A Holy Crock of Shit!
I knew many priests at my high school who had affairs, got married, etc. None of them were pederasts. They did not chase young boys! This is an endemic problem in a culture that has not owned, faced up to, admitted, etc. Because of that it cannot be solved. It was not Woodstock!!! I mean, how many priests were actually there?
rojo
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Saturday, May 07, 2011
What a Coincidence!
What are the odds of two terrorists in the same town just down the road from military barracks in Pakistan?
Trouble is, we gave them the Bomb and now we got loose cannons who are ostensibly our allies being the allies of Al Queda. I am glad I do not have to figure this one out.
rojo
What are the odds of two terrorists in the same town just down the road from military barracks in Pakistan?
Trouble is, we gave them the Bomb and now we got loose cannons who are ostensibly our allies being the allies of Al Queda. I am glad I do not have to figure this one out.
rojo
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Undoing National Debt
From the Washington Post, a good story on how we turned a national surplus into a major debt in 10 years!!!!!! Makes you wish we had Gore's lockbox now, doesn't it? And when you see what portion of the debt is caused by what, why not roll back some of those programs--defense spending, Medicare prescription drug plan, wars off budget (that has been cleaned up already, not the wars, but at least they are on the budget now), Obama's program to build roads and infrastructure, TAX BREAKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!, and oil company subsidies.
If it were me, I would still fund infrastructure spending and alternative energy, even if it costs money and get money back from banks we bailed out to pay for it. If they can afford bonuses, they can pay back. And I would not cut NPR (less than 0.2% of debt), funds for the arts and school lunch programs.
rojo
From the Washington Post, a good story on how we turned a national surplus into a major debt in 10 years!!!!!! Makes you wish we had Gore's lockbox now, doesn't it? And when you see what portion of the debt is caused by what, why not roll back some of those programs--defense spending, Medicare prescription drug plan, wars off budget (that has been cleaned up already, not the wars, but at least they are on the budget now), Obama's program to build roads and infrastructure, TAX BREAKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!, and oil company subsidies.
If it were me, I would still fund infrastructure spending and alternative energy, even if it costs money and get money back from banks we bailed out to pay for it. If they can afford bonuses, they can pay back. And I would not cut NPR (less than 0.2% of debt), funds for the arts and school lunch programs.
rojo
Friday, April 29, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
But My Country Club's Golf Course Looks Divine!
You have to wonder how much overuse of pesticides and herbicides there are when they show up in drinking water. Yuck! Atrazine makes mutant frogs. I am sure that babies that are fed formula made with high atrazine cintent have their livers working overtime or are storing the poison in their fat.
rojo
You have to wonder how much overuse of pesticides and herbicides there are when they show up in drinking water. Yuck! Atrazine makes mutant frogs. I am sure that babies that are fed formula made with high atrazine cintent have their livers working overtime or are storing the poison in their fat.
rojo
Sunday, April 17, 2011
We Can Kill Rats Better and bobcats and owls
We all know the dangers of poisons (herbicides and pesticides) around the house. Kids, pets, etc.Now there is new one to worry about. This just may not be a better rat trap.
rojo
We all know the dangers of poisons (herbicides and pesticides) around the house. Kids, pets, etc.Now there is new one to worry about. This just may not be a better rat trap.
rojo
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Shock Economics This is one of the more pessimistic versions of current events and economic theory I have read recently. I truly hope that the union busting of the current regimes in the Midwest does not go through, because if it does, this is the likely alternative. We can blame President Clinton for agreeing to NAFTA and others things, but many people had the chance to object to this, to the bailout of the banksters, the bonuses that were allowed to be paid, etc. I mean, where else would these bastards go to work if they did not get their bonuses? Barclay Bank, MickieDees, Burger thing? Where? They know they had it coming to them and we said "let's bend over." If unioin busting is completed, the robber barons are back in charge and nothing short of an armed revolution will work. rojo
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Mo' Money
I wonder what would happen if we quit printing money as a country to remain solvent and shared the burden of finding more revenue?
Yes, you can cut expenses, but you need more income to pay debt and associated interest charges. Revenue in government means taxes and tariffs. Why should a dude who is a hedge fund manager pay 15% while I make less and pay 28%. Just asking.
rojo
I wonder what would happen if we quit printing money as a country to remain solvent and shared the burden of finding more revenue?
Yes, you can cut expenses, but you need more income to pay debt and associated interest charges. Revenue in government means taxes and tariffs. Why should a dude who is a hedge fund manager pay 15% while I make less and pay 28%. Just asking.
rojo
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Monday, April 04, 2011
Safety First!
The irony is unbelievable.
I really tried to come up with a snarky statement and could not.
rojo
'
The irony is unbelievable.
I really tried to come up with a snarky statement and could not.
rojo
'
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Invisible Hand of the Free Market The free market dictates that the market should have no interference and this will lead to the best and the brightest rising to the top. This is normally the high-idealism ground of the GOP. Don't mess with business because the free market will lead to advances that the public market place cannot do. Well, here is an exception. The private market place advances internet so it must be illegal. I mean, why improve services by over 1000% percent when no one makes money. Yuck. rojo
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Energy Fun Years ago, we were promised clean renewable energy as a National Security Measure by Jimmy Carter. Well, Reagan came in and took down the solar panels and any commitment to renewable energy. We have become more and more dependent upon oil from the MidEast and we send more and more money to Saudi (remember they crashed planes into the Twin Towers), Yemen (they run much of our extradition), Syria (they bother Iran for us) and Iraq (we invaded them for oil). So here we go. We still have an addiction, cannot act as an agent of ethics becasue of our addiction and make decisions accordingly. What a drag! and here comes Germany, dropping reactors faster than their cores can get hot and now the Green party is basically making the energy policy in the new government. They are pledged to be 100% renewable. I bet they have the political will to pull it off. Here, we cannot even tax a company that makes BILLIONS every year because they might not like us. They have us by the oil. and we do nothing about it. rojo
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Yesterday I was reading that the House is trying to gut the carbon emissions act so that Coal-fired (you know, clean coal) power plants can keep operating without putting in place soot reducers, carbon eliminators and other things because they cost too much to make coal competitive to produce energy. I also read an Ohio EPA report that tells fisherman to limit their consumption of fish from the Ohio River and all its tributaries to once per week because of the build up of heavy metals in their fat. This includes bluegill and crappie, which are the bottom of the food chain--so catfish, sauger, walleye, saugeye, large bass who eat the smaller fish gets boatloads of metals in their body are even more hazardous to eat.
Well, heavy metals comes down in the rain that is produced by the clouds and particulates in the clouds (can't make rain without particulates--water vapor woould have nothing to aggregate to to make droplets). The heavy metals come from coal fired power plants.
This is a hidden cost of burning coal. What we use as cheap power from coal actually has a higher cost in environmental damage. I have been reading a book "When Rivers Run Dry"... that speaks of the concept of virtual water. It is the cost in terms of water that litlle things like prime beef costs, making it an extremely expensive protein, as opposed to buffalo. Corn and fattening products and alfalfa hay cost a bundle of water to grow.
Well, coal costs a bundle to burn and WE PAY FOR IT. When asked to clean up their exhaust, coal states that makes them non-competitive in cost. It is okay if we bear the cost of their product. When will real costs be factored into power? It is much like our oil use costs more because we have to pay for a huge military to protect our supply lines (Go Navy!!!!). And we pay countries who provide help to terroists to keep our cheap oil addiction alive.
These are real costs few ever want to talk about. Carter in 1976 (I think, too lazy to look it up) stated foreign oil was our biggest national security leak. We still have done nothing about it.Think about hidden costs as we go about our day today. One people often don't think of is cheap food--hidden cost is migrant (often illegal) labor and the cost of irrigation. So far the transfer of water from Northern California to the Central Valley and SoCal has cost 5 salmon fishing seasons (low flow equals dead fingerlings), the loss of the largest lake west of the Mississippi and the cost of pumping water from San Francisco Bay over two mountain ranges to the south. 4800 feet of head 1M cu feet/sec=lots of electricity.
rojo
Well, heavy metals comes down in the rain that is produced by the clouds and particulates in the clouds (can't make rain without particulates--water vapor woould have nothing to aggregate to to make droplets). The heavy metals come from coal fired power plants.
This is a hidden cost of burning coal. What we use as cheap power from coal actually has a higher cost in environmental damage. I have been reading a book "When Rivers Run Dry"... that speaks of the concept of virtual water. It is the cost in terms of water that litlle things like prime beef costs, making it an extremely expensive protein, as opposed to buffalo. Corn and fattening products and alfalfa hay cost a bundle of water to grow.
Well, coal costs a bundle to burn and WE PAY FOR IT. When asked to clean up their exhaust, coal states that makes them non-competitive in cost. It is okay if we bear the cost of their product. When will real costs be factored into power? It is much like our oil use costs more because we have to pay for a huge military to protect our supply lines (Go Navy!!!!). And we pay countries who provide help to terroists to keep our cheap oil addiction alive.
These are real costs few ever want to talk about. Carter in 1976 (I think, too lazy to look it up) stated foreign oil was our biggest national security leak. We still have done nothing about it.Think about hidden costs as we go about our day today. One people often don't think of is cheap food--hidden cost is migrant (often illegal) labor and the cost of irrigation. So far the transfer of water from Northern California to the Central Valley and SoCal has cost 5 salmon fishing seasons (low flow equals dead fingerlings), the loss of the largest lake west of the Mississippi and the cost of pumping water from San Francisco Bay over two mountain ranges to the south. 4800 feet of head 1M cu feet/sec=lots of electricity.
rojo
Thursday, March 17, 2011
It's Springtime and Raining
Actually, it has quit for 8 hours and I got a chance to get my carrots in. I put them in the middle of my flower garden in my front yard. I put them there three years ago and had a bumper crop. Placed them in two other places and got nothing, so maybe I can get a good crop again.
Kudos to Mary Kaptur from Ohio for asking yesterday when the oil companies and Wall Street will share the pain of balancing the budget. My guess it won't happen until Halliburton voluntarily reincorporates in CA to get higher taxes.
Midwest Republicans are probably grateful for the Japan disaster because it takes Michigan (we will declare financial emergencies and remove your government), Ohio (state employees are stupid) and Wisconsin (we will break every union). The largest political rally in years in our country (much larger then Glen Beck's) happened in Wisconsin over the weekend and there was very little coverage. Japan, Japan, Japan.
When will someone sue to bankruptcy that little shit O'Keefe? Acorn employees let him get a pass, NPR officials quit and all over extremely edited videos. Michael Moore he ain't.
and I see the Germany has decided today to start winding down their nuclear energy program. Renewable energy will be their basis to go forward. I wonder if anyone in America has the stones to do that. The Prez sez that is what we want, but...
rojo
Actually, it has quit for 8 hours and I got a chance to get my carrots in. I put them in the middle of my flower garden in my front yard. I put them there three years ago and had a bumper crop. Placed them in two other places and got nothing, so maybe I can get a good crop again.
Kudos to Mary Kaptur from Ohio for asking yesterday when the oil companies and Wall Street will share the pain of balancing the budget. My guess it won't happen until Halliburton voluntarily reincorporates in CA to get higher taxes.
Midwest Republicans are probably grateful for the Japan disaster because it takes Michigan (we will declare financial emergencies and remove your government), Ohio (state employees are stupid) and Wisconsin (we will break every union). The largest political rally in years in our country (much larger then Glen Beck's) happened in Wisconsin over the weekend and there was very little coverage. Japan, Japan, Japan.
When will someone sue to bankruptcy that little shit O'Keefe? Acorn employees let him get a pass, NPR officials quit and all over extremely edited videos. Michael Moore he ain't.
and I see the Germany has decided today to start winding down their nuclear energy program. Renewable energy will be their basis to go forward. I wonder if anyone in America has the stones to do that. The Prez sez that is what we want, but...
rojo
Monday, March 14, 2011
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Fun With Logic
I am amazed at the human powers of deduction. Banks make mortgages that are crap, sell them to pension funds and then--
so let's take away hard won union rights since they caused the financial mess over the greedy need for another $1.00/hour.
Am I missing something here? It is kind of like bombing Iraq when attacked by Saudis.
Oh wait....
rojo
I am amazed at the human powers of deduction. Banks make mortgages that are crap, sell them to pension funds and then--
so let's take away hard won union rights since they caused the financial mess over the greedy need for another $1.00/hour.
Am I missing something here? It is kind of like bombing Iraq when attacked by Saudis.
Oh wait....
rojo
Newt, The Blowhard
I lived in the swinging 60s and 70s. I lived in a commune. I never once fooled around on my wife because I love and respect her. Newt strayed because he lost focus because of loving service to his country. My ASS!!!!!!!!!!!! Newt fooled around because he loves his sexual appetites more than he loved his wives. I am overweight because I overeat. This isn't rocket science.
What I don't get is the media fascination over a mean-spirited, uncompassionate man with no moral integrity who wants to lead in a "Christian" manner and has such obvious faults. He should be skewered on the petard of his own words and left to die a lonely unpowerful man.
rojo
I lived in the swinging 60s and 70s. I lived in a commune. I never once fooled around on my wife because I love and respect her. Newt strayed because he lost focus because of loving service to his country. My ASS!!!!!!!!!!!! Newt fooled around because he loves his sexual appetites more than he loved his wives. I am overweight because I overeat. This isn't rocket science.
What I don't get is the media fascination over a mean-spirited, uncompassionate man with no moral integrity who wants to lead in a "Christian" manner and has such obvious faults. He should be skewered on the petard of his own words and left to die a lonely unpowerful man.
rojo
Saturday, March 05, 2011
We Got Nothing To Hide, Move Along
Nothing to see here....
I wonder if he .has all 19,000 signatures or if he is just fibbing?
rojo
Nothing to see here....
I wonder if he .has all 19,000 signatures or if he is just fibbing?
rojo
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Texas Miracle Economy, My Ass
Another way to look at the Wisconsin situation. Their debt is as big as CA and they don't seem to understand.
rojo
Another way to look at the Wisconsin situation. Their debt is as big as CA and they don't seem to understand.
rojo
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Lather Was 30 Years Old Today, They Took Away All His Toys
Wow, what an original idea. taxing gas. Thomas, m'boy, you are finally catching up to Jimmy Carter's presidency. Any apologies for your stupidity?
Of course he would want to tax gas to pay down the debt, not establish new renewable energy industries with the accompanying jobs, who then can be taxed. I wish I was as smart as him. Then ...I could be 40 years behind the times too.
rojo
Wow, what an original idea. taxing gas. Thomas, m'boy, you are finally catching up to Jimmy Carter's presidency. Any apologies for your stupidity?
Of course he would want to tax gas to pay down the debt, not establish new renewable energy industries with the accompanying jobs, who then can be taxed. I wish I was as smart as him. Then ...I could be 40 years behind the times too.
rojo
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
From Today's Paper
Best Democracy money can buy! How hard is it when you have a budget of $80,000,000 annually to find a judge who will say Affordable Health Care bill is illegal. Just buy a judge, like whack-a-mole only using other people's money and lives. Talk about Death Panels.
and I hope you like anchovies.
rojo
Best Democracy money can buy! How hard is it when you have a budget of $80,000,000 annually to find a judge who will say Affordable Health Care bill is illegal. Just buy a judge, like whack-a-mole only using other people's money and lives. Talk about Death Panels.
and I hope you like anchovies.
rojo
Monday, February 21, 2011
Who Knew?
That the science reports of the Gulf of Mexico don't match BP's own estimation of their problem?
rojo
That the science reports of the Gulf of Mexico don't match BP's own estimation of their problem?
rojo
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
A Minor Miscalculation
It is hard to believe that the State is so proud of their accomplishments shippng water from SF to LA and san Diego, but forgot about the wildlife. oops.
rojo
It is hard to believe that the State is so proud of their accomplishments shippng water from SF to LA and san Diego, but forgot about the wildlife. oops.
rojo
Monday, February 14, 2011
Thankfully
The trial was in Arizona so I was not sure how it would come out. Minutemen are kind of sacrosanct there.
rojo
The trial was in Arizona so I was not sure how it would come out. Minutemen are kind of sacrosanct there.
rojo
Sunday, February 13, 2011
TV Caused Post
I was watching the TV series Justified last night. It is based on an Elmore Leonard short story. Well done, looney characters, just fun. These guys do the theme.
and the episode I was watching featured a character named Cousin Dupree.
featuring the great lyrics
I said babe with my boyish charm and good looks
How can you stand it for one more day
She said maybe its the skeevy look in your eyes
Or that your mind has turned to applesauce
The dreary architecture of your soul
I said - but what is it exactly turns you off?
rojo
I was watching the TV series Justified last night. It is based on an Elmore Leonard short story. Well done, looney characters, just fun. These guys do the theme.
and the episode I was watching featured a character named Cousin Dupree.
featuring the great lyrics
I said babe with my boyish charm and good looks
How can you stand it for one more day
She said maybe its the skeevy look in your eyes
Or that your mind has turned to applesauce
The dreary architecture of your soul
I said - but what is it exactly turns you off?
rojo
Friday, February 04, 2011
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Total Insanity
I see the president or CEO of AIG, I forget which, totally disses liberals as he states his company is major red state fodder and is against government handouts and supports personal responsibility. I only have one link attached. There are many others. Here is guy who respresents and leads a company that owes its existence to government bailouts birching about bailouts. Yes, prsonal responsibility is very important. So are good decisions. Perhaps we shpould have let this ass and his company eat it for their poor decisions. Instead, he was paid off for his bad decisions in a multi-BILLION dollar bailout and he is against government handouts and bailouts. He wants responsibility. Laughing all the way to the bank. and Lying.
Nothing like biting the hand that feed you.
rojo
I see the president or CEO of AIG, I forget which, totally disses liberals as he states his company is major red state fodder and is against government handouts and supports personal responsibility. I only have one link attached. There are many others. Here is guy who respresents and leads a company that owes its existence to government bailouts birching about bailouts. Yes, prsonal responsibility is very important. So are good decisions. Perhaps we shpould have let this ass and his company eat it for their poor decisions. Instead, he was paid off for his bad decisions in a multi-BILLION dollar bailout and he is against government handouts and bailouts. He wants responsibility. Laughing all the way to the bank. and Lying.
Nothing like biting the hand that feed you.
rojo
Friday, January 28, 2011
Why Didn't Christ have an AK?
Read it and weep. Arizona has less stringent gun laws than Mexico. Makes you think about that statement that if we all had guns we would be safer, just like Mexico, or Somalia.
rojo
Read it and weep. Arizona has less stringent gun laws than Mexico. Makes you think about that statement that if we all had guns we would be safer, just like Mexico, or Somalia.
rojo
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, January 09, 2011
A Sad Day's Thoughts
After the shooting in Tucson, it becomes all the more obvious that the vitriol of the political debate--where politicians cite second amendment solutions, without fear of being brought up on treason charges--really is out of control. If he was working alone and over the edge from listening to too much talk radio, we have an issue.
It is just a sad state of affairs when politicians have to fear for their lives because of stands on such things as health care.
It also shows how far off the dialogue is in this country--where expanded health care that embraces capitalistic principles of the insurance business (except a 20% cap) is seen as socialist. The democrats let everyone call it Obamacare with calling it something else and the so-called "liberal" media calls it Obmamcare, not even thinking of the spite and hate in that title.
rojo
Monday, January 03, 2011
Happy New Year
and may it be more peaceful than last year.
and today I see Lindsay Graham is asking for permanent bases in Afghanistan. You would think that as our debt grows, you might see a fatal flaw with imperialism. I had hoped that the term imperialist would have been long time dead since my time in college in the 70s. Looks like as a country we have learned nothing since then.
rojo
and may it be more peaceful than last year.
and today I see Lindsay Graham is asking for permanent bases in Afghanistan. You would think that as our debt grows, you might see a fatal flaw with imperialism. I had hoped that the term imperialist would have been long time dead since my time in college in the 70s. Looks like as a country we have learned nothing since then.
rojo
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Let Brazil Lead the Way
Great article. If you ever want to know how to raise an economy, you do it by raising the income of the lower and middle classes. They then spend the money to buy stuff. What a novel idea. Too bad congress doesn't get it. Maybe we need to elect someone from lower classes, or advisors from lower classes.
rojo
Great article. If you ever want to know how to raise an economy, you do it by raising the income of the lower and middle classes. They then spend the money to buy stuff. What a novel idea. Too bad congress doesn't get it. Maybe we need to elect someone from lower classes, or advisors from lower classes.
rojo
Monday, December 27, 2010
On the Day After Christmas, Mr. Freidman Said To Me...
I just read Tom Freidman's interview where he stated this generation needs to suck it up and cut back. Get us out of debt. Yet, he was behind the tax cuts. I love, absolutely love, that the richest expect to keep theirs (inheritance tax, tax rate cuts for hedge fund managers--I would love to pay only 15%, and tax cuts to the rich), yet entitlement programs such as food stamps, welfare and ultimately Social Security (really a separate fund and program that is not part of the US General Fund, just don't mention that in the details) should go away. So should medical insurance and then emergency rooms become primary care if you can't afford routine medical treatment. Man, that is easy to say when you have a cool million or two stashed away.
If he really cared he would be willing to pay way more taxes to help right the country, maybe even work as a lifetime service worker for the State. But no, he bloviates and makes beau coup buckos and wants to keep it that way. A true Christian would throw him out of the temple, publically excoriate the moneychanger.
Again, no. It is maddening that those who really need help, the lower and middle classes keep listening to asshats like this and wonder why the money never trickles down to them. Isn't that the way it is supposed to work? Just ask St. Reagan. The economy has never been the same since supply side and trickle down were added to the American lexicon. Trickling down sounds an awful lot like pissing on my head.
rojo
I just read Tom Freidman's interview where he stated this generation needs to suck it up and cut back. Get us out of debt. Yet, he was behind the tax cuts. I love, absolutely love, that the richest expect to keep theirs (inheritance tax, tax rate cuts for hedge fund managers--I would love to pay only 15%, and tax cuts to the rich), yet entitlement programs such as food stamps, welfare and ultimately Social Security (really a separate fund and program that is not part of the US General Fund, just don't mention that in the details) should go away. So should medical insurance and then emergency rooms become primary care if you can't afford routine medical treatment. Man, that is easy to say when you have a cool million or two stashed away.
If he really cared he would be willing to pay way more taxes to help right the country, maybe even work as a lifetime service worker for the State. But no, he bloviates and makes beau coup buckos and wants to keep it that way. A true Christian would throw him out of the temple, publically excoriate the moneychanger.
Again, no. It is maddening that those who really need help, the lower and middle classes keep listening to asshats like this and wonder why the money never trickles down to them. Isn't that the way it is supposed to work? Just ask St. Reagan. The economy has never been the same since supply side and trickle down were added to the American lexicon. Trickling down sounds an awful lot like pissing on my head.
rojo
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Activist Judge Alert, OOH, Wait, He Is On The Right
I don't even know what to say at this point. The judge who makes the decision is in a city that relies on water from the Delta. You watch wildlife die and no one wants to cut back on their funky western civilization. My guess is the decision to make Sacramento put ina modern wastewater plant will end being shopped before judges, too, until someone makes the decision the conservative group wants. I am so tired of economy driving the American dream into the ditch.
rojo
I don't even know what to say at this point. The judge who makes the decision is in a city that relies on water from the Delta. You watch wildlife die and no one wants to cut back on their funky western civilization. My guess is the decision to make Sacramento put ina modern wastewater plant will end being shopped before judges, too, until someone makes the decision the conservative group wants. I am so tired of economy driving the American dream into the ditch.
rojo
Saturday, December 04, 2010
Ooh, What Is That Gilled Thing
It is nice to know as a race we can exterminate more than passenger pigeons.
rojo
It is nice to know as a race we can exterminate more than passenger pigeons.
rojo
Monday, November 29, 2010
From Wikileaks
"The cables also contain a fresh American intelligence assessment of Iran's missile program," The Times reports. "They reveal for the first time that the United States believes that Iran has obtained advanced missiles from North Korea that could let it strike at Western European capitals and Moscow and help it develop more formidable long-range ballistic missiles."
at least this explains one of the reasons the US asked Russia to join the missile defense group.
Rojo
"The cables also contain a fresh American intelligence assessment of Iran's missile program," The Times reports. "They reveal for the first time that the United States believes that Iran has obtained advanced missiles from North Korea that could let it strike at Western European capitals and Moscow and help it develop more formidable long-range ballistic missiles."
at least this explains one of the reasons the US asked Russia to join the missile defense group.
Rojo
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thoughts for a Grey Day
From Charlie Pierce's Idiot America--
"James Dobson, a prominent Christian conservative spokesman, compares the Supreme Court of the United States with the Ku Klux Klan. Pat Robertson, another prominent conservative preacher man, says that federal judges are a greater threat to the nation than is Al Qaeda and, apparently his text from the book of Gambino, later sermonizes that the United States should get in the stick and snuff the democratically elected president of Venezuela. And the nation does not wonder, AUDIBLY, how these two poor fellows were allowed on television." (bold and italics are mine)
"...And in Dover Pennsylvania...a pastor named Ray Mummert...sums it up.
'We've been attacked ...by the intelligent segment of our society.' "
So if we follow the lead of these folk, if we are intelligent, ask questions and wonder, in their eyes, we attack society.
So be it!
And on another front, I see over the weekend Russia was invited to help protect the skies as part of the missile defense umbrella. This comes within two weeks of a plane flying up into the skies outside LA, leaving a comtrail that looks like a missile launch. So it wasn't a missile? and then we ask Russia to help protect the skies against what then. Personal opinion, but I don't think we asked for their help to show how earnest we are in the START treaty.
rojo
BTW, Charles Pierce's commentary can be heard every Tuesday morning on the Stephanie Miller show at 7:30 PST, I think.
From Charlie Pierce's Idiot America--
"James Dobson, a prominent Christian conservative spokesman, compares the Supreme Court of the United States with the Ku Klux Klan. Pat Robertson, another prominent conservative preacher man, says that federal judges are a greater threat to the nation than is Al Qaeda and, apparently his text from the book of Gambino, later sermonizes that the United States should get in the stick and snuff the democratically elected president of Venezuela. And the nation does not wonder, AUDIBLY, how these two poor fellows were allowed on television." (bold and italics are mine)
"...And in Dover Pennsylvania...a pastor named Ray Mummert...sums it up.
'We've been attacked ...by the intelligent segment of our society.' "
So if we follow the lead of these folk, if we are intelligent, ask questions and wonder, in their eyes, we attack society.
So be it!
And on another front, I see over the weekend Russia was invited to help protect the skies as part of the missile defense umbrella. This comes within two weeks of a plane flying up into the skies outside LA, leaving a comtrail that looks like a missile launch. So it wasn't a missile? and then we ask Russia to help protect the skies against what then. Personal opinion, but I don't think we asked for their help to show how earnest we are in the START treaty.
rojo
BTW, Charles Pierce's commentary can be heard every Tuesday morning on the Stephanie Miller show at 7:30 PST, I think.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Third World Man?
I seem to remember that Germany, between the two wars actually used wheelbarrows of cash to buy a loaf of bread. We are really at an important point in our country's economic and political history.
As times get harder, the populace tends to like absolutists such as Hitler and Mussolini. And these are normally backed by banks. The only ones that get hurt are the general populace.
The issue becomes how to get a grass roots movement going that captures the energy of the Tea Party but is not run by Dick Armey and remains progressive. Currently the populist rebellion has been fascist-oriented.
and we are becoming more and more economically weak. How will we react? Cutting discretionary spending to balance the budget and cutting Social Security is only 12% of the budget. I believe the military is 38%+. What do we cut? and discretionary spending includes dairy and farming subsidies. Does Chuck Grassley have the testicular fortitude to cut those?
rojo
I seem to remember that Germany, between the two wars actually used wheelbarrows of cash to buy a loaf of bread. We are really at an important point in our country's economic and political history.
As times get harder, the populace tends to like absolutists such as Hitler and Mussolini. And these are normally backed by banks. The only ones that get hurt are the general populace.
The issue becomes how to get a grass roots movement going that captures the energy of the Tea Party but is not run by Dick Armey and remains progressive. Currently the populist rebellion has been fascist-oriented.
and we are becoming more and more economically weak. How will we react? Cutting discretionary spending to balance the budget and cutting Social Security is only 12% of the budget. I believe the military is 38%+. What do we cut? and discretionary spending includes dairy and farming subsidies. Does Chuck Grassley have the testicular fortitude to cut those?
rojo
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
What A Wonderful World, or do we share the same world?
I have spent the past four days in the southern Central Valley in CA. I know CA has an image of liberalism, but that really is in the urban areas, with San Diego as an exception. That city is largely conservative. Tink Darrel Issa and Randy Cunningham. The Southern Central Valley (Bakersfield, Taft, Maricopa) is far from liberal. You can place much of this area south of the Mason Dixon line, maybe south of Mississippi.
I sat and listened to a patron bloviate in a hotel restaurant yesterday about how bad it is that the Democrats are still in power because they make the government larger, the debt larger and they tax more. It was all I could do to not ask him which party had the last surplus, who raised the debt (Reagan, Bush and Bush were the worst, all Republicans) and who made government smaller (Clinton-D). and who balloonned the size of government (Bush-R). The only reason I did not debate him is he was hosting clients from overseas.
Another item you see here is a multitude of signs stating "Congress Created Desert" or signs referencing sewage treatment and how that effects Delta water (very true) and how that water belongs to the people of Southern CA (not true). Congress funded the canals in CA to allow the transfer of water to the central valley. The residents damned other rivers and built levies draining lakes for cotton and food farming. Maybe farming is a desert is not such a good idea. Yes, it feeds America, but has destroyed wildlife, the largest lake west of the Mississippi (Tulare Lake, now a dry hole) and stopped the flow of many rivers. The Kern again is not reaching Bakersfield and Buena Vista Lake is fed from canals attached to the Sacramento River 300 miles away. Nothing wrong with canals and stuff, but admit that the unnnatural farming practiced was financed by Congress and is not a God-given right!
Finally, I came into a meeting yesterday and the folks there were speaking of the evils of Senate Bill 501which would take away your right to a home garden. It was sponsored by Kucinich in their minds. I asked when did Kucinich become a Senator? and we looked up the bill on my computer. Nowhere did it state that it takes away the rights of a home gardener that we could see. But they saw it on websites my computer could not find. And I was informed the only way to make jobs in this country is to remove the EPA and OSHA. They keep us at a disadvantage from the rest of the world. I wanted to scream, we could cut back our wages too and hire children but the sarcasm would have been lost. Yet another WTF moment. We have already seen what happens what when the government backs away from audits in the Gulf.Finally, the best for last. They were complaining that Brown was now the governor and things could never go back to the way they were thirty years ago when things were good. Honest. I could not make this up. That was a Meg Whitman campaign line so I know where they saw it. Guess who was governor 30 years ago???!!! Brown. and the last governor with a surplus before deregulation of energy was a Democrat, and he was replaced by Arnold.
I cannot wait to leave Bizarro world.
One important point is that this does illustrate that many Americans do not share the same basic information. We are very insular and this becomes more apparent to me as I travel.
rojo
I have spent the past four days in the southern Central Valley in CA. I know CA has an image of liberalism, but that really is in the urban areas, with San Diego as an exception. That city is largely conservative. Tink Darrel Issa and Randy Cunningham. The Southern Central Valley (Bakersfield, Taft, Maricopa) is far from liberal. You can place much of this area south of the Mason Dixon line, maybe south of Mississippi.
I sat and listened to a patron bloviate in a hotel restaurant yesterday about how bad it is that the Democrats are still in power because they make the government larger, the debt larger and they tax more. It was all I could do to not ask him which party had the last surplus, who raised the debt (Reagan, Bush and Bush were the worst, all Republicans) and who made government smaller (Clinton-D). and who balloonned the size of government (Bush-R). The only reason I did not debate him is he was hosting clients from overseas.
Another item you see here is a multitude of signs stating "Congress Created Desert" or signs referencing sewage treatment and how that effects Delta water (very true) and how that water belongs to the people of Southern CA (not true). Congress funded the canals in CA to allow the transfer of water to the central valley. The residents damned other rivers and built levies draining lakes for cotton and food farming. Maybe farming is a desert is not such a good idea. Yes, it feeds America, but has destroyed wildlife, the largest lake west of the Mississippi (Tulare Lake, now a dry hole) and stopped the flow of many rivers. The Kern again is not reaching Bakersfield and Buena Vista Lake is fed from canals attached to the Sacramento River 300 miles away. Nothing wrong with canals and stuff, but admit that the unnnatural farming practiced was financed by Congress and is not a God-given right!
Finally, I came into a meeting yesterday and the folks there were speaking of the evils of Senate Bill 501which would take away your right to a home garden. It was sponsored by Kucinich in their minds. I asked when did Kucinich become a Senator? and we looked up the bill on my computer. Nowhere did it state that it takes away the rights of a home gardener that we could see. But they saw it on websites my computer could not find. And I was informed the only way to make jobs in this country is to remove the EPA and OSHA. They keep us at a disadvantage from the rest of the world. I wanted to scream, we could cut back our wages too and hire children but the sarcasm would have been lost. Yet another WTF moment. We have already seen what happens what when the government backs away from audits in the Gulf.Finally, the best for last. They were complaining that Brown was now the governor and things could never go back to the way they were thirty years ago when things were good. Honest. I could not make this up. That was a Meg Whitman campaign line so I know where they saw it. Guess who was governor 30 years ago???!!! Brown. and the last governor with a surplus before deregulation of energy was a Democrat, and he was replaced by Arnold.
I cannot wait to leave Bizarro world.
One important point is that this does illustrate that many Americans do not share the same basic information. We are very insular and this becomes more apparent to me as I travel.
rojo
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Never Thought of This
As if global warming were not enough, 1/4 of sea level rise comes from overpumping aquifers. What this means then is that the aquifers get lower and those near the ocean get salt water intrusion, which requires RO to remove the salts if the wells are to be used. RO is a power hungry monkey. Which means more burning of carbon based fuels and the cycle continues.
rojo
As if global warming were not enough, 1/4 of sea level rise comes from overpumping aquifers. What this means then is that the aquifers get lower and those near the ocean get salt water intrusion, which requires RO to remove the salts if the wells are to be used. RO is a power hungry monkey. Which means more burning of carbon based fuels and the cycle continues.
rojo
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The Cedars of Lebanon, maybe
There were ski resorts in Lebanon? Let alone that global warming could shut them down and kill the cedar trees?
It just makes me realize how insular I am as an American.
rojo
There were ski resorts in Lebanon? Let alone that global warming could shut them down and kill the cedar trees?
It just makes me realize how insular I am as an American.
rojo
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Nothing like living in Texas. Where the water is radioactive and the environmental protectors say--so what? Could be why they are so strange.
and in good water news, salmon are returning to CA this year finally. Crisis over, no! But progress
rojo
Nothing like living in Texas. Where the water is radioactive and the environmental protectors say--so what? Could be why they are so strange.
and in good water news, salmon are returning to CA this year finally. Crisis over, no! But progress
rojo
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Two Views of the Same Toone
this one is disallowed to embed, but features Natasha Atlas.
You choose.
rojo
this one is disallowed to embed, but features Natasha Atlas.
You choose.
rojo
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
So, What Are We Killing Actually?
I was at a sewage conference last week and one of the biggest issues are Sanitary Sewer Overflows caused by the flushing of antibacterial wipes down the toilet. They ruin and plug lift station pumps. Ooops.
here is an article that details the algacidal properties of these agents. The other is how these compounds are now making it back to the environment.
After a while, you have to wonder whether what we are intentionally killing in terms of microbes is worth what we are unintentionally killing in terms of phyto and zooplankton. And are we breeding the dreaded superbugs. Already, endocrine disruptors that make it through wastewater plants are changing the genetics in the plants that are grown in the biosolids. But if you can't use the biosolids for fertilizer, where do you bury it all? Already, the Colorado plains take most of the biosolids generated by NYC. Is there room in NYC for 80 train car loads per week to be buried?
These are honest questions. How much waste do we generate that there are no perfect solutions for?
rojo
I was at a sewage conference last week and one of the biggest issues are Sanitary Sewer Overflows caused by the flushing of antibacterial wipes down the toilet. They ruin and plug lift station pumps. Ooops.
here is an article that details the algacidal properties of these agents. The other is how these compounds are now making it back to the environment.
After a while, you have to wonder whether what we are intentionally killing in terms of microbes is worth what we are unintentionally killing in terms of phyto and zooplankton. And are we breeding the dreaded superbugs. Already, endocrine disruptors that make it through wastewater plants are changing the genetics in the plants that are grown in the biosolids. But if you can't use the biosolids for fertilizer, where do you bury it all? Already, the Colorado plains take most of the biosolids generated by NYC. Is there room in NYC for 80 train car loads per week to be buried?
These are honest questions. How much waste do we generate that there are no perfect solutions for?
rojo
Monday, November 08, 2010
Politics, Not as Usual
I have not commented on the elections only because I was on the road last week and busy. First, it makes sense that the angry voters chose the party of the working man, the Tea Party and the Republicans to help them. Yeah, sure. What happened was that the Administration bailed out Wall Street and the banks, those folks got bonuses and Main Street lost many jobs and houses and they were pissed. and when the Tea Party came up, no one said, we cut your taxes. Then corporate interests like Dick Armey, the Koch Brothers, etc. coopted the anger and made political hay out of it and got right wing candidates elected. Problem, messaging by Democrats and that they really, really underestimated the anger of the electorate. They did not understand that people like their jobs and houses. They were and probably are out of touch.
Now the fun begins. Pelosi will replace Steny Hoyer. She was an effective leader and will continue to be. Cantor wants to cut all entitlements. DeMint sez balance the budget with tax cuts and has no ideas. Rand Paul is saying cut the military spending. Texas is trying to opt out of MediCaid and Children's Health Insurance to balance their deficit. I mean why tax oil companies in Texas or rich white folk when you can cut children's aid. My guess is that they are Christians who believe life is sacred too. Just don't give the kids any fucking aid. Let 'em die after they are born. and Darrel Issa is promising subpoenas for government mistakes, like the mortgage problem, maybe Obama's birth certificate and probably not for admitted war crimes by the Bush Administration and certainly not for Cheney's energy task force which divided Iraqi oil even before the war to free the OIL (oops, I meant the oppressed Iraqis).
I am guessing I will be going back to being angry a lot. But to say the least it will be interesting. Being the eternal optimist, I am hoping some Democrat other than Pelosi will grow a pair and messaging will be clear. Moderate republicans will come forward and work to actually decrease the country's problems and I am guessing monkeys will fly out of my butt, too. But it will be interesting. Particularly the monkeys
rojo
I have not commented on the elections only because I was on the road last week and busy. First, it makes sense that the angry voters chose the party of the working man, the Tea Party and the Republicans to help them. Yeah, sure. What happened was that the Administration bailed out Wall Street and the banks, those folks got bonuses and Main Street lost many jobs and houses and they were pissed. and when the Tea Party came up, no one said, we cut your taxes. Then corporate interests like Dick Armey, the Koch Brothers, etc. coopted the anger and made political hay out of it and got right wing candidates elected. Problem, messaging by Democrats and that they really, really underestimated the anger of the electorate. They did not understand that people like their jobs and houses. They were and probably are out of touch.
Now the fun begins. Pelosi will replace Steny Hoyer. She was an effective leader and will continue to be. Cantor wants to cut all entitlements. DeMint sez balance the budget with tax cuts and has no ideas. Rand Paul is saying cut the military spending. Texas is trying to opt out of MediCaid and Children's Health Insurance to balance their deficit. I mean why tax oil companies in Texas or rich white folk when you can cut children's aid. My guess is that they are Christians who believe life is sacred too. Just don't give the kids any fucking aid. Let 'em die after they are born. and Darrel Issa is promising subpoenas for government mistakes, like the mortgage problem, maybe Obama's birth certificate and probably not for admitted war crimes by the Bush Administration and certainly not for Cheney's energy task force which divided Iraqi oil even before the war to free the OIL (oops, I meant the oppressed Iraqis).
I am guessing I will be going back to being angry a lot. But to say the least it will be interesting. Being the eternal optimist, I am hoping some Democrat other than Pelosi will grow a pair and messaging will be clear. Moderate republicans will come forward and work to actually decrease the country's problems and I am guessing monkeys will fly out of my butt, too. But it will be interesting. Particularly the monkeys
rojo
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Monday, November 01, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Election Fears
This election scares me more than any I have seen in years. As an American, I am alarmed that we still have such a massive hole in our national security caused by our reliance on fossil fuel. In the Carter Era (remember him?), there was a huge oil crisis. He pledged that we would lower our reliance on foreign oil. Our addiction to foreign oil was cut by half in his term as President and there was a commitment to lowering it further. All of a sudden we bought 4.3 billion barrels of oil less than the previous four years. He lost to Reagan the next election and energy conservation became an afterthought. Cynically, I would say that some corporations were mad that they lost the profits from 4.3 billion barrels of oil and helped fund a change.
Reagan tore down the solar panels off the White House. We didn't need conservation anymore, because America had endless supplies and money. Greed became acceptable. Taxes were lowered. Restraints on the economy were released and the "free market", supply side economics and trickle down became the zeitgeist. "I am from the government and I am here to help" were identified as the scariest words in the American lexicon.
It worked so well that New Orleans was saved after the flood. And employment rose. Net worth rose! Oil use dropped so we did not have to rely on foreign interests anymore. Unbridled capitalism found its soul and there was greed as the disparity of income between poorer Americans and the richest declined. People could afford homes and bankers made a fortune.
What, only the last clause of the last statement was true? Deregulation did not make poor and rich America come closer and unions disappeared not because equity was provided, but jobs were SENT OVERSEAS so union workers could be crushed. No wonder America is angry.
More people live at the poverty line now than at any time in my lifetime (hey, only 6 decades, but...) College costs so much that an average American with a union job can't send children to college. The chance of advancement economically has been skewed so only the rich stay in their elite club. Yes, people are MAD.
What makes no sense is that this anger and yearning for a time of 50 years ago, where only the husband had to work, kids could go to college and bosses made normally no more than 20 times what an hourly worker made has found outlets. Think what caused those conditions--good paying union jobs, 95% tax on the richest, forcing them to reinvest in the business--that was their main tax break. this kept jobs here and paid for civil services like schools. Tax breaks and lower taxes did not work. So what is the remedy---NO MORE TAXES. Americans have had empirical evidence that this has never worked. Drill, baby, drill was a battle cry--keeping our reliance and addiction to foreign governments alive and well.
Yes, Americans should be mad that their dreams and aspirations have been shattered. But why are we as a general rule turning to those who caused the disparity? Tea partiers are angry and want a return to simpler times. It can't happen and by removing government influence we go back to an era where the Cuyahoga River repeatedly caught fire, where fish couldn't live and spawn for over 20 years. Where people of color had their own drinking fountains, where Hispanics had menial jobs. Is this really what we want for our childrens' future? Where robber barons flourished and child labor was not only allowed, but became the only way families could afford to eat.
Americans should be PISSED that all the family has to work at lower paying jobs to afford cars, housing and food and the family has disappeared to a certain extent. But encouraging political movements that want to do away with a minimum wage so that more people can work at cheaper jobs? Really? So we can all have 4 or 5 jobs to eat. Why not start looking at living wages, income disparity, lack of public higher education that is affordable? Start backing people with questions and solutions to these problems. These are complex issues that cannot be broken down into simplistic jingos like "No new taxes". I am not saying vote Democratic, Republican or Tea Party or Green Party. Who can give us solutions, even if they take some time and understanding.
Too often angry and simple wins. When I get angry I feel better at times if i yell to express my pent up rage. That is all good and well when working alone in a shop, but as a means of governance? and I am very afraid that if Cantor wins, if Miller wins, if Rand Paul wins than we have become a nation of police enforcement and fascism where peaceful dissent is beaten, kind of like Sharia law. We have become what we fear, except we will be god-fearing group of fundamentalists where gays will have to wear pink triangles like in Fascist Germany under Hitler.
Think before you vote and think long and hard.
rojo
This election scares me more than any I have seen in years. As an American, I am alarmed that we still have such a massive hole in our national security caused by our reliance on fossil fuel. In the Carter Era (remember him?), there was a huge oil crisis. He pledged that we would lower our reliance on foreign oil. Our addiction to foreign oil was cut by half in his term as President and there was a commitment to lowering it further. All of a sudden we bought 4.3 billion barrels of oil less than the previous four years. He lost to Reagan the next election and energy conservation became an afterthought. Cynically, I would say that some corporations were mad that they lost the profits from 4.3 billion barrels of oil and helped fund a change.
Reagan tore down the solar panels off the White House. We didn't need conservation anymore, because America had endless supplies and money. Greed became acceptable. Taxes were lowered. Restraints on the economy were released and the "free market", supply side economics and trickle down became the zeitgeist. "I am from the government and I am here to help" were identified as the scariest words in the American lexicon.
It worked so well that New Orleans was saved after the flood. And employment rose. Net worth rose! Oil use dropped so we did not have to rely on foreign interests anymore. Unbridled capitalism found its soul and there was greed as the disparity of income between poorer Americans and the richest declined. People could afford homes and bankers made a fortune.
What, only the last clause of the last statement was true? Deregulation did not make poor and rich America come closer and unions disappeared not because equity was provided, but jobs were SENT OVERSEAS so union workers could be crushed. No wonder America is angry.
More people live at the poverty line now than at any time in my lifetime (hey, only 6 decades, but...) College costs so much that an average American with a union job can't send children to college. The chance of advancement economically has been skewed so only the rich stay in their elite club. Yes, people are MAD.
What makes no sense is that this anger and yearning for a time of 50 years ago, where only the husband had to work, kids could go to college and bosses made normally no more than 20 times what an hourly worker made has found outlets. Think what caused those conditions--good paying union jobs, 95% tax on the richest, forcing them to reinvest in the business--that was their main tax break. this kept jobs here and paid for civil services like schools. Tax breaks and lower taxes did not work. So what is the remedy---NO MORE TAXES. Americans have had empirical evidence that this has never worked. Drill, baby, drill was a battle cry--keeping our reliance and addiction to foreign governments alive and well.
Yes, Americans should be mad that their dreams and aspirations have been shattered. But why are we as a general rule turning to those who caused the disparity? Tea partiers are angry and want a return to simpler times. It can't happen and by removing government influence we go back to an era where the Cuyahoga River repeatedly caught fire, where fish couldn't live and spawn for over 20 years. Where people of color had their own drinking fountains, where Hispanics had menial jobs. Is this really what we want for our childrens' future? Where robber barons flourished and child labor was not only allowed, but became the only way families could afford to eat.
Americans should be PISSED that all the family has to work at lower paying jobs to afford cars, housing and food and the family has disappeared to a certain extent. But encouraging political movements that want to do away with a minimum wage so that more people can work at cheaper jobs? Really? So we can all have 4 or 5 jobs to eat. Why not start looking at living wages, income disparity, lack of public higher education that is affordable? Start backing people with questions and solutions to these problems. These are complex issues that cannot be broken down into simplistic jingos like "No new taxes". I am not saying vote Democratic, Republican or Tea Party or Green Party. Who can give us solutions, even if they take some time and understanding.
Too often angry and simple wins. When I get angry I feel better at times if i yell to express my pent up rage. That is all good and well when working alone in a shop, but as a means of governance? and I am very afraid that if Cantor wins, if Miller wins, if Rand Paul wins than we have become a nation of police enforcement and fascism where peaceful dissent is beaten, kind of like Sharia law. We have become what we fear, except we will be god-fearing group of fundamentalists where gays will have to wear pink triangles like in Fascist Germany under Hitler.
Think before you vote and think long and hard.
rojo
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Elections Matter
If the elections go the way people are picking, Joe "I apologize to BP for troubling them" Barton may end up running the House Energy Committee.
Also, why haven't charges been filed at the guy who foot stomped a woman at the Rand Paul Rally, the policeman who arrested the person who had the audacity to be a democrat at Cantor's rally or the secret police (excuse me, private security) who handcuffed a reporter and detained him at the Joe Miller rally?
Get out and vote!!!
Also, why are there now republicans whop don't live here registered at my house. I received their voter registration cards. I notified the Board of Elections and the Sacramento Bee that there may be possible fraud.
rojo
If the elections go the way people are picking, Joe "I apologize to BP for troubling them" Barton may end up running the House Energy Committee.
Also, why haven't charges been filed at the guy who foot stomped a woman at the Rand Paul Rally, the policeman who arrested the person who had the audacity to be a democrat at Cantor's rally or the secret police (excuse me, private security) who handcuffed a reporter and detained him at the Joe Miller rally?
Get out and vote!!!
Also, why are there now republicans whop don't live here registered at my house. I received their voter registration cards. I notified the Board of Elections and the Sacramento Bee that there may be possible fraud.
rojo
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Why Weren't my Drugs This Good in College?
I sit in astonishment as I hear things like this. This guy is the libertarian wet dream? Is 1984 here?
To anyone who loves the roots of America once you get past the we killed the Indians and stole their lands--the juxtaposition of the Statue of Liberty and the Berlin Wall is poignant.
The worst part is that there are candidates who are to the right of the John Birch Society who are going to get in to public office. And their idea of governance is to throw out the government. This si going to cause such a colossal effin' mess, it will take at least one-half of a century to fix.
rojo
I sit in astonishment as I hear things like this. This guy is the libertarian wet dream? Is 1984 here?
To anyone who loves the roots of America once you get past the we killed the Indians and stole their lands--the juxtaposition of the Statue of Liberty and the Berlin Wall is poignant.
The worst part is that there are candidates who are to the right of the John Birch Society who are going to get in to public office. And their idea of governance is to throw out the government. This si going to cause such a colossal effin' mess, it will take at least one-half of a century to fix.
rojo
Monday, October 11, 2010
Yay, Hungary!
I am so glad to see Hungary followed the lead of the US to try heads of corporations for the release of toxic compounds. It is just like the coal mine tailings that broke the levee and went into numerous creeks and rivers.
Wait, there were no arrest of Massey Energy executives for this or for the deaths at their mines? Kind of like BP at the Gulf oil leak.
Hello, Obama Adminstration, get a clue. These guys will take whatever they want and KILL people unless someone makes them pay.
rojo
I am so glad to see Hungary followed the lead of the US to try heads of corporations for the release of toxic compounds. It is just like the coal mine tailings that broke the levee and went into numerous creeks and rivers.
Wait, there were no arrest of Massey Energy executives for this or for the deaths at their mines? Kind of like BP at the Gulf oil leak.
Hello, Obama Adminstration, get a clue. These guys will take whatever they want and KILL people unless someone makes them pay.
rojo
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Water Stuff
Just a couple of items--Here is an interesting article that shows the lack of water. fisherman or farmers. and this is what happens when there are water shortages.
Most people cringe at the thought of drinking purified sewage, but it happens all the time. The Boulder CO Wastewater PLant discharge above the Lafayette and Louisville water plant influent structures. And really, the lower Mississippi has accepted sewage from all across the US. It really can be safe. I can think of many citites who receive drinking water from wells who are contaminated with Chromium, TCE, PCE, asbestos, nitrates, etc. but these are treated and removed before consumption. Not that big of a deal. IF DONE WELL.
rojo
Just a couple of items--Here is an interesting article that shows the lack of water. fisherman or farmers. and this is what happens when there are water shortages.
Most people cringe at the thought of drinking purified sewage, but it happens all the time. The Boulder CO Wastewater PLant discharge above the Lafayette and Louisville water plant influent structures. And really, the lower Mississippi has accepted sewage from all across the US. It really can be safe. I can think of many citites who receive drinking water from wells who are contaminated with Chromium, TCE, PCE, asbestos, nitrates, etc. but these are treated and removed before consumption. Not that big of a deal. IF DONE WELL.
rojo
Friday, October 01, 2010
Serious on a Friday, Why?
I am amazed that in the past week I have learned that Bechtel, the engineering giant, probably the largest construction company in the US, is considered a small business. So are many of the Koch Brothers' subsidiary network. The classification has to do with how they are organized and how they are owned. So they get small business tax breaks everywhere, if they pay taxes. I just read that McMahon's pro wrestling circus (you know, the one with all the insane ads on TV) is a small business. So maybe the claim that republican claims that small businesses that small businesses actually account of most of the employment in the US is true. Maybe small business needs to be redefined. Firms like my wife's medical transcription firm are small businesses. One, two, three employees. Bechtel--not a chance. What this tells me is that someone paid for a vote somewhere and now that graft is engraved in stone. How could a firm with 20,000 or more employees be a small business? The worst part about this is that most Americans don't know. Keith Olbermann--Yes, Komrade Keith, from whom we get marching orders nightly in secret code no less (decoder rings available for 4 box tops of any product purchased at your local co-op), ,did a great piece on this. 3% of small businesses account for 50% of the small business income in the country.
Also, I have seen where Senator Jim deMint of somewhere south of here has offered to personally block anything in the Senate he doesn't agree with to grind the government to a halt. By Senate rules he can do this. It is allowed. I have seen this over and over again. I have seem Jim Bunning (R, Senator, Kentucky) state the words made famous by Reagan-"the scariest words I have ever heard is I am from the government and and here to help..." If you are so afraid of governance, policy and politics as a form of compromise and policy, why do you run for government? If you don't want to govern, why take part in government? Governance is not easy work and gets dirty. You can't take your ball and go home. That is immature. A ploy by spoiled kids in palygrounds.
Oh right, I forgot about power and its subsequent adjunct, sex appeal. personal opinion is that deMint can't grow a chin, he better stay in government if he wants to get laid.
This is a question I have always had--drive to power to do nothing, why????? Is it a subconscious thing?
I don't get it and New Orleans still suffers because of it.
rojo
I am amazed that in the past week I have learned that Bechtel, the engineering giant, probably the largest construction company in the US, is considered a small business. So are many of the Koch Brothers' subsidiary network. The classification has to do with how they are organized and how they are owned. So they get small business tax breaks everywhere, if they pay taxes. I just read that McMahon's pro wrestling circus (you know, the one with all the insane ads on TV) is a small business. So maybe the claim that republican claims that small businesses that small businesses actually account of most of the employment in the US is true. Maybe small business needs to be redefined. Firms like my wife's medical transcription firm are small businesses. One, two, three employees. Bechtel--not a chance. What this tells me is that someone paid for a vote somewhere and now that graft is engraved in stone. How could a firm with 20,000 or more employees be a small business? The worst part about this is that most Americans don't know. Keith Olbermann--Yes, Komrade Keith, from whom we get marching orders nightly in secret code no less (decoder rings available for 4 box tops of any product purchased at your local co-op), ,did a great piece on this. 3% of small businesses account for 50% of the small business income in the country.
Also, I have seen where Senator Jim deMint of somewhere south of here has offered to personally block anything in the Senate he doesn't agree with to grind the government to a halt. By Senate rules he can do this. It is allowed. I have seen this over and over again. I have seem Jim Bunning (R, Senator, Kentucky) state the words made famous by Reagan-"the scariest words I have ever heard is I am from the government and and here to help..." If you are so afraid of governance, policy and politics as a form of compromise and policy, why do you run for government? If you don't want to govern, why take part in government? Governance is not easy work and gets dirty. You can't take your ball and go home. That is immature. A ploy by spoiled kids in palygrounds.
Oh right, I forgot about power and its subsequent adjunct, sex appeal. personal opinion is that deMint can't grow a chin, he better stay in government if he wants to get laid.
This is a question I have always had--drive to power to do nothing, why????? Is it a subconscious thing?
I don't get it and New Orleans still suffers because of it.
rojo
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Why the Rich Aren't Like Us, part 2
Gotta love it. His platform is get rid of the inheretence tax so more can be like him. If my dad were to die tomorrow, his inheretence would not make me a memeber of the lucky sperm club. Why not just say I was born into a rich white family and we protected ours and you can be that way too. Oh, wait, you don't have money. Too bad for you. My sperms is lucky. This guy must know GW. Without his daddy, he would never even made it to grad school.
rojo
Gotta love it. His platform is get rid of the inheretence tax so more can be like him. If my dad were to die tomorrow, his inheretence would not make me a memeber of the lucky sperm club. Why not just say I was born into a rich white family and we protected ours and you can be that way too. Oh, wait, you don't have money. Too bad for you. My sperms is lucky. This guy must know GW. Without his daddy, he would never even made it to grad school.
rojo
Why the Rich Aren't Like Us, part 1
It was just one of those days when things were making emotional impressions on me. I heard that Williams of the Cowboys, in an attempt to get back at Dez Bryant (rookie) for not carrying his pads invited many to his rookie dinner. I guess this is an NFL tradition and the dinner tab runs maybe $10,000. Gack! Well, in this case it ran damn near $55,000. Expensive lesson in rookie ethics. It is also bullying. I am sure that the camaraderie of the team will be fine after that! No devisiveness there. By the same token, that amount of money spent on one meal could feed 25 families of four with careful shopping for two weeks. Every now and then professional sports and salaries depress me.
But not so much as the fabled You Tube video of the crash of a $1,000,000 Ferrari. Totalled. Enough to feed 5,000 familes of four for 2 weeks. Another thing is that one car purchase may have employed 10-12 people for two weeks. Maybe two months. In normal car terms, that is 50 new cars and jobs for 30-40 people for a month or two. The toys of the rich really don't power economic engines.
rojo
It was just one of those days when things were making emotional impressions on me. I heard that Williams of the Cowboys, in an attempt to get back at Dez Bryant (rookie) for not carrying his pads invited many to his rookie dinner. I guess this is an NFL tradition and the dinner tab runs maybe $10,000. Gack! Well, in this case it ran damn near $55,000. Expensive lesson in rookie ethics. It is also bullying. I am sure that the camaraderie of the team will be fine after that! No devisiveness there. By the same token, that amount of money spent on one meal could feed 25 families of four with careful shopping for two weeks. Every now and then professional sports and salaries depress me.
But not so much as the fabled You Tube video of the crash of a $1,000,000 Ferrari. Totalled. Enough to feed 5,000 familes of four for 2 weeks. Another thing is that one car purchase may have employed 10-12 people for two weeks. Maybe two months. In normal car terms, that is 50 new cars and jobs for 30-40 people for a month or two. The toys of the rich really don't power economic engines.
rojo
Friday, September 24, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Well, Dang!
The company I worked for, following the lead of many other companies, quit giving raises for two years. Also, no bonuses to lower level managers. The economy was just too tight and none of our competitors were doing it either, so if we did we that, we would put ourselves at an economic disadvantage, so the story went. Most of us tugged our forelocks and went ahead with business as usual--all did except one or two who found a competitor to work for. I knew it was a pile of gob at the time.
But our bottom line got so much better we were purchased by one of the big boys. O yes the CEO got a rather steep 2.7 million dollar bonus for all his hard work. Not rumor, it is in the 10K. Well, to say the least I trust nothing that comes out of his mouth. We went from an extended family run business to being bought by the big boys on Wall Street. The sale is final in two weeks and we are told to hold on to our hats, we are going to grow!!!
In my brain I look at that 2.7 mill bonus. When you break that out over 2800 employees that comes out to maybe a $0.35 an hour raise for one year, without benefits. So basically everybody got held back for $0.35/hour so the big guy can make his. That is maybe $1,000 annually per employee. A small vacation, or maybe dental work for someone. Sad. They may have wanted that.
But, we are told today that this happened all across the country. Notice execs did not lose pay, they got bonuses. I am betting that many of the bonuses were over what my CEO made. I bet some of the layoffs lost their homes, dreams and futures, all for bonuses. Being a boss is not easy, but people rely on you to lead and to keep them employed.
rojo
The company I worked for, following the lead of many other companies, quit giving raises for two years. Also, no bonuses to lower level managers. The economy was just too tight and none of our competitors were doing it either, so if we did we that, we would put ourselves at an economic disadvantage, so the story went. Most of us tugged our forelocks and went ahead with business as usual--all did except one or two who found a competitor to work for. I knew it was a pile of gob at the time.
But our bottom line got so much better we were purchased by one of the big boys. O yes the CEO got a rather steep 2.7 million dollar bonus for all his hard work. Not rumor, it is in the 10K. Well, to say the least I trust nothing that comes out of his mouth. We went from an extended family run business to being bought by the big boys on Wall Street. The sale is final in two weeks and we are told to hold on to our hats, we are going to grow!!!
In my brain I look at that 2.7 mill bonus. When you break that out over 2800 employees that comes out to maybe a $0.35 an hour raise for one year, without benefits. So basically everybody got held back for $0.35/hour so the big guy can make his. That is maybe $1,000 annually per employee. A small vacation, or maybe dental work for someone. Sad. They may have wanted that.
But, we are told today that this happened all across the country. Notice execs did not lose pay, they got bonuses. I am betting that many of the bonuses were over what my CEO made. I bet some of the layoffs lost their homes, dreams and futures, all for bonuses. Being a boss is not easy, but people rely on you to lead and to keep them employed.
rojo
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