Wishes For A Saturday


I have been so depressed lately at the decision-making process as it takes place in the good old US. Some of the most obvious problems are employment and dependence on foreign oil. Let's see--many unemployed people (whose benefits continually run out and renewing their benefits constantly makes news as they are turned down because, of course, they are lazy and want to stay out of work) and the lack of renewable energy. Hmmm. What to do, What to do?

Okay, for all who do not just want government handouts for the unemployed. Let's give some of the unemployed a broom, a shovel, whatever and pay for their transportation to job sites where they can work part-time for their benefits. That way we get results for social programs and government handouts. The rest of time they can look for work. And if your industry was making electronics, which has been shipped overseas, train them in solar and wind power. Make it a damned initiative to make jobs and get us from 70% foreign oil consumption for power to 30%. No more of this 20% by 2020. Grow a pair! Do something dramatic!

We voted for change we can believe in. I understand the need for compromise and this administration has probably been the most effective since Johnson or Nixon (yes, Nixon--who would be at worst a conservative Democrat considering the current political climate, remember he created the EPA). We got Health Care and Financial Reform, even if they were watered down. We need more as our country sees its independence, based upon GDP and military might, go away. Yes, it is hard to swallow that just becasue we can destroy the world 10 times over with our weapons that the best we can do is destroy the world. We can't remake it in our image (whatever that is). We need to get along with people and perhaps we could use our might to help.

Okay, so much for pipe dreams. I was one who wanted a corps in the Middle East in blue unifroms building schools and hospitals and the like so they could not be confused with military and actually built infrastructure and aid as we invaded.

We still need to get people to work and get away from oil. My big question is what is the plan, Stan? I know we live in an era where there still is argument about the reality of global warming in Congress. and in an era where some want Iran to meet Israel in pitched battle so the Second Coming will be a reality (and they used to run our government last administration). We need to realize that these people are buffoons and they don't get media voice equal to Serious People. And we need to make choices. What is troubling is that estimates of the Second Coming crowd are 20% of the US population in some areas.

rojo

OW!

Oooh, for all global warming disbelievers.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/plankton-the-base-of-the-oceans-food-web-steadily-declining/article1654702/

This could hurt, rupture, whatever the food chain. No phytoplankton, no zooplankton, no small fishies. guess what happens to tuna?

rojo

Heard on Radio Today




rojo

Christmas in July



rojo

Polka Sunday

But I have been singing this to myself all day yesterday





rojo

Polka Sunday

In honor of Polka Varieties, didn't everyone watch it?




next music starts at about 1:45


and


another Cumbia by Ozo


rojo

Sunday Toone





rojo

Crushed Dreams and Beliefs

Here we have Bush and Cheney admitting to support and authorization for torture. War Criminals. Period. We arrested Japanese in WWII, Germans, etc. who tortured. Just goes to show if you are rich enough and have enough high-placed friends, you are above the law.

Aside from their smug disregard for the law (oh shut up about Yoo's opinion, I can buy any opinion I want, too), what pisses me off is that they admit to war crimes. They started a war that has crushed our economy and even worse invaded a sovereign country. Can't complain too much if someone ever does that to us on political principle now, just the discomfort factor. And worst, were responsible for over 1,000,000 deaths minimum according to Lancet, and walk around like they are big swinging dicks. They got the last part right , anyway.

Let's say we waterboard them and find out what went on in the super secret energy task force.

Whatever happened to morals in this country?

rojo

Fool Me Once... Won't Get Fooled Again, Maybe

I don't get it. I don't have that good of a memory, which makes reading an eternal joy. Read a good book, put it on the shelf and in two years, it is a new book I can enjoy again. I know that.

When it comes to politics and world economic stuff, I hope there are those out there who are leaders who are smarter than me.

So when I hear that BP had this problem in the gulf and they were not ready for it and it may have been prevented by a shut off and the current shut off failed in testing, I guess I am not surprised they lie about other stuff.

I mean, how far can they really be trusted? Their history as a firm is one of manipulation of governments. They owned the Iranian oil riches. When Iranian oil was nationalized in the early 50s, they conned MI 6 and the CIA into organizing a coup, took back over the oil fields, but made a joint venture with Iran stating they would only take back 40% of the oil fields, with Shell and others getting the rest. O yes, they COULD NOT BE AUDITED or have any Iranians on the Board. I am sure they were honest all the way in their profit sharing.

Then they bought a percentage of Standard Oil of Ohio (SOHIO) and SOHIO was supposed to keep a branding, but BP bought they other 45% surprisingly. Guess who had invested heavily in the development of Prudhomme Bay Oil? They bought Standard of CA and Indiana. The government nicely protected American business interests.

So here we have a company that has in the past directed coups, using the strength of other countries intelligence and military infrastructure, lied as it took over companies and we expect the truth now?

How naive!

Considering they have brought down other governments as they were nationalized, what are the chances we will get a fair shake economically over the Gulf spill?

rojo

A Memorial Day to Remember

This is certainly a busy news day. First, let us honor the memory of those who have lost their lives protecting this country in war.

I see that California is passing legislation that will review Texas schoolbooks and make sure they are factual so that the conservative bias will not enter the CA school system. It does make me wonder why there are not minimal national standards.

In another CA story, there are 4 judges running for office in San Diego area who are conservative Christians and feel that they need to be elected so that the liberal courts can get a taste of Christian justice. As expected, the right-to-life candidates are pro death penalty. These guys went to law school? I just don't get it. I would think you go to school to learn, not back up your ideas with theories.

CA is now going to make those who divert water from streams actually state how much water they take. The State Water Board wondered why rivers never made it to the deltas. Duh?! Because people were not required to say they took water. Every other western state requires water rights diversion and use reports annually. Gee, why is there no water for salmon? Let me guess. Because people can take water and use is with impunity and complete disregard for water rights. I mean, no farmer or business would ever take water that is not theirs to keep a crop alive in 100 degree heat, would they? We can trust businesses completely, right?

And finally, Israel kills 10 people minimum (some reports are now at 19) as aid is attempted to be delivered to refugees on the Gaza. This is a rogue country and they have NUKES. Doesn't anyone get that? We worry about Iran, and yet we let this country have nukes. and kill with no regard. I just shake my head.

rojo

A Well-Regulated Militia, NOT!

In reading this morning's Sacramento Bee, there were TWO stories of people being shot as the result of gun-toting libertarianism. The first was in Yuba City, CA where a census worker was threatened at gun point to leave. When the police came to settle matters, the man surrendered his handgun, but an older woman in the house came out with a shotgun, advanced on police and was killed. In Arkansas, two Ohio anti-government crazies gunned down State Police with AK-47s when they were being ticketed for speeding.

I believe the second amendment talks about a well regulated militia and the right to bear arms. Not to shoot the fuck out of people over census or speeding.

rojo

Dinosaur Hunt







and now one with his protege Tal Wilkenfield on bass!

rojo

Thoughts for a Sunday

First thought--
There had been a big push to "Drill, Baby, Drill", but with that push there was no guarantee that any oil wells drilled would produce crude oil that would be sold for energy in the US. Seems like Deep Water Horizon actually found a gusher. In that they succeeded. But in the end, they were going to cap it and sit on the oil until hell froze over or they could wait for prices to climb making it more profitable. So, their reticence to actually produce and rather wait for more profits caused this problem.

Second thoughts--
We have all heard the story of the Family Values dude who went to rent boy to get someone to carry his bags and give him massages while on vacation together (got him from rentboys.com, I believe). But he was not gay and did not participate in any gay behavior. I see all mention of him has been scrubbed off the Focus in the Family website. These Christian clowns from Colorado Springs really thought they had a cure for "teh gay" and marketed it. So far the co-founder has been on a cruise with someone from rentboy and one of the teachers was photographed picking up a dude in a gay club, while his wife was in the hotel room upstairs. Sounds like their cure doesn't take.

But that opens up a bigger topic. There are people a lot who focus their attention on criticizing what in their minds is "the gay agenda." The only reason they hate it so much is because it is part of their psyche and they don't like it. It gets consciously repressed and comes out in all sorts of weird ways. So far three of the biggest gay haters have been caught in gay trysts. Sounds like they have some self-awareness recognition and homework to do.

rojo

Friday Toone Trilogy








rojo

What Emergency Action Plans?

I work in a highly regulated industry, sewage and water treatment. For sewage treatment, you need to have a plan in case a sewer line ever backs up. This includes in someone's house, in a street, or near a waterway or storm sewer system. You need to have emergency by-pass pumping, the hose to go from one manhole to another, booms or sandbags to stop the flow of raw sewage above ground, a means of sucking up any spill, and a means of disinfecting and cleaning up the spill. This does not include reporting requirements. Improper reporting carries its own fine. Oh yes, you have to practice emergency response, too.

The fines for spilled sewage depend upon the damage and the State, but can go up to $10,000 per gallon, while $1-2/gallon are more common. If you are the licensed operator when this happens under your license, you can lose your license if you are unprepared or if you report incorrectly.

In the Gulf, it appears there was no Emergency Action Plan (dictated by OSHA beyond getting personnel off the platform). It was reported incorrectly in terms of severity. There were no oil booms at ready in case of a blunder. No privateers ready to be hired to contain the spill. The Coast Guard had to be involved. Now there is the use of chemicals to spread it out so it doesn't look so bad. These chemicals themselves may be harmful if they enter the food chain. Considering most shellfish (mollusks, oysters, clams, etc.) are filter feeders that is very likely to happen. So, let's see, BP was operating without an Emergency plan. Did not have containment procedures in place. Not enough oil containment booms, no practice and no way to get booms in place for the few they had. Oh yes, causing billions of dollars of long-term damage. And to slap the locals in the face, they mistakenly offered them $5,000 as long as they signed a waiver saying the firm had no future liabilities. Yes, that just happened to appear on the preprinted forms by accident. No malicious intent there. Nope, didn't try to to slip liability limiting clauses in without telling anyone. Yet, they had record profits.

How can anyone keep a straight face and allow them a business license in the US? Oh, wait, they have us by the nuts because Reagan and those who followed said we do not need alternative energy. Way to go. Hell, as far as I am concerned we could take over all their platforms and assets in the US by imminent domain because of their business practices and operate them ourselves or sell them to the highest bidder and say "FU BP!"

rojo

Music Today





and


Gosh, there are so many things I wanted to write about yesterday as I was driving, but the only one I can remember is thinking of how many people I have seen chanting "Drill, Baby, Drill!" on national TV on stage at the Republican convention. Well, recent events have shown the hazards of having an oil based economy. In the end, I would distrust anyone who had that thought to make my energy decisions. I think it will take routine oil disasters to keep this at the foremost of our thoughts as we make decisions in terms of our energy consumption and sources of energy. And I do not understand why the media does not just discredit or paint these people as the buffoons they are, instead of being serious people. Oh, they are serious, all right. Seriously stupid in terms of energy policy. We are not talking renewables here. Just keeping that oil pipeline open to the US will forever keep us in debt as we pay our military to keep our presence around the globe fearsome enough to stop evil-doers from blocking oil imports (the debate of whether over consuming are the real evil-doers will be had another time.)

Also, the US just keeps sending money to states that politically are our ostensible enemies (damned radical Muslims) as we just buy our oil fix from them daily. I was watching a TV clip yesterday where the retired Senator was proudly stating that by 1985 we would energy self-sufficient. Yeah, like that happened in the past 25 years.

I am sorry, but Reagan taking the solar panels off of the White house is alone to vilify him and his ilk forever. Completely condemned the US to a future debt our great-grandchildren will have to pay. It is so much larger than the debt we would get from Nationalized Health Care or social handouts, especially when military spending is included, it is ridiculous!!!! Just shows to go you that Republicans, who are supposed to be conservative spenders, have no long term plan, just political expediency. Doubt it if Dems are much better. Few in power have ever thought of sustainability, just keeping power during their lifetimes.

rojo

How many Executives Does it Take to Do a Good Deed?
or what are death panels, really?

Well Point is at it again. Dropping women from insurance roles when they are diagnosed with cancer. Guess what health reform did not prevent. No, it allows this to happen and then the government gets to pay for it. Kind of a no risk, cut expenses move for Well Point. They make money on you until you get sick and then they will dump you for government funded insurance as you get sick. Makes me think that the government, until regulations get tightened will pay for all the sick ones and the insurance companies will scam off the well ones. Who could have seen this coming?

No, really. What right-thinking person would think that this type of scam is possible? I look at myself as a fairly normal person. Would I even have the audacity to sit in a meeting and propose some one devise an algorithm to see when we have to cut someone's health coverage to keep our profits at X%? No, I would say, what do we have to charge to keep our profits at X% because we know what our costs are and can project what are income has to be to make ends meet. I don't have the mind of a psychopath. I sell insurance which means paying to those at a time of need. It does not mean take their money and when they need coverage, kick them to the curb. If I had to sleep at night, I could not do that to people. It is too cruel and unethical. Who does think of things like this? and why are they not in prison?

Screw the fact that this is unethical. It is rewarded in our current culture. Screw someone and make profits everyone lives happily ever after. That is the business executive model nowadays. That is what generates bonuses. Basically sentence people to death and you make more money. Death panels, anyone? There they are, plain and simple for people to see. Now it is time to push, write our congresspeople and make that sort of unethical behavior illegal and punishable by law. Sentence someone to a slow and painful death, you are making a premeditated decision to torture them and it needs to be handled that way in a criminal conviction and have civil penalties attached.

To put it bluntly, if you make those kind of decisions, what the fuck is wrong with you? I think of that kind of decision is not only unethical but needs to be prevented because there are people out there who can think like that. This ranks right up there with the cola mine owner donating to Tea Parties and local judges and figuring out how much he has to pay to keep Mine Safety off his back so he can make money. Well, he did that and people dies. He committed murder with premeditation proved by his actions. Put him on death row and take his company from him.

rojo

Hard to Turn



and another view



rojo

Toone for a Day!

Fun for the day!



rojo

Drug Combos! and Wild Life

Here is one aspect of chemical and pharmaceuticals many don't think of.

rojo

For Shits and Giggles



rojo

Restoration, One Small Step at a Time

The first article describes in detail why there are water woes in CA. To summarize, when they started distributing water rights, no one actually did a calculation to see what normal water flows were, did a conservative estimate and did not let more than 90% of those rights be committed. No, in the voice of economic advancement, almost 800% of the available water was committed. Just think of that. Eight times the amount of water available was committed to projects and then as the water was unavailable people (fisherman who no longer have salmon, farmers with dry fields, etc.) became upset. Yet, the price of buying these rights is still cheap. When I left CO, it cost > $1200 per acre foot (326,000 gallons) unit. The unit was determined annually based upon snowfall, so you could get between 20-100% depending upon snow pack. Here in CA, I have heard anywhere from $300-$500 dollars for an acre foot. Why so cheap. And because water is unavailable, the farmers started punching in wells and dried up aquifers with the ground sinking in some cases up to 6 feet. The aquifer just shrunk and even if it were wet, it would never expand to take in all the water that was drained. The State Water Resources Control Board forgot to regulate well permits and water rights. OMG!!!!! Other western states do that continually.

The other article has to do with restoration of creeks, etc. The process is called daylighting, or bringing old drainages and creeks out of culverts under the streets and buildings back to the light of day. At least in small sections. I know they did this to a creek in Arvada when we lived there. I was surprised it happened, instead of putting in a new culvert and building over it. And the results were pretty, raccoons, foxes and small animals showed up quickly. I am guessing, since this is interconnected to bike paths, creek paths and river basins, there will be the occasional deer and coyote showing up, if not a bear or cougar eventually. In the Berkeley example, it will probably be just small animals, but every little bit helps. The appearance of nature in a city just brightens the whole day. I have often wondered what could happen if some of the rivers and drainages in LA could be if they were taken out of cement channels. I know car chases could not then be filmed there (think Grease), but how cool would it be to have to have restored duck habitat. Yes, it would produce mosquitoes, but ....

rojo

Three Things before Rehab

1) Too bad Butler did not win. They were where they wanted to be, down by one possession and 12 seconds left. Dang!
2) If companies now have the rights of people, who gets charged in the deaths of the miners for safety violations. At best, it is manslaughter, at worst, since MSHA citations on safety were not addressed, it is first degree murder. Not trying to make light of a situation. If corporations have free speech, the same as individuals, they also have social obligations. One is bringing the workplace up to a safe level. When you are cited by MSHA or OSHA and do not comply, who gets arrested, the executives or does the company get the death penalty?
3) Given you can get a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback for a 3rd or 4th round draft choice, why not trade more draft choices and sign veterans? George Allen did it for years with various versions of the "over-the-hill" gang. The Raiders also did it in the 70s with their band of misfits.

rojo

Would you like some BPA with your water, Sir?

I can recall when polycarbonate was considered the safest vessel next to stainless for drinking water jugs and was sold as such by health food and organic food stores. Now, the opinion is not so good and you are asked not to feed your children from bottles that have a 7 in the recycle label on the bottom of the bottle. The chemical that leaches out is BPA, which lowers sperm counts and mimics estrogen. Little things like causing cancer and sex change in fish. Imagine scientists surprise as it washes up on beaches now! Who knew that the Pacific Ocean garbage dump would leach plastic as it is attacked by salt water, wind and sunshine? or epoxy paint could or would breakdown? No one could predict that, right? I mean we never see plastics fall apart in sunshine, do we? D'oh!

rojo

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