. economy grew at a $89 billion annualized rate in the third quarter. That was the first growth since the second quarter of 2008 and came to $22 billion in actual growth in the third quarter.

The bankers, after causing the greatest economic calamity since the Great Depression, are rewarded with six times the growth accomplished so far in the much heralded “economic recovery.”

Meanwhile, seven million families face foreclosure and 25 million Americans can’t find full time work.
Oh yeah, I'd give that a "solid B plus"!

from crooksandliars.com

rojo

Hee

One of the funnier lyrics in rock


Me and my friends went to dixieland
Drove a big RV, with a cabinet full of mushrooms
and a cooler full of beer

It was spring time in the mountains
when we headed out of town
the peaks were white, the sky was blue
and the sun was beatin down

we were rollin down the highway
just havin a little fun
we sure can drink alot of beer
underneath that texas sun

so i pulled into a liqour store
and thats where the trouble all began
cause i ran into their awning
and we had a run in with the man

Get me out of this small town, texas town
I don't wanna be stuck in jail, when the sun goes down
But you can't bust me, if ya dont know what you found

Sam Bush

Then



and more recently


or


that'll start your day.

rojo

Thanks, Liberal Media!

I saw in the paper today that Obama's presidency hangs in the balance over Afghanistan. Let's see, that makes the economic recovery necessary his first "hanging in the balance" moment. Health care as his Waterloo. and now the Afghan war. So in one year, he has had three, "your Presidency rides on this" moments. So let's look at this seriously.

Less than one year in the office--trying to get health care through that hasn't happened in 60 years, inheriting two wars that were "off the books", having an economic collapsed that included the collapse of two of the Big Three's sales and manufacturing, Wall Street going belly up, foreclosure and mortgage crises. And the last President--got a pass on starting an illegal war in Iraq (The Guardian has done a tremendous job reporting he tried to start the war well before 9/11, but do you hear that in the American Press, nope), let Osama go (so could have a devil to vilify to keep the war drums pounding), keep the wars off the books, presided over the worst enemy attack on American soil since the War of 1812 and let the economy go in the tan k on his watch. And the press still talks to the losers who came up with those policies. What? Kind of like talking to the losingest coach in history and asking for his opinion about the USC Trojans. What? Like what they have to say is valid. I don't get the face time, let alone that comments by the previous administration are not preceded by saying "You have created the worst foreign policy mess since Vietnam" and what do you say about this, or "you have created the worst economic downturn in the history of this country since the Depression" so we should listen to your economic advice why? The Fourth Estate needs to grow a pair and report. In my nightmares I am reminded of Rumsfeld stating that the WMDs are somewhere north, south, east or west of Tikrit and no one excoriated him for that. Hell, they are somewhere north, south, east or west of Youranus, too. Can you say, can't find your ass with both hands, but nobody challenged anyone on this!!!!! and now Obama's presidency hangs in the balance. Puhlease. If there were any testicles out there, more than Mike Mulloy would be asking for inquiries into war crimes publicly.

Thanks Liberal Media!

rojo

There are days like yesterday where I was feeling emotionally down, but all in all, I have plenty to be thankful for. The attached article states that one in eight Americans is on food stamps right now. That is HUGE!!!!

We all know at this time the pay differential between the boss class and the hourly class is higher than it has ever been. Just after the bailout, bonuses are reaching record numbers. By the same token, foreclosures just keep marching along. You are just one medical bill away from that in most cases. and more people need unemployment and health care.

This administration faces larger issues than any since the Great Depression. The debt is increasing, the WORLD financial system had to be bailed out. There is little real manufacturing done in our country. The are two wars that were finally put on the books (in case you did not know the Iraq war was completely off the books, let someone else pay for it. Like your grandchildren. all that for the oil rights, that really are going to corporations, many of whom are not American anyway. Great deal for Shell.) Someone is going to have to reign in defense spending. Whoever does will be painted as unAmerican!!!! Medical costs are skyrocketing. There is no consensus that insurance coverage and the current rules are bad. Single payer is anathema to the right--How will companies survive with out the free market? The incessant whine is amazing. The national debt just keeps getting bigger! The bail out-- did it work? The world market did not fail. So in that sense it worked. You could have given money to every American with a bad mortgage and helped them refinance and maybe have gotten better results. Less foreclosures means less junk mortgages and higher property values all around.

Speculation aside, people are angry that they have lost their jobs, their houses, are on the government dole, have less health insurance and so on. Oh yes, credit card rates border on usary right now, too. Rates are changes becasue they can be. The consumer credit card protection bill goes into effect 2013, so you can bet rates will be increased to max, so card companies will maximize their profits until then, screwing people until the 2012 election. And if business wins the next election, the bill will be overturned and they get to keep their higher rtaes.

There is an increasing anger and there will be a concommitent rise in populism. Period! People know they are getting screwed. They don't know by who. and they will latch on to the loudest, angriest voice to lead them. If the far right gets its shit together, they will reap the harvest of the anger, even though the "supple side" economics--can we all sat "trickle down" together? really does not help anyone, except those making the rules and deciding how much they want to trickle down. Yes, I will buy that second Porsche today so we will help pay the wages of one truck driver to deliver it. Oh, and maybe a stable boy to help polish it.

The dems need to get on the stick and make themselves look populist, at least. Otherwise it will be a quick power cycle and all the news will be that the populist Republicans led by Sarah Palin and her ilk (I can see it now, Palin and Bachman, what a ticket!) could win. Currently that won't happen. Look at upstate New York. However, more people get angry and united, who knows what could happen? Break up banks too big to fail, go after credit card companies now, save Americans money, get a jobs program and the country will be Democratic for 40 years!

This to the middle bipartisanship will only doom the Democratic party. It may be good for the country, but...

Just a small taste of why health care insurance sucks. 1) I have had a number of Xrays and stuff on my knees. I can use them as flashlights at night if I care to bare the kneecap when walking the dogs after dark. I spent almost three hours on the phone making sure my doctor was on their list for knee replacement. No problemo. Schedule the surgery and then Explanation of benefits come back for routine exams stating "Doctor out of network!" Call and they said "oops, my bad." So one year of treatment and visits out the window, start looking for a doctor again. and start all over, for the third time. 2) my wife received a concussion one night while walking the dogs. They started to run, caught her unawares and she fell and smashed head on the sidewalk. A neighbor who witnessed this (I was out of town on business) took her to the emergency room. We received an invoice for a very large amount for her treatment. The hospital was covered, but the particular doctor who was on duty was out of network. So we pay 80%. When you go to an emergency room, do you need to check the hospital, the janitor, the doctor and the nurse beforehand to ake sure they are all in network? The helpful insurance representative stated we needed to check to see if that doctor was in network after we got the hospital to avoid such an incident. 3) My wife had a migraine and we waited to take her to an urgent care center, so it would be covered. Even though I could find them on the insurance list, they couldn't. and the billing done by a third party they couldn't find so I lose.

the deck is rigged, folks.

rojo

Just One of Those Days

not everything is coming up roses.--




rojo

Tryptofan Shock, Anyone?

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! So many things to give thanks for and friends and family and everything else. What can I say? Have a happy.

As they used to say in Witchblade (the second season was can't miss TV) --Every day above ground is a good day!

Blessings,

rojo

It has often been said that if you win the hearts and minds of the people, they will be your ally forever. In Charlie Wilson's War, it portrayed that our country was able to spend billions in military aid to Afghanistan to fight the Soviets, but none to rebuild the war torn country. Suddenly the Taliban arrived to fill in the blanks. The same happened in Palestinian settlements where Hamas provided aid.

Here in Central California, the Tea Party is doing the same. They should be applauded for their relief efforts. Compassion is always a good thing. But, what they then want is water to replenish the job and farm market in the Central Valley. Central CA has dried up lakes, rediverted rivers, tapped the rivers in Northern CA, all for farming in a desert.

When I drive through the Central Valley, I am amazed at how lush it , considering it gets maybe 9" of rain per year. Then I realize the canals from the Delta are bigger than rivers in CO and they are pumped over mountains to get there. and further south to LA and San Diego. How much power does that take? These areas cannot exist without the water from northern CA, yet the wildlife in Northern CA is dying. Salmon have disappeared.

And what frustrates me is the Tea Party is stating it is government interference that is changing their lifestyle, economy and way of life. If the government had not built the dams, the pumping stations, etc. there would be no agriculture in the Central Valley and LA would have no water. What don't they get about this. and it is the lack of government oversight that has let the water table be pumped so low that the ground is dropping.

What a mess! and how to resolve it. Not everyone can walk away from the table happy on this one.

Also, someone corrected me on yesterday's post stating that Liz Cheney can't go to war because she is a mother. Hell, they take daddies, don't they. let her go and have the old man stay home and be a house-husband.

rojo

Chicken Hawk Stew for Thanksgiving, please

Liz Cheney states that we are placing troops in danger because we are taking too long to make up our mind about sending more troops to Afghanistan. Well, well, well. Maybe she could VOLUNTEER. It is easy to send other people to their deaths while you sit on your fat ass and eat bon bons. I mean, WTF? In Britain, they are wondering whether war crime charges should be pressed against Blair because the war in Iraq was about regime change with no after invasion game plan to protect civilians as required by the Geneva Conventions. In America, we have Dick Cheney, who still believes that America would have won in Vietnam if we only sent more people, and his lovely daughter bitching about how we are not warlike enough. I would feel much different about their input if they actually had gone to war and seen it first hand instead of being armchair generals. How well would she and William Cristol hold up as shock troops? It is easy to serve from Board rooms and have your snacks catered. Why are fools like this even quoted by the press? and why is the press so damnably stupid? Wasn't it the press that actually gave the "swift boaters" traction, failing to point out one guy actually had a purple heart or two and had served with valor and the other was a deserter? and we wonder why our country is so ill-informed!

Also, current read is The King of California. It is a marvelous book, a well-told story of what makes sections of California what they are, with enough extra history tossed in to make you understand the zeitgeist of an era. You've got to love a country where the headline of a newspaper is "To Lynch Negro Tonight" in the editorial page. and we wonder why Oklahoma senators look like buffoons. They are actually clever men from a culture completely foreign to me.

rojo

If It were Funny, It Could Be the Sunday Funnies!

Just outside Denver, a car dealership puts a birther sign on his dealership! Christ, I wish I could go up to a birther and ask to his birth certificate and then say, "So, prove it is valid." and after showing me birth announcements from the local paper say, "Oh, those don't matter. Show me proof!" and after seeing video of the birth, say "Photoshopped. Not good enough." I wish people would just be honest enough to say "A black man for President. Not a shit kicker. He doesn't want to beat people into submission with all our biggus dickus weapons?! I can't handle the change. I want it to be like it was in the 50s where everyone knew their place. and we were a Christian country."

Be honest. Grow a pair. Know the world has passed you by. and either get out of the way or engage. Being bitchy, buying weapons waiting for the next revolution and complaining about lowered taxes stating your taxes were raised really does nothing for the country, except maybe take us back to before Vietnam thinking. If you care that much about Muslim encroachment, sign up for the military. I hear they could use a few people.

One more little rant--The Iraq war was started under lies. Those who believed them and espoused them (yes, including many Dems, should STFU. Period. Who the hell cares about what Bill "Fish Lips" Cristol and Rush Dimbulb say? or John McCain, or John Cornyn. They have been wrong about almost everything for 10 years. They have a right to be wrong, but why do we pay attention to them at all. It is like the paying attention to the "Flat Earth Society"! Just like why does the State of Texas and its insistence on a 6,000 year old earth have to be included in text books sold nationwide as an alternative theory to science. Bad science is bad science, why teach it?

Peaceful Toone for a Frantic Three Weeks!

One of my favorite rock and roll pianists, just happens to have Jeff beck on guitar and Ron Wood on bass.




Nicky Hopkins, may he rest in peace.

rojo

Psalms 108.9

I see these guys every day and they scare the shit out of me. I work with many from Texas. or the Central Valley in CA. This clip from Rachel Maddow details their belief system. It is time to quit laughing at people on the fringes and castigate them as the crazies they are. I am about ready to hope Governor Perry secedes from the union so we can invade. People like Michelle Bachman and Sarah Palin need to lose their fifteen minutes and be be sent to the corner of weirdness where they belong. When i grew up John Birchers existed, but were a fringe radical group. The extreme right needs to be treated that way once again by citizenry and the media. There is an American Christian far right movement that is the equivalent of the Taliban and they get way too much air time and not enough marginalization. I hope the FBI is tracking these crazies!

And for grins!!!! the University of Santa Cruz Banana Slugs!!!!!

rojo

Friday! Toone Time!!






rojo

Friday Ramblings

some thoughts for this week. Okay, not many, but...

I listen to a lot of radio. Thank all that is holy for XM. It saves me from the ugliness of what AM radio is. But I have heard so much talk of the military and Afghanistan, I am glad someone is saying, "What are we doing there and how many troops do we need? Really? and why are we there?" Bush could have had Osama delivered to him by tribal leaders, but he wanted a fight. And then another fight. The Clinton administration had almost 9 months of talks that did not culminate in Osama's arrest. Time ran out. Yes, you could say that it was poorly planned by Clinton. You could also say that the Bush administration was more worried about getting money back to contributors than national security. These are safe statements.

What scares me is the growing fundamental Christian movement in the military. They feel they are crusaders. It would not surprise me if there were late night semi-drunken talks about a coup if Obama does not keep going after the Muslims (substitute nicknames haji, raghead, whatever--deragotory nicknames of our military. kind of like gooks in Vietnam, that really won us the respect of our allies. NOT SO MUCH.) The crazies think it is okay for the military to be a Christian militia. Do the research. See what happened in the past 10 years at the Air Force Academy. Naval Academy. See how many different ethinicities and religious beliefs are honored. Gotta love the Christian soldier postrs that filled the football locker rooms there. And the military directly or indirectly gets over 50% of the US budget. Who has the moxie, the balls to say, hey we can eliminate our deficit by cutting back on military. Do we need bases in Japan? Germany? Turkey?

If you do that you are unAmerican. Yet we can't afford health care. In Afghanistan, did we ever build schools after we got rid of the commies? No! You can spend billions against the ENEMY! You need an enemy to keep the spending up. Humanitarian aid just doesn't work as a rallying cry for hate! And whether we like it or not, America is an extremely belligernet and angry country. Why? Because everybody needs to be as pure as us. I just don't get it. We wonder why other countriues don't trust us. Well, we act like bullies. Not hard to figure, is it?

One other topic. The Stupak amendment. Just great. How does any woman even vote as a Democrat after that. Sure, it is okay to pay for someone's little blue pills so they can get a hard on. Covered in insurance and is a God given right. A hard dick is a sacred thing! even when it caused chemically becasue your body doesn't work anymore. End an unwanted pregnancy--nope. Why not help produce (mandate) more children in unwanted homes. Or let the mom's die in delivery. Hell, it won't affect the men, as a general rule. Republicans can have abortion coverage in their health insurance in the National Republican Committee, but publically, these women are baby machines. just don't touch our sex toys. We'll care for them. I am surprised there has not been more Bobbitizing along the way. Just remember--Money for hard ons, good. Unwanted pregnancies, not my problem. Its about time the women "have to hit a man, to make him know she's there, I swear." I am a guy and am embarrassed at the accepted double standard. Guys, women outnumber men in population, in the workforce and if they ever organize you may be sorry you were such sexist asses. The god thing is that work for 70% of the pay.

Just kidding.

rojo

What, Me Worry?
Or let them eat shit.

great article with a good interactive chart of the most polluted cities in the US.

rojo

Toone Time

Wyoming Football History and Racism

This is a very interesting article on racism in Western college sports in 1969. Makes you wonder how much still exists.

rojo

Oversexed or at least Unethical

It must be in the water.

and one older one from Texas. Yup, screw me and your kid can get into my Christian Academy.

The one i was looking for was a Christian school keyboard, Bible, and science teacher who was using having sex with him as an initiation into a group he called the Order. Nice--Bible teacher, meet a priest.

I hate religions. I swear.

rojo

Geeky Environmental Stuff

It has been so long since I posted anything other than a music post, I have a laundry list of environmental crap. The first thing that struck me yesterday was that Obama is starting to upgrade the infrastructure for the power grid in this country. It needs it! This may allow easier access for home power generators to make power and sell it back to the grid. Smart meters (Sacramento just got a huge grant to replace all electric meters) will help consumers actually check current usage and maybe run the dryer after the AC is running, cutting down on peaks. The electric grid was put in place in the 40s to now and is using technology from that era. Hell, even old cable lines are not up to the challenge in wet weather. We need new infrastructure. and this will help. O yes, it creates jobs, too.

Another good one. The Aral Sea is returning. It had been lowered by irrigation diversions and become very salty. By lowered, maybe hundreds of feet. Only one or two species of fish in what was a commercial fishing center were alive. Flatfish had to be imported because the water was so salty, the predominant local breeds (pike and carp--does anyone know how to cook carp so they are tasty? I sure don't)) did not live there anymore. Now, with the addition of a new dam, the water is freash enough and the level has risen 40 feet, that commercial fishing is back! Also, the winters and summers are more moderate. The desert will shrink again as the lake (okay, Sea) grows. It may never be back to its original size, but will grow more. The South Aral Sea may be too salty to save.

And this one is important. Antibiotic resistant bacteria are being found in wells. Well water is the source of water for maybe 80% of American households. These bacteria are not disease-causing, but the way bacteria cross breed, mutate, evolve and share characteristics, this could really be a big issue. And what does this say about our use of antibiotics. I was worried about antibiotic resistant bacteria growing in shellfish outside wastewater plant efflunets infecting a population. Now aquifers are affected. Heck, I was reading in a trade journal some real technical article about how ozone is gaining favor as a final disinfectant because it oxidizes, or uses oxygen, in O3 form, to break the chemical bonds, reducing compounds to simpler compounds and elements things like caffeine, ibuprofen, birth control hormones, acetominephen that are showing up in wastewater plant effluent. It is quite a stew we are making.

Oh, one last thing. San Diego was screaming they could not pay for a real wastewater treatment plant. It would cost too much. Their waiver for secondary treatment had been thrown out of court. Well.....they got it reinstated. So that means that whenver you flush your toilet in SD, think about what happens. It goes into a big pit, settles, gets chlorinated and discharged to sea with further treatment. Because the City Fathers are too cheap to do a good job being stewards. Remember that s your bacteria count raises on beaches and beaches close. It is your shit helping close the beaches. Man up and buy a 20th century treatment system. Maybe by the ned of the century you can buy a 21st century one.

rojo

Quarterly Book Club!

I just finished reading the book The Family. It took me forever. I got lost in some of the chapters about Jonathan Edwards, and too often In had to put the book down as I read how fundamentalism changed from a populist and giving movement to an elitist movement. It helped destroy organized labor in the Northwest as businessmen promoted themselves as benevolent fathers to the workers. Yes, trickle down lasts as long as there is benevolence and not greed. But in the "Jesus plus one" premise of the Family, as long as Jesus was there for you, you can act in any way you feel is valid. These religious anus-brains backed Pinochet, Somalia war lords and more because they shared prayers in the name of Jesus.

I am sorry. I studied comparative religions too long trying to find universals in human spiritual life to accept that. I have visited ashrams, done circle dances with communities, took part in Universal Unity events, lived in a quasi-nondenominational spiritual community, practiced reiki and so on for years and years and years. I also know that Christ said "Judge not, lest ye be judged." or something close to that. Well, I am going to judge that these dipshits in the Family do know that you shouldn't judge. and prayer cells with the ethical monsters of foreign or home grown ethical monsters is nice. and conversion and softening of haearts will take time in many cases. but, BUT!

certain assholes do not need to be coddled!!!!!!! I was so mad as I read how in Seattle the labor movement was crushed as certain preachers realized and rationalized that those with money have the ethics and the gift from God to be in positions of power I had to quit reading. They were memebers of the lucky sperm club and nothing more. I heard that crap at the last intentional community I lived in. That certain people were blessed by God and that is why they have such money. No, they have that much money because they have not opened their pocketbooks to their fellow brothers and sisters in the community and live in a completely different standard than others. and then because they have world-wiseness, they get to be on Boards and dictate how much of a dole others should get. They get $250,000 houses and others live three to a dorm room. and haver to schedule life according to the availability of the motor pool. If they can afford to go out. Yeah, fucking great.

Welcome to compassionate conservatism!

I did learn in the book the way that prayer cells and such are organized, which was news to me. and explains many of my co-workers actions.

It was a worthwhile read and I highly recommend it to others.

rojo

Saturday Rant

I am so tired of Dick Cheney and his daughter spouting off about how if we only had more troops, we could win in Afghanistan. I have heard him say the same thing about Vietnam. What would we win? A country that is half-a-world away that is run by war lords when you are out of the capital city? How well did Vietnam work out for us after we committed American military might to that effort? Same situation, same result. Remember Britain trying to do that to the American colonies an ocean away. It falls apart eventually. Colonialism and long military supply lines do not work out to well when dealing with national pride.

Let's lay out some facts.

We had Osama (remember him, he organized the World Trade Center attack) in Afghanistan trapped and Cheney and Bush did not pull the trigger. They let him escape. Why? so they could have an enemy to mobilize American emotionalism against. Then direct that emotionalism towards Iraq. Attack there and follow the old plan 9PNAC plans) and try to divide up the oil. In fact this week, some conservatives were complaining that other countries were getting Iraq oil after America's efforts. The plan was to get the oil and have corporations profit from it. America did not matter. Or in some minds it was thought America would get all the oil and use that to pay for the war. That canard was used to justify keeping the war off of the books for years.

Why do people even listen to this bullshit anymore? That approach did not work in Vietnam. It will not work in Afghanistan!!!!! The end of the movie Charlie Wilson's War had him asking for paltry money to rebuild Afghanistan after we helped arm the insurgents against Russia and was shut down. Money for war is understandable. Defendible! Money for efforts that may win hearts and minds, not so much.

With that, I will leave with a song.



rojo

Budgetary Considerations!

Mary Landreau asks "Would you want the public option if ity bankrupts the government?" thoughtfully. Yes, did she ask that before we invaded Iraq? Afghanistan?

How bogus is that question?! Maybe we can move money around the budget to make ends meet. Jeez, maybe a new battleship is not needed. Maybe a new bunker buster bomb. Maybe a research project on arctic seals. Maybe we need thios and some fiscal responsibility.

Christ, what a red herring! Maybe government officials need to earn their pay by balancing the budget band doing the right thing.

rojo

Toones

Friday Toone, but internet problems with Comcast for three days. Their service sucks!



rojo

Blues Power






rojo

How to Piss Away a Rainy Day








rojo

Vacation

Starts today! and guess what was recommended for me by You Tube. You just can't make this up.

and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is this weekend. I am going Sunday! Galactic and Little Feat for sure! Saturday features Jorma, the Duhks and Natalia Macmaster. Too many chores, maybe--but having second thoughts on the necessity of chores. The toilet can leak for another week or six.

In honor of Saturday, some Friday toones!



and



The Duhks



or

one from Galactic.

rojo

Thoughts from Yesterday

Let's see--Obama was identified as a killer and an international menace by a member of Congress. Diaper David Vetter leads the moral indignation charge against ACORN. Munitions makers cannot keep up with the demand for bullets (many people do not think 10,000 rounds at home is enough for a coming revolution.) There is a poll calling for Obama'a assasination. The Republicans bitch because Obama is going to try to get the summer Olympics for Chicago and it is taking focus away from the war in Afghanistan. As if they did not botch that job themselves for the last 8 years. Who can forget Bush did not care where Obama was?

A Christian woman who runs interference for Phyllis Schafly's organization and heads a state for them calls for Obama's assasination.What part of insane am I missing? We enter into an unjustified war, but do get to strut our stuff as a country, kill maybe a million and have not set up a stable regime, go bankrupt, and start torturing--lose any moral high ground we ever had--and that is great. It shows we have BIG BALLS. Now we have a black instead of a Texas (yeah, sure) shitkicker, someone who can speak (no, I do not agree with his policies all the time, too centrist for me) who can do things by political dialogue and no blood, and at least 20% in the country wish they could kill him. Openly. Yes, I know there were closet poeples who wanted to kill the last administration. I read blogs. However, spoken openly and repeatedly. Not hardly.

Hell, the Denver Three were locked up for wearing T-Shirts and others were taken away from Presidential meetings because their cars had anti-war bumper stickers. Yet, Obama is seen as a Nazi.

I was shocked at the last set of teabagger videos showing people screaming about czars and how they were given fiefdoms already waiting for a communist takeover. After all, they stated czars were Russians and so were commies. They did not even realize the communists killed the czars. and became autocrats themselves. The irony of this is almost too much.

God help us, the President tells kids to buckle down, stay in school and dammit learn something and this is Democratic or Communist indoctrination.

What these people are are pissed that the world is changing. They handle change by anger against. They are easily manipulated, just like a high school football team being motivated by a coach to get their emotions to a fever pitch and then kill the opposition. Physiologically, there is a response to fight in over 25% of the population. That is how they are hard-wired. They make great fighters, short-term heroes, etc. Warriors and protectors of countries are needed.

However, these people are being manipulated by crass bastards who want power and others to do their dirty work, or who want money and need worker bees. The lack of media attention and real reporting on this crassness is getting crazy. The Fourth Estate used to be somewhat reliable to keep America from losing its collective mind. Now we have a lot of was it Father Joe? who used to scream about commies? and the Family talking about Christian brotherhoods to rule the world. and being succesful at above the scenes and behind the scenes manipulation.

I just talked to three men at a gas station in Kern County CA where they had six rifles turned into fully automatic weapons for the coming revolution. I tghink this country is losing its center and going nuts.

The question is how do we bring it back? Can it be brought back? Or will it become a police state, or a money corporate state?

rojo

Salmon, Anyone?

Today starts a ten-year project to start a restored flow to 150 miles of a long-dried up river in CA. 150 miles have been dry for years. Little obstacles like moving a house that has been built in the river bed need to be accomplished. The hopes are to restore an annual salmon run. Salmon in Fresno? Who knew? details.

rojo

A JFC Thing!

Read it and weep, oh ye non-believers!!

rojo

Environmental Issues

Yes, we take care of the defenders of liberty. Other details. with an explanation. All it needed to remove the carcinogens would have been a GAC (granulated activated carbon) system. These are used all the time. We operate two of them in CA alone. We can spend TRILLIONS on weapons but poison the soldiers. Grrrrrrrr!

rojo

I Wish I Were So Gung Ho As These Guys, not really

The following is a letter that I have written to the founder of an organization "In God We Trust America".

I came across your booth at the CA League Of Cities show. I was originally appalled that "In God We Trust" was replacing e pluribus unum as the national motto in the opinion of some. I had to do some research and found that it actually was the national motto. It came to prominence during the days of the Red Scare. I knew that "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance at that time, but was unaware of the change of the national motto.

I am very glad you made me aware of that. Now I will do my damnedest to return the national motto to the previous Latin one. It is embarrassing to think the national visionary approach to our great country is based in fear of communists and heathens, defeating the spirit of e pluribus unum. I see people tout this motto of "In God We Trust" and wonder in whose God we trust? Is it the Catholic God? the Protestant God? the Muslim God? The Deist Deity? the Buddhist One?

After seeing the fracturing of the current political landscape of the United States, where good will has taken a back seat, I am leery, if not frightened by a group who can further polarize the spiritual make up of this great country. I challenge you to prove to me that this organization is not an organization that marginalizes belief systems of others and includes them in an attempt to unify the citizens of this country. Prove to me that this organization does not breed contempt, but rather promotes a healing balm based upon the love exemplified in the New Testament. Then I could back this group.

If your group marginalizes or can be used to breed prejudicial judgment of various social and spiritual organizations, then you have taken a step backwards from the creation of this country.

e pluribus unum.

rojomojo

I am so tired of groups who claim to know how everyone else should believe. It exhausts me. I am reminded of why I don't like consensus government (yes, I lived in a variety of decision-making systems in communes). The one with "the loudest voice and the thickest skin" normally wins. Typically, in America, it is the one's with the funding. How sad.

rojo

Friday, Toone Time!





or

and one to get you on your feet!


rojo

I read my daily water world news (Brown and Caldwell Water News) and just shook my head. First story was of a shallow lake that is filled with DDT and other chemicals. and, you guessed it! There is no money for remediation. The costs are either $12,000,000 to dredge the lake or $1,400,000 to cap it. I am sure the wildlife will love the latter alternative. Anyone remember when there was an EPA with Superfund clean up moneys? Just know that the Bush Administration closed down the tax to corporations to help fund those projects and there is no money. Thanks.

I see the news is not so good in England, too. Or upstate New York. The two latter instances are of the same problem. Sewage technology has grown by leaps and bounds in the past fifteen years. You can remove nutrients. In the future, you will be able to remove trace pharmaceuticals. Actually have pristine water. But, all this costs money. I work with so many Districts, cities and boards. They are manned by people who want to be elected. Some to do the right thing, others for power. One thing that is common is that you can't raise taxes or rates and stay elected. People like clean drinking water and swimming and water sports, but few want to pay for it. In England and in NY, you have wastewater systems that are outdated. The issue in NY is that when the collection sewerage systems were built, they combined the sanitary sewers with storm sewers. If you had a heavy rain, excess flow just goes out to the sea, lake or river. Yes, that includes the diluted pooh from everyone's toilets. In the western US and more modern systems that is not a problem. Imagine the difficulty of digging up a whole city to separate the two sewer systems. and the cost. It is no wonder that Obama wanted "shovel-ready" projects to start on. There are so many issues like this to deal with, and the solution is funding and political will. And with the world economy crapping out, it will take real planning (hint, don't elect those who don't want government to govern because they can't do it).

Here Florida is cited as having toxic public water. The whole NY Times is here. I have to love the one article where how much weedkiller (poison) is in your water glass. Makes me feel all fuzzy inside. and we wonder why cancer spreads. Many mutagenic changes happen at concentrations as low as 0.01 parts per billion.

and sadly, what happens when you dam rivers with disregard of the downstream population. As if the rape of their country were not enough, let's steal the water.

just a bundle of joy today.

rojo

End of Summer Thoughts

First, an environmental story. Apparently the government of China does help produce cheap stuff. And we all need more stuff. But you think that perhaps they might have learned from the Cuyahoga River burning, and disasters like that. The fact that cancer is way up is one thing. The other is that they know they are selling contaminated rice. Makes you fell good inside. yeah.

And, if it isn't global warming, what could it be? Even if it a short-term cyclical climactic change, we is going to have issues. The question then becomes, what do we do? If the coral reefs die, there goes the basis for the marine life cycles. And many people rely on that for food. That is the one thing I don't get. Who cares if it global warming or a cycle? One can be forestalled with stewardship. Both need major changes in our food chain. What we do now is unsustainable.

And I saw my first roller derby game live last night. One of my ex-apprentices does that in her spare time. The score was Denver 319 to Sacred City (Sacramento) 12. OW! The women of Denver were ready and able. Better coached and in way better shape. It was very much fun to watch. Athletes having at it.

The description was something like this in the program--
"there are basically 5 chicks skating at a time. There are four blockers and one designated jammer. The pack starts skating at the whistle, A second whistle is blown twenty seconds later and the jammers start. They have to get throught the blockers and lap the pack. Once they lap the pack, they score points by passing members of the opposing team."

Damn, it was fun to watch. The Denver team is used to either the Coliseum of the Fillmore, where they perform to groups of betweee 2500-5000 fans. Here in Sacto, there were maybe 350. My ex-protege is a 6 foot woman who is just a tad buff. Used mostly as blocker, but twice as a ajammer where she uses her strength more than her speed. But a bit of a ham. As she laps the hapless opponent she goes into crouches, doing one skate variations, skating backwards and doing hand signs like Beavis and Butthead while rocking out. and if blockers got in her way, instead of evading them, she often hip checked them. The crowd loved it. It was effective enough she had to do the action shots for about 20 people with digital cameras after the show. What a hoot. and to think she is the one who helped me clean digesters and stuff.

BTW, the only beer served was PBR. That and vodka shots. More tats in the audience then I have seen in a while!

and as summer comes to an end


rojo

Mean, but Funny

Overheard on the radio today--

"If someone had gassed the Capital Mall yesterday, the collective IQ if the country would have increased 10 points."

rojo

You Can Lead A Whore to Culture

But You Can't Make Her Think!

Little did i know when I moved to CA I was moving to the Wild West. I thought Wyoming was weird enough. Where men are men and sheep are nervous. But no, you get to CA, and Congressmen who profess family values and say the gays are ruining marriage not only have affairs, but brag about it on tape in session. Yes, gays made him have those affairs.

They had nothing to do with the fact that she was an energy lobbyist and he was on some sort of Energy Committee. Let's see, want votes, boff the Pillsbury doughboy blind and see if he votes in your favor. Wait, isn't that called prostitution? and then he is a john. Yes, we have comer a long ways since Miss Kitty's. I mean, we can't really buy votes with a night with a lobbyist, can we?

I am reminded of a business trip to Pahrump, NV to see the progress on the construction of a water plant. We were short $4Mill and the first thing the constructor did was take me to the Chicken Ranch and offer me anything on the menu.

Run Away!!! Run Away!!!! Yes, we lost our ass on the deal. oooops.

And looking at Rep. Duvall, I am reminded of the Joe Jackson song--"Pretty Girls Going Out With Gorillas on My Street..."

rojo

Happy Wealth Stealing Day, Part 2

And whay is the government paying for this instead of the "wealth creator" class? O yes, because that way, they get to keep their wealth. Thank god for socialism and government handouts.

rojo

Happy Steal the Wealth Day!

from an article by Michael Lind on Salon.com--

"Today is Labor Day, when we celebrate the wealth destroyers – at least if the libertarian right is to be believed.

According to many free-market conservatives, economic growth is almost exclusively the result of investment decisions by a small number of rich individuals – the "wealth creators." The wealth creators, according to the conservative press, are constantly being threatened from above by government, which seeks to destroy wealth by taxation, and from below by workers, particularly those organized into unions, who threaten to destroy wealth by insisting that capitalists share a decent amount of their profits with employees. The entire basis of conservative "trickle-down" economics is the idea that the economy will grow faster if the supposed wealth creators keep more of the profits of private enterprise, with less going to taxes and worker compensation.

If you believe this theory, then Labor Day should be a cause for national mourning. We should all pause to mourn the loss of capital that might have gone to a fifth or a sixth mansion or a private jet, but instead was conscripted against its will to pay for a public school or higher wages in a factory.

We should weep for the capital that might have given its life for high-end caterers but instead was forced by government to be spent on public hospital nurses. And we should grieve for the dollars that were wasted on public police protection, when they might have gone instead to private security guards in a gated community.

But maybe instead of mourning we should celebrate. Maybe Labor Day should be replaced by a new holiday to celebrate the tiny number of brilliant investors who, more or less single-handedly, are responsible for long-term economic progress. We should abolish Labor Day and replace it with Capital Day – a festive time when we, the majority of parasitic wealth destroyers whose income comes from wages rather than investments, can give our collective thanks to the small number of people who have most of the money."

rojo

JFC!!!!

So we have a Sarah Palin who was part of a secession party and now this. It is a must read for those who wonder about things in this world.

rojo

Why, oh Why?!

Here I sit and know that school children can opt out of a presidential address that is supposed to accentuate the need for effort, academic excellence and other things of that ilk. Yes, they can opt out because of clauses that education that may be objectionable like sex education may not be forced upon their delicate belief systems. In school systems in Weld County, CO the address will not even be shown because of the possibility of indoctrination into Democratic ideals.

I am horrified that such topics as hard work and excellence are seen as possibly detrimental to the well-being of students. And that people can opt out of it. Yes, let's remain insulated and stupid. While I actively disliked the swaggering election stealer, Curious George Bush for his ham-fisted approach to diplomacy and leadership ("Bring It ON!" and "Mission Accomplished" will always resound to me as remarks more fitting from a beauty pageant loser than a world leader. and wearing a flight suit codpiece looking like a character from Clockwork Orange is always classy.), I never said no one should listen to him. In fact, would have wanted my kidlettes to listen to him and then do research to pick apart or agree with his arguments.

I am reminded of the three monkeys hearing, speaking and seeing no evil. Sorry, the world is not that way. There is weird shit out there and you better learn how to discern what is bullshit and how to obviate the consequences of the bull. This is education for the world stages. How far afield was Rumsfeld's statement of WMD being somewhere North, South, East and West of Tikrit. He should have been so ripped badly for that, he could no longer show his face in public. Hell, Hitler is somewhere North, East, South or West of Sacramento. And the fish logos on the back of cars show the way to the largest used car dealership in the nation. And Ashcroft covering Lady Justice's breasts because he fantasized about suckling from them so much it disturbed his good judgment was unbelievable, but better than Gonzo trying to get him to sign paperwork just out of surgery and under the influence of anesthetics and painkillers. Real class there. You have to learn to sense bullshit in the world and not be influenced by it. But also to know how to interact with those you disagree with so that discourse can be established and changes wrought. Or how to walk away and start something constructive on your own if the gulf is too large.

Protecting children so they can be innocent and untouched by Democratic indoctrination is as bad as the dude in Antioch, CA who abducted a young female and held her in his backyard, had children by her and kept them all away from TV, school and doctors, so they could be perfect innocent mates. And listen to his word of God. Oh yes, he was a preacher too. Teaching them the Word of God according to him. In fact, that was how he got caught after 15 years of this double life. He brought his daughter with him to UC Berkeley to ask for a prayer meeting permit. And the security guard thought "What is wrong with this picture?" and did research into him.

I am very sensitive to issues such as this after living in a commune that really was cultic in its belief systems. The guys there thought there dicks were magical conduits of God's energy. They were rationalizing their importance as messengers of God rather than that sex was really fun and a good outcome of the human condition and potential. and divine in nature, by its very existence. Not that there wonderfulness in the sight of some God somewhere was being channeled through their magic Dicks. Hell, Magic Dick was just a hell of a harmonica player (J Geils), not a bodily and spiritual function.

Being secluded does not guarantee innocence. Stupidity does not guarantee cultural purity. It is a crime to let children opt of of the Presidential address to keep them from being indoctrinated. Teach them to think and participate. Any less than that breeds monocultural nightmares where "Peace is War" can be ideologically achieved as a truism. It is a form of abuse.

rojo